Footcare product dispensing kiosk

Abstract

A kiosk apparatus that may select for a person a recommended footcare product based on pressure measurements collected from pressures sensors or calculated biomechanical data estimates. Pressure measurements and calculated biomechanical data estimates may be used to determine if a foot is unshod on the pressure sensor and also group a person into a classified subgroup. The pressure measurement and calculated biomechanical data estimates may also be used to select a recommended footcare product.

Description

[0001]This application is a divisional of, and claims priority to, U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 524,745, filed Sep. 21, 2006, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.BACKGROUND[0002]Conventional footcare products, such as orthotics, foot cushions, heel cups, etc., are typically sold from conventional retail displays. Although packaging may provide some guidance, customers may have to guess which products are appropriate, e.g., the customers' size, foot characteristics, and other attributes. However, even if a customer were given the opportunity to try on a product, the customer may not know the best type of support or size of footcare product for their particular foot characteristics, e.g., the arch type of the customer's foot. This practice may result in the customer buying multiple products before the customer finally finds a product that meets the customer's needs.[0003]Custom foot-care products may also be sold to provide a customer with the proper lev...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

However, even if a customer were given the opportunity to try on a product, the customer may not know the best type of support or size of footcare product for their particular foot characteristics, e.g., the arch type of the customer's foot.

This practice may result in the customer buying multiple products before the customer finally finds a product that meets the customer's needs.

Custom footcare products that have adjustable support, still may not be of the proper size for a customer's shoes and may require significant time to determine the proper size.

However, this requires time to measure the foot and then a period of time to make the orthotic.

Because these orthotics are custom-made, they are typically more expensive than pre-manufactured orthotics.

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