co») United States US 200701135644 c2) Patent Application Publication (o) Pub. No.: US 2007/0113564 Al Whitney et al. (43) Pub, Date: May 24, 2007 (58) MECHANICALLY HEATED AND COOLED SHOES WITH EASY-TO-USE CONTROLS (76) lnventors: David I. Whitney, Garrison, MT (US); Judi K. Whitney, Garsson, MT (US) Correspondence Address Galasso & Associates, LP P.O. Box 26503 Austin, TX 78755-0503 (US) (21) Appl. No. 117286,456 (22) Filed Nov: 23, 2008, Publi (51) Int. ch F25B 2102 (2006.01) F25D 28/12 (2006.01) (2) USC 62135; 6212593 7 ABSTRACT Mechanically heated and cooled clothing with easy-10-0se controls is provided. An embodiment comprises an athletic shoe with temperature controls and electrical wiring. A heating and cooling unit atached to the shoe comprises a thermostat, a cooling device, and a heating device. Tem perature transfer means in the shoe, such as electrical heating elements and loops for liquid beat exchange, accom plish desired heating and cooling ofthe shoe, The temper ture controls may comprise on, off, ot, and cold buttons for ‘activating the heating and eooling unit and controling the temperatures, The system may be attached to the shoe oF ‘tached 1 other items and wom elsewhere, svc as tow belt Worn about the user's waist. The system may also be used with other types of elthing, for example with glovesuopeanddy juayeg and JONEDN L007 “Fz Ae TV P9SETTO/L007 SA.US 2007/0113564 Al MECHANICALLY HEATED AND COOLED SHOES WITH EASY-TO-USE CONTROLS FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE. [0001] The present invention relates to mechanically hated and cooled clothing, and, more particularly, 10 mechanically heated and cooled shoes with easy-to-use ‘controls for rgulating temperature. BACKGROUND [0002] To feel comfortable during hot or cold weather, most people traditionally dress according to the weather During hot weather, some people commonly wear thin, ight ‘clothing such as T-shins, shorts, and skins. For cold weather, items such a¢ long-sleeved shins, pants, coats, insulated vests, has, gloves, earmulls, mittens, gloves and searves are popuiae. Shoes in particular are items of clothing that are Important for comfort in diferent temperatures [0003] However, some clothing can be uncomfortable to wear on diffeeat occasions. Some warm-weather clothes may'cause the wearer to feel uncomfortably hot, and some ‘coldweather clothing may be too thin to peovide adequate heat to the wearer. Therefore, attempts have been made to slesign mechanically heated and cooled garments capable of making people more comforable indifferent weather con- ditions [0004] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,623,772 to Sunder- land provides a foot-warming system that “ineludes a device ‘wherein a support assembly detachably mouats a battery pack on the upper surface of boot to electrically povser & heating element within the boot via an electrical coed that preferably passes through an opening in the boot beneath the mounted battery pack.” {000s} U.S. Pat. No. .671,979 to Cardarellt provides “an ‘ir flow system based on the human circulatory system ‘whereby a cushioning, cooling and ciculsting airflow is enerated by 2 wearer ofthe shoe.” [0006] US. Pat. No. 6,915,641 to Harvie provides a ‘combination personal cooling and heating system in a vest, ‘comprising a heating unit and a cooling unit, power pack, ‘and thermostat. Flectric heating strips in the vest add heat, and liquid heat exchange loops inthe vest enable cooling ‘The user can adjust the cooling or heating rate by a wireless ‘or Wired remote control [0007] Although such systems may provide significanly ‘more heating o cooling for different items of clothing, they ‘ypically do not provide mechanically heated and cooled clothing wit easy-to-use contols.Therelore, there isa need for mechanically heated and cooled clothing, soch as shoes, boots, and gloves, with easy-lo-use controls SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE [0008] The following explanation describes the preseat inveation by way of example and not by way of limitation, [0009] 1 is an aspect of the present invention to provide ‘mechanically heated and cooled clothing with easy-to-use ‘contol [0010] 1 is another aspect of the present invention to provide mochanically heated and cooled shoes with easy- to-use coatros May 24, 2007 [oo11] Ics sil another aspect ofthe present iaveation to provide mechanically heated and cooled gloves with easy- to-use contos [0012] This and other aspects ofthe present invention will become readily apparent upon further review ofthe follow ing specification and astociated drawings. In accordance ‘with the present invention, mechanically heated and cooled clothing with easy-to-use controls is provided, An embodi- ‘ment comprises an athletic shoe with temperature controls andl eletrcal wiring. A heating and cooling unit attached to the shoe comprises a thermostat, a cooling device, and a heating device. Temperature transfer means inthe shoe, such as electical heating elements and loops for liquid heat exchange, accomplish desired heating and cooling of the shoe. The temperature controls may comprise on, off, hot, ‘nd cold buttons for activating the heating and cooling unit ‘and controling. the temperatures, The system may be tached to the shoe or atached t other items and worn elsewhere, such as oa belt worn about the user's waist. The system may’ also be used with other types of clothing, for example with gloves. