CA2058389C - Shoe with two-piece hinged sole and detachable heel - Google Patents
Shoe with two-piece hinged sole and detachable heel Download PDFInfo
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- CA2058389C CA2058389C CA002058389A CA2058389A CA2058389C CA 2058389 C CA2058389 C CA 2058389C CA 002058389 A CA002058389 A CA 002058389A CA 2058389 A CA2058389 A CA 2058389A CA 2058389 C CA2058389 C CA 2058389C
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- shoe
- sole
- hinge
- sole section
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B3/00—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
- A43B3/24—Collapsible or convertible
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
- A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
- A43B13/141—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
- A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
- A43B13/16—Pieced soles
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- Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
Abstract
A shoe including a detachable heel and two rigid sole sections hinged together along a hinge line that runs directly under the front of the first and fifth metatarsal heads of the foot of the wearer. The rear sole section of the shoe is flat and includes two downwardly projecting studs that engage two corresponding sockets in the detachable heel. Heels of varying heights can be attached to the shoe. The shoe upper associated with the front sole section and the shoe upper associated with the rear sole section do not make contact throughout the normal range of motion of the shoe when worn by the wearer. The shoe has sufficient torsional stiffness such that all flexing of the shoe and foot is confined exclusively in the direction defined by the hinge.
Description
v~~..'~:~~~
_1_ SHOE WITH TWO-PIECE HINGED SOLE AND DETACHABLE HEEL
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to variable height footwear with flexible soles and, more particularly, to hinged soles and shoes with detachable heels.
_1_ SHOE WITH TWO-PIECE HINGED SOLE AND DETACHABLE HEEL
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention This invention relates generally to variable height footwear with flexible soles and, more particularly, to hinged soles and shoes with detachable heels.
2. Description of the Related Art Variable height shoe designs typically allow a 20 single shoe sole and shoe upper combination to be worn with a variety of detachable heels having different heights. Variable height shoes are described, far example, in U.S. Patent No. 4,400,893 to Musci, U.S.
Patent No. 4,494,323 to Latraverse, U.S. Patent No.
4,670,996 to Dill, and U.S. Patent No. 4,805,320 to Goldenberg. While these patents describe shoe designs that provide the advantages of heels that can be detached and replaced with heels of various heights, many such shoe designs require special tools, such as wrenches or keys, to remove and replace the heels. Even when special tools are not required, often a special locking latch must be released or a complex twisting motion is necessary.
Detachable heel shoes also can be rather complex structures that are relatively difficult to manufacture.
Many variable height shoe designs can be rather uncomfortable to wear. Frequently, this is due to 'the fact that a shoe ordinarily is optimized for a particular heel height. Both the flexibility of the shoe sole and upper, and the curvature of the sole, for example, can vary greatly depending on the height of the heel. A
particular degree of flexibility that is appropriate for one heel height might not provide a Comfortable shoe for another heel height. Similarly, a relatively flat sole might be most comfortable far a low height, but a relatively curved sole might be needed for a greater height.
In particular, a shoe having a heel that is relatively high will generally have a greater degree of torsional stiffness and a more curved sole than a low-heeled shoe. The extra stiffness is necessary because a high heel places the foot in an extended orientation with a generally small heel contact area that mak~s the walking motion inherently unstable. The curved sole enhances the stiffness of the shoe structure. When a high heel first strikes the ground during walking, it is not unusual for the foot to wobble slightly until the front of the shoe is brought down, firmly planting the wearer's toes on the ground and stabilizing the foot. The shoe's extra torsional stiffness reduces and tendency for the shoe to fall over when the heel strikes the ground, twisting the wearer's ankle, and makes walking easier. A low~heeled shoe will generally be more flexible because the foot flexes more during walking with a low heel than with a high heel.
Thus, if a flexible, low-heel shoe were fitted with relatively high heels, there likely would not be enough torsional rigidity and stiffness in the shoe for the wearer to maintain balance and counteract the natural instability of a high heel. Conversely, if a.stiff, high-heel shoe were fitted with relatively low heels, the shoe likely would be too stiff to collapse down to the low heed.
position and would not be sufficiently flexible to allow a natural, comfortable walking motion. This distinction is not recognized by conventional detachable-heel shoes.
Consequently, detachable-heel shoes have not provided sufficient convenience and comfort to become very popular, despite the advantage of greater wardrobe variety.
Another problem encountered with conventional detachable-heel shoes is that the shoe upper will visibly distort while the shoe is at rest <~s heels of different height are removed and replaced. ~rhe distortion occurs because the angle between the front sole portion and rear sole portion changes as heels of different height are removed and replaced, and the upper front portion of the shoe bends and distorts as the angle changes. Therefore, the upper must have sufficient excess material and flexibility to flex outwardly as the heel height is increased to accommodate the bending. As a result, the shoe upper loses its smooth appearance when it is at rest and acquires a wrinkled appearance. This detracts from the overall aesthetic appeal of the shoe. A similar distortion occurs with fixed height shoes during walking, but is not ordinarily viewed as an aesthetic problem.
U.S. Patent No. 2,599,970 to Baryons, in FIG. 2, illustrates the distortion that occurs during walking for a fixed-height shoe.
