APPARATUSES, METHODS, AND SYSTEMS FOR MEASURING INSOLE DEFORMATION

• US 20160367192A1
• Filed: 06/16/2016
• Published: 12/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fossil Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Misfit, Inc. (Fossil Incorporated)
• Inventors: IYENGAR, Sridhar, DIAMOND, Matthew Charles
• Granted Patent: US 10,835,181 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/026 filled with a non-compressible fluid, e.g. gel, water
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/035 provided with a pump or valve
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0475 Special features of memory means, e.g. removable memory cards
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0247 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0266 Optical strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0271 Thermal or temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/168 Fluid filled sensor housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1038 Measuring plantar pressure during gait
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear

Abstract

Devices, systems, and, methods for measuring deformation variation in an insole to determine characteristics of a user, including weight and gait, are described herein. In some embodiments, a device includes an insole having a fluid reservoir configured to be disposed in a shoe, a deformation sensor, and a communications module. The fluid reservoir includes a first portion and a second portion. The deformation sensor is coupled to the fluid reservoir and is configured to measure a deformation in at least one of the first portion and the second portion. The communications module is configured to receive the measured deformation from the deformation sensor and transmit the measured deformation to a remote device.

Claims

1. A device, comprising:

an insole configured to be disposed under the foot of a user during use;

a fluid reservoir formed at least partly within the insole, the fluid reservoir containing a fluid;

a sensor fluidically coupled to the fluid reservoir, the sensor configured to sense an indication of deformation associated with the fluid reservoir during use; and

a communications component communicatively coupled to the sensor, the communications component configured to receive the indication of deformation from the sensor and to transmit deformation information associated with the indication of deformation to a remote device.

2. The device of claim 1, the fluid reservoir including a plurality of portions, a first portion of the plurality of portions and a second portion of the plurality of portions in fluid communication with each other,

the sensor configured to sense the indication of deformation associated with at least one of the first portion and the second portion.

3. The device of claim 1, the fluid reservoir including a plurality of portions, a first portion of the plurality of portions and a second portion of the plurality of portions being fluidically isolated from each other,

the sensor configured to sense the indication of deformation associated with at least one of the first portion and the second portion.

4. The device of claim 1, the fluid reservoir including a plurality of portions, wherein the sensor is a first sensor fluidically coupled to a first portion of the plurality of portions, the first sensor further configured to sense the indication of deformation associated with the first portion,

the device further comprising a second sensor fluidically coupled to a second portion of the plurality of portions of the fluid reservoir, the second sensor configured to sense an indication of deformation associated with the second portion.

6. The device of claim 1, the fluid including one or more of a gas, a liquid, foam, gel, and combinations thereof.

7. The device of claim 1, the fluid reservoir including a valve configured for one or more of:

filling at least a portion of the fluid reservoir with the fluid; and

draining at least a portion of the fluid from the fluid reservoir.

8. The device of claim 1, the fluid reservoir including a plurality of portions, a first portion of the plurality of portions made from a different material than a second portion of the plurality of portions.

9. The device of claim 1, the fluid reservoir including a plurality of portions, wherein a first portion of the plurality of portions at least partly overlays a second portion of the plurality of portions during use.

10. The device of claim 1, the fluid reservoir including a plurality of portions, at least one portion of the plurality of portions formed under at least one of:

the ball of foot of the user during use;

the arch of foot of the user during use; and

the heel of foot of the user during use.

11. The device of claim 1, at least a portion of the fluid reservoir formed under the ball of foot of the user during use.

13. The device of claim 1, at least a portion of the fluid reservoir formed under the arch of foot of the user during use.

15. The device of claim 1, at least a portion of the fluid reservoir formed under the heel of foot of the user during use.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein the indication of deformation includes an indication of one or more of absolute deformation and absolute deformation change.

17. The device of claim 1, the sensor further configured to sense a temperature of the fluid reservoir or in the proximity thereof, or to sense a temperature of the insole or in the proximity thereof, or both.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a first sensor, further comprising a second sensor configured to sense a temperature of the fluid reservoir or in the proximity thereof, to sense a temperature of the insole or in the proximity thereof, or both.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a first sensor and the indication of deformation is a first indication of deformation,

further including one or more additional sensors fluidically coupled to the fluid reservoir, the one or more additional sensors configured to sense additional indications of deformation in the fluid reservoir during use.

22. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory configured to store the indication of deformation; and

a processor configured to generate, based on the indication of deformation, an indication of a body weight of the user,

the memory further configured to store body weight information based on the indication of the body weight of the user,

the communication component configured to transmit body weight information based on the indication of the body weight of the user.

26. The device of claim 1, the sensor including one or more of a stretch sensor, a distributed strain sensor, a force sensor, a strain gauge, a piezoresistor, a semiconductor gauge, and combinations thereof.

5. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

18. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

23-25. -25. (canceled)

27. A method, comprising:

sensing an indication of deformation in a fluid reservoir formed at least partly within an insole, when the insole is disposed under the foot of a user, the fluid reservoir containing a fluid; and

transmitting deformation information based on the indication of deformation to a remote device.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising disposing the insole under the foot of the user.

29. The method of claim 27, the fluid reservoir including a plurality of portions, a first portion of the plurality of portions and a second portion of the plurality of portions in fluid communication with each other,

the sensing including sensing the indication of deformation in at least one of the first portion and the second portion.

30. The method of claim 27, the fluid reservoir including a plurality of portions, a first portion of the plurality of portions and a second portion of the plurality of portions being fluidically isolated from each other,

the sensing including sensing the indication of deformation in at least one of the first portion and the second portion.

33. The method of claim 27, further comprising filling at least a portion of the fluid reservoir with the fluid.

35. The method of claim 27, further comprising sensing a temperature of the fluid reservoir or in the proximity thereof, or sensing a temperature of the insole or in the proximity thereof, or both.

37. The method of claim 27, further comprising sensing additional indications of deformation in the fluid reservoir when the insole is disposed under the foot of the user.

38. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

generating, based on the indication of deformation, an indication of a body weight of the user;

transmitting body weight information based on the indication of the body weight of the user to the remote device; and

storing the body weight information.

40. The method of claim 27, further comprising generating, based on the indication of deformation, one or more of the following:

foot strike information, gait information, footstep information, pace information, and stride information.

31-32. -32. (canceled)

34. (canceled)

36. (canceled)

39. (canceled)

41. (canceled)

42. A kit, comprising:

a first device, the first device being wearable by a user; and

a second device, including;

an insole configured to be disposed under the foot of the user during use;

a fluid reservoir formed at least partly within the insole, the fluid reservoir containing a fluid;

a sensor fluidically coupled to the fluid reservoir, the sensor configured to sense an indication of deformation in the fluid reservoir during use; and

a communications component communicatively coupled to the sensor, the communications component configured to receive the indication of deformation from the sensor and to transmit deformation information associated with the indication of deformation to the first device.