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] The following embodiments of the present inven- tion are described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: [0014] FIG. 1 is « perspective diagram that illustrates @ ‘mechanically heated and cooled athletic shoe with easy-to- use cantos [0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram that illustrates a mechanically heated and cooled glove with easy-to-use controls DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES [0016] |The following description of drawings i offered to dustrue the present invention clearly. However, it wil be apparent vo those sill ia the at that the concepts of the present ivention are not limited to these specie details Also, commonly known element are shown ndigrams for a examples only and nots limitations of te present [0017] The present invention comprises mechanically hated and cooled clothing with easy-to-use controls. FIG. 1 shows an athletic shoe 2 in accordance with the present invention, which comprises the following elements: [0018] [oo19) [0020] (oo2t] [0022] [0023] [002s] [0025] ‘Temperature controls 4, Electrical wiring 6 A heating and cooling unit 8 A cooing deviee 19, Aheating device 12, A thermostat 13, Loops for liquid heat exchange 14, Electrical wing 16, and [0026] Electrical heuting clemeats 17 [0027] The temperature controls 4 allow the wearer of the ‘Shoe 2 10 quickly and easly regulate the temperature ofthe shoe 2 in the area where the wearer's foot is placed. As shown ia det A. the temperature contols 4 may compriseUS 2007/0113564 Al very simple and easy-to-use controls. For example the ‘wearer may press anon button 18 or off button 20 to activate ‘or deactivate the heating and cooling unit 8. In addition, the ‘wearer may press. hot button 22 to make the shoe 2 warmer ‘ra cold button 22 to make the shoe cooler. [nan embod ment, the temperature controls 4 may be preconfigured to achieve comfortable and safe temperatures. In another embodiment, the wearer may set the temperature ranges associated with the hot button 20 and cold button 24, through on oF more thermostats inthe shoe 2 [0028] Electrical wiring 6 connected to the temperature ‘contols 4 and the heating and cooling unit 8 allows elo trical signals fom the temperature coateols 4 to contol the ‘operation of the heating and cooling unit 8. In another ‘embosiment, wireless means may replace the electrical wiring 6. [0029] The heating and cooling unit 8 comprises a ther- ‘ostat 13, 8 cooling device 10 and a heating device 12, all ‘of which ae known to those skilled inthe ar, For example, the thermostat 12 may be a bimetal thermostat that senses ‘and controls temperatures associated with elements of the heating and cooling unit 8. The cooling device 10° may ‘employ a motor and pump to circulate liquid, for example ‘water or a ebemical gel, through loops for liquid heat ‘exchange 14 ia the shoe 2. The heating device 12 may use ‘lectrical wiring 16 to activate elotial heating clements 17 in the shoe 2 [0030] In an embodiment the heating and cooling unit 8 may be batery powered, {0031} In addition, in an embodiment the heating and ‘cooling unit 8 may be worn on axe par of the body fom the clothing to he heated and cooled. For example, the heating aad cooling unit 8 for a shoe 2 may be attached to ‘belt and wor around the user's wast In another embod rent, the heating and cooling unit 8 may be attached to the item of clothing to be heated and cooled. [0032] FIG. 2 shows thatthe temperature controls 4 may be used with different types of clothing, such asa glove 26, Use [0033] The user puts on the mechanically heated and ‘Cooled shoe 2, shown in FIG. 1, and uses the temperature ‘controls 4 to turn the heating and cooling unit 8 on oF off ‘The user can the press the hot button 22 to make the shoe ‘warmer or the cold button 24 to make it elder, according to preconfigured temperature ranges or 10 usercontrlled Parameters. The hot button 22 activates the beating device 12, and the eold button 24 setvates the cooling device 1. Because the temperature controls are so easy-0-use, the user ‘can turn the heating and cooling on and off quickly, eli nating the eed for sensors in the shoe to