U.S. patent application number 09/817989 was filed with the patent office on 2002-10-03 for method and apparatus for producing individually contoured shoe insert.
Invention is credited to Shaffeeullah, Irshaad.
Application Number | 20020138923 09/817989 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25224348 |
Filed Date | 2002-10-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020138923 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Shaffeeullah, Irshaad |
October 3, 2002 |
Method and apparatus for producing individually contoured shoe
insert
Abstract
A method and apparatus for producing individually contoured shoe
inserts. The apparatus scans a foot of a user and generates data
signal representative of the shape of the scanned foot. The data
signal is analyzed and modified by a processor based upon
characteristics of the user's foot, qualities desired by the user
and the manner in which the user walks. The modified data signals
are provide to control an insert forming device which molds a blank
template to produce an insert of a desired shape. The insert is
provided to the user for the placement in a shoe. modified data may
be stored in a memory device or on a recording medium for use at a
future date to produce other inserts. Additional data for use in
modifying the data signal may be provided by the user using a data
input device such as a keyboard
Inventors: |
Shaffeeullah, Irshaad;
(Jamaica, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MICHAEL I. KROLL
171 STILLWELL LANE
SYOSSET
NY
11791
US
|
Family ID: |
25224348 |
Appl. No.: |
09/817989 |
Filed: |
March 27, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
12/142N ;
12/146M; 36/88; 36/93 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43D 1/025 20130101;
A43B 17/00 20130101; A43B 7/28 20130101; A43B 7/141 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
12/142.00N ;
12/146.00M; 36/88; 36/93 |
International
Class: |
A43B 007/14 |
Claims
What is claimed is new and desired to be protected by Letters
Patent is set forth in the appended claims:
1. A method of producing a custom-made shoe insert for a person's
foot, said method comprising the steps of: a) scanning an
undersurface of the person's foot to determine a shape of the foot;
b) generating data signal indicative of the shape of the foot
scanned; c) modifying the data signal to compensate for a defect of
the person's foot; d) shaping a blank template in accordance with
the modified data signal to form the costume-made shoe insert; and
e) providing the costume-made insert to the person.
2. The method as in claim 1, further comprising the step of storing
the modified data signal in a memory unit.
3. The method as in claim 2, wherein the stored data signal is
further stored onto a recording medium.
4. The method as in claim 1, wherein modification of the data
signal compensates for one or more characteristics of the person's
foot.
5. The method as in claim 4, wherein said step of modification
modifies a portion of the data signal related to a specified area
of the scanned foot.
6. The method as in claim 4, wherein said step of modification
modifies the data signal to alter a specified maximum height at the
inside or outside of the person's foot thereby producing a
custom-made insert able to adjust the amount of arch support
provided thereby.
7. The method as in claim 4, wherein said information is operable
for modifying the data signal in accordance with a constant height
adjustment.
8. The method as in claim 4, wherein said step of modification
modifies a portion of the data signal in accordance with a
specified pad or depression of specified shape, size, position and
thickness or depth.
9. The method as in claim 4, wherein said step of modification
modifies a portion of the data signal in accordance with a
specified constant percentage increase or decrease in height.
10. The method as in claim 4, wherein said step of modification
modifies a portion of the data signal in accordance with a
specified maximum height increase at the heel end of the person's
foot.
11. The method as in claim 4, wherein said step of modification
modifies a portion of the data signal by prompting an user to
modify the custom-made shoe insert in a specified manner.
12. A device for producing custom shoe inserts, said device
including: a) means for scanning a foot of a user and generating a
data signal representative of the shape of the scanned foot; b)
means for modifying the data signal based upon certain
characteristics of the scanned foot; and c) means for forming an
insert from a blank template based upon a control signal from the
modifying means.
13. The device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising means for
inputting data to said modifying means for use in modifying the
data signal.
14. The device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said inputting means
is one of a keyboard, touch screen, combination mouse and display
screen and disk drive.
