Measuring and testing – Dynamometers – Responsive to multiple loads or load components
Patent
1998-05-13
2000-12-05
Noori, Max
Measuring and testing
Dynamometers
Responsive to multiple loads or load components
738657, G01L 300
Patent
active
061551201
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for measuring pressures exerted on the feet of standing humans or animals such as horses. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing a two-dimensional map of pressures exerted on the bottom of a human foot by a shoe, for example, or on the hoof of an animal, particularly, a horse.
B. Description of Background Art
People who must be on their feet for long periods of time, whether standing or walking, are well aware of the discomfort and fatigue that may be brought on by reaction pressures exerted on the bottoms of the feet by the ground or other surface supporting the weight of the person. Accordingly, substantial efforts have been exerted by manufacturers of shoes, ski boots and other footwear, in an effort to more uniformly distribute the pressures exerted by footwear on the feet of the wearer. In conjunction with these efforts, a variety of devices for measuring the forces applied to the foot by footwear have been disclosed in the following United States patents:
Levin et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,121,453, Oct. 24, 1978, Foot Force Transducer, which discloses an apparatus for measuring foot forces during walking that uses a specially configured spring seated in a transducer plate to transmit static and dynamic forces on the foot during walking to strain gauges mounted on the transducer plate, which in turn, may be monitored and recorded for diagnostic purposes, particularly to aid in treating patients with lower extremities dysfunction.
Confer, U.S. Pat. No. 4,745,930, May 24, 1988, Force Sensing Insole For Electro-Goniometer, which discloses a force sensing insole that is adapted to be used in association with an electro-goniometer for analyzing the gait of a patient. The insole includes a body member composed of three overlying sheets of thin plastic material which are bonded together, with the intermediate sheet having cut-outs in each of the heel, ball and tow portions so as to define three separate internal chambers. A contact switch is positioned in each of the open chambers, and which comprises a plurality of parallel fingers formed of conductive ink on the inwardly facing surface of one of the outer sheets, and an area of conductive material on the inwardly facing surface of the outer sheet. The body member includes a laterally extending flexible strip, and which is adapted to flex and extend outwardly from the wearer's shoe. Also, lines of conductive ink are provided in the body member which extend from each of the contact switches to a terminal positioned at the end of the strip. In the preferred embodiment, switch closures are input to a radio frequency transmitter strapped to the waist of a subject, a remote receiver being used to monitor switch closures.
Franks, U.S. Pat. No. 4,858,621, Aug. 22, 1989, Foot Pressure Measurement System, which discloses a foot pressure measurement system in which pressure measurements are obtained from the variation of light output from an illuminated glass or transparent plate. A reflective material on the top surface of the plate causes an increase in light intensity escaping from the plate when pressure is applied to the reflective material. The accuracy and resolution of the pressure measurements are improved by obtaining a reference measurement of the background light intensity and distribution before pressure is applied and subsequently subtracting this background light from the light patterns produced when pressure is applied. The reflectance characteristics of the system are improved by using a photographic paper as the reflective material.
Seitz, U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,743, Sep. 5, 1989, Device For Measuring The Areal Distribution of Compressive Forces, which discloses a device for measuring the areal distribution of compressive forces which act substantially vertically with respect to a deformable measuring surface. A matrix arrangement of force sensors is provided, each of which is formed as a capacitance at cros
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Chapin William L.
Noori Max
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