WO2012056306A1

WO2012056306A1 - Improved footwear sole suited to allow the heat exchange between at least one area of the foot resting on the sole and the external environment

Info

Publication number: WO2012056306A1
Application number: PCT/IB2011/002556
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pietro Toniolo
Original assignee: Pietro Toniolo
Priority date: 2010-10-29
Filing date: 2011-10-28
Publication date: 2012-05-03
Also published as: ITVI20100290A1; IT1403473B1

Abstract

The invention is a footwear sole (1) comprising a heat exchange system (2) provided with means (3) for compressing a heat exchange fluid (4) comprising a non-deformable chamber (31) communicating with a condensation unit (6) and an evaporation unit (5), and a pumping unit (32) with an expandable chamber (33) positioned inside the non-deformable chamber (31), and a compressible chamber (34) positioned out of the same, interconnected by means of a non-deformable pipe (35). The pumping unit (32) makes an auxiliary fluid (11) circulate from the compressible chamber (34) to the expandable chamber (33), so that the heat exchange fluid (4) flows outside the non-deformable chamber (31) when the pressure exerted by the foot (P) on the sole (1) compresses the compressible chamber (34), and furthermore forces the auxiliary fluid (11) to flow from the expandable chamber (33) to the compressible chamber (34), in order to allow the heat exchange fluid (4) to flow back inside the non-deformable chamber (31) when the pressure exerted on the compressible chamber (34) decreases.

Description

IMPROVED FOOTWEAR SOLE SUITED TO ALLOW THE HEAT EXCHANGE BETWEEN AT LEAST ONE AREA OF THE FOOT RESTING ON THE SOLE AND THE EXTERNAL ENVIRONMENT.

DESCRIPTION

The invention concerns an improved footwear sole suited to allow the heat exchange between at least one area of the foot resting on the sole and the external environment.

It is known that the parts of the human body that are more exposed and more sensitive to the difference between the body temperature and the temperature of the external environment are the feet, hands, ears and in general all the extremities where the flow of blood pumped by the heart is reduced.

Depending on the season, such sensitivity may cause considerable problems, like the freezing of said extremities during the winter or overheating of the same during the summer.

Furthermore, the effects due to said temperature change are intensified in the feet, as during most of the day they are encased in the shoes.

In fact, depending on the degree of stiffness of the shoes, the blood flow towards the feet is hindered even further and the feet cannot breathe correctly in relation to the external environment.

It is also known that said effects may cause some problems while a person is advancing and in particular when he/she performs sporting activities like running, cycling, skiing etc.

For example, during the summer, when mainly sporting activities like running and cycling are performed, the rubbing action between the foot and the inner side of the shoe increases the overheating effect on the former.

This leads to the inconvenience that the foot swells, consequently losing sensitivity and causing a feeling of numbness.

In the same way, during the winter, when athletes or common people perform activities like skiing, the feet, inside quite stiff footwear, undergo severe cooling and possibly even freezing.

Also in this case there is the inconvenience of loss of sensitivity and numbness.

In order to avoid the situations described above, people and in particular athletes disadvantageously need to periodically interrupt the activity they are performing in order to take their shoes off and allow better breathing of the feet and better blood flow through the same, so as to restore normal conditions. According to a further solution, specific substances are used, for example special creams that allow said overheating or freezing effects to be mitigated. Furthermore it is known that, especially during the winter, special clothes are worn, for example thermal socks, that allow said effects to be reduced.

However, the solutions described above are not always effective, in fact the results depend on the sensitivity of the individual and on the weather conditions.

In any case, the special creams that should reduce these effects must be spread on the feet and consequently dressing becomes less practical.

Furthermore, not everyone is willing to use said products, or other things, because said creams may dirty the clothes and spoil them permanently.

Furthermore, in order to solve the problem of feet freezing during the winter, ski boots are available on the market that comprise a double shoe, an external one suited to be hooked to the skis and an internal one suited to accommodate the foot.

However, even these special shoes involve a problematic dressing procedure and furthermore the fact of having a double shoe increases the overall dimensions of the footwear and the stiffness the person has to cope with during the activity.

Even in this case, these inconveniences in turn cause the foot to lose sensitivity.