15. The device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising means for
storing the modified data signal for future use in producing
additional inserts.
16. The device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising means for
storing a plurality of blank templates for use in producing inserts
a nd providing said blank templates to said forming means upon
receipt of a control signal.
17. The device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said scanning means
includes lasers for scanning a foot of a user and means for
generating the data signal representative of the shape of the
scanned foot based upon said scanning of the foot of the user.
18. The device as claimed in claim 12, further comprising means for
delivering the insert from the forming means the user.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates generally to shoe inserts and,
more particularly, to a method and apparatus for forming a
customized shoe insert conforming to a person's feet and/or
compensating for defects of the person's feet. The present
invention provides a method and apparatus for digitizing the
contour of the undersurface of a person's foot and to an improved
system and method for forming such custom-made shoe inserts.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Apparatuses, systems and methods for forming custom-made
shoe inserts conforming to a person's feet and/or compensating for
defects of the person's feet are disclosed, for example, in U.S.
Pat. No. 4,454,618 entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FORMING
CUSTOM-MADE SHOE INSERT (issued Jun. 19, 1984), and in U.S. Pat.
No. 4,876,758 entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FORMING CUSTOM-MADE
SHOE INSERTS (issued Oct. 31, 1989). In accordance with such
apparatus, systems and methods a foot impression unit is employed
for forming an impression of the undersurface of each foot. The
foot impression unit includes a housing for supporting the foot, an
array of pins supported by the housing for controlled movement to
operative positions in contact with the undersurface of the foot
(or a sheet of flexible material disposed between the array of pins
and the foot) to form the impression, and a locking mechanism for
thereupon locking the pins in place to retain the impression.
Additionally, the foot impression unit may include provisions for
holding a foot with defects, such as pronation (an inward
deflection of the foot), supination (an outward deflection of the
foot), fallen arches or the like, in a corrected position while
forming and retaining an impression corrected for such defects. A
pivotally-mounted sensing and shaping unit is either manually or
automatically driven laterally and to-and-fro across both the
retained impression and an insert blank to mechanically sense the
impression and to remove material from the blank in conformance
with the sensed impression, thereby forming a custom-made shoe
insert from the blank.
[0005] Since the custom-made shoe insert is formed with a foot
supporting surface substantially conforming to the undersurface of
the very foot for which the insert was formed, it provides better
and more comfortable foot support than is provided by conventional
insoles and standardized shoe inserts. Moreover, if the custom-made
shoe insert was formed from an impression corrected for foot
defects, the custom-made shoe insert will tend to compensate for
those defects. However, a disadvantage of the foregoing
apparatuses, systems and methods is that they employ a more
expensive and less portable apparatus than desirable to facilitate
their widespread adoption and usage in retail shoe stores,
podiatrist's offices, and other such customer or patient service
locations of the footware and footcare industries. This
disadvantage is at least partly due to the fact that the foot
impression unit has typically been combined and employed together
with the sensing and shaping unit at each customer or patient
service location or has been transported in its entirety from each
such location, where an impression is formed and retained, to a
central shaping location, where the sensing and shaping unit is
used for mechanically sensing the impression retained by the foot
impression unit and for shaping an insert blank in conformance with
the sensed impression to form the custom-made shoe insert.
[0006] Another disadvantage of the foregoing apparatuses for
forming custom-made shoe inserts, is that they employ a foot
measuring unit for producing electrical analog signals indicative
of the contour of the rear, side and upper surfaces of the foot and
must therefore also employ a converter to process those analog
signals and convert them to recorded laser/copy foot model data.
