Device and method for measuring heel to forefoot height differential of a shoe

Abstract

A device in the form of a parallelogram for use with an inclinometer for measuring angle of a height differential between two points of a surface such as the angle of heel to forefoot height differential of a shoe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for use with an inclinometer for measuring angle of heel to forefoot height differential of a shoe, the device comprising four bars pivotally connected to define a parallelogram wherein each pair of opposite ones of said bars are parallel, and the device further comprising means for positioning the device inside a shoe so that a lower of said bars is inclined at the angle of heel to forefoot height differential of a shoe and so that an upper of said bars is disposed above an opening of the shoe, whereby, with the shoe on a level surface, the measured inclination of said upper bar is equal to the angle of heel to forefoot height differential of the shoe. 
     
     
         2 . A device for use with an inclinometer for measuring angle of a height differential between two points of a surface, the device comprising first, second, third, and fourth bars, said first and second bars pivotally attached to said third bar at first and second pivot points respectively, said first and second bars pivotally attached to said fourth bar at third and fourth pivot points respectively, wherein distance between said first and second pivot points is equal to distance between said third and fourth pivot points, wherein distance between said first and third pivot points is equal to distance between said second and fourth pivot points, wherein said second bar extends beyond said fourth bar to a terminal end to define at said terminal end a first contact point, wherein said fourth bar has a portion which extends beyond said first bar, and the device further comprising a member which is adjustably positionable along the length of said portion and which extends from said portion the same distance that said second bar extends beyond said fourth bar to define a second contact point, whereby with the first and second contact points contacting two points respectively of a surface, a measurement of the angle of height differential of said third bar is equal to the angle of height differential between the two points of the surface. 
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 2  wherein the lengths of said first and second bars are such that the device is insertable into a shoe for measurement of angle of heel to forefoot height differential of a shoe with the third bar disposed out of the shoe. 
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 3  wherein the lengths of said first and second bars are such that the device has a height of at least about 9 inches. 
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 3  wherein the lengths of said first and second bars are such that the device has a height of at least about 12 inches so that the device is insertable into a boot for measurement of angle of heel to forefoot height differential of the boot. 
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 2  wherein the length of the third bar is less than about 3 inches, and the length of the fourth bar is less than about 6 inches. 
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 2  further comprising an attachment which is formed to slidably engage said second bar to provide a contact point to engage and determine height differential of a surface point between actual position thereof and a position thereof when at a selected angle of height differential. 
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 2  wherein said first and second bars do not extend beyond said third bar whereby the device is invertible to contact said third bar along a surface to measure the angle of incline thereof by measuring the angle of incline of said fourth bar. 
     
     
         9 . A device according to  claim 2  wherein the device is sized to measure angle of heel to forefoot differential of a shoe. 
     
     
         10 . A method for measuring angle of a height differential between two points of a surface, the method comprising:
 providing a device which comprises first, second, third, and fourth bars, the first and second bars pivotally attached to the third bar at first and second pivot points respectively, the first and second bars pivotally attached to the fourth bar at third and fourth pivot points respectively, wherein distance between the first and second pivot points is equal to distance between the third and fourth pivot points, wherein distance between the first and third pivot points is equal to distance between the second and fourth pivot points, wherein the second bar extends beyond the fourth bar to a terminal end thereof to thereby define a first contact point, wherein the fourth bar has a portion which extends beyond the first bar and includes a member whose position along the length of the portion is adjustable and which extends from said portion the same distance that said second bar extends beyond said fourth bar to define a second contact point;   adjusting the position of the member along the fourth bar portion so that the distance between the first and second contact points is equal to the distance between the two points of the surface;   contacting the first and second contact points to the two points respectively of the surface; and   measuring the angle of height differential of the third bar while the two points of the surface are contacted by the first and second contact points respectively;   whereby the angle of height differential between the two points of the surface is equal to the measured angle of height differential of the third bar.   
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10  wherein the two points are the heel and forefoot of a shoe, the method including inserting the device into the shoe so that the two points contact the heel and forefoot of the shoe and so that the third bar is above the shoe, whereby the angle of heel to forefoot height differential of the shoe is equal to the measured angle of height differential of the third bar.