DULIO, Sergio (Via San Giacomo 17, Vigevano, E-27029, IT)
KUSCHLAN, Federico (Via Veneto 13, Peschiera Borromeo, I-20068, IT)
DULIO, Sergio (Via San Giacomo 17, Vigevano, E-27029, IT)
CLAIMS
1. A system for measuring the comfort of footwear comprising a sock (1) adapted to be worn on a foot and an item of footwear (2) to be tested, characterised in that either said sock (1) or said item of footwear (2) or both are provided with detection means (S, S') adapted to measure the distance and/or the pressure between the foot on which the sock (1) is worn and the item of footwear (2).
2. A system according to claim 1, characterised in that said measuring means (S, S') comprise at least one sensor.
3. A system according to claim 2, characterised in that said sensors (S, S') comprise at least one distance sensor (Sl, Sl') adapted to measure the distance between the sock and the item of footwear when the item of footwear is worn over the sock.
4. A system according to claim 3, characterised in that said distance sensor (Sl, Sl') comprises a transmitter coupled with a receiver disposed respectively on the sock and on the item of footwear or vice versa.
5. A system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that said sensors (S, S') comprise at least one pressure sensor (S2, S2') adapted to measure the pressure between the sock and the item of footwear when the item of footwear is worn over the sock.
6. A system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterised in that said sensors (S, S') comprise at least one pressure/distance sensor (S3, S3') adapted to measure the distance and the pressure between the sock and the item of footwear.
7. A system according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterised in that said sensors (S, S') are disposed on at least one of the following pre-defined lines of the sock and/or of the item of footwear: -joint line A over the toe joint;
- instep line B over the instep;
- heel line C over the heel; - ankle line D around the ankle;
- calf line E around the calf muscle; - boot end line F around the leg beneath the knee joint; and
- height line G on the outside of the leg from the ground to the boot end line F.
8. A system according to claim 7, characterised in that said sock comprises at least fourteen sensors (Al, A2, Bl, B2, Cl, C2, Dl, D2, El, E2, Fl, F2, Gl, G2) disposed in pairs on said seven pre-defined lines (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) of the sock.
9. A system according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that said item of footwear comprises at least fourteen sensors (Al ', A2\ Bl', B2', Cl ', C2', Dl ', D2\ El ', E2', Fl ', F2', Gl ', G2') disposed in pairs on said seven pre-defined lines (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) of the item of footwear.
10. A system according to any one of claims 2 to 9, characterised in that said sensors are distributed over the entire surface of the sock (1) and/or of the shoe so as to form a close mesh.
11. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said sock and/or said shoe comprise a sensitive material so as to generate a single measurement benchmark.
12. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sensors (S') of the item of footwear are disposed removably on the item of footwear (2).
13. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sensors (S') of the item of footwear are integrated inside the sole and/or the upper of the item of footwear (2) so as not to be on view.
14. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sensors (S) of the sock are disposed removably on the sock (1).
15. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said sock has a constant thickness.
16. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said sock comprises areas (10, 1 1) of different thicknesses.
17. A method of measuring the comfort of footwear, characterised in that it measures the distance and/or the pressure between the foot on which a sock (1) is worn and an item of footwear (2) to be tested.
18. A method according to claim 17, characterised in that a maximum threshold distance is pre-set so that the distance measured between the sock (1) and the item of footwear (2) is smaller than the maximum pre-set threshold distance.
19. A method according to claim 17 or 18, characterised in that a maximum threshold pressure is pre-set so that the pressure measured between the sock (1) and the item of footwear (2) is smaller than the maximum pre-set threshold pressure.
20. A method according to any one of claims 17 to 19, characterised in that a minimum pressure threshold is pre-set, so that the pressure measured between the sock (1) and the item of footwear (2) is greater than the pre-set minimum pressure threshold.
