GB2144024A

GB2144024A - Rotatable heel

Info

Publication number: GB2144024A
Application number: GB08320515A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hung Yi Lam
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-07-29
Filing date: 1983-07-29
Publication date: 1985-02-27
Also published as: GB8320515D0

Abstract

A shoe heel consists of a first upper component 3 having upper and lower faces, the upper face being secured to a shoe insole heel, which may contain an annular groove 33 parallel to said faces, the portion between the groove and lower face having a smaller diameter than the portion adjacent the upper face; and a second component 5, which may be sited in groove 33, having a lower surface to which a ground engaging component 4 is attached. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Rotatable shoe heel The present invention relates to shoe heels including a portion that can be rotated about a vertical axis to provide even wear around the ground engaging portion thereof.

In use, the heel of a shoe wears down rapidly at the back and generally slightly to one side as a result of the way in which the wearer walks, i.e. placing the edge of the heel down first in each forward step.

In the past this difficulty with uneven wear has been tackled by the provision of circular rubber members that were secured to the heel portion of the shoe by means of a central screw, enabling the rubbers to be rotated.

I have now developed a form of shoe heel, to the bottom of which a ground engaging surface may be secured by conventional means, that includes a portion rotatable about a substantially vertical axis enabling even wear around the ground engaging portion of the heel to be achieved by frequent rotation of the said portion.

Not only is even wear of the heel economically attractive, since heels need to be repaired or replaced less often, but in addition, the risk of injury to the ankle and/or leg of the wearer is reduced.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a shoe heel comprising a first upper component that is secured to the heel portion of an insole and a second lower component, to which a ground engaging component may be secured, rotatably attached to the said upper component, whereby the lower component can be rotated about a substantially vertical axis to allow even wear around the periphery of the ground engaging component.

In a preferred form the upper component includes an annular groove extending parallel to the ground engaging surface of the heel and the second lower component includes means slidably engaging within the said groove whereby the said component can be rotated about a substantially vertical axis.

The upper component may comprise an annular flange for attachment to the shoe insole, a depending portion and a lower annular flange concentric with and parallel to the upper flange, whereby an annular groove is provided between the two said flanges, the said lower flange being of smaller diameter than the said upper flange and the lower component including a recess in the upper surface thereof to receive said lower flange and an inwardly directed flange element that engages in the said groove.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which drawings are diagrammatic illustrations only and in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional representation of a heel portion of a shoe, Figure 2 is a perspective representation of the upper portion of the heel of Fig. 1, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional representation along A-A of Fig. 2, Figure 4 is a perspective representation of the lower portion of the heel of Fig. 1 and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional representation across B-B of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings. A shoe upper 1 includes an insole 2 to which the upper (joint) section 3, containing an annular groove 33, of the heel part is adhesively attached. Lower portion 4 of the heel part (shown without additional ground engaging layer) is rotatably attached to upper portion 3 by means of flange 5 that locates in groove 33.

Upper portion 3 is formed with a flat top surface 31 to which adhesive is applied for attachment to the inner sole 2. Groove 33 is formed in upper portion 3, parallel to the ground engaging surface 43 of portion 4, providing an upper annular flange 32 and a lower annular flange 34 which flange is machined down to have a smaller diameter than flange 32.

A recess 42 is formed in the upper surface 41 of lower portion 4 and is dimensioned to receive flange 34 or portion 3. The depth of recess 42 is equal to the thickness of flange 34.

A split annular ring portion 5, having a diameter equal to the diameter of upper and lower 3, and 4, portions of the heel is a sliding fit within groove 33 of portion 3.

The heel is assembled by placing flange 34 into recess 42 and then introducing the split annular ring 5 into groove 33 and adhesively attaching the ring to upper surface 41 of portion 4. Because annular ring 5 is a sliding fit within groove 33, the lower portion 4 of the heel may be rotated about a substantially vertical axis.

As illustrated the lower portion 4 of the heel includes a ground engaging lower surface 43.

For ease of repair an additional ground engaging portion may be attached to the lower surface 43 for removal therefrom when wear makes replacement necessary.

The heel portions may be formed from wood, rubber, plastics materials or a combination thereof.

1. A shoe heel comprising a first upper component secured to the heel portion of a shoe insole, a second lower component rotatably attached to the said first component and having a lower surface to which a ground engaging component may be secured wherein the said lower component can be rotated about a substantially vertical axis to allow even wear around the periphery of the ground engaging component.

