SPORTS SHOE WITH SENSING AND CONTROL

• US 20090293319A1
• Filed: 08/11/2005
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andante Medical Devices Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Andante Medical Devices Ltd.
• Inventors: Avni, Arik
• Granted Patent: US 7,771,371 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/132
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/008 Force sensors integrated in an article or a dummy workpiece

Abstract

Apparatus (20) is provided for improving athletic performance of a user, including a flexible insole (40), adapted for insertion into a shoe, the insole shaped so as to define one or more chambers (22, 24). The apparatus also includes a stimulator (50) and a control unit (30). The control unit is adapted to detect respective pressures in the chambers, and to drive the stimulator to apply a stimulation to the user responsive to the detected pressures and a desired parameter of athletic performance.

Claims

1. Apparatus for improving athletic performance of a user, comprising:

a flexible insole, adapted for insertion into a shoe, the insole shaped so as to define one or more chambers;

a stimulator; and

a control unit, adapted to detect respective pressures in the chambers, and to drive the stimulator to apply a stimulation to the user responsive to the detected pressures and a desired parameter of athletic performance.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stimulator comprises a stimulator selected from the list consisting of:

an audio stimulator, a visual stimulator, and a tactile stimulator.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to drive the stimulator at a given time t responsive to pressures detected within 30 seconds prior to time t.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to drive the stimulator at a given time t responsive to at least one pressure detected greater than 30 seconds prior to time t.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the control unit is adapted to drive the stimulator at a given time t responsive to:

(a) at least one pressure detected greater than 5 minutes prior to time t, and (b) at least one pressure detected less than 5 minutes prior to time t.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit is adapted to drive the stimulator at a given time t responsive to at least one pressure detected greater than 15 minutes prior to time t.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit is adapted to drive the stimulator to generate an alarm signal in response to a trend indicative of fatigue of the user.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the insole is shaped so as to define three or more chambers.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the insole is shaped to define exactly three chambers.

10. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus comprises a control element, adapted to cause the control unit to:

in a first mode of operation, drive the stimulator responsive to pressures in a first set of two of the chambers, and

in a second mode of operation, drive the stimulator responsive to pressures in a second set of two of the chambers,

wherein the first set is not identical to the second set.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to detect pressure in a single chamber of the insole.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the control unit is adapted to drive the stimulator responsive to a desired cadence.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to detect pressure in exactly two chambers of the insole.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the two chambers are aligned in the insole to correspond to a hindfoot and a forefoot of the user.

15. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the two chambers are aligned in the insole to correspond to a medial portion and a lateral portion of the foot of the user.

16. Apparatus for use during activity of a user, comprising:

a flexible insole, adapted for insertion into a shoe, the insole shaped so as to define one or more pressure-sensing chambers and one or more pressure-regulation chambers; and

a control unit, adapted to detect at least one pressure in the pressure-sensing chambers, and to modulate a pressure in the pressure-regulation chambers in response thereto.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the insole comprises first and second layers, wherein the first layer comprises the pressure-sensing chambers, and wherein the second layer comprises the pressure-regulation chambers.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the first layer is disposed in the insole above the second layer.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the first layer is disposed in the insole below the second layer.

20. Apparatus for use during activity of a user, comprising:

a flexible insole, adapted for insertion into a shoe, the insole shaped so as to define one or more pressure-sensing-and-regulation chambers; and

a control unit, adapted to detect at least one pressure in the one or more chambers, and to modulate a pressure in the chambers in response thereto.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the one or more pressure-sensing-and-regulation chambers comprise a single pressure-sensing-and-regulation chamber.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the one or more pressure-sensing-and-regulation chambers comprise two pressure-sensing-and-regulation chambers.