It is also known that over the years different types of footwear have been made, whose sole is provided with heating and/or cooling means that make it possible to maintain the foot at a given temperature, so as to avoid the above mentioned freezing and/or overheating effects.

In particular, shoes are known that inside their soles have a real heat exchange system that makes it possible to obtain the heat exchange between at least one part of the foot and the external environment.

It is important to note that in this context and throughout this document the terms "heat exchange cycle" and "heat exchange system" are respectively used to define a cycle and a system that allow the heat exchange to take place between the external environment and the foot, wherein said heat exchange may comprise both the cooling of the foot and alternatively the warming of the same. Furthermore, the term "cooling machine" relates to the operating mode of the heat exchange system that makes it possible to cool the foot, while the term "heat pump" relates to the operating mode of the heat exchange system that makes it possible to warm the foot.

Finally, the term "heat exchange fluid" means the fluid that flows inside the heat exchange system and allows the heat exchange between the external environment and the foot to be obtained, independently of whether the system is operating as a cooling machine or a heat pump.

Going back to the description of the prior art, most of said heat exchange system comprise compression means that are operated by the pressure exerted by the foot on the sole.

However, the known types of footwear incorporating said heat exchange systems require that the pumping operation be performed only when the foot rests and exerts pressure on a precise area of the sole that in most cases is the heel.

In fact, when the foot exerts pressure on the remaining areas of the sole, the compression means are not operated, thus making the entire system ineffective and unsuitable for allowing a continuous heat exchange between the external environment and the foot.

The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks listed above.

In particular, it is the object of the invention to make a footwear sole that integrates a heat exchange system capable of being operated during all the movement stages of the foot while a person is advancing.

Furthermore, it is another object of the invention to make a footwear sole that integrates a heat exchange system capable of operating both as a cooling machine, preferably during the summer, and as a heat pump, preferably during the winter.

The objects described above are achieved by a footwear sole that integrates a heat exchange system having the characteristics illustrated in the main claim. Further characteristics of the footwear sole integrating a heat exchange system are described in the dependent claims.

Advantageously, a person wearing such footwear does not need to wear special clothing items like thermal clothes or to use specific products like the thermal creams mentioned above.

Furthermore, a further advantage lies in that a person may use the same footwear, comprising the sole that is the subject of the invention, for the whole year, both when the external temperature is high and when said temperature is very low.

This is advantageously ensured by the fact that it is possible to reverse the heat exchange cycle in a simple and intuitive way.

To further advantage, the person wearing the footwear comprising the sole of the invention feels immediately more comfortable, thanks to the fact that the heat exchange system starts operating as soon as the person starts advancing.

A further advantage lies in that the frequency with which the foot exerts pressure on the sole operating the compression means is at least twice compared to the shoes with heat exchange system of the known art.

Finally, during the winter, even a skier could use a single and comfortable shoe reducing overall dimensions and stiffness compared to the shoes of the known art, while at the same time maintaining the foot temperature at a value corresponding to that of the rest of the body.

The objects and advantages described above will be highlighted in greater detail in the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention that is provided as an indicative, non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein:

- Figure 1 schematically shows a first axonometric view of the improved sole that is the subject of the invention, applied to a shoe;

- Figure 2 schematically shows a second axonometric view of the improved sole that is the subject of the invention, applied to a shoe;

- Figure 3 schematically shows a side view of the improved sole that is the subject of the invention, applied to a shoe;

- Figure 4 schematically shows a view from below of the improved sole that is the subject of the invention, applied to a shoe;

- Figure 5 schematically shows the compression unit of the improved sole that is the subject of the invention in the cooling machine configuration;

- Figure 6 schematically shows the compression unit of the improved sole that is the subject of the invention in the heat pump configuration;

- Figure 7 schematically shows an expandable chamber of a pumping unit inside which there is a shape retention structure;

- Figure 8 schematically shows the first stage (heel resting on the ground) of the forward movement of a person wearing a shoe comprising the improved sole of the invention;

- Figure 9 schematically shows the second stage (sole of the foot resting on the ground) of the forward movement of a person wearing a shoe comprising the improved sole of the invention;

- Figure 10 schematically shows the third stage (tip of the foot resting on the ground) of the forward movement of a person wearing a shoe comprising the improved sole of the invention;

- Figure 11 schematically shows the fourth stage (tip of the foot being lifted from the ground) of the forward movement of a person wearing a shoe comprising the improved sole of the invention.

