METHOD FOR DETERMINING CHARACTERISTIC FOOT DATA, COMPUTER PROGRAM AND APPARATUS

Abstract

Custom-made shoes and orthopedic insoles support the wearer, with these products being manufactured at specialist retailers by a method that includes the steps of: producing a footprint; capturing the footprint and a measurement standard as a footprint image using a camera; and, extracting and/or determining the characteristic foot data on the basis of the footprint image.

Claims

1. A method for determining characteristic foot data for the manufacture of insoles and/or shoes, having the method steps of: producing a footprint capturing the footprint and a measurement standard as a footprint image using a camera, extracting and/or determining the characteristic foot data on the basis of the footprint image and the measurement standard.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the characteristic foot data comprise a substructure of the footprint and/or of the foot.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the footprint takes the form of a 2D footprint.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the footprint is produced by wetting the foot with a liquid and subsequently rolling it over a surface.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the liquid is water.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the footprint is made on a sheet of paper, wherein the sheet of paper forms the measurement standard.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the footprint image is captured using a first device, wherein the footprint image is sent by the first device to a second device for determining the characteristic foot data.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein, prior to production of the footprint, points of interest on the foot are marked with a marker, in particular a lipstick, wherein the marker indicates the points of interest in the footprint.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein an additional image of the foot is captured, wherein the characteristic foot data are determined on the basis of the additional image and the footprint image.

10. The method according to claim 10, wherein the additional image shows a plan view onto the foot.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein additional data are collected, wherein the additional data are included in the determination of the characteristic foot data.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the additional data comprise the age, weight, height, shoe size and/or gender of a user.

13. A computer program for determining characteristic foot data, wherein, when the computer program is executed on a computing unit, a mobile device and/or an apparatus, characteristic foot data are determined on the basis of a footprint image captured using a camera.

14. The computer program according to claim 13, wherein, on execution of the computer program, a method is carried out that includes the steps of: producing a footprint capturing the footprint and a measurement standard as a footprint image using a camera, extracting and/or determining the characteristic foot data on the basis of the footprint image and the measurement standard.

15. An apparatus for executing the computer program and/or for performing the method, wherein the apparatus comprises a camera.

Description

[0033] Further advantages, features and/or effects of the invention are revealed by the appended figures and the description thereof. In the figures:

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a flowchart of the method for determining characteristic foot data.

[0035] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a flowchart for determining characteristic foot data using the method. In a first method step 100, the footprint is produced. In the process, the foot of the user who wishes for the insole and/or shoe to be manufactured is wetted with a liquid. In particular, the foot is wetted with water. Furthermore, provision may be made for points of interest to be marked with a marker, in particular with a lipstick, prior to wetting with the liquid. Points of interest are for example pain points or pressure points in previous shoes.

[0036] After wetting and marking of points of interest, the foot is set down on and/or rolled over a surface. The surface is for example formed of an indicator plate, but preferably the surface is formed of a sheet of paper. The sheet of paper is in this case in particular a standard sheet of paper, as is conventionally used in the office and/or everyday life. In particular, the sheet of paper is a DIN A4 or a DIN A3 sheet. The sheet of paper is particularly preferably a sheet of absorbent paper, for example a filter paper.

[0037] The method provides a second method step 200. Method step 200 is production of a photo of the footprint together with a measurement standard. Method step 200 is applied in particular before the liquid has dried on the sheet of paper. The photo is captured with a camera, in particular a smartphone or tablet camera. The photo of the footprint 20 with the measurement standard forms a footprint image. The footprint image is a two-dimensional image of the footprint. The footprint image shows the structures, for example toes, ball of the foot and heel of the footprint. From the footprint image, it is in particular possible to determine pressure distributions on production of the footprint and/or areas and lengths of the footprint. In particular, provision may be made for the footprint image to be a black and white or grayscale image for the purpose of reducing data volume. The footprint image is particularly preferably generated in a perpendicular plan view onto the footprint and/or the sheet of paper. Alternatively, the footprint image may be generated in an oblique view onto the sheet of paper and/or the footprint.

[0038] The footprint image comprises a measurement standard. The measurement standard forms a scale with the assistance of which the footprint may be measured. To this end, the measurement standard comprises one length scale in two linearly independent directions and/or length scales in two independent directions may be determined from the measurement standard. The measurement standard may be a ruler or a reference object, for example a check guarantee card or another object. Particularly preferably, however, the measurement standard is formed of the sheet of paper. Since the sheet of paper is a standardized sheet of paper, for example DIN A4 paper, the footprint may be measured on the basis of the outer edges, the lengths of which are known.

[0039] A method step 300 is optionally provided, in which an additional image or an additional video is provided. The additional image for example shows the foot in plan view, for example the back of the foot, and/or a side view. In addition, the additional image may be an image from behind of the legs and feet, such that angles may be determined from leg position. The additional image in the plan view from above, which shows the back of the foot, may be used for example to determine the fleshiness of the foot and/or its condition, for example tissue condition.

[0040] Moreover, an optional method step 400 may be provided, in which additional data are provided and/or input. The additional data for example include the age, gender, weight and height of the user, details of diseases, injuries and/or details of preferred types of sport or shoe brands. These additional data may for example be input by means of an input device and/or a data form. The additional data may be used for example to determine the pressure distribution of a footprint in greater detail and/or to define typical foot shapes, which are dependent on gender.

[0041] Optionally, a method step 500 is further provided, in which data from a first device are transferred to a second device. The first device is for example a tablet or a smartphone. The first device is configured to capture the footprint image, the additional image, additional videos and/or the additional data. Method steps 100, 200, 300 and 400 are performed, for example on an app of the smartphone. In method step 500, the footprint image, the additional image, the additional video and/or the additional data are transmitted and/or sent from the first device to the second device. This transmission and/or sending may proceed for example via an internet connection, a radio link or a cable connection. The second device is in this case for example a central server or a computing unit. The second device may be operated by a manufacturer of the insoles and/or shoes.

[0042] In method step 600, characteristic foot data are determined. The characteristic foot data 600 are determined from the footprint image. In addition, the addition image, the additional video and/or the additional data are used to determine the characteristic foot data. The characteristic foot data for example comprise shoe size, foot length and/or foot width, a foot type, for example splayfoot, flatfoot or clawfoot, and/or weight distribution when walking. The characteristic foot data may also include an axial misalignment or the necessary insole softness. The characteristic foot data in particular form a collection of data, on the basis of which the insole and/or the shoes may be manufactured, wherein this data set in particular forms a complete data set which requires no supplementation.

[0043] A method step 700 is optionally provided, wherein in method step 700 the characteristic foot data are transmitted from the second device to the first device, such that the user receives information about the data obtained and/or optionally may put this to further use. Provision may further be made for the second device to transmit the characteristic foot data to a factory or production shop, such that the shoes or insoles may be quickly and reliably manufactured. Sending the characteristic foot data to the factory and/or production shop may require prior approval or confirmation by the user. The characteristic foot data may furthermore be forwarded to paying authorities such as for example health insurance companies, in order in particular to be approved and/or a to enable transmission of a cost estimate.