U.S. patent application number 13/344668 was filed with the patent office on 2013-07-11 for shoe or boot with an integrated electrical device.
This patent application is currently assigned to THERM-IC PRODUCTS GMBH NFG. & CO. KG. The applicant listed for this patent is GERHARD KREMER, Urs Maron. Invention is credited to GERHARD KREMER, Urs Maron.
Application Number | 20130174451 13/344668 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48742906 |
Filed Date | 2013-07-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130174451 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KREMER; GERHARD ; et
al. |
July 11, 2013 |
SHOE OR BOOT WITH AN INTEGRATED ELECTRICAL DEVICE
Abstract
The invention relates to a shoe having an electrical device
integrated in the shoe, an operating part for manual control of the
device by means of at least one operating element of the operating
part, an electrical contact element which is connected to the
device via an electrical conductor, a housing for the electrical
contact element, a housing part of the housing which is connected
securely to the shoe having a recess for receiving the contact
element in the recess, the housing having a closing element which
is connected securely to the housing part and covers the recess in
a closed position of the closing element, the closing element
having a first connection element and the housing part having a
second connection element which can be connected detachably to the
first connection element for fixing the closing element in the
closed position.
Inventors: |
KREMER; GERHARD;
(Fuerstenfeld, AT) ; Maron; Urs; (Nidau,
CH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KREMER; GERHARD
Maron; Urs |
Fuerstenfeld
Nidau |
|
AT
CH |
|
|
Assignee: |
THERM-IC PRODUCTS GMBH NFG. &
CO. KG
Gleisdorf
AT
|
Family ID: |
48742906 |
Appl. No.: |
13/344668 |
Filed: |
January 6, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/136 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 3/0005 20130101;
A43B 7/04 20130101; A43B 7/025 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/136 |
International
Class: |
A43B 23/24 20060101
A43B023/24 |
Claims
1. Shoe (1) having an upper (10) and a sole, comprising: an
electrical device (15) integrated in the shoe (1), having a control
unit (18) for controlling the device (15), an operating part (19)
connected to the upper (10) for manual operation of the control
unit (18), an electrical contact element (5), a housing (2) for the
electrical contact element (5), the housing (2) including a housing
part (3) which is connected securely to the upper (10) and a
closing element (6) which is connected securely to the housing part
(3), the closing element (6) being able to be brought into a closed
position in which the closing element (6) covers the contact
element (5).
2. Shoe (1) of claim 1, characterised in that the closing element
(6) has a first connection element (7) and the housing part (3) has
a second connection element (8) which can be connected detachably
to the first connection element (7) for fixing the closing element
(6) in the closed position.
3. Shoe (1) of claim 1, characterised in that the housing part (3)
has a receiving means (4) for receiving the contact element (5) in
the receiving means (4), the receiving means (4) being closed by
the closing element (6) if the closing element (6) is situated in
the closed position.
4. Shoe (1) of claim 3, characterised in that the receiving means
(4) is configured as a recess in the housing part (3).
5. Shoe (1) of claim 1, characterised in that the housing part (3)
has a flange (9), via which the housing part (3) is connected
securely to the upper (10), in particular by sewing, glueing or
vulcanising.
6. Shoe (1) of claim 5, characterised in that an upper edge (11) of
the receiving means (4) is disposed within a plane defined by the
flange (9) or in that the upper edge (11) of the receiving means
(4) is disposed recessed relative to the flange (9) in the housing
part (3).
7. Shoe (1) of claim 3, characterised in that the receiving means
(4) is shaped corresponding to the contact element (5) by means of
a shape adaptation of the housing part (3) in the region of the
receiving means (4) to an outer contour of the contact element
(5).
8. Shoe (1) of claim 1, characterised in that the housing part (3)
and/or the closing element (6) is manufactured from a flexible
material, in particular from silicone.
9. Shoe (1) of claim 2, characterised in that the first connection
element (7) of the closing element (6) and the second connection
element (8) of the housing part (3) are configured as corresponding
locking elements which can be brought into a form-fit engagement
for fixing the closing element (6) in the closed position.
10. Shoe (1) of claim 2, characterised in that the first connection
element (7) and/or the second connection element (8) comprise
Velcro elements (29).
11. Shoe (1) of claim 1, characterised in that the operating part
(19) and/or the housing (2), provided that the closing element (6)
is situated in the closed position, terminate flush with the upper
(10) or protrude outwards beyond the upper (10) by no more than 5
mm, preferably no more than 3 mm.
