Shoe Pedometer

Abstract

A shoe suited for walking or running includes a shoe sole, a shoe upper attached to the shoe sole, and a pedometer integrated into one of the shoe sole and the shoe upper. The pedometer includes structure configured for monitoring a remaining useful life of the shoe, and structure configured to alert a user when the remaining useful life is approaching or has reached an end. The shoe indicates when it should be replaced to protect against skeletal, bone, shin, internal and other user injury resulting from running/walking on shoes that have diminished shock absorbency.

1 . A shoe suited for walking or running comprising:
 a shoe sole;   a shoe upper attached to the shoe sole; and   a pedometer integrated into one of the shoe sole and the shoe upper, the pedometer including structure configured for monitoring a remaining useful life of the shoe and including structure configured to alert a user when the remaining useful life is approaching or has reached an end.   
     
     
         2 . A shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the pedometer comprises a memory that stores a cumulative mileage of the shoe. 
     
     
         3 . A shoe according to  claim 2 , wherein the pedometer comprises a processor communicating with the memory, the processor activating the alerting structure when the remaining useful life of the shoe is approaching or has reached an end. 
     
     
         4 . A shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the pedometer comprises a display. 
     
     
         5 . A shoe according to  claim 4 , wherein the display is affixed to one of the shoe sole and the shoe upper. 
     
     
         6 . A shoe according to  claim 5 , wherein the shoe upper comprises a tongue, and wherein the display is affixed to the tongue. 
     
     
         7 . A shoe according to  claim 5 , wherein the shoe sole comprises an arch, and wherein the display is affixed to the arch. 
     
     
         8 . A shoe according to clam  4 , wherein the display serves as the alerting structure. 
     
     
         9 . A shoe according to  claim 8 , wherein the pedometer comprises a processor operatively coupled with the display for driving the display, and wherein when the remaining useful life of the shoe is approaching or has reached an end, the processor drives the display to one of flash, turn color, or cease to function. 
     
     
         10 . A shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the alerting structure alerts the user when the remaining useful life is approaching or has reached an end based on one of time of use or cumulative mileage. 
     
     
         11 . A shoe according to  claim 1 , wherein the alerting structure disables operation of the pedometer when the remaining useful life is approaching or has reached an end. 
     
     
         12 . A shoe suited for walking or running comprising a pedometer embedded into a component of the shoe, the pedometer including a power source, a processor communicating with a memory, and a display, the processor monitoring a remaining useful life of the shoe, alerting a user via the display when the remaining useful life is approaching or has reached an end. 
     
     
         13 . A shoe according to  claim 12 , wherein when the remaining useful life of the shoe is approaching or has reached an end, the processor drives the display to one of flash, turn color, or cease to function. 
     
     
         14 . A shoe according to  claim 12 , wherein when the remaining useful life is approaching or has reached an end, the processor disables operation of the pedometer.