|
Appendix IV - Inventor's Test Results A number of tests were conducted by the inventor using shoes modified with the Breeze design features. Each of these tests gave very similar results. The following is indicative of both the test protocol and a typical result. Protocol: Right shoe Modified. Left Shoe unmodified. Time: 4:30 p.m. Pressure 1024 mb. Humidity 49%. Wind S knots. Cloud 5/8. Air temperature 79.3 degrees Fahrenheit. Surface - close cut dry grass. Method: The athlete rested for 30 minutes to stabilize body temperature prior to putting the shoes on. After jogging commenced, temperatures were recorded every 5 minutes. Two sensors were used in each shoe. These were located under the bridge of the toes. The heads of the sensors were placed very close together so that the maximum variation between the readings did not exceed 0.3 degrees Fahrenheit. |
The Results have been tabulated below (in degrees Fahrenheit).
|
Elapsed Time |
Modified Shoe |
Unmodified Shoe |
|
At start |
89.4 |
89.6 |
|
5 minutes |
86.7 |
90.1 |
|
10 minutes |
86.4 |
90.7 |
|
15 minutes |
86.0 |
91.2 |
|
20 minutes |
86.2 |
91.4 |
|
25 minutes |
86.0 |
91.6 |
Test Results-Modified vs Unmodified
Time (in minutes)
The Heat Index Effect
The heat index is a function of humidity and ambient air temperature. The efficiency of body cooling is directly proportional to thc heat index . For example the heat index shows that for an actual air temperature of 100 degrees Fahrenheit and a relative humidity of 50% the effect on the human body (i.e. the apparent temperature) would bc the same as an air temperature of 120 degrees. The effect is fully detailed in the chart below.
|
|
Air Temperature |
||||||||||
|
|
70 |
75 |
80 |
85 |
90 |
95 |
100 |
105 |
110 |
115 |
120 |
|
Relative Humidity |
Apparent Temperature |
||||||||||
|
30% |
67 |
73 |
78 |
84 |
90 |
96 |
104 |
113 |
123 |
135 |
148 |
|
40% |
68 |
74 |
79 |
86 |
93 |
101 |
110 |
123 |
137 |
151 |
|
|
50% |
69 |
75 |
81 |
88 |
96 |
107 |
120 |
135 |
150 |
|
|
|
60% |
70 |
76 |
82 |
90 |
100 |
114 |
132 |
149 |
|
|
|
|
70% |
70 |
77 |
85 |
93 |
106 |
124 |
144 |
|
|
|
|
|
80% |
71 |
78 |
86 |
97 |
113 |
136 |
|
|
|
|
|
The effect of the heat index on the apparent temperature inside a shoe is very important as it is often the case that a hot and humid environment is produced. With the apparent temperature in the shoe being a function of the actual temperature and the humidity (which increases with the amount of perspiration produced) abnormally high temperatures result. This in turn increases the amount of perspiration produced which fuels an increasing cycle increasing thc humidity which lifts the apparent temperature and so on. By ventilating the shoe the Breeze design cools thc foot and removes moisture from the shoe thus significantly reducing thc conditions on which thc heat index is founded.
Application to Test Results
From test results, after approximately 20 minutes of activity the temperature around the foot in an unmodified shoe will bc close to 95 degrees Fahrenheit, with a relative humidity of around 80%. The apparent temperature will be 136 degrees Fahrenheit and the ability of the foot to cool itself will be substantially impaired. By comparison, the temperature in the modified shoe was approximately 85 degrees Fahrenheit with a relative humidity of 60%. Thus the apparent temperature is reduced to 90 degrees Fahrenheit, a difference of 46 degrees. These results are shown in graphical form below.
Test Results - Apparent Temperature Effect
