U.S. patent application number 11/525214 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-24 for apparatuses and methods for adjusting temperatures within shoes.
Invention is credited to Samuel C. Vickroy.
Application Number | 20080016715 11/525214 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38970053 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080016715 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vickroy; Samuel C. |
January 24, 2008 |
Apparatuses and methods for adjusting temperatures within shoes
Abstract
The present disclosure generally pertains to apparatuses and
methods for cooling and/or heating feet. In accordance with one
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a medium transfer
apparatus is inserted into and/or coupled to a shoe. The apparatus
has an inlet that can be detachably coupled to a medium injection
apparatus, such as a conventional spray can, that injects
compressed air or some other cooling medium through the medium
transfer apparatus into an interior region of the shoe. Thus, by
injecting the cooling medium into the shoe, a user is able to cool
his foot without removing his foot from the shoe. In one
embodiment, the cooling medium is directed to an insole of the shoe
such that the insole is significantly cooled by the cooling medium
being injected into the shoe. The cooled insole continues to draw
heat from the user's foot and the user continues to feel a cooling
sensation long after the cooling medium injection has ended.
Inventors: |
Vickroy; Samuel C.;
(Madison, AL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LANIER FORD SHAVER & PAYNE P.C.
P O BOX 2087
HUNTSVILLE
AL
35804-2087
US
|
Family ID: |
38970053 |
Appl. No.: |
11/525214 |
Filed: |
September 21, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60831534 |
Jul 18, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/2.6 ;
36/3B |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 7/28 20130101; A43B
7/141 20130101; A43B 17/003 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/2.6 ;
36/3.B |
International
Class: |
A43B 7/02 20060101
A43B007/02; A43B 7/06 20060101 A43B007/06 |
Claims
1. A shoe, comprising: a vamp; an outsole; an insole positioned
between the outsole and the vamp; and a medium transfer apparatus
positioned between the insole and the outsole, wherein the medium
transfer apparatus is detachably coupled to a medium injection
apparatus containing a medium such that the medium is forced by the
medium injection apparatus through the medium transfer apparatus
thereby altering a temperature of the insole.
2. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the medium is composed of a
refrigerant.
3. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the medium injection apparatus is
external to the shoe.
4. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the medium transfer apparatus is
composed of polyvinyl chloride.
5. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the medium is stored in the medium
transfer apparatus at a pressure greater than 100 pounds per square
inch.
6. The shoe of claim 1, wherein a portion of the medium injection
apparatus is inserted into the medium transfer apparatus.
7. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the medium transfer apparatus has a
first layer and a second layer, the first layer having at least one
aperture, the first and second layers being melded together along a
bead defining a cavity between the first and second layers, the
bead defining an inlet, wherein the medium is forced by the medium
injection apparatus into the cavity via the inlet and passes
through the at least one aperture.
8. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the medium transfer apparatus has
an inlet for receiving a portion of the medium injection apparatus,
the inlet having a tab and a throat, the tab having a width greater
than a width of the throat.
9. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the medium transfer apparatus has a
surface having at least one aperture, the surface contacting the
insole such that the medium passes through the at least one
aperture and strikes the insole.
10. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the medium injection apparatus
comprises a spray can.
11. The shoe of claim 10, wherein the medium injection apparatus
comprises a straw coupled to the spray can.
12. A medium transfer apparatus for insertion into a shoe,
comprising: a first layer having at least one aperture; and a
second layer, the first and second layers being melded together
along a bead defining a cavity between the first and second layers,
the bead defining an inlet, wherein a medium injected into the
cavity via the inlet passes through the at least one aperture.
13. A shoe, comprising: a vamp; an outsole; and a medium transfer
apparatus positioned between the outsole and the vamp, the medium
transfer apparatus having an exposed inlet for interfacing with a
medium injection apparatus such that a medium from the medium
injection apparatus can be injected through the medium transfer
apparatus thereby altering a temperature within the shoe.
14. The shoe of claim 13, wherein the medium transfer apparatus is
detachably coupled to the medium injection apparatus, the medium
injection apparatus containing the medium at a pressure greater
than atmospheric pressure.
15. The shoe of claim 14, wherein the medium is composed of a
refrigerant.
16. A method, comprising the steps of: detachably coupling a medium
injection apparatus to a medium transfer apparatus that is
positioned within a shoe, the medium injection apparatus having a
medium that is compressed at a pressure greater than atmospheric
pressure; and injecting the medium from the medium injection
apparatus through the medium transfer apparatus.
