Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B3/00—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
  • A43B3/34—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use with electrical or electronic arrangements
  • A43B3/35—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use with electrical or electronic arrangements with electric heating arrangements
  • A43B3/355—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use with electrical or electronic arrangements with electric heating arrangements heated by an electric current from an external source, e.g. car batteries
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
  • A43B7/005—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with cooling arrangements
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B3/00—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
  • A43B3/34—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use with electrical or electronic arrangements
  • A43B3/35—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use with electrical or electronic arrangements with electric heating arrangements
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B17/00—Insoles for insertion, e.g. footbeds or inlays, for attachment to the shoe after the upper has been joined
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B3/00—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
  • A43B3/34—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use with electrical or electronic arrangements
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
  • A43B7/02—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with heating arrangements 

Definitions

• Embodiments herein relate to footwear, such as a boots and shoes, and in particular to footwear having a removable element, such as a liner, bootie, or insole, that includes temperature control elements for controllably regulating and/or altering the temperature of the footwear and thus the wearer's foot.
• a removable element such as a liner, bootie, or insole
• Footwear often is worn in conditions where temperature fluctuations can have a significant impact on the comfort and safety of the wearer.
• footwear typically includes various insulating materials. While somewhat effective, insulation alone may not be sufficient to maintain a safe, much less comfortable, foot temperature in severe cold environments. Further, insulated footwear can be problematic in warmer
• Figures 1A, 1 B, and 1 C illustrate top ( Figure 1A), bottom (Figure 1 B), and side ( Figure 1 C) views of a removable liner for use in footwear, in accordance with various embodiments;
• Figure 2 illustrates a perspective view of a removable liner and foot bed, in accordance with various embodiments
• Figures 3A and 3B illustrate views of an electrical coupling mechanism for use with a removable liner, in accordance with various embodiments
• Figures 4A - 4D illustrate exploded ( Figure 4A), top (Figure 4B), side ( Figure 4C), and bottom ( Figure 4D) views of a removable liner, in accordance with various embodiments;
• Figures 5A-5D illustrate an exploded view of an electrical coupling mechanism (Figure 5A), and a top view (Figure 5B), a bottom view (Figure 5C), and a side view ( Figure 5D) of a removable liner with an electrical coupling mechanism, in accordance with various embodiments;
• Figure 6 illustrates a schematic diagram of several of the components of an exemplary footwear temperature control system, in accordance with various embodiments.
• Figures 7A-7C illustrate a left lateral view (Figure 7A), right lateral view ( Figure 7B), and rear view (Figure 7C) of an example of footwear that includes an embodiment of a temperature control element.
• a phrase in the form "A B” or in the form “A and/or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B).
• a phrase in the form "at least one of A, B, and C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C).
• a phrase in the form "(A)B” means (B) or (AB) that is, A is an optional element.
• a removable liner such as a sock liner, foot bed, insole, bootie, etc.
• a temperature control element referred to herein as a "TCE"
• the TCE may be adapted to raise and/or lower the temperature of the liner, thus raising and/or lowering the temperature of the footwear as perceived by a wearer's foot.
• electrical contact elements may be disposed in or on an exterior portion of the liner and may be configured to contact
• corresponding electrical contact elements positioned in or on the body of the footwear, for example on an upper portion of the foot bed or on the midsole, outsole, etc., to facilitate electrical coupling and control of a portable power supply and the TCE.
• the TCE may include heating elements, cooling elements, or a combination thereof.
• the heating elements may be metallic based conductors that are inlaid, etched, or printed on a substrate that is coupled to the liner.
• the heating and/or cooling elements may include one or more piezoelectric and/or thermoelectric heaters and/or coolers that may control the temperature of the liner.
• a controller, a power source, an actuator, and/or a temperature regulator may be electrically coupled to the TCE and adapted to regulate the power supply so as to control the temperature of the liner as desired.
• the temperature regulator and power source may be disposed on the footwear such that the liner temperature may be controlled by the wearer by manipulating a setting, for instance on the controller, or it may be remotely controlled, for instance using a wired or wireless interface. In other embodiments, the liner temperature may be controlled automatically using a thermostat.
• FIGS 1A, 1 B, and 1 C illustrate an example of a footwear liner and TCE in accordance with various embodiments.
• liner 10 may be sized to removably engage with footwear having a variety of shapes and configurations.
• liner 10 may include a TCE 20 disposed therein and configured to provide a heat source and/or cooling source.