As noted above, another factor influencing comfort is the fact that a shoe with a low heel is ordinarily provided with a relatively flat sole, but a shoe with a high heel is ordinarily provided with a relatively curved, arched sole. This is done to enhance the rigidity of the shoe structure so that heel wobbling will be minimized. Also, a curved sole is impractical for a variable height shoe because the curvature can conform to the arch of a wearer's foot only at one particular height, and will not conform exactly at any other height.
From the discussion above, it should be apparent that there is a need for a comfortable and durable shoe, such as provided by a hinged shoe design, that also offers the added flexibility of detachable heels. The present invention satisfies this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus in one embodiment the present invention provides a shoe having a hinge sole assembly comprising, a forward sole section having an upper surface and a lower surface and a most forward point; and a rear sole section having an upper surface and a lower surface and a most rearward point; and hinge means connecting said rear sole section to said forward sole section in pivotable connection along a straight hinge line; and a sole perimeter having a most medial point and a most lateral point; and wherein a reference line passing through the most forward point of said forward sole section and the most rearward point of said rear sole section defines a longitudinal axis, and wherein a medial reference line parallel to the longitudinal axis which passes through the most medial point of said sole perimeter defines one point on the sole perimeter through which the hinge line of said hinge means passes, and wherein a lateral reference line parallel to the longitudinal axis which passes through the most lateral point of said sole perimeter defines the other point on the sole perimeter through which the hinge line of said hinge means passes.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a shoe for receiving and supporting a foot of a wearer, and having a hinged sole assembly, comprising a forward sole section having an upper surface and a lower surface; and a rear sole section having an upper surface and a lower surface; and hinge means connecting said rear sole section to said forward sole section in pivotable connection along a straight hinge line; and wherein said hinge means passes under the lowest point of the first metatarsal head and the lowest point of the fifth metatarsal head of the wearer's foot.
In certain embodiments disclosed herein they are shown as a shoe design with a detachable heel that can simply be pulled straight off and pushed straight on. Thus, the heels can be provided in varying heights, the shoe does not lose its comfortable fit even when the heel height is changed, and no special tools are required for heel removal and replacement.
The inventor has discovered that a detachable heel is advantageously provided in conjunction with a flat, rigid rear sole that provides sufficient fore and aft flexibility for the wearer's comfort but that also provides the torsional stiffness necessary for stability with high heels. This combination of flexibility and rigidity is achieved by constructing the shoe with a hinged sole having a hinge line that passes under the first and fifth metatarsal heads of the foot of the wearer. The inventor has discovered that this is the only hinge line that will provide for complete comfort to the wearer yet will be structurally secure enough to prevent heel wobbling or collapse. The comfort provided by the hinge allows the sole to be constructed of extremely rigid materials, such as metal, to which a simple detachable heel construction can be incorporated. The hinge allows fore and aft pivoting only along the hinge line and therefore provides the required torsional stiffness. Thus, changing from a relatively low heel to a relatively high heel does not degrade the fit between the wearer's _5_ foot and the shoe, due to the flat rear sole, and complete stability is maintained, preventing heel twisting due to the lateral rigidity of the hinge at any heel height.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION CAF THIE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a shoe constructed in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a shoe constructed in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a representation of the anatomical structure of a foot in relation to the hinge line provided by the shoe illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the shoe illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the shoe in relation to the hinge line provided by the shoe illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the sole and heel structure of the shoe illustrated in FIG5. 1 and 2.
FIG. 6 is a detailed side sectional view of the heel structure of the shoe illustrated in FIG. 5.
FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C are side views of alternative hinge constructions for the shoe illustrated in FIGS. 1-5.
FIGS. gA and 8B are side and plan views, resgectively, of another alternate embodiment of the hinge construction for the shoe illustrated in FIGS. 1-5.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FREFERRED EME~ODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a shoe 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a front section 12 having a rigid sole 14 and a flexible front upper 16 that is connected to a rear section 18 having a flat, rigid sole 20 and a flexible rear upper 22. The uppers provide a means for attaching the shoe 10 to the foot of a wearer (not illustrated).
The front and rear sections 12 and 18 are connected by a hinge coupling 24 such that the two sections can rotate freely in relation to each other without the forward upper section 16 coming into contact with the rear upper section 22 throughout the normal range of movement for a wearer's foot. The shoe 10 includes a heel 26 attached to the underside of the rear sole section 20. The heel 26 can be removed from the sole and can be replaced with a heel having a different height. The hinge 24 allows the front section 12 and the rear section 18 to pivot relative to each other to provide sufficient flexibility between the two sections to provide for a comfortable shoe, while the rigid sole and hinge cooperate to provide sufficient torsional stiffness to provide a stable walking platform even for relatively high heels.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the shoe 10 for the right foot of a wearer, with the pivot line of the hinge 24 indicated by the line 30. The outboard end of the hinge line intersects the shoe perimeter where the curvature of the perimeter changes from outward curvature 32 to inward curvature 34. This point is approximately where the front of the fifth metatarsal bone of the foot of the wearer is positioned. The inboard end of the hinge line 30 also intersects the shoe perimeter where the curvature changes from outward curvature 36 to inward curvature 38. This end of the hinge line is approximately _7_ where the front of the first metatarsal bone of the foot of the wearer is positioned.
The position of the hingsa line 3o relative to the anatomical structure of a wearer.'s foot can be better understood by referring to FIG. 3, which shows the foot bones of the wearer superimposed over the pivot line 30 of the hinge 24. FIG. 3 shows that the h.ing~ line 30 is aligned with a line that passes from the head of the first metatarsal bone 40 to the head of the fifth metatarsal bone 42.