12. Shoe (1) of claim 3, characterised in that the receiving means
(4) for the contact element (5) is disposed completely or at least
partially below the upper (10).
13. Shoe (1) of claim 1, characterised in that the operating part
(19) has a receiving means (24) for the control unit (18) of the
device (15), the receiving means (24) being disposed completely or
at least partially below the upper (10).
14. Shoe (1) of claim 1, characterised in that exclusively
detachable connections exist both between the contact element (5)
and the housing (2) and also between the control unit (18) and the
operating part (19), preferably exclusively form-fit and/or
frictional connections, for simple, manual separability of the
contact element (5) and of the control unit (18) from the upper
(10).
15. Shoe (1) of claim 3, characterised in that a conductor (14)
connected to the contact element (5) is led through a
through-opening in the housing part (3), the contact element (5)
being removable manually from the receiving means (4), whilst
maintaining the electrical connection between the contact element
(5) and the conductor (14).
16. Shoe (1) of claim 1, characterised in that the contact element
(5) is configured as a plug for inserting the plug in a socket
configured corresponding to the plug, in particular in a socket of
an electrical voltage source for energy supply of the device
(15).
17. Shoe (1) of claim 1, characterised in that the device (15)
includes a heating device for heating the shoe, which device
includes an electrical energy store which can be charged via the
electrical contact element (5), in particular by means of an
electrical battery charger which can be connected to the contact
element.
18. Shoe (1) of claim 1, characterised in that the operating part
(19) includes a first moulded part (20) which is connected securely
to the upper (1) and which has at least one operating element (22)
for operating the device (15) by means of the operating element
(22), and the operating part (19) including in addition a second
moulded part (23) which has a receiving means (24) for a control
unit (18) of the device (15) and being connectable to the first
moulded part (20), the first moulded part (20) having at least one
first retaining element (25) and the second moulded part (23)
having at least one second retaining element (26), the two
retaining elements (25, 26) being able to be brought into mutual
engagement for producing a detachable connection between the first
moulded part (20) and the second moulded part (23).
19. Shoe (1.) of claim 18, characterised in that one of the at
least one first retaining element (25) is configured as a rim,
locking lug or bead which completely surrounds the first moulded
part (20) or in that one of the at least one second retaining
element (26) is configured as a rim, locking lug or bead which
completely surrounds the second moulded part (23).
20. Shoe (1) of claim 18, characterised in that the second moulded
part (23) has a hole (27) for leading a control line (28) through
the second moulded part (23).
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a shoe having a sole, an upper and
an electrical device integrated in the shoe, in particular a
heating device of the shoe, an operating part for manual control or
operation of the device, an electrical contact element, and having
a housing for the electrical contact element.
[0002] There should be understood here by the term shoe all types
of shoes. There are hence possible as shoe, both boots, such as for
instance walking boots, ski boots, wellingtons or work boots, and
also shoes, such as for instance walking shoes, sports shoes or
golf shoes. The shoe comprises a sole (base) and an upper (upper
part). The mentioned device can concern for example a heating
device of the shoe. The device generally includes an electrical
energy store which can likewise be integrated in the shoe. It is
known to charge the device with an external battery charger via the
contact element.
[0003] The housing for the contact element typically serves to
protect the contact element from external influences, such as for
instance vibrations, impacts, moisture or contamination. A further
object of the housing can reside in avoiding undesired electrical
contacting of the contact element, for example with an electrically
charged or electrically conducting body.
[0004] In order to fulfil these tasks, the housing of a
conventional generic shoe includes a housing part which is securely
connected to the shoe and typically has a recess for receiving the
contact element in this recess. As a result of the fact that the
housing part circumscribes or encapsulates the contact element in
the recess spatially at least in regions, the contact element is
protected from the external influences mentioned above to a certain
degree. Frequently, this recess is configured in the form of an
undercut so that only a relatively small access opening in the
recess is produced, through which the contact element disposed in
the recess is accessible from outside, for example by a plug of a
battery charger which is inserted into the recess through the
access opening for contacting with the contact element.
[0005] It is frequently attempted to prevent penetration of
moisture and/or dirt up to the contact element by means of a
particularly small or narrow shaping of this access opening.
Nevertheless, sufficient protection of the contact element cannot
always be achieved in this way.