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the medium is composed of a
refrigerant.
18. The method of claim 16, wherein the medium transfer apparatus
has a first layer and a second layer, the first layer having at
least one aperture, the first and second layers being melded
together along a bead defining a cavity between the first and
second layers, the bead defining an inlet, wherein the injecting
step causes the medium to pass into the cavity via the inlet and to
pass through the at least one aperture.
19. The method of claim 16, wherein the medium transfer apparatus
has an inlet, and wherein the detachably coupling step comprises
the step of inserting a portion of the medium transfer apparatus
into the medium injection apparatus.
20. The method of claim 16, wherein the detachably coupling step
comprises the step of interfacing a portion of the medium injection
apparatus with an exposed inlet of the medium transfer
apparatus.
21. The method of claim 16, wherein the medium injection apparatus
comprises a straw and a spray can having a nozzle connected to the
straw, and wherein the detachably coupling step comprises the step
of inserting the straw through an inlet of the medium transfer
apparatus.
22. The method of claim 16, wherein the medium is compressed within
the medium injection apparatus at a pressure greater than 100
pounds per square inch.
23. The method of claim 16, wherein the injecting step causes the
medium to strike an insole within the shoe.
24. The method of claim 16, wherein the medium injection apparatus
comprises a spray can.
25. The method of claim 16, wherein the detachably coupling step
comprises the step of inserting a portion of the medium injection
apparatus through an inlet of the medium transfer apparatus.
26. The method of claim 25, wherein the inlet has a tab and throat,
the tab having a width greater than a width of the throat, wherein
the inserting step is performed such that the portion of the medium
injection apparatus passes through an opening in the inlet and into
the throat.
27. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of
positioning the medium transfer apparatus between an insole and an
outsole of the shoe.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein the medium transfer apparatus
has a surface, the surface having at least one aperture, wherein
the positioning step is performed such that the surface contacts
the insole.
29. A method, comprising the steps of: interfacing a spray can with
a medium transfer apparatus contacting a shoe, the spray can
containing a medium compressed at a pressure greater than
atmospheric pressure; and injecting the medium from the spray can
through the medium transfer apparatus and into the shoe.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the medium is composed of a
refrigerant.
31. The method of claim 29, wherein the medium transfer apparatus
is positioned between an insole and an outsole of the shoe during
the injecting step.
32. The method of claim 31, wherein the injected medium strikes the
insole.
33. The method of claim 32, wherein the medium transfer apparatus
has a surface, the surface having at least one aperture and
contacting the insole.
34. The method of claim 32, wherein the medium is compressed at a
pressure greater than 100 pounds per square inch.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This Application claims priority to U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/831,534, entitled "Apparatuses and Methods for
Cooling Feet within a Shoe," and filed on Jul. 18, 2006, which is
incorporated herein by reference.
RELATED ART
[0002] A shoe typically provides a finite amount of insulation that
traps at least some body heat within the shoe, and a foot placed
within a shoe may become heated by trapped body heat or by heat
emanating from other sources. Depending on various factors, such as
atmospheric temperatures, such heating may cause some discomfort to
a user. Moreover, at times, a user may desire to cool one or more
of his feet by removing one or more shoes at least temporarily.
[0003] However, cooling one's feet by temporarily removing a shoe
can be burdensome or problematic. For example, an athlete competing
in an athletic event, such as a football, basketball, or tennis
event, may not have sufficient time during a break to remove and
then re-don his shoe before play resumes. Indeed, an athlete's shoe
is sometimes taped to his foot making it particularly difficult and
time consuming to remove a shoe. In addition, non-athletes may also
find it burdensome or impractical in at least some circumstances to
cool one's feet by temporarily removing shoes for a brief time
period.
[0004] Some shoes provide for ventilation to allow air within the
shoe to be replaced by air external to the shoe. Although
ventilation can assist in reducing temperatures within the shoe
under certain circumstances, such temperatures may nevertheless
remain at undesirably high levels. Further, in some instances,
ventilation can actually exacerbate the aforedescribed heating
problems. In this regard, temperatures close to some floor or
ground surfaces, such as tennis courts or other athletic playing
surfaces, can reach extremely high levels, such as 120 degrees
Fahrenheit (F) or more. In such an environment, the temperature of
the air entering the shoe can be greater than that of the air
exiting the shoe such that ventilation actually results in warming
rather than cooling.
