Electrically heatable insole

• US 8,074,373 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2005
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sidas Central GmbH
• Original Assignee: Therm-IC Products GmbH
• Inventors: Macher, David, Schreiner, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): MOHANDESI, JILA M
• Application Number:
  US10/588,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20090013554A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,506 Days
• Field of Search: 36/26, 361/37, 36/43, 36/44, 36/71, 219/211, 219/523, 219/528
• US Class Current: 36/2.6
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/00 Insoles for insertion, e.g. footbeds or inlays, for attachment to the shoe after the upper has been joined
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0031 provided with a pocket, e.g. for keys or a card
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/35 with electric heating arrangements

Abstract

An electrically heatable in sole may include at least one sole base body and one covering layer, at least one heating electrode, at least one rechargeable battery that is electrically connected to the heating electrode, and a control circuit for controlling the heating process and the charging of the battery. Heating electrodes, rechargeable batteries and a control circuit are arranged in the base body of the sole and/or between the base body and the covering layer. The control circuit includes a remote control device for starting and stopping the heating process, and a protection circuit for disconnecting the rechargeable batteries in the event of an error.

Claims

1. An electrically heatable insole, comprising:

at least one sole basic body;

a cover layer;

at least one heating electrode;

at least one rechargeable battery electrically connected to the heating electrode; and

a control circuit controlling a heating process and recharging the battery,

wherein the heating electrode, the battery and the control circuit are disposed at least one of (i) in the sole basic body and (ii) between the sole basic body and the cover layer,

wherein the control circuit includes (i) a remote control device switching the heating process on and off and (ii) a protective circuit disconnecting the battery in an event of a defect, and

wherein the remote control comprises a control part incorporated in the sole.

2. The insole according to claim 1, wherein the battery is a lithium accumulator.

3. The insole according to claim 1, wherein the battery is disposed in at least one of (i) a heel region and (ii) a foot arch region of the insole.

4. The insole according to claim 1, wherein the heating electrode includes Minimelf resistors.

5. The insole according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit continuously regulates a strength of the heating process.

6. The insole according to claim 1, wherein the remote control device has an external operating part.

7. The insole according to claim 1, wherein the remote control device has a contact-free switch.

8. The insole according to claim 1, wherein the remote control device has a transmitting and receiving unit which wirelessly transmits information.

9. The insole according to claim 6, wherein the operating part includes display elements for at least one of (i) a functional display and (ii) a temperature display.

10. The insole according to claim 6, wherein the operating part has a transmitter and an actuation element which activates the transmitter, the transmitter, in an activated state, transmitting a wireless switch-on signal to the incorporated control part.

11. The insole according to claim 8, wherein the operating part has a receiver and the remote control device is a bi-directional remote control.

12. The insole according to claim 6, wherein the operating part includes a first switching element of a contact-free switch which cooperates with a second switching element disposed in the incorporated control part.

13. The insole according to claim 7, wherein the contact-free switch is configured as one of a reed switch, a magnetic switch and a proximity switch.

14. The insole according to claim 1, wherein a plug contact connected to the control circuit for connection of a network device is incorporated in the sole basic body.

15. An electrically heatable insole, comprising:

at least one sole basic body;

a cover layer;

at least one heating electrode;

at least one rechargeable battery electrically connected to the heating electrode; and

a control circuit controlling a heating process and recharging the battery,

wherein the heating electrode, the battery and the control circuit are disposed at least one of (i) in the sole basic body and (ii) between the sole basic body and the cover layer,

wherein the control circuit includes (i) a remote control device switching the heating process on and off and (ii) a protective circuit disconnecting the battery in an event of a defect, and

wherein the remote control device has a transmitting and receiving unit which wirelessly transmits information.