Variable Width Ski Boot Sole for Walking Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Children often find it difficult to walk in ski boots with narrow outsoles, leading to balance issues, injuries, and reduced enjoyment of skiing.
Innovation Solution
A ski boot design featuring a ski boot shell and sole with a wider second contact area for walking, composed of a hard first contact area for binding and a soft second contact area for rolling, which is convex and elastically deforms to increase the contact surface, along with separate front and rear sole pads for improved grip and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the ski boot sole has a narrow width in the first contact area for binding, then the boot can be properly attached to the ski binding, but the child experiences balance issues and instability when walking without skis
Solution Approach 1:
The ski boot sole is designed with different widths in different regions: a narrower first contact area (60-65mm) for reliable binding attachment and a wider second contact area (70-80mm) for stable walking. This local differentiation allows the same sole to optimize both binding compatibility and walking stability without compromise
2Reliability
If the ski boot sole is made hard for binding attachment, then the boot can be securely fastened to the ski, but the child experiences discomfort and difficulty when walking without skis
Solution Approach 1:
The sole is constructed with a hard first contact area for secure binding attachment and a soft second contact area for comfortable walking. This material differentiation allows the boot to maintain reliability when attached to skis while providing comfort and natural foot movement when walking without skis
3Ease of manufacture
If the ski boot sole has a uniform width, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the child experiences both binding issues and walking instability
Solution Approach 1:
The sole features a stepped width design with a narrower first contact area and a wider second contact area, creating functional zones optimized for different activities. This local differentiation improves both binding attachment and walking stability, with the manufacturing complexity remaining manageable through modular construction
4Manufacturing precision
If the ski boot sole is narrow for precision in binding, then the boot fits tightly for skiing, but the child loses balance and twists ankles when walking without skis
Solution Approach 1:
The sole is designed with a narrow first contact area for precise binding fit and a wide second contact area for stable walking. This local width differentiation ensures tight fit for skiing precision while providing a stable base that prevents ankle twisting and falls during walking, thereby reducing injury risk
5Ease of operation
If the ski boot sole is soft for walking comfort, then the child can walk more comfortably without skis, but the boot cannot be securely attached to the ski binding
Solution Approach 1:
The sole combines a hard first contact area for secure binding attachment with a soft second contact area for comfortable walking. This material differentiation allows the boot to maintain firm attachment when skiing while providing cushioning and comfort when walking without skis
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
Enhances walking stability and safety by providing a larger contact surface that naturally conforms to the foot's movement, reducing the risk of falls and increasing the fun of skiing.
Implementation Method 1
The second contact area with which the ski boot rests on a flat surface for walking without skis... is convex and elastically deforms to increase the contact surface
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
Ski boot with a ski boot shell and a ski boot sole (2, 3), wherein the ski boot sole (2, 3) has a front ski boot sole end (21), a rear ski boot sole end (31), a sole underside (22) and a free sole topside (23) with which the ski boot sole (2, 3) projects forward, backward and/or laterally beyond the ski boot shell, wherein the sole underside (22) comprises a first contact area (4) for standing on a contact plate of a ski binding and a second contact area (5) for walking without skis, wherein a width of the ski boot sole (2, 3) in the second contact area (5) is greater than a width of the ski boot sole (2, 3) in the first contact area (4).