In addition to determining the hinge line 30 by examining the bone structure of the foot, the hinge line can also be determined by physically examining a plan drawing of a right shoe for a particular shoe size. For example, FIG. 4 shows a plan view outline 46 of the perimeter of a particular size shae. This outline can be obtained, for example, by the wearer standing normally while wearing a shoe or with feet on a flat piece of paper holding a slight inward pressure on the toes so that each big toe points slightly inward toward the other toes, as if wearing enclosed toe shoes. The perimeter of the wearer's shoe or foot can then be traced to approximately define the perimeter 46 of the shoe.
Using the traced shoe perimeter 46, two parallel lines 48 and 50 can be drawn such that each line touches only one point on the shoe perimeter and the distance between the parallel lines is maximized. The first line 48 will touch the shoe perimeter at a first point 52, while the second line 50 will touch the shoe perimeter at a second point 54. A line 56 drawn through the points 52 and 54 defines what is referred to as the long axis of the shoe. A line 58 that is drawn parallel to the long axis such that it touches the inside perimeter 46 of the shoe at only one point 60 defines the intersection of the hinge a~~.''~~~~~
_g_ line 30 with the inside perimeter of the shoe. A second line 62 drawn parallel to the long axis and touching the outer perimeter 46 of the shoe at only one point 64 defines the intersection of the hinge line 30 with the outside shoe perimeter. The points 60 and 64 on the shoe perimeter are the points in the forward half of the shoe at which the shoe perimeter curvature changes from outward curvature away from the long axis to inward curvature toward the long axis. The line connecting the two points corresponds to the hinge line 30 and should coincide with the Line that passes just under the forwardmost points of the first and fifth metatarsal bones of the wearer as illustrated in FIG. 3. This hinge line is not perpendicular to the long axis of the shoe, as is the case with most conventional hinged' shoes. Rather, the hinge line provides flexibility where demanded by the anatomy of 'the foot.
FIG. 5 shows the sole sections 14 and 20 of the shoe 10 without the upper sections 16 and 22, for simplicity. The forward sole section 14 can be curved as desired for comfort and style. The rear sole section 20 is flat so that when the heel 26 is replaced with a heel of a different height, the geometrical relationship between the rear sole section and the foot of the wearer is unchanged. That is, the sole retains its initial orientation relative to the wearer's foot throughout its range of motion. The heel 26 is preferably attached to the rear sole section by two studs 66 and 68 that project downwardly from the bottom surface of the sole 20 and are received by respective sockets 70 and 72 in the heel 26.
The studs, for example, can be attached to the rear sole section 20 by riveting. As is most clearly illustrated in FIG. 2, the studs 66 and 68 are placed on the sole 20 slightly out of alignment with the long axis (FIG. 4} of the shoe 10. That is, the forwardmost stud 66 is ahead of ~.,V~1..6'~
_g_ and slightly to the left or right of the second stud 68 relative to the long axis 56 (FIG. 4).
The studs 66 and 68 are shown in greater detail in FIG. 6 and provide an easy means of attaching the heel 26 to the shoe 10 and simply require a pulling motion on the bottom of the heel for heel removal. Friction is maintained between the studs and the heel sockets by a quick release ball 74 that moves within a laterally extending shaft 76 in each stud. The balls 74 are pushed to the outside of the shaft against a rim 78 by an inner spring 80. When the studs 66 and 68 are pressed into the heel sockets 70 and 72; the balls 74 are pushed back into the lateral shafts 76, partially compressing the springs 80. The balls thus push against the walls of the heel sockets, maintaining friction that prevents the heels from falling off. Other means of attaching the heel will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C illustrate various means of implementing the hinge 24 to connect the front sole section l4 and rear sole section 20. In FIGS. 7A and 7B, a hinge 82 having a first mounting flange 84 and a second mounting flange 86 coupled together by hinge barrels 88 and a hinge pin 89 can be attached to the underside of the front sole section 14 and rear sole section 20. The mounting flanges can be attached to the soles in a number of ways, such as by riveting or gluing. If the sole sections and the mounting flanges are constructed of metal, then the flanges can be attached by welding. The hinge barrels 88 can be oriented to either face upwardly as in FIG. 7A or can be oriented to face downwardly as in FIG. 7B. Alternatively; a hinge connection can be formed by bonding two flexible strips 88 and 90 to the upper and lower surfaces of the front sole 14 and rear sole 20 such that each strip extends from one sole section to the other while the sole sections are held abutting each other. The ~10-two sole sections can then pivot about a fixed axis while maintaining the required torsional J°igidity.
An alternate means of coupling the front sole section 14 and rear sole section :>.0 can advantageously comprise hinge barrels integrally formed in the sole sections, as illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B. The sole sections 14 and 20 can be constructed from a relatively rigid material, such as aluminum. In such a case, the ends of each sole section adjacent to the other sole section can be provided with a plurality of hinge barrels 92 with a hinge shaft 94 passing therethrough. When the sole sections are to be assembled, the hinge barrels 92 are interdigitated so that the shaft 94 passing through each hinge barrel is aligned with the shafts of the remaining hinge barrels. An elongated hinge pin 96 can then be inserted through 'the aligned shafts and can then be left in place and secured, for example, by flattening the ends of the hinge pin.
