Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B21/00—Heels; Top-pieces or top-lifts
  • A43B21/24—Heels; Top-pieces or top-lifts characterised by the constructive form
  • A43B21/30—Heels with metal springs
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B21/00—Heels; Top-pieces or top-lifts
  • A43B21/36—Heels; Top-pieces or top-lifts characterised by their attachment; Securing devices for the attaching means
  • A43B21/42—Heels with replaceable or adjustable parts, e.g. top lift
  • A43B21/437—Heels with replaceable or adjustable parts, e.g. top lift with axially-adjustable rod-like top-pieces
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B21/00—Heels; Top-pieces or top-lifts
  • A43B21/36—Heels; Top-pieces or top-lifts characterised by their attachment; Securing devices for the attaching means
  • A43B21/47—Heels; Top-pieces or top-lifts characterised by their attachment; Securing devices for the attaching means by resilient means
  • A43B21/48—Heels; Top-pieces or top-lifts characterised by their attachment; Securing devices for the attaching means by resilient means by press-buttons
• • 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

Definitions

• the invention relates to a heel of adjustable height for a shoe; in particular, for a ladies high-heel shoe.
• the invention extends to a shoe having such a heel.
• the heel of a high-heel shoe is subjected to significant forces and wear.
• An adjustable heel would provide the comfort of a shorter, "low heel” in its retracted condition. This is better suited for walking, riding a bicycle and for general daily use, such as standing in queues. In its extended condition, the heel would provide extra height and other aesthetic appeal associated with high-heel shoes. While the idea of incorporating this feature into a shoe carries these and possibly other advantages, it would seem that a suitable construction for a heel of this type has eluded those who have attempted to do so.
• a heel for a shoe including a butt-end securable to a shoe and a base providing a heel tip at its free end, the base movable in relation to the butt-end, with the base and butt-end connected through telescopic components, a cooperating sleeve and pin mounted coaxially within the heel, the sleeve having a keyway profiled to fit over a key on the end of the pin when the keyway and key are aligned and the sleeve and pin configured to hold the heel in a retracted condition when the pin is in the sleeve and to hold the heel in an extended condition when the pin is withdrawn from the sleeve, and a mechanism to rotate the pin with its key and the sleeve with its keyway, into alignment to enable movement of the heel between the retracted and extended conditions.
• the invention further provides for at least one spring between the base and butt- end to bias the heel into the extended condition; and for the spring to be a coil spring guided within the heel.
• the mechanism to include a spring to bias the passage of the sleeve and the key of the pin out of alignment; and for the mechanism to include an operating lever with a torsion spring, extending laterally from the pin or sleeve; or an operating rack with a coil spring, which engages a pinion connected to the pin or sleeve.
• a further feature of the invention provides for a first telescopic component to extend from the butt-end and a second telescopic component to extend from the base, with a third telescopic component received slidably within the first component and extending slidably over the second component.
• a heel for a shoe as defined above wherein the tip of the heel is configured to engage the ground with the heel in the retracted condition and in the extended condition.
• the tip will either be provided with a curved ground engaging surface; or with first and second ground engaging surfaces which are provided on the tip at a suitable angle in relation to each other.
• a shoe including a heel as defined above.
• Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional side view of a shoe with an adjustable heel in an extended condition with a first embodiment of an operating mechanism
• Figure 2 shows the shoe in Figure 1 with the heel in a retracted condition
• Figure 3 shows an exploded perspective view of the components of the heel
• Figure 4 shows a cross-section of the heel in extended condition
• Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the heel
• Figure 6 shows a cross-section of the heel in retracted condition
• Figure 7 shows an exploded perspective view of the components of a heel with an alternative operating mechanism
• Figure 8 shows a cross-section of the heel in Figure 7 in extended condition
• Figure 9 shows a perspective view of the heel in Figure 7.
• FIG. 1 a first embodiment of a heel (1 ) for a high-heel shoe (2) is shown.
• the heel (1 ) has a butt-end (3) which is secured to the shoe (2).
• a bridge support (4) extends from the butt-end (3).
• the support (4) is secured between an outer sole (5) and an inner sole (6) of the shoe (2).
• a base (7) is provided with a heel tip (8) at its free outer end.
• the base (7) is movable in relation to the butt-end (3), with the base (7) and butt-end (3) connected through telescopic components (9). More specifically, a first telescopic component (9.1 ) extends downwardly from the butt-end (3) and a second telescopic component (9.2) extends upwardly from the base (7).
• a third telescopic component (9.3) is received slidably within the first component (9.1 ) and extends slidably over the second component (9.2).
• the third telescopic component (9.3) is smaller than the first (9.1 ) and larger than the second (9.2).
• Inwardly extending lips (10) on the ends of components (9.1 ) and (9.3) are provided to limit the extended telescopic relationship of the components (9) by engagement with shoulders projecting from components (9.3) and (9.1 ).
• a cooperating sleeve (11 ) and pin (12) are provided coaxially within the heel (1 ).
• the sleeve (11 ) is formed in the second component (9.2), which extends from the base (7).