[0005] Better techniques for enabling users to cool their bodies
and, in particular, their feet are generally desirable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The disclosure can be better understood with reference to
the following drawings. The elements of the drawings are not
necessarily to scale relative to each other, emphasis instead being
placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the disclosure.
Furthermore, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts
throughout the several views.
[0007] FIG. 1 is diagram illustrating a top view of a medium
transfer apparatus in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of
the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional view of
the medium transfer apparatus depicted in FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 3 is diagram illustrating an exploded view of an
exemplary shoe of the prior art.
[0010] FIG. 4 is diagram illustrating an exploded view of the shoe
of FIG. 3 with the medium transfer apparatus of FIG. 1 inserted
between an insole and an outsole of the shoe.
[0011] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional view of
the shoe depicted in FIG. 4.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a side view of the shoe
depicted in FIG. 5 when a medium injection apparatus is being used
to inject a medium through the medium transfer apparatus into the
shoe.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating the medium injection
apparatus and a portion of the medium transfer apparatus depicted
in FIG. 6.
[0014] FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a cross-sectional view of a
shoe in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0015] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a side view of a shoe
having a built-in medium transfer apparatus in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0016] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a front view of the shoe
depicted in FIG. 9.
[0017] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating a top view of a shoe in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
disclosure.
[0018] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the shoe depicted in
FIG. 11.
[0019] FIG. 13 is a flow chart illustrating a method for altering
temperatures within a shoe in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0020] FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating a method for making a
medium transfer apparatus in accordance with an exemplary
embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] The present disclosure generally pertains to apparatuses and
methods for cooling and/or heating feet. In accordance with one
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a medium transfer
apparatus is inserted into and/or coupled to a shoe. The apparatus
has an inlet that can be detachably coupled to a medium injection
apparatus, such as a conventional spray can, that injects
compressed air or some other cooling medium through the medium
transfer apparatus into an interior region of the shoe. Thus, by
injecting the cooling medium into the shoe, a user is able to cool
his foot without removing his foot from the shoe.
[0022] In one embodiment, the cooling medium is directed to an
insole of the shoe such that the insole is significantly cooled by
the cooling medium being injected into the shoe. The cooled insole
continues to draw heat from the user's foot and the user continues
to feel a cooling sensation long after the cooling medium injection
has ended.
[0023] FIGS. 1 and 2 depict a medium transfer apparatus 50 in
accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.
The medium transfer apparatus 50 comprises an upper layer 52 that
has been melded with a lower layer 53 to form a bead 55 joining the
upper and lower layers 52 and 53, which form a foot-shaped base 68
and an inlet 69. The upper and lower layers 52 and 53, as well as
the bead 55, form a cavity 63 that is airtight except for a
plurality of apertures 66 in the upper layer 52 and except for the
inlet 69. As will be described in more detail hereafter, the inlet
69 allows a medium, such as cooled or heated air, to enter the
cavity 63, and the apertures 66 allow the medium to exit the cavity
63.
[0024] In the embodiment depicted by FIG. 1, the inlet 69 is hollow
and open at both ends 72 and 73 such that a medium may be injected
into the end 72 and pass into the cavity 63 through end 73. The end
72 of the inlet 69 forms a tab 76 that is wider than a throat 77 of
the inlet 69, as shown by FIG. 1. In one embodiment, the width
(w.sub.1) of the tab 76 is about 11/4 inches, and the width
(w.sub.2) of the throat 77 is about one-quarter of an inch,
although w.sub.2 increases slightly at end 73 making this end 73
tapered. By being wider than the throat 77, the tab 76 is easier to
locate and grasp by a user. In addition, a length (l.sub.1) of the
inlet 69 is about 51/8 inches, and a length (l.sub.2) of the tab 76
is about 11/2 inches. In other embodiments, other shapes and
dimensions of the inlet 69 are possible.
[0025] As shown by FIG. 1, the tab 76 has a slit 79 in its upper
layer 52. The slit 79 provides an opening through which a medium
can be injected, as will be described hereafter in more detail.
[0026] A width (w.sub.3) of the base 68 is about 10 inches, and a
length (l.sub.3) of the base 68 is about 21/2 inches. In FIG. 1,
the perimeter of the base 68 is generally shaped like a foot in two
dimensions (2D). However, other shapes and dimensions of the base
68 are possible in other embodiments.
