Temperature Adjustable Shoe

Abstract

A temperature adjustable shoe for use in changing a temperature of a user's foot includes a shoe body member having a bottom portion, a front portion extending upwardly from the bottom portion, and a rear portion extending upwardly from the bottom portion, the bottom front, and rear portions having a unitary construction that defines an interior area. The front and the rear portions of the shoe body define an opening through which a user's foot is selectively inserted or removed from the interior area. A lower temperature sensitive member is positioned in the interior area and fixedly attached to an upper surface of the body portion. An upper temperature sensitive member is positioned in the interior area and fixedly attached to a lower surface of the front portion.

Description

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This non-provisional patent application claims the benefit of provisional application Ser. No. 61/761,893 filed on Feb. 7, 2013, titled Temperature Adjustable Shoe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to therapeutic footwear and, more particularly, to a temperature adjustable shoe that may be heated or cooled and, as a result, can impart the significantly reduced or elevated temperatures to the foot of a person wearing the shoe.

Heat builds up in a person's feet when active and wearing shoes, especially when the person is walking, running, working out, or otherwise on his feet for a significant or unusual period of time. Some occupations require constant standing or walking, such as hairdressers, retail salespersons, and the like. People in these or similar circumstances often come home and immediately remove their shoes, sit or lay down with their feet elevated, or may even soak their feet in cold water until the heat and inflammation is dissipated. In fact, some people with foot discomfort may take bags of frozen vegetables from a freezer and position them about their aching or burning feet.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have a temperature adjustable shoe that may be inserted into a freezer, refrigerator, or cooler of ice and become frozen, crystallized, or otherwise at a reduced temperature such that a person may put the shoe on his foot to relieve the discomfort. Further, it would be desirable to have a temperature adjustable shoe that maintains its reduced temperature for at least twenty minutes after being removed from the extreme cold environment. In addition, it would be desirable to have a temperature adjustable shoe that enables a user to receive therapeutic relief while walking freely around the house, running errands, going to sports practices, or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A temperature adjustable shoe for use in changing a temperature of a user's foot according to the present invention includes a shoe body member having a bottom portion, a front portion extending upwardly from the bottom portion, and a rear portion extending upwardly from the bottom portion, the bottom front, and rear portions having a unitary construction that defines an interior area. The front and the rear portions of the shoe body define an opening through which a user's foot is selectively inserted or removed from the interior area. A lower temperature sensitive member is positioned in the interior area and fixedly attached to an upper surface of the body portion. An upper temperature sensitive member is positioned in the interior area and fixedly attached to a lower surface of the front portion.

Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a temperature adjustable shoe having at least one temperature sensitive member positioned in an interior area along the shoe sole and configured to cool a user's foot when inserted into the interior area.

Another object of this invention is to provide a temperature adjustable shoe, as aforesaid, having another temperature sensitive member positioned in an interior area along in upper portion of the shoe so that a user's foot is substantially enveloped by the temperature sensitive members when inserted into the interior area of the shoe.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a temperature adjustable shoe, as aforesaid, in which the entire shoe with the temperature adjustable members may be placed into a refrigerator freezer to be adjusted to a cool temperature.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a temperature adjustable shoe, as aforesaid, in which the temperature sensitive members are gel packages.

A further object of this invention is to provide a temperature adjustable shoe, as aforesaid, in which the temperature sensitive members retain a reduced temperature for a predetermined amount of time after being removed from a refrigerator freezer.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a temperature adjustable shoe according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the temperature adjustable shoe as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3a is a rear view of the temperature adjustable shoe as in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3b is a sectional view taken along line 3b-3b of FIG. 3a.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A temperature adjustable shoe according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3b of the accompanying drawings. The temperature adjustable shoe 10 includes a shoe member 12, a lower temperature sensitive member 50, and an upper temperature sensitive member 60.

