Temperature Regulating Insole With Segmented Cavities

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing temperature regulating insoles for footwear, such as heated inserts and gel pouches, are ineffective in providing stable and comfortable foot temperature due to movement within the shoe, limited stability, and susceptibility to bursting or damage from impact.

Innovation Solution

The development of an insole with one or more cavities containing a component capable of a physiochemical reaction, such as a latent thermal composition, which initiates a heat transfer mechanism upon priming, providing both heating and cooling capabilities while being integrated with support structures like pillars and baffles to enhance stability and prevent movement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a heated insert is used to provide temperature regulation, then heating capability is improved, but the insert moves around in the shoe and cannot provide stability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoot temperature regulationVSAvoidstability of insole position

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The insole is divided into multiple functional layers: a stable base insole structure and a separate heated insert component. This segmentation allows the base insole to provide structural stability while the heated insert provides temperature regulation, resolving the contradiction between heating capability and positional stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Temperature

If a gel pouch is used for heating, then heating capability is improved, but the pouch is prone to movement and susceptible to bursting from impact

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating capabilityVSAvoidresistance to bursting and movement

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The heated insert is enclosed in a flexible yet durable pouch structure that can deform under impact without bursting. The pouch is designed with sufficient flexibility to accommodate foot movement while maintaining structural integrity under compression, resolving the contradiction between heating capability and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The pouch structure is pre-designed with impact resistance features and proper thickness to withstand compression forces before they occur during use. This beforehand cushioning approach ensures the pouch can handle sudden impacts without bursting, while still allowing normal flexion during athletic activities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Temperature

If a battery-powered heated insole is used, then heating capability and stability are improved, but the device is susceptible to breaking from severe impact and lacks torsional response

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheating capabilityVSAvoidresistance to impact and torsion

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The heated insert is designed as a disposable or replaceable component that can be easily replaced if damaged. This approach eliminates the need for complex protective structures around batteries and circuitry, as the entire heated insert unit can be replaced rather than repaired, resolving the contradiction between heating capability and impact resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The insole effectively regulates foot temperature by initiating a physiochemical reaction within the cavities, providing both heating and cooling capabilities, while the support structures enhance stability and prevent movement, addressing the limitations of existing technologies.

Implementation Method 1

the component capable of a physiochemical reaction is a latent thermal composition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhase change: Phase Change

Implementation Method 2

a latent thermal composition, which initiates a heat transfer mechanism upon priming

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLatent heat: Latent Heat

Implementation Method 3

providing both heating and cooling capabilities while being integrated with support structures

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS20250049176A1Temperature regulating insole

Publication Date: 2025.02.13 ASCENT SPORTING INNOVATIONS INC

AI summary

The present invention relates to an insole containing one or more cavities, wherein said one or more cavities contain a component capable of a physiochemical reaction, as well as articles of footwear containing the insole and methods of making the insole. The invention also relates to methods of heat transfer between an article of footwear and a foot of a wearer of the article of footwear, the method including priming the insole, wherein the priming initiates the physiochemical reaction.