[0027] The bead 55 forms the outer perimeter of both the base 68
and inlet 69. Further, each layer 52 and 53 is composed of
polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and is about 0.006 inches thick. In
addition, the material of the apparatus 50 is flexible. However, in
other embodiments, other types of material, including flexible
and/or inflexible material, as well as porous and/or non-porous,
may be used, and other dimensions are possible.
[0028] In one embodiment, the apparatus 50 is inserted into a shoe,
and the inlet 69 is positioned such that end 72 is exposed and
conveniently accessible to a user. FIG. 3 depicts an exemplary shoe
81 of the prior art. The shoe 81 comprises an outsole 84, an insole
85, and a vamp 86. The outsole 84 is attached to the vamp 86, and
the insole 85 resides between the vamp 86 and the outsole 84. When
a user is wearing the shoe 81, the bottom of the user's foot is
pressed against the upper surface 88 of the insole 85 such that the
user's weight is supported by the outsole 84 and insole 85 with the
vamp 86 covering the top of the user's foot. Although the insole 85
is inserted between the vamp 86 and the outsole 84, the insole 85
is often not fixedly attached to either the vamp 86 or the outsole
84 so that the insole 85 can be removed through an opening 89 in
the vamp 86.
[0029] In one exemplary embodiment, the base 68 of the medium
transfer apparatus 50 is positioned between the outsole 84 and the
insole 85, as depicted by FIG. 4. For example, the insole 85 may be
removed from the shoe 81 through the opening 89, and the medium
transfer apparatus 50 may be inserted into the shoe 81 through this
same opening 89. In particular, the apparatus 50 may be positioned
on the upper surface of the outsole 84, and the insole 85 may then
be re-inserted into the shoe 81 through the opening 89 such that a
bottom surface of the insole 85 contacts the upper layer 52 of the
apparatus 50. Thus, a medium passing through the apertures 66 in
the layer 52 strikes the bottom surface of the insole 85, as will
be described in more detail hereafter.
[0030] FIG. 5 depicts a cross-sectional view of the shoe 81 after
the apparatus 50 has been inserted as described above. In the
embodiment depicted by FIG. 5, the inlet 69 has been positioned
such that it passes through opening 89, and the end 72 of the inlet
69 is exposed. In other embodiments, the inlet 69 may be positioned
differently. When a person's foot is inserted into the shoe 81, as
shown by FIG. 6, the person's foot, ankle, and/or leg presses the
inlet 69 against an inner surface of the vamp 86 thereby keeping
the inlet 69 in the same approximate position such that the end 72
remains exposed and accessible.
[0031] When desired, a user may cool his foot by interfacing a
medium injection apparatus 110 with the exposed end 72 of inlet 69
and then using the apparatus 110 to inject a cooling medium, such
as compressed air or oxygen, into the cavity 63 of the medium
transfer apparatus 50. The cooling medium is forced through the
apertures 66 in the upper layer 52 of the apparatus 50 and strikes
the insole 85 lowering the temperature of the insole 85. Lowering
the temperature of the insole 85 helps to draw heat from the user's
foot thereby cooling the user's foot. Further, some of the cooling
medium may be forced around the edges of the insole 85 into the
region between the vamp 86 and the insole 85. Such medium may
strike the user's foot further cooling the user's foot. Moreover,
injecting the cooling medium into the shoe 81 may provide the user
with an immediate cooling sensation as well as significantly lower
the temperature of the insole 85 for a relatively long period of
time (e.g., several minutes) so that the user continues to feel a
cooling sensation long after the injection.
[0032] The material of the apparatus 50 is flexible in at least one
embodiment. In such an embodiment, there may be no space between
the upper and lower layers 52 and 53 when medium is not being
injected into the apparatus 50. When medium is injected into the
apparatus 50, the medium will slightly separate portions of the
upper layer 52 from the lower layer 53 as the medium travels
through the apparatus 50.
