SHOE OR BOOT WITH AN INTEGRATED ELECTRICAL DEVICE

• US 20130174451A1
• Filed: 01/06/2012
• Published: 07/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sidas Central GmbH
• Original Assignee: Therm-IC Products GmbH Nfg & Co. KG.
• Inventors: KREMER, GERHARD, Maron, Urs
• Application Number:
  US13/344,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20130174451A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/136
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/35 with electric heating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/355 heated by an electric current from an external source, e.g. car batteries

Abstract

The invention relates to a shoe having an electrical device integrated in the shoe, an operating part for manual control of the device by means of at least one operating element of the operating part, an electrical contact element which is connected to the device via an electrical conductor, a housing for the electrical contact element, a housing part of the housing which is connected securely to the shoe having a recess for receiving the contact element in the recess, the housing having a closing element which is connected securely to the housing part and covers the recess in a closed position of the closing element, the closing element having a first connection element and the housing part having a second connection element which can be connected detachably to the first connection element for fixing the closing element in the closed position.

Claims

1. Shoe (1) having an upper (10) and a sole, comprising:

an electrical device (15) integrated in the shoe (1), having a control unit (18) for controlling the device (15),

an operating part (19) connected to the upper (10) for manual operation of the control unit (18),

an electrical contact element (5),

a housing (2) for the electrical contact element (5), the housing (2) including a housing part (3) which is connected securely to the upper (10) and a closing element (6) which is connected securely to the housing part (3), the closing element (6) being able to be brought into a closed position in which the closing element (6) covers the contact element (5).

2. Shoe (1) of claim 1, characterised in that the closing element (6) has a first connection element (7) and the housing part (3) has a second connection element (8) which can be connected detachably to the first connection element (7) for fixing the closing element (6) in the closed position.

3. Shoe (1) of claim 1, characterised in that the housing part (3) has a receiving means (4) for receiving the contact element (5) in the receiving means (4), the receiving means (4) being closed by the closing element (6) if the closing element (6) is situated in the closed position.

4. Shoe (1) of claim 3, characterised in that the receiving means (4) is configured as a recess in the housing part (3).

5. Shoe (1) of claim 1, characterised in that the housing part (3) has a flange (9), via which the housing part (3) is connected securely to the upper (10), in particular by sewing, glueing or vulcanising.

6. Shoe (1) of claim 5, characterised in that an upper edge (11) of the receiving means (4) is disposed within a plane defined by the flange (9) or in that the upper edge (11) of the receiving means (4) is disposed recessed relative to the flange (9) in the housing part (3).

7. Shoe (1) of claim 3, characterised in that the receiving means (4) is shaped corresponding to the contact element (5) by means of a shape adaptation of the housing part (3) in the region of the receiving means (4) to an outer contour of the contact element (5).

8. Shoe (1) of claim 1, characterised in that the housing part (3) and/or the closing element (6) is manufactured from a flexible material, in particular from silicone.

9. Shoe (1) of claim 2, characterised in that the first connection element (7) of the closing element (6) and the second connection element (8) of the housing part (3) are configured as corresponding locking elements which can be brought into a form-fit engagement for fixing the closing element (6) in the closed position.

10. Shoe (1) of claim 2, characterised in that the first connection element (7) and/or the second connection element (8) comprise Velcro elements (29).

11. Shoe (1) of claim 1, characterised in that the operating part (19) and/or the housing (2), provided that the closing element (6) is situated in the closed position, terminate flush with the upper (10) or protrude outwards beyond the upper (10) by no more than 5 mm, preferably no more than 3 mm.

12. Shoe (1) of claim 3, characterised in that the receiving means (4) for the contact element (5) is disposed completely or at least partially below the upper (10).

13. Shoe (1) of claim 1, characterised in that the operating part (19) has a receiving means (24) for the control unit (18) of the device (15), the receiving means (24) being disposed completely or at least partially below the upper (10).

14. Shoe (1) of claim 1, characterised in that exclusively detachable connections exist both between the contact element (5) and the housing (2) and also between the control unit (18) and the operating part (19), preferably exclusively form-fit and/or frictional connections, for simple, manual separability of the contact element (5) and of the control unit (18) from the upper (10).

15. Shoe (1) of claim 3, characterised in that a conductor (14) connected to the contact element (5) is led through a through-opening in the housing part (3), the contact element (5) being removable manually from the receiving means (4), whilst maintaining the electrical connection between the contact element (5) and the conductor (14).

16. Shoe (1) of claim 1, characterised in that the contact element (5) is configured as a plug for inserting the plug in a socket configured corresponding to the plug, in particular in a socket of an electrical voltage source for energy supply of the device (15).

17. Shoe (1) of claim 1, characterised in that the device (15) includes a heating device for heating the shoe, which device includes an electrical energy store which can be charged via the electrical contact element (5), in particular by means of an electrical battery charger which can be connected to the contact element.

18. Shoe (1) of claim 1, characterised in that the operating part (19) includes a first moulded part (20) which is connected securely to the upper (1) and which has at least one operating element (22) for operating the device (15) by means of the operating element (22), and the operating part (19) including in addition a second moulded part (23) which has a receiving means (24) for a control unit (18) of the device (15) and being connectable to the first moulded part (20), the first moulded part (20) having at least one first retaining element (25) and the second moulded part (23) having at least one second retaining element (26), the two retaining elements (25, 26) being able to be brought into mutual engagement for producing a detachable connection between the first moulded part (20) and the second moulded part (23).

19. Shoe (1.) of claim 18, characterised in that one of the at least one first retaining element (25) is configured as a rim, locking lug or bead which completely surrounds the first moulded part (20) or in that one of the at least one second retaining element (26) is configured as a rim, locking lug or bead which completely surrounds the second moulded part (23).

20. Shoe (1) of claim 18, characterised in that the second moulded part (23) has a hole (27) for leading a control line (28) through the second moulded part (23).