In any of the hinges described above, the rigid sole sections and connecting hinge cooperate to provide a shoe sole with a great deal of torsional stiffness so that there is no lateral twisting between the forward sole section and the year sole section. This allows balancing forces from the toes to be applied against the forward sole section to control any instability of the shae that might occur from wearing a high heel. Thus, the rear sole section 20 is free to flex toward the forward sole section 14 by rotating in a direction perpendicular to the hinge line 30 but cannot twist laterally in a direction parallel to the hinge line.
A shoe constructed in accordance with the present invention is designed such that the forward sole section and upper maintain a fixed position with respect to the front of the wearer's foot and the rear sole section and upper maintain a fixed position with respect to the rear of the wearer's foot. All flexing of the shoe and foot are confined exclusively to the stated hinge line. Experimentation has shown that this design does not inhibit any walking or even dancing motions of the foot that the wearer may wish to make.
It has been found that the weight-bearing sections of the bottom of a normal foot flex along the above-mentioned hinge line and that complete comfort can be achieved with a shoe that flexes in only this way. Not only does the described hinge line provide for full, free, and comfortable movement of the foot, but no number of other hinge lines will give comparable full and free movement. A shoe constructed in accordance with the present invention removes all structural laads on the cushioning of the shoe so that, when the shoe and foot flex, padding on the sole does not move with respect to the foot.
It has been found that the area on a conventional shoe that distorts and resists motion the mast is the upper section above the area of the sole that includes the hinge line of the present invention. Tn a shoe constructed in accordance with the present invention, there is no upper part in this shoe area, which is totally open. Thus, the shoe is very rigid and can be well padded in the areas where the foot does not flex, but is completely open on top in the areas where flexing occurs.
This causes the shoe to behave like an extension of the foot, eliminating twisting and chafing movements of foot against shoe.
A shoe in accordance with the present invention can be fitted with heels of different heights and will be attractive and feel comfortable. Changes in heel height cause the same flexing of the shoe that walking does.
~1~~
Because the upper section of the sYioe is open where the shoe flexes, there will be no distori~ion of the upper when the heel height is changed. The sole is hinged to flex freely without twisting or changing the position of the foot in relation to the sole and therefore changes in heel height era readily accommodated. It has been found irhat such shoes feel as if one is standing or walking on a flat surface ire contrast to the "perched'° sensation of typical high heels with their characteristic arched vertical curvature.
The present invention has been described above in terms of presently preferred embodiments so that an understanding of the present invention can be conveyed.
There are, however, many configurations for hinged shoes with detachable heels that are not specifically described herein, but with which the present invention is applicable. The present invention should therefore not be seen as limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but rather, it should be understood that the present invention has applicability with respect to a wide variety of detachable heel shoes. All modifications, variations, or equivalent arrangements that are within the scope of the attached claims should therefore be considered to be within the scope of the invention.
Patent No. 4,494,323 to Latraverse, U.S. Patent No.
4,670,996 to Dill, and U.S. Patent No. 4,805,320 to Goldenberg. While these patents describe shoe designs that provide the advantages of heels that can be detached and replaced with heels of various heights, many such shoe designs require special tools, such as wrenches or keys, to remove and replace the heels. Even when special tools are not required, often a special locking latch must be released or a complex twisting motion is necessary.
Detachable heel shoes also can be rather complex structures that are relatively difficult to manufacture.
Many variable height shoe designs can be rather uncomfortable to wear. Frequently, this is due to 'the fact that a shoe ordinarily is optimized for a particular heel height. Both the flexibility of the shoe sole and upper, and the curvature of the sole, for example, can vary greatly depending on the height of the heel. A
particular degree of flexibility that is appropriate for one heel height might not provide a Comfortable shoe for another heel height. Similarly, a relatively flat sole might be most comfortable far a low height, but a relatively curved sole might be needed for a greater height.
In particular, a shoe having a heel that is relatively high will generally have a greater degree of torsional stiffness and a more curved sole than a low-heeled shoe. The extra stiffness is necessary because a high heel places the foot in an extended orientation with a generally small heel contact area that mak~s the walking motion inherently unstable. The curved sole enhances the stiffness of the shoe structure. When a high heel first strikes the ground during walking, it is not unusual for the foot to wobble slightly until the front of the shoe is brought down, firmly planting the wearer's toes on the ground and stabilizing the foot. The shoe's extra torsional stiffness reduces and tendency for the shoe to fall over when the heel strikes the ground, twisting the wearer's ankle, and makes walking easier. A low~heeled shoe will generally be more flexible because the foot flexes more during walking with a low heel than with a high heel.
Thus, if a flexible, low-heel shoe were fitted with relatively high heels, there likely would not be enough torsional rigidity and stiffness in the shoe for the wearer to maintain balance and counteract the natural instability of a high heel. Conversely, if a.stiff, high-heel shoe were fitted with relatively low heels, the shoe likely would be too stiff to collapse down to the low heed.
position and would not be sufficiently flexible to allow a natural, comfortable walking motion. This distinction is not recognized by conventional detachable-heel shoes.
Consequently, detachable-heel shoes have not provided sufficient convenience and comfort to become very popular, despite the advantage of greater wardrobe variety.
Another problem encountered with conventional detachable-heel shoes is that the shoe upper will visibly distort while the shoe is at rest <~s heels of different height are removed and replaced. ~rhe distortion occurs because the angle between the front sole portion and rear sole portion changes as heels of different height are removed and replaced, and the upper front portion of the shoe bends and distorts as the angle changes. Therefore, the upper must have sufficient excess material and flexibility to flex outwardly as the heel height is increased to accommodate the bending. As a result, the shoe upper loses its smooth appearance when it is at rest and acquires a wrinkled appearance. This detracts from the overall aesthetic appeal of the shoe. A similar distortion occurs with fixed height shoes during walking, but is not ordinarily viewed as an aesthetic problem.
U.S. Patent No. 2,599,970 to Baryons, in FIG. 2, illustrates the distortion that occurs during walking for a fixed-height shoe.
As noted above, another factor influencing comfort is the fact that a shoe with a low heel is ordinarily provided with a relatively flat sole, but a shoe with a high heel is ordinarily provided with a relatively curved, arched sole. This is done to enhance the rigidity of the shoe structure so that heel wobbling will be minimized. Also, a curved sole is impractical for a variable height shoe because the curvature can conform to the arch of a wearer's foot only at one particular height, and will not conform exactly at any other height.
From the discussion above, it should be apparent that there is a need for a comfortable and durable shoe, such as provided by a hinged shoe design, that also offers the added flexibility of detachable heels. The present invention satisfies this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Thus in one embodiment the present invention provides a shoe having a hinge sole assembly comprising, a forward sole section having an upper surface and a lower surface and a most forward point; and a rear sole section having an upper surface and a lower surface and a most rearward point; and hinge means connecting said rear sole section to said forward sole section in pivotable connection along a straight hinge line; and a sole perimeter having a most medial point and a most lateral point; and wherein a reference line passing through the most forward point of said forward sole section and the most rearward point of said rear sole section defines a longitudinal axis, and wherein a medial reference line parallel to the longitudinal axis which passes through the most medial point of said sole perimeter defines one point on the sole perimeter through which the hinge line of said hinge means passes, and wherein a lateral reference line parallel to the longitudinal axis which passes through the most lateral point of said sole perimeter defines the other point on the sole perimeter through which the hinge line of said hinge means passes.
In another embodiment, the invention provides a shoe for receiving and supporting a foot of a wearer, and having a hinged sole assembly, comprising a forward sole section having an upper surface and a lower surface; and a rear sole section having an upper surface and a lower surface; and hinge means connecting said rear sole section to said forward sole section in pivotable connection along a straight hinge line; and wherein said hinge means passes under the lowest point of the first metatarsal head and the lowest point of the fifth metatarsal head of the wearer's foot.
In certain embodiments disclosed herein they are shown as a shoe design with a detachable heel that can simply be pulled straight off and pushed straight on. Thus, the heels can be provided in varying heights, the shoe does not lose its comfortable fit even when the heel height is changed, and no special tools are required for heel removal and replacement.
The inventor has discovered that a detachable heel is advantageously provided in conjunction with a flat, rigid rear sole that provides sufficient fore and aft flexibility for the wearer's comfort but that also provides the torsional stiffness necessary for stability with high heels. This combination of flexibility and rigidity is achieved by constructing the shoe with a hinged sole having a hinge line that passes under the first and fifth metatarsal heads of the foot of the wearer. The inventor has discovered that this is the only hinge line that will provide for complete comfort to the wearer yet will be structurally secure enough to prevent heel wobbling or collapse. The comfort provided by the hinge allows the sole to be constructed of extremely rigid materials, such as metal, to which a simple detachable heel construction can be incorporated. The hinge allows fore and aft pivoting only along the hinge line and therefore provides the required torsional stiffness. Thus, changing from a relatively low heel to a relatively high heel does not degrade the fit between the wearer's _5_ foot and the shoe, due to the flat rear sole, and complete stability is maintained, preventing heel twisting due to the lateral rigidity of the hinge at any heel height.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION CAF THIE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a shoe constructed in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a shoe constructed in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a representation of the anatomical structure of a foot in relation to the hinge line provided by the shoe illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the shoe illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the shoe in relation to the hinge line provided by the shoe illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.
FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the sole and heel structure of the shoe illustrated in FIG5. 1 and 2.
FIG. 6 is a detailed side sectional view of the heel structure of the shoe illustrated in FIG. 5.
FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C are side views of alternative hinge constructions for the shoe illustrated in FIGS. 1-5.
FIGS. gA and 8B are side and plan views, resgectively, of another alternate embodiment of the hinge construction for the shoe illustrated in FIGS. 1-5.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FREFERRED EME~ODIMENTS
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a shoe 10 constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a front section 12 having a rigid sole 14 and a flexible front upper 16 that is connected to a rear section 18 having a flat, rigid sole 20 and a flexible rear upper 22. The uppers provide a means for attaching the shoe 10 to the foot of a wearer (not illustrated).