[0033] In one exemplary embodiment, as shown by FIG. 6, the medium
injection apparatus 110 comprises a spray can 121 having a nozzle
125. The cooling medium is contained within the spray can 121 and
is under a pressure that is greater than atmospheric pressure. For
example, in one embodiment, the cooling medium is under a pressure
of about 160-180 pounds per square inch (psi) when measured at an
ambient temperature of 130 degrees F. Many conventional spray cans
of compressed air or other media are manufactured with contents at
about 100 to 200 psi when measured at an ambient temperature of 130
degrees F., and any known or future-developed spray can be used to
implement the medium injection apparatus 110. Such spray cans often
include a refrigerant. In one embodiment, the cooling medium
contained within the apparatus 110 is composed, at least partially,
of difluoroxthane. For example, the medium in the apparatus 110 my
be a compressed mixture of air and difluoroxthane. Further, other
types of devices and other pressures are also possible.
[0034] In the embodiment depicted by FIG. 6, the apparatus 110
comprises a removable hollow straw 131 that detachably couples the
nozzle 125 to the end 72 of the inlet 69. The tip of the straw 131
and the inlet 69 are dimensioned such that the inlet 69 fits around
an outer periphery of the straw tip, as shown by FIGS. 6 and 7.
Various other techniques for interfacing the apparatus 110 and the
inlet 69 are possible in other embodiments. Indeed, the use of a
straw 131 is unnecessary, and the inlet 69 may be detachably
coupled to the nozzle 125 in some other manner. For example, the
nozzle 125 may be interfaced directly with the inlet 69.
[0035] In the instant embodiment, the cooling medium exiting the
can 121 passes through a hollow tip 126 of the nozzle 125. The
inner wall of the tip 126 fits snugly around the straw 131 such
that frictional forces help to keep the straw 131 coupled to the
tip 126 and such that medium exiting through the nozzle 125
preferably does not escape between the straw 131 and tip 126. In
another example, the inner wall of the straw 131 may be dimensioned
to snugly fit around the tip 126.
[0036] In addition, the width of the throat 77 is slightly larger
than that of the straw 131 such that the straw 131 can be inserted
into the inlet 69 through the slit 79 and pass into the throat 77,
as shown by FIGS. 6 and 7. When a medium is being injected by the
apparatus 110, a significant portion of the medium is forced
through the throat 77 into the cavity 63 and then through the
apertures 66, as will be described in more detail hereafter. In
general, the closer that the straw 131 is inserted to the tapered
end 73, the less likely it is that portions of the injected medium
will escape through the slit 79.
[0037] In the embodiment shown by FIG. 6, the nozzle 125 comprises
a trigger 138 that, when actuated by a user, releases the cooling
medium within the can 121 through the nozzle 125. In this regard,
actuation of the trigger 138 transitions the nozzle 125 to a state
in which a path is provided from the interior of the can 121
through the nozzle 125 to the atmosphere or, in the case when the
nozzle 125 is interfaced with the inlet 69, to the cavity 63 of the
apparatus 50. Since the contents of the can 121 are under pressure
greater than the external pressure, the cooling medium of the can
121 is expelled through such a path when the trigger 138 is
actuated. When the trigger 138 is released or otherwise no longer
actuated, the path is closed such that the contents of the can 121
are not allowed to escape. The operation of the spray can 121
described herein may be similar or identical to that of other
conventional spray cans and other types of medium injection
apparatuses.
[0038] In one exemplary embodiment, the cooling medium that is
within the apparatus 110 and injected into the shoe 81 by the
apparatus 110 is compressed air. The temperature of the cooling
medium compressed at about 160-180 psi can be very low, such as
close to or below freezing (i.e., 32 degrees F.) upon exiting the
spray can 121. Thus, the cooling medium being injected into the
shoe 81 in the instant example is likely significantly colder than
the interior region of the shoe 81 prior to the injection.
Accordingly, injection of the cooling medium within the shoe 81, as
described herein, has a significant effect to the temperatures
within the shoe 81 and provides the user with a significant cooling
sensation.
[0039] In fact, injecting the cooling medium into the shoe 81, as
described above, for only a short time, such as a few seconds, can
have a significant and prolonged impact to the temperatures within
the shoe 81. In particular, the insole 85, which is struck directly
by the cooling medium in the instant example, can be significantly
cooled such that its temperature remains significantly below its
original temperature (i.e., its temperate prior to the cooling
medium injection) for a prolonged period (e.g., about ten minutes
or more) without another injection. Accordingly, an athlete, such
as a tennis or football player, may make an injection during a
short break in play, yet the effects of the injection may linger
well after play has resumed.