This adds to the cost and the bulk of the apparatus employed at
each customer or patient service location to obtain and record such
data. Another disadvantage of the foregoing systems and methods is
that they do not provide for on-line modification of the recorded
laser/copy foot model data at the customer or patient service
location to compensate for defects of the foot visually observed at
that location. Another disadvantage of the foregoing system and
method is that they do not provide for locking the pins of the foot
measuring unit in place to retain an impression of the foot formed
by those pins. This precludes a visual inspection of the impression
formed by the pins of the foot measuring unit to verify the
accuracy of the impression and to help in evaluating and discussing
with the customer or patient what modification of the recorded foot
model data might be most appropriate to compensate for defects of
his or her foot. Still another disadvantage of the forgoing systems
and methods is that the attachment of the pins to the moving
elements of tubular variable capacitors and the use of such tubular
variable capacitors to determine the displacements of the pins adds
to the complexity and reduces the pin-packaging of the contour
measuring blocks. This increase both the cost and the bulk of the
foot measuring unit, while decreasing the resolution and, hence,
the quality of the impression formed by the foot impression
unit.
[0007] Numerous types of methods for making individually contoured
shoe inserts have been provide in the prior art. For example, the
U.S. patents listed and described below all are illustrated of such
prior art. While these units may be suitable for the particular
purpose to which they address, they would not be as suitable for
the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,000,082
Inventor: Nguyen
Issued Dec. 14, 1999
[0008] A method for making a customized orthopedic device utilizing
a pre-made sole having a plurality of elongated members extending
from the bottom of the sole and inserting each of the elongated
members into apertures of a cutting device. Once inserted through
the apertures, the distal tips of the elongated members contact a
resistance layer which resists the downward movement of the
elongated members. A person's foot is then rested on the topside
surface of the insert; thereby depressing the insert and elongated
member tips into the resistance layer. The compressive force of the
foot against the resistance layer tends to confirm the insert about
the plantar aspect of the foot. A cutting mechanism is then used to
cut the elongated members. The finished product, is customized to
the foot of the person and is ready to be inserted into a shoe
U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,775
Inventor: Riecken
Issued: Jan. 4, 1994
[0009] An insert forming apparatus and method is provided for
making an insert to conformingly fit a shoe and a person's foot
within the shoe. The method for practicing the invention includes
using standard molding techniques to form a mold of the bottom of
the last and using the mold to vacuum form a lower shell half that
conforms to the bottom of the last. With the lower shell half
covering the mold and having vacuum communicating holes drilled
therein, the last is placed in the lower shell half and the upper
shell half is drawn down over the last and lower shell half by
vacuum forming. When the upper and lower shell halves have been
formed, a hole is drilled in the lower shell half for injecting
curable material. A sheet of fabric or leather is placed over the
lover shell half, a person's foot is placed on the fabric or
leather in the lower shell half, and the upper shell half is placed
over the person's foot and fastened to the lower shell half.
Curable material is then injected into the lower shell half between
the lower shell half and the fabric or leather, thus forming an
orthotic appliance that conforms to the shoe and to the person's
foot.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,164,793
Inventor: Wolfersberger
Issued Nov. 17, 1992
[0010] A shoe size selection system using a foot image to obtain
measurement information in three dimensions leading to a proper
shoe size recommendation. The system provides a computer program
that interprets three-dimensional information about a foot and
calculates the key features that relate foot length and girth data
that affect the comfort and fit of a shoe. Apparatus is used to
allow the computer to reproduce on a viewing screen the results of
a scan of a foot and to indicate on a chart a preferred shoe size
for a foot may be normal as to physical form or abnormal as to
physical form.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,128,880
Inventor: White
Issued: Jul. 7, 1992
[0011] A method is provided for measuring bottom facing surfaces of
foot which comprises the steps of placing a foot against a
reference surface within the scanning field of the scanner,
scanning bottom facing surfaces of a foot, and electronically
displaying the scan of the foot bottom facing surfaces on a visual
display to produce a scanned foot image articulating distances of
portions of the foot bottom facing surface from the reference
surface. The electronically displaying step may further include
assigning gray scale values to distances articulated to produce a
scan foot image comprising more than two gray scale intensities so
that a grey scale image with a stereoscopic appearance is provided.
