THE 21ST CENTURY FOOT
MEASURING DEVICE
SOLEMATE
“It’s kind of fun to do the impossible”
~Walt Disney
Stephanie Payne
stephanie@solemateintl.com
Sole Mate
The Next Generation Foot Measuring Tool
Name of Invention: Sole Mate
Conception Date: September 1, 2005
From Stephanie Payne’s Scientific Journal Excerpts
Field of Invention
The Sole Mate is a foot measuring tool to measure you or your child’s foot in
seconds with a two dimensional view of your foot. The physical attributes would
look like a digital scale, that scans your foot and quickly determine your shoe
size. The scan includes the measurement the length, width, width of heel and
the arch of the foot. The shoe size would be recommended based on your
largest foot size. The Sole Mate would compute your shoe size in both US and
European sizes with your socks still on your feet. For example: You would see
9B /40..
Timing is always the first factor when determining a child’s shoe size. How
much time do you have until they have a melt down? That is why the Sole Mate
was first invented. From the conception date on September 1st, 2005 in a Target
store in Gig Harbor, WA. Imagine a two year old screaming, who doesn’t want
to try on shoes anymore, and a tired mother just wanting to get the right fit and
get out of the store fast!
The thumb test has stood the test of time and has been the common test to
assist parents. The thumb test provides the proper length between the child’s
toes and the end of the shoe. This will give them room to grow but not too much
to slip out of the shoe.
The Sole Mate would eliminate time to help narrow your selection of your shoe.
Description of the Intellectual Property
The Sole Mate would be consisted of crystal clear, impact-resistant glass or
metal platform. The physical appearance would be accented with chrome to
create an elegant design.
In the higher end applications the output screen would be larger. Additional
software would also included to communicate inventory levels within specific
retail store locations and suggest shoe brands for narrow or wide sizes.
Customization of store logos or colors could also be added to match the
corporate styles.
There are 9 widths within the US system AAA, AA, A, B, C, D, E, EE, EEE. This
can be confusing to an uninformed consumer, but the Sole Mate would help to
simply this system and provide the European size along side the United States
measuring system.
The other factor in measuring a shoe size is the proper measurement of the ball
of the foot to the heel and from the ball of the foot to the ends of the toes.
Depending of the measurement of the arch size could determine the next size.
The Sole Mate would also calculate this measurement into the size it calculates
and give a two dimensional size of your foot.
.
Through my research getting the proper foot size is an important element to
proper grow of the child. It seems to me that when the child goes in for a check
up, they could get their foot measured for proper foot size. According to the
Foot and Ankle Center of Seattle, Washington, Dr. Douglas Hale and Dr.
Lawrence Huppin’s Brochure on “Shoes For Your Children”, a child’s shoe size
can affect the normal growth of a child’s foot. Without proper fittings a child can
result in severe flatfoot, sports injuries, to ingrown toenails. During regular visits,
as well as sick child visits, the nurses can measure the foot to assist the parents
in proper shoe fitting and thus purchasing shoes over the internet with fewer
returns and more satisfies customers.
In high end retail applications, it would also suggest what brands would be good
for a narrow foot, wide foot or low arch foot. Since all shoe manufactures are
not uniform with sizing, it is still essential to try on the shoe. Getting a more
accurate size, in less time, would cut down on the time it takes to get the proper
fit for you and your child. It would also assist the retail market by getting an
acute shoe size and with the increase of online sales, fewer returns since the
consumer has a better idea of what their actual shoe size
WiFi Sync/Blue Tooth Technology
The digital foot measuring tool would scan your foot instantly; measuring your
foot for proper shoe size in both US and European shoe sizes. The Sole Mate
would also have built in blue tooth technology so that the information could be
read through the shopper’s iphone, ipad or any android phone app and other
wireless devices.
The WiFi/Blue Tooth feature would allow shoppers to keep better track of their
growing children’s shoe size. An app would be developed to catalog family
members shoe size. This information would be accessed by others if not
shopping with purchaser.
Markets
There are at least three markets where the Sole Mate could be utilized in the
Home market, Retail device, and Medical device versions.
Home Market Device
The digital foot measuring tool would be at a price point where shoppers could
buy one for home and retailers could buy one for their stores.
Before 1927, the foot was measured by a primitive block of measured wood.
In 2013, the shoe internet sites are actually suggesting using a ruler or a sheet of
paper to measure your foot.
We are going backwards with our technology on
internet shoe purchasing and the Sole Mate will assist this market to get the
correct shoe fit faster, resulting in fewer returns.
The home device idea was created while shopping at a big box store in 2005. I
found myself with a two year old screaming, who didn't want to try on shoes
anymore. I was a tired mom just wanting to get the right fit and get out of the
store! I thought, why cant they just invent something my son could just stand on.
Something that could tell me his general shoe size, in a digital format with US
and Euro sizes.
In our research, we found that a child 1-6 years old, grows a shoe size every 1-2
months, ages 6-10 years old growths every 2-3 months and ages 10-12 years old
every 3-4 months. The Sole Mate would help assist parents and take the guess
work out of the children’s shoe sizing. Besides the children's foot, your adult foot
