Shoe or boot heater with shoelace mounted power source

• US 5,063,690 A
• Filed: 01/17/1990
• Issued: 11/12/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stephen Slenker
• Original Assignee: Stephen Slenker
• Inventors: Slenker, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hilliard, Thomas P.
• Application Number:
  US07/466,213
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 36/2.6, 36/136, 36/132
• US Class Current: 36/2.6
• 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 3/38 with power sources

Abstract

A universal heating system for footwear including shoes and boots in which an insole is provided with a heater element having leads extending therefrom to either the tongue area or a side area opposed to the arch of the shoe. A power source in the form of a battery pack is adapted to be mounted either in the tongue area or the side area by means of an enclasping means affixed externally of the battery pack.

Claims

1. A system for heating an article of footwear having a sole, sides, a heel and toe area, comprising:

a removable insole extending from the heel area to the toe area of the footwear article,

a heating element disposed upon the surface of said insole,

electrical leads extending from said heating element and directed beneath said insole to an area of said footwear which experiences relatively low pressure from dynamic loads generated by normal activities of a user of said footwear,

a compact power source means, said power source means being provided with contact means externally thereof,

said electrical leads being provided with connector means at their ends adapted to provide for electrical connections externally of said footwear article and centrally therefrom,

an enclasping means comprising a relatively rigid mounting bracket having means for enclasping laces which may be employed to secure the footwear article to the foot of the wearer, said power source and power source contact means mounted on said enclasping means in a location thereon that does not interfere with said normal activities of the user and that allows said power source to be connected to said connector means.

2. A system for heating an article of footwear having a sole, sides, a heel and toe area, comprising:

a removable insole extending from the heel area to the toe area of the footwear article,

a heating element disposed upon the surface of said insole, electrical leads extending from said heating element and directed beneath said insole to an area of said footwear which experiences relatively low pressure from dynamic loads generated by normal activities of a user of said footwear, a compact power source means, said power source means being provided with contact means externally thereof,

said electrical leads being provided with connector means at their end to provide for electrical connections externally of said footwear article and centrally therefrom,

and enclasping means comprising a relatively rigid mounting bracket having means for permitting the passing therethrough of laces which may be employed to secure the footwear article to the foot of the wearer, said power source means and said power source contact means mounted on said footwear article in a location thereon that does not interfere with said normal activities of the user and that allows said power source to be connected to said connector means.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the enclasping means comprises a pair of U-shaped clamps which are of electrically conductive material and so mounted as to serve also as the power source contact means.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein complementary mating means to receive said clamps are provided to which said electrical lead connector means are assembled.

5. A system for heating an article of footwear including a sole, sides, a heel and toe area nd laces for securing the article to the foot of a wearer, comprising:

a removable insole extending from the heel area to the toe area of the footwear article,

a heating element disposed upon the surface of said insole,

electrical leads extending from said heating element and directed beneath said insole,

a compact power source means,

said power source means being provided with contact means externally thereof,

said electrical leads being provided with connector means at their ends adapted to extend externally of said footwear article and centrally therefrom to the area of said laces,

and enclasping means upon which said power source and said power source contact means are mounted, said enclasping means at said area o said laces with said contact means electrically connected to said connector means.

6. A system for heating an article of footwear including a sole, sides, a heel and toe area and laces for securing the article to the foot of a wearer, comprising:

a removable insole extending from the heel area to the toe area of the footwear article,

a heating element disposed upon the surface of said insole,

electrical leads extending from said heating element and directed beneath said insole,

a compact power source means,

said power source means being provided with contact means externally thereof,

said electrical leads being provided with connector means at their ends adapted to extend externally of said footwear article and centrally therefrom to the area of said laces,

and enclasping means upon which said power source and said power source contact means are mounted, the enclasping means comprising a relatively rigid mounting bracket having means for enclasping laces which may be employed to secure the footwear article to the foot of the wearer, said enclasping means at said area of said laces with said power source contact means electrically connected to said connector means.

7. A system for heating an article of footwear including a sole, sides, a heel and toe area and laces for securing the article to the foot of a wearer, comprising:

a removable insole extending from the heel area to the toe area of the footwear article,

a heating element disposed upon the surface of said insole,

electrical leads extending from said heating element and directed beneath said insole,

a compact power source means,

said power source means being provided with contact means externally thereof,

said electrical leads being provided with connector means at their ends adapted to extend externally of said footwear article and centrally therefrom to the area of said laces,

and enclasping means upon which said power source and said power source contact means are mounted, the enclasping means comprising a relatively rigid mounting bracket having means for permitting the passing therethrough of laces which may be employed to secure the footwear article to the foot of the wearer, said enclasping means at said area of said laces with said power source contact means electrically connected to said connector means.

8. A system for heating an article of footwear having a sole, sides, an arch, a heel and toe area, comprising:

a removable insole extending from the heel area to the toe area of the footwear article,

a heating element affixed to said insole,

electrical leads extending from said heating element and directed beneath said insole to a central area of said footwear which experiences relatively low pressure from dynamic loads generated by normal activities of a user of said footwear,

a compact power source means,

said power source means being provided with power source contact means externally thereof,

said electrical leads being provided with connector means at their ends adapted to extend externally of said footwear article and centrally therefrom to a side opposite to the arch, and enclasping means to mount said power source and power source contact means at said side opposite said arch with said power source contact means electrically and physically connected to said connector means, wherein the enclasping means comprises a pair of U-shaped clamps which are of electrically conductive material and so mounted as to serve also as the power source contact means.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein complementary mating means to receive said clamps are provided to which said electrical lead connector means are assembled.