Abstract:
An optionally heated boot includes an upper footwear portion and a lower footwear portion which is attached to the upper footwear portion. The lower portion contains a sole having an upper surface and a lower surface. At least one cavity extends downwardly from the upper surface of the sole. A heating element is removably disposed within the cavity. An insole covers the sole and the heating element. The upper surface of the sole has an opening to a cavity therein. Similar cavities, generally in the form of pockets, allow for the placement of a heating element into gloves and/or earmuffs.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     This invention relates to apparel with optionally heated cavities and, more particularly, to an optionally heated footwear in which the insoles are removable to allow for the placement of either a cavity filler or a heating element in a cavity extends downwardly from the upper surface of the sole of the footwear. The footwear is also referred to herein as shoes or boots.  
         [0002]     Similar cavities, generally in the form of pockets, allow for the placement of a heating element into earmuffs and/or handwear devices, referred to herein as gloves, fingerless gloves, or mittens.  
       DISCUSSION  
       [0003]     The discussion that follows applies to heated footwear. These same principles can be applied to heated handwear and ear muffs.  
         [0004]     Heated footwear devices provide a way whereby a wearer&#39;s feet may be kept warm, especially in cold weather. These devices increase the wearer&#39;s ability to withstand the cold allowing for prolonged periods of exposure and reducing the likelihood of frostbite. However, these devices typically alter the footwear affecting its comfort.  
         [0005]     Existing footwear devices do not disclose a boot worn with either a heating element or a cavity filler in a cavity located on the upper surface of the sole of the footwear.  
         [0006]     In these respects, a boot with optionally heated cavities according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of maintaining warmth for a wearer&#39;s feet, especially in cold weather.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of heated footwear now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a boot with optionally heated cavities.  
         [0008]     An optionally heated boot includes an upper footwear portion and a lower footwear portion which is attached to the upper footwear portion. The lower portion contains a sole having an upper surface and a lower surface. At least one cavity extends downwardly from the upper surface of the sole. A heating element is removably disposed within the cavity. An insole covers the sole and the heating element. Similar cavities, generally in the form of pockets, allow for the placement of a heating element into earmuffs and/or gloves.  
         [0009]     An object of the present invention is to provide an optionally heated boot which is comfortable and feels substantially similar to a normal boot without placing the heating element in direct contact with the skin.  
         [0010]     Another object of the present invention is to provide an optionally heated boot which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.  
         [0011]     Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following description of the preferred embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]      FIG. 1  is a side view of an optionally heated boot according to applicant&#39;s invention wherein a cavity containing a heating element is located in a front (toe) region of the boot under a removable insole.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the heated boot shown in  FIG. 1  wherein the removable insole has been pulled backward across an intermediate section to permit access to the heating element held in the cavity below.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a side view of another optionally heated boot according to the present invention wherein a cavity containing a heating element is located at a rear (heel) region of the boot under the removable insole.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the heated boot shown in  FIG. 3  wherein the removable insole has been pulled forward across the intermediate section to permit access to the heating element held in the cavity below.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  is a side view of another optionally heated boot according to the present invention wherein a cavity containing a heating element is located under the length of the removable insole.  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a top view of the heated boot shown in  FIG. 5  wherein the removable insole has been lifted from the front (toe) region and the rear (heel) region of the boot to permit access to the heating element held in the cavity below.  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a side view of another optionally heated boot according to the present invention wherein an integrated cavity filler and insole has replaced the separate insole and heating element shown in  FIGS. 5-6 .  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is a top view of the optionally heated boot shown in  FIG. 7  wherein the integrated cavity filler and insole has been lifted from the front (toe) region and the rear (heel) region of the boot to permit access to the cavity below.  
         [0020]      FIG. 9  is a side view of the optionally heated boot according to the present invention wherein a cavity filler has replaced the heating element shown in  FIG. 5  in the cavity under the length of the removable insole.  
         [0021]      FIG. 10  is a view of an optionally heated glove according to applicant&#39;s invention wherein a flap has been lifted to reveal a pocket located on the back area of the glove, containing a heating element, and illustrating a snap closure.  
