HEATED SHOE

Abstract

A heated shoe includes a main body, a sole, a heat conducting layer and a heat generating module. The heat generating module includes a power generating unit, a rectifying circuit and a heat generating unit, which are electrically connected in series. The power generating unit and the rectifying circuit are located in the sole, and the heat generating unit is located at the heat conducting layer. The power generating unit provides and outputs induced current, the rectifying circuit receives, rectifies and processes the induced current from the power generating unit. The heat generating unit converts electric energy from the rectifying circuit into heat, and the heat conducting layer outputs the heat.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to a co-pending U.S. patent application (Attorney Docket No. [US38523]), entitled “THERAPEUTIC SHOE”, by Zhen Shi et al. Said application has the same assignee as the present application and is concurrently filed herewith. The disclosure of the above-identified application is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The disclosure generally relates to shoes, and more particularly to heated shoes which can automatically generate electric energy.

2. Description of the Related Art

Different heated insoles are typically used in shoes to heat the insides of the shoes. However, the heated effects of the heated shoes are not always very satisfactory. Moreover, after a period of use, the heated performance of the heated insoles gradually weakens due to wear and/or impact of moisture. Thus, the user needs to constantly replace the old insoles to maintain the heated effect, resulting in increased cost.

Therefore, there is room for improvement within the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Many aspects of an exemplary heated shoe can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the exemplary heated shoe. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like elements of an embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a cut-away view of a heated shoe, according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a block view of a heat generating module of the heated shoe as shown in FIG. 1 of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a heated shoe 100, according to an exemplary embodiment of the disclosure. The heated shoe 100 can automatically generate electric energy through electromagnetic induction and converts the electric energy into heat.

Also referring to FIG. 2, the heated shoe 100 includes a main body 20, an insole 30, a protection layer 40, a heat conducting layer 50, a sole 60, and a heat generating module 70. The insole 30, the protection layer 40 and the heat conducting layer 50 are located between the main body 20 and the sole 60 in turn.

The insole 30 is located within the main body 20 and can be made from heat insulation material and soft magnetic material, having warm and healthy benefits. The protection layer 40 is located at one side of and adjacent to the insole 30 and can be made from insulation material. The protection layer 40 is capable of preventing the electric energy from the heat generating module 70 from transmission to users.

The sole 60 is located at one side of the main body 20 and can be made of elastic material, therefore, the sole 60 is capable of elastically deforming and automatically restoring its initial shape after elastic deformation. The sole 60 defines a receiving space 62 substantially at the heel of the heated shoe 100, the receiving space 62 is capable of receiving the heat generating module 70.

The heat generating module 70 is capable of generating induced current by electromagnetic induction and includes a power generating unit 71, a rectifying circuit 73, a first switch 74, a power storage unit 75, a heat generating unit 76, and a second switch 77. The power generating unit 71 includes a magnet 712 and a coil 714.

In this exemplary embodiment, the magnet 712 can be a substantially cylindrical or rectangular shaped permanent magnet, and is located at the upper wall of the receiving space 62. The coil 714 can be made of copper and is a substantially cylindrical or rectangular shaped inductive coil corresponding to the magnet 712. The coil 714 is located at the bottom wall of the receiving space 62 and is aligned with the magnet 712. Thus, when the sole 60 is elastically deformed or is restored its elastic deformation, the sole 60 drives the magnet 712 to reciprocate in the coil 714. Thus, the coil 714 cuts magnetic field lines of the magnet 712 to generate induced current therein according to the principle of electromagnetic induction.

The rectifying circuit 73 is in electronic communication with the coil 714 of the power generating unit 71, and substantially includes transformers, rectifiers, filters, rectifier diodes, and other electronic components. The rectifying circuit 73 is capable of receiving and converting the induced current from the coil 714 into corresponding direct current (DC).

The first switch 74 can be a single pole double throw (SPDT) switch, and includes a common end 742, a first fixed contact 744, and a second fixed contact 745. The common end 742 is in electronic communication with the rectifying circuit 73, and the first fixed contact 744 and the second fixed contact 745 are electrically connected to the power storage unit 75 and the heat generating unit 76, respectively.

The power storage unit 75 can be a storage battery and is capable of storing electric energy and providing electric energy for the heat generating unit 76. In this exemplary embodiment, when the common end 742 of the first switch 74 is switched on to electrically connect the first fixed contact 744, the power storage unit 75 receives and stores the electric energy from the rectifying circuit 73.

The heat generating unit 76 can be a heater strip made from aludirome, nickel aluminium alloy or other alloy materials. The heat generating unit 76 is located in the heat conducting layer 50, arranged as grid-like arrangement. Thus, when the common end 742 of the first switch 74 is switched on to electrically connect the second fixed contact 745, the heat generating unit 76 electrically connects the rectifying circuit 73 and rectifies the electric energy from the rectifying circuit 73 into heat provided for the heated shoe 100.