[0040] FIG. 8 depicts another embodiment in which the medium
transfer apparatus 50 is positioned on the upper surface 88 of the
insole 85 rather than between the insole 85 and the outsole 84. In
this regard, the upper layer 52 faces the insole surface 88 such
that the cooling medium passing through the apertures 66 strikes
and cools the insole surface 88. However, the presence of the
apparatus 50 between the user's foot and the insole 85 may somewhat
shield the insole 85 from the foot. Depending on the heat transfer
characteristics of the insole 85 and the apparatus 50, the insole
85 may be better cooled and/or cooled for a longer time period
relative to the apparatus 50 such that it would be more preferable
for the user's foot to abut the insole 85, as described above for
the embodiment depicted in FIG. 5. However, the injected cooling
medium cools the apparatus 50 as well as the insole 85, and if
desired, the apparatus 50 may abut the user's foot so that heat is
drawn from the user's foot by the apparatus 50.
[0041] In another exemplary embodiment, the medium transfer
apparatus 50 is positioned on the upper surface 88 of the insole
85, similar to the embodiment depicted by FIG. 8. However, the
lower layer 53 faces the insole 85 such that the upper layer 52
faces the user's foot. Thus, the cooling medium passing through the
apertures 66 directly strikes the user's foot. In such an
embodiment, it is not likely that the insole 85 is as affected by
the injection as in the embodiments described above, possibly
limiting the duration of the injection's effect to the insole 85.
In addition, as described above, the temperature of the cooling
medium can be very cold, such as close to or below freezing. In
such an example, longer bursts of the cooling medium may not be
possible without harming the user's foot. Thus, shorter bursts may
be desired in order to prevent injury. Such shorter bursts,
although giving the user an immediate cooling sensation, may have
shorter lasting effects.
[0042] As described above, the medium transfer apparatus 50 may be
inserted into the shoe 81 after the shoe 81 has been manufactured,
such as by removing the insole 85, inserting the apparatus 50, and
inserting the insole 85 back into the shoe 81. In other
embodiments, the apparatus 50 may be built-in such that it is
inserted into the shoe 81 during manufacturing. For example, FIGS.
9 and 10 depict an embodiment in which the apparatus 50 is
positioned in the shoe 81 during manufacturing, and the inlet 69
passes through the outsole 84. In this regard, as best illustrated
in FIG. 10, an end 72 of the inlet 69 protrudes from the outsole
84. In the depicted embodiment, the end 72 is not wider than the
throat 77. An inner periphery of the end 72 can, however, be about
the same as the outer periphery of the straw 131 such that the end
72 snugly fits around the straw 131 when the straw 131 is
interfaced with the end 72. In another example, the end 72 may form
a tab 72 that is wider than the throat 77, as described above.
Except for the positioning of the inlet 69, the configuration of
the shoe 81 and the apparatus 50 may be identical to any of the
embodiments previously described above. In the embodiment depicted
by FIGS. 9 and 10, the outsole 84 may be manufactured with a groove
(not shown) through which the inlet 69 may be inserted when the
apparatus 50 is positioned during manufacturing. In other
embodiments, the inlet 69 may pass through other components of a
shoe. For example, the inlet 69 may pass through a hole in the vamp
86.
[0043] In addition, in several of the embodiments described above,
the width of the straw 131 has been described as being smaller than
the width of the inlet 69 and, in particular, the throat 77 of the
inlet 69. However, it is possible for the width of the straw 131 to
be greater than the width of the inlet 69. As an example, the end
72 of the inlet 69 could be composed of a rigid material having an
outer periphery slightly smaller than the inner periphery of the
straw 131. In such an embodiment, the medium injection apparatus
110 could be interfaced with the medium transfer apparatus 50 by
inserting the end 72 into the straw 131 such that the straw 131
fits snugly around the end 72. Various other techniques for
interfacing the medium transfer apparatus 50 with the medium
injection apparatus 50 would be apparent to one of ordinary skill
in the art upon reading this disclosure.
[0044] In some embodiments described above, the medium transfer
apparatus 50 is composed of flexible material. However, the
apparatus 50 may be composed of inflexible material or a
combination of flexible and inflexible material. For example, the
inlet 69 may be composed of a rigid material, such as a rigid
plastic material, and the base 68 may be composed of a flexible
material. In another example, the end 72 may be covered by a hollow
and rigid tip (not shown). Such a rigid tip may facilitate
interfacing of the apparatuses 50 and 110.
