Shoe insert and method for fitting a shoe
An apparatus and method are provided for determining whether a foot has outgrown a shoe. In one embodiment, a shoe comprises an insert that has one or more visible symbols thereon and is capable of absorbing perspiration from a foot. In one embodiment, the shoe may be, for example, a child's shoe. In this embodiment, the shoe is placed on a child's foot, and is worn by the child, during which time perspiration is produced by the child's foot and absorbed by the insert. The insert is then removed from the shoe and examined. One or more markings associated with the perspiration are detected, indicating the placement of the foot in the shoe. The position of the markings in relation to the symbols on the insert is examined. If the markings extend beyond a selected symbol, the child has outgrown the shoe.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to footwear generally, and more specifically, to methods and apparatus used for determining the placement of an individual's foot within a shoe, and whether the respective shoe fits properly on the foot.
2. Background of the Invention
A well-designed child's shoe should facilitate a healthy pattern of growth and development of the child's foot. It is generally considered desirable for the proper development of a child's foot to allow the foot as much freedom of movement as possible. Providing unrestricted freedom of movement to the foot enables the child to walk with a natural barefoot motion, which in turn facilitates proper growth and development. To enable the child to move with a natural barefoot motion, or a close approximation thereof, a shoe must allow the foot and toes to bend in a natural manner while walking. If a child wears a shoe that is too tight or otherwise restricts his or her foot's movement, the child's foot, toes or ankle may sustain injury and/or may fail to grow and develop in a healthy manner. In some cases, growth and developmental problems may be caused by even a mildly constricting shoe, well before the child begins to express discomfort. In addition, very young children typically begin to walk before they can talk; consequently, even after a shoe begins to constrict and cause pain to a child's foot, he or she may not have the ability to communicate the nature of the problem. Accordingly, it is imperative for a parent to have the ability to determine if a particular shoe fits a child's foot, and equally importantly, to determine easily and in a timely manner when the child has outgrown the shoe.
Unfortunately, it is very common today for children to continue to wear shoes which they have outgrown. One source of this problem is the rapid rate at which children's feet grow. In some cases, a child's foot may outgrow a new, properly fitting shoe in less than two months.
A related problem is the lack of opportunity parents have today to measure their children's feet and determine whether or not a given child has outgrown his or her shoes. For example, many households currently have no apparatus designed specifically to measure the size of a child's foot. Similarly, most households have no apparatus for determining whether or not a child's foot has outgrown a particular shoe. As a result, many children receive new shoes in a haphazard manner. For example, in many families a child may have his or her feet measured during occasional visits to a shoe store, where new shoes are fitted and purchased; however, in between these visits, little or no attention may be given to the growth of the feet within the shoes, unless and until the child expresses severe discomfort. This lack of regular monitoring increases the risk that the child may suffer injury or growth-related problems in the feet, toes and/or ankles.
There is, therefore, a need for a device and/or a method for easily and accurately measuring the placement of a child's foot within a shoe, and for determining whether a child has outgrown the shoe.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTo overcome the problems described above, an apparatus and method are provided for determining the placement of an individual's foot within a shoe, and for determining whether the individual's foot has outgrown the shoe. Accordingly, in one embodiment, a shoe insert is provided that has one or more visible symbols printed on the top surface thereof. The symbols may include, for example, lines showing the desired placement of a foot and toes on the insert. In one embodiment, the area on the insert situated between the line representing the ends of the toes and the front edge of the insert is referred to as the “ouch zone.”
In one embodiment, the insert includes a top layer composed substantially of a material capable of absorbing perspiration produced by a foot. For example, the top layer may be composed of unfinished leather.
In one embodiment, the shoe may be a child's shoe. In this embodiment, the shoe is placed on a child's foot, and is worn by the child, during which time perspiration is produced by the child's foot and is absorbed by the insert. The perspiration causes one or more markings to appear on the top surface of the insert. The insert is then removed from the shoe and examined. In particular, the one or more markings caused by the perspiration are examined to determine the placement of the child's foot within the shoe. The position of the markings in relation to the one or more symbols on the insert is also examined. For example, in one embodiment, markings made by the child's toes may be examined to determine whether or not the toes extend into the ouch zone. In this embodiment, if the markings made by the child's toes extend into the ouch zone, the child has outgrown the shoe and the shoe should no longer be worn by the child.
In another embodiment, an insert is provided having disposed on a selected portion of the surface thereof a substance capable of absorbing, and reacting with, perspiration, to produce a visible record of the actual placement of a wearer's foot. The substance may be disposed, for example, in a region along the front edge of the insert. In this embodiment, the wearer, e.g., a child, wears a shoe containing the insert, and perspiration produced by the child's foot is deposited on the surface of the insert. When the substance disposed on the surface absorbs and reacts with the perspiration, a visible indication is produced that the child has outgrown the shoe. The visible indication may be, e.g., a word, or an image such as a circle.
