FOOTWEAR CONTACT INDICATION SYSTEM

• US 20080018066A1
• Filed: 07/20/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kehau Pickford
• Original Assignee: Kehau Pickford
• Inventors: Pickford, Kehau
• Application Number:
  US11/781,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20080018066A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/11.3
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0081 made at least partially of hook-and-loop type material hook and loop-type straps for fastening purpose A43C11/1493
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0031 provided with a pocket, e.g. for keys or a card
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/36 with light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/50 with sound or music sources
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/16 Skating boots

Abstract

A system for alerting a skater when the skater'"'"'s feet touch during a maneuver. The system comprises a wrap that bears a pocket positionable on an item of footwear, such as an ice skate. The wrap includes lateral portions extending around the ankle of the skate and may further include an instep strap coupled to the lateral portions and extending beneath the skate. The system further includes a contact device in communication with an indication device. The contact device is configured to detect an amount of contact from a nearby object, such as a skater'"'"'s other foot. Upon detecting the amount of contact, the indication device provides a human perceptible indication to the skater that indicates that a sufficient amount of contact was made to trigger the contact device.

Claims

1. A contact indication system for a footwear item comprising:

a flexible holder having a pocket, the holder configured to be removeably secured to the footwear item; and

an indication mechanism positioned in the pocket and configured with a contact surface operable to generate a human perceptible indication when the contact surface achieves a predetermined amount of contact with a nearby object.

2. The contact indication system of claim 1, wherein the footwear item includes an ice skate.

3. The contact indication system of claim 1, wherein the flexible holder includes lateral portions for extending around the footwear item.

4. The contact indication system of claim 1, wherein the pocket includes mesh material affixed to an external surface of the flexible holder.

5. The contact indication system of claim 1, wherein the flexible holder includes a strap for extending around an instep portion of the footwear to secure the flexible holder to the footwear item

6. The contact indication system of claim 1, the holder configured to be removeably secured to the footwear item includes the holder having hook and loop fastening portions.

7. The contact indication system of claim 1, wherein the indication mechanism includes a contact sensor in communication with an alarm-producing device to produce an audible sound when the contact sensor is contacted with a first amount of force.

8. The contact indication system of claim 1, wherein the indication mechanism includes a contact sensor and an earpiece unit in wireless communication with one another, the contact sensor operable to transmit a wireless signal to the earpiece unit, which provides the human perceptible indication that the contact sensor detected a predetermined amount of contact.

9. The contact indication system of claim 8, wherein the contact sensor transmits a radio frequency signal to the earpiece.

10. The contact indication system of claim 1, wherein the indication mechanism includes a contact sensor in communication with a vibration-producing device to produce a vibratory indication relative to the footwear that the contact sensor detected a predetermined amount of contact.

11. The contact indication system of claim 1, wherein the indication mechanism includes a contact sensor in communication with a light-producing device to produce a light indicating that the contact sensor detected a predetermined amount of contact.

12. The contact indication system of claim 1, wherein the contact surface includes a piezio-electric contact sensor.

13. The contact indication system of claim 1, wherein the nearby object includes an object not directly attached to or extending from the footwear item.

14. A method of training an ice skater to perform a skating maneuver, the method comprising:

providing an ice surface for ice skating;

permitting the ice skater on the ice surface when the ice skater is wearing an ice skate having a flexible holder with a pocket, the holder configured to be removeably secured to the ice skate, the pocket having a contact mechanism located therein and arranged in a predetermined position with respect to the ice skate; and

permitting the ice skater to perform the skating maneuver on the ice surface wherein the contact mechanism is actuatable when contacted by a nearby object while the ice skater performs the skating maneuver, the contact mechanism operable to generate a human perceptible indication to the ice skater when a predetermined amount of contact with the nearby object is detected.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein permitting the ice skater on the ice surface includes accepting payment for the ice skater to utilize the ice surface.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein permitting the ice skater to perform the skating maneuver includes providing training lessons to the ice skater at an ice rink.

17. A contact indication system for a footwear item comprising:

an ankle wrap having a pocket and first fastening means;

an instep strap extending from the ankle wrap and having second fastening means; and

a contact indication mechanism housed within the pocket, the ankle wrap secured to the footwear item with the contact indication mechanism orientated to detect an amount of contact by an object, the contact indication mechanism configured to generate a human perceptible indication when the amount of contact is detected.

18. The contact indication system of claim 17, wherein the first and second fastening means include a hoop and loop attachment system.

19. The contact indication system of claim 17, wherein the contact indication mechanism is a mechanically actuated mechanism.

20. The contact indication system of claim 17, wherein the contact indication mechanism is an electronically actuated mechanism.