Alternatively, the electronically displaying step may include
assigning color hues to the distances articulated to produce an
image comprising more than two spectral hues so that a color image
with a stereoscopic appearance is provided. In addition, a method
is provided for measuring bottom facing surfaces of the foot which
includes a step of electronically displaying the scan of the foot
bottom facing surfaces on a visual display to produce a scan foot
image distinguishing regions of the foot bottom facing surface
exerting different pressures against the reference surface and
assigning grey scale or color values to the foot pressure regions.
In addition, a system for topographically mapping bottom facing
surfaces of a foot is provided.
U.S. Pat. No 4,876,758
Inventor: Rolloff
Issued: Oct. 31, 1989
[0012] A foot impression unit is provided with an array of gauging
elements, a control mechanism for urging the gauging elements into
contact with the undersurface of a person's foot to form an
impression of the undersurface of the foot, a locking mechanism for
releasably locking the gauging elements in place to retain that
impression, and a sensing mechanism for scanning the gauging
elements to produce laser/copy signals indicative of the positions
of the gauging elements. These laser/copy signals are stored and
processed by a computer to provide a stored data record serving as
a laser/copy representation of the impression of the undersurface
of the foot. The computer may also be employed to provide stored
additional information for modifying that data record to compensate
for a perceived defect of the foot. In response to the stored data
record and any stored additional information for modifying that
data record, a shaping unit shapes an insert blank to form a
custom-made shoe insert conforming to the undersurface of the foot
and compensating for any perceived defect of the foot.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,800,657
Inventor: Brown
Issued: Jan. 31, 1989
[0013] Disclosed herein is an insert for a shoe, boot, or the like
which is capable of plural adjustments so as to adapt the insert to
the unique physical conformation of the wearer's foot, to hold the
foot in a neutral axis position substantially at all times, to
return a foot into the neutral axis mode automatically, and to
provide a wide range of support, resiliency, and angulation based
on the needs of the user. The device as set forth lends itself to
modification for various sports where lateral motion is of primary
importance, shock absorption and longitudinal extension of the foot
is of paramount importance, or for geriatric patients whereby a
single insert and the modifying devices associated therewith
address the vast spectrum of orthopedic needs.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,745,927
Inventor: Brock
Issued: May 8, 1988
[0014] An orthopedic shoe cushioned insert having a cushioned plate
member with a first and second attachment means and a method of
operation thereof are disclosed. Here, the cushioned plate member
is comprised of an upper and a lower plate member being attached
together preferably with a two-sided tape there between, as well as
providing a cushion effect thereof. The first attachment means is
coupled there below the bottom front portion of the lower plate
member for suitably wrapping around an ailing or injured toe. The
second attachment means is coupled there below the bottom back
portion of the lower plate member for suitably wrapping around a
foot. The orthopedic shoe cushioned insert is reversible; i.e,
usable for either a right or left foot, as well as effective for
managing arthritic ailments of toes or joints there of, such as
"halux rigidus", or the like.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,745,290
Inventor: Frankel
Issued: May 17, 1988
[0015] The disclosure is directed to a method and apparatus for
making a custom shoe based on non-contact measurements of a
particular subject's foot. A foot is placed at an inspection
position, and a laser beam is directed at the foot, and scanned in
a predetermined pattern over the surface of the foot. The light
beam reflected from the foot is detected at a position detector.
Surface coordinates of the foot are determined as a function of the
detector output. The determined surface coordinates are stored and
can then be used in making a shoe having a shape which depends on
the stored coordinates. In a preferred embodiment, a rotating
scanner is disposed above the inspection position and an
oscillating reflector is disposed to one side of the inspection
position. The beam of light is reflected from the rotating scanner
to the oscillating reflector to the foot, and the beam reflected
from the foot is thereafter reflected back to the oscillating
reflector, the rotating scanner, and then the detector.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,503,576
Inventor: Brown
Issued: Mar. 12, 1985
[0016] An orthopedic appliance and a method of making same in which
the appliance is for use between a foot and a shoe, boot or the
like and includes an insert which is to be placed between the foot
and the boot, the insert is to be custom formed to correspond to
the contour of an individual's foot. The insert is initially heated
until its volume expands, thereafter the insert is placed on a
platform and the two are adjoined to the foot. A vacuum bag is slid
thereover, a vacuum is formed within the bag, and thereafter the
insert takes the configuration of the bottom face of the foot.
