Footwear with heated sole

• US 5,956,866 A
• Filed: 12/17/1997
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James R. Spears
• Original Assignee: James R. Spears
• Inventors: Spears, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, B.
• Application Number:
  US08/992,564
• Time in Patent Office: 650 Days
• Field of Search: 36/136, 36/2.6, 36/132, 36/35 R, 36/34 R
• US Class Current: 36/2.6
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0057 S-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/35 with electric heating arrangements

Abstract

A new footwear, such as a shoe or boot, with heated sole for helping keep a wearer'"'"'s foot warm, especially in cold weather. The inventive device includes a footwear member having a sole and an upper portion for accepting a foot. The heel of the sole has a cavity therein with the lower surface of the heel having an opening into the cavity. A heel door is pivotally coupled to the lower surface of the heel for substantially closing the opening into the cavity. An elongate heating coil is provided within the interior of the sole for providing heat to the footwear when powered. Disposed within the cavity of the heel is a power source electrically coupled to the heating coil to provide power to the heating coil.

Claims

1. A heated footwear device, comprising:

a footwear member having a sole and an upper portion for accepting a foot;

said sole having an interior, a toe end, a heel, and a pair of sides defining a sole width therebetween;

said heel of said sole having a lower surface, and a cavity therein, said lower surface of said heel having an opening into said cavity of said heel;

a heel door for substantially closing said opening of said lower surface of said heel, said heel door being pivotally coupled to said lower surface of said heel;

an elongate heating coil being provided within said interior of said sole, said heating coil providing heat when powered, said heating coil comprising a pair of conductor segments arranged substantially parallel and substantially equidistant with respect to each other, said conductor segments being arranged in a serpentine arrangement between said toe end of said sole and said heel of said sole;

said heating coil having a plurality of alternating bend portions and straight portions, said straight portions extending between said bend portions, said bend portions being positioned towards said sides of said sole, said straight portions extending between said sides of said sole more than one half of said sole width; and

a power source being disposed within said cavity of said heel, said power source being electrically coupled to said heating coil, said power source providing power to said heating coil.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a switch being electrically coupled to said heating coil.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein said switch includes a switch actuator being provided on said upper portion of said footwear member.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a temperature controller for controlling the amount of heat provided by said heating coil, said temperature controller being electrically coupled to said heating coil.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein said temperature controller has a temperature selection actuator for selectively controlling the amount of heat provided by said heating coil, said temperature selection actuator being provided on said footwear member.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising holding means for releasably holding said heel door in a closed position substantially closing said opening of said lower surface of said heel, wherein said holding means comprises a threaded fastener for providing a secure closing of the heel door.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said heating coil is arranged in a serpentine arrangement between said toe end of said sole and said heel of said sole.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said power source is a battery.

9. The device of claim 5, wherein said temperature selection actuator is round for preventing inadvertent movement of the temperature selection actuator.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said heating coil has a plurality of alternating bend portions and straight portions, said bend portions being positioned towards said sides of said sole, said straight portions extending between said bend portions, said straight portions extending substantially the distance between said sides of said sole.

11. A heated footwear device, comprising:

a footwear member having a sole and upper portion for accepting a foot;

said sole having an interior, a toe end, a heel, and a pair of sides;

said heel of said sole having a lower surface, and a cavity therein, said lower surface of said heel having an opening into said cavity of said heel;

a heel door for substantially closing said opening of said lower surface of said heel, said heel door being pivotally coupled to said lower surface of said heel;

holding means for releasably holding said heel door in a closed position substantially closing said opening of said lower surface of said heel, wherein said holding means comprises a threaded fastener for providing a secure closing of the heel door;

an elongate heating coil being provided within said interior of said sole, said heating coil comprising a pair of conductor segments arranged substantially parallel and substantially equidistant with respect to each other, said conductor segments being arranged in a serpentine arrangement between said toe end of said sole and said heel of said sole, said conductor segments being arranged in a serpentine arrangement between said toe end of said sole and said heel of said sole, said heating coil providing heat when powered;

wherein the heating coil has a plurality of alternating bend portions and straight portions, said bend portions being positioned towards said sides of said sole, said straight portions extending between said bend portions, said straight portions extending substantially the distance between said sides of said sole;

a power source being disposed within said cavity of said heel, said power source being electrically coupled to said heating coil, said power source providing power to said heating coil, wherein said power source includes a battery;

a switch being electrically coupled to said heating coil, said switch including a switch actuator being provided on one side of said upper portion of said footwear member; and

a temperature controller for controlling the amount of heat provided by said heating coil, said temperature controller being electrically coupled to said heating coil, said temperature controller having a rotatable temperature selection actuator for selectively controlling the amount of heat provided by said heating coil, said temperature selection actuator being round for preventing inadvertent movement of the temperature selection actuator, said temperature selection actuator being provided on one side of said upper portion of said footwear member.