Shoe size selection system and apparatus therefor

Claim 2

A shoe size selection system for determining a size acceptable to the shape of a foot that is intended to wear the shoe, in which the improvement comprises: (a) a support to receive a foot to be measured for size; (b) a laser light source; (c) means to structure and move said laser light for scanning over a foot on said support; (d) camera means positioned to view a foot on said support during laser light scanning; (e) computer means connected to said laser light source and said camera means to calculate three-dimensional size information about a foot on said support; (f) program means in said computer means to compare shoe length and girth with a foot on said support; and (g) viewing means connected to said computer means for displaying the calculated three-dimensional size information about a foot on said support.

Claim 3

The improvement set forth in claim 1 wherein said support to receive a foot includes heel stop means adapted to compensate for bony and fleshy heels.

Claim 4

The improvement set forth in claim 1 wherein said computer means includes routines for analyzing toe shapes to modify the length measurement of the foot.

Claim 5

The improvement set forth in claim 1 wherein said computer means includes routines for modifying foot girth measurements upon detection of abnormalities affecting width sizing.

Claim 6

In foot measuring apparatus for determining a shoe size that is acceptable to the characteristics of the shape of the foot that is to wear the shoe, the improvement comprising: (a) a foot supporting surface having a foot heel backstop for setting the starting position from which the shoe size is to be determined; (b) means for scanning the foot while on said foot support surface; (c) means for illuminating the foot to activate said scanning means to produce an image of the foot and its shape characteristics; (d) computer means for storing a shoe size chart having foot girth and length blocks thereon; (e) means in said computer means for reproducing said computer-stored chart, said image of said foot and its shape characteristics and an indication of the girth and length of the foot on said computer-stored chart for visual comparison with said girth and length blocks; and (f) means in said computer means to produce a printout graphically indicating a shoe size responsive to the shape of the foot to wear the shoe.

Claim 7

In foot measuring apparatus for determining a shoe size that is acceptable to the characteristics of the shape of the foot that is to wear the shoe, the improvement comprising: (a) a foot supporting surface having a foot heel backstop for setting the starting position from which the shoe size is to be determined; (b) means for scanning the foot while on said foot support surface; (c) means for illuminating the foot to activate said scanning means to produce an image of the foot and its shape characteristics; (d) computer means for storing a shoe size chart having foot girth and length blocks thereon; (e) means in said computer means for reproducing said computer-stored chart, said image of said foot and its shape characteristics and an indication of the girth and length of the foot on said computer-stored chart for visual comparison with said girth and length blocks; and (f) means in said computer means to produce a printout graphically indicating a shoe size responsive to the shape of the foot to wear the shoe.

Claim 10

The method set forth in claim 6 in which the method supporting a foot accounts for a heel configuration that determines a net length dimension of the foot.

Claim 11

The method set forth in claim 6 in which subjecting the lighted image to triangulation calculations accounts for foot width variations used to detect foot abnormalities.

Claim 12

The method set forth in claim 6 in which the triangulation calculations to obtain three-dimensional information includes a foot girth profile detection for abnormalities which affect width sizing.

Claim 13

In a shoe size determination method, the improvement of: (a) providing a software program which relates foot length, width and thickness data to shoe size; (b) scanning a foot with a laser beam from a given angular location relative to the foot; (c) creating a camera visual image of the foot during the laser beam scanning; (d) electronically transmitting the camera created visual image into the software program; and (e) producing a size chart of shoe length to girth with the shoe size indicated on the size chart to suit the foot size.

Claim 14

In a shoe size determination method, the improvement of: (a) providing a software program which relates foot length, width and thickness data to shoe size; (b) scanning a foot with a laser beam from a given angular location relative to the foot; (c) creating a camera visual image of the foot during the laser beam scanning; (d) electronically transmitting the camera created visual image into the software program; and (e) producing a size chart of shoe length to girth with the shoe size indicated on the size chart to suit the foot size.