Footwear temperature control method and apparatus

Abstract

Embodiments herein relate to footwear, such as a boots and shoes, and in particular to footwear having a removable element, such as a liner, that includes temperature control elements for controllably regulating and/or altering the temperature of the footwear and thus the wearer's foot. Various embodiments also include an electrical contact in the foot bed adapted to couple to the temperature control element in the liner, and a power source, controller, and actuator coupled to the footwear upper.

1 . A temperature control system for footwear comprising:
 a removable liner comprising a temperature control element adapted to alter the temperature of the footwear, wherein the removable liner comprises a first electrical contact;   a foot bed comprising a second electrical contact, wherein the first and second electrical contacts are adapted to couple to one another;   a power source adapted to provide power to the second electrical contact; and   a controller adapted to couple to the power source and control the temperature control element.   
     
     
         2 . The temperature control system of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator adapted to couple to the controller and activate the temperature control system. 
     
     
         3 . The temperature control system of  claim 2 , wherein the power source, controller, and/or actuator are removably coupled to the footwear. 
     
     
         4 . The temperature control system of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature control system comprises a heating and/or cooling element and a substrate. 
     
     
         5 . The temperature control system of  claim 4 , wherein the heating and/or cooling element comprises a metallic conductor. 
     
     
         6 . The temperature control system of  claim 5 , wherein the metallic conductor comprises a FeCrAl alloy. 
     
     
         7 . The temperature control system of  claim 4 , wherein the heating and/or cooling element comprises a piezoelectric or thermoelectric heater and/or cooler. 
     
     
         8 . The temperature control system of  claim 4 , wherein the heating and/or cooling element is positioned in a toe region of the removable liner. 
     
     
         9 . The temperature control system of  claim 4 , wherein the heating and/or cooling element is positioned in both a heel region and a toe region of the removable liner. 
     
     
         10 . The temperature control system of  claim 4 , wherein the heating and/or cooling element is positioned to cover substantially all of a surface of the removable liner. 
     
     
         11 . The temperature control system of  claim 4 , wherein the substrate comprises cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) or polyimide (PI). 
     
     
         12 . The temperature control system of  claim 1 , wherein the first electrical contact comprises a first positive terminal and a first negative terminal, and wherein the second electrical contact comprises a second positive terminal and a second negative terminal. 
     
     
         13 . The temperature control system of  claim 12 , wherein the second positive terminal and second negative terminal each has an area of at least 0.5 inches 2 . 
     
     
         14 . The temperature control system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second electrical contacts comprise magnetic elements. 
     
     
         15 . The temperature control system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second electrical contacts comprise male and female coupling elements. 
     
     
         16 . The temperature control system of  claim 15 , wherein the first electrical contact comprises a male coupling element and the second electrical contact comprises a female coupling element. 
     
     
         17 . The temperature control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises an integrated circuit based system, wherein the controller is configured to regulate the current provided to the temperature control element by the power source. 
     
     
         18 . The temperature control system of  claim 1 , wherein the power source is a battery. 
     
     
         19 . The temperature control system of  claim 18 , wherein the battery is rechargeable. 
     
     
         20 . The temperature control system of  claim 18 , wherein the controller is adapted to house the battery. 
     
     
         21 . The temperature control system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is programmable. 
     
     
         22 . The temperature control system of  claim 21 , wherein the controller comprises a USB port or micro USB port. 
     
     
         23 . A temperature control system for footwear comprising:
 a removable liner comprising a temperature control element adapted to alter the temperature of the footwear, wherein the removable liner comprises a first electrical contact;   a foot bed comprising a second electrical contact, wherein the first and second electrical contacts are adapted to couple to one another, and wherein the first and second electrical contacts comprise magnetic elements;   a power source adapted to provide power to the second electrical contact;   a controller adapted to couple to the power source and control the temperature control element; and   an actuator adapted to couple to the controller and activate the temperature control system, wherein the power source, controller, and actuator are removably coupled to the footwear upper.