Apple Patent Application Describes Sensor for Detecting When Sneakers Are Worn Out 

Two Apple inventors fashioned a design for a sensor that can take the guesswork out of telling fitness enthusiasts when their sneakers are worn out and need to be replaced, said a patent application (20180249783) published Thursday at the Patent and Trademark Office. In one “embodiment” of the invention, a “detector” senses a “physical metric that changes as a shoe wears out,” triggering an alarm on a smartphone or smartwatch, said the application, which was filed May 7. Shoes “provide support during intense physical activity,” it says. “As a shoe wears, physical support provided by the shoe decreases, thereby reducing associated protection from injury. When a critical wear level is reached, even if the shoe looks like it is not particularly worn, the shoe may not provide adequate support and may, in fact, cause damage to feet.” Apple didn't comment.