Detachable foot mount for electronic device

US6536139B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Personal Electric Devices, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Jesse Darley · Madison, US
• Paul J. Gaudet · Dracut, US
• Sam Joffe · Cambridge, US
• Norbert Ohlenbusch · Andover, US
• John Costello · Saugus, US
• Mark C. Bates · Watauga, US
• Thomas P. Blackadar · Natick, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 19, 2002
• Grant date: Mar 25, 2003
• Expiry date: Mar 19, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01P1/023
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a mount, a housing, and a sensor. The mount is adapted to be disposed at least partially underneath a shoelace of a shoe, and the housing is adapted to be releasably attached to the mount. There is a tongue on one of the mount and the housing and a groove on the other of the mount and the housing, wherein the tongue is adapted to releasably engage the groove when the housing is attached to the mount. The apparatus further comprises a sensor, that senses motion of the shoe, disposed within the housing such that the sensor remains disposed within the housing when the housing is separated from the mount. In another embodiment, a method involves providing a housing that houses a sensor that senses motion of a shoe, and attaching a mount to an instep portion of the shoe such that at least a portion of the mount is disposed underneath at least a portion of a shoelace of the shoe. The housing is attached to the mount by engaging a tongue on one of the mount and the housing with a groove on the other of the mount and the housing, and the housing is detached from the mount without separating the sensor from the housing.