METHOD FOR INFLUENCING THE PRONATION BEHAVIOUR OF A SHOE

• US 20100198111A1
• Filed: 12/08/2008
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Puma SE
• Original Assignee: Puma Aktiengesellschaft Rudolf Dassler Sport
• Inventors: Milani, Thomas, Doerfler, Ralph, Odenwald, Stephan, Sterzing, Thorsten
• Application Number:
  US12/601,344
• Publication Number:
  US 20100198111A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/592
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/24 Insertions or other supports preventing the foot canting to one side , preventing supination or pronation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1038 Measuring plantar pressure during gait
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for influencing the pronation behaviour of a shoe (1), especially of a sports shoe, in which a) at least on parameter (φ, dφ/dt) is measured (2) which is relevant for the behaviour of pronation, b) the measured parameter (φ, dφ/dt) is led to a control unit (3), c) the control unit (3) outputs an actuation signal (S) which is influencing the behaviour of pronation to an actuator (4) and d) the actuator (4) changes a property of the shoe (1) which property is relevant for the behaviour of pronation. To better influence the behaviour of pronation the invention is characterized in that the processing of data of a parameter (φ, dφ/dt) measured according to step a) takes place from a reference point of time (t_K), wherein the reference point of time is determined from the touch down of the shoe (1) on the ground.

Claims

1. Method for influencing the pronation behaviour of a shoe, in which

at least one parameter is measured which is relevant for the behaviour of pronation,

b) the measured parameter is led to a control unit,

c) the control unit outputs an actuation signal which is influencing the behaviour of pronation to an actuator and

d) the actuator changes a property of the shoe which property is relevant for the behaviour of pronation,

wherein

the processing of data of the parameter measured according to step a) takes place from a reference point of time, wherein the reference point of time is determined from the touch down of the shoe on the ground.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the touch down of the shoe on the ground is detected by a sensor which is integrated into the shoe and which outputs a signal to the control unit which is characteristic for the touch down.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein a pressure or force sensor is used as the sensor, which measures the pressure or the force respectively which is exerted by the foot of the wearer of the shoe on the sole of the shoe.

4. Method according to claim 2, wherein an acceleration sensor is used as the sensor, which can measure the acceleration or deceleration respectively of the shoe during touch down of the shoe on the ground.

5. Method according to one of claim 2, wherein the sensor is arranged in the heel region of the shoe.

6. Method according to claim 2, wherein the sensor is arranged in the sole between the bottom side of the foot of the wearer and the ground contact area of the sole.

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein the sensor is arranged between an outer sole and a midsole of the shoe.

8. Method according to claim 1, wherein the processing of data of the parameter measured according to step a) of claim 1 is terminated when the lift off of the shoe from the ground is detected.

9. Method according to claim 1, wherein the processing of data of the parameter measured according to step a) of claim 1 is terminated when a predetermined time from the reference point of time is elapsed.

10. Method according to claim 8, wherein after the end of the processing of data of the parameter measured according to step a) of claim 1 the actuator is driven into a defined position or into a reference or zero position.

11. Method according to claim 1, wherein the measurement of the parameters which are relevant for the behaviour of pronation according to step a) of claim 1 occurs permanently, especially also during the phases in which no contact exists between the shoe and the ground.

12. Method according to claim 11, wherein the control unit outputs controlling signals to the actuator incorporating measured data of the parameters which are already measured within a defined period prior the touch down of the shoe on the ground.

13. Method according to claim 1, wherein the parameter which is relevant for the behaviour of pronation is the angle or the angular speed of the shoe around a predetermined axis.

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein the measurement of the angle or the angular speed of the shoe around the axis is affected by means of a gyroscopic sensor which is arranged at or in the shoe.

15. Method according to claim 13, wherein the projection of the axis on the ground area includes an angle between 0°

and 45°

with the longitudinal axis of the shoe.

16. Method according to claim 13, wherein the axis, seen in the direction of the longitudinal axis, includes an angle between 0°

and 70°

with the ground area.

17. Method according to claim 1, wherein the relevant property for the behaviour of pronation of the shoe is the thickness of the sole between the bottom side of the foot of the wearer and the ground contact area of the sole in a defined region of the width of the shoe transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shoe.

18. Method according to claim 1, wherein the relevant property for the behaviour of pronation of the shoe is the spring rigidity of the sole in a defined region of the width of the shoe transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shoe.