[0045] FIGS. 11 and 12 depict a shoe 81 in accordance with an
exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. The embodiment
shown by FIGS. 11 and 12 is identical to that shown by FIG. 5
except that the inlet 69 is embedded in the vamp 86 and has a rigid
tip 99 at end 72. The straw 131 may be interfaced with the tip 99
so that the cooling medium can be injected via inlet 69 into the
cavity 63 of the apparatus 50 similar to the embodiments previously
described above. The tip 99 is hollow and dimensioned such that the
straw 131 snugly fits around the tip 99 or vice versa. For example,
the outer periphery of the tip 99 may be about the same as the
inner periphery of the straw 131 so that the straw 131 fits snugly
around the tip 99, or the outer periphery of the straw 131 may be
about the same as the inner periphery of the tip 99 so that the tip
99 fits snugly around the straw 131.
[0046] Note that the apparatus 50 may be positioned differently in
other yet embodiments. For example, the base 68 of the apparatus 50
may be embedded within the insole 85. In such an embodiment, the
insole 85 may have a hole (not shown) for allowing the inlet 69 to
pass out of the insole 85, or the inlet 69 may be an integral
component of the insole 85. If the inlet 69 passes through a hole
in the insole 85, such a hole may be large enough to allow the
injected medium to exit the insole 85, or the insole 85 may have
additional holes for allowing the injected medium to exit. In
addition, the layers 52 and 53 may be composed of a material
similar to that of the insole 85 so that the apparatus 50 can
replace the conventional insole 85 or be used in lieu of the
conventional insole 85.
[0047] It should be emphasized that in any of the embodiments
described above, the nozzle 125 may be interfaced directly with the
medium transfer apparatus 50 without the use of a straw 131. For
example, in the embodiment depicted by FIGS. 11 and 12, the shoe
tip 99 may fit snugly into nozzle tip 126 or vice versa. As an
example, the outer periphery of the shoe tip 99 may be about the
same as the inner periphery of the nozzle tip 126 so that the
nozzle tip 126 fits snugly around the shoe tip 99, or the outer
periphery of nozzle the tip 126 may be about the same as the inner
periphery of the shoe tip 99 so that the shoe tip 99 fits snugly
around the nozzle tip 126.
[0048] An exemplary use and operation of a medium transfer
apparatus 50 will be described in detail hereinbelow with
particular reference to FIG. 13.
[0049] Assume that a user of the shoe 81 shown by FIG. 3 desires to
use the medium transfer apparatus 50 to cool his feet when wearing
the shoe 81. Before donning the shoe 81, the user removes the
insole 85 and inserts the medium transfer apparatus 50 into the
shoe 81, as shown by block 211 of FIG. 13. The user then inserts
the insole 85 back into the shoe 81 on top of the apparatus 50, as
shown by FIGS. 4 and 5. In other examples, the apparatus 50 may be
inserted and/or attached to the shoe 81 by the shoe manufacturer
such that it is unnecessary for the user to insert the apparatus 50
into the shoe 81.
[0050] At some point, the user may desire to use the apparatus 50
for cooling his foot. For example, the user may be an athlete, such
as a football player, and desire to use the apparatus 50 for
cooling his foot after coming to the sideline during a football
game. In another example, the user may be a tennis player and
desire to use the apparatus 50 to cool his foot during a break
between sets.
[0051] To cool his foot, the user interfaces the medium injection
apparatus 110 with the inlet 69 so that the cooling medium in the
apparatus 110 can be injected into the medium transfer apparatus 50
through the inlet 69, as shown by block 215 of FIG. 13. For
illustrative purposes, assume that the apparatus 110 comprises a
spray can 121, as described above with reference to FIG. 6, and
that the cooling medium is composed of compressed air and a
refrigerant, although other types of medium injection apparatuses
110 and cooling media may be used in other examples. In the instant
example, the user couples one end of the hollow straw 131 to the
nozzle 125 such that any of the cooling medium exiting the
apparatus 110 passes through the straw 131. The user also inserts
the opposite end of the straw 131 into the inlet 69 through the
slit 79 such that the cooling medium passing through the straw 131
enters the inlet 69 and passes into the cavity 63 of the apparatus
50.
[0052] The user then operates the medium injection apparatus 110
such that cooling medium within the apparatus 110 is injected into
the medium transfer apparatus 50, as shown by block 221 of FIG. 13.