Additionally, foot pressure may be applied to augment the degree of
conformation of the insert to the foot, and in other embodiments an
additional heel insert is placed below the major insert, and a
crest piece is placed between the ball and toe area of the insert
on the underside thereof so that this additional material can be
bonded to the major insert and also conform to the user's foot.
U.S. Pat. No 4,454,618
Inventor: Churchod
Issued: Jun. 19, 1984
[0017] A system and method for forming a custom-made resilient
insert for a given person's shoe in which the contour of the
support surface of the insert conforms to the contour of the
undersurface of a person's foot.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0018] The present invention relates generally to shoe inserts and,
more particularly, to a method and apparatus for forming a
customized shoe insert conforming to a person's feet and/or
compensating for defects of the person's feet. The present
invention provides a method and apparatus for digitizing the
contour of the undersurface of a person's foot and to an improved
system and method for forming such custom-made shoe inserts.
[0019] A primary object of the present invention is to provide a
method and apparatus for producing individually contoured shoe
inserts that will overcome the shortcomings of prior art
devices.
[0020] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
method and apparatus for forming custom-made shoe inserts which is
small in size and able to be positioned in a desired location for
easy public use and access.
[0021] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
method and apparatus for forming custom made shoe inserts which is
able to overcome the previously-mentioned and other disadvantages
of the foregoing prior apparatuses, systems and methods.
[0022] A yet further object of the present invention is to provide
a method and apparatus for forming custom-made shoe inserts which
is able to facilitate more widespread adoption and usage of such
methods and for thereby making custom-made shoe inserts more
generally available to the public.
[0023] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
method and apparatus for forming custom-made shoe inserts which is
less expensive and more reliable method for laser/copying the
undersurface of a person's foot.
[0024] A further object of the present invention is to provide a
method and apparatus for forming custom-made shoe inserts at a
single central location wherein the impression of the undersurface
of the person's foot is formed and scanned at a customer or patient
service location to form the laser representation of the
impression, the laser representation is stored at the customer or
patient service location and transmitted or sent to an adjacently
located shaping location, and the custom-made shoe insert is formed
from the blank at the shaping location in accordance with the
stored laser representation and provided to the customer.
[0025] Another object of an aspect of the present invention is to
provide a method and apparatus for forming custom-made shoe inserts
wherein conventional copying equipment and techniques are utilized
to control the forming and scanning of the impression of the
undersurface of the person's foot, the forming and storing of the
laser/copy representation of the impression, the transmitting of
the stored laser representation, and the forming of the custom-made
shoe insert from the blank in accordance with the stored laser/copy
representation.
[0026] Additional objects of the present invention will appear as
the description proceeds.
[0027] A method and apparatus for producing individually contoured
shoe inserts is disclosed by the present invention. The apparatus
scans a foot of a user and generates a data signal representative
of the shape of the scanned foot. The data signal is analyzed and
modified by a processor based upon characteristics of the user's
foot, qualities desired by the user and the manner in which the
user walks. The modified data signals are provided to control an
insert forming device which molds a blank template to produce an
insert of a desired shape. The insert is provided to the user for
placement in a shoe. The modified data may be stored in a memory
device or on a recording medium for use at a future date to produce
other inserts. Additional data for use in modifying the data signal
may be provided by the user using a data input device such as a
keyboard.
[0028] To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this
invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however,
that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be
made in the specific construction illustrated and described within
the scope of the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0029] Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of
the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the
same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters
designate the same or similar parts throughout the several
views.