21. A method according to any one of claims 17 to 20, characterised in that said distance and/or pressure between the sock (1) and the item of footwear (2) is measured in proximity to at least one of the following pre-defined lines of the sock and/or of the item of footwear:
- joint line A over the toe joint;
- instep line B over the instep;
- heel line C over the heel;
- ankle line D around the ankle; - calf line E around the calf muscle;
- boot end line F around the leg beneath the knee joint; and
- height line G on the outside of the leg from the ground to the boot end line F.
22. A method according to any one of claims 17 to 21, characterised in that said distance and/or said pressure between the sock (1) and the item of footwear (2) is measured over the entire surface of the sock (1) and/or of the item of footwear (2). |
SYSTEM FOR MEASURING THE COMFORT OF FOOTWEAR
DESCRIPTION
The present invention refers to a system for measuring the comfort of footwear in general, and in particular of made-to-measure (customised) shoes.
The consumer generally wishes to purchase footwear that ensures the greatest comfort for the foot. To meet this requirement, the so-called "made-to-measure" shoes, which are of the optimum size and shape to adapt to the consumer's foot, are known to the art.
Known to the art for this purpose are systems for the choice of made-to-measure shoes, which comprise a scanner that performs a measurement of the morphology of the foot and returns data indicating the geometric shape of said foot. These data are processed by a special software and used to identify, among those present, a library of known lasts, or to create a customised last (comparable to the mould of the foot). This last is used to create a made-to-measure shoe that derives from the last that is selected or created starting from the geometric data of the foot acquired with the scanner.
In this manner different made-to-measure shoes are made, matching different types of foot shapes. A dedicated software creates and manages a database that matches the different foot shapes to the lasts of the respective shoes. When the consumer goes to the sales outlet to purchase a made-to-measure shoe, the foot is scanned and the dedicated software finds the last (and consequently the shoe) that should best fit the foot that has been scanned.
This control system for made-to-measure shoes according to the prior art proves to have some drawbacks. In fact, it is not very accurate and often causes mistakes in the choice of the shoe. This is due to the fact that the software is based only on geometric criteria of the foot and does not take into account the subjective sensation that the user who wears the shoe may perceive, nor indeed does it take into account the real interaction between the foot and the shoe.
Object of the present invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art, by providing a system for an objective measurement of the comfort that is precise, accurate, versatile and able to aid the choice of a made-to-measure shoe such as to ensure, by its
nature, the maximum comfort for the user.
These objects are achieved in accordance with the invention with the characteristics listed in appended independent claims 1 and 17.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention are apparent from the dependent claims.
The objective comfort measuring system according to the invention comprises a sock adapted to be worn on a foot and an item of footwear to be tested. Said sock or said item of footwear or both are provided with measuring means adapted to measure the distance and/or the pressure between the foot on which the sock is worn and the item of footwear. The data indicating the distances and/or the pressures measured are processed by a software programme so as to provide useful information for the selection of the ideal last for a made-to-measure shoe.
Further characteristics of the invention will be made clearer by the detailed description that follows, referring to purely exemplifying and therefore non limiting embodiments thereof, illustrated in the appended figures, wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a first embodiment of a control sock and of an item of footwear destined to be tested by the system for the objective measurement of the comfort of the item of footwear according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating a second embodiment of the control sock and of the item of footwear destined to be tested by the system for the objective measurement of the comfort of the item of footwear according to the invention.
With reference for now to Figure 1, the system for the objective measurement of the comfort according to the invention comprises a control sock designated with reference numeral 1 and an item of footwear 2 that is to be tested. By way of example, the control sock 1 is illustrated as a long sock worn on the user's foot and the item of footwear 2 is shown as a boot, it being understood that the control sock 1 can be a short sock and the item of footwear 2 to be tested can be any type of footwear.
The control sock 1 comprises measuring means designated generically with S adapted to measure the distance between the sock 1 and the item of footwear 2 and/or the pressure exerted by the item of footwear 2 on the sock 1 , when the item of footwear 2 is worn over the sock 1.
Alternatively or in addition to the measurement means S of the sock, the item of footwear 2 can also comprise measurement means S' to measure the distance and/or the pressure between the sock 1 and the item of footwear 2.
