Apparatuses and methods for adjusting temperatures within shoes

Abstract

The present disclosure generally pertains to apparatuses and methods for cooling and/or heating feet. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a medium transfer apparatus is inserted into and/or coupled to a shoe. The apparatus has an inlet that can be detachably coupled to a medium injection apparatus, such as a conventional spray can, that injects compressed air or some other cooling medium through the medium transfer apparatus into an interior region of the shoe. Thus, by injecting the cooling medium into the shoe, a user is able to cool his foot without removing his foot from the shoe. In one embodiment, the cooling medium is directed to an insole of the shoe such that the insole is significantly cooled by the cooling medium being injected into the shoe. The cooled insole continues to draw heat from the user's foot and the user continues to feel a cooling sensation long after the cooling medium injection has ended.

1 . A shoe, comprising:
 a vamp;   an outsole;   an insole positioned between the outsole and the vamp; and   a medium transfer apparatus positioned between the insole and the outsole, wherein the medium transfer apparatus is detachably coupled to a medium injection apparatus containing a medium such that the medium is forced by the medium injection apparatus through the medium transfer apparatus thereby altering a temperature of the insole.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the medium is composed of a refrigerant. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the medium injection apparatus is external to the shoe. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the medium transfer apparatus is composed of polyvinyl chloride. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the medium is stored in the medium transfer apparatus at a pressure greater than 100 pounds per square inch. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the medium injection apparatus is inserted into the medium transfer apparatus. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the medium transfer apparatus has a first layer and a second layer, the first layer having at least one aperture, the first and second layers being melded together along a bead defining a cavity between the first and second layers, the bead defining an inlet, wherein the medium is forced by the medium injection apparatus into the cavity via the inlet and passes through the at least one aperture. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the medium transfer apparatus has an inlet for receiving a portion of the medium injection apparatus, the inlet having a tab and a throat, the tab having a width greater than a width of the throat. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the medium transfer apparatus has a surface having at least one aperture, the surface contacting the insole such that the medium passes through the at least one aperture and strikes the insole. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the medium injection apparatus comprises a spray can. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe of  claim 10 , wherein the medium injection apparatus comprises a straw coupled to the spray can. 
     
     
         12 . A medium transfer apparatus for insertion into a shoe, comprising:
 a first layer having at least one aperture; and   a second layer, the first and second layers being melded together along a bead defining a cavity between the first and second layers, the bead defining an inlet, wherein a medium injected into the cavity via the inlet passes through the at least one aperture.   
     
     
         13 . A shoe, comprising:
 a vamp;   an outsole; and   a medium transfer apparatus positioned between the outsole and the vamp, the medium transfer apparatus having an exposed inlet for interfacing with a medium injection apparatus such that a medium from the medium injection apparatus can be injected through the medium transfer apparatus thereby altering a temperature within the shoe.   
     
     
         14 . The shoe of  claim 13 , wherein the medium transfer apparatus is detachably coupled to the medium injection apparatus, the medium injection apparatus containing the medium at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe of  claim 14 , wherein the medium is composed of a refrigerant. 
     
     
         16 . A method, comprising the steps of:
 detachably coupling a medium injection apparatus to a medium transfer apparatus that is positioned within a shoe, the medium injection apparatus having a medium that is compressed at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure; and   injecting the medium from the medium injection apparatus through the medium transfer apparatus.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the medium is composed of a refrigerant. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the medium transfer apparatus has a first layer and a second layer, the first layer having at least one aperture, the first and second layers being melded together along a bead defining a cavity between the first and second layers, the bead defining an inlet, wherein the injecting step causes the medium to pass into the cavity via the inlet and to pass through the at least one aperture. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the medium transfer apparatus has an inlet, and wherein the detachably coupling step comprises the step of inserting a portion of the medium transfer apparatus into the medium injection apparatus. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the detachably coupling step comprises the step of interfacing a portion of the medium injection apparatus with an exposed inlet of the medium transfer apparatus. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the medium injection apparatus comprises a straw and a spray can having a nozzle connected to the straw, and wherein the detachably coupling step comprises the step of inserting the straw through an inlet of the medium transfer apparatus. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the medium is compressed within the medium injection apparatus at a pressure greater than 100 pounds per square inch. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the injecting step causes the medium to strike an insole within the shoe. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the medium injection apparatus comprises a spray can. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the detachably coupling step comprises the step of inserting a portion of the medium injection apparatus through an inlet of the medium transfer apparatus. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the inlet has a tab and throat, the tab having a width greater than a width of the throat, wherein the inserting step is performed such that the portion of the medium injection apparatus passes through an opening in the inlet and into the throat. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of positioning the medium transfer apparatus between an insole and an outsole of the shoe. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the medium transfer apparatus has a surface, the surface having at least one aperture, wherein the positioning step is performed such that the surface contacts the insole. 
     
     
         29 . A method, comprising the steps of:
 interfacing a spray can with a medium transfer apparatus contacting a shoe, the spray can containing a medium compressed at a pressure greater than atmospheric pressure; and   injecting the medium from the spray can through the medium transfer apparatus and into the shoe.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the medium is composed of a refrigerant. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the medium transfer apparatus is positioned between an insole and an outsole of the shoe during the injecting step. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the injected medium strikes the insole. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the medium transfer apparatus has a surface, the surface having at least one aperture and contacting the insole. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the medium is compressed at a pressure greater than 100 pounds per square inch.