Temperature regulating footwear

Abstract

A footwear product with an integrated active temperature control system comprising: an upper; a sole comprising an insole comprising one or more thermo-conductive inserts or plugs; a midsole disposed between the insole and an outsole; wherein the midsole comprises one or more cooling elements selected from the group consisting of: an air flow cooling element, a liquid cooling element, a thermoelectric cooling element; and one or more heat sinks disposed in the midsole, outsole or between the midsole and outsole.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A footwear product with an integrated active temperature control system comprising:
 an upper;   a sole comprising an insole comprising one or more thermo-conductive inserts or plugs;   a midsole disposed between the insole and an outsole;   wherein the midsole comprises one or more cooling elements selected from the group consisting of: an air flow cooling element, a liquid cooling element, a thermoelectric cooling element; and   one or more heat sinks disposed in the midsole, outsole or between the midsole and outsole.   
     
     
         2 . The footwear product of  claim 1  wherein the thermo-conductive inserts or plugs comprise one or more materials selected from the group consisting of a gel, an open-cell polyurethane foam, a closed-cell expanded rubber, a low friction interface material, and a polyethylene thermoplastic foam. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear product of  claim 1  wherein a separate one of the one or more cooling elements is disposed adjacent to or underneath each of the one or more the thermo-conductive inserts or plugs. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear product of  claim 1  wherein each of the one or more cooling elements comprises an active solid-state electrical device. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear product of  claim 1  wherein each of the one or more cooling elements comprises a thermo-electric cooling element having an active solid-state electrical device that operates on the Peltier effect. 
     
     
         6 . The footwear product of  claim 1  further comprising a power source for the one or more cooling elements. 
     
     
         7 . The footwear product of  claim 6  wherein the power source comprises rechargeable batteries that may be recharged when in use and/or when not in use. 
     
     
         8 . The footwear product of  claim 1  further comprising a control system or a closed loop passive control system to control the amount of heat being removed from the footwear product. 
     
     
         9 . The footwear product of  claim 1  wherein the one or more thermo-conductive inserts or plugs also provide cushioning to control pressure and/or shear and are each disposed in a portion of the insole contacting a high-pressure area or other area of the plantar surface of a foot disposed in the footwear product that normally experiences tissue breakdown, such as the first metatarsal or heel. 
     
     
         10 . The footwear product of  claim 1  further comprising a power source for the one or more heat sinks. 
     
     
         11 . The footwear product of  claim 1  wherein the one or more heat sinks are passive or body-powered. 
     
     
         12 . The footwear product of  claim 1  wherein each of the one or more heat sinks employs an air movement system that uses convection to move heat from each heat sink into the environment outside of the footwear product. 
     
     
         13 . The footwear product of  claim 1  wherein each of the one or more heat sinks employs the loading and/or unloading of the sole during gait to create airflow through or across each heat sink to move heat from each heat sink into the environment outside of the footwear product. 
     
     
         14 . The footwear product of  claim 1  further comprising temperature and/or pressure sensor(s) associated with each of the one or more thermo-conductive inserts or plugs. 
     
     
         15 . The footwear product of  claim 14  further comprising a control system or CPU to control the amount of heat being removed from the footwear product; wherein the control system or CPU has an input for setting the temperature to be maintained or to not be exceeded at each location of the one or more thermo-conductive inserts or plugs. 
     
     
         16 . The footwear product of  claim 15  wherein the input is disposed inside or outside of the footwear product and/or is operatively connected wirelessly or by wire to the control system. 
     
     
         17 . The footwear product of  claim 15  wherein the integrated active temperature control system is activated upon exceeding a preset pressure on one or more of the pressure sensors. 
     
     
         18 . The footwear product of  claim 1  wherein each of the one or more heat sinks comprises a metal component and/or a thermal-conductive foam component. 
     
     
         19 . The footwear product of  claim 1  wherein a single heat sink comprises one or more metal components and/or a thermal-conductive foam components and wherein the single heat sink directly contacts each of the one or more thermo-electric cooling elements. 
     
     
         20 . A kit for retrofitting a footwear product to include an integrated active temperature control system, wherein the kit comprises one or more of the following items: a plug, having an upper surface comprising a low friction interface material and comprising a thermally conductive material, wherein the plug is for placement in an opening in an existing insole, a heat sink and cooling device for placement in the midsole and/or outer sole of the footwear product and a thermal paste or adhesive for connecting the thermal conductive material of the plug to the cooling device and/or heat sink. 
     
     
         21 . The kit of  claim 20  wherein the cooling device is selected from the group consisting of: an air flow cooling element, a liquid cooling element, a thermoelectric cooling element. 
     
     
         22 . The kit of  claim 20  wherein the plug comprises one or more materials selected from the group consisting of: a gel, an open-cell polyurethane foam, a closed-cell expanded rubber, a cushioning material and a polyethylene thermoplastic foam.