Electrically Heated Footwear And Handwear

Abstract

Electrically heated footwear and handwear is disclosed in which an ionomer plastic insulating layer is fitted into a shoe or other footwear and a mitten or other handwear of conventional construction. A long stranded heating wire is embedded in a heat-conducting plastic member which is positioned beneath the insole of the footwear and within the insulating plastic cover of the mitten. The wires are connected to a source of low-voltage electricity for resistance heating in order to maintain the footwear and handwear at a comfortable temperature.

Description

The present invention relates to heated footwear such as shoes and boots and heated handwear such as mittens and gloves.

Prior art electrically heated footwear and handwear utilized solid short lengths of wire for low-voltage heating or used high voltage for heating longer lengths of stranded wire.

The present invention is directed to the heating of mittens and shoes and like handwear and footwear by providing an insulating layer of ionomer plastic within which, in the case of the handwear, is a layer of heat-conducting plastic having a stranded heating wire embedded therein. In the case of the footwear the heating wire layer is provided on the sole only of the shoe.

The primary object of the invention is to provide electrically heated handwear and footwear which maintains a uniform temperature on the feet and hands of the user.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in the light of the attached drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a complete mitten constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse cross section taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation of the heating insert for the mitten of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of a shoe constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the heating insole of the shoe illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the heating insole.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings in detail wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures the reference numeral 10 indicates generally a mitten constructed in accordance with the invention.

The mitten 10 includes an outer covering 11 having a thumb portion 12 and a finger portion 13 both integrally joined to a wrist portion 14. The outer covering 11 is completely lined with a relatively thin layer of ionomer foam plastic 15 to serve as insulation for the mitten 10.

A heating insert 16 includes a finger portion 17 having a thumb portion 18 integrally connected thereto. The insert 16 has an inner surface 19 to contact the hand within the mitten 10 and a layer 20 of heat-conducting plastic within which stranded heating wires 21 are molded. The heating wires 21 extend throughout the insert 16 and terminate in a plug 22 which can be connected to a source of low-voltage electricity. The insert 16 is a hot pad which can be worn either in contact with the back or the front of the hand to suit the wearer.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 through 7 the reference numeral 30 indicates generally a shoe incorporating another embodiment of the invention.

The shoe 30 includes a sole 31, heel 32 and an upper 33, all formed of conventional material. The sole 31 and upper 33 are completely lined with an ionomer foam plastic layer 34 to insulate the shoe 30. An inner lining 35 protects the foam plastic layer 34 and provides a smooth inner surface for contact with the foot of the wearer.

A pad 36 formed of heat-conducting plastic is shaped to the sole of the shoe 30 and has a stranded heating wire 37 molded therein. The wire 37 is connected to a plug 38 mounted on the upper 33 for connection to a source of low-voltage electricity.

The pad 36 is fitted into the shoe 30 beneath the insole 38 as can be seen in FIG. 6. It should be understood however that the pad 36 can also be inserted in a shoe on top of the insole 38 should this be desired.

The mitten and shoes of the present invention maintain a uniform heat on the hands and feet of the wearer without undue electric power requirements.

Having thus described the preferred embodiments of the invention it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptions may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Claims

1. A mitten comprising a hand-encompassing cover, an ionomer foam plastic liner for said cover, an electrically heated pad insert removably positioned within said cover for contact directly with the back or palm of the hand of the user, said pad including a stranded electric heating wire embedded in a relatively thin sheet of heat-conducting plastic.