[0030] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a person using the apparatus
for forming custom-made shoe inserts of the present invention to
produce a shoe insert;
[0031] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side elevation view of the foot
laser/copy unit of the apparatus for forming custom-made shoe
inserts of the present invention showing the foot impression unit
being employed to form an impression of the undersurface of a
persons foot;
[0032] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a custom-made shoe insert
formed by the apparatus for forming custom-made shoe inserts of the
present invention;
[0033] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the custom-made shoe insert
of FIG. 2 formed by the apparatus for forming custom-made shoe
inserts of the present invention when shortened in length in
accordance with a data record modification feature of the present
invention;
[0034] FIG. 5 is block diagram illustrating the apparatus for
forming custom-made shoe inserts of the present invention; and FIG.
6A and 6B are flow diagrams illustrating the method of forming
custom-made shoe inserts using the apparatus for forming
custom-made shoe inserts of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS
[0035] Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar
reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several
views, the Figures illustrate the method and apparatus for forming
custom-made, individually contoured shoe inserts of the present
invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the
following numbering is used throughout the various drawing
figures.
[0036] 10 customized shoe insert
[0037] 12 foot
[0038] 14 public area
[0039] 16 patron
[0040] 18 operator of apparatus for forming custom-made shoe
inserts
[0041] 34 laser/copy machine parts
[0042] 40 foot laser/copy unit
[0043] 50 apparatus for forming custom-made shoe inserts of the
present invention
[0044] 52 scanning lasers
[0045] 54 processor
[0046] 56 memory unit
[0047] 58 shoe insert forming device
[0048] 60 shoe insert storage device
[0049] 62 output for customized shoe inserts
[0050] 64 activation button
[0051] 66 data input device
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0052] Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar
reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several
views, FIGS. 1 through 6 illustrate the method and apparatus for
producing individually contoured shoe insert of the present
invention, the apparatus being indicated generally by the numeral
50.
[0053] The method and apparatus for producing individually
contoured shoe inserts 50 will now be described with reference to
the figures. In operation, the method of producing an individually
contoured shoe insert is simple and inexpensive for all persons
thereby allowing individuals to quickly make custom contoured shoe
inserts.
[0054] Referring now to FIG. 1, the apparatus for forming
custom-made shoe inserts 50 of the present invention is shown in a
public area 14 for use by patrons 16 to create a custom fitted shoe
insert. A patron 16 is shown placing a foot 12 on the foot
laser/copy unit 40 for scanning by the apparatus for forming
custom-made shoe inserts 50. An operator 18 of the apparatus for
forming custom-made shoe inserts 50 presses an activation button 64
when the foot 12 of the patron 16 is correctly positioned. Pressing
of the activation button begins the process of scanning the foot
for producing the shoe insert. Once the foot 12 is scanned, a
signal representative of the shape of the foot 12 is provided to a
processor which analyzes the signal and generates a signal
representative of a shape for the shoe insert. When analyzing the
signal, the processor factors certain information including certain
modifications to the insert which may be required due to the manner
in which the patron 16 walks. Such information includes whether the
user requires an insert which accounts for pronation (eversion)
ramp correction, supination (inversion) ramp correction, insert
thickness adjustment, pad/depression selection and placement
adjustment, overall arch support adjustment, heel lift ramp
adjustment, toe crest or sulcus limit adjustment, or insert length
adjustment. This information is used to customize the insert to
both the shape of the foot and the manner in which the user walks.
The operator 18 may input data using a data input device for use by
the processor in modifying the shape of the insert to be produced
based upon certain characteristics of the patron's foot and the
manner in which the patron walks. The processor then controls
formation of the insert from a blank template and provides the
custom made insert to the user.
