Surface performance testing apparatus, systems and methods
AssigneeUniversity of Tennessee Research Foundation
InventorsKyley Hampton Dickson, John Charles Sorochan
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Abstract
Apparatus and systems disclosed herein are designed to be used to study various forces acting on an athletic field or an athletic surface caused by the interaction between a shoe and the turf or athletic surface during a simulated impact. Various surfaces can be tested and analyzed, including assessing deceleration, acceleration and cutting traction potential on the surfaces. The disclosed apparatuses and systems allow for the testing of a wide variety of footwear, at any desired impact angle, and at various simulated forces.
Claims32
A surface performance testing apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
- a cart slidably affixed to a rail;
- an actuator linked to the cart;
- and
- a footform affixed to the cart,
- wherein the cart, rail and actuator are arranged to move the cart and attached footform at an angle relative to a substantially horizontal surface to be tested, whereby the footform contacts the surface to be tested at a desired contact angle.
A method of testing a surface, the method comprising:
- providing a surface performance testing apparatus and/or system of any of the above claims;
- applying the apparatus and/or system to the surface to be tested;
- and
- actuating the actuator to cause the footform or shoe to contact the surface to be tested.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.