Patent Grant
10772386
This application is a U.S. national phase entry under 35 U.S.C. § 371 from PCT International Application No. PCT/E P2017/054331, filed Feb. 24, 2017, which claims the benefit of priority of EP Application No. 16157130.2, filed Feb. 24, 2016, from both of which this application claims priority and both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a method for generating control data for controlling a shoe part production machine for making shoes or elements for influencing the properties of the shoe, such as inlays or modules to be mounted on the sole.
Comfort of shoes can be crucial to the persons wearing them, both in respect of the persons' general well-being, where shoes are worn often every day and for many hours, but also in connection with the performance of a person when using the shoes.
Typically, shoes are being made in series having different kinds of properties, where one shoe series has a sole with a specific flexibility and another shoe series has another flexibility. The properties of each series are then determined based on different tests being made on models of a shoe and based on feedback from users of prior series.
All users have feet, which are uniquely shaped, and similarly, the dynamics of a foot is unique—for this reason, it will be impossible or at least difficult for a user to find a shoe, which has the optimal properties. Since the user will have to choose between series of produced shoes, the user will have to compromise and find the best shoe series available—not the optimal shoe.
Furthermore, making specific measurements at the shoe store by looking at the feet of the user, making a short usage test (e.g. on a running belt or similar) and further by looking at the wear characteristics of the older pair of shoes is typically the full extent of identifying the best shoe for the user.
A further problem by having series of shoes is that both shoes in a pair of shoes are made having similar properties being basically mirrored to fit respectively a left and a right foot, but when it comes to the feet of a user then the dynamics and shape can be quite different, whereby the shoes in a pair of shoes will be more suitable to one foot than the other.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems.
This is obtained by a method for generating control data for controlling a shoe part production machine for making shoes or elements for optimizing traction properties of the shoe by customizing modules to be mounted on the sole for a specific user, said method comprising the steps of: receiving user profile data describing the characteristics of the user where the user profile data comprise use data and test data, receiving a user selection identifying a selected shoe from a number of shoe models or a selected element influencing the property of a shoe, generating modified template data by modifying a shoe sole template corresponding to the selected shoe model or by modifying an element influencing the properties corresponding to the selected element, said modifications being performed based on said received user profile data, generating control data based on said modified template data.
Thereby, user specific parameters are combined with the parameters to be used for producing a shoe based on specific shoe design templates and a predesigned shoe can be optimised for the user, ensuring comfort for the user wearing the shoe. This is all done by receiving user specific data e.g. by measuring or analysing the user to create user profile data and then use this user profile data to amend the shoe design template in relation to its comfort elements, such as the sole and/or inner support of the shoe. Thereby, shoes from a specific design collection can still be modified to be optimised to the actual comfort needs and properties of the user. The template data could be in a non-limiting manner to fit the exact needs of the user or the data may alternatively be optimised within a limit determined by the limitations of the shoe design.
The data captured from individual users may be gathered centrally, affording an overview of shoe use and shoe wear patterns among a number of users, such as thousands of users or more. In this manner, the gathering of data for specific sole-design allows the production of yet better soles even for those not immediately using shoes produced according to the invention. For example, a number of global use patterns may emerge, where global means among substantially all users of shoes produced according to the invention. Each use pattern may represent a user group, where at least some of the groups may not today be able to get good shoes, or where some groups are underrepresented among produced shoes, or where users may not easily identify their own group.
The method may be adapted to design a shoe for a user, where the traction properties of the shoes have been customized for the specific user, a the user data may comprise data that identifies of the users movements, stance and gait may affect the traction on e.g. a standardized model of a shoe, and how the users movements are transferred via the ground contacting surface of the shoe and the shoe. Thus the user profile data can identify the specific characteristics of the user's movements, and identify how the ground contacting surface of the shoe is stable, unstable in predetermined factors.
I.e. the user profile data may identify how the user applies force to the ground, and identify how the users movements affect the traction of the shoe, by specific measurements on e.g. how the shoe slips during the movement.