changes over time. The SoleMate calculates both children and adults shoe
sizes. Getting the correct fit is our priority with the creation of SoleMate.
Patent Pending Status
We received our patent pending status with our provisional patent.
Application Number: 61/853,237 Confirmation NO. 3425
Medical Device
The podiatrist office would be a location that this device could be used.
This information would also be emailed to a doctor’s office if the patient is having
orthodics made and need an exact measurement. A podiatrist or pedestrian’s
office could be a great place for this device since online ordering has become
such a popular place to purchase shoes. If a child foot was checked for his
proper shoe size at the pedestrian’s office on regular check ups, it could avoid
foot problems in the future.
In todays fast pace world, the main way a parent knows if their child needs new
shoes is that they complain of their feet hurting or physically see a hole at the
end of the shoe. According to American Podiatric Medical Association article,
“Ditch the Pain” your foot still grows through the teen years. According to the
article, “foot pain can be caused by something as simple as the wrong shoe
size.”
By installing a app on your phone, you would always know the latest shoe size of
each family member. This would help the consumer as well as the retailer.
Retail Device
The retailer benefits from this technology, since the consumer has a better way
to track their own family member and purchase more shoe more frequently and
better accuracy.
The wireless communication technology from the retailer’s side could also check
inventory of a particular shoe in all multi-location stores.
The best fit for this product would be targeted to self service stores like Target
and Payless and targeted toward children’s shoe departments. According to
the Iowa State University white paper on “Shopping For Children’s Clothes and
Shoes” by Janis Stone and Laura Sternweis, child from age 1-6 grows a shoe
size every 1-2 months, age 6-10 growths every 2-3 months and age 10-12 every
3-4 months. If the parents were more aware of the actual size of their child’s foot
they might even be buying more shoes than by the simply shopping by the thumb
test or checking to see if there were any holes or worn spots on the shoes. The
Sole Mate would help assist parents and increase shoe sales in children’s shoe
markets.
The second market would be a higher end application at department shoes like
Nordstrom’s, or specialty children’s shoe stores. By first targeting children’s
shoes, the parents would become aware of the technology and then would filter
into the adult shoe market. In the higher brand applications, the Sole Mate
would also suggest manufactures that would best fit that particular foot. If the
foot was narrow it would suggest those manufactures that were best for their foot
and also check inventory to see what size was available at that store.
Physical Description
The foot measuring tools appearance would look like a digital weight scale or
body scale, flat and small in appearance.
 Portable
 Digital scale with LCD display
 Stainless steel platform and cast aluminum base.
 Large graphical display (2.4"x1.6")
 128x64 pixels
 Backlighting
The device would be water resistant and could be washed down with light rub of
soap and water.
Dimensions
Power
Rechargeable Lithium battery with 120 V plug in adaptor.
History
One of the elementary reasons to invent a new product is to update or enhance
what already exists in the marketplace. Since 1927, there has not been another
tool out there to compete with the Brannock device. Shoe buying trends have
also changed the way we currently even use this type of device. With internet
shoe buying on the rise, it has taken the Brannock device out of the picture.
Today’s consumer is so computer minded, that the physical attributes of the
Brannock device is also foreign and hard to use. That is why it is essential for
a new solution to aid in the measurement of the foot for the 21st century.
The first point of contact to properly fit a growing child with shoes is a skilled
shoe salesperson at a high end department shoe with the Brannock device. In
today’s market that first point of contact has been reduced with the rise of
internet shoe purchasing. Now the responsibility is back to the parent’s to
measure the child’s foot. Also the shoe market has expanded into more self
service markets and internet ordering.
Recent Recognition:
The Museum of History and Industry in Seattle, in conjunction with the opening of
their Bezos Center for Innovation, recently held a Napkin Sketch contest. This
contest invited the public to sketch an innovative invention on a napkin and tweet
a picture of it with the hashtag #innovationMOHAI. Out of the 30 entries of
innovative ideas, SoleMate was selected as a runner up.
In Partnership with International Women’s Day
SoleMate was selected to be a part of the International Women's Day. We were
selected since the idea for the innovation was founded by a woman. A woman
who wanted a modern way for foot measurement.
This innovation is a international product. SoleMate sizes the foot for both US
and Euro measurements. Both US and European shoe manufacturers could
potentially sell more shoes in each other countries, if the consumer is more
aware of their shoe size in other measurements.
We are so pleased to be a part of the International Women's Day event on March
3rd and March 8th. All donations of $25 dollars will be matched by $1 from
Indiegogo. So please pledge $25 on March 3rd.
Indiegogo Campaign
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/651844/wdgi/6108365
In Summary:

The Sole Mate is an aid to help the consumer get the correct fit at
faster rate.

The Sole Mate is a marketing tool for shoe manufacturers and
retailers to help sell more shoes.

The Sole Mate is a medical device to help Pediatrician’s offices be
proactive before problems appear.

The Sole Mate is a marketing tool to internet shoe markets to have
fewer returns.