In yet another embodiment, a shoe is provided, comprising an upper and an insert having attributes described above.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThese and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of selected embodiments, taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:
In a first aspect of the invention, a shoe insert is provided for use in a child's shoe. In one embodiment, the insert has arranged on its upper surface one or more symbols representing a desired placement of the wearer's (e.g., the child's) foot in a particular shoe. For example,
It should be noted that the insert 100 does not necessarily correspond to a standard shoe size; instead, in a second aspect of the invention, the insert 100 is manufactured for a particular shoe, is shaped uniquely to fit into the shoe, and functions as an integral part of the shoe. Referring to
For much of a child's early years, the child's foot is in a nearly continuous state of growth and development. This growth is associated with a high level of muscular and other activity by and within the child's foot. As a result of this activity, a typical child's foot produces a substantial amount of perspiration. In many cases, a child's foot will produce a significant amount of perspiration within a few hours.
The inventor realized that the tendency for a child's foot to produce substantial quantities of perspiration may be used beneficially to determine whether or not the child has outgrown a particular shoe. Accordingly, in a third aspect of the invention, the top surface of the insert 100 absorbs perspiration from a child's foot and, in response, produces a visible record, or marking, of the actual placement of the child's foot in the shoe. In one embodiment, a child may wear a shoe, e.g., shoe 350, containing the insert 100, for a period of time, and during this time his or her foot produces a quantity of perspiration which is absorbed by the top layer 240 of the insert 100. In this embodiment, the perspiration absorbed by the insert 100 causes one or more markings to appear on the top layer 240 of the insert 100. For example, in an embodiment in which the top layer 240 is composed of unfinished leather, certain regions of the unfinished leather may absorb a substantial amount of perspiration and, in response, appear visibly darker than other areas that absorb little or no perspiration. In this embodiment, the darkened areas tend to appear more prominently in regions where the child's toes or the bottom of the child's foot are in frequent contact with the surface of the insert 100. In this embodiment, the insert 100 may be removed from the shoe 350, and the darkened areas may be examined to determine the actual placement of the child's foot within the shoe 350.
In another embodiment, the markings on the insert 100 that are caused by the perspiration from the child's foot are further examined to determine whether or not the child has outgrown the shoe.
At step 440, the shoe 350 is removed from the child's foot, and at step 450, the insert 100 is removed from the shoe 350. At step 460, the markings produced by the perspiration are examined to determine whether or not the shoe 350 fits the child's foot. In particular, referring to the embodiment of
It should be noted that the markings caused by perspiration remain on the insert 100 and expand on the surface of the insert 100 as the child's foot grows. The next time a measurement of the foot is desired, the insert 100 may be removed from the shoe and examined immediately. Thus, the insert 100 constitutes a readily available measure of whether or not the child has outgrown the shoe 350.
In yet another embodiment, an insert is provided having disposed on its upper surface a chemical or other substance capable of absorbing, and reacting with, the perspiration produced by a child's foot. In one embodiment, the substance reacts with the perspiration to produce on the surface of the insert a record of the placement of the child's foot in the shoe, e.g., an indication when the child has outgrown the shoe. For example, in one embodiment, a region may be defined at the front edge of the insert which is deemed unsafe for the child's toes (i.e., it is likely that any toes extending into this region will be constricted by the shoe). This region may be referred to as the “danger zone.” A substance that is transparent initially, but produces a visible indication upon absorbing the person's perspiration, is disposed on the portion of the insert that lies within the danger zone. In this embodiment, the insert may have an upper surface which initially has a generally uniform appearance (i.e., with no visible indications, lines, etc.). As long as the child's toes do not extend into the danger zone, little or no perspiration is absorbed by the substance and the surface of the insert retains its uniform appearance. When the child's toes grow into the danger zone, the toes deposit perspiration onto the substance. The substance reacts with the perspiration and produces a visible indicator that the child has outgrown the shoe.
In one embodiment, a substance that changes color in response to perspiration is utilized. For example, a substance that is initially transparent, but changes color in response to perspiration, may be disposed across all or substantially all of the danger zone. Accordingly, when the child's toes begin to grow into the danger zone, the portion of the insert that lies in the danger zone begins to change color. In an alternative embodiment, the substance may be disposed on the surface in the form of an image, e.g., a word, a circle, a series of dots, etc.
By way of example, the insert 115 shown in
The inserts and methods described herein allows a parent, e.g., a mother, to ensure that her child at all times wears properly fitting shoes. For example, she may utilize one or more of these inserts and/or methods to readily detect if her child has outgrown a shoe, and if so, replace the shoe with a larger, properly fitting shoe. The inserts and methods described herein have an additional benefit in that the mother may perform such measurements regularly, easily, and at her own convenience. In particular, she may do so at home, without the need to visit a shoe store. In this way, the mother may facilitate the proper growth and development of the child's foot.
