GB2284533A

GB2284533A - Heated footwear

Info

Publication number: GB2284533A
Application number: GB9325311A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andreas Blunier
Original assignee: GREAT International FOOTWEAR LI
Current assignee: GREAT International FOOTWEAR LI
Priority date: 1993-12-10
Filing date: 1993-12-10
Publication date: 1995-06-14
Anticipated expiration: 2013-12-10
Also published as: HK1004056A1; GB9325311D0; GB2284533B

Abstract

A boot is provided with a flexible laminate 14 having conductive carbon fibres to which electrical power is supplied to warm the foot of a wearer. The boot has a closable pouch in which a power pack is mounted. <IMAGE>

Description

Footwear Articles The invention relates to footwear articles.

The invention relates more particularly to footwear articles such as shoes and boots which incorporate heating elements especially for use in cold environments.

According to the invention there is provided a heatable footwear article including a planar flexible woven laminate formed or impregnated with carbon fibres to provide a path for electrical current through the laminate, electrical connections at opposing sides of the laminate, and a power supply pack attachable to a side of the article for supplying power to electrical wires extending to the electrical connections, in which the laminate is mounted to an inside surface of a sole of the article.

The laminate may be formed with a plastics material surrounded or on one side of the woven material.

The laminate preferably extends over less than half the surface area of the sole. The laminate preferably extends at one end to near the toe region of the sole. The laminate may be placed between the sole of the article and an inner sole which covers the laminate.

The article may have a closable pouch on its side for enclosing the power supply pack.

A twin wire jack connector for connecting the wires to the battery power pack may be provided.

The battery pack is preferably re-chargeable.

A boot according to the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side view of the boot; Figure 2 is a partially cut away side view of the boot and a battery power pack; and Figure 3 shows an insole for the boot.

Referring to the drawings, in Figure 1 a boot 10 has an overall general configuration with a sole 11 and an upper 12 which extends upwards to surround the ankle of a wearer. A closable pocket 13 is provided on the side of the upper 12 for enclosing a battery power pack (not shown).

In Figure 2, a flexible woven laminate 14 is mounted on the inside surface of the sole 11 and one end extends to be next to a toe region 15 of the boot. The edges maybe bound by extra switching, a plastic tape or similar to prevent unravelling of the weave at the edges. The laminate has a surface area which covers approximately one quarter of the overall surface area of the sole 11.

Electrical connectors 16 and 17 are fixed to opposing ends of the laminate 14 and the laminate is formed or impregnated with carbon fibres so as to provide an electrical resistive path for current between the connectors 16 and 17. Wires 18 and 19 extend from the connectors 16 and 17 along inside surfaces of the boot to a twin wire jack 20. A 6-Volt battery power pack 21, shown separated from the boot, supplies power to the laminate 14 in use which heats up so as to warm the foot of the wearer. The battery power pack can be recharged and has a control circuit (not shown) which can be manually controlled by switches 22 and 23. The switch 22 is used to turn the power on and off, so that the power pack 21 supplies current to the laminate 14. Operation at a "high" or "low" setting is selected by the switch 23.

Normally, or preferably, a pulsed direct current is supplied to the laminate 14 by the circuit, and at the high setting the mark to space ratio is significantly greater. Typically, the current supplied is 1.25 amps and at the high setting the mark to space ratio is 50:50 and at the low setting 30:70.

In Figure 3, an inner sole 24 is shown which covers the laminate inside the boot.

It will be appreciated that the overall size of laminate may be increased or decreased but generally heating is required only adjacent the toe region in practice.

Typically, the laminate has a resistivity of 0.5 to 0.7 ohms per square centimeter. Whereas a walking boot has been described, embodiments of the invention include shoes, as well as special footwear articles as may be used by divers, skiers, and ice-hockey players for example.

Claims

1. A heatable footwear article including a planar flexible woven laminate formed impregnated with carbon fibres to provide a path for electrical current through the laminate, electrical connections at opposing sides of the laminate, and a power supply pack attachable to a side of the article for supplying power to electrical wires extending to the electrical connections, in which the laminate is mounted to an inside surface of a sole of the article.

2. An article according to claim 1, in which the laminate extends over less than half the surface area of the sole.

3. An article according to claim 2, in which the laminate extends at one end to near the toe region of the sole.

4. An article according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in which the laminate is placed between the sole of the article and an inner sole which covers the laminate.

5. An article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the article has a closable pouch on its side for enclosing the power supply pack.

6. An article according to any one of claims 1 to 5, including a twin wire jack connector for connecting the wires to the battery power pack.

7. An article according to any one of claims 1 to 6, in which the battery pack is re-chargeable.

8. A boot substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.