WEAR MONITOR FOR RECREATIONAL FOOTGEAR
First Claim
1. A device for monitoring wear to a component of footgear based on the expected functional life of the component, as determined by a predetermined number of events, the device comprising:
- a sensor to detect events of the footgear due to activity of a wearer;
a processor to count the events detected by the sensor and maintain a cumulative event total and to compare the cumulative event total to an event threshold, the event threshold calculated from the predetermined number of events and an individualized factor; and
a display to indicate the relationship between the cumulative event total and the event threshold.
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Abstract
A wear monitor for footgear can indicate when a shoe or component may have exceeded its expected useful life. The indication can be triggered by a measure of use, such as steps taken or distance accrued in the shoes, either through estimation or actual measurements. The monitor can take into account varies parameters related to the individual wearer of the shoe and environmental factors to more accurately determine when a pair of shoes has reached a wear out period. By employing sensors, the monitor can also be measure certain operating parameters of the shoe, such as the loss of a critical amount of resilience, and indicating to the wearer that the shoes are no longer adequate to protect the wearer from injury. The wear monitor can be fabricated into the shoe during manufacturing or can be a portable stand-alone device and can employ various technologies to provide a status indication to the wearer.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. A device for monitoring wear to a component of footgear based on the expected functional life of the component, as determined by a predetermined number of events, the device comprising:
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a sensor to detect events of the footgear due to activity of a wearer; a processor to count the events detected by the sensor and maintain a cumulative event total and to compare the cumulative event total to an event threshold, the event threshold calculated from the predetermined number of events and an individualized factor; and a display to indicate the relationship between the cumulative event total and the event threshold. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for estimating wear to a component of footgear based on the expected functional life of the component, as determined by a predetermined number of events, comprising:
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calculating an event threshold based on the predetermined number of events and an individualized factor; counting the events detected by a sensor; from the counting, maintaining a cumulative event total; comparing the cumulative event total to the event threshold. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A shoe having a monitor for estimating wear to a component of the shoe based on the expected functional life of the component, as determined by a predetermined number of events, comprising:
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a sensor to detect events of the shoe due to activity of a wearer; a processor for; calculating an event threshold based on the predetermined number of events and individualized factor; counting the events detected by a sensor; from the counting, maintaining a cumulative event total; comparing the cumulative event total to the event threshold; and a display to indicate the relationship between the cumulative event total and the event threshold. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification