US2942344A - Foot measuring device - Google Patents

Description

June 28, 1960 c. F. BRANNOCK 2,942,344

FOOT MEASURING DEVICE Filed Nov. 21, 1958 IN VENTOR.

c/wafles F Brannoc/i ATTORNEY of the base plate.

United States Patent, "ice FOOT MEASURING DEVICE 7 Charles F. Brannock, 404 SedgwickDrive, Syracuse, N.Y.

Filed Nov. 21, 1958, Ser. No. 775,471

4 Claims. (Cl. 33-3) This invention relates to and has as an object a new and improved foot rneasuring device. Prior devices of this type are disclosed in my prior patents, Nos. 1,682,- 366, issued August 28, 1928, and 1,725,334, issued August'29 1929. p

"As disclosed inmy Patent 1,682,366, prior measuring devices .of this general type were formed of a base plate having a cup-shaped heel abutment formed at either end The foot to be measured was placed on the base plate with the heel of the foot positioned in abutting relationship with one of the heel abutments. Apair of calibrated length scales weretormed onthe base plate and the length of the foot was then determined by the salesman aligning, by sight, the forwardmost part of the foot with a line on the scale. This type of measurement is often unreliable because the salesman measuring the foot does not always carefully sight normal to the surface of the measuring device. That is, if the eye ofthe salesman is positioned at either an acute, or an oblique, angle with respect to the foot and the calibrated scale formed on the base plate of the device, the resultant measurement determination would be either 2,942,344 Patented June as, 1960 2 accompanying drawing in which like characters designate corresponding parts.

In the drawing: a

Figure 1 is a plan view of a foot measuring device embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2--2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3 -3, Figure 1.

In the drawing the foot measuring device embodying my invention comprises a base plate, generally indicated at 10, which is formed with a central portion 12, elongate extensions 14 and 116, and side extensions 18 and 20.

Formed on the elongate extensions 14 and 16 are a pair of aligned slots 24 and 26 extending from the ends of the extensions to the center portion 12 of the base plate 10. A. pair of abutment slides 28 and 30'are mounted in slidable fashion on the base plate 12 in the slots 24 and 26 respectively. These slides may be mounted in the manner disclosed in my prior Patent 1,725,334. The slides 28 and 36 are formed with abutment plates 32 and 34, respectively, and extend transversely across the extensions 14 and 16. The portion of each of the slides 28, 30 in proximity to the'plates 32, 34 is of triangular form having inclined top surfaces 36, $8.0m which are indicating arrows 49 and 42 formed in any suitable manner for a purpose tobe hereinafter described.

The extensions 14 and 16 are formed at their outer terminus'with upwardly extending flanges 44, 46, and these flanges serve to form stops to limit'the outward movement of the slides 28 and 30.

Positioned adjacent each of theslots 24 and 26 on the base plate .10, and extending parallel to the path of too long or too short, which would thus result in misfitting, and consequent harmful effects. This situation prevails especially when the device is used on a fitting stool which has an inclined top surface on which the device is positioned. There are various types and lasts or shoes, and to obtain a proper fit from initial foot measurements it is necessary to correlate the various measurements of the toot, such as foot length, arch length, width, etc., on a pre-determined relationship in order to obtain a proper fit of the shoe to the foot. For example, foot measurements for a womans low heel shoe must be inter'preted and correlated in a different manner than when measuring the foot for high heel shoes. Other instances are mens dress shoes and work, or safety shoes, or shoes for growing boys and shoes for growing girls.

With toot measuring devices now in general use .provision is made for one set of foot measurements. Accordingly, the shoe salesman is confronted with the necessity of making a transposition of the foot measurements according to the type orlast of shoe being purchased by the" customer. Unless the salesman is particularly experienced, this usually results in a matter of guesswork which requires the fitting of several pairs of shoes before a satisfactory fit is obtained.

f It is an object of this invention to provide a foot meastl'ring device wherein foot length measurements may be more accurately determined.

f'The invention has as a further object afoot measuring device embodyinga plurality of sets of scales, the scales. of eaclrset being correlatedwhereby the device serves to provide accurate foot measurements for more than one type or. last of shoe.

The invention consists in, the novel features and in the-combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

- Indescribing'this invention, reference is bad to the movement of the slides 28 and 30, are four (4) scales S0, 52, 54 and 56. These scales are formed with grada .tions, generally indicated at 58 which are calibrated to give an indication of the toe-to-heel measurement of the foot in terms of shoe length size.