By identifying how the movement of the user is related to the specific type of shoe model and/or traction elements on the shoe, it may be possible to change the traction elements to suit the user specifically, so that specific areas of the shoe may be modified to improve traction, reduce traction, or maintain the same traction. Furthermore, the shoe may further be modified differently in different areas of the shoe, such as in the heel area, arch area, forefoot area, medial side or the lateral side, and the ground contacting surface of the shoe may be divided into a number of different areas, that may be individually adjusted to customise the sole of the shoe for the user.
Alternatively or additionally, the shoe may be altered by changing the insole of the shoe, the midsole of the shoe, or differently, in order to obtain the optimal ground contacting surface for the specific foot, gait, or stance of the user.
In an embodiment, the template data stored in said storage means is linked to a predefined number of possible modified templates and one of said modified templates is selected based on said modified template data. Thereby, a limited number of alterations are possible due to restrictions by the manufacturing machinery, the design, etc. and still the template best suitable for the comfort of the user can be chosen.
In an embodiment, said user profile data comprises user data and test data, use data describing data relating to usage of another shoe or maybe a similar shoe, such as on which surface, where the shoe used, which temperature did the foot have while wearing the shoe, how did the user support the foot, etc. All this is very powerful data to use, when an optimal shoe is needed.
In one embodiment the user data comprises data on actual use of shoes by the user. Within the meaning of the present invention, the actual use of the shoes may mean that the user may wear a shoe for a predetermined period, where the user may use the shoe during the predetermined period for a specific activity, such as hiking, playing golf, walking on specific surfaces and other manner, and where the user data represent actual measurements of the user using a shoe in a specific activity, and the modification of the shoe may be applied to the shoe to represent this specific activity. As an example, a user may borrow a specific model of a golf shoe, having specific properties that have previously been chosen for this user, where the shoe is fitted with a sensor in the sole of the shoe. The user goes to a golf course, and plays a predetermined number of shots, and/or a predetermined number of different types of shots, where the sensor registers predetermined parameters during the use, in order to identify how the shoe reacts with the ground during a golf swing, on a certain type of surface.
Thus, during use, the user may show a certain type of slippage through the golf swing, where the sensor can measure in what way the shoe has moved during the swing, and possibly in what direction.
Knowing the type of sole, the actual usage data may be utilized to modify the sole of the shoe, so that the specific amount of unwanted slippage may be reduced, and thereby improving the traction of the golf shoe for this specific user. As golf swings and stances vary significantly from one golfer to another, it may be difficult to provide all golfers with a specific sole design, that suits all golfers. Thus, by measuring the usage data of a specific golfer, the golf shoe may be customized for this golfer, so that the golfer obtains the optimal traction, while still maintaining a good comfort and maintaining shoes that are allowed on a golf course.
In an embodiment, at least some of said user data describes the shoe usage pattern of the user, which has been automatically stored and collected by a data collection unit positioned on the shoe. This is a very easy way to ensure a constant measurement of data during everyday use of the shoe.
In an embodiment, at least some of said user data comprises data obtained by questioning the user. This data can easily be obtained without any further measurements and may include factual data such as weight, height, feeling of comfort when using shoe, etc.
In an embodiment, at least some of said test data is obtained by testing the user, e.g. in a walking machine or a foot pattern measurement device. Thereby, data can be obtained that cannot be obtained by questioning, such as walking style, running style.
In an embodiment, a shoe sole template to be modified describes a shoe sole having cleats and wherein at least the positioning and/or design of said cleats are modified according to said user profile data. Cleats are influencing the comfort when wearing a shoe, also in relation to golf shoes. Therefore, it is of high relevance to be able to optimize the cleat structure, positioning according to the user.
In an embodiment, a shoe sole template to be modified describes a shoe sole having integrated support areas and wherein at least the positioning and/or design of said support areas is modified according to said user profile data. Again, the inner support needed in a shoe can be quite individual, but also decisive when it comes to the comfort when wearing a shoe.