The improved footwear sole that is the subject of the invention is represented as a whole in Figures from 1 to 3, where it is indicated by 1.

As can be seen, the sole 1 of the invention comprises, integrated within it, a heat exchange system 2 suited to allow the heat exchange to take place between at least one area of the foot resting on the same sole 1 and the external environment.

As already mentioned in the description of the known art, the heat exchange system 2 comprises compression means, indicated by 3 in Figures 1 and 4, suited to be operated through the variation of the pressure exerted by the foot on the sole 1 in order to allow a heat exchange fluid 4 to circulate in a closed circuit between an evaporation unit 5 and a condensation unit 6 through the interposition of lamination means 7.

Said closed circuit is suited to carry out the so-called heat exchange cycle. According to the invention, as shown in Figures 1 , 2 and 3, the compression means 3 comprise a non-deformable chamber 31 communicating with the inlet of the condensation unit 6 by means of a first duct 8 and with the inlet of the evaporation unit 5 by means of a second duct 9, as shown in Figure 4.

The non-deformable chamber 31 , always in the embodiment described herein and shown in Figure 3, is arranged in the rear area of the sole 1 of the invention, in technical jargon called "heel" 10.

It cannot be excluded that in different embodiments of the invention the above mentioned non-deformable chamber 31 is arranged at the level of a different area of the sole 1.

Furthermore, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the same compression means 3 comprise, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, three pumping units 32, each one of which in turn comprises an expandable chamber 33, positioned inside the above mentioned non-deformable chamber 31 , and a compressible chamber 34 positioned outside said non-deformable chamber 31.

Each pair of expandable chambers 33 and compressible chambers 34 of the same pumping unit 32 is connected through a substantially non-deformable pipe 35, as shown in Figures 3 and 4.

According to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the three compressible chambers 34 positioned outside the non-deformable chamber 31 are arranged in the sole 1 at the level of three distinct areas.

In particular, as shown in Figure 3, one of said three pumping units 32 has its own compressible chamber 34 arranged in the rear area (heel 10) of the sole 1 , substantially above said non-deformable chamber 31 , and the remaining two pumping units 32 have their own compressible chambers 34 arranged in the two opposing front side areas of the sole 1 , as can be observed in Figure 4.

In this way, for the entire duration of the advance movement of the person and for the entire period during which the sole 1 rests on the ground, at least one of the three pumping units 32 is actuated so as to constantly operate the compression means 3, as will be better illustrated below.

In different embodiments of the invention not described and not illustrated herein the above mentioned three compressible chambers 34 may be arranged in different areas from those used in the preferred embodiment of the invention, provided that the compression means 3 are constantly operated while the person is advancing.

Furthermore, according to alternative embodiments of the invention, the latter may be provided with a lower or higher number of pumping units 32 compared to those provided in the preferred embodiment of the invention.

In general, each one of the pumping units 32 is suited to generate the circulation of an auxiliary fluid 11 from the compressible chamber 34 to the expandable chamber 33 so as to allow the volume of said expandable chamber 33 to be increased and consequently the inner volume of the non- deformable chamber 31 to be reduced.

As is known, the volume reduction of said non-deformable chamber 31 allows the heat exchange fluid 4 to be compressed inside it, with the purpose of pushing it towards the outside through an outlet channel that in this case can be the first or the second duct, respectively indicated by 8 and 9 in Figure 4. The circulation of the auxiliary fluid 11 from the external compressible chamber 34 to the internal expandable chamber 33 takes place when the pressure exerted by the foot on the sole 1 compresses the same compressible chamber 34, forcing the expandable chamber 33 to expand, as already explained.

On the contrary, when the pressure exerted on the compressible chamber 34 of one of the pumping units 32 decreases, the auxiliary fluid 11 tends to flow back from the expandable chamber 33 to the compressible chamber 34, as both chambers are designed so that they at least partially reassume their natural configuration.

Consequently, the inner volume of the non-deformable chamber 31 increases again, generating a pressure drop that allows the heat exchange fluid 4 to flow back inside it.