The measuring means S, S' of the sock or of the item of footwear may be:
- distance sensors Sl, Sl' adapted to measure the distance between the sock 1 and the item of footwear 2, when the item of footwear 2 is worn over the sock 1 and there is and/or there is not a contact between them; - pressure sensors S2, S2' adapted to measure the pressure between the sock 1 and the inside surface of the item of footwear 2, when the item of footwear 2 is worn over the sock 1 and there is and/or there is not a contact between them;
- pressure/distance sensors S3, S3' adapted to measure the distance between the sock 1 and the item of footwear 2, when there is and/or there is not a contact, and the pressure between the sock 1 and the item of footwear 2 when there is and/or there is not a contact.
The sensors S' of the item of footwear can be disposed inside the item of footwear 2 (for example in the sole and/or in the inner surface of the upper (lining) or between the lining and the outer surface of the upper), on the outer surface of the item of footwear 2 and/or totally outside the item of footwear 2. For example, the sensors S' may be disposed in an adhesive film or in a sock or in another instrument to be applied removably on the outer or on the inner surface of the item of footwear 2 and/or the sensors S' may not be removable from the item of footwear. The sensors S' of the item of footwear may be independent or interacting with the sensors S of the sock 1 ; in the latter case the sensors S 1 of the item of footwear should preferably be disposed to coincide with the sensors S of the sock.
By way of example, the distance sensors Sl, Sl' of the sock and of the item of footwear, respectively, may be transmitters, such as photodiodes, linked to receivers, such as photodetectors. Alternatively, the distance sensors Sl, Sl' may be receiver-transmitters disposed only on the sock 1 or only on the item of footwear 2 so as to exploit the reflection of the signal sent to measure the distance between the sock and the item of footwear.
The pressure sensors S2, S2', on the other hand, may be load cells, in the form of semiconductor chips, which emit an electric signal according to the pressure exerted
thereon. Therefore, the pressure sensors S2, S2' may be provided only on the sock or only on the item of footwear.
The control sock 1 may be knitted all in the same thickness, for example a uniform thickness of 1-2 mm, similar to that of the normal socks worn according to the type of footwear. In this hypothesis, there is certainly a space (albeit minimal), at several points, between the foot and the shoe.
Alternatively, the control sock 1 can be of a uniform thickness greater than the thickness of the normal socks used for the different types of footwear. For example, the sock 1 may have a thickness of 3 mm, compared with the 1 mm thickness of the normal socks used for that type of footwear. This arrangement is useful for filling from 90% to 100% of the natural space, which must in any case exist (albeit minimal) between the foot and the item of footwear 2 at all and/or at some points. With this arrangement, taken to the extreme, the control sock 1 completely eliminates the space between the foot and the shoe 2 at all points or only at some chosen points, causing the outer surface of the foot to be always in contact totally and/or at the chosen points with the inner surface of the item of footwear.
In order to support better the investigative requirements of the system according to the invention, provision can be made for greater or lesser thicknesses at some points of the control sock 1 compared with the remaining thickness of the sock. With reference to Figure 1, the sock 1 may have a first area 10, in proximity to the instep, having a thickness of 3 mm and a second area 11 , in proximity to the ankle, with a thickness of 2 mm, whereas the remaining parts of the sock have a uniform thickness of 1 mm.
A control sock 1 may be provided for every foot size (42C, 43 1 A D... etc.) and/or sizes like small, medium and large can be provided. Furthermore, provision can also be made for the right control sock 1 to be different from the left one.
Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the control sock 1 and of the item of footwear 2 to be tested, wherein the sensors are disposed in optimal positions along predefined lines of the sock 1 and of the item of footwear 2. Seven predefined lines A-G have been identified, which generally form the characteristic measurements of an item of footwear: - joint line A over the toe joint; - instep line B over the instep;
- heel line C over the heel;
- ankle line D around the ankle;
- calf line E around the calf muscle;
- boot end line F around the leg beneath the knee joint; and - height line G on the outside of the leg from the ground to the boot end line F.