The second switch 77 can be a single pole single throw (SPST) switch and is electrically connected between the power storage unit 75 and the heat generating unit 76. In this exemplary embodiment, when the second switch 77 is turned on, the power storage unit 75 selectively and electrically connects to the heat generating unit 76 to provide electric energy for the heat generating unit 76 which can generate heat at any time.

Further referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in use, the users press and force the sole 60 in the course of walking or exercise, making the sole 60 elastically deform and restore elastic deformation, so the magnet 712 moves back and forth alternately in the coil 714. Thus, the closed coil 714 continues to cut the magnetic field lines of the magnet 712 to generate induced current within the coil 714. The rectifying circuit 73 processes, and rectifies the induced current from the coil 714 into corresponding stable DC. When the common end 742 of the first switch 74 is switched on to electrically connect the second fixed contact 745, the heat generating unit 76 electrically connects the rectifying circuit 73 and converts the electric energy from the rectifying circuit 73 into heat, provided for the heated shoe 100. When the common end 742 of the first switch 74 is switched on to electrically connect the first fixed contact 744, the power storage unit 75 electrically connects the rectifying circuit 73, receiving and storing the electric energy from the rectifying circuit 73.

In this exemplary embodiment, when the users are not moving, the second switch 77 can be selectively switched on, the heat generating unit 76 then is electrically connected to the power storage unit 75, and converts the electric energy stored in the power storage unit 75 into unrestricted heat for the heated shoe 100.

The heat generating module 70 further includes an interface 78, which includes hardware and associated circuitry and is implemented to link one device with another. In this exemplary embodiment, the interface 78 is electrically connected to the power storage unit 75, so the power storage unit 75 can electrically connect to an electronic device (not shown), such as a mobile phone, to power the electronic device.

Moreover, the sole 60 further includes at least one spring 64 received within the receiving space 62. The opposite ends of each spring 64 are fixed at the upper wall and the bottom wall of the receiving space 62 respectively. Thus, the springs 64 and the sole 60 elastically deform and restore elastic deformation to force the magnet 712 to reciprocate in the coil 714, so the closed coil 714 cuts the magnetic field lines of the magnet 712 to generate induced current therein.

Additionally, the sole 60 further includes an iron plate 66. The iron plate 66 is located on and adjacent to the magnet 712, and is capable of maintaining and enhancing the magnetism of the magnet 712.

In summary, in the heated shoe 100 of the exemplary embodiment of this disclosure, if the users presses the sole 60, the power generating unit 71 generates induced current based on electromagnetic induction. The induced current is rectified and processed, and then is transmitted to the heat generating unit 76, and the heat generating unit 76 converts electric energy into heat provided for the heated shoe 100, which can meet the requirements of the users. In addition, the electric energy from the power generating unit 71 can be stored within the power storage unit 75, as to provide the electric energy for the heat generating unit 76. Thus, the heated shoe 100 can generate unrestricted heat.

In the present specification and claims the word “a” or “an” preceding an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. Further, the word “comprising” does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the exemplary disclosure have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the exemplary disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of exemplary disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

Claims

1. A heated shoe, comprising:

a main body;

a sole located at one side of and adjacent to the main body;

a heat conducting layer located between the main body and the sole; and

a heat generating module comprising: a power generating unit located within the sole, the power generating unit for providing and outputting induced current; a rectifying circuit electrically connected to the power generating unit and located within the sole; and a heat generating unit electrically connected to the rectifying circuit, wherein the rectifying circuit receives, rectifies and processes the induced current from the power generating unit, the heat generating unit is located at the heat conducting layer and converts electric energy from the rectifying circuit into heat, and the heat conducting layer outputs the heat.

2. The heated shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sole is made of elastic material and is capable of elastically deforming and automatically restoring elastic deformation.

3. The heated shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sole comprises a receiving space and a spring, the power generating unit and the rectifying circuit are received within the receiving space, and the opposite ends of the spring are fixed at the upper wall and the bottom wall of the receiving space respectively.

4. The heated shoe as claimed in claim 3, wherein the power generating unit comprises a magnet and a coil, the magnet is a permanent magnet and is located at the upper wall of the receiving space, the coil is an inductive coil and is located at the bottom wall of the receiving space and is aligned with the magnet, and when the sole and spring elastically deform or restore elastic deformation, the sole drives the magnet to reciprocate in the coil, the coil cuts magnetic field lines of the magnet and generates induced current.

5. The heated shoe as claimed in claim 4, wherein the rectifying circuit is in electronic communication with the coil of the power generating unit and comprises filter, transformers, rectifiers, rectifier diodes, and other electronic components, the rectifying circuit is capable of receiving and converting the induced current from the coil into corresponding direct current.

6. The heated shoe as claimed in claim 4, wherein the heat generating module further comprises a first switch and a power storage, the first switch is a single pole double throw switch and comprises a common end, a first fixed contact and a second fixed contact, the common end is in electronic communication with the rectifying circuit, and the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact are electrically connected to the power storage unit and the heat generating unit respectively.

