US20240237779A1

US20240237779A1 - Thermal Foot Pad Assembly

Info

Publication number: US20240237779A1
Application number: US18/098,556
Authority: US
Inventors: Benjamin Yao
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2023-01-18
Filing date: 2023-01-18
Publication date: 2024-07-18

Abstract

A thermal foot pad assembly includes a foot pad that is insertable into an article of footwear and the foot pad is positioned beneath a user's foot when the user wears the article of footwear. A plurality of pouches is each integrated into the foot pad and each of the plurality of pouches is filled with a thermally conductive gel to cool the user's foot when the user steps on the plurality of pouches. A toe pad is attached to the foot pad and the toe pad is strategically positioned on the foot pad. The toe pad is positioned beneath the user's toes when the user wears the article of footwear. Furthermore, the toe pad is comprised of a thermally conductive material to absorb heat from the user's toes thereby cooling the user's toes.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to foot pad devices and more particularly pertains to a new foot pad device for cooling a user's foot when the user is wearing an article of footwear. The device includes a foot pad and a plurality of pouches integrated into the foot pad. Each of the plurality of pouches is filled with a thermally conductive gel for absorbing heat from the user's foot when the user wears the article of footwear.

(2) Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The prior art relates to foot pad devices including a cushioned sole which is hollow and which contains a fluid for cushioning a user's foot in an article of footwear. The prior art discloses a replacement insole device that is comprised of a plurality of layers each having a unique density with respect to each other. The prior art discloses a shoe insole that includes a flexible cushion that is curved into a U-shape for cushioning a user's toes. The prior art discloses a sock that is wearable on a user's foot and a sole pad integrated into the sock. The prior art discloses an insole device that comprises a top layer, a middle layer and a bottom layer.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a foot pad that is insertable into an article of footwear and the foot pad is positioned beneath a user's foot when the user wears the article of footwear. A plurality of pouches is each integrated into the foot pad and each of the plurality of pouches is filled with a thermally conductive gel to cool the user's foot when the user steps on the plurality of pouches. A toe pad is attached to the foot pad and the toe pad is strategically positioned on the foot pad. The toe pad is positioned beneath the user's toes when the user wears the article of footwear. Furthermore, the toe pad is comprised of a thermally conductive material to absorb heat from the user's toes thereby cooling the user's toes.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a thermal foot pad assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a phantom in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 3 thereof, a new foot pad device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 3 , the thermal foot pad assembly 10 generally comprises a foot pad 12 that is insertable into an article of footwear 14 such that the foot pad 12 is positioned beneath a foot 16 of a user 18 when the user 18 wears the article of footwear 14. The article of footwear 14 may be a tennis shoe, a work boot or any other type of article of footwear 14 that has a closed toe. The foot pad 12 has a top surface 20, a bottom surface 22 and a perimeter surface 24 extending between the top surface 20 and the bottom surface 22 and the perimeter surface 24 has a front side 26, a back side 28, a first lateral side 30 and a second lateral side 32. The back side 28 curves away from the front side 26 between the first lateral side 30 and the second lateral side 32 to accommodate the user's heel 34. The front side 26 curves away from the back side 28 between the first lateral side 30 and the second lateral side 32 to accommodate the user's toes 36.
The first lateral side 30 has a first straightened portion 38 extending from the back side 28 toward the front side 26 and the first lateral side 30 has a first curved portion 40 extending between the first straightened portion 38 and the front side 26. The first curved portion 40 curves outwardly from a center line of the foot pad 12 which extends between the front side 26 and the back side 28. The second lateral side 32 has a second straightened portion 42 extending from the back side 28 toward the front side 26 and the second straightened portion 42 is oriented parallel with the first straightened portion 38. Additionally, the second lateral side 32 has a second curved portion 44 extending between the second straightened portion 42 and the front side 26 and the second curved portion 44 curves outwardly from the center line of the foot pad 12. Furthermore, the second curved portion 44 has a radius of curvature that is less than a radius of curvature of the first curved portion 40 such that an apex 46 of the front side 26 is offset from the center line toward the second lateral side 32. In this way the first curved portion 40 and the second curved portion 44 is each accommodate the structure of the ball 48 of the user's foot 16.
