Footcare product dispensing kiosk

• US 9,576,311 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2013
• Issued: 02/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scholl's Wellness Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Bayer Healthcare LLC (Bayer AG)
• Inventors: Xia, Bin, Howlett, Harold A., Lundy, Charles E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Noori, Max
• Application Number:
  US14/107,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20140107966A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 73862041-862046
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/24 Insertions or other supports preventing the foot canting to one side , preventing supination or pronation
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 1/02 Foot-measuring devices measuring the shape, pattern or size of the body for diagnostic purposes A61B5/103, e.g. measuring physical dimensions A61B5/107
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 1/022 involving making footprints or permanent moulds of the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 1/08 Measuring devices for shoe parts
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1036 Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0631 Item recommendations

Abstract

A kiosk apparatus that may select for a person a recommended footcare product based on pressure measurements collected from pressures sensors or calculated biomechanical data estimates. Pressure measurements and calculated biomechanical data estimates may be used to determine if a foot is unshod on the pressure sensor and also group a person into a classified subgroup. The pressure measurement and calculated biomechanical data estimates may also be used to select a recommended footcare product.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a surface, wherein the surface is configured to allow a person to stand upon the surface;

a plurality of pressure sensors located under the surface forming a 2-D array of sensors;

a measurement system configured to obtain measurements from a customer'"'"'s feet;

a processor in communication with the plurality of pressure sensors, the processor configured to receive a plurality of pressure measurements from at least a subset of pressure sensors while the person stands upon the surface, the processor further configured to select a recommended footcare product from among a set of candidate footcare products based at least in part upon the plurality of pressure measurements, wherein the processor is configured to receive at least a first subset of the plurality of pressure measurements while the person stands stationary on one foot;

an output device to display information received from the processor, the information identifying the recommended footcare product to the person; and

a merchandise display area, the merchandise display area configured to display the set of candidate footcare products.