Electronic foot measuring apparatus and method
AssigneeInterco Incorporated
InventorF. Philip Gardner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for electronically measuring the size of a foot for determining a properly fitted specific shoe size. A light source is arranged to cause an outline of a foot to be delineated upon a translucent panel. Light energy is directed from the panel through photo optic means to an electronic device containing means for inherently discriminating impulses of energy into a distinct white/black status to produce an electronic duplicate of the foot outline. The electronic image of the foot is processed within the apparatus to determine an accurately fitted size of shoe for the measured foot. Video display means is provided so that a customer may view the process of measurement of the shoe size and be informed of the precisely determined size of shoe to fit the customer's measured foot.
Claims14
Apparatus for electronic measurement of a foot comprising an enclosure,
- panel means disposed within said enclosure for at times receiving placement thereon of a foot,
- light source means disposed within said enclosure for projecting light rays upon said panel means, said light rays being effective when a foot is placed upon said panel means to define thereon a shadow outline of said foot,
- sensing means for viewing said foot shadow outline to receive light energy therefrom and transduce it into an electronic foot image having distinct light/dark status, and
- microcomputer means for receiving said electronic foot image, said microcomputer means being effective to resolve said electronic image into a precisely defined, dimensionally accurate measurement of the foot and determine a specific shoe size that fits properly the measured foot.
Apparatus for electronic measurement of a foot comprising
- an enclosure,
- translucent panel means disposed within said enclosure for at times receiving placement thereon of a foot,
- light source means disposed within said enclosure for projecting collimated light rays upon said panel means, said light rays being effective when a foot is placed upon said panel means to define thereon a shadow outline of said foot,
- reflective means for receiving and redirecting said light rays,
- optical means for receiving said redirected light rays defining said foot shadow outline,
- means for focusing said foot shadow outline,
- sensing means for viewing said foot shadow outline to receive light energy therefrom and transduce said light energy into an electronic foot image having distinct status of black and white light,
- microcomputer means for receiving said electronic foot image, said microcomputer means being effective to resolve said electronic foot image into a precisely defined dimensionally accurate measurement of the foot and determine a specific foot size that fits properly the measured foot, and
- video display means for displaying to customer view said electronic foot image.
A method for electronic measurement of a foot comprising the steps of
- placing a foot upon a panel disposed in an enclosure,
- directing rays of light upon said foot to create thereabout a shadow outline of the foot on said panel,
- directing said shadow outline from said panel to an array scanner,
- transducing electrical energy of said shadow outline into an electronic image of said foot, and
- resolving said electronic foot image into a dimensionally accurate measurement of the foot.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.