SENSOR INSERT FOR A SHOE
A senor insert for a shoe includes a flexible planar portion having a shape of an inner sole for a shoe. The flexible planar portion includes a central layer containing a plurality of pressure sensors for sensing the pressure applied by the foot and electrical connections to the sensors; a lower layer having a lower face arranged to face the sole of a shoe and having a first coefficient of friction; and an upper layer having an upper face via which a foot is arranged to impact the insert and having a second coefficient of friction which is lower than the first coefficient of friction.
1 . A senor insert for a shoe, the insert comprising a flexible planar portion having a shape of an inner sole for a shoe, the flexible planar portion comprising:
a central layer containing a plurality of pressure sensors for sensing the pressure applied by the foot and electrical connections to the sensors;
a lower layer having a lower face arranged to face the sole of a shoe and having a first coefficient of friction; and
an upper layer having an upper face via which a foot is arranged to impact the insert and having a second coefficient of friction which is lower than the first coefficient of friction.
2 . The sensor insert according to claim 1 , further comprising a flexible connection portion extending from the flexible planar portion, the electrical connector extending along the flexible connecting portion to a terminal connection, the flexible portion having a hook and loop connector for attachment to the inside of a shoe.
3 . The sensor insert according to claim 1 , wherein the lower layer is formed of a transparent material such that the sensors are visible through it.
4 . The sensor insert according to claim 1 , wherein the upper layer is formed of a material with a dynamic coefficient of between 0.35-0.65, preferably 0.35-0.55, and more preferably 0.35-0.45.
5 . The sensor insert according to claim 4 , wherein the upper layer is a PET layer.
6 . The sensor insert according to claim 1 , wherein the lower layer is formed of a material with a dynamic coefficient of friction of between 0.75-1.2, preferably 0.85-1.2, and more preferably 0.95-1.2.
7 . The sensor insert according to claim 6 , wherein the lower layer is silicone.
8 . The sensor insert according to claim 1 , wherein the lower layer is a co-formed laminate of two different materials.
9 . The sensor insert according to claim 8 , wherein the lower layer is a co-formed laminate of silicone and PET.
10 . The sensor insert according to claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower layers are bonded to the central layer by an adhesive.
11 . A shoe comprising an inner sole with a sensor insert according to claim 1 between the shoe and the insole.