In particular, in order to allow the two chambers 33 and 34 of each pumping unit 32 to reassume their natural configuration, in the preferred embodiment of the invention they are made of a preformed elastic material, like for example a silicone-based material treated with platinum, which can be forced to expand in the case of the expandable chamber 33 and to contract in the case of the compressible chamber 34.

Therefore, each expandable chamber 33, during its return to its natural configuration, tends to make the auxiliary fluid 11 that is inside it flow out, said auxiliary fluid 11 in turn flowing towards the corresponding compressible chamber 34.

Furthermore, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figure 7, the inside of the expandable chambers 33 is provided with a shape retention structure 12 suited to prevent the volume of the expandable chamber 33 from being reduced below a predefined lower limit.

This makes it possible to avoid that, if more than one expandable chambers 33 are present inside the non-deformable chamber 31 , as in the preferred embodiment of the invention, one of them during its expansion stage forces the compression of the remaining ones below said lower limit.

Said limitation prevents that the expansion of an expandable chamber 33 be neutralized by the compression of the remaining expandable chambers 33. Said neutralization of the expansion would prevent the inner volume of the non-deformable chamber 31 from being reduced and therefore the heat exchange fluid 4 from being compressed and pushed outwards.

Concerning the condensation unit 6, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, it comprises a coil pipe 61 arranged in proximity to the external surface of the sole 1 , which in the preferred embodiment of the invention corresponds to the edge of the heel 10, so as to allow the heat exchange to take place between the heat exchange fluid 4 and the external environment.

In different embodiments of the invention, said condensation unit 6 may be carried out in a different way and arranged not at the level of the edge of the heel 10, provided that it makes it possible to obtain the heat exchange with the external environment.

As can be seen in Figures 1, 2 and 4, in the same way the evaporation unit 5, in the preferred embodiment described herein, comprises a coil pipe 51 that extends into the sole 1 so as to allow the heat exchange to take place between the heat exchange fluid 4, which flows inside it, and the sole of the foot.

In particular, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the above mentioned coil pipe 51 , which makes up the evaporation unit 5, mainly extends at the level of the front portion of the sole 1 , in technical jargon called tip 13, so that said heat exchange can take place between the heat exchange fluid 4 and the front of the foot sole, near the toes.

Nevertheless, it cannot be excluded that in different embodiments of the invention said evaporation unit 5 may also extend over different areas of the sole 1 of the invention.

Concerning the first and the second duct 8 and 9, which allow the non- deformable chamber 31 to communicate respectively with the condensation unit 6 and the evaporation unit 5, each one of them is provided with a one-way valve 14 and 15, so as to establish a single circulation direction for the heat exchange fluid 4 inside them and thus either from or towards the non-deformable chamber 31 , so as to avoid any return flow in the opposite direction.

In particular, the first one-way valve 14 arranged in the first duct 8 must allow the sliding movement in the opposite direction of the second one-way valve 15 arranged in the second duct 9, so as to establish the circulation of said heat exchange fluid 4 along the closed circuit in one or the other sense, depending on the type of heat exchange system 2 desired (cooling machine or heat pump).

Preferably but not necessarily, as shown in Figure 4, each one of the two ducts 8 and 9 is connected to the non-deformable chamber 31 through two union pipes, respectively 81 and 82 for the first duct 8 and 91 and 92 for the second duct 9, each one of which contains a one-way valve 141, 142 and 151 and 152, visible in Figures 5 and 6.

Both the two one-way valves 141 and 142 belonging to the first duct 8, and the valves 151 and 152 arranged in the second duct 9 allow the heat exchange fluid 4 to flow in opposite directions.

Thus the preferred embodiment of the invention includes special flow reversal means, respectively 16 and 17, arranged both at the level of the two one-way valves 141, 142 of the first duct 8, and at the level of the two one-way valves 151 and 152 of the second duct 9, which make it possible to selectively set a first configuration, as schematically shown in Figure 5, intended to obtain a cooling machine, and a second configuration, as schematically shown in Figure 6, intended to obtain a heat pump.

In particular, as can be observed again in Figure 5, in the first configuration the heat exchange fluid 4 is allowed to flow only from the non-deformable chamber 31 to the condensation unit 6, as indicated by arrow A, and from the evaporation unit 5 to the non-deformable chamber 31, as indicated by arrow B, thus locking, with said reversal means 16 and 17, respectively the union pipe 82 of the first duct 8 and the union pipe 92 of the second duct 9, comprising the one-way valves 142 and 152 that would allow the flow in the opposite direction.

