The structure of the human foot is very delicate and complex. It has the functions of supporting, twisting, bouncing, shock absorption, and friction. During exercise, the need for shock absorption, friction, and stability is greatly increased. Therefore, how to meet the needs of the foot during exercise is the designer's main consideration.
Basketball players jumped on the court, instantly accelerated, stopped suddenly, changed their direction, and their ankles took great efforts. In order not to be injured due to excessive twisting of the ankle, basketball shoes must ensure that the calf, ankle, and foot are within a reasonable curvature. In order to achieve this goal, the uppers of basketball shoes are generally made higher, often exceeding one inch or even two inches above the ankle.
In order to better protect the user's foot, many new technologies continue to emerge.
Nike Air pioneered damping technology
In 1984, Nike pioneered the invention of the damping technology Air. The technical principle of Air is to compress the pressurized gas into a "bag" made of polyurethane material whose volume is so large that they cannot pass through the polyurethane barrier.
In 1994, NIKE introduced Max Air, which injects NIKE AIR into a tough synthetic rubber layer under high pressure. The air in the cushion will not be lost due to external impact. This air cushion can reduce the impact force when the two feet fall to the ground, and the shock absorbing effect of the previous air cushion is enhanced by 35%, so that the user's feet are more protected and better comfort is obtained. At the same time, the stability of the user and the control of the movement are also improved.
NIKE subsequently introduced the Zoom Air-impact cushion. The air cushion does not have any seams, and the surface is smooth and flat, which can make the feet closer to the ground, lower the center of gravity, and increase the stability. The Zoom Air is lighter in weight, and thanks to its seamless surface, the air-cushion has 50% more capacity than ever before, allowing a smaller space for better shock absorption. Since the starting point is close to the ground, the quickest shock effect can be felt with the least amount of time, and the time for the air cushion to return to its original shape is also shorter.
After 1997, Nike ended its monopoly on Air, allowing competitors to produce shoes based on Air cushion technology. As a result, air cushions are applied to more different brands of shoes.
The revolutionary breakthrough of the locking system: T-MAC 4
The design concept of the locking system of the T-MAC 4 originated from the locking system of the snowboard. The "HUG" (three-dimensional enveloping) technology was applied. The comfort of the foot was adjusted by the slide and the lever, and the active lever followed by the heel became the A simple, fast and effective closed system.
The T-MAC 4 uses a control lever to fully tighten and secure the feet in the heel. Even when in motion, it always wraps around the feet and never wrinkles, allowing the user's feet to remain the most natural for long periods of use. The most comfortable state.
T-MAC 4 solves the problem that the surface of the traditional laced sneakers cannot be closed very accurately, the shoelace stretches and slides due to movement and time, and the foot cannot be accurately fixed, ensuring that the sneakers are tightened from the beginning to the end of the game. There will not be any changes in the degree of security and safety, and the foot can always remain in the center of the big bottom, thus improving the player's performance in the entire game.
Like a Kobe Bryant vacant: ZOOM KOBE I
The designer replaced the real spring with four high-density PU foam columns at the heel of the shoe, providing the user with excellent shock absorption and repulsion during the exercise. The forefoot uses the ZOOM cushion to provide the quickest cushioning and the most sensitive response. A large area of ​​the herringbone pattern on the outsole provides a better grip, and the upwardly extending design of the outsole ensures that the footsteps in the movement do not occur. The whole palm ZOOM AIR cushion is attached to the insole, followed by the built-in ZOOM AIR. The double-layer ZOOM AIR produces unsurpassed cushioning, giving the user a feeling of running on the air.
Domestic innovation of shock absorption technology: Li Ning bow
"Li-Ning bow" shock absorption technology uses the principle of arched compression deformation to effectively relieve stress, and consists of Arch, Tensile, PU three components: Arch component is the core component of shock absorption, strong deformation ability, in the heel of the foot During the process, ground shocks can be buffered by suitable deformation; the Tensile component assists the Arch component in achieving the damping function; the PU component provides the stability function requirement while ensuring the damping function. The combination of the three components guarantees the functional requirements of running and is shock-absorbing and stable.