Abstract: A sole capable of being integrated in a boot or shoe and a method of assembling the same. The sole comprises an outsole, made of at least a first material, which defines an exterior lateral shape and an inner space for receiving a filling material and a housing for receiving a rigid mechanical device having protrusions that extend through corresponding openings of the sole. A wall surrounding the housing, made of the first material, has a minimum thickness of 20 mils. A portion of the wall is shared with a heel-section of the outsole. A seal plate is provided for, at least partly, covering the wall. the seal plate is for preventing the filling material from entering the housing. The filling material, once the sole is assembled, comprises a layer covering the seal plate and the sole conceals the mechanical device except for the protrusions.

Abstract: A waterproof breathable boot comprises a sole, at least two panels forming an external shell having an outer most surface waterproof, an internal layer separate from the outer shell and connected to the external shell by the sole such that a gap of air is formed between the internal layer and the external shell, and a drying insert connected to the internal layer. The at least two panels are waterproofly bonded to each other. An adhesive is in direct contact with a first portion of the inner surface and a second portion of the outer surface waterproofly for bonding the first portion to the second portion. The internal layer has wicking properties and is protected from an outside of the boot by the external shell. A method of manufacturing a waterproof breathable boot is also presented.

Abstract: An energy harvesting system for footwear is described having a sole, heel and an upper and comprising a first gaseous bellows pump formed at the sole of the footwear with the bellows hinged forward of the sole; a second gaseous bellows pump formed at the heel of the footwear with the bellows hinged forward of the heel. A gas reservoir is mounted to the upper of the footwear in fluid communication with first and second gaseous pumps downstream of the pumps and adapted to receive the gaseous medium exiting under pressure from the pumps. An axial turbine has an output shaft mounted on the footwear upper downstream of the reservoir and adapted to receive pressurized gas from the reservoir when a predetermined pressure threshold is attained in the reservoir so as to activate the axial turbine; and an electrical generator mounted on the upper, downstream of the axial turbine and engaged with the turbine output shaft which can be engaged only when a predetermined shaft velocity threshold has been attained.

Abstract: A fluid pump (10) has a compression member (12) having a variably-sized compression surface (13b) movable against fluid pressure in a chamber (22). The effective surface area of the compression member (12) decreases in size together with a corresponding cross-sectional area of the chamber (22) from a maximal area at a beginning of the compression stroke to a minimal area at the end of the compression stroke. Using a variably-sized surface area to compress a fluid volume allows obtaining a rapid gain of fluid pressure even for applications in which the compression member (12) is actuated at relatively low frequencies and under the action of relatively small forces.

Abstract: A fluid pump (10) has a compression member (12) having a variably-sized compression surface (13b) movable against fluid pressure in a chamber (22). The effective surface area of the compression member (12) decreases in size together with a corresponding cross-sectional area of the chamber (22) from a maximal area at a beginning of the compression stroke to a minimal area at the end of the compression stroke. Using a variably-sized surface area to compress a fluid volume allows obtaining a rapid gain of fluid pressure even for applications in which the compression member (12) is actuated at relatively low frequencies and under the action of relatively small forces.

Abstract: A pack boot comprises an outer rubber shell and a multi-ply felt bootie removably fitted inside the outer rubber shell. The multi-ply felt bootie has inner and outer felt layers superposed one over the other. An ankle pad is inserted between the inner and outer felt layers of the multi-ply felt bootie and bonded thereto to provide additional ankle support while preserving the insulation properties of the multi-ply felt bootie.

Abstract: An electrostatic dissipative footwear comprises a conductive insole and a conductive outsole spaced by a non-conductive mid sole. An electronic device extends through the mid sole for connecting the insole and the outsole in electrically conductive relationship. The electronic device includes a resistor for precisely controlling current flow between the insole and the outsole, and an active electrical device, such as a fuse, for protecting the wearer against electrical shocks.

Abstract: The present invention includes systems utilizing, and methods for generating, a unified user profile to provide a transparent interface to multiple data sources. A base user java bean is obtained to work through a personalization server and access a personalization database. The base user java bean provides a transparent interface through which implicit and explicit properties can be retrieved and updated. An enterprise java bean is then created to extend the base user java bean such that the implicit and explicit properties can further be retrieved and updated from an external user database through the transparent interface.

Abstract: A metatarsal guard for footwear comprises an arched body which covers a dorsal surface of a wearer's metatarsal foot area. The arched body has lateral bottom edges for engaging a footwear sole to transmit loads from the arched body to the footwear sole. Slits are defined in a rear portion of the arched body so as to form a longitudinally extending central T-shaped tongue and two longitudinally extending lateral tongues in order to increase the flexibility of the metatarsal guard. The T-shaped tongue has a rear edge extending in a concave curved line transversally of the footwear so as to prevent transmission of punctual loads to the wearer's foot. By optimizing the number and the configuration of the tongues, both the wearer's comfort and protection are maximized.

Abstract: Electric induction cooking appliance comprising a support for a vessel (C) to be heated and at least one flat inductor intended to be fed by a frequency convertor, characterized in that the inductor consists of a first coil (4) having a first sense and of at least one second coil (5) formed of at least one turn of opposite sense to that of the first coil.