A plurality of pouches 50 is each integrated into the foot pad 12 such that each of the plurality of pouches 50 can be stepped upon by the user 18. Each of the plurality of pouches 50 is filled with a thermally conductive gel 52 thereby facilitating each of the plurality of pouches 50 to cool the user's foot 16 when the user 18 steps on the plurality of pouches 50. The thermally conductive gel 52 may comprise an inorganic salt hydrate or other type of chemical compound which can readily absorb thermal energy. Each of the plurality of pouches 50 is integrated into the top surface 20 of the foot pad 12 and the plurality of pouches 50 is strategically positioned on the foot pad 12 such that each of the plurality of pouches 50 is aligned with respective areas of the user's foot 16.
The plurality of pouches 50 includes a heel pouch 54, an arch pouch 56 and a ball pouch 58. The heel pouch 54 is spaced from the back side 28 of the perimeter surface 24 of the foot pad 12 such that the heel pouch 54 is positioned beneath the user's heel 34. The heel pouch 54 has a perimeter edge 60 and the perimeter edge 60 is continuously arcuate such that the heel pouch 54 has a rounded shape. Furthermore, the heel pouch 54 is elongated along the center line of the foot pad 12 such that the heel pouch 54 has an ovoid shape to conform to the shape of the user's heel 34. The heel pouch 54 has an exposed surface 61 and the exposed surface 61 is textured with a plurality of grooves 62 which undulate to form a zig zag pattern.
The arch pouch 56 extends from the second lateral side 32 toward the first lateral side 30 and the arch pouch 56 is aligned with an intersection between the second straightened portion 42 and the second curved portion 44. In this way the arch pouch 56 is aligned with an arch 64 of the user's foot 16. The arch pouch 56 has a perimeter edge 66 and an upper surface 68 and the upper surface 68 of the arch pouch 56 curves upwardly from the top surface 20 of the foot pad 12. In this way the arch pouch 56 conforms to the shape of the arch 64 of the user's foot 16 to support the arch 64 of the user's foot 16. The perimeter edge 60 of the arch pouch 56 has a plurality of intersecting sides 70 such that the arch pouch 56 has a rectangular shape. The plurality of intersecting sides 70 includes a forward side 72 and the forward side 72 curves toward the front side 26 of the perimeter surface 24 of the foot pad 12. Additionally, the arch pouch 56 has an exposed surface 74 and the exposed surface 74 of the arch pouch 56 is textured with a plurality of grooves 76 which undulate to form a zig zag pattern.
The ball pouch 58 is positioned between the arch pouch 56 and the front side 26 of the perimeter surface 24 of the foot pad 12 such that the ball pouch 58 is aligned with a ball 78 of the user's foot 16. The ball pouch 58 is centrally positioned between the first curved portion 40 of the first lateral side 30 of the foot pad 12 and the second curved portion 44 of the second lateral side 32 of the foot pad 12. The ball pouch 58 has a primary end 80 and a secondary end 82 and each of the primary end 80 and the secondary end 82 is rounded. The ball pouch 58 is elongated between the primary end 80 and the secondary end 82 such that the ball pouch 58 has an ovoid shape. Additionally, the ball pouch 58 is oriented such that the primary end 80 is directed toward the first curved portion 40 of the first lateral side 30 and the secondary end 82 is directed toward the second curved portion 44 of the second lateral side 32. The ball pouch 58 has an exposed surface 84 and the exposed surface 84 of the ball pouch 58 is textured with a plurality of grooves 86 which undulate to form a zig zag pattern.
A toe pad 88 is attached to the foot pad 12 and the toe pad 88 is strategically positioned on the foot pad 12 such that the toe pad 88 is positioned beneath the user's toes 36 when the user 18 wears the article of footwear 14. The toe pad 88 is comprised of a thermally conductive material to absorb heat from the user's toes 36 thereby cooling the user's toes 36. Furthermore, the toe pad 88 may be comprised of a deformable material to facilitate the toe pad 88 to conform to the user's toes 36 when the user 18 wears the article of footwear 14. Additionally, the toe pad 88 may comprise a pouch that is filled with a granular material to facilitate the toe pad 88 to conform to the user's toes 36 when the user 18 wears the article of footwear 14.
The toe pad 88 extends from the front side 26 of the perimeter surface 24 of the foot pad 12 toward the ball pouch 58. Additionally, the toe pad 88 has a top portion 90 that is positioned on the top surface 20 of the foot pad 12. The toe pad 88 has an outer portion 92 that is perpendicularly oriented with the top portion 90. The outer portion 92 extends downwardly along the perimeter surface 24 of the foot pad 12. Furthermore, the outer portion 92 extends around the front side 26 of the perimeter surface 24 of the foot pad 12.
In use, the foot pad 12 is positioned in the article of footwear 14 prior to wearing the article of footwear 14. In this way the user's foot 16 rests on top of each of the plurality of pouches 50 and the toe pad 88. Thus, the thermally conductive gel 52 in each of the plurality of pouches 50 absorbs heat from the user's foot 16 while the user 18 is wearing the article of footwear 14. Additionally, the toe pad 88 absorbs heat from the user's toes 36. In this way the pouches enhance comfort for the user 18 while the user 18 wears the article of footwear 14. Furthermore, the plurality of pouches 50 and the toe pad 88 serve to cushion the user's foot 16 and the user's toes 36 while the user 18 is wearing the article of footwear 14.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