2. A shoe heel according to claim 1

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Rotatable shoe heel The present invention relates to shoe heels including a portion that can be rotated about a vertical axis to provide even wear around the ground engaging portion thereof. In use, the heel of a shoe wears down rapidly at the back and generally slightly to one side as a result of the way in which the wearer walks, i.e. placing the edge of the heel down first in each forward step. In the past this difficulty with uneven wear has been tackled by the provision of circular rubber members that were secured to the heel portion of the shoe by means of a central screw, enabling the rubbers to be rotated. I have now developed a form of shoe heel, to the bottom of which a ground engaging surface may be secured by conventional means, that includes a portion rotatable about a substantially vertical axis enabling even wear around the ground engaging portion of the heel to be achieved by frequent rotation of the said portion. Not only is even wear of the heel economically attractive, since heels need to be repaired or replaced less often, but in addition, the risk of injury to the ankle and/or leg of the wearer is reduced. Accordingly, the present invention provides a shoe heel comprising a first upper component that is secured to the heel portion of an insole and a second lower component, to which a ground engaging component may be secured, rotatably attached to the said upper component, whereby the lower component can be rotated about a substantially vertical axis to allow even wear around the periphery of the ground engaging component. In a preferred form the upper component includes an annular groove extending parallel to the ground engaging surface of the heel and the second lower component includes means slidably engaging within the said groove whereby the said component can be rotated about a substantially vertical axis. The upper component may comprise an annular flange for attachment to the shoe insole, a depending portion and a lower annular flange concentric with and parallel to the upper flange, whereby an annular groove is provided between the two said flanges, the said lower flange being of smaller diameter than the said upper flange and the lower component including a recess in the upper surface thereof to receive said lower flange and an inwardly directed flange element that engages in the said groove. One embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which drawings are diagrammatic illustrations only and in which: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional representation of a heel portion of a shoe, Figure 2 is a perspective representation of the upper portion of the heel of Fig. 1, Figure 3 is a cross-sectional representation along A-A of Fig. 2, Figure 4 is a perspective representation of the lower portion of the heel of Fig. 1 and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional representation across B-B of Fig. 4. Referring to the drawings. A shoe upper 1 includes an insole 2 to which the upper (joint) section 3, containing an annular groove 33, of the heel part is adhesively attached. Lower portion 4 of the heel part (shown without additional ground engaging layer) is rotatably attached to upper portion 3 by means of flange 5 that locates in groove 33. Upper portion 3 is formed with a flat top surface 31 to which adhesive is applied for attachment to the inner sole 2. Groove 33 is formed in upper portion 3, parallel to the ground engaging surface 43 of portion 4, providing an upper annular flange 32 and a lower annular flange 34 which flange is machined down to have a smaller diameter than flange 32. A recess 42 is formed in the upper surface 41 of lower portion 4 and is dimensioned to receive flange 34 or portion 3. The depth of recess 42 is equal to the thickness of flange 34. A split annular ring portion 5, having a diameter equal to the diameter of upper and lower 3, and 4, portions of the heel is a sliding fit within groove 33 of portion 3. The heel is assembled by placing flange 34 into recess 42 and then introducing the split annular ring 5 into groove 33 and adhesively attaching the ring to upper surface 41 of portion 4. Because annular ring 5 is a sliding fit within groove 33, the lower portion 4 of the heel may be rotated about a substantially vertical axis. As illustrated the lower portion 4 of the heel includes a ground engaging lower surface 43. For ease of repair an additional ground engaging portion may be attached to the lower surface 43 for removal therefrom when wear makes replacement necessary. The heel portions may be formed from wood, rubber, plastics materials or a combination thereof. CLAIMS

2. A shoe heel according to claim 1 wherein the upper component includes an annular groove extending parallel to the said lower surface and the second lower component is secured to the upper component by means slidably engageable with said groove and having a portion capable of being secured to the said lower component.

3. A shoe heel according to claim 2 wherein the means slidably engageable with the said annular groove comprises a split annular ring having a portion that is secured to the said lower component after engagement in said groove.

4. A shoe heel according to any one of claims 2 or 3 wherein the upper component comprises an upper flange for attachment to the shoe insole, a depending portion having a smaller diameter than the said upper flange and a lower flange having a greater diameter than the said depending portion whereby an annular groove is formed between the said flanges, the said lower flange having a diameter smaller than said upper flange and the said lower component including a recess in the upper surface thereof to receive said lower flange and to provide an annular ring portion to which the means slidably engageable with the groove may be secured.

5. A shoe heel substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings.