Cycling shoe power sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12005315-B2
Application number	US-202017024082-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 17, 2020
Priority date	Jul 13, 2018
Publication date	Jun 11, 2024
Grant date	Jun 11, 2024

Abstract

A cycling shoe for measuring power includes a sole having a pocket in the bottom of the sole. A sensor platform having a plurality of sensors, at least one sensor on a top of the sensor platform and at least one sensor on the bottom of the sensor platform, is inserted into the pocket. A platform cover and a cleat are attached to the sole over the sensors. Force applied to a pedal clipped to the cleat is measured and processed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A device for measuring exercise power comprising:
a shoe having a sole, wherein the sole includes a pocket on an outside surface of the sole; and
a sensor platform configured to be placed within the pocket, the sensor platform including a sensor pair, the sensor pair including a top sensor located on a top surface of the sensor platform and a bottom sensor located on a bottom surface of the sensor platform, the top sensor and the bottom sensor being opposite each other on the sensor platform, the top surface spaced apart from the bottom surface.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the sensor pair is a force sensor.

3. The device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor platform includes a plurality of cleat supports, the sensor pair being located on at least one cleat support of the plurality of cleat supports.

4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the sensor pair is configured to measure transverse shear force.

5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the top sensor and the bottom sensor are strain gauges having an orientation that is the same for both the top sensor and the bottom sensor.

6. The device of claim 1 , further comprising a battery located in the sole of the shoe.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein pocket is open and the sensor platform is configured to be placed directly in the pocket.

8. A system for measuring cycling power comprising:
a cycling shoe having a sole, the sole forming a pocket on an outer surface of the sole;
a sensor platform placed in the pocket, the sensor platform fastened to the sole and the pocket using a plurality of platform fasteners that extend into the sole, wherein a sensor is attached to the sensor platform; and
a platform cover configured to match a peripheral contour of the sole when installed over the sensor platform and the pocket such that the platform cover has the same size as the peripheral contour of the sole.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the platform cover is waterproof.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the platform cover connects to the sole using a snap fit.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein the platform cover connects to the sole with a cleat fastener.

12. A system for measuring exercise power comprising:
a shoe having a sole, wherein the sole includes a pocket; and
a sensor platform configured to be placed within the pocket, the sensor platform having a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface spaced apart from the top surface, the sensor platform including a plurality of sensors, a first sensor of the plurality of sensors being on the top surface of the sensor platform, and a second sensor of the plurality of sensors being on the bottom surface of the sensor platform, the second sensor facing an opening of the pocket, wherein the sensor platform is configured to be placed within the pocket.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is a strain gauge sensor.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the at least one sensor is a shear strain gauge sensor.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the strain gauge sensor is a temperature-controlled strain gauge sensor.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are the same.

17. The system of claim 12 , wherein at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is an accelerometer.

18. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are located on a cleat support.

19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first sensor is placed opposite the second sensor on the sensor platform.

Assignees

• Ifit Inc

Inventors

• Smith Kent M

Classifications

• A43B5/14 Primary

  Shoes for cyclists · CPC title

• A43B13/14

  characterised by the constructive form · CPC title

• A43B13/026

  Composites, e.g. carbon fibre or aramid fibre; the sole, one or more sole layers or sole part being made of a composite · CPC title

• A43B3/44

  with sensors, e.g. for detecting contact or position · CPC title

• A63B69/16

  for cycling {, i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles} · CPC title