| Intelligent sneaker insole -> Monitor Keywords |
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Intelligent sneaker insoleRelated Patent Categories: Boots, Shoes, And Leggings, Boots And Shoes, Shoe Attachment (e.g., Ornament, Pocket, Etc.)Intelligent sneaker insole description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070033838, Intelligent sneaker insole. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates generally to athletic shoes having the capability to measure cumulative use and indicate the need for replacing the shoes. More specifically, the present invention relates to insertable insoles that accurately provide for qualitative evaluation of wear and tear on athletic shoes and indicate the need for shoe replacement. BACKGROUND [0002] Consumers of athletic shoes, including shoes for running, cross-training, and specialized activities (i.e. aerobics, basketball, tennis, etc.), need to know when the loss of shock-absorbing capabilities necessitates replacement of existing footwear. This is especially true for wear and tear on the outsole and in the midsole that is undetectable to consumers by visual inspection alone. Consumers benefit financially and physically by knowing when to replace their existing athletic shoes with a new pair. Because high-end athletic shoes range in price anywhere from $80.00 to over $100.00, premature replacement creates unnecessary expense for consumers. Delayed replacement, however, can cause consumers pain while exercising and lead to injury. [0003] Shoe wear indicators are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,578,291 to Hirsch et al. discloses a built-in, electronic wear indicator device capable of signaling extent of shoe sole wear, loss of ability to cushion and absorb shock, and a need to replace the shoe. The wear indicator device comprises a sensor and microprocessor which can measure and report the use history of the shoe, a wear indicator display which shows the consumer the current point in the shoe's life cycle, and a power source. The wear indicator device is installed between the midsole and outsole during the manufacturing process and is therefore, built-in and unobtrusive to the user. [0004] Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,682 to Broz which discloses a built-in wear-indicator device capable of signaling extent of shoe wear, biomechanical compatibility with the user, loss of the ability to cushion or absorb shock, and a need for shoe replacement. The wear indicator device comprises a shoe having an outsole made of durable material to withstand contact and wear and a midsole made of cushioning material to absorb shock. The wear indicator consists of plugs made out of less compactable material installed throughout the midsole and extending into the outsole. As the midsole material breaks down more quickly than the wear indicator, the midsole compacts and contracts vertically while the wear indicator retains its vertical dimension and projects further out from the bottom of the midsole into the outsole in response to wear. With extended wear, the protrusion of the wear indicator into the outsole becomes detectable to the wearer and signals the need to replace the shoe. [0005] A disadvantage of known shoe wear indicators is that calculation of wear and tear is based on the cumulative number of steps a user has taken. This quantitative calculation does not provide the user with a precise evaluation of the actual wear and tear on the shoes because it does not take into account that high impact activities, like running, create more wear and tear on shoes than low impact activities like walking. [0006] Another disadvantage of known shoe wear indicators is the inability for the indicators to store information regarding usage and wear. Users who wish to retrieve information regarding training performance are unable to access such information from known show wear indicators. [0007] Another disadvantage of known shoe wear indicators is the requirement that the indicators be built into the shoes themselves. The manufacturing process for athletic shoes must be modified to accommodate the addition of the indicators into the midsole or outsole of the shoes. [0008] Yet another disadvantage related to the build-in feature of known shoe wear indicators is the inability to reuse the indicators after the useful life of the shoes has expired. [0009] Accordingly, there is a need for a reusable device, insertable into athletic shoes, which provides a qualitative evaluation of the wear and tear on athletic shoes to determine when the functional utility of the athletic shoes has been exhausted. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a device which serves to monitor and report wear and tear on athletic shoes that may not necessarily be apparent to the wearer by measuring cumulative usage of the athletic shoes and providing a qualitative evaluation based on the force exerted on the athletic shoes. [0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that is manufactured separately from athletic shoes and, thus, is not built into the shoes themselves so as to require the manufacturing process for shoes to be modified to accommodate the present invention. [0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide a device that may be reused by merely removing the device upon detecting the expiration of the useful life of a pair of shoes and placing the device in a new pair of shoes. [0013] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a device that can store information regarding usage and wear so that users who wish to retrieve information regarding training performance are able to access such information. [0014] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a device for use in combination with athletic shoes for monitoring and reporting qualitative wear and tear on athletic shoes. The device comprises an insole housing a power supply/user interface unit, a microchip, a sensor unit, and an interface cable. [0015] The present invention is further directed to a method of using a device in combination with athletic shoes to monitor and report qualitative wear and tear on the athletic shoes. The method comprises the steps of: (1) a user inserting the device into an athletic shoe; (2) the user exercising or playing various sports; (3) the user removing the device from the shoe; (4) the user connecting the device to a terminal; the user downloading shoe usage data; and (5) the user replacing the shoe if the useful life of the shoe has been exhausted. [0016] Although the device of the present invention is capable of tabulating mileage, the device goes beyond simply tabulating mileage because it is designed to provide a qualitative evaluation of the wear and tear on athletic shoes, based on the theory that high impact activities like running create more wear and tear on shoes than low impact activities like walking. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] The features of the present application can be more readily understood from the detailed description below with reference to the accompanying drawings herein. [0018] FIG. 1 is a perspective of an intelligent sneaker insole in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [0019] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an intelligent sneaker insole in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [0020] FIG. 2A is a cross sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG. 2. Continue reading about Intelligent sneaker insole... Full patent description for Intelligent sneaker insole Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Intelligent sneaker insole patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Intelligent sneaker insole or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Outsole with anti-slip tread Next Patent Application: Stump grubber, its use, method for grubbing stumps and method for preventing fungus disease such as root rot Industry Class: Boots, shoes, and leggings ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Intelligent sneaker insole patent info. 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