With reference to FIG. 1, the shoe member 12 includes a bottom portion 20 having a front end 22 and a rear end 24. The bottom portion 20 may include tread features or other non-slip features on a lower surface thereof. The shoe member 12 also includes a front portion 30 extending upwardly from the bottom portion 20 adjacent the front end 22 thereof. The front portion 30 includes opposed side walls and a top wall as is traditional with closed toe shoes. The front portion 30 may be seen generally as the main foot-encompassing portion of the shoe member 12. The shoe member 12 further includes a rear portion 40 having side and rear walls extending upwardly from the bottom portion 20 adjacent the rear end 24 of the bottom portion 20. While a casual fitting shoe is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the shoe member 12 may be in the form of a tennis shoe, sneaker, slipper, dress shoe, open shoe such as a thong, or other suitable foot covering.

The bottom portion 20, front portion 30, and rear portion 40 include a unitary construction that, together, defines an interior area 14 (FIG. 3b). In other words, the shoe member 12 defines a hollow interior in a traditional manner. Further, the front portion 30 and rear portion 40 define an opening 32 through which a user's foot may be inserted into or removed from the interior area 14.

The lower temperature sensitive member 50 is situated in the interior area 14 and coupled to an upper surface of the bottom portion 20 of the shoe member 12. More particularly, the lower temperature sensitive member 50 includes a generally elongate and planar configuration (FIG. 2) extending substantially and continuously between the front end 22 and rear end 24 of the bottom portion 20 (FIG. 3b). The lower temperature sensitive member 50 may be fixedly coupled to the upper surface of the bottom portion 20 and, as a result, is not removable from the interior area 14 of the shoe member 12. In one embodiment, the gel material may be molded into the bottom portion 20 as a method of manufacture.

The lower temperature sensitive member 50 includes a gel material situated within a plastic or polymer material and is flexible and comfortable to a user's foot. Further, the gel material is formulated to retain an elevated or reduced temperature condition for an extended period of time. For instance, the gel material will maintain a cold temperature for an extended period of time after being crystallized/frozen, such as for twenty minutes or longer, after being removed from a freezer. Similarly, the gel material may maintain a warm temperature for an extended period after being warmed in a microwave oven.

The upper temperature sensitive member 60 is situated in the interior area 14 and coupled to lower surface of the front portion 30 of the shoe member 12. The upper temperature sensitive member 60 may include a configuration that is complementary to the configuration of the front portion 30 of the front portion 30 and, as a result, includes side and top sections (FIG. 2). The upper temperature sensitive member 60 may extend substantially and continuously between the front end 22 of the bottom portion 20 and the opening 32 defined by the front portion 30 and rear portion 40. The upper temperature sensitive member 60 may be fixedly coupled to the lower surface of the front portion 30 and, as a result, not be removable from the shoe member 12. In one embodiment, the gel material may be molded into the bottom portion 20 as a method of manufacture. Finally, the upper temperature sensitive member 60 includes the same construction and characteristics of the lower temperature sensitive member 50 as described above.

In use, the shoe member 12 (or a pair of shoe members 12) may be placed in the freezer of a refrigerator and left there long enough for the temperature sensitive members to become crystallized. Then, when a person comes home after a workout, ball game, practice, golf game, work, shopping, or other activity in which wearing shoes for a prolonged period of time has caused significant foot discomfort, the shoes may be removed from the freezer and put on in a normal manner. In doing so, a user's foot is immediately and completely enveloped by the cold upper and lower temperature sensitive members. Contact with the cold gel packs causes (1) heat to be more quickly dissipated from the person's feet, (2) swelling and inflammation to be reduced, and (3) a general feeling of relaxation and comfort. In some embodiments, the temperature sensitive members may be warmed by placing the shoes in a microwave oven and warmed, thereby enabling a user to wear the shoes to warm his feet.

It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A temperature adjustable shoe for use in changing a temperature of a user's foot, comprising:

a shoe body member having a bottom portion, said bottom portion having a front end and an opposed rear end;

said shoe body member includes a front portion extending upwardly from said bottom portion adjacent said front end thereof and a rear portion extending upwardly from said bottom portion adjacent said rear end thereof, said bottom, front, and rear portions having a unitary construction that defines an interior area;

wherein said front and said rear portions of said shoe body define an opening through which the user's foot is selectively inserted or removed from said interior area; and

a lower temperature sensitive member positioned in said interior area and fixedly attached to an upper surface of said body member lower portion.

