Method and apparatus for providing internal heating of footwear

A method of converting mechanical energy into thermal energy for heating footwear, the method including

• providing an energy harvesting apparatus including a first flexible chamber containing a quantity of liquid, a second flexible chamber containing a quantity of liquid, an energy-generating tube coupled to the first and second flexible chambers wherein the energy-generating tube includes a plurality of segments of conductive material disposed within spaced-apart regions of the tube material along a length thereof such that the liquid flows within the tube between the first and second flexible chambers, and an energy-producing element disposed within the energy-generating tube and comprising an energy-generating chain formed of spaced-apart regions of magnetic material disposed along a flexible string, the energy-generating chain disposed within the energy-generating tube in a manner where the chain slides back and forth within the tube as liquid flows between the first and second flexible chambers, defining multiple areas of overlap between the regions of magnetic material and the segments of conductive material to create eddy currents within the segments of conductive material, the eddy currents generating thermal energy in the form of resistive heat;
• applying a mechanical pressure to the first flexible chamber, forcing a portion of the contained liquid into the energy-generating tube, moving the energy-producing element toward the second flexible chamber;
• removing the mechanical pressure applied to the first flexible chamber;
• applying a mechanical pressure to the second flexible chamber, forcing a portion of the contained liquid into the energy-generating tube, moving the energy-producing element toward the first flexible chamber, and
• continuing to alternate the application of pressure between the first and second flexible chambers so as to provide movement of the energy-producing element back and forth within the energy-generating tube, converting the applied mechanical pressure into thermal energy.