• TCE 20 may include one or more conductors 22 that may be strategically patterned about at least a portion of liner 10. As illustrated in Figure 1A, in some
• the distribution of conductor 22 may be concentrated in a forward or ball/toe portion of the liner. This may be an advantageous configuration, as the toes and/or forefoot typically are the portions of the foot that become cold or overheated due to reduced circulation.
• conductor 22 may substantially cover the entire surface of liner 10, providing heating or cooling to the entire foot, or may be positioned in both the heel and toe regions of liner 22 or in other zones or patterns, as desired. In embodiments having both heating and cooling elements, heating and cooling conductors 22 may be interlaced, alternating, adjacent, or positioned in different regions of liner 10.
• conductor 22 may be carried by a substrate, such as cross-linked polyethylene (PEX), polyimide (PI), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), polyolefins (such as polyethylene),
• PEX cross-linked polyethylene
• PI polyimide
• PVC polyvinyl chloride
• CPVC chlorinated polyvinyl chloride
• polyolefins such as polyethylene
• Conductor 22 may include, for example, metal wires or metallic based traces that may be deposited, etched, printed, and/or molded into the substrate. In some embodiments, other conductive materials may be used, such as conductive fabrics having, for example, silver ion or copper threads. In various embodiments, conductor 22 may extend to and/or terminate at a contact group 28 that may include contacts 24 and 26 that may be, for example, positive and negative electrical terminals.
• TCE 20 may be positioned on an upper surface 13 of liner 10, and contact group 28 may be disposed on a lower or bottom surface 15 of liner 10.
• TCE 20 may pass through liner 10 from upper surface 13 to lower surface 15, for instance via slot 21.
• contact group 28 may be disposed on lower surface 15 of liner 10 and may be further adapted to engage corresponding contact group 38, which may be coupled to the body of the footwear, for instance, in foot bed 30 (see also Figures 3- 4), thereby providing an electrical coupling.
• contact group 38 may include corresponding positive and negative electrical contacts 34 and 36, and may be located on any part of the footwear interior that may contact lower surface 15 of liner 10, such as, for instance, the outsole or midsole, or footwear lining. In other embodiments, contacts 34 and 36 or contact group 38 may be disposed about other portions of the footwear interior, such as on the sides or on a rear portion of the footwear, such as near the heel. Additionally, in some embodiments, an electrical conduit 31 and an optional quick-release electrical coupling 33 may be provided in order to couple electrical contacts 34 and 36 with a power source, controller, actuator, or other component.
• electrical contacts 24, 26, 34, and 36 may be made of any suitable metallic or non-metallic, yet conductive material.
• contacts 24, 26, 34, and 36 and/or contact groups 28 and 38 may be flexible so as to conform to the bending and flexing of liner 10 and/or the body of the footwear, as well as to accommodate different liner or footwear topography.
• contacts 24 and 26 may be adapted to releasably couple to contacts 34 and 36 to each other so as to help resist relative movement and/or separation between corresponding contacts, which may tend to disrupt the electrical conductivity.
• a conductive hook-and-loop-type material such as conductive VelcroTM
• conductive VelcroTM may be used to make the contact between contacts 24 and 26 on liner 10 and corresponding contacts 34 and 36 on the body of the footwear.
• one of contact groups 28 and 38 may be recessed and the other contact groups 28 and 38 protruded to engage the recessed contact group.
• contacts 24, 26, 34, and 36 may be conductive magnetic contacts as illustrated in Figures 3A and 3B.
• contacts 24, 26, 34, and/or 36 may be magnetic, such that they couple to each other in a way that resists unintended decoupling.
• contacts 24, 26, 34, and 36 may have corresponding male 19 and female 17 locating features that may help ensure a viable electrical coupling is made between the contacts.
• Figures 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D illustrate respective exploded ( Figure 4A), top (Figure 4B), side ( Figure 4C), and bottom ( Figure 4D) views of an exemplary TCE 20 in accordance with various embodiments
• Figures 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D illustrate respective exploded ( Figure 5A), top (Figure 5B), bottom ( Figure 5C), and side ( Figure 5D) views of an example of the corresponding foot bed 30 portion of footwear.
• contacts 24 and 26 may be disposed about a rear portion of TCE 20.
• conductor 22 may comprise a metallic element, for instance a FeCrAI alloy such as AludiromeTM, and may be sandwiched between layers of substrate 23 such as PEX or PI film, to form TCE 20.
• Contacts 24 and 26 may include magnetic buttons 25 that may couple to an upper side of conductor 22, for instance with an adhesive film 27.
• Corresponding metal buttons 29 may couple to a lower side of conductor 22, and may be adapted to interface with contacts 34, 36 of foot bed 30.
• foot bed 30 of the footwear may have corresponding electrical contacts 34 and 36 disposed on upper surface 42 such that the when liner 10 is placed in the footwear, a contact interface is made between liner contacts 24 and 26 and foot bed contacts 34 and 36, thereby completing an electrical coupling.
• power supplied by a power source may energize conductors 22 of TCE 20 (not shown) to provide an increase and/or decrease in liner temperature, thereby altering the temperature of the footwear.
• electrical contacts 34 and 36 may comprise a metallic conductor 33, for instance a FeCrAI alloy such as AludiromeTM, and may be sandwiched between layers of substrate 35, such as PEX or PI film.
• additional metallic buttons 37 and/or adhesive 39 elements may be positioned under contacts 34 and 36, for instance to act as support members or spacers.