Said first configuration, as already mentioned, thus makes it possible to obtain a cooling machine to be used preferably during the summer to reduce the foot's temperature.

On the contrary, with said reversal means 16 and 17 it is possible to set the second configuration, schematically shown in Figure 6, according to which the heat exchange fluid 4 can flow through the union pipes 82 and 92, respectively of the first and second duct 8 and 9, as indicated by arrows C and D, in which there are the one-way valves 142 and 152 allowing the same heat exchange fluid 4 to flow from the non-deformable chamber 31 to the evaporation unit 5 and from the condensation unit 6 to the non-deformable chamber 31 , locking the corresponding one-way valves 141 and 151 arranged in the other two union pipes 81 and 91.

Said second configuration thus makes it possible to obtain a heat pump suited to be used preferably in the winter in order to increase the foot's temperature and prevent the foot from freezing.

In different embodiments not described herein, both the first and the second duct 8 and 9 may include a single one-way valve 14 and 15, so that the heat exchange system 2 allows the flow of the heat exchange fluid 4 only from the non-deformable chamber 31 to the condensation unit 6 and from the evaporation unit 5 to the non-deformable chamber 31 to obtain a cooling machine, or the flow of the heat exchange fluid 4 only from the condensation unit 6 to the non-deformable chamber 31 and the flow of the heat exchange fluid 4 from the non-deformable chamber 31 to the evaporation unit 5 to obtain a heat pump.

Again, according to an alternative embodiment not described and not illustrated herein, the invention may be designed so that in each one of the two ducts 8 and 9 there is a one-way valve of the reversible type, each one of which is provided with flow reversal means that allow the selective setting of a first configuration to obtain a cooling machine and of a second configuration to obtain a heat pump, as explained for the preferred embodiment.

Preferably but not necessarily, the heat exchange fluid 4 that circulates inside the system is freon R-22.

It cannot be excluded that in different embodiments of the invention other substances serving as heat exchange fluid 4 may be used.

Concerning the auxiliary fluid 11 , according to the preferred embodiment of the invention it is a gas.

Also in this case, other fluids can be used as auxiliary fluid 11.

Finally, concerning the lamination means 7, in the preferred embodiment of the invention that can be observed in Figure 4 they comprise a capillary pipe 71 arranged between the condensation unit 6 and the evaporation unit 5.

In practice, a person wearing the shoes 100 shown in Figure 3 and comprising the improved sole 1 of the invention can use the flow reversal means 16 and 17 that can be controlled from the outside, for example by means of a selector not shown in the figures, to select the desired type of operation for the heat exchange system 2 and thus the circulation direction of the heat exchange fluid 4 inside the closed circuit that makes up the system.

In particular, during the summer the person wearing said shoes 100 will preferably select operation in cooling machine mode, while during the winter he/she will preferably select operation in heat pump mode.

The movement performed by the foot P when the person starts walking or running can be schematically represented substantially in four stages, respectively shown in Figures from 8 to 11.

During the first advance stage, as shown in Figure 8, the foot P, through the interposition of the sole 1 , comes to rest on the ground T at the level of the rear part (heel 10) of the same sole 1.

In this way, the pressure exerted by the body of the person at the level of the heel 10 tends to compress the compressible chamber 34 arranged above the non-deformable chamber 31 , as shown in Figure 8.

Said compressible chamber 34, as explained above and as indicated by the arrows, pushes the auxiliary fluid 11 towards the corresponding expandable chamber 33 arranged inside the non-deformable chamber 31 , whose volume is thus forcedly increased, thus consequently reducing the inner volume of the non-deformable chamber 31.

As already described and well known, the decrease in volume of the non- deformable chamber 31 makes it possible to compress inside it the heat exchange fluid 4 which tends to flow towards an external area where pressure is lower.

The above mentioned area, as seen above, can comprise the condensation unit 6 or the evaporation unit 5, depending on the configuration that has been selected.