2. The temperature adjustable shoe as in claim 1, wherein said lower temperature sensitive member extends continuously between said front end and said rear end of said body member bottom portion.

3. The temperature adjustable shoe as in claim 1, further comprising an upper temperature sensitive member positioned in said interior area and fixedly attached to a lower surface of said body member upper portion.

4. The temperature adjustable shoe as in claim 3, wherein said upper temperature sensitive member extends continuously between said front end of said body member bottom portion and said opening.

5. The temperature adjustable shoe as in claim 4, wherein said upper temperature sensitive member has a configuration complementary to a configuration of said body member upper portion such that said upper temperature sensitive member includes opposed upper portion side sections and an upper portion top section extending therebetween.

6. The temperature adjustable shoe as in claim 3, wherein said upper temperature sensitive member and said body member upper portion have a unitary molded construction.

7. The temperature adjustable shoe as in claim 1, wherein said lower temperature sensitive member and said body member bottom portion have a unitary molded construction.

8. The temperature adjustable shoe as in claim 1, wherein said body member lower portion is constructed of a gel material that is formulated to retain a selectively reduced or elevated temperature condition for a predetermined amount of time.

9. The temperature adjustable shoe as in claim 3, wherein said body member upper portion is constructed of a gel material that is formulated to retain a selectively reduced or elevated temperature condition for a predetermined amount of time.

10. The temperature adjustable shoe as in claim 1, wherein said body member lower portion includes a lower surface having tread elements configured to inhibit slippage.

11. The temperature adjustable shoe as in claim 1, wherein said shoe member is taken from a group that includes a tennis shoe, a sneaker, a slipper, a dress shoe, and an open shoe.

12. The temperature adjustable shoe as in claim 1, wherein said lower temperature member includes an elongate and generally planar configuration.

13. The temperature adjustable shoe as in claim 1, wherein said lower temperature sensitive member and said upper temperature sensitive member are configured to envelop the user's foot when the user's foot is inserted into said interior area of said body member.

14. A temperature adjustable shoe for use in changing a temperature of a user's foot, comprising:

a shoe body member having a bottom portion, said bottom portion having a front end and an opposed rear end;

said shoe body member includes a front portion extending upwardly from said bottom portion adjacent said front end thereof and a rear portion extending upwardly from said bottom portion adjacent said rear end thereof, said bottom, front, and rear portions having a unitary construction that defines an interior area;

said front and said rear portions of said shoe body defining an opening through which the user's foot is selectively inserted or removed from said interior area;

a lower temperature sensitive member positioned in said interior area and fixedly attached to an upper surface of said body member lower portion, said lower temperature sensitive member extending continuously between said front end and said rear end of said body member bottom portion; and

an upper temperature sensitive member positioned in said interior area and fixedly attached to a lower surface of said body member upper portion, said upper temperature sensitive member extending continuously between said front end of said body member bottom portion and said opening.

15. The temperature adjustable shoe as in claim 14, wherein:

said upper temperature sensitive member and said body member upper portion have a unitary molded construction; and

said lower temperature sensitive member and said body member bottom portion have a unitary molded construction.

16. The temperature adjustable shoe as in claim 14, wherein:

said body member lower portion is constructed of a gel material that is formulated to retain a selectively reduced or elevated temperature condition for a predetermined amount of time; and

said body member upper portion is constructed of a gel material that is formulated to retain a selectively reduced or elevated temperature condition for a predetermined amount of time.

17. The temperature adjustable shoe as in claim 16, wherein said body member lower portion includes an exterior surface having tread elements configured to inhibit slippage.

18. The temperature adjustable shoe as in claim 16, wherein said shoe member is taken from a group that includes a tennis shoe, a sneaker, a slipper, a dress shoe, and an open shoe.

19. The temperature adjustable shoe as in claim 16, wherein said lower temperature member includes an elongate planar configuration.

20. The temperature adjustable shoe as in claim 16, wherein said lower temperature sensitive member and said upper temperature sensitive member are configured to envelop the user's foot when the user's foot is inserted into said interior area of said body member.