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US Patent 6122846 - Force monitoring shoe

US Patent Issued on September 26, 2000
Estimated Patent Expiration Date: Icon_subject August 30, 2019Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
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Abstract

An apparatus and method of operation for measuring forces applied to a wearer's foot, the apparatus providing an indication to the wearer when forces on the foot exceed pre-selected upper limits or do not meet pre-selected lower limits. A body member is disclosed for attachment around the wearer's foot, the body member having an exterior sole and an interior sole portion covered by a rigid foot plate. The foot plate includes an upper support surface for contact with the foot. The interior sole portion includes at least one cavity within, with a force sensing unit attachable partially within the cavity. At least one strain gage is positioned at a midpoint on the force sensing unit, and the force sensing unit is connectable to the underside of the foot plate. An electronic means is mounted within the cavity and is electrically connected to the at least one strain gage. The electronic means receives electronic signals from the strain gage, the signals in proportion to force applied onto the force sensing unit when the wearer's foot applies weight onto the foot plate, with conversion of the signals to output signals for transmission to a signal processing means in a remotely located receiver and display unit. The display unit compares the output signals to upper limits and lower limits, and displays alarms when output signals do not reach lower limits, or exceed upper limits, therefore assisting with therapeutic rehabilitation of an injured lower extremity.

Inventors

Assignee

Application

No. 385393 filed on 08/30/1999

US Classes:

36/136, Shoe attachment (e.g., ornament, pocket, etc.)36/137, Light-reflecting or illuminating means36/139, Noise maker73/172, ORTHOPEDIC PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION340/573.1, Human or animal600/592Foot

Field of Search

36/136, Shoe attachment (e.g., ornament, pocket, etc.)36/132, Attachment (e.g., weight for shoe, etc.)36/137, Light-reflecting or illuminating means36/139, Noise maker600/592, Foot73/172ORTHOPEDIC PRESSURE DISTRIBUTION

Examiners

Primary: Sewell, Paul T.
Assistant: Arnold, Troy

Attorney, Agent or Firm

US Patent References

5269081, Force monitoring shoe
Issued on: 12/14/1993
Inventor: Gray
5357696, Device for measuring force applied to a wearer's foot
Issued on: 10/25/1994
Inventor: Gray, et al.
5673500Shoe with weighing means
Issued on: 10/07/1997
Inventor: Huang

International Class

A61B 005/11

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