GB2285735A - Footstep-counting device - Google Patents

Abstract

A footstep-counting device includes a drop-shaped chamber 5, a metal ball 6 within the chamber 5, a pair of conductive elements serving as contacts 71, 72, leading to an LCD 3 to form a display system for counting footsteps. The above structure and the LCD 3 are contained inside a recess 2 in one side of a shoe heel 11. Thus when the shoe tilts at an appropriate angle with respect to the ground, the metal ball 6 rolls into the tip region of the drop-shaped chamber 5 and contacts the contacts 71, 72 simultaneously so as to cause the display system to register a count. <IMAGE>

Description

FOOTSTEP-COUNTING DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a footstepcounting device mounted in a shoe and more particularly to an improved structure which is simple and easy to install in the shoe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Conventionally, the operation of a footstep counter is through a mechanical device usually installed inside a recess at one side of a shoe heel. The device mainly has a measuring rod such that whenever the heel contacts the ground, the measuring rod will be pressed and simultaneously a signal will be released or delivered by way of a wire circuit to a counter and then the counts will be shown on a screen. But it is hard to maintain a mechanical structure in a good condition all the time and in particular the functions of the device are highly influenced by dusts, dirts, grass, or any other obstacles.

Another kind of footstep counter has a button installed at a reachable position inside a shoe so that whenever the toe or the arch of a runner or a walker touches the button, a signal will be delivered by way of a wire circuit to a counter and then the counts will be shown on an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen. But it is obviously uncomfortable to the person wearing such shoe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is a principal objective of the present invention to present a footstep-counting device for a shoe that overcomes the problems in the aforementioned prior art.

It is another objective of the present invention that in addition to provide an installing-convenient device which meets the habits of a runner as well as the action mechanisms of a human body, the consistent accuracy of the device can be also ensured.

In accordance with the objective of the present invention therein a footstep-counting device includes a drop-shaped housing, a metal ball, a pair of conductive elements termed as anode and cathode, and a wire connecting the anode and the cathode respectively to an LCD to form a display system for counting. The above structure and the LCD are contained inside a recess at one side of a shoe heel. Thus, in case that the shoe tilts at an appropriate angle with the ground, the metal ball will roll into the tip region of the dropshaped housing and contact the anode and the cathode at the same time to switch on the display system. Hence, every footstep will be counted and then the accumulated number will be shown on the screen.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an improved footstepcounting device explodedly along with a shoe; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the relative position among a drop-shaped housing, a metal ball and the shoe in a horizontal and switch-off condition; Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional and enlarged view of the relative position among the drop-shaped housing, the metal ball, and a pair of conductive elements in a horizontal and switch-off condition; Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the relative position among the drop-shaped housing, the metal ball and the shoe in a tilting and switch-on condition; and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional and enlarged view of the relative position among the drop-shaped housing, the metal ball and the pair of conductive elements in a tilting and switch-on condition.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings in detail and in particular to Fig. 1 and 3, wherein one side of a shoe heel 11 has a circular recess 2. The circular recess 2 contains an LCD 3 and a footstep-counting device 4 in which both work together to define a footstep counter of the shoe 1. The footstepcounting device 4 includes an inner drop-shaped housing 5 having a wide root region 51 and a narrow tip region 52, a pair of conductive elements termed as anode 71 and cathode 72 (shown clearly in Fig. 3) wherein the anode 71 is a long rod inserted into the tip region 52 and the cathode 72 is a bending sheet attached to the wall of the tip region 52, a metal ball 6 and a wire 41. The wire 41 connects the anode 71 and the cathode 72 respectively to an LCD 3 to form a display system for counting.

Fig. 2 and 3 show the relative position of the metal ball 6, the anode 71 and the cathode 72 inside the drop-shaped housing 5. When the shoe 1 is in a horizontal condition, for example, a person standing up without moving, the metal ball 6 stays away from the tip region 52 and also the anode 71 as well as the cathode 72 to keep the circuit in a switch-off situation. Then, certainly, no count is made.

When the shoe 1 is in a tilting condition, such as Fig. 4 and 5, which possibly occurs upon a runner in a moving state, the metal ball 6 rolls into the tip region 52 of the drop-shaped housing 5 to contact the anode 71 and the cathode 72 at the same time to switch on the display system. Then, a signal is sent out to the LCD 3 by way of the wire 41. Hence, the footstep action is counted and the accumulated number is shown on the screen of the LCD 3.

When the movement of the runner is slight, the metal ball 6 rolls gently back and forth only between the tip region 51 and the lower half circle of the root region 52. When the moving is violent, the metal ball 6 goes around the whole circle of the root region 52 before entering the tip region 51 so that it takes almost the same amount of time to complete a footstep action as that in the slight moving. This result guarantees the accuracy of the present invention.

Having described the specific preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be appreciated that the present invention is not limited to that precise embodiments and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims (3)

1. A footstep-counting device having an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) for -mounting in a recess in the heel of a shoe, the device comprising an inner drop-shaped chamber having a wide root region and a narrow tip region, a pair of conductive elements serving as an anode which is a long rod extending into said tip region and a cathode which is a bent sheet attached to the wall of said tip region, wire means connecting said anode and said cathode respectively to said LCD to form a display system for counting footsteps, and a metal ball within said chamber and rollable into said tip region to contact said anode and said cathode simultaneously when said shoe is in a tilted condition in order to deliver a signal to said LCD by way of said wire means to register a count.

2. A footstep-counting device having a display for mounting in a recess in the heel of a shoe, the device comprising an inner chamber having a wide root region and a narrow tip region, a pair of conductive elements serving as an anode and a cathode in said tip region, wire means connecting said anode and said cathode respectively to said display for counting footsteps, and a conductive ball within said chamber and rollable into said tip region to contact said anode and said cathode simultaneously when said shoe is in a tilted condition in order to deliver a signal to said display by way of said wire means to register a count.

3. A footstep-counting device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.