         [0022]      FIG. 11  is a view of another optionally heated glove according to applicant&#39;s invention wherein the flap has been lifted to reveal the pocket located on the back area of the glove, containing the heating element, and illustrating a button closure.  
         [0023]      FIG. 12  shows another optionally heated glove according to applicant&#39;s invention wherein the flap has been lifted to reveal the pocket located on the back area of the glove, containing the heating element, and illustrating a hook-and-loop closure.  
         [0024]      FIG. 13  is a view of another optionally heated glove wherein a detachable pocket having an opening adjacent to the second (index) finger for receiving a heating element is attached with a hook-and-loop closure to the back of the proximal region of the second finger and to the fifth finger at substantially the same point.  
         [0025]      FIG. 14  is a view of another optionally heated glove according to applicant&#39;s invention wherein a pocket located on the palm area of the glove and having an opening on the thumb side receives a heating element.  
         [0026]      FIG. 15  shows another optionally heated glove according to applicant&#39;s invention wherein the flap has been lifted to reveal the pocket located on the palm area of the glove, containing the heating element, and illustrating the hook-and-loop closure.  
         [0027]      FIG. 16  is a view of a fingerless optionally heated glove according to applicant&#39;s invention wherein the flap has been lifted to reveal the pocket located on the palm area of the glove, containing the heating element, and illustrating the hook-and-loop closure.  
         [0028]      FIG. 17  is a view of an optionally heated mitten according to applicant&#39;s invention wherein a flap has been lifted to reveal a pocket located on the palm area of the glove, containing a heating element, and illustrating a hook-and-loop closure.  
         [0029]      FIG. 18  is a view of optionally heated earmuffs according to applicant&#39;s invention wherein a pocket containing a heating element is located in each ear covering.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0030]     In the following description, like numerals and characters designate like elements throughout the figures of the drawings.  
         [0031]     Referring generally to the drawings and more particularly to  FIGS. 1-2 , a heated boot  50  in accordance with the present invention is shown. The heated boot  50  includes a sole  52 , a removable insole  76 , and an upper portion  54  for accepting a foot. The upper portion  54  is formed by a pair of sides  56  and  58  attached to the sole  52  having a sole width  60 . The sole  52  includes a front (toe) region  62 , a rear (heel) region  64 , and an upper surface  66  extending from the front (toe) region  62  to the rear (heel) region  64 . The removable insole  76  covers the upper surface  66  of the sole  52 .  
         [0032]     The sole  52  contains a cavity  68  having an opening  70  on the upper surface  66  and extending downwardly. The cavity  68  extends from the front (toe) region  62  toward an intermediate region  74  of the sole  52 . A heating element  72  resides and is removably positioned within the cavity  68 . The removable insole  76  closes the opening  70  to the cavity  68  and covers the heating element  72 .  
         [0033]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3-4 , another heated boot  51  is shown. A cavity  168  extends from the rear (heel) region  64  toward the intermediate region  74  of the sole  52 . Lifting the removable insole  76  from the rear (heel) region  64  reveals an opening  170  to the cavity  168  and a heating element  172  contained therein (See  FIG. 4 ).  
         [0034]     Referring now to  FIGS. 5-6 , another heated boot  251  is shown. A cavity  268  extends from the front (toe) region  62  to the rear (heel) region  64 . In  FIG. 6 , lifting the removable insole  76  at the front (toe) region  62  and the rear (heel) region  64  reveals an opening  270  to the cavity  268  and a heating element  272  contained therein.  
         [0035]     Referring now to  FIGS. 7-8 , the cavity  268  extends from the front (toe) region  62  to the rear (heel) region  64 . In  FIG. 8 , an integrated cavity filler and insole  382  is illustrated. This insole  382  is an alternate insole to the removable insole  76  (See  FIGS. 2 and 4 ). A cavity filler part  380  of the integrated cavity filler and insole  382  resides within the cavity  268  while an insole part  376  of the integrated cavity filler and insole  382  covers the upper surface  66  of the sole  52 . Generally, the cavity filler part  380  is constructed of a material substantially similar to the material of the sole  52 .  