[0055] The apparatus for forming custom-made shoe inserts 50 is
shown in FIG. 2 and a block diagram of the apparatus for forming
custom-made shoe inserts 50 is shown in FIG. 4. These figures show
a foot laser/copy unit 40 constructed in accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the apparatus for forming custom-made shoe
inserts 50 of the present invention and employed for digitizing a
scan of the undersurface of a person's foot 12. The foot laser/copy
unit 40 includes standard copy/laser machine parts 34 for forming
an impression of the undersurface of the foot 12. When a user
places a foot 12 on the foot laser/copy unit 40 as shown in FIG. 2,
scanning lasers 52 as shown in FIG. 4 will scan the foot and
provide a signal indicative of the shape of the foot to a processor
54 upon activation of the button 64. The activation button 64 is
connected to a processor 54 which controls activation of the foot
laser/copy unit 40 and the scanning lasers 52. When the activation
button 64 is pressed or activated in any conventionally known
manner, the processor 54 activates the foot laser/copy unit 40 and
scanning lasers 52 to scan the foot 12 positioned thereon.
[0056] Once scanned, a signal indicative of the shape of the foot
is provided to the processor 54 from the foot laser/copy unit 40.
The signal is analyzed by the processor 54 which generates a signal
indicative of the shape of the insert to be produced. Modifying the
signal representative of the scanned shape of the foot may be
desired to compensate for one or more defects of the person's right
foot. Any such defects may be detected and the required
modifications of the stored data record determined by visual
inspection of the person's right foot, by visual inspection of the
impression formed of the undersurface of that foot by the
copy/laser machine parts 34, and by employing apparatus and
techniques generally used in podiatry for this purpose. When
determining the shape of the insert the processor 54 thus considers
the shape of the foot as well as information concerning whether the
user requires an insert which accounts for pronation (eversion)
ramp correction, supination (inversion) ramp correction, insert
thickness adjustment, pad/depression selection and placement
adjustment, overall arch support adjustment, heel lift ramp
adjustment, toe crest or sulcus limit adjustment, or insert length
adjustment. This information is used to customize the insert to
both the shape of the foot and the manner in which the user walks.
The operator may also provide additional information for the
processor to consider when generating a modified signal indicative
of the shape of the insert to be produced using the data input unit
66. The data input unit 66 may be in the form of a keyboard, touch
screen, combination mouse and display screen, disk drive or other
such data input device and allows certain criteria to be input by
the operator concerning the final shape of the insert. The signal
generated by the processor 54 is then stored in the memory unit 56.
The stored data record so provided accordingly serves as a
laser/copy representation of the impression formed of the
undersurface of the person's right foot by laser/copy unit 40 and
defines a custom-made shoe insert 10, as shown, for example, in
FIG. 2, conforming to the undersurface of that foot 12. The data
stored in the memory unit 56 for each foot and any corresponding
additional information for modifying that data may be recorded on a
floppy disc or similar data storing device or recording medium for
future reference.
[0057] An insert produced to provide overall arch support
adjustment which compensates for arch problems, such as fallen
arches, by modifying the stored data record as required to increase
or decrease the height of the arch support provided by the
custom-made shoe insert 10 shown in FIG. 3 by adjusting a selected
percentage of the height of that support.
[0058] Adjusting the toe crest or sulcus limit adjustment provides
a less confining fit by modifying the signal representative of the
scanned foot as required to reduce or remove the toe crest or
sulcus that is defined between the metatarsals and the toes and
that would otherwise be formed is illustrated by the custom-made
shoe insert 10 shown in FIG. 4. The length adjustment of the insert
is employed to reduce the insert to a desired length and size shown
by the insert illustrated in FIG. 4 may be necessary for certain
tight-fitting shoes. As a part of the instruction for initiating
the insert length adjustment, the user specifies a desired amount
by which the custom-made shoe insert 10 should be shortened after
it has been shaped. This specified amount may be, for example,
one-fourth full size, one-half full size, or three-fourths full
size (orthotic size).