The front and rear sections 12 and 18 are connected by a hinge coupling 24 such that the two sections can rotate freely in relation to each other without the forward upper section 16 coming into contact with the rear upper section 22 throughout the normal range of movement for a wearer's foot. The shoe 10 includes a heel 26 attached to the underside of the rear sole section 20. The heel 26 can be removed from the sole and can be replaced with a heel having a different height. The hinge 24 allows the front section 12 and the rear section 18 to pivot relative to each other to provide sufficient flexibility between the two sections to provide for a comfortable shoe, while the rigid sole and hinge cooperate to provide sufficient torsional stiffness to provide a stable walking platform even for relatively high heels.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the shoe 10 for the right foot of a wearer, with the pivot line of the hinge 24 indicated by the line 30. The outboard end of the hinge line intersects the shoe perimeter where the curvature of the perimeter changes from outward curvature 32 to inward curvature 34. This point is approximately where the front of the fifth metatarsal bone of the foot of the wearer is positioned. The inboard end of the hinge line 30 also intersects the shoe perimeter where the curvature changes from outward curvature 36 to inward curvature 38. This end of the hinge line is approximately _7_ where the front of the first metatarsal bone of the foot of the wearer is positioned.
The position of the hingsa line 3o relative to the anatomical structure of a wearer.'s foot can be better understood by referring to FIG. 3, which shows the foot bones of the wearer superimposed over the pivot line 30 of the hinge 24. FIG. 3 shows that the h.ing~ line 30 is aligned with a line that passes from the head of the first metatarsal bone 40 to the head of the fifth metatarsal bone 42.
In addition to determining the hinge line 30 by examining the bone structure of the foot, the hinge line can also be determined by physically examining a plan drawing of a right shoe for a particular shoe size. For example, FIG. 4 shows a plan view outline 46 of the perimeter of a particular size shae. This outline can be obtained, for example, by the wearer standing normally while wearing a shoe or with feet on a flat piece of paper holding a slight inward pressure on the toes so that each big toe points slightly inward toward the other toes, as if wearing enclosed toe shoes. The perimeter of the wearer's shoe or foot can then be traced to approximately define the perimeter 46 of the shoe.
Using the traced shoe perimeter 46, two parallel lines 48 and 50 can be drawn such that each line touches only one point on the shoe perimeter and the distance between the parallel lines is maximized. The first line 48 will touch the shoe perimeter at a first point 52, while the second line 50 will touch the shoe perimeter at a second point 54. A line 56 drawn through the points 52 and 54 defines what is referred to as the long axis of the shoe. A line 58 that is drawn parallel to the long axis such that it touches the inside perimeter 46 of the shoe at only one point 60 defines the intersection of the hinge a~~.''~~~~~
_g_ line 30 with the inside perimeter of the shoe. A second line 62 drawn parallel to the long axis and touching the outer perimeter 46 of the shoe at only one point 64 defines the intersection of the hinge line 30 with the outside shoe perimeter. The points 60 and 64 on the shoe perimeter are the points in the forward half of the shoe at which the shoe perimeter curvature changes from outward curvature away from the long axis to inward curvature toward the long axis. The line connecting the two points corresponds to the hinge line 30 and should coincide with the Line that passes just under the forwardmost points of the first and fifth metatarsal bones of the wearer as illustrated in FIG. 3. This hinge line is not perpendicular to the long axis of the shoe, as is the case with most conventional hinged' shoes. Rather, the hinge line provides flexibility where demanded by the anatomy of 'the foot.
FIG. 5 shows the sole sections 14 and 20 of the shoe 10 without the upper sections 16 and 22, for simplicity. The forward sole section 14 can be curved as desired for comfort and style. The rear sole section 20 is flat so that when the heel 26 is replaced with a heel of a different height, the geometrical relationship between the rear sole section and the foot of the wearer is unchanged. That is, the sole retains its initial orientation relative to the wearer's foot throughout its range of motion. The heel 26 is preferably attached to the rear sole section by two studs 66 and 68 that project downwardly from the bottom surface of the sole 20 and are received by respective sockets 70 and 72 in the heel 26.
The studs, for example, can be attached to the rear sole section 20 by riveting. As is most clearly illustrated in FIG. 2, the studs 66 and 68 are placed on the sole 20 slightly out of alignment with the long axis (FIG. 4} of the shoe 10. That is, the forwardmost stud 66 is ahead of ~.,V~1..6'~
_g_ and slightly to the left or right of the second stud 68 relative to the long axis 56 (FIG. 4).
The studs 66 and 68 are shown in greater detail in FIG. 6 and provide an easy means of attaching the heel 26 to the shoe 10 and simply require a pulling motion on the bottom of the heel for heel removal. Friction is maintained between the studs and the heel sockets by a quick release ball 74 that moves within a laterally extending shaft 76 in each stud. The balls 74 are pushed to the outside of the shaft against a rim 78 by an inner spring 80. When the studs 66 and 68 are pressed into the heel sockets 70 and 72; the balls 74 are pushed back into the lateral shafts 76, partially compressing the springs 80. The balls thus push against the walls of the heel sockets, maintaining friction that prevents the heels from falling off. Other means of attaching the heel will be apparent to those skilled in the art.
FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C illustrate various means of implementing the hinge 24 to connect the front sole section l4 and rear sole section 20. In FIGS. 7A and 7B, a hinge 82 having a first mounting flange 84 and a second mounting flange 86 coupled together by hinge barrels 88 and a hinge pin 89 can be attached to the underside of the front sole section 14 and rear sole section 20. The mounting flanges can be attached to the soles in a number of ways, such as by riveting or gluing. If the sole sections and the mounting flanges are constructed of metal, then the flanges can be attached by welding. The hinge barrels 88 can be oriented to either face upwardly as in FIG. 7A or can be oriented to face downwardly as in FIG. 7B. Alternatively; a hinge connection can be formed by bonding two flexible strips 88 and 90 to the upper and lower surfaces of the front sole 14 and rear sole 20 such that each strip extends from one sole section to the other while the sole sections are held abutting each other. The ~10-two sole sections can then pivot about a fixed axis while maintaining the required torsional J°igidity.