         [0036]     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , the cavity  268  extends from the front (toe) region  62  to the rear (heel) region  64  as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . The removable insole  76  covers the opening  270  (See  FIG. 6 ) to the cavity  268  and a cavity filler  400  contained therein. Generally, the cavity filler  400  is constructed of a material substantially similar to the material of the sole  52 .  
         [0037]     Referring generally to  FIGS. 10-17 , and more particularly to  FIG. 10 , a heated glove  450  in accordance with applicant&#39;s invention is shown. A flap  476  attached to the back (posterior) area  464  of the glove  450  forms a pocket  468 . The flap  476  has been lifted to reveal a snap closure  486  and a heating element  472 . The flap  476 , when closed, covers the heating element  472 .  
         [0038]     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , an optionally heated glove  451  is shown. The flap  476  attached to the back area  464  of the heated glove  451  has been lifted to reveal a button closure  488  and the heating element  472 . The flap  476 , when closed, covers the heating element  472 .  
         [0039]     Referring now to  FIG. 12 , an optionally heated glove  461  is shown. The flap  476  attached to the back area  464  of the glove  461  has been lifted to reveal a hook-and-loop closure  484  and the heating element  472 . The flap  476 , when closed, covers the heating element  472 .  
         [0040]     Referring now to  FIG. 13 , an optionally heated glove  950  is shown. A detachable pocket  968  receives a heating element  972  through a slot opening  970 . The detachable pocket  968  is affixed using pair of hook-and-loop fasteners  984 . One hook-and-loop fastener  984  secures the detachable pocket  968  to the back  964  of the proximal region  960  of the second (index) finger  956 . The second hook-and-loop fastener  984  (not shown) secures the detachable pocket  968  to the proximal region  962  of the fifth finger  958 . The slot opening  970  is adjacent to the second finger  956 .  
         [0041]     Referring now to  FIG. 14 , another heated glove  650  in accordance with applicant&#39;s invention is shown. An expandable pocket  668  is formed by a flap  676  of expandable material attached to the palm area  662  of the glove  650  creating a slot opening  670  to the pocket  668  into which a heating element  672  is inserted. Generally, the slot opening  670  to the pocket  668  opens toward the thumb  654  and is narrower than the heating element  672  so that once the heating element  672  is inserted, the expandable pocket  668  contracts and the heating element  672  is secured.  
         [0042]     Referring now to  FIG. 15 , another heated glove  750  is shown. A pocket  768  is formed by a flap  776  attached to the palm area  762  of the glove  750 . The flap  776  has been partially lifted to reveal a hook-and-loop closure  784  and a heating element  772 . The flap  776 , when closed, covers the heating element  772 .  
         [0043]     Referring now to  FIG. 16 , a heated fingerless glove  850  in accordance with applicant&#39;s invention is shown. A pocket  868  is formed by a flap  876  attached to the palm area  862  of the glove  850 . The flap  876  has been partially lifted to reveal a hook-and-loop closure  884  and a heating element  872 . The flap  876 , when closed, covers the heating element  872 .  
         [0044]     Referring now to  FIG. 17 , a heated mitten  550  in accordance with applicant&#39;s invention is shown. A pocket  568  is formed by a flap  576  attached to the palm area  562  of the mitten. The flap  576  has been partially lifted to reveal a hook-and-loop closure  584  and a heating element  572 . The flap  576 , when closed, covers the heating element  572 .  
         [0045]     Referring now to  FIG. 18 , heated earmuffs  1050  in accordance with applicant&#39;s invention are shown. Heated earmuffs  1050  include a left ear covering  1056  and a right ear covering  1058  and may include an adjustable headband  1054  connecting the left ear covering  1056  and the right ear covering  1058 . Both the left ear covering  1056  and the right ear covering  1058  include an opening  1070  to a pocket  1068  at the covering&#39;s surface  1066 . The opening  1070  in the right ear covering  1058  is partially ajar to reveal a heating element  1072  disposed within the pocket  1068 .  
         [0046]     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the invention&#39;s principles and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the invention&#39;s scope be defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.