U.S. patent application number 10/344935 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-20 for system for measuring the correct size of shoes.
Invention is credited to Varsallona, Salvatore.
Application Number | 20040093746 10/344935 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 11441399 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040093746 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Varsallona, Salvatore |
May 20, 2004 |
System for measuring the correct size of shoes
Abstract
A system for measuring the correct size of the shoes is formed
by a sensor (1) located at the frontal tip of the shoe, at the
level of the big toe or the longer toe of the foot, so that when
the toe touches the sensor, it turns on a preferably bright signal
consisting of a led (2). In this way, it will be possible in any
moment to verify if the size of the shoe is correct, which is
particularly important for children who hardly say when the shoe
does no more fit the size of the foot.
Inventors: |
Varsallona, Salvatore;
(Caltagirone, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
YOUNG & THOMPSON
745 SOUTH 23RD STREET 2ND FLOOR
ARLINGTON
VA
22202
|
Family ID: |
11441399 |
Appl. No.: |
10/344935 |
Filed: |
July 25, 2003 |
PCT Filed: |
July 31, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/IT01/00422 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
33/3A |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43D 1/027 20130101;
A43B 3/34 20220101 |
Class at
Publication: |
033/003.00A |
International
Class: |
A43D 001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 18, 2000 |
IT |
CT2000U000012 |
Claims
1) System for measuring the correct size of the shoe for the foot
wearing it, with a sensor, a led or other sound or visual signals
and an electric circuit, characterized in that it comprises: a
sensor (1) to find the position of the big toe or the longer toe,
located at the frontal tip of the insole; a led (2), or other sound
or visual signal to signal the contact between the big toe or the
longer toe and the sensor, which turns on when said toe activates
the sensor, located inside the insole itself; an electric circuit
(4) to connect the sensor with the led, or other sound or visual
signalling system, powered by a battery (3), said electric circuit
and battery located inside the insole itself.
2) System according to claim 1 characterized in that the whole
system, comprising battery, led, sensor and connections, is
included inside an insole inserted into the shoe.
3) Insole to be inserted into a shoe, according to claim 1,
characterized in that it comprises a led, a battery and a sensor
connected to each other, in order to signal when the big toe of the
longer toe is too close to the upper at the tip of the shoe; in
this case, the toe activates the sensor turning on the led, which
means that the shoe is too short.
4) System according to claim 1 characterized in that the sensor is
placed at the tip of the shoe'insole in the point where the touch
of the big toe or the longer toe is wrong and proves that the shoe
is too short. In this way, if said toe touches the sensor, this
will signal the wrong position.
5) System according to claim 1 characterized in that the sensor is
placed just beyond the position that allows the big toe or the
longer toe, during perambulation, to move forwards of about 1 cm,
therefore in a position very close to the shoe's upper. When
touching the sensor, the big toe, or the longer toe, is in the
"dangerous zone", less then 1 cm far from the upper, so that the
sensor is activated and immediately signals the shoe is too short
by means of the led.
6) System according to claim 1 characterized in that the sensor is
placed at the level of the big toe or the longer toe, about 1 cm
far from the upper, i.e. the minimum space for a correct
perambulation.
7) System according to claim 1 characterized in that the signalling
system is placed at the heel or elsewhere, so as not to damage the
beauty of the shoe, and signals when the big toe or the longer toe
is about 1 cm far for the tip of the shoe, brightening.
8) System according to claim 1 characterized in that the signal
emitted after the activation of the sensor by the toe may be sound
or visual, and consists of a led with a light that can be seen form
the outside of the shoe, in order to externally signal when it's
too short.
9) System according to claim 1 characterized in that the battery
and the led are placed inside th sole, while the sensor and the
relative connections are applied under the insole.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to the technical sector of the
production of footwear, in particular of accessories, connected or
attached to it, which allow to exactly measure the correct length
of the shoe for the foot.
[0002] Everyone knows the drawbacks resulting form wearing a shoe
that doesn't fit the size of one's foot. A short shoe, inside which
the big toe or the longer toe of the foot touches the upper at the
tip, may cause malformations or diseases, as the hallux valgus or
the ingrowing toenails. The big toe, or the longer toe, generally
needs at least 1 cm space for a correct perambulation.
BACKGROUND ART
[0003] At present the most common system for verifying if the size
or the shoe is correct for one's foot is to press the upper at the
tip trying to feel to the touch the big toe or however the longer
toe. Obviously, this is an empirical method, which is not very
functional, especially for children.
[0004] Currently, there isn't any shoe that allows to verify the
correct size when purchasing, so often the shoes one bought, after
a while, result uncomfortable and therefore cannot be used because
too short. In particular children suffer form this problem for two
reasons:
[0005] 1) they are not capable to say to their parents if the size
of the shoe is correct when purchasing;
[0006] 2) they rapidly grow, therefore their shoes rapidly become
small and they don't even realize that.