The detailed explanation of the further stages to which the heat exchange fluid 4 is subjected in the heat exchange system 2 is not provided herein, as the heat exchange cycle is well known, rather the description will be focused on what happens inside the non-deformable chamber 31 when the weight of the body is moved from the heel 10 towards the tip of the sole 1 , as schematically shown in Figures 9 and 10.

In particular, as shown in Figure 10, when the foot P tends to be arranged substantially parallel to the ground T during its advance movement, the pressure exerted on the heel 10 of the sole 1 decreases until it becomes null and the compressible chamber 34 that was previously compressed consequently tends to return to its natural shape.

This situation allows also the expandable chamber 33, arranged inside said non-deformable chamber 31 , to substantially return to its natural configuration, consequently pushing the auxiliary fluid 11 towards said compressible chamber 34, as indicated by the arrows.

In this way, the inner volume of the non-deformable chamber 31 tends to increase again, allowing the flow of the heat exchange fluid 4 that has completed its cycle.

Furthermore, continuing its advance movement, as shown in Figure 10, the foot P tends to bend forward, exerting more pressure at the level of the front of the sole 1 where there are the two compressible chambers 34 of the two remaining pumping units 32.

Consequently, as shown in Figure 10, said compressible chambers 34 tend to be crushed, allowing the auxiliary fluid 11 to flow inside the corresponding expandable chambers 33 present inside the non-deformable chamber 31 , as indicated by the arrows.

At this point, once again, the volume of the non-deformable chamber 31 decreases and the heat exchange fluid 4 is compressed, being pushed towards the outside, so as to start the heat exchange cycle again.

Finally, the last stage of the advance movement of the foot P consists in being lifted from the ground T, as shown in Figure 11.

During this stage, the two compressible chambers 34, previously crushed, tend to return to their natural shape, as well as the corresponding expandable chambers 33, thus allowing the auxiliary fluid 11 to flow back in the same compressible chambers 34.

Consequently, once again, the inner volume of the non-deformable chamber 31 tends to increase, thus allowing the heat exchange fluid 4 to flow back inside it.

Said four stages, performed by the foot P during its advance movement, are repeated at every step, thus allowing the heat exchange system 2 to operate continuously.

It should also be noted that, advantageously, the position of the two compressible chambers 34 positioned in the front side areas of the sole 1 makes it possible to operate the compression means 3 independently of how the person rests his/her foot on the ground and therefore independently of his/her posture, as the range of action of said compressible chambers 34 is substantially able to cover the entire front surface of the sole 1.

Thus, together with the compressible chamber arranged in the heel 10, it is possible to cover substantially the entire area of the sole 1 , allowing the compression means 3 of the heat exchange system 2 to be constantly operated.

The above clearly shows that the improved sole 1 that is the subject of the invention achieves all the set objects.

In particular, the invention achieves the object to provide a footwear sole that integrates a heat exchange system capable of being operated during all the movement stages of the foot while a person is advancing.

Furthermore, the invention also achieves the object to provide a footwear sole that integrates a heat exchange system capable of operating both as a cooling machine during the summer and as a heat pump during the winter.

During the construction phase, the improved sole that is the subject of the invention may undergo further changes that, though not illustrated or described herein, shall nonetheless be covered by the present patent, provided that they come within the scope of the claims that follow.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the protection of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1) Footwear sole (1) of the type comprising a heat exchange system (2) suited to allow the heat exchange to take place between at least one area of the foot (P) resting on said sole (1) and the external environment, said heat exchange system (2) comprising compression means (3) suited to be operated by the variation in the pressure exerted by said foot (P) on said sole (1) in order to ensure the circulation of a heat exchange fluid (4) in a closed circuit between an evaporation unit (5) and a condensation unit (6) through the interposition of lamination means (7), characterized in that said compression means (3) comprise:

- a non-deformable chamber (31) communicating with the inlet of said condensation unit (6) through a first duct (8) and with the inlet of said evaporation unit (5) through a second duct (9);

- at least one pumping unit (32) comprising an expandable chamber (33) positioned inside said non-deformable chamber (31) and a compressible chamber (34) positioned outside said non-deformable chamber (31), connected to each other through a substantially non-deformable pipe (35), said pumping unit (32) being suited to generate the circulation of an auxiliary fluid (11) from said compressible chamber (34) to said expandable chamber (33) in order to make said heat exchange fluid (4) flow outside said non-deformable chamber (31) when said pressure exerted by said foot (P) on said sole (1) compresses said compressible chamber (34) and forces said auxiliary fluid (11) in said expandable chamber (33), said pumping unit (32) being suited to generate also the circulation of said auxiliary fluid ( 1) from said expandable chamber (33) to said compressible chamber (34) so as to allow both said chambers (33, 34) to at least partially reassume their natural shape and allow said heat exchange fluid (4) to flow back into said non-deformable chamber (31) when said pressure on said compressible chamber (34) decreases.

