A massaging boot assembly for massaging a foot includes a boot that may be worn on a foot. A massage unit is coupled to the boot and the massage unit selectively massages the foot when the boot is worn. The massage unit is selectively turned on and off. A heating unit is coupled to the boot such that the heating unit is in thermal communication with the boot. The heating unit is selectively turned on to selectively heat the foot thereby enhancing therapeutic relief of the foot.

The footwear includes a sole, a plurality of massage units, and a controller. The sole provides a support to the underside of a user's foot when the user is wearing the footwear. The massage units each include a channel, a plunger, a spring, and an actuator. The plunger is disposed within the channel and may slide within it linearly. The plunger has a shaft which terminates in an applicator, the applicator being round and configured to provide pressure to the user's foot. The spring is configured to maintain the plunger within a contact-position when at rest. This contact-position occurs when the plunger is maximally distal to the spring. The actuator is able to draw the plunger against the spring and release the plunger in repetition when energized, enacting a massaging action. The controller is able to selectively engage the actuators.

A pneumatic energy conversion mechanism for use with footwear generates electricity from foot-strikes. The mechanism comprises: at least one air-chamber with an outlet disposed to be compressed on foot strikes and decompressed when the foot is lifted; a micro-electrical generator supported within a support air tube pneumatically connected with the at least one air-chamber's outlet, at its one end, while having its other end open; at least one unidirectional axial-flow micro-turbine, such as the wells turbine, having all its blades exposed to the airflow, thus providing a powerful torque the same micro-electrical generator.

A wearable heater and/or cooler device can include one or more fluid pumps, one or more conduits, and one or more chambers. The fluid pumps can be configured for generating flow of a fluid and comprise inlets and outlets. The conduits have first end portions and second end portions, and the first end portions of the conduits can be coupled to the outlets of the fluid pumps. The chambers can be coupled to second end portions of the conduits such that the fluid flows from the fluid pumps, through the conduits, and into the chambers. The chambers can be configured to enhance the desired thermal transport characteristics of the fluid for thermal transfer adjacent to a wearer's body.

A heated boot cover is disclosed. The heated boot cover comprises a layered material formed into an upper which is attached to a sole. The heated boot cover contains a layer of woven material having an electrically conductive yarn threaded throughout. The heating layer is disposed between a layer of fabric in the internal space of the boot cover and a thermal insulating layer. The outermost layer of material is a water resistant material. The boot cover has a fastener, such as a zipper, which has electrical connections so that the heating element of the boot cover can only be activated when the fastener is secured. The boot cover may have a transceiver which allows the operations of the boot cover to be controlled by a smart phone or other computerized device.

Provided are a smart shoe, a smart device and a method for switching functional area. The smart shoe includes a shoe body and a smart device provided on a surface of the shoe body. The smart device includes a processing unit, a locating unit, a communication unit, a solar energy receiving unit and a power supply unit. The locating unit is configured to acquire current position information of the smart shoe and send it to the processing unit. The processing unit sends the received position information to a user terminal or a remote server via the communication unit. The solar energy receiving unit is configured to receive solar energy and converting it into electrical energy which is transferred to the power supply unit. The power supply unit is connected with individual functional units of the smart device to supply the electrical energy to the smart device.

Apparatus, systems, and methods are described for a heating system incorporated into a garment. An example garment includes: a heating element disposed proximate an internal surface of the garment; a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature outside of the garment; a motion sensor configured to measure movement of the garment; and a controller configured to adjust power to the heating element based on signals received from the temperature sensor and the motion sensor.

A circulation therapy assembly includes a pair of boots that is each of the boots worn on one of a pair of legs. Each of the boots is comprised of a thermally insulating material and each of the boots has a height of at least 55.0 cm. Thus, each of the boots extends above a knee on the legs when the boots are worn. A pair of inserts is provided and each of the inserts is removably positioned within an associated one of the boots. Each of the inserts surrounds the associated leg and a corresponding foot when the boots are worn. Moreover, each of the inserts is comprised of a thermally conductive material. A pair of heating units is each coupled to an associated one of the inserts and each of the heating units heats the associated insert when the heating units is turned on. In this way each of the heating units heats the associated leg when the boots are worn thereby enhancing blood circulation in the associated leg.

A shoe, and a method for tightening such a shoe, in particular to a sports shoe, having a sole and a shoe upper, wherein the shoe upper has a first material section, which at least partially extends around the foot of the wearer of the shoe. To enable the tightening of the shoe on the foot of the wearer in a comfortable manner, a second material section is arranged on the outside of the first material section, in which the second material section at least partially covers the first material section, wherein the second material section is a plastic material having a shape memory effect.

Articles of clothing, such as thermally conductive gloves, are provided. In some embodiments, a glove includes a fabric, a battery, and a fibrous material. The fabric battery may be electrically coupled to the material such that the material becomes thermally conductive when coupled to the battery, and loses its thermal conductivity when no longer coupled to the battery. In some embodiments, the battery couples to the fibrous material via a magnetic attraction.