• a hollow spigot (13) extends from the butt-end (3) and the pin (12) is positioned for axial rotation within the spigot (13).
• the pin (12) is a close fit to the inside of the spigot (13).
• a key (14) extends laterally from the pin (12), at its operatively lower end. In this embodiment, a pair of oppositely extending keys (14) is provided. The keys (14) locate against the free end of the spigot (13) when the pin (12) is in place.
• the sleeve (11 ) provides a longitudinal keyway (15) profiled to fit over the keys (14) on the end of the pin (12) when the keyway (15) and keys (14) are aligned.
• An operating mechanism (16) to rotate the pin (12), for alignment of the keys (14) with the keyway (15) is provided at the other end of the pin (12), adjacent the butt-end (3).
• a chamber (17) is provided in the second component (9.2) at the lower end of the keyway (15).
• the chamber (17) allows for rotation of the keys (14) out of alignment with the keyway (15), once the keys (14) have passed through and the pin (12) is located inside the keyway (15).
• the mechanism (16) includes a lever (18) with an opening (19) provided to fit onto the end of the pin (12), which is provided with a corresponding flat (20).
• a torsion spring (21 ) fits over the pin (12) with its ends secured to the lever (18) and to an anchor (22) on the butt-end (3), respectively.
• the spring (21 ) serves to bias the pin (12) into a position where the keys (14) are out of alignment with the keyway (15).
• a circlip (23) holds the components on the end of the pin (12).
• the lever (18) projects from the rear of the heel (1 ) at the butt-end (3).
• Two oppositely arranged stops (1 1.1 ) are provided at the top of the sleeve (1 1 ).
• the keys (14) contact the opposite sides of the stops (11.1 ) when in alignment with the keyway (15).
• the chamber (17) below the keyway (15) is configured to limit movement of the keys (14) in the same manner as the stops (11.1 ).
• a pair of coil springs (24) is provided between the base (7) and butt-end (3).
• the springs (24) are located on prongs (25) extending from butt-end (3) and in cylindrical recesses (26) in the second component (9.2) on the base (7).
• the prongs (25) and recesses (26) serve as guides for the springs (24).
• the second component (9.2) is solid with the sleeve (11 ) and recesses (26) formed therein.
• the chamber (17) is provided by the component (9.2) and the heel tip (8) which is fixed to the ground engaging end.
• the keys (14) lock the heel (1 ), either located against the operatively upper end of the sleeve (1 1 ) when the heel is in an extended condition or at the lower end of the sleeve (11 ) where they locate in the chamber (17) when the heel (1 ) is in a retracted condition.
• the springs (24) bias the heel (1 ) into an extended condition.
• the top of the second component (9.2) abuts the butt- end (3) with the stops (11.1 ) received in recesses (3.1 ).
• the second component (9.2) keys (14) and spigot (13) bear the load.
• the invention also provides for the combination of the heel (1 ) and the outer sole (5) as shown in Figures 1 and 2. These components can be supplied to existing shoe manufacturers who will construct and fit them with their own uppers.
• a bridge portion (27) of the outer sole (5) extends from the heel (1 ) to a ground engaging portion (28) at the front of the shoe (2).
• An integral hinge (29) is formed in the outer sole (5) between the bridge portion (27) and ground engaging portion (28).
• the hinge (29) is preferably provided by transverse grooves (30) formed in the lower surface of the outer sole (5). The result of an integral hinge (29) can also be achieved using materials with greater properties of flexibility than those used for the remainder of the outer sole (5).
• the hinge (29) serves to accommodate the change in angle between the bridge portion (27) and ground engaging portion (28) which results from adjustment of the height of the heel (1 ).
• the different constructions and materials will be within the design competence of a person suitably skilled in the art.
• the tip (8) of the heel (1 ) is configured to engage the ground with the heel (1 ) both in a retracted condition and in an extended condition.
• the tip (8) is provided with a curved ground engaging surface (31 ).
• the tip (8) may have first and second ground engaging surfaces which are provided at a suitable angle in relation to each other.
• a pinion (103) is secured to the pin (104).
• a pair of cooperating racks (105) is provided, one on either side of the pinion (103).
• the racks (105) extend from operating press-buttons (106) which project on each side of the heel (100) at the butt-end (107).
• the buttons (106) are biased outwardly by coil springs (108).
• these springs (108) bias the keys (109) out of alignment with the keyway (110). It will be understood that by pressing the buttons (106) inwardly, the heel (100) can similarly be adjusted between its extended and retracted condition.
• the heel (1 ) will be provided with the butt-end (3) moulded as an integral part on the underside of a shoe sole.
• the entire sole replaces the bridge support (4).
• the sleeve with its keyway may be rotatable through an operating mechanism to cooperate as required with a pin and key that are fixed in the heel.
• the pin can be mounted below the sleeve which will be movably connected to the butt-end.

Landscapes

• Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=43011543

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (26)

Family Cites Families (11)

• 2010
  • 2010-04-23 WO PCT/IB2010/051795 patent/WO2010122527A2/en active Application Filing
  • 2010-04-23 US US13/265,484 patent/US20120055048A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2010-04-23 EP EP10766733A patent/EP2421396A2/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2011
  • 2011-07-26 US US29/398,069 patent/USD706525S1/en active Active
  • 2011-11-16 ZA ZA2011/08404A patent/ZA201108404B/en unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events