GB1489181A - Measuring apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1489181 Measuring feet SHOE & ALLIED TRADES RESEARCH ASSOCIATION 7 Oct 1974 [5 July 1973] 32192/73 Heading G1A Apparatus for measuring human feet senses the length and/or width of the foot, derives a signal electrically from the sensors and indicates an appropriate shoe size. The apparatus may indicate shoe size by one of several methods. Mondopoint sizes may be displayed as the length in mm and the width in mm multiplied by sin 70 degrees. Separate displays may be provided for each foot or the larger of the length and width values may be taken. For British sizes, the size corresponding to the measured length is obtained from a store and displayed. This size value may be modified if the width falls outside the ranges for the measured size but within the range of an adjacent size. The measuring apparatus comprises a translucent platform 4b with partitions 6 and 8 against which the feet are placed. A line of equally spaced photodetectors 1 1 -1 n is arranged below partition 6 and a line of photo-detectors W 1 -W n is arranged on bar 22 between platform 4b and partition 6 for movement by motor 26 in the direction of arrow 32. In operation, a value is pre-set into a length counter and the count is counted down by pulses as photodetectors I are shadowed by bar 22 until any of detectors w are shadowed. The resulting count corresponds to length L. Shadowing of each photocells w sets associated stores and the farthest store to the right as determined by a scanning circuit represents the width. Circuitry is described for modifying the size in accordance with the measured width. The photo-detectors may be laterally positioned to obtain the correct spacing. In an alternative embodiment with a charge coupled photo-diode detector, a lens may be used to give a correct sized image of the foot at the detectors for obtaining the desired resolution.