GB1179030A - Apparatus for Measuring Foot Length and Width - Google Patents

Abstract

1,179,030. Foot measuring apparatus. M. H. SAAD. Feb.13, 1968 [April 28, 1967], No.19614/67. Heading G1X. Apparatus for measuring the length and width of a human foot comprises a foot support plate 11, a pair of abutment plates 15, 18 adapted to be driven towards each other over the plate 11 until they engage with the heel and toe of a foot resting on the plate 11, the carriage for the toe abutment plate 18 also carrying a frame 32 on which two carriages 33, 34 are movable over the plate 11 towards each other in a direction orthogonal to that for movement of the abutment plates 15, 18, the carriages 33, 34 being driven until they contact the sides of a foot on the plate 11, the movements of the plates 15, 18 and carriages 33, 34 being transmitted to an indicator to indicate foot length and width respectively in terms of shoe size and width fittings. The foot support plate 11 is pivotally mounted so as to tilt slightly when a foot is placed thereon and to actuate a switch setting in operation the drive to the heel and toe abutment plates 15, 18. This drive is from an electric motor 29 by way a chain and sprocket drive and is arranged such that the two plates 15, 18 can make independently of each other, i. e. when one has contacted the foot on the plate 11, the other will continue to move until it too contacts the foot. The plates 15, 18 are mounted to operate switches on contact with a foot so that when both have been stopped by such contact the supply to the motor 29 will be cut-off. This also initiates the drive to the carriages 33, 34 which is also by electric motor and a chain and sprocket arrangement similar to that for the plates 15, 18. Removal of the foot from the plate 11 initiates return of the plates 15, 18 and carriages 33, 34 to their start positions at the edges of the plate 11. The movements of the plates 15, 18 as indicated by rotation of the motor 29 are transmitted to a flat slide 53 moving in parallel guides 51. The slide 53 is marked with scales 60 indicating childrens and mens and ladies shoe sizes and corresponding width fittings 63 adapted to be read off against a line 71 on a further slide 61 depending on the measured foot length. Movements of the carriages 33, 34 are transmitted by way of a gear 68 and an elongated gear 67 to a cable drive 66 to drive the slide 61 transverse to the guides 51. The slide 61 carries two arrow markings 62 to indicate which of the marked width fittings 63 is appropriate to the width of the foot being measured. The slides 53, 61 are transparent and a lamp 75 is provided together with a mirror (not shown) beneath the slides to project the correct shoe size and width fittings on to a translucent screen or other flat surface.