[0007] What is known is patent No. DE 19727201 describing a system
for measuring the size of the shoe. This patent concerns a shoe
inside which a sensor is placed in the frontal part of the upper,
while the parts of the electric circuit are comprised in the sole.
Said patent has two serious drawbacks: 1) it's impossible to be
manufactured, since during the manufacturing phase, the upper is
stretched and the sensor at the tip is inevitably broken, while
it's not possible to insert the sensor once the shoe has been
finished; 2) the shoe object of the invention cannot be washed as
the electric circuit is integrated to it.
[0008] Another patent is known, U.S. Pat. No. 4,745,930, concerning
an insole to permit an analysis of the walking or running gait of
the wearer, which comprises an electric circuit, but does not have
the function of measuring the size of the shoe.
[0009] On the contrary, the system object of the present invention
permits to establish the correct size of a shoe in a simple and
certain way, without considerable adding costs on the price of the
original product and in such a way as to result imperceptible to
the wearer.
[0010] The object of the present invention avoids these drawbacks
as it will be better illustrated in the following description.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
[0011] Reduced to its essential structure and with reference to the
figures or the enclosed drawings, a system for measuring the
correct size of a shoe for the foot wearing it, according to the
present invention, comprises:
[0012] means to find the position of the big toe or the longer toe,
by a sensor (1) located at the frontal tip of the sole;
[0013] means to signal the contact between the big toe or the
longer toe and the sensor, by a led (2), or other sound or visual
signal, which turns on when said toe activates the sensor;
[0014] means to connect the sensor with the led, or other sound or
visual signalling system, by an electric circuit (4) powered by a
battery (3).
[0015] Conveniently, this system for measuring the right size of
the shoe is placed inside the shoe and is formed by a led, a
battery and a sensor connected to each other, in order to signal
when the big toe or the longer toe is too close to the upper at the
tip of the shoe; in this case, the toe activates the sensor turning
on the led, which means that the shoe is too short.
[0016] Conveniently, the sensor is placed at the tip of the shoe's
sole in the point where the touch of the big toe or the longer toe
is wrong and proves that the shoe is too short. In this way, if
said toe touches the sensor, this will signal the wrong
position.
[0017] Conveniently, the sensor is placed just beyond the position
that allows the big toe or the longer toe, during perambulation, to
more forward or about 1 cm, therefore in a position very close to
the shoe's upper. When touching the sensor, the big toe, or the
longer toe, is in the "dangerous zone", less than 1 cm far from the
upper, so that the sensor is activated and immediately signals the
shoe is too short by means of the led.
[0018] Conveniently, the sensor is placed at the level of the big
toe or the longer toe, about 1 cm far form the upper, i.e. the
minimum space for a correct perambulation.
[0019] Conveniently, the signalling system is placed at the heel or
elsewhere, so as not to damage the beauty of the shoe, and signals
when the big toe or the longer toe is about 1 cm far from the tip
of the shoe, brightening.
[0020] Conveniently, the signal emitted after the activation of the
sensor by the toe may be sound or visual, and consists of a led
with a light that can be seen from the outside of the shoe, in
order to externally signal when it's too short, said system has the
advantage to alert the wearer when the shoe that initially was of
the right size, has become too short, which is particularly
important for children.
[0021] Conveniently, with reference to FIG. 3, the whole system,
comprising the sensor, the battery and the led, is included inside
the shoe's sole, while the insole serves as a cover.
[0022] Conveniently, with reference to FIG. 4, the battery and the
led are placed inside the sole, while the sensor and the relative
connections are applied under the insole.
[0023] Conveniently, with reference to FIG. 5, the whole system,
comprising battery, led, sensor and connections, is included inside
an insole inserted into the shoe.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 shows a schematic drawing of the electric circuit
actuating this system, placed above the sole. It shows the sensor
(1) located at the level of the big toe, or the longer toe, that
serves as a switch. Once it has been activated by the toe, the led
(2) located at the heel or elsewhere turns on. This system works
with a circuit (4) that includes a battery (3) and a simple
led.
[0025] FIG. 2 shows the electric circuit of the system of FIG.
1.
[0026] FIG. 3 shows a shoe in which the system is completely
applied inside its sole, while the insole serves as a cover.
[0027] FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of a shoe in which the sensor
and the connections are applied under the insole, while the battery
and the led are included inside the sole.
[0028] FIG. 5 shows and insole that includes the whole system.
[0029] FIG. 6 shows a side section of a shoe in which the system is
applied inside the sole.
[0030] FIG. 7 shows the same section as FIG. 6 comprising a foot,
which better demonstrates the utility of the system that prevents
the foot form touching the tip of the upper with the consequent
problems.
* * * * *