Footwear testing apparatus and method
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorsElmer G. Paquette, Michael J. Maloney, Douglas S. Swain, Richard F. LaCerte, James B. Peters, Robert E. Mast
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Abstract
Footwear is tested and evaluated by apparatus which is capable of simulat the actual wearing thereof under various environmental conditions. The apparatus includes a leg pylon and artificial foot which are moved as a unit by apparatus which duplicates the motion of the knee and ankle of an individual. The artificial foot, on which the footwear to be tested is mounted, may be provided with various sensors or condition simulators.
Claims10
Apparatus for simulating terrain traversing movements of a human foot comprising:
- artificial foot means;
- a platform, said platform having a generally planar upper surface;
- elognated leg pylon means, said foot means being attached to said pylon means adjacent a first end thereof;
- first means for imparting motion to said pylon means, said first motion imparting means being coupled to said pylon means at a point displaced from said simulated foot;
- second means for imparting motion to said pylon means;
- first cam means, said first cam means including a cam track and cam follower, said first cam means coupling said second motion imparting means to said pylon means a point intermediate the ends thereof, the direction of motion of said pylon means second end resulting from operation of said first motion imparting means being determined by said first cam means and said second motion imparting means, the motion of said pylon means second end simulating the action of the human knee;
- and
- second cam means, said second cam means including a cam track and cam follower, said second cam means coupling said second motion imparting means to said pylon means adjacent the first end thereof, the motion of said foot means relative to said platform being determined by said second cam means in response to operation of said first and second motion imparting means, said second cam means simulating the action of the human ankle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.