Electronic device for safety footwear

Abstract

A protective sole of an item of footwear for electric and electrostatic charges comprises a sole unit comprising at least a midsole portion and an outsole portion. The midsole portion is connected on top of the outsole, with the midsole portion oriented toward the wearer while the outsole portion is against the ground when the item of footwear is worn. An electronic device is inserted in the sole unit, and comprises circuitry with a first contact end exposed on a top surface of the midsole portion to be electrically connected with the wearer, and a second contact end to be electrically connected with the ground via the outsole portion. A substrate supports the circuitry and is adapted to be mounted in the sole unit. Electronic components are between the first and the second contact ends, on the circuitry, and concurrently performing a ground of electrostatic charges and insulation against electric discharges. A body made of an electrically insulated molding compound or conformal coating is accommodated in the sole unit, the body being sized to completely cover the at least one electronic component.

1 . An electronic device to be inserted in the sole of a footwear item, comprising:
 circuitry with at least a first contact end to be electrically connected with the wearer and a second contact end to be electrically connected with the ground;   a substrate supporting at least part of the circuitry and adapted to be mounted to the sole;   at least one electronic component between the first and the second contact ends, on circuitry, the at least one electronic component concurrently performing a ground of electrostatic charges and insulation against electric discharges;   a body made of an electrically insulated molding compound or conformal coating, the body being sized to completely cover the at least one electronic component.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is made of a flexible strip of elongated material. 
     
     
         3 . The electronic device according to  claim 2 , wherein the circuitry defines a conductive path passing from one side of the flexible strip to the other side of the flexible strip. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the electrically insulated molding compound is a thermoplastic hotmelt based on polyamide. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electronic component is a resistor. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electronic component is at least one set of two depletion mode small-signal transistors and a resistor. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the substrate is at least one electrically conductive insert connected to at least one of the first and the second contact ends of the circuitry. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic device according to  claim 7 , wherein the electrically conductive insert is made of at least one of thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer and conductive rubber. 
     
     
         9 . The electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the conformal coating is made of at least one of acrylic, epoxy, polurethane, silicone, poly-para-xylylene (parylene) and amorphous fluoropolymer. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the body covers at most partially the first and second contact ends of the circuitry. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic device according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry comprises a printed circuit board, and the at least one electronic device is on the printed circuit board. 
     
     
         12 . A protective sole of an item of footwear for electric and electrostatic charges, the protective sole comprising:
 a sole unit comprising at least a midsole portion and an outsole portion, the midsole portion connected on top of the outsole, with the midsole portion oriented toward the wearer while the outsole portion is against the ground when the item of footwear is worn; and   an electronic device to be inserted in the sole unit, and comprising:
 circuitry with at least a first contact end exposed on a top surface of the midsole portion to be electrically connected with the wearer, and a second contact end to be electrically connected with the ground via the outsole portion; 
 a substrate supporting at least part of the circuitry and adapted to be mounted in the sole unit; 
 at least one electronic component between the first and the second contact ends, on the circuitry, the at least one electronic component concurrently performing a ground of electrostatic charges and insulation against electric discharges; and 
 a body made of an electrically insulated molding compound or conformal coating accommodated in the sole unit, the body being sized to completely cover the at least one electronic component. 
   
     
     
         13 . The protective sole according to  claim 12 , wherein the substrate is made of a flexible strip of elongated material, with the circuitry defining a conductive path passing from one side of the flexible strip to the other side of the flexible strip, with the contact ends being on opposite sides of the flexible strip. 
     
     
         14 . The protective sole according to  claim 12 , wherein the electrically insulated molding compound of the body is a thermoplastic hotmelt based on polyamide. 
     
     
         15 . The protective sole according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one electronic component is at least one set of two depletion mode small-signal transistors and a resistor. 
     
     
         16 . The protective sole according to  claim 12 , wherein the substrate is at least one electrically conductive insert connected to at least one of the first and the second contact ends of the circuitry. 
     
     
         17 . The protective sole according to  claim 16 , wherein the electrically conductive insert is made of one of a thermoplastic polyolefin elastomer and of a conductive rubber. 
     
     
         18 . The protective sole according to  claim 12 , wherein the circuitry comprises a printed circuit board, and the at least one electronic device is on the printed circuit board. 
     
     
         19 . The protective sole according to  claim 12 , wherein the body is positioned in a cavity of the midsole portion, and the second contact end is in contact with conductive means in the outsole portion. 
     
     
         20 . The protective sole according to  claim 12 , wherein the midsole portion is made of a relatively insulating material, and the outsole is made of a relatively conductive material. 
     
     
         21 . The protective sole according to  claim 12 , wherein the conformal coating is made of at least one of acrylic, epoxy, polurethane, silicone, poly-para-xylylene (parylene) and amorphous fluoropolymer