Shoe-fit testing device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10820664-B2
Application number	US-201816116643-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 29, 2018
Priority date	Aug 29, 2018
Publication date	Nov 3, 2020
Grant date	Nov 3, 2020

Abstract

A shoe-fit testing device includes a pseudo skeletal structure and a pseudo soft tissue structure. The pseudo skeletal structure approximates the bone structure of a human foot and ankle, and the pseudo soft tissue structure encompasses the pseudo skeletal structure. The shoe-fit testing device is capable of transitioning between a compressed state and an uncompressed state. In the uncompressed state, the shoe-fit testing device has a joint girth that is measured at a first value. In the compressed state, the shoe fit testing device has a joint girth that is measured at a second value that is less than the first value. As such, the shoe-fit testing device approximates the flexibility and compressibility of the human foot without requiring a live model.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A shoe-fit testing device:
a foot and ankle pseudo skeletal structure including a plurality of pseudo skeletal elements; and
a pseudo soft tissue structure encompassing the foot and ankle pseudo skeletal structure and separating the plurality of pseudo skeletal elements from one another, the shoe-fit testing device capable of transitioning between an uncompressed state and a compressed state, wherein in the uncompressed state a joint girth of the shoe-fit testing device has a first value and wherein in the compressed state the joint girth of the shoe-fit testing device has a second value that is less than the first value.

2. The shoe-fit testing device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pseudo skeletal elements comprise a number of elements that is less than a number of bones that exist in the human ankle and foot.

3. The shoe-fit testing device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of pseudo skeletal elements approximate the five metatarsal bones of the human foot with less than five of the plurality of pseudo skeletal elements.

4. The shoe-fit testing device of claim 3 , wherein exactly three of the plurality of pseudo skeletal elements approximate the five metatarsal bones of the human foot.

5. The shoe-fit testing device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of pseudo skeletal elements include a hollow center portion.

6. The shoe-fit testing device of claim 1 , wherein the second value is at least five percent less than the first value.

7. The shoe-fit testing device of claim 1 , wherein in the uncompressed state an instep of girth of the shoe-fit testing device has a first value and when in the compressed state the instep girth of the shoe-fit testing device has a second value less than the first value.

8. A shoe-fit testing device comprising:
a foot and ankle pseudo skeletal structure including a plurality of pseudo skeletal elements at least a portion of which form a pseudo ankle joint and a pseudo metatarsal; and
a pseudo soft tissue structure encompassing the foot and ankle pseudo skeletal structure and separating at least a portion of the plurality of pseudo skeletal elements from one another, the pseudo soft tissue structure including a plurality of open flex channels.

9. The shoe-fit testing device of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of pseudo skeletal elements include a toe plate and a first hallux stabilizer.

10. The shoe-fit testing device of claim 8 , wherein the pseudo ankle joint includes an upper portion that defines an elongate channel and a lower portion that defines a projection that is received in the elongate channel.

11. The shoe-fit testing device of claim 10 , wherein the elongate channel of the upper portion of the pseudo ankle joint and the projection of the lower portion of the pseudo ankle joint are separated from one another by the pseudo soft tissue structure.

12. The shoe-fit testing device of claim 8 , wherein the pseudo metatarsal includes less than five pseudo skeletal elements to approximate the five metatarsal bones of the human foot.

13. The shoe-fit testing device of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the plurality of open flex channels includes a portion that is centered beneath the pseudo ankle joint component.

14. The shoe-fit testing device of claim 8 , wherein the shoe-fit testing device transitions between an uncompressed state and a compressed state, wherein in the uncompressed state a joint girth of the shoe-fit testing device has a first value and wherein in the compressed state the joint girth of the shoe-fit testing device has a second value that is less than the first value.

15. The shoe-fit testing device of claim 14 , wherein the second value is at least five percent less than the first value.

16. The shoe-fit testing device of claim 8 , wherein at least a portion of the plurality of pseudo skeletal elements are fabricated from an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic material.

17. The shoe-fit testing device of claim 16 , wherein the pseudo soft tissue structure is of a urethane elastomer material.

18. A method of manufacturing a shoe-fit testing device, comprising:
fabricating a plurality of structural components that approximate a skeletal structure of a human foot and ankle;
fabricating a mold that approximates the outer skin surface of the soft tissues of the human foot and ankle;
placing the plurality of structural components within the mold such that each of the plurality of structural components is maintained distinctly separate from all other structural components, the placing of the plurality of structural components including suspending at least a portion of the plurality of structural components within the mold;
injecting the mold with a molding material, the molding material encompassing the plurality of structural components and forming a shoe-fit testing device; and
removing the shoe-fit testing device from the mold.

19. A method of manufacturing a shoe, comprising:
manufacturing a shoe-fit testing device according to the method of claim 18 ,
defining the elements of a shoe, including a sole and an upper;
fitting the sole and the upper to the shoe-fit testing device or a last based on the shoe fit testing device; and
assembling the fitted elements as a shoe.

20. A shoe, wherein the shoe is manufactured according to the method of claim 19 .

Assignees

• Target Brands Inc

Inventors

• Bishoff Tyler
• Abel Stacy

Classifications

• A43D1/06 Primary

  Measuring devices for the inside measure of shoes, for the height of heels, or for the arrangement of heels · CPC title

• A43D1/027 Primary

  Shoe fit indicating devices · CPC title