In an embodiment, an element for influencing the properties of a shoe is a cleat element to be attached to a shoe sole surface and wherein at least the positioning and/or design of said cleats on said cleat element is modified according to said user profile data. Thereby, the entire shoe can be prefabricated and only the cleat elements are made user specific. The cleat elements are then to be attached to the sole surface via an attachment system, e.g. screw or a snap system for easy replacement.
In an embodiment, an element for influencing the properties of a shoe is a support element to be positioned inside the shoe and wherein at least the design of said support element is modified according to said user profile data.
In an embodiment, generating modified template data is based on a combination of said user profile data and pre-collected user data to improve the calculation algorithms of said system for situations where substantially only test data is available. Thereby, also older collected data
The present invention further relates a system for generating control data for controlling a shoe part production machine for making shoes or elements for influencing the properties of the shoe, such as inlays or modules to be mounted on the sole.
In one embodiment the collected data originates from measurements performed in the heel area of the shoe. The collected data may be recorded from the shoe sole during use, where the collection unit may be arranged in the heel area of the shoe. The collection unit may be removeably fixed in the sole of the shoe, where the position of the unit is fixed, so that all movements of the sole may be registered by the data collection unit, via a number of different types of measurement elements, such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, pressure sensors and so on. Thus, when movement is applied to the shoe, the same movement is applied to the measurement unit, and where the position of the measurement unit relative to the shoe does not change. As an example, when the shoe may slip, the measurement unit or collection unit will move in space a in a similar manner to the slip, and the slip may then be measured using e.g. an accelerometer. Alternatively, when the shoe is moved a certain amount in space, a gyroscopic sensor would be able to register the change in tilt of the shoe in space, and register the angle of the shoe.
In one embodiment the user data comprises measurements from at least two different types of measurement data which are compared to identify a data collection period for identifying modification data. Thus, by utilizing more than one type of data, it would be possible to identify a specific time period, where the collected data shows a specific movement, or behavior of the shoe, and the data that is present in the specific time window may be utilized to identify a specific behavior of the shoe during that time period. E.g. during gait, the measurement data from a gyroscope could be used to identify when the shoe is in contact with the ground, based on the position of the shoe, while a pressure sensor and/or a accelerometer can identify other types of data, such as the magnitude of impact, or any loss in traction due to slippage that may be registered by the accelerometer.
In one embodiment the user data comprises actual measurements of pressure and acceleration collected during use by a data collection unit positioned in the shoe. By obtaining measurements of pressure and acceleration in a data collection unit positioned in the shoe, it is possible to identify a moment of impact of the shoe with the ground during gait, stance or through a golf swing. The pressure measurement can identify the moment where a difference in pressure is applied to the measurement unit, which may represent a heel strike, a weight shift of the stance during a golf swing, where the acceleration measurement can identify how the shoe moves in the preceding or subsequent moments to the pressure difference. By doing this it is possible to identify the moment where traction is needed, and measure how the shoe reacts during that moment, whether it slips, and possibly the direction of movement. Furthermore, a compass measurement element may be applied to the data collection unit, in order to identify the orientation of the shoe during measurement.
In one embodiment the acceleration measurements are collected in at least one dimension that is substantially parallel to the ground contacting surface of the shoe. The acceleration measurements may be utilized to identify how the shoe may move in relation to a ground surface, where the acceleration of the shoe in a dimension parallel to the ground contacting surface may register whether the shoe moves forwards, backwards, or sideways in relation to the ground contacting surface, when the shoe is in contact. The measurement may also be provided in two dimensions, so that the data collecting unit may collect data in an x and y axis, which may e.g. be perpendicular to each other, and the data collected will then represent slippage or movement in a plane that is parallel to the ground contacting surface, where the x axis may represent the longitudinal direction of the shoe, while the y axis may represent the transverse direction of the shoe, or vice versa. Alternatively, the directions may be in any direction, provided that the data collected is not identical in both axes, i.e. measuring acceleration in the same direction.
In one embodiment the pressure measurements are collected in a dimension which is at an angle to the ground contacting surface of the shoe. The pressure sensor may be utilized to measure the force applied by the foot of the wearer on the sole, so that when the shoe is positioned on the ground, any change in weight applied by the wearer may be measured. The pressure sensor may measure data when force is applied in a direction that is at an angle to the ground contacting surface, i.e. where the angle is not parallel to the ground. One such angle may e.g. be perpendicular to the ground contacting surface, or anywhere between a 1 or 90 degree angle to the ground contacting surface.