mechanically sense ‘and regulate the temperature thee. [0034] Mechanically heated and cooled shoes with easy- lo-used coatrols may be especially useful in environments With extreme temperatures, for use by the military for ‘example, and may prevent conditions like fostbite. They may also be beneficial for elderly wearers with poor eireu- Tation or foot disease, Moreover, such shoes may come in many different sizes and styles, for example tennis shoes, boots, military boots, slippers, and snow aots. The shoes may be manufactured of readily available materials, such as rubber, leather, foam, cotton, aylon, cloth, plastic, and synthetic materials, including recycled materials May 24, 2007 [0035] The hes dimensional relationships forthe parts of the invention described above, including Variations inform and use, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the ar, and are intended to be encompassed by the present inven- tion. [0036] Other embodiments of the present invention pro- Vide multiple items of mechanically heated and cooled clothing, the temperatures of which may be controlled, individually or collectively, through a single heating and cooling unit. In such embodiments, the heating and cooling ‘unit may comprise plurality of thermostats and cooling and heating units. ‘What is claimed is: 1. Mechanically hated and cooled clothing with easy-t0- use contol, comprising an item of clothing, temperature controls, soch thatthe wearer of the item of clothing ean quickly control the temperature of the tem of clothing through buttons on the item of clothing, a heating and cooling unit, ‘means of transferring temperature to the item of clothing. 2. The item of clothing of claim 1, wherein the item of clothing isa shoe. 3. The item of clothing of claim 1, wherein the item of clothing isa glove. 4, The temperature controls of claim 1, wherein the temperature controls comprise ‘anon button, such that the on button activates the heating and cooling unit, ‘an off hutton, such thatthe off button deactivates the beating and cooling unit, ‘ahot button, such that the hot button activates a means of ‘eating the item of clothing, in the heating and cooling amit, and ‘cold button, such that the cold button setvates @ means ‘of cooling the item of clothing, in the heating and ‘cooling unt. 5, The heating and cooling unit of claim 1, wherein the hating and cooling unit is battery powered. 6. The heating and cooling unit of claim 1, wherein the beating and cooling uit comprises thermostat, ‘means of cooling the item of clothing, and 1 means of heating the item of clothing. 7. The means of transferring temperature to the item of clothing of claim 1, wherein the means of transferring temperature to the item of clothing comprises electrical heating elements inthe item of clothing. 8, The means of transferring temperature to the item of clothing of claim 1, wherein the means of transferring ‘temperature to the item of clothing comprises a motor and pump to cireulate a liquid through loops for liquid heat exchange in the item of clothing, 9, Mechanically heated and cooled clothing with easy-to- use controls, comprising ‘an item of clothing.US 2007/0113564 Al temperature controls, such thatthe wearer of the item of clothing can quickly control the temperature ofthe item, of clothing through buttons onthe item of clothing, the buttons comprising ‘anon btton, such thatthe on button activates a heating and cooling unit ‘an off button, such that the off bution deactivates the heating and cooling unit, ‘hot button, such that the hot button activates @ means ‘of heating the item of clothing, in the heating and cooling device, and 4 cold button, such that the cold burton activates a ‘means of cooling the item of clothing, inthe heating tnd cooling device, ‘ heating and cooling unit comprising a thermostat, 1 means of cooling the item of clothing, and ‘means of heating the item of clothing ‘means of transferring temperature to the item ofclthing. 10. The heating and cooling unit of claim 9, wherein the heating and cooling unit is battery powered. May 24, 2007 11, A mechanically heated and cooled shoe with easy-t0- vse temperature controls, such thatthe wearer of the shoe can quickly contol the temperature of the shoe through buttons on the shoe the buttons comprising ‘anon burton, such thatthe on button activates a heating and cooling unit, ‘an off button, such thatthe olf button devetivates the ‘eating and cooling unit, ‘hot button, such thatthe hot button activates « means of ‘eating the shoe, in the heating and cooling unit, and cold button, such that the cold bution setvates 2 means of cooling the shoe, in the heating and eooling unit a batery-powered heating and coking unit comprising a thermostat, 4 means of colin the sho, and a means of heating the shoe means of transferring temperature to the shoe.