Automatic foot sizing apparatus
US6163971A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 10, 1998 |
| Grant date | Dec 26, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 10, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61B5/1074
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention discloses an automatic foot-sizing apparatus having a base, at least one motor, an activation switch activated by the proximity of the ball of the person's foot, at least three panels driven by the motor for engaging the heel, the toe projecting forwardmost from the foot, and the outer edge of the person's foot being measured, a distance-determining means associated with each panel for producing data representing how far each panel travels from a known starting position until engaging the person's foot, and a microprocessor for detecting activation of the switch, for controlling the motor, for receiving the distance-representing data, and for converting the distance-representing data into a shoe size. The apparatus provides a visual display for providing measurement information to the user and a keypad entry to enable the user to start the apparatus and to indicate the age, sex, and arch-type of the person being measured. A user can also input whether the shoe size should be adjusted to account for variations between shoe manufacturers and whether the shoe size should be displayed in a foreign or domestic shoe size unit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.