Thus the pressure sensor will register the weight of the foot applied to the sole of the shoe when the shoe is in contact with the ground.
The invention further relates to a shoe sole and a shoe comprising a system according to the above.
In the following, the invention will be described in detail with reference to embodiments shown by the enclosed figures. It should be emphasized that the embodiments shown are used for example purposes only and should not be used to limit the scope of the invention.
The following figures are used to describe embodiments of the present invention, wherein
User data 101 is any data on the actual use of shoes by the user, and in a preferred embodiment, user data is obtained through a sensor unit inside or mounted on a previously worn shoe, allowing users to obtain shoes fitted to his/her wear and use patterns instead of projected or guessed needs. Test data 102 is any data collected with the aim of testing and/or assessing the special needs of a new pair of shoes by a user and is especially useful when detailed use data is unavailable or inadequate. The specific source of data used is unimportant, and may for example take the form of questionnaires, talking directly with the user as s/he is in the shoe shop as part of buying shoes, running or walking on a treadmill, or other useful and convenient simulations such as loaning a pair of shoes for prolonged wear or even pictures of feet or previously worn shoes. In a preferred embodiment, this data is digitalized and even stored centrally. This allows automatic processing, saving the user profile data for later use and to compare among users to further specialize sole designs. In one embodiment of the invention, this digitalization of test data allows identification of segments of user groups for more adapted later shoe and sole design, such as finding a need for a hybrid running and trekking shoe within one or more user segments.
Input data processing 111 is performed on inputted test and use data. The data could be analyzed to identify use patterns, which results in user profile data 103 for further processing. Raw data is interpreted as characteristics of the user, and in one embodiment of the invention, the data is normalized over different shoe types or takes account of the shoes on which the data was collected, this way achieving more precise user profile data. For example, the processing may take account of a both high-heeled shoes and a boot or compensate for data collected on running shoes and the new shoes for the user being dress shoes.
In one embodiment, previously collected user data 101 and test data 102 is computed to improve the ability of the system to recognize customer wear patterns e.g. by letting computations be adaptable over time through adaptive computing technologies such as machine learning. This allows future users precise sole design and sole design with limited test data, improving overall system shoe production performance. For example, if previous users who had worn out the shoe by the outside middle section of the shoe (i.e. the lateral support) turned out to pronate, a user without precise use data, but with pictures of shoes worn out by the lateral support would indicate pronation to this adaptive system.
Through input data processing, user profile data 103 is produced, which describes the specific usage style of the user according to a set of parameters. In one embodiment, user profile data comprises at least one parameter of wear patterns, extra stability needs, extra flexibility needs and at least one specified usage situation or any combination of these. These parameters may be differentiated for different regions of the foot as well as for different uses, so that one user profile data set may comprise a need for extra stability in the heel but extra flexibility in the footpad area.
Template data 104 exists for each shoe model, which is modifiable, based on user profile data. In one embodiment of the invention, this template data includes essentially a core design modifiable in a number of ways, where each modification has a number of predesigned configurations, and where each configuration is known to produce a specific effect in the final shoe. For example, one shoe model may have a template with a modifiable heel support, a modifiable lateral support, a modifiable arch support and a modifiable forefoot support (see
In one embodiment of the invention, the various configurations of at least one modification has qualitatively different shapes such as cleats being either truncated screw-driver head shaped or flat, or even some other convenient shape.
In another aspect of the invention, template data may comprise modules or inlays for shoes, where user profile data corresponds to modifications in these, such as modules mountable on the sole (see
In another embodiment of the invention, configurations are not made based on a numerable list of possibilities, but takes a shape as defined by a continuum of values within two accepted threshold values, such as a support being anything from 0 cm to 4 cm according to fine-grained use data.