- The side extension 13 of the base plate 10 is formed with a slot 60 which extends parallel to the slots 24 and 26 .and is positioned intermediate the slots 24 and 26 in transversely ofrset relation. Mounted in slidable fashion in the slot 60 is a ball-to-heel measurement, or arch measurement indicator 62 formed with a pointer '64. This ball slide maybe of the same type as disclosed in my Patent 1,725,334. Positioned onthe extension 18, adjacent the path of. movement of the slide 62 are four (4) calibrated scales 66, 68, 7t) and '72. These scales serve to give an indication of arch length, or ballto-heel length of the foot.

In reference to the structure of the device, thus far described, the foot is positioned upon the base plate with the heel against one'of the abutment plates 32, 34 with the corresponding slide positioned against one of the stops 44, 46, the indicator 62 is then moved in the slot 60 for proper registration with the ball joint of the foot. The slide 28, 30 confronting the forward end of the foot is then moved into engagement therewith to ascertain the .foot length measurement.v This is checked with the heel-toaball measurement determined by the indicator 62.

If the foot is normal these length measurements Will be the same. However, it often happens that the fore part o-fthe foot between-the ball joint and the ends of the toes is either shorter or longer than the normal foot. Usually the fore part of the foot is shorter due to curled toes from previous misfitting' The taking of these .two measurements permits the fitter .to determine the correct shoe length size whether the foot is normal, or abnormal. For example, it the foot length is indicated as being longer-than the arch length, for proper fit the foot length size is used. If the arch length is longer than the foot length by .a half size, the arch length is used. If the arch length is a full size, or longer than the foot length measurement, a compromise may be used between the two measurements depending upon the type of last of the shoe preferred by the customer.

Extension 28, of base plate It is formed with a slot 89 extending transversely to the slots 24, 26 and 60, and a width slide 82 is mounted in slidable fashion in the slot 80. The width slide 82 is triangular in cross section and has affixed to its inner end an abutment plate 84. Calibrated scales 88, 89 are mounted on the sloping surfaces of the slide 82 corresponding to the foot length size selected by the fitter.

There are mounted upon the extension 20 adjacent the path of movement of the slide 82 a pair of scales 92, 90. One of these scales, such as the scale 90, is graduated with reference to the graduations of the foot length scale 52. The scale 92 is graduated in reference to the foot length scale 50.

In operation, when measuring the left foot, for example, the slide 30 is moved outwardly in the slot 26 into engagement with the stop 46. Thereafter the foot, indicated by the dash lines 100, is positioned on the base plate with the heel of the foot in engagement with, or abutting the plate 34 on the slide 30'. Thereupon the slide 28 is adjusted to take the foot length measurement and the indicator 62 to determine the heelto-ball measurement, as previously described. Finally, the width slide 82 is moved inwardly in the slot 80 to the point where the plate 84 engages the outer side of the foot 100. Thereupon the scale 88 on the width slide is read according to the foot length determination. This length reading on the scale 88 is then transposed to the scales 90 or 92 to give a width measurement. The other foot is then measured in the same manner by positioning the heel of the other foot against the plate 32 on the slide 28 When the slide 28 has been moved outwardly into engagement with the stop 44.

In the illustration shown in the drawing, the foot 100 is a left foot and the plates 110 and 112 positioned in the central portion 12 of the base plate 10 serve to facilitate the measurements by indicating which foot is being measured by the indicia left foot length being formed on the plate 110, and right foot length being formed on the plate 112.

As will be obvious, the arrows formed on the slides 28 and 30 eliminate the necessity for properly aligning the eye of the person performing the measuring with the position of the foot on the foot length scales and consequently the danger of misfitting is eliminated since the arrows function to give a very accurate foo-t length measurement.

The foot measuring device illustrated in the drawing is provided with two sets of scales, one for measuring mens feet, and one for measuring womens feet. For example, the foot length scale 52, the arch length scale 66, and the width scale 90 constitute a set of scales for measurement of the left foot of a man, these scales being properly correlated to give a correct measurement. The scales 56, 72 and 96 are correlated for measurements of the right male foot. The scales 50, 68 and 92 are for taking measurements of the left female foot and, likewise, the set of scales 54, 7G, and 94 are for taking measurements of the right female foot.

'For example, the scales 50 and 54 have been shown with gradations, generally indicated at 58, which are calibrated to give female foot lengths, While the scales 52 and '56 are shown with gradations calibrated to give male foot lengths. Accordingly, if the foot 100 being measured is a male foot, the arrow 40 on the slide 28 will give a foot length measurement of between 10 and 10 /2, whereas if the foot 100 is a female foot, the arrow 42 is utilized to give a foot length measurement of between 10 /2 and 11.