7. The heated shoe as claimed in claim 6, wherein the power storage unit is a heater strip and is arranged as grid-like arrangement, the power storage unit is for storing and providing the electric energy for the heat generating unit, when the common end of the first switch is switched on to electrically connect the first fixed contact, the power storage unit receives and stores the electric energy from the rectifying circuit; when the common end is switched on to electrically connect the second fixed contact, the heat generating unit electrically connects the rectifying circuit and converts the electric energy from the rectifying circuit into heat for the heated shoe.

8. The heated shoe as claimed in claim 7, wherein the heat generating module further comprises a second switch electrically connected between the power storage unit and the heat generating unit, the second switch is a signal pole single throw switch, and when the second switch is turned on, the power storage unit selectively and electrically connects to the heat generating unit to provide electric energy for the heat generating unit, and the heat generating unit coverts the electric energy into heat.

9. The heated shoe as claimed in claim 7, wherein the heat generating module further comprises an interface implemented to links one device with another, and the interface is electrically connected to the power storage unit, and the power storage unit is electrically connected to an electronic device to power the electronic device.

10. The heated shoe as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an insole and a protection layer, wherein the insole is located within the main body and is made from heat insulation material and soft magnetic material, and the protection layer is located at one side of and adjacent to the insole and is made from insulation material, the protection layer is for preventing the electric energy from transmission to users.

11. The heated shoe as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sole further comprises an iron plate located on and adjacent to the magnet, the iron plate is for maintaining and enhancing the magnetism of the magnet.

12. A heated shoe, comprise:

a sole;

a heat conducting layer located at one side of the sole; and

a heat generating module located adjacent to the heat conducting layer, the heat generating module comprising: a power generating unit located within the sole, the power generating unit for generating induced current by electromagnetic induction; a rectifying circuit located within the sole and is electrically connected to the power generating unit, the rectifying circuit for rectifying and processing the induced current; a first switch located within the sole and electrically connected to the rectifying circuit; a power storage unit located within the sole, the power storage unit for storing and providing electric energy; and a heat generating unit located at the heat conducting layer, wherein the first switch is selectively switched on to electrically connect the power storage unit and the heat generating unit, when the first switch is switched on to electrically connect the power storage unit, the power storage unit receives and stores the electric energy from the rectifying circuit; when the first switch is turned on to electrically connect the heat generating unit, the heat generating unit converts the electric energy from the rectifying circuit into heat, the conducting layer outputs the heat.

13. The heated shoe as claimed in claim 12, wherein the sole comprises a receiving space and a spring, the power generating unit, the first switch, the rectifying circuit, and the power storage unit are received within the receiving space, and the opposite ends of the spring are fixed at the upper wall and the bottom wall of the receiving space respectively.

14. The heated shoe as claimed in claim 13, wherein the power generating unit comprises a magnet and a coil, the magnet is a permanent magnet and is located at the upper wall of the receiving space, the coil is an inductive coil and is located at the bottom wall of the receiving space and is aligned with the magnet, when the sole and spring elastically deform or restore elastic deformation, the sole drives the magnet to reciprocate in the coil, the coil cuts magnetic field lines of the magnet and generates induced current.

15. The heated shoe as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first switch is a single pole double throw switch and comprises a common end, a first fixed contact and a second fixed contact, the common end is in electronic communication with the rectifying circuit, and the first fixed contact and the second fixed contact are electrically connected to the power storage unit and the heat generating unit respectively.

16. The heated shoe as claimed in claim 15, wherein the power storage unit is a heater strip and is arranged as grid-like arrangement, the power storage unit stores and provides the electric energy for the heat generating unit, when the common end of the first switch is switched on to electrically connect the first fixed contact, the power storage unit receives and stores the electric energy from the rectifying circuit; when the common end of the first switch is switched on to electrically connect the second fixed contact, the heat generating unit electrically connects the rectifying circuit and converts the electric energy from the rectifying circuit into heat for the heated shoe.

17. The heated shoe as claimed in claim 12, wherein the heat generating module further comprises a second switch electrically connected between the power storage unit and the heat generating unit, the second switch is a single pole single throw switch, and when the second switch is turned on, the power storage unit selectively and electrically connects to the heat generating unit to provide electric energy for the heat generating unit, and the heat generating unit coverts the electric energy into heat.

18. The heated shoe as claimed in claim 12, wherein the heat generating module further comprises an interface implemented to links one device with another, and the interface is electrically connected to the power storage unit, and the power storage unit is electrically connected to an electronic device to power the electronic device.

19. The heated shoe as claimed in claim 12, further comprising an insole and a protection layer, wherein the insole is located within the main body and is made from heat insulation material and soft magnetic material, and the protection layer is located at one side of and adjacent to the insole and is made from insulation material, the protection layer is for preventing the electric energy from transmission to users.

20. The heated shoe as claimed in claim 13, wherein the sole further comprises an iron plate located on and adjacent to the magnet, the iron plate is for maintaining and enhancing the magnetism of the magnet.