I claim:

1. A thermal foot pad assembly for cooling a user's feet while the user is wearing shoes, said assembly comprising:

a foot pad being insertable into an article of footwear wherein said foot pad is configured to be positioned beneath a user's foot when the user wears the article of footwear;

a plurality of pouches, each of said plurality of pouches being integrated into said foot pad wherein each of said plurality of pouches is configured to be stepped upon by the user, each of said plurality of pouches being filled with a thermally conductive gel wherein each of said plurality of pouches is configured to cool the user's foot when the user steps on said plurality of pouches; and

a toe pad being attached to said foot pad, said toe pad being strategically positioned on said foot pad wherein said toe pad is configured to be positioned beneath the user's toes when the user wears the article of footwear, said toe pad being comprised of a thermally conductive material wherein said toe pad is configured to absorb heat from the user's toes thereby cooling the user's toes.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein:

said foot pad has a top surface, a bottom surface and a perimeter surface extending between said top surface and said bottom surface, said perimeter surface having a front side, a back side, a first lateral side and a second lateral side, said back side curving away from said front side between said first lateral side and said second lateral side wherein said back side is configured to accommodate the user's heel, said front side curving away from said back side between said first lateral side and said second lateral side wherein said front side is configured to accommodate the user's toes;

said first lateral side has a first straightened portion extending from said back side toward said front side, said first lateral side having a first curved portion extending between said first straightened portion and said front side, said first curved portion curving outwardly from a center line of said foot pad extending between said front side and said back side;

said second lateral side has a second straightened portion extending from said back side toward said front side, said second straightened portion being oriented parallel with said first straightened portion, said second lateral side having a second curved portion extending between said second straightened portion and said front side, said second curved portion curving outwardly from said center line of said foot pad; and

said second curved portion has a radius of curvature being less than a radius of curvature of said first curved portion such that an apex of said front side is offset from said center line toward said second lateral side wherein said first curved portion and said second curved portion is each configured to accommodate the structure of the ball of the user's foot.

3. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein:

each of said plurality of pouches is integrated into said top surface of said foot pad, said plurality of pouches being strategically positioned on said foot pad wherein each of said plurality of pouches is configured to be aligned with respective areas of the user's foot; and

said plurality of pouches includes a heel pouch, an arch pouch and a ball pouch.

4. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein:

said heel pouch is spaced from said back side of said perimeter surface of said foot pad wherein said heel pouch is configured to be positioned beneath the user's heel; and

said heel pouch having a perimeter edge, said perimeter edge being continuously arcuate such that said heel pouch has a rounded shape, said heel pouch being elongated along said center line of said foot pad such that said heel pouch has an ovoid shape wherein said heel pouch is configured to conform to the shape of the user's heel.

5. The assembly according to claim 4, wherein said heel pouch has an exposed surface, said exposed surface being textured with a plurality of grooves which undulate to form a zig zag pattern.

6. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein:

said arch pouch extends from said second lateral side toward said first lateral side, said arch pouch being aligned with an intersection between said second straightened portion and said second curved portion wherein said arch pouch is configured to be aligned with an arch of the user's foot; and

said arch pouch has a perimeter edge and an upper surface, said upper surface curving upwardly from said top surface of said foot pad wherein said arch pouch is configured to conform to the shape of the arch of the user's foot, said perimeter edge of said arch pouch having a plurality of intersecting sides such that said arch pouch has a rectangular shape, said plurality of intersecting sides including a forward side, said forward side curving toward said front side of said perimeter surface of said foot pad.

7. The assembly according to claim 6, wherein said arch pouch has an exposed surface, said exposed surface of said arch pouch being textured with a plurality of grooves which undulate to form a zig zag pattern.

8. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein:

said ball pouch is positioned between said arch pouch and said front side of said perimeter surface of said foot pad wherein said ball pouch is configured to be aligned with a ball of the user's foot, said ball pouch being centrally positioned between said first curved portion of said first lateral side of said foot pad and said second curved portion of said second lateral side of said foot pad; and

said ball pouch having a primary end and a secondary end, each of said primary end and said secondary end being rounded, said ball pouch being elongated between said primary end and said secondary end such that said ball pouch has an ovoid shape, said ball pouch being oriented such that said primary end is directed toward said first curved portion of said first lateral side and said secondary end is directed toward said second curved portion of said second lateral side.

9. The assembly according to claim 8, wherein said ball pouch has an exposed surface, said exposed surface of said ball pouch being textured with a plurality of grooves which undulate to form a zig zag pattern.

10. The assembly according to claim 2, wherein said toe pad extends from said front end of said foot pad toward said ball pouch, said toe pad having a top portion being positioned on said top surface of said foot pad, said toe pad having an outer portion being perpendicularly oriented with said top portion, said outer portion extending downwardly along said perimeter surface of said foot pad, said outer portion extending around said front side of said perimeter surface of said foot pad.

