PARTIAL WEIGHT BEAR WARNING DEVICE

• US 3,702,999 A
• Filed: 02/22/1971
• Issued: 11/14/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1971
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ivan A. Gradisar
• Original Assignee: Ivan A. Gradisar
• Inventors: Gradisar, Ivan A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Application Number:
  US05/117,509
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 340/272 200/85 36/2.5Y,2.5AC,8.5,1 33/3R,3A 73/172
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/00 Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1036 Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/44 for weighing persons

Abstract

A device for warning a patient when he exceeds a predetermined amount of weight on his foot during locomotion comprising two force-sensitive electrical contactors disposed one each in predetermined positions beneath the heel and ball of the foot. The contactors are secured in a thin pad shaped to conform to the bottom of the shoe or footwear of the patient. Each electrical contactor includes a pair of flat circular metal plates separated by a resilient member and connected to a battery-powered alarm.

Claims

1. A device for permitting a patient to bear part of his weight on his foot but warning him when he places at least a predetermined weight on said foot comprising, sensing means for detecting a weight on said foot including means for adjusting the minimum weight which is detected by said sensing means to said predetermined weight, means for maintaining said sensing means in a predetermined position adjacent the bottom of said foot so that said sensing means will detect said predetermined weight when said patient bears said predetermined weight on said foot;

and, means operably connected to said sensing means to signal said patient when said predetermined weight is placed on said foot.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for detecting a weight includes a pair of electrical contacts held apart by a resilient member.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said electrical contacts include a pair of coaxially spaced apart, generally flat circular plates and said resilient member is an elastomeric ring disposed centrally between said plates.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said contacts further include a contactor adjustably mounted on one of said plates and located centrally with respect to the hole in said ring so that the distance between said contactor and the other said plate can be adjusted.

5. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said contactor is a screw threadably mounted on said one of said plates so that turning said screw in said one of said plates moves said screw toward and away from said other plate.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensing means includes two force detectors disposed one each generally beneath the heel and ball of said foot.

7. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein there are two pairs of said electrical contactors disposed one each generally beneath the heel and ball of said foot.

8. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein there are two pairs of said electrical contactors disposed one each generally beneath the heel and ball of said foot.

9. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein there are two pairs of said electrical contactors disposed one each generally beneath the heel and ball of said foot.

10. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein there are two pairs of said electrical contactors disposed one each generally beneath the heel and ball of said foot.

11. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said means for maintaining said sensing means in a predetermined position includes a resilient pad adapted to hold said sensing means and to fit into the footwear of said patient.

12. A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means for maintaining said sensing means in a predetermined position includes a resilient pad adapted to hold said sensing means and to fit into the footwear of said patient.

13. A device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said means for maintaining said sensing means in a predetermined position includes a resilient pad adapted to hold said sensing means and to fit into the footwear of said patient.

14. A device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said means for maintaining said sensing means in a predetermined position includes a resilient pad adapted to hold said sensing means and to fit into the footwear of said patient.

15. A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said means for maintaining said sensing means in a predetermined position includes a resilient pad adapted to hold said sensing means and to fit into the footwear of said patient.

16. A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said means for maintaining said sensing means in a predetermined position includes a resilient pad adapted to hold said sensing means and to fit into the footwear of said patient.

17. A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said means for maintaining said sensing means in a predetermined position includes a resilient pad adapted to hold said sensing means and to fit into the footwear of said patient.

18. A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said means for maintaining said sensing means in a predetermined position includes a resilient pad adapted to hold said sensing means and to fit into the footwear of said patient.

19. A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said means for maintaining said sensing means in a predetermined position includes a resilient pad adapted to hold said sensing means and to fit into the footwear of said patient.

20. A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said means for maintaining said sensing means in a predetermined position includes a resilient pad adapted to hold said sensing means and to fit into the footwear of said patient.

21. A device as claimed in claim 20, wherein said means operably connected to said sensing means includes an electrically operated audible alarm connected to said contact.