Heater device, particularly for inner shoes of sports footwear

Abstract

A heater device, usable in particular for inner shoes of sports footwear, comprising a conducting fabric of a known type, which is embedded in the inner shoe advantageously substantially at the forefoot region. The fabric is connected, at its opposite ends, to two or more conductors, which are associated with the inner shoe and are connected, at their opposite ends, to connections to an external source.

1 . A heater device, particularly for inner shoes of sports footwear, characterized in that it comprises a conducting fabric ( 3 ) of a known type, which is embedded in said inner shoe ( 2 ) advantageously at the forefoot region ( 4 ) and is connected, at opposite ends ( 5   a , 5   b ), to two or more conductors ( 6   a , 6   b ), which are associated with said inner shoe ( 2 ) and connected, at their opposite ends, to connection means for connection to an external source.  
     
     
         2 . The heater device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that said known type of conducting fabric ( 3 ) is adapted to warm if crossed by an electric current, and comprises means (CSM) for sensing and controlling the temperature on said fabric ( 3 ) which are adapted to control the delivery of power, so as to allow to maintain a preset temperature automatically.  
     
     
         3 . The heater device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fabric ( 3 ) is sewn to said inner shoe ( 2 ), which is soft, advantageously at one or more regions of the inner surface of said inner shoe ( 2 ).  
     
     
         4 . The heater device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fabric ( 3 ) is an integral part of said soft inner shoe ( 2 ).  
     
     
         5 . The heater device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said fabric ( 3 ) is arranged at the forefoot region ( 4 ) and above it, so as to partially wrap around the tip of the toes and optionally the metatarsus of the foot.  
     
     
         6 . The heater device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has two of said conductors ( 6   a , 6   b ), which are appropriately connected to two opposite ends ( 5   a , 5   b ) of said fabric ( 3 ) so that said fabric ( 3 ) is heated along a directrix that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said inner shoe ( 2 ).  
     
     
         7 . The heater device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has two of said conductors ( 6   a , 6   b ), which are appropriately connected to two opposite ends ( 5   a , 5   b ) of said fabric ( 3 ) so that said fabric is heated along a directrix that is substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of said inner shoe ( 2 ).  
     
     
         8 . The heater device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has two of said conductors ( 6   a , 6   b ), which are appropriately connected to two opposite ends of said fabric ( 3 ) so that said fabric ( 3 ) is heated along a plurality of mutually parallel directrices.  
     
     
         9 . The heater device according to claims  1  and  8 , characterized in that it has two connection elements ( 7   a , 7   b ) for connecting said conductors ( 6   a , 6   b ) to two opposite ends ( 5   a , 5   b ) of said fabric ( 3 ) which have an elongated shape so as to affect part, or all, of the length of the piece of fabric ( 3 ) at said opposite ends ( 5   a , 5   b ).  
     
     
         10 . The heater device according to claims  1  and  9 , characterized in that said connection elements ( 7   a , 7   b ) are made of a material having high electrical conductivity, so that each said element ( 7   a , 7   b ) constitutes a single, equipotential region, having substantially the same electrical potential.