Heatable and Coolable Inserts for Footwear

A kit of parts, comprising:

• an outer assembly including an upper portion and an outer sole portion;
• a first insert removably receivable within the outer assembly, the first insert being configured to receive a foot of a wearer and at least partially enclose the foot of the wearer, the first insert further including:
• (a) a casing configured to at least partially enclose the foot of the wearer, the casing including a first layer, a second layer, and a cavity defined between the first layer and the second layer, and
• (b) a high heat capacity material contained in the cavity, the high heat capacity material configured to remain in a non-solid phase in a working temperature range from 31 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees Fahrenheit;
• and
• a second insert removably receivable within the outer assembly, wherein the second insert is configured to at least partially enclose a foot of a wearer, and wherein the outer assembly is configured to contain the foot of the wearer when received in one of the first insert and the second insert.

A method of treating a human foot by transferring heat between an article of footwear and the foot of a wearer, the method comprising:

• transferring heat to or from a first insert using a heat transfer device, wherein the first insert is configured to receive a foot of a wearer and to at least partially enclose the foot of the wearer, the first insert including:
• (a) a casing configured to at least partially enclose the foot of the wearer, the casing including a first layer, a second layer, and a cavity defined between the first layer and the second layer, and
• (b) a high heat capacity material contained in the cavity, the high heat capacity material configured to remain in a non-solid phase in a working temperature range from 31 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees Fahrenheit;
• inserting the first insert into an outer assembly that includes an upper portion and an outer sole portion;
• and
• inserting a foot into the first insert.