[0006] The shoe proposed here is therefore intended to ensure
particularly reliable protection of the contact element from
external influences, such as from the above-mentioned external
influences, and nevertheless to offer easy accessibility of the
contact element.
[0007] The shoe proposed here is intended in addition to make it
possible to separate as many as possible of the electrical
components of the shoe, i.e. in particular the contact element, and
as far as possible also a control unit of the device contained
typically in the operating part, from the shoe without great
complexity and to be able to connect them later again to the shoe.
In this way, it is intended to be possible to repair the relevant
components or to exchange them or even to keep them separate from
the shoe, for example in order to be able to clean the shoe
thoroughly without running the risk of damaging these electrical
components of the shoe.
[0008] This object is achieved by a shoe according to the main
claim. Developments and special embodiments of the shoe are
revealed in the dependent claims.
[0009] In the shoe according to the invention which is proposed
here and has a sole and an upper, an electrical device, for example
a heating device is accordingly integrated and can include one or
more electrical energy stores. The device includes a control unit
for controlling the device, for example for adjusting a heating
power of the mentioned heating device. The control unit can be
connected for this purpose via electrical lines to other components
of the device, such as for instance the mentioned energy store or
one or more heating elements. In addition, the shoe has an
operating part connected to the upper for manual operation of the
device via the control unit. For this purpose, the operating part
can have one or more, preferably two, operating elements, such as
keys, push buttons, control knobs or switches, for manual operation
of the control unit via these operating elements.
[0010] The shoe according to the invention includes in addition an
electrical contact element and also a housing for this contact
element, the housing having a housing part which is connected
securely to the upper. The housing part can have a receiving means
for the contact element, into which the contact element can be
received partially or preferably completely. The receiving means
can be configured for example as a recess of the housing part, into
which recess the contact element can be received partially or
preferably completely.
[0011] The device is connected or can be connected preferably via
an electrical conductor to the contact element. The device can have
an electrical energy store which is chargeable preferably via the
mentioned electrical conductor and the contact element, for example
via an electrical battery charger which can be connected to the
contact element.
[0012] The housing has a closing element which can be moved into a
closed position, the closing element covering the contact element
partially or preferably completely. If the housing part has the
above-mentioned receiving means or recess, this receiving means or
recess is covered partially or preferably completely by the closing
element provided that this is situated in the closed position.
[0013] In one embodiment, the closing element has a first
connection element and the housing part has a second connection
element which can be connected detachably to the first connection
element (for example in a form-fit and/or frictionally) and with
which the closing element can be fixed in the closed position. In
order for instance to open the mentioned receiving means or the
recess and to make the contact element possibly contained therein
accessible, this connection between closing element and housing
part is released and the closing element is moved out of the closed
position.
[0014] The closing element is connected securely to the housing
part, preferably by a flexible, elastic intermediate part, so that
the closing element is not mislaid. This intermediate part is
connected preferably integrally to the housing part and the closing
element or configured in one piece with the closing element or the
housing part.
[0015] As a result of the fact that the contact element can be
covered partially or preferably completely with the closing element
which can be provided for example by a flap or a cover, it is
achieved that the contact element (possibly contained in the
receiving means or recess) can be protected effectively by the
closing element from the mentioned external influences, such as for
instance soiling or moisture.
[0016] Preferably, the closing element is configured in such a
manner that it seals the contact element or the receiving means or
the recess completely against moisture.
[0017] The housing part can be manufactured from a plastic
material. Preferably, the housing part is manufactured from a
flexible and/or elastic material. The closing element can also be
manufactured from a plastic material. Preferably, the closing
element is manufactured (likewise) from a flexible and/or elastic
material. The use of flexible and/or elastic materials for the
housing part and/or the closing element has the advantage of being
pliable and hence of ensuring better wearing comfort of the shoe.
For the housing part and the closing element there are therefore
possible, for example thermoplastic elastomers (TPE), thermoplastic
(poly)urethanes (TPU), rubber-like materials and silicones.
[0018] For connection of the housing part to the upper, the housing
part can have a flange which surrounds the mentioned receiving
means or recess preferably over the entire circumference. The
flange can be connected or become connected securely, integrally
and/or in a form-fit, for example by sewing, glueing, vulcanising
or similar methods, to the upper or to an outer casing of the
upper. Apart from by means of a flange, the housing part can of
course also be connected to the shoe in a different way, a flange
being however the preferred variant since it allows a particularly
reliable and compact connection.
