Ventilated Footwear Sole With Deformable Heel Air Chamber
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of ventilated soles for footwear is complex and requires a closed insert and/or valve, making the design cumbersome and difficult to manufacture.
Innovation Solution
A sole design featuring a wear layer, a comfort layer, and an interposed prefabricated insert forming a compressible air chamber at the heel, which communicates with the outside through a channel, eliminating the need for a valve or membrane, and using a thermoplastic insert for added rigidity and simplicity in assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a closed insert and/or valve is used to create ventilated soles, then air circulation is achieved, but the production process becomes complex and the design becomes cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the valve and membrane components from the traditional ventilated sole design. Instead of using a closed insert with a valve mechanism, the invention uses an open insert that relies on the deformable wear layer to control air flow, thereby simplifying the production process while maintaining air circulation functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The sole is divided into distinct functional layers: a deformable wear layer that acts as a dynamic valve, a comfort layer, and an open insert. The wear layer is specifically designed with deformable zones that segment the air flow control function, allowing air to pass through during heel compression while preventing uncontrolled flow at rest
2Reliability
If a valve or membrane is used to control air flow, then air circulation is maintained, but the design becomes more complex and manufacturing more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The wear layer serves dual functions: it provides structural support and simultaneously acts as a self-regulating valve mechanism. When the heel is compressed, the deformable zone opens to allow air flow; when pressure is released, it closes automatically. This eliminates the need for separate valve components and simplifies manufacturing
Solution Approach 2:
The wear layer's physical state changes in response to pressure applied to the heel. The material transitions from a closed state (when no pressure is applied) to an open state (when heel pressure is applied), dynamically controlling air flow without requiring mechanical valve components
3Reliability
If material creeping occurs inside the insert during overmolding, then the insert functionality is compromised, but using additional elements to prevent creeping increases design complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The insert is pre-positioned and secured to the wear layer before the overmolding process begins. This preliminary securing action prevents material creeping during the injection molding of the comfort layer, ensuring the insert maintains its intended position and functionality without requiring additional complex retention mechanisms
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
This design simplifies the manufacturing process by avoiding material creep and ensuring effective air ventilation within the footwear, while maintaining the functionality of air circulation and comfort through a compressible air chamber that returns to its original position upon pressure release.
Implementation Method 1
a compressible air chamber, in communication with the outside by at least one channel passing through the comfort layer, the bottom of the insert, separated from the wear layer being, in the assembled state of the wear and comfort layers, provided with a hole which forms the outlet of the channel passing through the comfort layer into said air reserve chamber
Implementation Method 2
a deformable zone in the direction of bringing the comfort layer closer together under the effect of a load exerted on said comfort layer vertical to said heel
Data Source
AI summary
Sole (1) of footwear article (13) comprising a wear layer (2) and a comfort layer (3) positioned to at least partially overlap the wear layer (2), said wear layer (2) having, at the level of the heel (4) of the sole, in the position of contact of the heel (4) with the ground, a zone (5) deformable in the direction of a bringing closer of the comfort layer (3) under the effect of a load exerted on said comfort layer (3) vertically on said heel (4). This sole includes an insert (6), interposed between said wear layer (2) and comfort layer (3), and partially embedded in the material constituting the comfort layer (3), this insert (6) delimiting, at the level of the heel (4) of the sole, with at least a part of the deformable zone (5) of the wear layer (2), a compressible air reserve chamber (7), in communication with the outside by at least one channel (8) passing through the comfort layer (3).