In yet another embodiment, the sole is not modifiable in a numerable (or countable) number of ways and/or regions of the sole, but as a single element, where modifications may be chosen in a complex, interrelated way, where some modifications are important to each other and may preclude others. For example, a sole may be configurable for specific needs such as against pronation and the required geometrical changes to the core design are made not considering certain modification regions or types, but rather precisely for the needed purpose, making necessary changes based on the whole geometry at once. Such modifiability allows the fullest customization possible while maintaining the template and outer shoe appearance.
Based on customer data and template data, geometry calculations 112 are performed to identify modified template data 105. Calculations are made based on user needs and available configuration space to design a blueprint for the optimal shoe, achieving the optimal parameter values for said user from a wide range of template configurability. In one embodiment, the modified template data may be processed into a control data, depending on convenience.
Modified template data 105 or control data is fed to a production system for shoe construction 113, where it is used to steer the actual construction of the shoe.
In one embodiment of the invention, the shoe is constructed through 3D printing at a convenient location, such as near the shoe shop, or at a production plant. In another embodiment of the invention, the sole is produced according to conventional methods such as through injection moulding, the shape of the sole being modifiable, for example by switching out specific parts of the mould prior to moulding, or having a set of different moulds for each combination of configurations. In one embodiment of the invention, the sole has ready-made module-inserts and separately produced modules, these modules fitting into the inserts (see
In one embodiment, a sensor is inserted into the sole of the shoe or mounted in the shoe during or after manufacture, which is adapted to collect information on use patterns, through sensing at least one of pressure, acceleration, direction of the shoe, humidity, orientation of the shoe, temperature, shear and compressive and tractive forces. The data gathered constitutes a useful source of use data 101 for further optimization of later shoes for a given user.
The input means 201 are for receiving (see arrows) user profile data describing characteristics of the user and a user selection identifying a selected shoe from a number of shoe models or elements influencing the property of a shoe. The storage means store template data describing shoe soles relating to each of said shoe models or said template data describes other elements influencing the properties of the shoe. The processing unit generates modified template data by modifying a shoe sole template corresponding to the selected shoe model or by modifying an element influencing the properties corresponding to the selected element. The modifications are performed based on the received user profile data. Finally, the processing unit also generates control data based on said modified template data. Via the output means, these control data can then be sent to a shoe part production machine.
Based on usage patterns of a user, user profile data is created, which is used to modify a template shoe to supply the degree and placement of support the user needs, after which the sole is manufactured to these specifications, employing different cleat patterns to achieve a differentiated support.
Shoes may vary not only between users but also between a left and a right shoe for the same user. If a user has special needs for support or flexibility, for example in one foot, a sole can be specially designed for this. This may for example be the case for a user who has undergone surgery, a user with an injury, for example from sports, or in other situations where differentiated support is useful.
Each embodiment as seen in
As previously described, the left and right shoes do not need to mirror one another, but may be individually designed for each foot.
1. A method for generating control data for controlling a shoe part production machine for making shoes or elements for influencing the properties of the shoe, such as inlays or modules to be mounted on the sole, said system comprising:
2. A method according to clause 1, wherein said template data stored in said storage means is linked to a predefined number of possible modified templates and one of said modified templates being selected based on said modified template data.
3. A method according to clauses 1-2, wherein said user profile data comprises use data and test data.
4. A method according to clause 3, wherein at least some of said user data describes the shoe usage pattern of the user, which has been automatically stored and collected by a data collection unit positioned in the shoe.
5. A method according to clauses 3-4, wherein at least some of said user data comprises data obtained by questioning the user.
6. A method according to clauses 3-5, wherein at least some of said test data is obtained by testing the user, e.g. in a walking machine or a foot pattern measurement device.
7. A method according to clauses 1-6, wherein a shoe sole template to be modified describes a shoe sole having cleats and wherein at least the positioning and/or design of said cleats are modified according to said user profile data.
8. A method according to clauses 1-7, wherein a shoe sole template to be modified describes a shoe sole having integrated support areas and wherein at least the positioning and/or design of said support areas is modified according to said user profile data.