An alternate means of coupling the front sole section 14 and rear sole section :>.0 can advantageously comprise hinge barrels integrally formed in the sole sections, as illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B. The sole sections 14 and 20 can be constructed from a relatively rigid material, such as aluminum. In such a case, the ends of each sole section adjacent to the other sole section can be provided with a plurality of hinge barrels 92 with a hinge shaft 94 passing therethrough. When the sole sections are to be assembled, the hinge barrels 92 are interdigitated so that the shaft 94 passing through each hinge barrel is aligned with the shafts of the remaining hinge barrels. An elongated hinge pin 96 can then be inserted through 'the aligned shafts and can then be left in place and secured, for example, by flattening the ends of the hinge pin.
In any of the hinges described above, the rigid sole sections and connecting hinge cooperate to provide a shoe sole with a great deal of torsional stiffness so that there is no lateral twisting between the forward sole section and the year sole section. This allows balancing forces from the toes to be applied against the forward sole section to control any instability of the shae that might occur from wearing a high heel. Thus, the rear sole section 20 is free to flex toward the forward sole section 14 by rotating in a direction perpendicular to the hinge line 30 but cannot twist laterally in a direction parallel to the hinge line.
A shoe constructed in accordance with the present invention is designed such that the forward sole section and upper maintain a fixed position with respect to the front of the wearer's foot and the rear sole section and upper maintain a fixed position with respect to the rear of the wearer's foot. All flexing of the shoe and foot are confined exclusively to the stated hinge line. Experimentation has shown that this design does not inhibit any walking or even dancing motions of the foot that the wearer may wish to make.
It has been found that the weight-bearing sections of the bottom of a normal foot flex along the above-mentioned hinge line and that complete comfort can be achieved with a shoe that flexes in only this way. Not only does the described hinge line provide for full, free, and comfortable movement of the foot, but no number of other hinge lines will give comparable full and free movement. A shoe constructed in accordance with the present invention removes all structural laads on the cushioning of the shoe so that, when the shoe and foot flex, padding on the sole does not move with respect to the foot.
It has been found that the area on a conventional shoe that distorts and resists motion the mast is the upper section above the area of the sole that includes the hinge line of the present invention. Tn a shoe constructed in accordance with the present invention, there is no upper part in this shoe area, which is totally open. Thus, the shoe is very rigid and can be well padded in the areas where the foot does not flex, but is completely open on top in the areas where flexing occurs.
This causes the shoe to behave like an extension of the foot, eliminating twisting and chafing movements of foot against shoe.
A shoe in accordance with the present invention can be fitted with heels of different heights and will be attractive and feel comfortable. Changes in heel height cause the same flexing of the shoe that walking does.
~1~~
Because the upper section of the sYioe is open where the shoe flexes, there will be no distori~ion of the upper when the heel height is changed. The sole is hinged to flex freely without twisting or changing the position of the foot in relation to the sole and therefore changes in heel height era readily accommodated. It has been found irhat such shoes feel as if one is standing or walking on a flat surface ire contrast to the "perched'° sensation of typical high heels with their characteristic arched vertical curvature.
The present invention has been described above in terms of presently preferred embodiments so that an understanding of the present invention can be conveyed.
There are, however, many configurations for hinged shoes with detachable heels that are not specifically described herein, but with which the present invention is applicable. The present invention should therefore not be seen as limited to the particular embodiments described herein, but rather, it should be understood that the present invention has applicability with respect to a wide variety of detachable heel shoes. All modifications, variations, or equivalent arrangements that are within the scope of the attached claims should therefore be considered to be within the scope of the invention.
Claims (5)
1. A shoe having a hinged sole assembly comprising;
a forward sole section having an upper surface and a lower surface; and a rear sole section having an upper surface and a lower surface and a most rearward point; and hinge means connecting said rear sole section to said forward sole section in pivotable connection along a straight hinge line, and a sole perimeter having a most medial point and a most lateral point; and wherein a reference line passing through the two points of the hinged sole assembly perimeter that are furthest apart defines a longitudinal axis, and wherein a medial reference line on the medial side of the sole perimeter parallel to the longitudinal axis which passes through the perimeter of the sole at the point furthest from the longitudinal axis defines one point on the sole perimeter through which the hinge line of said hinge passes, and wherein a lateral reference line on the lateral side of the sole perimeter parallel to the longitudinal axis which passes through the perimeter of the sole at the point furthest from the longitudinal axis defines the other point on the sole perimeter through which the hinge line of said hinge passes; and wherein said rear sole section has a high heel attached to the rear of the bottom surface of said rear sole section such that when the shoe sole assembly is resting upright on level ground, the difference in height above said ground of the highest point on the upper surface of said rear sole section and the lowest point on the upper surface of said rear sole section is at least one inch and not more than five inches.