• liner contacts 24 and 26 and/or foot bed contacts 34 and 36 may be large in size so as to ensure that a solid electrical coupling is made with the corresponding liner/foot bed contacts, as well as to ensure electrical coupling is made and maintained despite shifting of liner 10 or infiltration of water and debris encountered during use.
• liner contacts 24 and 26 may have a diameter of greater than or equal to about 0.5 in 2 .
• contacts 24 and 26 and/or 34 and 36 may be at generally opposite ends or sides of liner 10 and/or foot bed 30. Separating the contacts can help to avoid undesired cross contact and an electrical short of the system.
• contacts 24 and 26 and/or 34 and 36 may be positioned generally adjacent to or within closer proximity of one another, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.
• the size of liner contact 24 and 26 may be smaller than the size of the foot bed contact 34 and 36. This size differential may help to ensure that liner contact 24 and/or 26 satisfactorily locates and contacts the corresponding foot bed contact 34 and/or 36. In other embodiments, foot bed contacts 34 and 36 may be smaller than liner contacts 24 and 26.
• FIG. 6 illustrates a component schematic of various parts of a temperature regulation system in accordance with various embodiments.
• TCE 20 may be disposed in a footwear liner (not shown) and may include exposed contact group 28.
• Corresponding foot bed contact group 38 may be disposed in the footwear (not shown) in a manner that is configured to electrically couple to the contacts of contact group 28 when the liner is inserted into the footwear.
• the contacts of contact group 38 may be electrically coupled to a controller 50 and a power source 60 both of which may be disposed on the footwear at a desired location. Controller 50 and power source 60 may be separate or integrated components.
• controller 50 may be an integrated circuit based system that is configured to regulate and control the current provided to TCE 20 by power source 60.
• An actuator 55 may be electrically coupled to controller 50 and may be configured with, for example, multiple settings (e.g. high, medium, low, and off).
• actuator 55 may be configured to set an electronic thermostat that can regulate the temperature of the liner based on, for example, the internal temperature of the footwear or a predetermined setting.
• power source 60 or controller 50 may be adapted to removably couple to an AC/DC adapter 80, for example via a USB connector 82, for instance to recharge power source 60.
• TCE 20, controller 50, power source 60, and actuator 55 may be removably coupled to one another via electrical conduits 31 equipped with quick release couplers 33, mini USB adaptors 61 , or other electrical interfaces or plugs 63 known to those of skill in the art.
• controller 50 may be programmable to increase the functionality of the temperature controlled footwear.
• controller 50 may be adapted to couple to a computer or handheld device via a variety of known interface connections 82, 61 (e.g., USB or micro USB). A variety of parameters may then be modified, such as temperature ranges associated with various settings, light/indicator effects, and/or timing cycles.
• interface connections 82, 61 e.g., USB or micro USB.
• a wireless interface component such as a transceiver, may be coupled to or integrated with controller 50, which may allow a remote control and manipulation of the controller settings.
• actuator 55 may be removably coupled to the footwear by, for example, retainers 58.
• a variety of different customized actuators 55 may be used without replacing the footwear.
• different logos e.g., college logos, brand names and/or images, sports team logos
• controller 50 may be configured to light in a desired color, such as a color of a school, team, or brand.
• actuator 55 may be removably coupled to the footwear in a variety of known ways.
• Figures 7A-7C illustrate a left lateral view (Figure 7A), a right lateral view ( Figure 7B), and a rear view (Figure 7C) of an example of footwear that includes an embodiment of a TCE 20.
• the footwear may be equipped with receiving pockets, slots, or channels that may accommodate controller 50, power source 60, actuator 55, and electrical connectors and conduits therebetween.
• controller 50 and power source 60 may be located on one side of a footwear upper, and actuator 55 may be located on the opposite side of the footwear upper.
• controller 50 may deliver power from power source 60 to TCE 20, and may cause conductor 22 to activate and provide heat or cooling to liner 10.
• controller 50, power source 60, actuator 55, liner 10, and/or the electrical connectors and conduits therebetween may be removed by a user, for instance for cleaning, repair, or replacement of broken, worn, or dirty components.
• a single component may be removed for replacement or repair without necessitating the replacement of the entire system.
• components of the system may be removed from the footwear if the footwear becomes soiled and is in need of cleaning.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
• Thermotherapy And Cooling Therapy Devices (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=43970796

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Families Citing this family (74)

Family Cites Families (22)

• 2010
  • 2010-11-05 CA CA2779900A patent/CA2779900A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-11-05 JP JP2012538051A patent/JP2013509964A/ja active Pending
  • 2010-11-05 EP EP10829193.1A patent/EP2496104A4/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2010-11-05 US US12/940,908 patent/US20110107771A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-11-05 KR KR1020127014439A patent/KR20120088830A/ko not_active Ceased
  • 2010-11-05 WO PCT/US2010/055725 patent/WO2011057142A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2010-11-05 CN CN2010800581743A patent/CN102695432A/zh active Pending
  • 2010-11-05 RU RU2012122103/12A patent/RU2012122103A/ru unknown

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