FOOTCARE PRODUCT DISPENSING KIOSK

• US 20140033829A1
• Filed: 10/11/2013
• Published: 02/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Scholl's Wellness Company LLC
• Original Assignee: MSD CONSUMER PRODUCTS Incorporated (Merck & Co., Inc.)
• Inventors: Xia, Bin, Howlett, Harold A., Lundy, Charles E.
• Granted Patent: US 9,038,482 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/862.041
• 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

1-76. -76. (canceled)

77. A method of determining if a foot on a sensor is unshod, comprising:

estimating a plurality of foot dimensions;

calculating a plurality of foot dimension ratios; and

determining if the foot is unshod by comparing the foot dimension ratios to pre-determined values.

78. The method according to claim 77, wherein the foot dimensions are selected from the group consisting of foot length, heel width, arch width, and forefoot width.

79. The method according to claim 77, wherein the foot dimension ratios are selected from the group consisting of foot length/heel width, forefoot width/heel width, and arch width/heel width.

80. The method according to claim 78, wherein the foot length is the length of the line between the most posterior and most anterior points of each foot pressure print.

81. The method according to claim 78, wherein the heel width is the length of a first line that is perpendicular to a second line, wherein the second line is a line between the center of the heel and the center of the second toe, and the first line is located at 5 to 20% of the FL line from the posterior end.

84. The computer readable medium containing instructions that when executed result in a performance of a method of determining if an unshod foot is on a sensor, according to claim 77.