Variable Stiffness Footwear Sole via Pneumatic Bladder
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sole structures for footwear have fixed stiffness properties, which limit their adaptability for different activities requiring varying levels of cushioning and responsiveness.
Innovation Solution
A sole structure featuring a bladder with adjustable compressible fluid pressure, allowing the distance between two plates to change, thereby adjusting the stiffness of the sole, and incorporating a tensile element and laminate fiber structure for enhanced flexibility and support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional sole structures use fixed materials and construction, then manufacturing is simple and reliable, but the stiffness cannot be adjusted for different activities
Solution Approach 1:
The sole structure incorporates a bladder filled with compressible fluid that can be inflated or deflated to dynamically adjust the distance between the first and second plates, thereby changing the stiffness of the sole. This dynamic adjustment mechanism allows the sole to adapt to different activities while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a bladder containing compressible fluid (pneumatic system) to adjust the spacing between structural plates. By controlling the pressure of the compressible fluid, the stiffness of the sole can be modified without complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and structural complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the sole structure uses a fixed stiffness design, then the structure is simple and reliable, but it cannot provide optimal cushioning and responsiveness for varying activities
Solution Approach 1:
The bladder system can be integrated with the footwear's existing inflation mechanisms (such as shoe tongue inflators or pump systems), allowing the user to adjust the sole stiffness using the same interface they would use to inflate the shoe itself. This self-service approach makes the adjustment process intuitive and easy to operate.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the distance between plates is increased to reduce stiffness, then flexibility improves, but structural support and stability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameter of plate spacing to control sole stiffness. By adjusting the distance between the first and second plates through bladder inflation/deflation, the sole can transition between flexible and supportive states. The plates themselves maintain their structural integrity and support capability regardless of spacing, as they are designed to provide structural framework while the variable spacing modulates the overall stiffness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the sole structure to be tailored for specific activities by adjusting stiffness, providing a more flexible or rigid feel based on user preference and activity demands.
Implementation Method 1
A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a bladder including a first barrier element attached to a second barrier element to define a chamber having an interior void containing a compressible fluid, a pressure of the compressible fluid being adjustable to selectively adjust a position of the first barrier element relative to the second barrier element
Implementation Method 2
Each of the first plate and the second plate includes a laminate fiber structure including a plurality of fiber layers consolidated by a resin
Implementation Method 3
a plurality of fiber layers consolidated by a resin
Data Source
AI summary
A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a bladder having a first barrier element attached to a second barrier element to define a chamber including an interior void containing a compressible fluid, a pressure of the compressible fluid being adjustable to selectively adjust a position of the first barrier element relative to the second barrier element. In addition, the sole structure includes a first plate attached to the first barrier element and a second plate attached to the second barrier element on an opposite side of the bladder than the first plate.