11. A thermal foot pad assembly for cooling a user's feet while the user is wearing shoes, said assembly comprising:

a foot pad being insertable into an article of footwear wherein said foot pad is configured to be positioned beneath a user's foot when the user wears the article of footwear, said foot pad having a top surface, a bottom surface and a perimeter surface extending between said top surface and said bottom surface, said perimeter surface having a front side, a back side, a first lateral side and a second lateral side, said back side curving away from said front side between said first lateral side and said second lateral side wherein said back side is configured to accommodate the user's heel, said front side curving away from said back side between said first lateral side and said second lateral side wherein said front side is configured to accommodate the user's toes, said first lateral side having a first straightened portion extending from said back side toward said front side, said first lateral side having a first curved portion extending between said first straightened portion and said front side, said first curved portion curving outwardly from a center line of said foot pad extending between said front side and said back side, said second lateral side having a second straightened portion extending from said back side toward said front side, said second straightened portion being oriented parallel with said first straightened portion, said second lateral side having a second curved portion extending between said second straightened portion and said front side, said second curved portion curving outwardly from said center line of said foot pad, said second curved portion having a radius of curvature being less than a radius of curvature of said first curved portion such that an apex of said front side is offset from said center line toward said second lateral side wherein said first curved portion and said second curved portion is each configured to accommodate the structure of the ball of the user's foot;

a plurality of pouches, each of said plurality of pouches being integrated into said foot pad wherein each of said plurality of pouches is configured to be stepped upon by the user, each of said plurality of pouches being filled with a thermally conductive gel wherein each of said plurality of pouches is configured to cool the user's foot when the user steps on said plurality of pouches, each of said plurality of pouches being integrated into said top surface of said foot pad, said plurality of pouches being strategically positioned on said foot pad wherein each of said plurality of pouches is configured to be aligned with respective areas of the user's foot;

wherein said plurality of pouches includes a heel pouch, an arch pouch and a ball pouch;

wherein said heel pouch is spaced from said back side of said perimeter surface of said foot pad wherein said heel pouch is configured to be positioned beneath the user's heel, said heel pouch having a perimeter edge, said perimeter edge being continuously arcuate such that said heel pouch has a rounded shape, said heel pouch being elongated along said center line of said foot pad such that said heel pouch has an ovoid shape wherein said heel pouch is configured to conform to the shape of the user's heel, said heel pouch having an exposed surface, said exposed surface being textured with a plurality of grooves which undulate to form a zig zag pattern;

wherein said arch pouch extends from said second lateral side toward said first lateral side, said arch pouch being aligned with an intersection between said second straightened portion and said second curved portion wherein said arch pouch is configured to be aligned with an arch of the user's foot, said arch pouch having a perimeter edge and an upper surface, said upper surface of said arch pouch curving upwardly from said top surface of said foot pad wherein said arch pouch is configured to conform to the shape of the arch of the user's foot, said perimeter edge of said arch pouch having a plurality of intersecting sides such that said arch pouch has a rectangular shape, said plurality of intersecting sides including a forward side, said forward side curving toward said front side of said perimeter surface of said foot pad, said arch pouch having an exposed surface, said exposed surface of said arch pouch being textured with a plurality of grooves which undulate to form a zig zag pattern;

wherein said ball pouch is positioned between said arch pouch and said front side of said perimeter surface of said foot pad wherein said ball pouch is configured to be aligned with a ball of the user's foot, said ball pouch being centrally positioned between said first curved portion of said first lateral side of said foot pad and said second curved portion of said second lateral side of said foot pad, said ball pouch having a primary end and a secondary end, each of said primary end and said secondary end being rounded, said ball pouch being elongated between said primary end and said secondary end such that said ball pouch has an ovoid shape, said ball pouch being oriented such that said primary end is directed toward said first curved portion of said first lateral side and said secondary end is directed toward said second curved portion of said second lateral side, said ball pouch having an exposed surface, said exposed surface of said ball pouch being textured with a plurality of grooves which undulate to form a zig zag pattern; and

a toe pad being attached to said foot pad, said toe pad being strategically positioned on said foot pad wherein said toe pad is configured to be positioned beneath the user's toes when the user wears the article of footwear, said toe pad being comprised of a thermally conductive material wherein said toe pad is configured to absorb heat from the user's toes thereby cooling the user's toes, said toe pad extending from said front end of said foot pad toward said ball pouch, said toe pad having a top portion being positioned on said top surface of said foot pad, said toe pad having an outer portion being perpendicularly oriented with said top portion, said outer portion extending downwardly along said perimeter surface of said foot pad, said outer portion extending around said front side of said perimeter surface of said foot pad.