By way of example, two sensors have been disposed on each line of the sock so that the connection of said sensors generates the related joining line. As a result, the control sock
1 has fourteen sensors, that is seven pairs of sensors: Al and A2, disposed to coincide with the small toe joint and with the great toe joint, respectively;
Bl and B2, disposed on the opposite sides of the foot to coincide with the joints between the tarsus and the metatarsi;
Cl and C2, disposed to coincide with the cuboid bone and with the scaphoid bone; Dl and D2, disposed in diametrically opposite positions on the back and in the front of the ankle;
El and E2, disposed in diametrically opposite positions on the back and in the front of the calf muscle;
Fl and F2, disposed in diametrically opposite positions on the back and in the front of the knee joint;
Gl and G2, disposed respectively on one side of the foot and on the lateral part of the leg below the knee joint.
The fourteen above mentioned sensors (Al, A2, Bl, B2, Cl, C2, Dl, D2, El, E2, Fl, F2, Gl, G2) disposed in suitable positions represent macro-points. Clearly on each joining line (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) of a pair of macro-points, other sensors (a sensor array) may be provided, so as to make the measurement on the respective joining line more accurate. In this manner, the macro-points (isolated sensors) and the related joining lines (sensor array) are useful for the purposes of measuring the distance and/or the pressure at respective macro-points and joining lines on the shoe 2.
In addition to or instead of the macro-points defined by the above mentioned sensors, the control sock 1 may comprise a very close mesh or matrix of sensors distributed over the entire surface of the sock 1 or in pre-set areas. The sensors of this mesh form so many individual micro-points. Obviously in this case also, joining lines (sensor arrays) may be provided to join the micro-points to each other and the micro-points to some macro-
points or to all the macro-points.
In addition to or instead of a limited number of sensors (macro-points) disposed in suitable positions and/or of a large number of sensors (micro-points) distributed on the whole sock or in pre-set areas, provision can be made for the sock 1 to be made of a sensitive material and considered a single measuring device; that is, the whole sock, at every point thereof, is able to provide information concerning the distance and/or the pressure with respect to the item of footwear 2.
Fourteen sensors (Al ', A2\ Bl ', B2\ Cl ', C2', Dl ', D2\ El ', E2', Fl ', F2', Gl ', G2') are also disposed in the item of footwear 2 to coincide with the fourteen sensors (Al, A2, Bl, B2, Cl, C2, Dl, D2, El, E2, Fl, F2, Gl, G2) of the sock, so as to define macro- points and respective joining lines. Like the sock, the item of footwear 2 can have a close mesh of sensors (micro-points) and joining lines between them and/or between them and all and/or some macro-points or it may be made of a sensitive material so as to define a single measurement benchmark.
As said previously, the sensors of the control sock 1 and of the item of footwear 2 measure the distance and/or the pressure between the sock 1 and the item of footwear 2. Therefore, the control system for made-to-measure shoes must comprise a software that analyses the data collected by the sensors of the sock 1 or of the item of footwear 2 and tests accordingly the item of footwear 2, giving a test result.
For example, the software is set so as to give a good test result when the distance and/or the pressure sensors do not detect any contact between the sock 1 and the item of footwear 2.
Minimum and/or maximum distance thresholds can be set so that, when the distance sensors detect a distance between the sock and the item of footwear greater and/or smaller than the pre-set threshold distance, the test gives a negative result.
Maximum pressure thresholds can be set so that, when the pressure sensors detect a pressure between the sock and the item of footwear greater than the pre-set threshold distance, the test gives a negative result.
Furthermore, the software can be set up with pre-set threshold pressure values between
different points of the sock 1 and of the item of footwear 2, which form a grid on the sock. When any one of the points of this grid comes into excessively close contact with the shoe, a pressure higher than the pre-set threshold is generated and an "interference signal" is produced. The interference signal indicates that in that point the contact between the foot and the shoe is too strong, i.e. the shoe is tight.
In the case of the embodiment of Figure 2 in which fourteen macro-points and seven joining lines on the sock 1 and/or on the shoe 2 have been identified, the software establishes what the relationship must be between the foot wearing the item of footwear 2 and these points and joining lines.