[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the contact element can be
removed manually from the receiving means or recess of the housing
part. This can be achieved by providing exclusively a connection
between the contact element and the housing part which is
releasable and restorable manually in an easy way and which can be
imparted for example by a frictional connection and/or form-fit but
not for instance by an integral connection. Removability of the
contact element from the receiving means or recess improves the
accessibility of the contact element for producing an electrical
contact to the contact element, for example with an energy- or
voltage source, such as for instance a battery charger. In
addition, if the contact element is configured as a plug, this can
be inserted particularly easily into a corresponding socket.
[0020] It is provided in a further development that the receiving
means or the recess is shaped corresponding to the contact element
by means of as exact a shape adaptation of the housing part as
possible in the region of the receiving means or recess to an outer
contour of the contact element. As a result, it can be achieved
that the contact element can be retained particularly securely in
the receiving means or recess (for instance by frictional and/or
contact forces) since, due to the shape adaptation, a particularly
large contact surface between the contact element and the housing
part can be achieved. It can also be provided that the housing part
has at least one retaining element in and/or on the receiving means
or on the recess, for example in the form of a locking lug or a
clip, in order to fix the contact element in the receiving means or
recess.
[0021] Furthermore, the housing part can have a recessed grip or
two or more recessed grips which abuts or abut directly against the
receiving means or recess of the contact element. As a result,
manual removal of the contact element from the receiving means or
recess can be facilitated.
[0022] In one embodiment, an upper edge of the receiving means or
recess extends within a plane defined by the above-mentioned flange
of the housing part. It is also possible that this upper edge of
the recess is disposed recessed in the housing part relative to
this flange. As a result, a particularly compact configuration of
the housing part with only a small constructional height of the
housing part can be achieved in many cases. For example, it is
possible to connect the housing to the upper by means of the flange
such that the housing thereby protrudes only slightly beyond an
outer surface of the shoe. It can also be provided that the
operating part and/or the housing, provided that the closing
element is situated in the closed position, terminates flush with
the upper or at least protrudes outwards beyond the upper (10) by
no more than 5 mm, preferably no more than 3 mm. This in turn has
the advantage that the housing and hence also the contact element
contained in the housing can be protected particularly well from
external influences, such as for instance impacts or other
mechanical influences, or from inadvertent removal of the closing
element out of the closed position. For this purpose, it can also
be provided that the receiving means or the recess for the contact
element is disposed completely or at least partially below the
upper, i.e. the receiving means or the recess for the contact
element is disposed completely or at least partially below an outer
surface of the upper. Correspondingly, it is likewise advantageous
if the operating part likewise has a receiving means for the
control unit of the device and this receiving means is disposed
completely or at least partially below the upper, i.e. an outer
surface of the upper.
[0023] In a further development which is distinguished by
particularly easy operability and reliability of the closing
element, it is provided that the first connection element of the
closing element and the second connection element of the housing
part are configured as corresponding locking elements which can be
brought into a form-fit engagement with each other for fixing the
closing element in the closed position. These locking elements
respectively can be configured in the shape of a locking lug, a
bead, a rim or as indentations or bulges which are configured in
another manner or combinations hereof. In particular, it is
possible that the housing part has a channel-shaped further recess
which surrounds the first-mentioned recess (for receiving the
contact element) preferably over the entire circumference. The
second connection element of the housing part is then preferably
configured as a locking element which is disposed on an upper edge
of this further recess, for example in the form of a rim, a locking
lug, a bead or the like. The first connection element of the
closing element can be received as completely as possible in this
further recess as soon as the closing element is situated in the
closed position. In this way, a particularly effective sealing
effect by the closing element can be achieved, on the one hand,
with only a small constructional height of the housing.
[0024] It is also possible that the first connection element and/or
the second connection element comprise Velcro elements which are
likewise easy to operate and allow reliable fixing of the closing
element in the closing position with merely a small constructional
height.
[0025] Inside the recess for receiving the contact element, the
housing part can have a through-opening, through which an
electrical conductor connected to the contact element can be led or
is led. (This through-opening should be differentiated from the
above-mentioned access opening of the recess which is delimited by
the upper edge of the recess and which can be closed by the closing
element.) This conductor has the object of connecting the contact
element to an electrical device, in particular to an energy
store.
[0026] Preferably, this through-opening is dimensioned such that
the conductor can be pushed through this through-opening or can be
pulled through it, for instance in the case of the above-described
manual removal of the contact element from the recess, in the case
of which the conductor is not separated from the contact element.
