Abstract: An inflatable inner sole for footwear has a flexible, inflatable enclosure with an inflation system that may includes an on-board air pump and a pressure relief valve. The inflatable inclosure may include a plurality of chambers that are independently adjustable by selectively adding or removing a gas from each chamber. The inflatable enclosure may also include a pressure gauge and an improved pressure relief valve sleeve with a spring seat. The inflatable enclosure may be formed with one or both of first and second sheets formed as contoured prefabricated sheets. Alternatively, the sheets may be flat sheets. A recess is formed in the sheets so that the recess extends out of a plane of intersection between the first and second sheets. The recess may be formed by causing a portion of the first and second sheets to bend out of the plane of intersection of the first and second sheets.

Abstract: The invention is an inflatable inner sole for footwear which has a flexible, inflatable enclosure with an inflation system that preferably includes an on-board air pump and a pressure relief valve. In this invention the inner sole has a sheet and/or foam cover or surround on the flexible enclosure for enhanced comfort. Useful sheet covers can be plastic, including rubber, films in solid or foamed state, or fabric which are applied against the upper, wearing surface of the inflatable enclosures. The covers can be bonded only to the edges of the inflatable enclosures to permit relative movement between the covers and enclosures, or can be bonded to the top surface of the enclosures, or formed as surrounds which encapsulate the inflatable enclosures.

Abstract: An inflatable inner sole for footwear has a flexible, inflatable enclosure with an inflation system that preferably includes an on-board air pump and a pressure relief valve. This embodiment has an additional upper chamber formed by heat sealing (welding) an outer layer of thermoplastic on top of an inflatable enclosure. The outer layer is preferably bonded only to the edges of the inflatable enclosures to permit free air/fluid flow from pressure points area to the area of least resistance and greatest need. Air pressure of the lower chamber can be adjusted according to a wearer's weight and activities. The upper chamber also has a built-in air pump and relief valve, preferably with lesser air pressure that can be adjusted according to the wearers foot problems or for final comfort tuning. The outer layer may be a laminated material of thermoplastic film, foam and fabric.

Abstract: The invention is an inflatable inner sole for footwear which has a flexible, inflatable enclosure with an inflation system that preferably includes an on-board air pump and a pressure relief valve. In this invention the inner sole has a sheet and/or foam cover or surround on the flexible enclosure for enhanced comfort. Useful sheet covers can be plastic, including rubber, films in solid or foamed state, or fabric which are applied against the upper, wearing surface of the inflatable enclosures. The covers can be bonded only to the edges of the inflatable enclosures to permit relative movement between the covers and enclosures, or can be bonded to the top surface of the enclosures, or formed as surrounds which encapsulate the inflatable enclosures.

Abstract: The invention is an inflatable inner sole for footwear which has a flexible, inflatable enclosure with an inflation system that preferably includes an on-board air pump and a pressure relief valve. In this invention the inner sole has a sheet and/or foam cover or surround on the flexible enclosure for enhanced comfort. Useful sheet covers can be plastic, including rubber, films in solid or foamed state, or fabric which are applied against the upper, wearing surface of the inflatable enclosures. The covers can be bonded only to the edges of the inflatable enclosures to permit relative movement between the covers and enclosures, or can be bonded to the top surface of the enclosures, or formed as surrounds which encapsulate the inflatable enclosures.

Abstract: The invention is an inflatable inner sole for footwear which has a flexible, inflatable enclosure with an inflation system that preferably includes an on-board air pump and a pressure relief valve. In this invention the inner sole has a sheet and/or foam cover or surround on the flexible enclosure for enhanced comfort. Useful sheet covers can be plastic, including rubber, films in solid or foamed state, or fabric which are applied against the upper, wearing surface of the inflatable enclosures. The covers can be bonded only to the edges of the inflatable enclosures to permit relative movement between the covers and enclosures, or can be bonded to the top surface of the enclosures, or formed as surrounds which encapsulate the inflatable enclosures.

Abstract: There is disclosed an inflatable lining for selected inner surfaces of footwear, such as a shoe, boot or sandal. The inflatable lining is formed of first and second plastic sheets having the shape and size of the selected inner surfaces, e.g., a sole, or any portion of the upper surfaces of the footwear. The sheets are bonded together in a continuous seam about their peripheral edges thereby forming a sealed interior chamber. A plurality of discontinuous seams are formed between the first and second sheets to create within the sealed interior chamber a plurality of interconnecting tubular passageways, and at least one continuous seam can also be provided that subdivides the interior chamber into two or more subdivided interior chambers. The inflatable liner is provided with an air pump that preferably is a flexible bulb with an inlet valve which discharges into a flexible tube which extends to a pressure control valve and then to the interior chamber of the inflatable inner sole.

Abstract: There is disclosed a preform for an air pump and relief valve assembly which has an assembly body with a substantially flat bottom and molded entirely of a flexible plastic to form a bulbous extremity on one end of the body and open at its bottom and a relief valve recess adjacent the opposite end of said body and open to a valve port in said bottom wall with at least one, and preferably two, internal passages open to the interior of the bulbous extremity and extending through said assembly body to a second port open at the bottom wall, with a substantially planar base flange extending about said body and peripherally about said bulbous extremity and said relief valve recess. The preform can be sealed to a flat sheet of plastic to complete the pump and relief valve and for this purpose has a transverse tunnel located between said internal passage and the bottom wall.

Abstract: There is disclosed the combination of an inflatable inner sole and a supporting underlayment for footwear, such as a shoe, boot or sandal. The inflatable inner sole is formed of upper and lower plastic sheets having the shape and size of a sole and bonded together in a continous seam about their peripheral edges thereby forming a sealed interior. A plurality of this continuous seams are formed between the upper and lower sheets to create within the sealed interior a plurality of interconnecting tubular passageways. The inflatable inner sole is provided with an air pump that preferably is mounted at the heel of the inner sole. The air pump is a flexible bulb with an inlet valve and discharges into a flexible tube which extends to a pressure control valve and then to the interior chamber of the inflatable inner sole. The pressure relief valve is manually adjustable to control the pressure within the inflatable inner sole.

