Shoe contruction for use by diabetic persons

• US 5,566,479 A
• Filed: 03/21/1995
• Issued: 10/22/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Frank B. Gray, John L. Parris, Rainer G. Riffert
• Original Assignee: Frank B. Gray, John L. Parris, Rainer G. Riffert
• Inventors: Parris, John L., Riffert, Rainer G., Gray, Frank B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATTERSON, MARIE D
• Application Number:
  US08/407,689
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 36/137, 36/139, 36/136, 36/140, 36/1, 73/172, 128/779
• US Class Current: 36/137
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/36 with light sources
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/00 Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/147 for sick or disabled persons, e.g. persons having osteoarthritis or diabetes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1036 Measuring load distribution, e.g. podologic studies

Abstract

A shoe to be worn by diabetic persons, or persons afflicted with various types of foot maladies, where excess pressure exerted upon a portion of the foot tends to give rise to ulceration. The shoe body is fabricated to have relieved areas in the inner surface that contacts the foot at locations where the excess pressure is thought to possibly occur. Mounted within each relieved area is a force sensing resistor unit that is connected to a switching circuit. When the switching circuit senses a pressure against the force sensing resistor of a value corresponding to a set threshold, the switching circuit causes the energization of an alarm unit to warn the wearer of the existence of this threshold pressure. At this point in time, the wearer can remove the shoe to prevent the damage to the foot. Provision can be made to adjust the critical threshold pressure at which the alarm is given.

Claims

1. A shoe for use by a person having a foot malady located in at least one site of the foot of the person where a pressure in excess of a critical threshold pressure has a detrimental effect on the malady, the shoe comprising:

a shoe body to substantially enclose the foot of the person, said shoe body defining an interior surface to contact the foot, said interior surface provided with a relieved region in the at least one site to reduce pressure directed against the foot at said site;

a force sensing resistor unit positioned beneath each said relieved region;

a power source;

a switch circuit connecting said force sensing resistor unit and said power source, said switch circuit detecting current flow through said force sensing resistor unit as a function of the pressure applied to said force sensing resistor unit, and providing an instantaneous output signal when the pressure exceeds the critical threshold; and

an indicator means connected to said switch circuit to receive said instantaneous output signal to provide a signal to the person when the pressure in excess of the critical threshold is applied to said force sensing resistor unit at the location where the pressure is detrimental to the malady.

2. The shoe of claim 1 wherein said switch circuit includes a latching means to maintain said switch circuit in an ON position when the pressure against said force sensing resistor unit exceeds the critical threshold pressure and said indicator means produces a continuous signal to the person until said switch circuit is manually switched to an OFF position.

3. The shoe of claim 1 wherein said switch circuit includes a latching means to maintain said switch circuit in an ON position when the pressure against said force sensing resistor unit exceeds the critical threshold pressure and said indicator means produces an intermittent signal to the person until said switch circuit is manually switched to an OFF position.

4. The shoe of claim 1 wherein said switch circuit is connected to said indicator means by transmission means for providing said signal to the person from said indicator means.

5. The shoe of claim 1 wherein said indicator means activates a visual signal device to provide a visual signal to the person.

6. The shoe of claim 1 wherein said indicator means activates an audible sound device to provide an audible signal to the person.

7. The shoe of claim 1 wherein said switch circuit includes means for adjusting a value of the critical threshold pressure.

10. The shoe of claim 1 wherein said switch circuit includes a latching means to maintain said switch circuit in an ON position when the pressure against said force sensing resistor unit exceeds the critical threshold pressure and said indicator means produces an intermittent signal to the person until said switch circuit is manually switched to an OFF position.

17. The shoe of claim 6 wherein said switch circuit further includes means for preadjusting a value of the critical threshold pressure.

8. A shoe for use by a person afflicted by diabetes where lesions are formed on the person'"'"'s foot at a site in at least one location of the foot where a pressure in excess of a threshold critical pressure has a detrimental effect on the forming of the lesions, the shoe comprising:

a shoe body to substantially enclose the foot of the person, said shoe body defining an interior surface to contact the foot, said interior surface provided with a relieved region at said at least one site to reduce pressure directed against the foot at said site;

a force sensing resistor unit positioned beneath said relieved region;

a power source;

a switch circuit connecting said force sensing resistor unit and said power source, said switch circuit detecting current flow through said force sensing resistor unit as a function of the pressure applied to said force sensing resistor unit, and providing an instantaneous output signal when the pressure exceeds the critical threshold; and

an indicator means connected to said switch circuit to receive said instantaneous output signal to provide a signal to the person when the pressure in excess of the critical threshold is applied to said force sensing resistor unit where the pressure is detrimental to the forming of the lesions.

9. The shoe of claim 8 wherein said switch circuit includes a latching means to maintain said switch circuit in an ON position when the pressure against said force sensing resistor unit exceeds the critical threshold pressure and said indicator means produces a continuous signal to the person until said switch circuit is manually switched to an OFF position.

11. The shoe of claim 8 wherein said switch circuit is connected to said indicator by transmission means for providing said signal to the person from said indicator means.

12. The shoe of claim 8 wherein said indicator means activates a visual signal device to provide a visual signal to the person.

13. The shoe of claim 8 wherein said indicator means activates an audible sound device to provide an audible signal to the person.

14. The shoe of claim 8 wherein said switch circuit comprises a latching circuit operated by a signal from said force sensing resistor unit, and an oscillating circuit energized by said latching circuit whereby said indicator is energized intermittently.

15. The shoe of claim 8 wherein said switch circuit includes means for adjusting a value of the critical threshold pressure.

16. A shoe for use by a person afflicted by diabetes where lesions are formed on the person'"'"'s foot at a site in at least one location of the foot where a pressure in excess of a threshold critical pressure has a detrimental effect on the forming of the lesions, the shoe comprising:

a shoe body to substantially enclose the foot of the person, said shoe body defining an interior surface to contact the foot, said interior surface provided with a relieved region at said at least one site to reduce pressure directed against the foot at said site;

a force sensing resistor unit positioned beneath said relieved region;

a battery power source contained within said shoe body;

a switch circuit connecting said force sensing resistor unit and said power source, said switching circuit detecting current flow through said force sensing resistor unit as a function of the pressure applied to said force sensing resistor unit and providing an instantaneous output signal when the pressure exceeds the critical threshold, said switch circuit including a latching circuit for receiving and being operated by said output signal, said switch circuit further including an oscillating circuit operated by said latching circuit, said switch circuit contained within said shoe body; and

a visual indicator means on an exterior surface of said shoe body connected to said oscillating circuit to provide a signal to the person when the pressure in excess of the critical threshold is applied to said force sensing resistor unit where the pressure is detrimental to the forming of the lesions.