For example, between the macro-point Al' of the shoe 2 and the foot there must be a distance of at least 2 mm. The software thus calculates the distance between the macro- point Al on the sock and the macro-point Al' on the shoe and compares it with the pre- set threshold.
For example the curve of the instep of the foot must be at a distance of 3 mm with respect to the curve B that connects the macro-points Bl' and B2' of the shoe. Similarly the software calculates the distances from the sensors on the curve B (B1-B2) of the sock to the sensors on the curve B (Bl'-B2') of the shoe and compares these distances with the pre-set threshold value.
What is stated above also holds true in the event of not reasoning only in terms of macro- points (fourteen sensors on the sock and/or on the shoe) but also in terms of micro-points (a closer mesh of sensors, with the relative joining lines between micro-points and/or between micro-points and macro-points) present for the purposes of the measurement on the shoe and/or on the sock; or in the case of a single measurement benchmark on the sock and/or on the shoe.
Some fields of use of the system for objectively measuring the comfort of footwear according the invention are described hereunder purely by way of example.
In general the system for objectively measuring the comfort according to the invention is an investigative tool for companies, laboratories and even end users, for making objective measurements of the dimensional comfort of footwear, whether made-to-measure or otherwise.
The measuring system according to the invention can also be used during the measurement of the shape of the foot in the process involving the use of a scanner, to provide complementary information to those of the scanner so as to guide better the process of selecting the last in the sale of customised shoes. In fact the control system according to the invention completes the scanner information with sensory information provided by the sensors of the sock 1 and/or of the shoe 2.
The control system according to the invention can be used as a benchmark with respect to the dimensional comfort criteria defined both by the software manufacturer and by the shoe manufacturer and/or seller.
The software manufacturer verifies the correct operation of the matching software by means of the measuring system according to the invention, which can perform a test adapted to have greater objective certainties about the operation of the software.
The shoe manufacturer and/or seller uses the measuring system according to the invention during the selection of the shoes, as an instrument suited to best identify the ideal last (that is, the one that ensures the best comfort) for the client during the sales process.
Furthermore the control system according to the invention can be supplied to the client by the shoe manufacturer or by the seller during the post-sales stage, as a further instrument to check the comfort of the shoes, in addition to the purchaser's personal impression.
In this case the purchaser will receive a control sock 1 of the appropriate size provided with sensors. In addition or as an alternative to the control sock 1 with sensors, the made- to-measure shoe purchased can be provided with sensors. In this case, for example, the sensors of the shoe can be disposed on an adhesive film and/or on another "disposable" solution or can be disposed in the shoe (for example, integrated into the sole and/or into the upper) so as not to be on view.
Furthermore, the consumer will be provided with a remote device or with another instrument able to make a recording of the data measured by the sensors of the sock and/or of the shoe. The remote device can have, for example, a USB port or a wireless transmitter (IR, Bluetooth, and the like) to download the data measured onto a device
suitable for the connection to the Internet (PC, PDA, mobile phone and the like).
In this manner, the purchaser tries on the shoes and forms an opinion of how they fit, then makes a measurement with the remote electronic device and sends the information on the objective test carried out to an Internet site set up for the purpose. On the same web page of the site the purchaser will, for example, be able to see graphically (as a difference between two solids) the distances between the shape of his foot and the shoes received and/or the map of the pressures between the foot and the shoe, with proof that the comfort criteria guaranteed by the manufacturer of made-to-measure shoes have been respected.
The creator of the software, the manufacturer and the seller of the footwear will thus constantly be able to monitor the good quality of their software and of their shoes, for all clients as they are acquired.
This system should also make it possible to manage in the best way any requests for "returns" related to subjective dissatisfaction that are not borne out by the objective test data.
The above mentioned test performed by the purchaser can also be done in the shop when the shoes are delivered to the purchaser, or periodically to assess the behaviour of the shoes following wear.
Numerous changes and modifications of detail within the reach of a person skilled in the art can be made to the present exemplifying embodiments of the invention without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.