Heatable and coolable inserts for footwear

A kit of parts, comprising:

• a first insert including a first casing configured to at least partially enclose a foot of a wearer;
• a second insert including a second casing configured to at least partially enclose the foot of the wearer, the second casing including a casing material and a high heat capacity material that is configured to remain in a non-solid phase in a working temperature range from approximately 31 degrees Fahrenheit to approximately 140 degrees Fahrenheit;
• and
• an outer assembly including an upper portion and an outer sole portion, the outer assembly designed to receive the foot of the wearer while wearing one of the first insert and the second insert;
• wherein the first casing has a first volume configured to substantially fill a void between the outer assembly and the foot of the wearer, wherein the second casing has a second volume configured to substantially fill the void between the outer assembly and the foot of the wearer, wherein the first volume and the second volume are approximately equal;
• and
• wherein the second casing includes a first layer formed of the casing material and a second layer formed of the casing material, the first layer and the second layer defining a cavity therebetween, the cavity containing the high heat capacity material, and wherein the second casing defines a tongue portion and a fastening member, the fastening member being configured to wrap around the tongue portion;
• further including a bladder layer disposed within the cavity, the bladder layer providing a barrier to contain the high heat capacity material within the cavity;
• and
• wherein the second insert is configured to substantially completely enclose the foot of the wearer in order to provide substantially complete encapsulation of the wearer's foot with the high heat capacity material.

A method of heat transfer between an article of footwear and the foot of a wearer, comprising:

• providing an outer assembly including an upper portion and an outer sole portion;
• providing a first insert within the outer assembly, the first insert including a first casing designed to receive the foot of the wearer while disposed within the outer assembly;
• removing the first insert from the outer assembly;
• transferring heat to, or from, a second insert using a heat transfer device that is detached from the second insert, wherein the second insert is designed to receive the foot of the wearer while disposed within the outer assembly, wherein the second insert includes a second casing configured to at least partially enclose the foot of the wearer, the second casing including a casing material and a high heat capacity material that is configured to remain in a non-solid phase in a working temperature range from approximately 31 degrees Fahrenheit to approximately 140 degrees Fahrenheit, and wherein the second casing defines a tongue portion and a fastening member, the fastening member being configured to wrap around the tongue portion;
• inserting the second insert into the outer assembly;
• and inserting the foot into the second insert while the second insert is disposed inside the outer assembly;
• wherein the second casing includes a first layer formed of the casing material and a second layer formed of the casing material, the first layer and the second layer defining a cavity therebetween, the cavity containing the high heat capacity material;
• wherein the second casing further includes a bladder layer disposed within the cavity, the bladder layer providing a barrier to contain the high heat capacity material within the cavity;
• and
• wherein the second insert is configured to substantially completely enclose the foot of the wearer in order to provide substantially complete encapsulation of the wearer's foot with the high heat capacity material.