Visco-elastic Heel Insert with Zonal Hardness for Pressure Relief
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional visco-elastic heel inserts with uniform material specification fail to adequately relieve pressure on the heel spur and provide anatomically correct support, leading to discomfort and instability due to perceptible edges and uneven pressure distribution.
Innovation Solution
A heel support with a main body comprising three regions of dissimilar visco-elastic materials: a first region with a higher hardness, a second region softer than the first, and a third region softer than the second, intermeshed with protrusions and clearances, along with a shell on the periphery, to create a synergistic effect that relieves the heel spur and supports the entire plantar fascia.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a punctiform soft region is added below the heel spur, then pressure on the heel spur is reduced, but perceptible edges cause pain and the foot may sink into the soft region causing instability
Solution Approach 1:
The insert features a zonally structured foot bed with three distinct hardness zones: a soft central region (30-50 Shore A) that relieves pressure on the heel spur, intermediate regions (40-60 Shore A) that provide transitional support, and a hard peripheral region (50-70 Shore A) that stabilizes the foot. This local differentiation of material properties allows simultaneous pressure relief and stability without perceptible painful edges.
2Ease of manufacture
If uniform material specification is used, then manufacturing is simple, but pressure distribution on the foot is uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The insert employs a composite structure combining three different silicone rubber materials with varying Shore A hardness values (30-50 for soft region, 40-60 for intermediate regions, 50-70 for hard region). This composite material approach enables differentiated pressure distribution across the foot bed while maintaining compatibility in manufacturing processes for silicone-based materials.
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
The configuration effectively reduces symptoms associated with heel spurs and plantar fasciitis by providing a soft bed for the heel spur, guiding the foot with a harder region, and stabilizing the hind foot with the shell, while preventing evasive movement and reducing tensile load on the plantar fascia.
Implementation Method 1
a main body with regions of dissimilar hardness... made from visco-elastic materials
Implementation Method 2
silicone-based rubber... can be configured so as to be resilient/elastic
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to visco-elastic inserts, in particular to shoe inserts, and in particular to heel supports having a main body with regions of dissimilar hardness.