The foregoing merely illustrates the principles of the invention. It will thus be appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able to devise numerous other arrangements which embody the principles of the invention and are thus within its spirit and scope. For example, the inserts and methods described herein may also have advantages and uses for teenagers and adults.
Claims
1. An insert for use in a wearer's shoe, comprising:
- a surface upon which a wearer's foot is placed;
- at least one visible symbol situated on the surface representing a desired placement of the wearer's foot; and
- a material that forms at least a portion of the surface, wherein the material is capable of producing a visible record of an actual placement of the wearer's foot.
2. The insert of claim 1, wherein the visible record includes one or more markings associated with perspiration absorbed by the material.
3. The insert of claim 1, wherein the material is unfinished leather.
4. The insert of claim 1, wherein the material is a synthetic, poromeric material.
5. The insert of claim 1, wherein the visible record includes a change of a portion of the surface from a first color to a second color.
6. The insert of claim 1, wherein the visible record includes an appearance on the surface of an image.
7. The insert of claim 1, wherein the at least one visible symbol includes a form representing a desired placement of a toe.
8. An insert for use in a wearer's shoe, comprising:
- a layer having a surface upon which a wearer's foot is placed, the layer being composed at least substantially of a material capable of absorbing perspiration and producing, in response to the perspiration, a visible record of an actual placement of the wearer's foot; and
- at least one visible symbol situated on the surface representing a desired placement of the wearer's foot.
9. The insert of claim 8, wherein the visible record includes one or more markings associated with perspiration absorbed by the material.
10. The insert of claim 8, wherein the material is unfinished leather.
11. The insert of claim 8, wherein the material is a synthetic, poromeric material.
12. The insert of claim 8, wherein the visible record includes a change of a portion of the surface from a first color to a second color.
13. The insert of claim 8, wherein the visible record includes an appearance on the surface of an image.
14. The insert of claim 8, wherein the at least one visible symbol includes a form representing a desired placement of a toe.
15. The insert of claim 8, further comprising:
- a second layer composed at least substantially of a second material for providing stiffness to the insert; and
- a third layer composed at least substantially of a third material for providing air circulation to the foot.
16. An insert for use in a wearer's shoe, comprising:
- a surface upon which a wearer's foot is placed; and
- a material that forms at least a portion of the surface, wherein the material is capable of producing a visible record of an actual placement of the wearer's foot.
17. The insert of claim 16, wherein the visible record includes one or more markings associated with perspiration absorbed by the material.
18. The insert of claim 16, wherein the visible record includes a change of a portion of the surface from a first color to a second color.
19. The insert of claim 16, wherein the visible record includes an appearance on the surface of an image.
20. A shoe comprising:
- an upper; and
- an insert, comprising: a surface upon which a wearer's foot is placed; at least one visible symbol situated on the surface representing a desired placement of the wearer's foot; and a material that forms at least a portion of the surface, wherein the material is capable of producing a visible record of an actual placement of the wearer's foot.
21. The shoe of claim 20, wherein the visible record includes one or more markings associated with perspiration absorbed by the material.
22. The shoe of claim 20, wherein the material is unfinished leather.
23. The shoe of claim 20, wherein the material is a synthetic, poromeric material.
24. The shoe of claim 20, wherein the visible record includes a change of a portion of the surface from a first color to a second color.
25. The shoe of claim 20, wherein the visible record includes an appearance on the surface of an image.
26. The shoe of claim 20, wherein the at least one visible symbol includes a form representing a desired placement of a toe.
27. The shoe of claim 20, wherein the shoe is a child's shoe.
28. A method for determining a fit of a shoe on a wearer's foot, the shoe comprising an insert having on a surface thereof one or more visible symbols representing a desired placement of the wearer's foot, the insert being composed at least in part of a material capable of producing a visible record of an actual placement of the wearer's foot, the method comprising:
- detecting on the insert the visible record;
- determining a relationship between the visible record and at least one of the one or more symbols; and
- determining, based on the relationship, the fit of the shoe.
29. The method of claim 28, wherein the visible record includes one or more markings associated with perspiration absorbed by the material.
30. The method of claim 28, wherein the material is unfinished leather.
31. The method of claim 28, wherein the material is a synthetic, poromeric material.
32. The method of claim 28, wherein the visible record includes a change of a portion of the surface from a first color to a second color.
33. The method of claim 28, wherein the visible record includes an appearance on the surface of an image.
34. The method of claim 28, wherein the at least one visible symbol includes a form representing a desired placement of a toe.
35. The method of claim 28, wherein the shoe is a child's shoe.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 1, 2003
Publication Date: Jun 2, 2005
Inventor: James Schumacher (Springfield, MO)
Application Number: 10/725,163