Similarly, the scales 68 and '70 are formed with gradations calibrated to give female foot arch lengths, and

'tions on the male width scale 90.

in the position shown in the drawing, give a female arch length of between 11 and 11 /2. In like manner, the scales 66 and 72 are formed with gradations calibrated to give male foot arch lengths and if the foot 100 is a male foot the pointer 64 on the arch length slide 62 indicates a male arch length on scale 66 of between 10 and 10 /2.

The width scales and 96 are formed with calibrated width gradations to give male foot widths, and the scales 92, 94 are likewise formed to give female foot widths. In use the scales 88 and 89, formed on the triangular portion of the width slide 82, are read in terms of the shoe length size which is transposed to give the foot width measurement. As shown, for example, in the drawing, if the foot is a left male foot with a shoe length size of between 10 and 10 /2 this length when found on'the scale 88 falls between the A and B grada- If, however, the foot 100 is a female foot and with a shoe length size as shown of 11 a corresponding female foot width is indicated on the scale 92 of between AA and AAA.

Accordingly, the device provides for the ready and convenient taking of correct measurements for both men and women.

The sets of scales may be correlated for the taking of foot measurements for other types of shoes, as for example, mens dress shoes and mens work, or safety shoes. The sets of scales may also be correlated for taking measurements of womens low heel shoes and womens high heel shoes, or the sets may be calibrated and correlated for the measurement of growing boys feet and growing girls feet.

Accordingly, the example of male and female scales indicated in the drawing and described hereinbefore is by way of example and illustration only, and is not to be considered as limiting the invention only by the scope of the appended claims.

To facilitate proper reading of the different scales the different sets of scales may be differently colored, for example, in the illustration shown in the drawing, the scales 50, 54, 68, 70, 92 and 94 may be colored red to facilitate female foot measurement readings, while the scales 52, 56, 66, 72, 90 and 96 may be colored black to facilitate male foot measurements. Also suitable indicia, such as width left foot and width right foot" may be formed on the scales 90, 92, 94 and 96 respectively, as is shown in the drawing.

What I claim is:

1. A foot measuring device comprising a foot supporting and receiving base plate, a pair of abutment slides mounted in slidable fashion on said base plate for movement toward and away from each other, a pair of dif ferently calibrated foot length scales positioned adjacent the path of movement of each of said slides, said slides alternately cooperating as toe and heel abutments to give heel-to-toe foot length measurements, an arch slide mounted in slidable fashion on said base for movement in a path parallel to the path of movement of said abutment slides, a plurality of differently calibrated arch length scales positioned adjacent the path of movement of said arch slide to give heel-to-ball foot length measurements, a width slide mounted in slidable fashion on said base for movement in apath transverse to the path of movement of said abutment slides, a pair of differently calibrated width scales positioned adjacent said side of the path of movement of said width slide, and means formed on said width slide for indicating foot width measurement in relation to said foot length measurements.

2. A foot measuring device for measuring both left and right feet comprising a base plate, a pair of abutment slides mounted for sliding movement at opposite ends of said plate, one of saidslides forming a heel abutment and the other-slide being movable to give an indication of foot length when measuring one foot, said slides operating reversely when measuring the other foot, a calibrated foot length scale adjacent each slide and a pointer carried by each slide to indicate the length of the foot being measured on said scale, and a width slide mounted for movement transverse to said abutment slides to give an indication of foot width.

3. A foot measuring device for measuring both left and right feet comprising a foot supporting base plate, a pair of abutment slides mounted on said base plate for movement toward and away from the center of said plate, said slides being reversely cooperable and acting alternately as a heel abutment and a toe abutment to give a foot length measurement, a pair of calibrated foot length scales positioned adjacent the path of movement of each of said slides, a heel-to-ball slide mounted on said plate for movement in a path parallel to said abutment slides, two pair of calibrated scales positioned adjacent the path of movement of said heel-to-ball slide, said last mentioned slide'being formed with a pointer which cooperates with said last mentioned scales, whereby to give a heel-to-ball measurement, a width slide mounted for movement in the path transverse to paths of movement of said abutment slides and said heel-to-ball slide, and a pair of calibrated foot width scales positioned on each side of said width slide adjacent the path of movement of said width slide, said width slide being formed with gradations corresponding to said foot length scales whereby foot width measurer'nent may be determined relative to the foot length measurement.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein each of said abutment slides includes an abutment plate and a pointer fiormed on said slides, said pointer being positioned a spaced distance rearwardly on said slide from said plate whereby to accurately indicate the foot length measurement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,682,366 Brannock Aug. 28, 1928 7 1,725,334 Brannock Aug. 20, 1929 2,696,051 Perman Dec. 7, 1954 2,782,504 De Pesco Feb. 26, 1957

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