Article of footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear comprises an upper portion which is dimensioned to at least partially enclose a user's foot, a sole portion connected to the upper portion and a solid microwaveable, insole shaped heating pad. The sole portion includes a pocket which is dimensioned for receipt of the heating pad. The article is adapted for removal and insertion of the heating pad by means an openable fastener which connects the upper portion from the sole portion. The invention also relates to a method of heating a foot comprising the step of providing an article of footwear according to the invention, removing the heating pad from the pocket of the article of footwear, heating the heating pad in a microwave for a suitable amount of time, inserting the heating pad into the pocket of the article of footwear and placing the article of footwear onto a users foot.

1 . An article of footwear comprising of an upper portion and a sole portion, the sole portion being connectable to the upper portion and including a pocket for receipt of a microwaveable heating pad, wherein the article is adapted for removal and insertion of the microwaveable heating pad.  
     
     
         2 . An article of footwear as claimed in  claim 1  in which the upper portion and the sole portion are detachable along at least a portion of a circumference of the article to allow access to the pocket for insertion and removable of the microwaveable heating pad.  
     
     
         3 . An article of footwear as claimed in  claim 2  in which the upper portion and the sole portion are connected by means of a detachable fastener such as a zip.  
     
     
         4 . An article of footwear as claimed in  claim 1  in which the pocket is dimensioned for receipt of an insole-sized microwaveable heating pad.  
     
     
         5 . An article of footwear as claimed in  claim 1  in which the upper portion is adapted to at least partially enclose a user's foot, and includes a base upon which, in use, a user's foot rests.  
     
     
         6 . An article of footwear as claimed in  claim 1  including a solid, microwaveable, heating pad which is dimensioned to fit into the pocket.  
     
     
         7 . An article of footwear as claimed in  claim 6  in which the heating pad comprises a mixture of ferrite and silicone, optionally in a ratio of 2:1 (W/W)  
     
     
         8 . An article of footwear as claimed in  claim 1  in which the sole portion includes an insulating layer located underneath the pocket.  
     
     
         9 . An article of footwear comprising: 
 an upper portion dimensioned to at least partially enclose a user's foot;    a sole portion connectable with the upper portion; and    a solid, microwaveable insole-shaped heating pad, wherein the sole portion includes a pocket which is dimensioned for receipt of the heating pad, and wherein the article is adapted for removal and insertion of the heating pad.    
     
     
         10 . A method of heating a foot comprising the steps of: 
 providing an article of footwear according to any of  claims 6  to  8 ;    removing a heating pad from the pocket of the article of footwear;    heating the heating pad in a microwave for a suitable amount of time;    inserting the thus-heated heating pad into the pocket of the article of footwear; and    inserting the foot to be heated into the article of footwear.