Energy absorbing elements for footwear and method of use

摘要

An energy absorbing element for footwear has a first set of open spaces and a second set of open spaces in a layer of material. The first set of open spaces and the second set of open spaces each have arrays of open spaces. Each array of open spaces has a certain number of open spaces. The arrays are arranged in a particular pattern.

主权项

1. An energy absorbing element for footwear, comprising:
a first set of open spaces and a second set of open spaces in a layer of material, wherein said first set of open spaces and said second set of open spaces are each comprised of three arrays of open spaces, wherein each array is comprised of three open spaces, wherein the arrays are arranged in a triangular pattern; wherein said layer of material is fixed within a pocket in a shoe sole layer, said pocket defined by walls of the shoe sole layer; wherein said layer is a polymer thermoplastic material; a single fluid tight pocket within said layer of material not in fluid communication with any other pockets wherein said pocket is entirely encapsulated within a planar upper surface and a planar lower surface of said layer of material and said pocket is located within one of said sets of open spaces and within said triangular pattern formed by said three open spaces of said three arrays, said open spaces located in close, surrounding proximity to said pocket for forces to transmit laterally from said pocket to said open spaces through said material for further dissipation by said open spaces; and a shear thickening fluid entirely filling said pocket, said shear thickening fluid comprising a nanosuspension of nanoparticles in a fiberous matrix.