a forward sole section having an upper surface and a lower surface; and a rear sole section having an upper surface and a lower surface and a most rearward point; and hinge means connecting said rear sole section to said forward sole section in pivotable connection along a straight hinge line, and a sole perimeter having a most medial point and a most lateral point; and wherein a reference line passing through the two points of the hinged sole assembly perimeter that are furthest apart defines a longitudinal axis, and wherein a medial reference line on the medial side of the sole perimeter parallel to the longitudinal axis which passes through the perimeter of the sole at the point furthest from the longitudinal axis defines one point on the sole perimeter through which the hinge line of said hinge passes, and wherein a lateral reference line on the lateral side of the sole perimeter parallel to the longitudinal axis which passes through the perimeter of the sole at the point furthest from the longitudinal axis defines the other point on the sole perimeter through which the hinge line of said hinge passes; and wherein said rear sole section has a high heel attached to the rear of the bottom surface of said rear sole section such that when the shoe sole assembly is resting upright on level ground, the difference in height above said ground of the highest point on the upper surface of said rear sole section and the lowest point on the upper surface of said rear sole section is at least one inch and not more than five inches.
2. A shoe as in claim 1 further comprising means for removing the heel.
3. A shoe as in claim 1 wherein the upper surface of the rear sole section has a small concave depression in the heel area.
4. A shoe as in claim 1 wherein the upper surface of the rear sole section has a small convex rise centered on the medial side of the sole perimeter midway between the hinge and the heel area.
5. A shoe having a hinged sole assembly comprising;
a forward sole section having an upper surface and a lower surface; and a rigid rear sole section having a substantially planar upper surface and a lower surface; and a hinge connecting said rear sole section to said front sole section in pivotable connection along a straight hinge line; and wherein said hinge passes under the lowest point of the first metatarsal head and the lowest point of the fifth metatarsal head of the wearer's foot; and wherein said rear sole section has a high heel attached to the rear of the bottom surface of said rear sole section such that when the shoe sole assembly is resting upright on level ground, the difference in height above said ground of the highest point on the upper surface of said rear sole section and the lowest point on the upper surface of said rear sole section is at least one inch and not more than five inches.
a forward sole section having an upper surface and a lower surface; and a rigid rear sole section having a substantially planar upper surface and a lower surface; and a hinge connecting said rear sole section to said front sole section in pivotable connection along a straight hinge line; and wherein said hinge passes under the lowest point of the first metatarsal head and the lowest point of the fifth metatarsal head of the wearer's foot; and wherein said rear sole section has a high heel attached to the rear of the bottom surface of said rear sole section such that when the shoe sole assembly is resting upright on level ground, the difference in height above said ground of the highest point on the upper surface of said rear sole section and the lowest point on the upper surface of said rear sole section is at least one inch and not more than five inches.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US70258891A | 1991-05-17 | 1991-05-17 | |
| US702,588 | 1991-05-17 |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2058389A1 CA2058389A1 (en) | 1992-11-18 |
| CA2058389C true CA2058389C (en) | 2001-05-22 |
Family
ID=24821841
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002058389A Expired - Fee Related CA2058389C (en) | 1991-05-17 | 1991-12-23 | Shoe with two-piece hinged sole and detachable heel |
Country Status (3)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| AU (1) | AU2247392A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2058389C (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1992020248A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NL9400255A (en) * | 1994-02-21 | 1995-10-02 | Maartje Else Kaper | Shoe. |
| US9220317B2 (en) | 2009-09-24 | 2015-12-29 | Gabrielle Green | Transitional shoe with screw-on heel |
| DE102022105965A1 (en) | 2022-03-15 | 2023-09-21 | Peter Baum | Heel shoe |
Family Cites Families (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE219669C (en) * | ||||
| US2129099A (en) * | 1935-08-17 | 1938-09-06 | Henry N Pearson | Detachable heel |
| US2157818A (en) * | 1937-07-21 | 1939-05-09 | Daniel Green Company | Shoe |
| US2466580A (en) * | 1945-07-19 | 1949-04-05 | Glen N Lollis | Sandal with flexible wooden sole |
| US2590648A (en) * | 1949-01-12 | 1952-03-25 | A L Langenfeld Inc | Slotted sole sandal |
| US2599970A (en) * | 1949-09-22 | 1952-06-10 | Barrons John | Orthopedic shoe |
| US4309832A (en) * | 1980-03-27 | 1982-01-12 | Hunt Helen M | Articulated shoe sole |
| FR2491740B1 (en) * | 1980-10-09 | 1986-04-04 | Sarkissian Vahe | SOLE AND HEEL ASSEMBLY FOR VARIABLE CAMBER SHOE |
| US4494323A (en) * | 1982-05-03 | 1985-01-22 | Latraverse Wendy R | Detachable shoe heel |
| US4573457A (en) * | 1983-12-29 | 1986-03-04 | Parks Thomas J | Toe lifting shoe |
| US4670996A (en) * | 1986-07-28 | 1987-06-09 | Dill Mary J | Women's shoes with flexible spring steel shanks for use with replaceable heels of different height |
-
1991
- 1991-12-23 CA CA002058389A patent/CA2058389C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1992
- 1992-05-15 AU AU22473/92A patent/AU2247392A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1992-05-15 WO PCT/US1992/004098 patent/WO1992020248A1/en active Application Filing
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2058389A1 (en) | 1992-11-18 |
| AU2247392A (en) | 1992-12-30 |
| WO1992020248A1 (en) | 1992-11-26 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |