US20170027276A1

US20170027276A1 - Footwear with removable heating elements

Info

Publication number: US20170027276A1
Application number: US15/080,426
Authority: US
Inventors: Dennis Randall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-07-31
Filing date: 2016-03-24
Publication date: 2017-02-02

Abstract

Footwear with a removable heating element provides a pocket above the toes and below the laces to keep a removable heated gel pack. The footwear is intended for use during severe winter weather but provides only a light degree of insulation, relying on a replaceable exothermic gel pack above the toes to generate heat. The gel pack is provided in a pocket above the toes and below the laces, which is preferably secured by a descending flap with a hook-and-loop fastener strip, extending downward to the upper edge of the sole. A replacement gel pack is available separately.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/199,293, filed Jul. 31, 2015, which is hereby incorporated by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to footwear and accessories, and in particular to footwear with a removable heating element. For millions of people whose employment duties keep them outdoors in severe winter weather, or who must commute in such weather, keeping the feet warm is a challenge. Various types of insulating footwear have been developed, but these are bulky and heavy. Aside from the loss of agility, such heavy footwear usually lead to serious problems of fatigue and muscle soreness for the wearer. Footwear with a removable heating element, providing a pocket above the toes with a replaceable exothermic gel pack to generate heat, are substantially lighter than conventional insulated footwear and would resolve this problem.
A search of the prior art has revealed several examples of footwear which have problems to which this invention is a solution. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,094,016 provides a pocket which is removably attached to the laces of a shoe. This provides a user with a place to store various items, such as change, cash, keys, etc. but does not provide a space over the toes in which a heating element can be stored.
Similarly, US Publication No. 2014/0310996 provides a pocket on the side of a boot which allows the user to store scent wicks while hunting. Again this provides a pocket but not in a place where the user can effectively keep their feet warm. Further, this example does not provide a pocket which could effectively hold a heating element.
Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,094,080 provides an attachment which allows a user to secure heating elements to the exterior of the shoe. Again, this does not allow efficient heating of the users feet because the heating elements are attached separately from the shoe and would have to heat the exterior of the shoe before the interior, where the feet are located, can be heated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the invention is directed to footwear with a removable heating element. The footwear is intended for use during severe winter weather but provides only a light degree of insulation, relying on a replaceable exothermic gel pack above the toes to generate heat. The gel pack is provided in a pocket above the toes and below the laces, which is preferably secured by a descending flap with a hook-and-loop fastener strip, extending downward to the upper edge of the sole. A replacement gel pack is available separately.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated into and constitute a part of the specification. They illustrate one embodiment of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment, displaying the footwear 10, the toe area 11, the laces 12, and the sole 13.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the first exemplary embodiment with the pocket opened, displaying the footwear 10, the sole 13, the flap 14, and the gel pack 15.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the gel pack 15.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the invention in more detail, the invention is directed to footwear 10 with a removable heating element.
The first exemplary embodiment is comprised of footwear 10 which is intended for use during severe winter weather, but provides only a light degree of insulation, relying on a replaceable exothermic gel pack 15 to generate heat. The gel pack 15 is provided in a pocket 17 above the toe area 11 and below the laces 12, which is preferably hidden under a flap 14. The flap 14 is secured shut with a fastener 16. The fastener 16 is preferably a hook-and-loop fastener strip. Preferably, the flap 14 extends downward to the upper edge of the sole 13 at the toe end 18 of the footwear 10. Alternately, the flap 14 may be secured with a zipper, snaps or some other type of fastener.
A replacement gel pack 15 is available separately, and is preferably provided in a package containing an even-numbered plurality of gel packs 15, such as eight gel packs 15. The gel pack 15 is carefully contoured to wrap around the upper surface of the user's foot and toes, providing maximum comfort and distribution of heat within the footwear 10.
The footwear 10 is provided as either a shoe or a boot, in a broad range of styles and colors, and a full range of men's, women's, and children's sizes. Due to the reliance on an exothermic chemical reaction rather than heavy insulation, the footwear 10 are not bulky and may provide an element of fashion despite being intended for use in severe winter weather. Preferably, the principal styles include a general purpose work boot for men and women, dress shoes for men and women, ski boots for men and women, and athletic shoes for men, women, and children.
To use the first exemplary embodiment, the user may shake or otherwise agitate the gel pack 15 to activate the exothermic reaction, insert the gel pack 15 into the pocket 17, secure the flap 14 using the hook-and-loop fastener strips 16 or other fasteners which are provided, and put on the footwear 10. When the exothermic reaction is finished and the footwear 10 lose a substantial amount of heat, the user's toes will become cold, indicating that the gel pack 15 should be replaced.
The footwear 10 is preferably manufactured from flexible, durable material which is substantially waterproof, such as nylon fabric or leather. The laces 12 are preferably manufactured from a flexible, durable material, such as rawhide, woven cotton fiber, or woven hemp fiber. The sole 13 is preferably manufactured from a flexible, durable material which is substantially waterproof, such as rubber.
The gel pack 15 is preferably manufactured from a flexible, durable material such as plastic, containing an exothermic gel-forming composition with efficient and long-lasting heat production. The composition is preferably manufactured from galvanic alloy particles such as magnesium and iron, in a mixture of between 2-20% by weight iron and 80-98% by weight magnesium, microencapsulated within a super absorbent polymer in a ratio between 5:1 and 20:1, such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose or sodium polyacrylamide, and an electrolyte such as potassium chloride, sodium chloride or calcium chloride.
Components, component sizes, and materials listed above are preferable, but artisans will recognize that alternate components and materials could be selected without altering the scope of the invention.
While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is presently considered to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should, therefore, not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention.

Claims

I claim:

1. Footwear with a removable heating element, comprising: an article of footwear; a removable heating element; said article of footwear providing a toe end, a sole, laces, and a flap; a pocket being located at said toe end of said footwear above the toe area; said flap hiding said pocket; said removable heating element being sized and configured to fit within said pocket; and said flap being secured shut with a fastener.

2. The footwear with a removable heating element of claim 1, wherein said article of footwear is a shoe.

3. The footwear with a removable heating element of claim 1, wherein said article of footwear is a boot.

4. The footwear with a removable heating element of claim 1, wherein said fastener is a hook-and-loop strip.

5. The footwear with a removable heating element of claim 1, wherein said fastener is a zipper.

6. The footwear with a removable heating element of claim 1, wherein said fastener is snaps.

7. The footwear with a removable heating element of claim 2, wherein said fastener is a hook-and-loop strip.

8. The footwear with a removable heating element of claim 2, wherein said fastener is a zipper.

9. The footwear with a removable heating element of claim 2, wherein said fastener is snaps.

10. The footwear with a removable heating element of claim 3, wherein said fastener is a hook-and-loop strip.

11. The footwear with a removable heating element of claim 3, wherein said fastener is a zipper.

12. The footwear with a removable heating element of claim 3, wherein said fastener is snaps.

13. The footwear with a removable heating element of claim 1, wherein said heating element provides a flexible plastic shell containing an exothermic gel-forming composition.

14. The footwear with a removable heating element of claim 13, wherein said exothermic gel-forming composition is galvanic alloy particles such as magnesium and iron; said iron amounts to between two to twenty percent by weight; said magnesium amounts to eighty to ninety-eight percent by weight; said galvanic alloy particles microencapsulated within a super absorbent polymer such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose or sodium polyacrylamide, and an electrolyte such as potassium chloride, sodium chloride or calcium chloride; said galvanic alloy particles being in a ratio to said super absorbent polymer of between five to one and twenty to one.

15. The footwear with a removable heating element of claim 2, wherein said heating element provides a flexible plastic shell containing an exothermic gel-forming composition.

16. The footwear with a removable heating element of claim 15, wherein said exothermic gel-forming composition is galvanic alloy particles such as magnesium and iron; said iron amounts to between two to twenty percent by weight; said magnesium amounts to eighty to ninety-eight percent by weight; said galvanic alloy particles microencapsulated within a super absorbent polymer such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose or sodium polyacrylamide, and an electrolyte such as potassium chloride, sodium chloride or calcium chloride; said galvanic alloy particles being in a ratio to said super absorbent polymer of between five to one and twenty to one.

17. The footwear with a removable heating element of claim 3, wherein said heating element provides a flexible plastic shell containing an exothermic gel-forming composition.

18. The footwear with a removable heating element of claim 17, wherein said exothermic gel-forming composition is galvanic alloy particles such as magnesium and iron; said iron amounts to between two to twenty percent by weight; said magnesium amounts to eighty to ninety-eight percent by weight; said galvanic alloy particles microencapsulated within a super absorbent polymer such as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose or sodium polyacrylamide, and an electrolyte such as potassium chloride, sodium chloride or calcium chloride; said galvanic alloy particles being in a ratio to said super absorbent polymer of between five to one and twenty to one.