In addition, it can be provided that the contact element can also
be pushed or pulled through this through-opening.
[0027] For this purpose, the housing part can be manufactured
completely or at least in the vicinity of this through-opening from
an elastic and/or flexible material in order to enable or
facilitate such a movement of the contact element and/or of the
conductor through the through-opening. By means of leading the
contact element and/or the conductor through this through-opening
in the recess, the contact element together with the electrical
conductor connected to the contact element can be separated from
the housing manually and without further aids. This is of
particular advantage for example when the housing is connected
securely to the shoe and the contact element is intended to be
exchanged or the shoe is intended to be cleaned and the contact
element must be separated from the shoe for this purpose.
[0028] In a further development, the recess includes an additional
receiving region so that, in addition to the contact element, also
an end-part of the electrical conductor connected to the contact
element can be received in the recess or in this receiving region.
In this way, removal of the contact element from the recess, on the
one hand, and withdrawal of the contact element from the recess can
be achieved up to a length of the end-part. In addition, it is
subsequently possible to stow away the end-part again inside the
recess.
[0029] As already described above, the mentioned conductor can be
led through a through-opening through the housing part. This
through-opening is preferably disposed in the recess of the housing
part. In this way, it can be achieved in particular that the
contact element can be removed from the recess or can be separated
even entirely from the housing part without thereby separating the
connection between the contact element and the conductor.
[0030] The contact element can be configured for example as a plug,
for example for inserting the plug in a socket configured
corresponding to the plug, for example of an electrical energy
source, for example for energy supply of the device. In particular
if this plug, as described above, can be removed from the recess
and preferably subsequently pulled forward again a little bit, such
insertion in a socket can be implemented very easily.
[0031] In a further embodiment of the shoe, it is provided that the
operating part includes a first moulded part which is connected
securely to the upper of the shoe and which can have the mentioned
at least one operating element. The operating part includes in
addition a second moulded part which can have a receiving means for
the above-mentioned control unit of the device and which can be
connected preferably detachably to the first moulded part. In this
way, the control unit together with the second moulded part can be
separated manually, i.e. by hand and without further aids, from the
upper and connected again to the upper at a later time. This is
advantageous in particular when the carrier or the clothing part is
intended to be washed or when the control unit must be exchanged
because of a defect. Advantageously, also the contact element can
be separated manually from the shoe and possibly also exchanged at
the same time through the housing proposed here for the contact
element. Hence, the combination of the housing and operating part
proposed here offers particularly simple and convenient handling of
the shoe and, at the same time, high protection for the sensitive
control unit and the contact element. Since in principle higher
wear and tear, attrition and defects, such as for instance short
circuits, can result precisely to these two electrical components
as a result of frequent use and mechanical stress, simple manual
exchangeability of precisely these two components is particularly
advantageous. In conventional shoes, these components often cannot
in contrast be separated from the shoe without further aids or not
without further damage to these components, the housing, the
operating part or the upper.
[0032] Preferably, the first moulded part has at least one first
retaining element and, furthermore, the second moulded part has at
least one second retaining element, the two retaining elements
being able to be brought into mutual engagement for producing a
detachable connection between the first moulded part and the second
moulded part. These two moulded parts hence form an encapsulation
for the control unit which protects it from external
influences.
[0033] For example, it is possible that one of the at least one
first retaining element is configured as a rim, locking lug or bead
which preferably completely surrounds the first moulded part or
that one of the at least one second retaining element is configured
as a rim, locking lug or bead which preferably completely surrounds
the second moulded part. As a result, a particularly stable and
possibly also water-tight connection between the first and the
second moulded part can be produced.
[0034] The second moulded part can have a hole which is disposed
preferably in the receiving means for the control unit for leading
electrical lines, in particular control lines, through the second
moulded part. The receiving means can be configured as a recess in
the second moulded part.
[0035] The receiving means or the recess can be covered for example
by a protective covering, such as for instance a protective foil or
a protective cover. There are possible for the protective covering
(just as for the first and the second moulded part) the same
materials which were mentioned above for the housing for the
contact element, i.e. in particular silicone. By means of the
protective covering, the control unit can be protected particularly
well, for example from moisture, spray water, contamination or
mechanical influences, even if the second moulded part is separated
from the first moulded part. Preferably, the protective covering is
connected integrally to the second moulded part, for instance by
glueing with silicone or another adhesive, and in fact preferably
with a region or flange of the second moulded part which surrounds
the receiving means. In this way, the protection class with IP code
54 (IP54) can be achieved. In addition, by means of a protective
covering, the control unit can be prevented from falling out of the
receiving means unintentionally, if the moulded parts are not
connected to each other. It is also possible to fill the receiving
means entirely or partially with an adhesive, such as for instance
silicone, before inserting the control unit and subsequently to
insert the control unit in the receiving means. In this way, the
control unit is fixed particularly well and protected from external
influences.
