Wave-Shaped Flexible Foot Support for Dynamic Impact Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional athletic footwear lacks dynamic adjustment capabilities to adapt to varying impact forces and foot movements, leading to inconsistent comfort and support during different activities.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a wave-shaped flexible support member within the sole structure that flexes under weight, changing dimensions and applying forces to the plantar support component, allowing for automatic adjustment of footwear properties in response to impact forces without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional midsole with fixed polymer foam material is used, then the footwear structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the footwear cannot dynamically adapt to varying impact forces and foot movements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by incorporating a flexible support member with wave-shaped geometry that can dynamically change its structural properties. The wave-shaped member transitions between different configurations based on applied load, enabling the sole structure to adapt to varying impact forces during different activities such as walking, jogging, and running.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by utilizing the wave-shaped flexible support member whose geometric parameters (amplitude, wavelength, curvature) change in response to applied forces. These parameter changes allow the material to transform from a rigid state during high-impact activities to a more compliant state during low-impact activities, providing dynamic adaptation without complex mechanisms.
2Strength
If the midsole material density and hardness are increased to provide better support, then support performance improves, but comfort and flexibility during low-impact activities deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The wave-shaped flexible support member dynamically adjusts its effective stiffness based on the magnitude of applied load. During high-impact activities, the structure engages in a rigid configuration providing strong support. During low-impact activities like walking, the same structure transitions to a more compliant configuration, ensuring comfort and flexibility without requiring separate material zones.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual adjustment mechanisms are added to adapt footwear to different activities, then adaptability improves, but device complexity and user intervention requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wave-shaped flexible support member functions as a self-adjusting mechanism that automatically adapts to different impact forces and activities without user intervention. The structure passively responds to applied loads by transitioning between rigid and compliant states, eliminating the need for manual adjustment mechanisms, motors, sensors, or user input while maintaining high adaptability across different activities.
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 solution provides a dynamically adaptive sole structure that enhances comfort and support by changing its properties in real-time with impact forces, accommodating different activities without the need for manual adjustments, ensuring a consistent feel across walking, jogging, and running.
Implementation Method 1
The wave shaped portion includes a rigid plate flexible enough to flex under weight of a wearer and return to its original or substantially original size, shape and dimensions
Data Source
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AI summary
A foot support member includes a plantar support component including a first surface for supporting at least a portion of a plantar surface of a wearer's foot and a flexible support member engaged with the plantar support component. The flexible support member includes a wave shaped portion. The wave shaped portion is oriented such that plural wave crests extend toward the first surface of the plantar support component and plural wave troughs extend away from the first surface of the plantar support component. The wave shaped portion includes a rigid plate capable of flexing under weight of a wearer. Flexing of the rigid plate under weight of a wearer changes a longitudinal dimension of the foot support member.