9. A method according to clauses 1-8, wherein an element for influencing the properties of a shoe is a cleat element to be attached to a shoe sole surface and wherein at least the positioning and/or design of said cleats on said cleat element is modified according to said user profile data.
10. A method according to clauses 1-9, wherein an element for influencing the properties of a shoe is a support element to be poisoned inside the shoe and wherein at least the design of said support element is modified according to said user profile data.
11. A method according to clauses 1-10, wherein generating modified template data is based on a combination of said user profile data and pre-collected use data to improve the calculation algorithms of said system for situations where substantially only test data is available.
12. A system for generating control data for controlling a shoe part production machine for making shoes or elements for influencing the properties of the shoe, such as inlays or modules to be mounted on the sole, said system comprising:
13. A system according to clause 12, wherein said template data stored in said storage means are linked to a predefined number of possible modified templates and one of said modified templates is selected based on said modified template data.
14. A system according to any of the clauses 13-14, wherein said user profile data comprises use data and test data.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16157130 | Feb 2016 | EP | regional |
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/EP2017/054331 | 2/24/2017 | WO | 00 |
| Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| WO2017/144663 | 8/31/2017 | WO | A |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4538353 | Gardner | Sep 1985 | A |
| 4604807 | Bock | Aug 1986 | A |
| 5025476 | Gould | Jun 1991 | A |
| 5206804 | Thies | Apr 1993 | A |
| 5216594 | White | Jun 1993 | A |
| 6463351 | Clynch | Oct 2002 | B1 |
| 7743530 | Truelsen | Jun 2010 | B2 |
| 9854867 | Bier | Jan 2018 | B2 |
| 10140392 | Bowen | Nov 2018 | B1 |
| 10282914 | Tran | May 2019 | B1 |
| 10327502 | Schouwenburg | Jun 2019 | B2 |
| 20020158358 | Franzene | Oct 2002 | A1 |
| 20040168329 | Ishimaru | Sep 2004 | A1 |
| 20050071242 | Allen | Mar 2005 | A1 |
| 20060247892 | Peterson | Nov 2006 | A1 |
| 20060283243 | Peterson | Dec 2006 | A1 |
| 20070163147 | Cavanagh et al. | Jul 2007 | A1 |
| 20080189194 | Bentvelzen | Aug 2008 | A1 |
| 20090076772 | Hinshaw et al. | Mar 2009 | A1 |
| 20090208113 | Bar | Aug 2009 | A1 |
| 20090254207 | Tiffany | Oct 2009 | A1 |
| 20100318442 | Paul | Dec 2010 | A1 |
| 20110004524 | Paul | Jan 2011 | A1 |
| 20110099122 | Bright | Apr 2011 | A1 |
| 20140012406 | Cioffi | Jan 2014 | A1 |
| 20150081076 | Fernandes | Mar 2015 | A1 |
| 20150101134 | Manz | Apr 2015 | A1 |
| 20160066655 | Goldie | Mar 2016 | A1 |
| 20170068774 | Cluckers | Mar 2017 | A1 |
| 20170228859 | Schouwenburg | Aug 2017 | A1 |
| 20170308945 | Loveder | Oct 2017 | A1 |
| 20180247426 | Gluck | Aug 2018 | A1 |
| 20180253079 | McInnis | Sep 2018 | A1 |
| 20180300791 | Ganesan | Oct 2018 | A1 |
| 20190037971 | Carlucci | Feb 2019 | A1 |
| 20190175070 | Decker | Jun 2019 | A1 |
| 20190232592 | Tran | Aug 2019 | A1 |
| 20190297995 | Loveder | Oct 2019 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| WO 9117677 | Nov 1991 | WO |
| WO 02061655 | Aug 2002 | WO |
| WO 2008070537 | Jun 2008 | WO |
| WO 2008080137 | Jul 2008 | WO |
| WO 2014100462 | Jun 2014 | WO |
| WO 2015169941 | Nov 2015 | WO |
| Entry |
|---|
| International Search Report and Written Opinion dated May 12, 2017, in International Application No. PCT/EP2017/054331 (9 pgs.). |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20190037971 A1 | Feb 2019 | US |