[0036] Further embodiments of the operating part can be deduced
from the patent application U.S. 61/544,392, the content of which
is herewith incorporated in its entirety into the present patent
application.
[0037] The first moulded part of the operating part is connected
securely to the upper of the shoe, preferably via the flange of the
first moulded part, for example by sewing, glueing to the carrier
or by vulcanising.
[0038] In principle, it is also possible to equip another clothing
part, instead of the shoe, with the housing and operating part
proposed here. Therefore, the term "shoe" could be replaced, in the
preceding and subsequent description, in general by "clothing part"
and "upper" by outer casing. There are possible inter alia as
clothing part: glove, jacket, trousers, pullover, cap, sleeping bag
and cover.
[0039] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to
the special embodiments shown in the subsequent Figures. There are
shown:
[0040] FIG. 1a a schematic overview over components of a shoe of
the type proposed here,
[0041] FIG. 1b cross-section through an operating part of a shoe of
the type proposed here,
[0042] FIG. 1c cross-section through a housing for a contact
element of a shoe of the type proposed here,
[0043] FIGS. 2a to 2d two special embodiments of a shoe of the type
proposed here in different views,
[0044] FIGS. 3a and 3b detailed views of the housing part of the
housing shown in FIG. 1c,
[0045] FIG. 3c further development of the housing part shown in
FIGS. 3a and 3b,
[0046] FIG. 4 view of the housing shown in FIG. 1c,
[0047] FIGS. 5a and 5b further views of the housing shown in FIG.
1c,
[0048] FIG. 6 a detailed view of the housing shown in FIGS. 2d and
2e.
[0049] Repeated reference numbers thereby mark the same or
corresponding features.
[0050] In FIG. 1a, individual components of a shoe 1 of the type
proposed here and electrical connections between these components
are represented schematically. Some of these components of the shoe
1 are in particular a housing 2 and an operating part 19. A
preferred embodiment of the operating part 19 is shown in FIG. 1b,
a preferred embodiment of the housing 2 in FIG. 1c respectively in
a detailed, schematic representation.
[0051] A schematic representation of an outer view on a preferred
embodiment of a shoe 1 of the type proposed here with the
components shown in FIG. 1a is represented in FIGS. 2a-2c. A
further embodiment is shown in FIGS. 2d and 2e which differs from
the embodiment shown in. FIGS. 2a-2c merely by the configuration of
the housing 2. As can be detected from these representations, the
shoe 1 concerns respectively a boot, for example a walking
boot.
[0052] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1c, the housing 2 includes a
housing part 3 which has a recess 4 in which an electrical contact
element 5 can be received. The housing 2 has furthermore a closing
element 6 which is connected securely to the housing part 3 and, as
shown in FIG. 1c, is situated in a closed position in which the
closing element 6 covers the recess 4 of the housing part 3
completely and in a water-tight manner.
[0053] The closing element 6 has a first connection element 7 which
is configured as a rim or bead which completely surrounds an edge
of the closing element 6. The housing part 3 has a second
connection element 8 which is formed likewise as a rim or bead
which is disposed on an upper edge 11 of the recess 4 and hence
completely surrounds the recess 4 circumferentially.
[0054] The first closing element 7 and the second closing element 8
are configured as locking elements which can be connected to each
other detachably by mutual rear-engagement in order to fix the
closing element 6 in this way in the closed position. By means of
the closing element 6, the recess 4 and hence also the contact
element 5 contained therein is protected completely from external
influences, such as for instance dirt and moisture.
[0055] The housing part 2 has in addition a flange 9 which
surrounds the recess 4 over the entire circumference and which is
sewn to an upper 10 of the shoe 1, as represented in FIGS. 2a to
2e.
