Thermal footwear system

Abstract

The Thermal Footwear System includes an energy storage section adapted to store electrical energy and an energy release section electrically coupled to the energy storage section, configured to receive electrical energy from the energy storage section and utilize the electrical energy for production of thermal energy without requiring the use of energy overhead elements which cause expenditure of energy for other than heat generation. The Thermal Footwear System also provides for an energy storage section and a self-regulating energy release section printed on a substrate that can be physically separate and still remain electrically coupled. The energy release section typically comprises a multilayer device that consists of an active thermal element with a wide resistive range generating the thermal output, a thermally conductive guidance layer evenly distributing the generated heat over a predetermined area, and a thermally insulating impedance layer reducing the loss of generated heat to the ambient environment.

1 . A thermal footwear system, comprising:
 an energy storage section configured to store electrical energy; and   an energy release section configured to release electrical energy that is stored in the energy storage section, comprising:
 a variably resistive heating element for generating regulated thermal emissions by utilizing the electrical energy stored in the energy storage section. 
   
     
     
         2 . The thermal footwear system of  claim 1  wherein the energy release section includes:
 a thermal direction layer for spreading the generated thermal energy in a plane which is coplanar with the top surface of said thermal element. 
 
     
     
         3 . The thermal footwear system of  claim 2  wherein the thermal direction layer consists of two layers:
 a highly conductive layer, and a reflective layer overlaid on an insulative layer. 
 
     
     
         4 . The thermal footwear system of  claim 1  wherein the energy release section is removable and replaceable. 
     
     
         5 . The thermal footwear system of  claim 1  wherein the variably resistive heating element includes:
 a self-regulating thermal generator for maintaining a substantially constant temperature absent the use of control circuitry. 
 
     
     
         6 . The thermal footwear system of  claim 5  wherein the self-regulating thermal generator comprises:
 a positive temperature coefficient resistive heater where the resistive heating element changes its resistance depending on the instantaneous temperature of the heater. 
 
     
     
         7 . The thermal footwear system of  claim 5  wherein the self-regulating thermal generator comprises:
 a negative temperature coefficient cooling element which changes its thermal output depending on the instantaneous temperature of the element. 
 
     
     
         8 . The thermal footwear system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an energy recharge section connectable to the energy storage section for recharging said battery.   
     
     
         9 . The thermal footwear system of  claim 1  wherein the energy storage and energy release sections are formed to be flexible and to have at least one of the following characteristics of breathability, moisture wickability, water resistance, waterproof, and stretchability. 
     
     
         10 . The thermal footwear system of  claim 1  wherein the energy storage section further comprises:
 at least one protective layer juxtaposed to said battery and having an extent substantially coextensive with said battery to protect the battery from forces originating exterior to said energy storage section. 
 
     
     
         11 . A thermal footwear system, for use in an enclosed area formed by footwear, comprising:
 an energy storage section configured to store electrical energy; and   an energy release section, located in the footwear enclosed area, juxtaposed to a top surface of a sole of the footwear, and electrically connected to the energy storage section, comprising:
 a generator for generating thermal emissions utilizing the electrical energy stored in the energy storage section, and 
 a thermal direction layer for spreading the generated thermal energy in a plane which is coplanar with the top surface of the generator. 
   
     
     
         12 . The thermal footwear system of  claim 11  wherein the energy release section is removable and replaceable. 
     
     
         13 . The thermal footwear system of  claim 11  wherein said generator comprises:
 a self-regulating thermal generator for maintaining a substantially constant temperature absent the use of control circuitry. 
 
     
     
         14 . The thermal footwear system of  claim 13  wherein the self-regulating thermal generator comprises:
 a positive temperature coefficient resistive heater where the resistive heating element changes its resistance depending on the instantaneous temperature of the heater. 
 
     
     
         15 . The thermal footwear system of  claim 13  wherein the self-regulating thermal generator comprises:
 a negative temperature coefficient cooling element which changes its thermal output depending on the instantaneous temperature of the element. 
 
     
     
         16 . The thermal footwear system of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 an energy recharge section connectable to the energy storage section for recharging the energy storage section.   
     
     
         17 . The thermal footwear system of  claim 11  wherein the energy storage and energy release sections are formed to be flexible and to have at least one of the following characteristics of breathability, moisture wickability, water resistance, waterproof, and stretchability. 
     
     
         18 . The thermal footwear system of  claim 11  wherein the energy storage section further comprises:
 at least one protective layer juxtaposed to the energy storage section and having an extent substantially coextensive with the energy storage section to protect the energy storage section from forces originating exterior to the energy storage section.