Footwear article having a temperature regulation system

Abstract

An article of footwear includes a body configured to receive a foot of a wearer of the article of footwear. A temperature regulation system is supported by the body. The temperature regulation system includes a reservoir containing a temperature regulating fluid configured to receive heat from the foot of the wearer. The reservoir is configured to be compressed between the foot of the wearer and the body to discharge the temperature regulating fluid from the reservoir. The temperature regulation system further includes a heat-dissipating portion receiving the temperature regulating fluid from the reservoir. The heat-dissipating portion is configured to permit the temperature regulating fluid to dissipate heat received from the foot of the wearer.

The following is claimed: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 a body configured to receive a foot of a wearer of the article of footwear;   a temperature regulation system supported by the body and including:
 a reservoir containing a temperature regulating fluid configured to receive heat from the foot of the wearer, the reservoir being configured to be compressed between the foot of the wearer and the body to discharge the temperature regulating fluid from the reservoir; and 
 a heat-dissipating portion receiving the temperature regulating fluid from the reservoir, the heat-dissipating portion being configured to permit the temperature regulating fluid to dissipate heat received from the foot of the wearer. 
   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir and the heat-dissipating portion define an endless circuit along which the temperature regulating fluid travels. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes a sole supporting the reservoir. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the sole includes a heel-receiving portion supporting the reservoir. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , further comprising a footbed configured to engage the foot of the wearer, the footbed overlying the reservoir and the sole. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the sole includes a forefoot-receiving portion supporting the reservoir. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 6 , wherein the reservoir includes a plurality of segments defining a serpentine path along which the temperature regulating fluid travels. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes an upper defining a chamber configured to receive the foot of the wearer, the reservoir being disposed within the chamber and the heat-dissipating portion being disposed outside of the chamber. 
     
     
         9 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 a body defining a chamber configured to receive a foot of a wearer of the article of footwear;   a temperature regulation system supported by the body and containing a temperature regulating fluid configured to receive heat from the foot of the wearer, the temperature regulation system including a plurality of passageway segments defining an endless circuit through which the temperature regulating fluid travels, and the plurality of passageway segments defining a heat-dissipating portion disposed outwardly of the chamber and configured to permit the temperature regulating fluid to dissipate heat received from the foot of the wearer.   
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the heat-dissipating portion defines a serpentine portion of the endless circuit. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the temperature regulation system further includes a reservoir containing the temperature regulating fluid and configured to be compressed between the foot of the wearer and the body to discharge the temperature regulating fluid from the reservoir, and the heat-dissipating portion receiving the temperature regulating fluid from the reservoir. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of passageway segments further define a heat-receiving portion of the endless circuit in which the temperature regulating fluid receives heat from the foot of the wearer, the heat-dissipating portion receiving the temperature regulating fluid from the heat-receiving portion. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the body includes a sole supporting the heat-receiving portion of the temperature regulation system. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the heat-receiving portion defines a serpentine portion of the endless circuit. 
     
     
         15 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 a sole configured to support a foot of a wearer of the article of footwear;   an upper supported by the sole, the upper and the sole together defining a chamber configured to receive the foot of the wearer;   a temperature regulation system containing a temperature regulating fluid configured to receive heat from the foot of the wearer, the temperature regulation system including:
 a reservoir supported by the sole and containing the temperature regulating fluid, the reservoir being configured to be compressed between the foot of the wearer and the sole to discharge the temperature regulating fluid from the reservoir; 
 a heat-receiving portion supported by the sole within the chamber and receiving the temperature regulating fluid from the reservoir, the heat-receiving portion being configured to permit the temperature regulating fluid to receive heat from the foot of the wearer; and 
 a heat-dissipating portion supported by the upper outside of the chamber and receiving the temperature regulating fluid from the heat-receiving portion, the heat-dissipating portion being configured to permit the temperature regulating fluid to dissipate heat received from the foot of the wearer. 
   
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein the heat-receiving portion defines a serpentine portion of a path along which the temperature regulating fluid travels. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein the heat-dissipating portion defines a serpentine portion of a path along which the temperature regulating fluid travels. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein the reservoir, the heat-receiving portion, and the heat-dissipating portion define an endless circuit along which the temperature regulating fluid travels. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the temperature regulation system further includes a first check valve inhibiting the temperature regulating fluid discharged from the reservoir from traveling along the endless circuit directly toward the heat-dissipating portion. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the temperature regulation system further includes a second check valve inhibiting the temperature regulating fluid discharged from the heat-receiving portion from traveling along the endless circuit directly toward the reservoir.