Patent Publication Number: US-4094080-A

Title: Boot or shoe heating device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to outdoor footwear and more particularly to a device for heating a boot or shoe. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Prior art devices, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,761,829; 2,402,726; 2,298,299 and 3,977,093, for heating shoes or boots have generally comprised electrical resistance wiring disposed within the soles and uppers of shoes or boots with the wiring being connected with a self-contained or external source of electrical energy for generating heat to keep the wearer&#39;s feet warm. The principal objection to such shoe or boot heating devices is that the heating elements must be installed at the time of manufacture which increases the cost of the footwear. 
     This invention provides a way of heating existing footwear and is attached to such footwear only when the temperature requires additional heat for the wearer when out of doors. In warm seasons the device may be removed and stored for use in cold weather. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A pair of rectangular superposed sections of fabric sheet material are longitudinally stitched together along marginal sides, after being longitudinally slit from one end portion and transversely stiched together adjacent the inward limit of the slit, to form a plurality of pockets to respectively overlie the toe, instep and vamp portions of a boot or shoe. The divided ends of the fabric are secured around the heel of the footwear by laces. The toe portion of the fabric is attached to the footwear by a rod-like member underlying the toe portion of the sole and attached to opposite sides of the toe portion of the fabric. The pockets contain a like plurality of flameless heat generating heaters for heating the shoe or boot. 
     The principal object of this invention is to provide a fabric casing containing a plurality of heat generating units which may be connected with the exterior of a shoe or boot for keeping the wearer&#39;s feet warm. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device attached to a boot; 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view illustrating the preferred manner of forming the heating unit containing device; 
     FIGS. 3 and 4 are fragmentary vertical cross sectional views taken substantially along the lines 3--3 and 4--4 of FIG. 2, respectively; and, 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the toe end portion fastening member. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Like characters of reference designate like parts in those figures of the drawings in which they occur. 
     In the drawings: 
     The reference numeral 10 indicates a substantially conventional boot having a sole 12, a heel 14, a toe portion 16, an instep portion 18, vamps 20 and uppers 22. 
     The numeral 24 indicates a casing overlying the toe, instep and vamp portions of the boot 10 and surrounding the heel end portion of the boot. The casing 24 is formed from two rectangular sections of superposed fabric sheet material stitched together along marginal edges, as at 26, and transversely stitched together intermediate their ends, as at 28, to form a toe and instep pocket covering portion 30 open at the forward end 32 of the casing. Fabric, formed from synthetic material, has proven satisfactory. 
     The end of the toe pocket forming portion 30 is provided with a flap portion 34 overlying the upper section of fabric and secured thereto by a snap fastener 36. Adjacent the end 32, the lateral sides of the toe pocket portion 30 is provided with a pair of eyelets 38 for connecting the toe pocket portion 30 to the boot 10 as presently explained. 
     Both layers of fabric are longitudinally slit or divided rearwardly of the stitching 28 from the stitched together rearward end 40 of the casing to define opposing side pockets 42 and 44 with both pockets being open at their confronting edges, as viewed in FIG. 2. The rearward end of the casing pockets 42 and 44 is reinforced by doubled back portions of the fabric and stitching 45 and is provided with a plurality of eyelets 46 for receiving laces or strands 48 to secure the casing to the shoe. 
     A rod-like toe clip 50, flat U-shaped in general configuration, has each end portion of its legs arcuately curved to form closed loops 52 for receiving similar laces or strands 54 which are respectively entrained through the eyelets 38 to secure the pocket portion 30 to the boot with the bight portion 55, of the U-shaped toe clip underlying the toe end portion of the boot sole 12. 
     Prior to placing the casing 24 on the boot, a hand warmer 56 is placed within the respective pocket 30, 42 and 44. The hand warmer 56 is conventional and an example thereof is disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 2,579,620. A plurality of charcoal sticks, not shown, are preferably used as fuel for the hand warmers 56. The charcoal sticks are ignited prior to placing the hand warmers within the pockets. 
     OPERATION 
     In operation the hand warmers 56 are ignited and placed within the respective pockets and the casing 24 is connected with the boot 10, as described hereinabove. 
     Obviously the invention is susceptible to changes or alterations without defeating its practicability. Therefore, I do not wish to be confined to the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings and described herein.