[0059] The signal generated by the processor 54 is also used to
control a shoe insert forming device 58 connected thereto. Upon
receipt of a signal from the processor 54, the shoe insert forming
device 58 retrieves a blank template from a shoe insert storage
unit 60 for use in creating the insert. The shoe insert storage
unit 60 stores a plurality of blank templates used to produce shoe
inserts therefrom. The shoe insert forming device 58 then molds and
cuts the blank template under the control of the processor 54 to
produce the shoe insert. An output slot 62 is connected to the shoe
insert forming device 58 for providing the molded customized shoe
insert to the patron
[0060] The operation of the apparatus for forming custom-made shoe
inserts 50 will now be described with reference to the figures. In
operation, the apparatus for forming custom-made shoe inserts 50 is
preferably positioned in a public area providing easy access for
users. of the processor 54, the insert forming device 58 will form
the blank template into a customized shoe insert as described in
step S 18 and provide the insert 10 to the user as discussed in
step S20. The user then places the shoe insert in the shoe for
which it was formed as stated in step S22 and is able to walk more
comfortably and naturally.
[0061] From the above description it can be seen that the method of
producing individually contoured shoe insert of the present
invention is able to overcome the shortcomings of prior art devices
by providing a method of producing individually contoured shoe
insert which is small in size, able to be positioned in a desired
location for easy public use and access, facilitates more
widespread adoption and usage of such methods and for thereby
making custom-made shoe inserts more generally available to the
public and provides a more reliable method for laser/copying the
undersurface of a person's foot. The apparatus for forming
custom-made shoe inserts is provided at a single central location
wherein the impression of the undersurface of the person's foot is
formed and scanned at a customer or patient service location to
form the laser representation of the impression, the laser
representation is stored at the customer or patient service
location and transmitted or sent to an adjacently located shaping
location, and the custom-made shoe insert is formed from the blank
at the shaping location in accordance with the stored laser
representation and provided to the customer. The apparatus for
forming custom-made shoe inserts utilizes conventional copying
equipment and techniques to control the forming and scanning of the
impression of the undersurface of the person's foot, the forming
and storing of the laser/copy representation of the impression,
the
[0062] When a user desires to have a shoe insert 10 produced, the
user places a foot 12 on the foot laser/copy unit 40 as described
in step S2. Once positioned on the foot laser/copy unit 40, the
activation button 64 is pressed to begin operation of the apparatus
for forming custom-made shoe inserts 50 as stated in step S4. Upon
activation of the button 64, the processor 54 activates the foot
laser/copy unit 40 and scanning lasers 52 to scan the shape of the
foot 12 as discussed in step S6. When scanning the foot, the foot
laser/copy unit 40 provides a data signal representative of the
shape of the foot to the processor 54 as described in step S8.
[0063] Upon receipt of the data signal, the processor 54 analyzes
the signal as stated in step S10 and determines if the shape of the
foot indicates that the user pronates, supinates or requires some
other form of corrective measures when producing the shoe insert 10
and modifies the data signal based upon this determination as
described in step S12. Additionally, information may be entered by
the user through the data input device for use in modifying the
data signal to thereby customize the shoe insert 10. The modified
data signal is then stored in the memory unit 56 for possible
future use as discussed in step S14.
[0064] The apparatus for forming custom-made shoe inserts 50 is now
prepared to form the shoe insert. At this time the processor 54
activates the insert forming device 58 to retrieve a blank template
from the storage unit 60 as stated in step S 16. Under the control
transmitting of the stored laser representation, and the forming of
the custom-made shoe insert from the blank in accordance with the
stored laser/copy representation. Furthermore, the method of
producing individually contoured shoe insert of the present
invention is simple and easy to use and economical in cost to
manufacture.
[0065] It will be understood that each of the elements described
above, or two or more together may also find a useful application
in other types of methods differing from the type described
above.
[0066] While certain novel features of this invention have been
shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it
is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will
be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions
and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and
in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without
departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
[0067] Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal
the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying
current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications
without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art,
fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or
specific aspects of this invention.
* * * * *