SHOE-BASED ANALYSIS SYSTEM

• US 20160192862A1
• Filed: 01/07/2016
• Published: 07/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nano Composite Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nano Composite Products, Inc.
• Inventors: FULLWOOD, David T., SEELEY, Matthew Kirk, COLLINS, Gavin Quinn, ROSQUIST, Parker Gary, CHRISTENSEN, William Fredrick, MERRELL, Aaron Jake, BOWDEN, Anton E.
• Granted Patent: US 10,405,779 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2562/0261 Strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1038 Measuring plantar pressure during gait
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7405 using sound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence

Abstract

In one example, an apparatus includes a shoe having a sole with at least a portion of foam replaced with a composite polymeric foam, at least one probe disposed in the composite polymeric foam, a voltage detector coupled to the probe that detects voltage data generated by the composite polymeric foam, and a transformation module that converts voltage data generated by the composite polymeric foam in response to deformation events into GRF, acceleration, or pressure data. In another example, a method includes receiving voltage data produced by composite polymeric foam, the composite polymeric foam providing support and padding in the sole of a shoe, converting the voltage data to force data, comparing the force data to a profile, and transmitting, when the force data fails to fall within a threshold of the profile, a feedback signal to a physical feedback device, the feedback signal indicating a difference with the profile.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a shoe having a sole, the sole having at least a portion of foam replaced with a self-sensing composite polymeric foam;

at least one probe disposed in the self-sensing composite polymeric foam;

a voltage detector coupled to the probe that detects voltage data generated by the self-sensing composite polymeric foam; and

a transformation module that converts voltage data generated by the self-sensing composite polymeric foam in response to deformation events into ground reaction force data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transformation module converts the voltage data to the ground reaction force data by:

obtaining voltage data from a plurality of locations, each location corresponding to a probe; and

combining the voltage data using functional data analysis and regression.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a physical feedback device; and

an analysis module configured to;

compare the ground reaction force data to a profile;

determine whether the ground reaction force data falls within a threshold of the profile; and

provide a feedback signal when the ground reaction force data fails to fall within the threshold.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the feedback signal relates to a particular portion of a foot.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the apparatus further includes a physical feedback device and the physical feedback device produces one of a vibration, a sound, a light pattern, and a visual display for a wearer of the shoe.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the self-sensing composite polymeric foam conducts heat away from a foot when the foot is disposed in the shoe.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, the portion of the sole replaced with the self-sensing composite polymeric foam is one of an insole, a midsole, an outsole, and a sock liner.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ground reaction force data correlates to ground reaction force data obtained in a laboratory setting.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the self-sensing composite polymeric foam mimics physical properties of the foam replaced.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving voltage data produced by a self-sensing composite polymeric foam, the self-sensing composite polymeric foam providing support and padding in the sole of a shoe;

converting the voltage data to force data;

comparing the force data to a profile; and

transmitting, when the force data fails to fall within a threshold of the profile, a feedback signal to a physical feedback device, the feedback signal indicating a difference with the profile.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the feedback signal relates to a particular portion of a foot.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the feedback signal causes the physical feedback device to play a sound.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the feedback signal causes the physical feedback device to display an image.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the feedback signal causes the physical feedback device to display a light pattern.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the force data is acceleration data and converting the voltage data to acceleration data includes:

the use of statistical methods such as basis expansions and regression.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the force data is pressure data and the method also includes:

converting the voltage to ground reaction force data; and

comparing the ground reaction force data to a second profile,

wherein the feedback signal further indicates a difference with the second profile.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the self-sensing polymeric foam is in an insert added by the wearer of the shoe.

18. An apparatus, comprising:

a shoe having foam-based padding, wherein at least a portion of foam-based padding is replaced with a self-sensing composite polymeric foam;

at least one probe disposed in the self-sensing composite polymeric foam;

a voltage detector coupled to the probe that detects voltage data generated by the self-sensing composite polymeric foam; and

a transformation module that converts voltage data generated by the self-sensing composite polymeric foam in response to an impact event into pressure data.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the padding is in a tongue of the shoe.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the impact event results from kicking a ball and the apparatus further comprises an analysis module configured to:

compare the pressure data to a kicking profile; and

provide feedback when the pressure data fails to fall within a threshold of the kicking profile.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 further comprising a plurality of probes, wherein each probe enables detection of voltage data at a different location in the self-sensing composite polymeric foam and wherein the analysis module us further configured to compare pressure data from each location as part of comparting the pressure data to the kicking profile.