In the instant example, the user actuates the trigger 138 such that
the cooling medium, which is under pressure, is forced out of the
apparatus 110 through the nozzle 125. During injection, the
relatively high pressure within the apparatus 110 forces the
cooling medium through the straw 131 and inlet 69 into the cavity
63. In addition, such pressure also forces the cooling medium out
of the cavity 63 through the apertures 66 such that the cooling
medium strikes the insole 85 thereby cooling the insole 85. In the
instant example, the cooling medium is pressurized to about 160-180
psi when measured at an ambient temperature of 130 degrees F.,
although other pressures are possible in other examples.
[0053] The duration of the injection may be for any time period,
and the user may make more than one injection, if desired.
Generally, the longer that cooling medium is injected into the shoe
81 via apparatus 50, the greater is the cooling effect to the
user's foot and to the insole 85. In one example, the user
maintains an injection for about 5 to 10 seconds. Such a duration,
at the exemplary pressures described above for the instant example,
can provide a significant cooling effect. Indeed, the insole 85 may
remain below its original temperature (i.e., its temperature prior
to the injection) for several minutes after the injection has
ended. Moreover, the insole 85 may continue cooling the user's foot
long after the injection has ended. Eventually, heat from the
user's foot and/or other sources may raise the temperature of the
insole 85 back to its original temperature, but at any time, the
user may perform another injection to again cool his foot and the
insole 85, as described above.
[0054] After performing at least one injection, the user decouples
the medium injection apparatus 110 from the medium transfer
apparatus 50, as shown by block 225, so that the medium injection
apparatus 110 does not interfere with the user's activities. In the
instant example, the user can decouple the medium injection
apparatus 110 from the medium transfer apparatus 50 by simply
pulling the straw 131 out of the inlet 69.
[0055] There are various methods that can be used to manufacture
the medium injection apparatus 50. One exemplary method will be
described in more detail hereinbelow with particular reference to
FIG. 14.
[0056] Initially, two sheets of material for forming the layers 52
and 53 are provided, as shown by block 311 of FIG. 14. In one
example, each of the sheets is composed of PVC and is about 0.006
inches thick, although other types of material and other
thicknesses are possible in other examples. One of the sheets is
punctured to form apertures 66, as shown by block 314 of FIG. 14.
Any known or future-developed process of puncturing a sheet of
material may be used.
[0057] One of the sheets is then overlaid with the other sheet,
such that one of the sheets-is positioned on top of the other
sheet, as shown by block 316 of FIG. 14. The two sheets are then
melded to form the bead 55, as shown by block 317 of FIG. 14. In
one embodiment, a thermoformer is used to meld the two sheets in
block 317. A thermoformer is a well-known press that uses radio
frequency (RF) sealing for forming a seal. Such a seal can be of
just about any desired pattern. In the instant example, a pattern
is selected such that the perimeter of the bead portion forming the
base 68 is in the general shape of a foot outline, as shown by FIG.
1, although other types of shapes are possible in other
examples.
[0058] Once the bead 55 has been formed, the bead 55 and the sheet
material within the perimeter of the bead 55 are separated from the
remainder of the sheet material to provide the apparatus 50
depicted in FIG. 1, as shown by block 325 of FIG. 14. In this
regard, the portion of the sheet material forming the apparatus 50
can be easily separated from the remainder of the sheet material by
hand, although some type of automated separating process may be
used instead.
[0059] The above embodiments have been described as injecting a
medium for cooling a user's foot. In other examples, the injection
medium apparatus 110 may contain a heated medium, which can be
injected into the shoe 81 according to the same or similar
techniques described above for injecting a cooling medium so that
the user's foot and/or the insole 85 can be warmed instead of
cooled.
[0060] Additionally, it should be emphasized that the
aforedescribed embodiments of the medium transfer apparatus 50 and
the medium injection apparatus 110 are exemplary, and other
configurations of the apparatuses 50 and 110 are possible without
departing from the principles of the present disclosure. In
addition, the shoe 81 depicted above is also exemplary, and
apparatuses 50 and 110 may be used with other types of known or
future-developed shoes in other embodiments. Further, the method of
manufacturing an exemplary medium transfer apparatus 50 is
described above for illustrative purposes, and other methods of
manufacturing a medium transfer apparatus 50 are possible.
* * * * *