[0056] The upper edge 11 of the recess 4 is situated in a plane
defined by the flange 9. However it could also be disposed further
recessed in the housing part 3 in order to ensure in this way an
even flatter constructional shape of the housing 2 which then
protrudes even less beyond the carrier 4. As can be detected with
reference to FIGS. 1b and 1c, the housing 2 and also the operating
part (19) are flush with the upper (10) and protrude by no more
than 5 mm, preferably no more than 3 mm, beyond the upper (10)
externally (i.e. at the top in the Figures).
[0057] The housing part 3 and also the closing element 6 of the
housing 2 are manufactured from an elastic, flexible material which
is provided in the present case by silicone.
[0058] The housing part 3 has in addition a further recess 12 which
is formed as a channel which surrounds the recess 4 over the entire
circumference and into which the first connection element 7
engages. In this way, the closing element 6 also protrudes only
slightly beyond the flange 9.
[0059] Inside the recess 4, the housing part 3 has a
through-opening 13 through which an electrical conductor 14 is led.
The electrical conductor 14 is connected by one end to the contact
element 5 and, by another end, to an electrical, controllable
device 15 of the shoe 1, as is shown in FIG. 1a.
[0060] The device 15 in this example is configured as a heating
device and has an energy store 16 which can be charged by an
external battery charger (not shown here) via the contact element
5,
[0061] The device 15 includes a plurality of heating elements 17
configured as heating wires (only one is illustrated in FIG. 1a)
which are connected to the energy store 16 in an electrically
conducting manner. The heating elements 17 and also the energy
store 16 can be integrated for example in an insole of a boot or in
a glove or in a different item of the clothing parts mentioned
above. As a result of the fact that the housing part 3 consists of
a flexible, elastic material, the contact element 5 can be pushed
or pulled through the through-opening 13. Hence the contact element
5 can be separated for example from the housing 2 and subsequently
inserted again into the housing 2. This has the advantage that the
contact element 5 can also be detached from the carrier 10 although
the housing part 3 is connected securely to the carrier. In
addition, it is possible, after the closing element 6 which is
configured as a cover has been removed from the recess 4, to pull
the contact element 5 upwards out of the recess 4 by a small
distance, the electrical conductor 14 being able to be led a little
further through the through-opening. In this way, it is
particularly simple to plug the contact element 5, which is
configured in this embodiment as a plug, into a socket of a battery
charger (not shown here) in order to charge the energy store
16.
[0062] The device 15 can be controlled via a control unit 18 of the
device 15, via which various heating levels or power levels of the
device 15 can be adjusted. The control unit 18 is disposed inside
an operating unit 19 of the system 1, as is shown in the embodiment
represented schematically in FIG. 1b.
[0063] The operating part 19 has a first moulded part 20 which is
connected securely to the carrier 10 via a flange 21 of the first
moulded part 20 by means of sewing and has two operating elements
22 which are configured as keys and via which the control unit 18
can be operated manually in order to set different heating levels.
The operating part 19 includes in addition a second moulded part 23
which has a receiving means 24 which is configured as a recess and
in which the control unit 18 is received. The receiving means 24 is
covered by a foil-like protective covering 34 so that the control
unit 18 is also protected from moisture and dust when the second
moulded part 23 is not connected to the first moulded part 20. The
protective covering 34 and also the first and second moulded part
20, 23 respectively are manufactured from silicone, the protective
covering 34 being connected (glued) integrally to the second
moulded part 23 by a silicone adhesive. The receiving means 24 is
likewise filled with silicone adhesive below the control unit 18 in
order to achieve a material connection between the receiving means
24 and the control unit by means of this silicone adhesive.
[0064] As can be detected in FIGS. 1b and 1c, both the control unit
18 and the contact element 5 are disposed (at least partially)
below an outer surface 10' of the upper 10 and hence are protected
particularly well from external influences, such as for instance
impacts.
[0065] In addition, the first moulded part 20 includes a first
retaining element 25 and the second moulded part 23 includes a
second retaining element 26, the two retaining elements 25, 26
being brought into mutual engagement in order to produce a
detachable connection between the first moulded part 20 and the
second moulded part 23. By means of the two moulded parts 20, 23 of
the operating part 19 which are connected to each other, the
control unit 18 is completely encapsulated and protected in this
way from external influences, such as for example from dirt and
moisture. The two moulded parts 20, 23 are manufactured from an
elastic material, such as silicone. As a result, it is particularly
simple to connect the two retaining elements 25, 26 to each other
or again to detach them from each other. In addition, the wearing
comfort of the carrier 10 can be increased, if this is for instance
a clothing part, by the flexibility of the operating part 19 and of
the housing 2.
