FOOTWEAR

The invention relates to footwear, and particularly to a method and system for harmonizing different footwear sizing standards.

Footwear such as shoes are currently designated according to different standards depending on different geographical areas, such as China, the U.S.A., Europe or the U.K. These standards vary greatly in the criteria adopted for the shoe sizes.

Also, a consumer has no information concerning the shoe-last or last used to make a shoe, and so has no real guide as to whether or not a shoe for purchase is correct for him/her and the relevant foot parameters, the last determining the shape and configuration of the inside of the shoe.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to seek to mitigate these disadvantages.

According to a first aspect, the invention provides a method of harmonizing different footwear sizing standards comprising providing different parameters of last for making footwear, providing footwear types and a variety of shoe-standard information, encoding the parameters, types and information to provide data from which a particular subset can be selected for an individual item of footwear.

According to a second aspect, the invention provides a system for harmonizing different sizing standards, using a method as defined in the immediately preceding paragraph and comprising tables holding the said information.

A method and system embodying the invention are hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figs. 1 to 3 show shoe tables for coding of shoe parameters.

Fig. 1 showing a table for coding of shoe parameters according to shoe standard, shoe type, length, the units being mm;

Fig. 2 showing a table for coding of shoe parameters according to ball length, ball width, and ball girth, the units being mm;

Fig. 3 showing a table for coding of shoe parameters according instep girth, short heel girth, toe spring and heel height, the units being mm;

Figs. 4 to 6 show tables similar to Figs. 1 to 3, the units being in inches;

Fig. 7 shows an encoded form of a subset of data from the tables of Figs. 1 to 3 or 4 to 6;

Fig. 7(a) showing a 10 item (digit) coding and Fig. 7(b) a 9 item (digit) coding; and

Fig. 8 shows parameters relating to a shoe last, Fig. 8(a) showing a 3-D profile of the last and Fig. 8(b) a plan of the sole.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a method of harmonizing different footwear (shoe) sizing standards such as country or region and wearer 1 shoe type 2, and length 3, for in the embodiment infants, children, youths, small women, women and men. Each table has a code 4, and each entry has a code letter or number allocated to it, for example "e" for US, US men and casual shoes.

It will be seen that tables represent the selection of variables best suited for shoe-last coding. It also includes all the standards and thus enabling generation of a generic standard. It includes all age groups (infants, children, youth, women, men). It includes many types of shoes and options for new types. It includes main shoe-last measures (Length, ball length, ball width, ball girth, instep girth, short heel girth, toe spring and heel height). There is room to add more measurements that may be more important in the future. The embodiment enables coding of length, ball length, ball width, ball girth, and short heel girth values based on age group. The steps for each age group are different to match the measures. Also the steps are much smaller than current shoe sizes,

so providing for more design options. The values for toe spring and heel height are fixed (not dependent on age). The upper and lower ranges can be modified to suit different population group.

The coding tag 5 (Fig. 7) show the size for at least 4 standards, the coding bar code 30 extended and the coding values. It also includes the trademark 6 of the company. The coding tag can be included in shoe-last, shoe, shoe box, shoe-last, or on the web (during e-shopping), to provide information to consumers, manufacturers and designers.

The tables of Figs. 1 - 6 show 62 code values (a - z, 0 - 9, A - Z).

Fig. 7 shows examples of code generation, both 9 digit and 10 digit. (It will be understood that the term "digit" can mean in the present context a letter or a number) e.g. do4rBfqqnz in Fig. 8(a).

In the embodiment, the encoding is in the form of a bar code 8 from which the code tag 5 can be printed or otherwise produced, though any coding method other than bar coding can be used.

In Fig. 7(b) code short heel girth "q" is not included.

The code tag 5 includes company's trademark, shoe-code, shoe-code in bar codes, and the shoe size in different standards can be specified, hi this case U.S. (American shoe system), EU (European shoe system), UK (British shoe system), MO (Mondopoint system) shoe sized can be included, Different shoe sizes or different combinations of shoe sizes based on different system can be shown.

The code tag can be printed and included in shoe (printed on the shoe tongue), shoe box, or shoe last for easy access. For each shoe last a new code tag is created and associated with the particular shoe, hi the shoe last database, in addition to the shoe code (S-code) additional picture is included for ease of database search.

Using the invention described herein with reference to the drawings, there are the following options :-

Shoe designers

Shoe designers (from different locations worldwide) can access a web site and download the updated shoe-last together with its measurements. This will reduce design and eventually production time. This will also reduce design time by sharing information.

Last manufacturers

First shoe last designers can download updated shoe last and if needed can modify it. Furthermore, shoe last manufacturers need not have a shoe-last designer. They can download the updated shoe-last from a database based on different standards, age group, shoe type and measurements. Then they can manufacture shoe last in any location worldwide. This will reduce shoe last manufacturing time.

Shoe selection

At the retail or wholesale outlet, people can select shoes based on their own shoe measurements (including foot length, foot width, ball girth, and instep girth). If higher accuracy and fitting qualities are required then the 3D foot shape can be matched from the 3D last shape (downloaded from the database when using S-code).

Footwear research and foot health Footwear research and foot health Many footwear research requires the inside shoe shape (Shoe last) information to evaluate footwear fitting, foot stability and foot health. However this information is not available, thus the research is limited. Shoe-last coding enables proper evaluation of foot/shoe matching. As a result, better results on footwear fitting and foot health can be expected, eventually improving foot health.

With aging population and increasing obesity, more people are getting diabetes, arthritis, etc. Most of these have been associated with footwear. Since most of the increased weight is supported by the foot, better footwear will reduce foot related disease or complications. Currently, most of the improvement is in insole design. The

total shoe-shape has not been considered. Thus with complete foot shape designed to suit the people's foot, foot health can be improved. Also if the people can select the best shoe last (rather than the best size based on length and width), then foot disease can be reduced.

The above have the following advantages :-

1. The Code represents age group, standard type, shoe type and last measurements.

2. The Code considers different sports and there are additional slots for future sports.

3. The Code considers different shoe type and styles and there are additional slots for future shoe types and different styles.

4. The Code considers different shoe type and there are additional slots for future shoe types.

5. The Code considers length, ball length, ball width, ball girth, instep girth, short heel girth, toe spring, and heel height.

6. The Code is expandable to include additional measurements (such as wedge angle, waist girth, etc.) by adding more digits.

7. The Code considers general coding to include all existing international shoe standards.

8. The Code unit sequence can be modified.

9. The number of digits coded can vary depending upon needs and size of bar code required.

10. The Code can be used to access database and to download 3D shoe-last shape.

11. The Code can be used to match with foot measures for fitting evaluation.

12. The Code can be printed in shoe last, shoe or shoe box for retailers, last designers, shoe designers, last manufacturer and consumer to access.

13. The Code together with a trademark and shoe sizes (for different standards) can be presented.

14. The Coding ranges can be changed, for example to account for secular trends in the future.

15. For illustration, a given bar code (USS code39 Extended, also known as code39 extended or code39 Full ASCπi) is used. Any bar code or code generation methods can be used.