2) Sole (1) according to claim 1), characterized in that said at least one pumping unit (32) comprises three pumping units (32) having the corresponding expandable chambers (33) arranged inside said non- deformable chamber (31) and said compressible chambers (34) arranged outside said non-deformable chamber (31) at the level of three separate areas of said sole (1). 3) Sole (1) according to claim 2), characterized in that one of said three pumping units (32) has its own compressible chamber (34) arranged in the rear area (10) of said sole (1), substantially above said non-deformable chamber (31), and the remaining two pumping units (32) have their own compressible chambers (34) arranged in the two opposing front side areas of said sole (1).

4) Sole (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said expandable chamber (33) of said at least one pumping unit (32) comprises in its inner space a shape retention structure (12) suited to prevent the decrease in volume of said expandable chamber (33) below a predefined lower limit.

5) Sole (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said condensation unit (6) comprises a coil pipe (61) arranged in proximity to the outer surface of said sole (1) in order to allow the heat exchange to take place between said heat exchange fluid (4) and the external environment.

6) Sole (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said evaporation unit (5) comprises a coil pipe (51) substantially extending over the front part of said sole (1) in order to allow the heat exchange to take place between said heat exchange fluid (4) and said foot.

7) Sole (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that in said first duct (8) and in said second duct (9) there is at least one one-way valve suited to create in said ducts (8, 9) opposing circulation directions for said heat exchange fluid (4).

8) Sole (1) according to claim 7), characterized in that said one-way valves comprise a first one-way valve (14) arranged in said first duct (8) that allows said heat exchange fluid (4) to flow from said non-deformable chamber (31) to said condensation unit (6) and a second one-way valve (15) arranged in said second duct (9) that allows said heat exchange fluid (4) to flow from said evaporation unit (5) to said non-deformable chamber (31) so as to obtain a cooling machine.

9) Sole (1) according to claim 7), characterized in that said one-way valves comprise a first one-way valve (14) arranged in said first duct (8) that allows said heat exchange fluid (4) to flow from said condensation unit (6) to said non-deformable chamber (31) and a second one-way valve (15) arranged in said second duct (9) that allows said heat exchange fluid (4) to flow from said non-deformable chamber (31) to said evaporation unit (5) so as to obtain a heat pump.

10) Sole (1) according to claim 7), characterized in that each of said ducts (8, 9) is connected to said non-deformable chamber (31) by means of two union pipes (81 , 82; 91 , 92), each one of which contains a one-way valve (141 , 142; 151 , 152), having opposing flow directions, said heat exchange system (2) being also provided with flow reversal means (16, 17) suited to allow the selective setting of a first configuration for obtaining a cooling machine when only the circulation of said heat exchange fluid (4) from said non-deformable chamber (31) to said condensation unit (6) and from said evaporation unit (5) to said non-deformable chamber (31) is allowed, and of a second configuration for obtaining a heat pump when only the circulation of said heat exchange fluid (4) from said non-deformable chamber (31) to said evaporation unit (5) and from said condensation unit (6) to said non- deformable chamber (31) is allowed.

11) Sole (1) according to claim 7), characterized in that said one-way valves (14, 15) are of the reversible type and are provided with flow reversal means suited to allow the selective setting of a first configuration for obtaining a cooling machine when only the circulation of said heat exchange fluid (4) from said non-deformable chamber (31) to said condensation unit (6) and from said evaporation unit (5) to said non-deformable chamber (31) is allowed, and of a second configuration for obtaining a heat pump when only the circulation of said heat exchange fluid (4) from said non-deformable chamber (31) to said evaporation unit (5) and from said condensation unit (6) to said non- deformable chamber (31) is allowed.