[0066] The second moulded part 23 has a hole 27 through which a
control line 28 is led, which control line connects the control
unit 18 to the energy store 16, and also a further control line 28'
which connects the control unit to the heating element 17. Via the
control lines 28 and 28', an electrical power is transferred to the
heating element from the energy store 16 via the control unit 18
according to the heating level set by the operating elements 22 so
that said heating element is heated to a greater or lesser extent
according to the heating level.
[0067] In FIG. 2a, in particular the operating part 19 of the shoe
1 can be detected, having the operating elements 22 for operating
the control unit contained in the operating part 19. The operating
part 19 is disposed on an outer side of the shoe 1 and connected
securely to the outer casing 10 of the shoe.
[0068] In FIGS. 2b and 2c, the inside of the shoe 1 can be seen, on
which the housing 2 of the shoe 1 is connected securely to the
outer casing 10 of the shoe 1. In. FIG. 2b, the closing element 6
is situated in the closed position in which the closing element 6
covers and seals the recess 4. In FIG. 2c, the closing element 6 is
opened. In addition, the contact element 5 which is configured as a
plug and is pulled out a. little from the recess 4 can be detected.
The connection elements with which the closing element 6 is fixed
in the closed position shown in FIG. 2b are configured as locking
elements in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1c.
[0069] In the second of the two mentioned embodiments of the shoe
1, which is represented schematically in FIGS. 2d and 2e, the
connection elements of the housing 2 are designed as Velcro
elements 29.
[0070] In FIGS. 3a and 3b, the housing part 3 of the housing 2
shown in FIGS. 1c, 2b and 2c is represented schematically in a
detailed view diagonally from above, one with and one without
contact element 5, the closing element however not being shown. The
features of the housing part 3 have hereby been provided with the
corresponding reference numbers. As can be detected in FIG. 3a, the
contact element 5 is received in a form-fit in a rim which is
formed in the recess 4 and which has the complementary shape of the
contact element 5. As a result of the elasticity of the rim and the
friction between contact element 5 and rim, the contact element 5
is retained securely.
[0071] The housing part 3 shown in FIG. 3c differs from that shown
in FIGS. 3a and 3b by recessed grips 31, a receiving region 32 in
which an end-part of the conductor 14 can be stowed away, and also
by retaining elements 33 which are configured as locking lugs and
with which the contact element 5 can be fixed particularly securely
in the receiving means 4.
[0072] In FIGS. 4 and 5a, the housing 2 shown in FIGS. 1c, 2b and
2c is represented in a view diagonally from above, the closing
element 6 being shown in the closed position--in contrast to the
representations shown in FIGS. 3a to 3c. In addition, an
intermediate part 30 can be detected which connects the closing
element 6 to the housing part 3 so that the closing element 6
cannot be mislaid.
[0073] In FIG. 5b, the housing 2 shown in FIGS. 1c, 2b and 2c is
represented schematically in a detailed view diagonally from above,
the closing element 6 now being open so that the contact element 5
is freely accessible.
[0074] In FIG. 6, the housing shown in FIGS. 2d and 2e is
represented schematically in a detailed view, the closing element 6
being opened and the contact element 5 configured as a plug being
pulled out a little from the housing 2. In addition, a Velcro
element 29 on the closing element 6 can be detected.
REFERENCE NUMBER LIST
[0075] 1 shoe
[0076] 2 housing
[0077] 3 housing part
[0078] 4 recess
[0079] 5 electrical contact element
[0080] 6 closing element
[0081] 7 first connection element
[0082] 8 second connection element
[0083] 9 flange
[0084] 10 carrier
[0085] 11 upper edge of the recess
[0086] 12 further recess
[0087] 13 through-opening
[0088] 14 electrical conductor
[0089] 15 electrical device
[0090] 16 energy store
[0091] 17 heating element
[0092] 18 control unit
[0093] 19 operating part
[0094] 20 first moulded part
[0095] 21 flange
[0096] 22 operating element
[0097] 23 second moulded part
[0098] 24 receiving means for the control unit
[0099] 25 first retaining element
[0100] 26 second retaining element
[0101] 27 hole
[0102] 28 control line
[0103] 29 Velcro element
[0104] 30 connection part
[0105] 31 recessed grip
[0106] 32 receiving region
[0107] 33 retaining element
[0108] 34 protective covering
* * * * *