Inner shoe with heat engine for boot or shoe
OwnerNikola Lakicinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
There is disclosed an inner shoe for a boot such as a ski boot which includes a foot warmer mechanism having a heat engine which includes a compressor, evaporator and condenser coils and interconnecting conduits for circulating a working refrigeration fluid. In a preferred embodiment, the cycle of the heat engine can be reversed, thereby cooling the inner shoe. The mechanism also includes an entirely sealed, remote latch to lock the heat engine out of operation. The inner shoe can have an air system that includes an air bag which surrounds its instep area and communicates to a sealed chamber between the soles of the shoe. The air bag can be pressured to maintain a sense of tightness or security to the ski boot. The air system also augments heat transfer within the boot.
Claims25
In a boot of the construction having an outer shell and an inner shoe lining with an inner shoe having an upper portion with an integral inner sole and a contour conforming to the inner shape of said shell, the improvement comprising:
- a. a lower sole coextensive with said integral inner sole of said inner shoe and pivotally secured thereto at the toe of said shoe, and having at least a first open-topped compartment of a size and shape to fit within the heel area of said outer shell;
- b. resilient lift means biasing the heel of said inner sole in an upward direction;
- c. a heat engine operating on a Carnot cycle that includes:
- (1) a closed circulation loop having first and second coils separated by a restrictor;
- (2) a working fluid within said loop;
- (3) a compressor for the working fluid;
- and
- d. mechanical means linking said heel of said inner sole to said compressor, whereby up and down movements of said heel are operative to compress said working fluid and circulate it through said closed loop releasing heat in said first coil and absorbing heat in said second coil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.