Abstract: There is disclosed an inflatable inner sole for a shoe or boot which is formed of upper and lower plastic sheets having the shape and size of a sole and bonded together in a continuous seam about their peripheral edges thereby forming a sealed interior. A plurality of this continuous seams are formed between the upper and lower sheets to create within the sealed interior a plurality of interconnecting tubular passageways. The inflatable inner sole is provided with an air pump that preferably is mounted at the heel of the inner sole. The air pump is a flexible bulb with an inlet valve and discharges into a flexible tube which extends to a pressure control valve and then to the interior chamber of the inflatable inner sole. The pressure relief valve is manually adjustable to control the pressure within the inflatable inner sole.

Abstract: There is disclosed a frictional heat generator and a forced air circulation system for shoes and, in particular, for boots such as ski boots. The shoe has an inner sole which is formed of a pair of sole plates which are mounted for relative sliding movement in the shoe. The upper sole plate is pivotally attached at its toe end to an outer sole of the shoe. The lower sole plate of this pair is pivotally mounted with a crank arm which is located at its heel end. Twisted torsion cables are provided to bias the sole plates upwardly against the applied weight of the wearer. A compartment is formed in the shoe between the pair of sole plates and outer sole and is enclosed with a diaphragm to function as a bellows-type air pump to circulate air through the shoe.

Abstract: An inner shoe for a boot such as a ski boot includes a foot warmer mechanism having an air system that includes an air bag which surrounds its instep area and communicates to a sealed chamber between the soles of the shoe. The air bag can be pressured to maintain a sense of tightness or security to the ski boot. The air circulation system also augments heat transfer within the boot. The foot warmer mechanism is mounted entirely on an insert for the outer boot or shoe, and includes an electrical resistance heater, an electrical generator, a mechanical transducer to translate vertical movements of the wearer's heel into uni-directional rotational movement of a flywheel, and a gear box mechanically coupling the flywheel to the electrical generator.

Abstract: There is disclosed an inner shoe for a boot such as a ski boot which includes a foot warmer mechanism having a heat engine which includes a compressor, evaporator and condenser coils and interconnecting conduits for circulating a working refrigeration fluid. In a preferred embodiment, the cycle of the heat engine can be reversed, thereby cooling the inner shoe. The mechanism also includes an entirely sealed, remote latch to lock the heat engine out of operation. The inner shoe can have an air system that includes an air bag which surrounds its instep area and communicates to a sealed chamber between the soles of the shoe. The air bag can be pressured to maintain a sense of tightness or security to the ski boot. The air system also augments heat transfer within the boot.

Abstract: There is disclosed an inner shoe for a molded ski boot which includes a foot warmer mechanism having an electrical resistance heater, an electrical generator, a mechanical translator to translate vertical movements of the wearer's heel into uni-directional rotational movement of a flywheel, and a gear box mechanically coupling the flywheel to the electrical generator. Specific features of the mechanism include: a shock absorbing resilient coupling of the flywheel to prevent damaging the mechanism while juming or otherwise subjecting the shoe to hard usage; interchangeable generators and gear boxes to accommodate wearer's of varied size and weight as well as for varied intensity of activity; and an entirely sealed, remote latch to lock the mechanical drive out of operation.

Abstract: There is disclosed a resilient spring and lever support for an inner sole of a shoe which can be used in combination with a new foot warmer mechanism, or can be used as an orthopedic foot support. The preferred embodiment is a foot warmer mechanism which has a pair of sole plates in rubbing frictional contact with the upper sole plate pivotally secured at the toe of the shoe and the lower sole plate supported by a lever arm located near the heel of the shoe. A resilient spring is provided at the heel of the shoe to bias the pair of plates upwardly, and one or more springs can also be provided at intermediate positions. The pair of plates is moved down and up by the applied weight of the wearer and the countering bias of the spring. As the sole plates are moved, they slide against each other, generating heat by friction, to warm the weater's foot. The mechanism can be constructed in the shoe or can be a separate assembly that can be inserted into a shoe.

Abstract: There is disclosed a shoe with an internal warming mechanism that includes a heat engine and, in particular, a heat engine operating on a substantially or quasi-Carnot cycle. The warming mechanism has a compressor for compressing a gas, a condenser for condensing the gas into a liquid, an expansion and evaporator zone for expanding the liquified gas into a gas and a return line to cycle the expanded gas to the compressor. The source of energy for compression of the gas is the movement of the wearer's foot in the shoe, and the heel of the shoe has a hollow cavity in which the gas compressor is located. The sole of the shoe has an internal heel plate which is coupled, on its undersurface, to a post which is mechanically linked to the gas compressor such that up and down movements of the post in response to the movement of the wearer's heel will drive the compressor and provide the necessary work to drive the heat engine.

Abstract: There is disclosed a shoe with an internal warming mechanism which comprises an electrical resistance coil in the sole or upper coverings of the shoe, and with an electrical generation mechanism in the heel of the shoe which is driven by the up-and-down movements of the wearer's heel which accompanies normal activities such as skiing, hiking, etc. The electrical generator includes an armature mounted for rotational movement in a magnetic field and mechanically connected to a vertical post which is dependent on the undersurface of the heel portion of the inner sole of the shoe. The post is connected through a vertical spiral groove to a sleeve which is coupled with an escapement to a flywheel that is unidirectionally driven by the sleeve. The flywheel is coupled through a gear train to the armature of the electrical generator.