GB2118020A

GB2118020A - Footwear

Info

Publication number: GB2118020A
Application number: GB08303180A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Albert Edmund Vince
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1982-04-08
Filing date: 1983-02-04
Publication date: 1983-10-26
Also published as: GB8303180D0; GB2118020B

Abstract

A heel member for attachment to a heel stub 12 has a ground engaging surface that matches in size and shape the heel stub surface to which it is to be attached and has a stub engaging surface 10b which is cut away at 10c in the rear curved region 10d of the heel member so that, when attached, an open but confined space 14 is provided between the stub and a rear peripheral part of the heel member to allow flexing of said unsupported rear part. A plurality of peripherally spaced webs 10e may be provided in the cut away region to support, and assist the return action of the rear part of the heel member during flexing. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to footwear The present invention relates to footwear and in particular to the heel structure of such footwear.

A conventional heel structure comprises a heel stub to which is secured as by gluing or nailing, a ground engaging heel member having an upper stub-facing, surface of size and shape matching that of the lower face of the stub.

The disadvantages with the above described conventional heel structure are (1) the rear curved edge of the heel member is worn away in a very short time due to constant contact of the heel structure in use with hard surfaces and (2) the heel structure is not designed to effectively absorb the shock transmitted to the feet and legs of the users when walking on hard surfaces.

It is an aim of the present invention to provide a heel member and heel structure that will make footwear more comfortable to wear by absorbing more shock and that will make the heel member more durable.

According to the present invention, there is provided a heel member of resilient material for attachment to a footwear heel stub, the member having a ground engaging surface that matches in size and shape the heel stub surface to which it is to be attached and having a stub engaging surface opposite the ground engaging surface which is cut away in the rear curved region of the heel member so that when the heel member is attached to the heel stub an open but confined space is provided between the stub and a rear peripheral part of the heel member to allow flexing of said unsupported rear part.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa top plan view of a footwear heel member according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the heel member of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a side view of the heel member of Figures 1 and 2 secured to the heel stub of a boot or shoe.

Referring to the drawings, the heel member 10 is of a resilient material such as a good quality natural rubber or a plastics material of similar properties. The member 10 has a ground engaging surface 1 Oa that matches in size and shape the heel stub 1 2 to which the heel member is to be attached, and a stub engaging surface lOb opposite surface 1 Oa which is cut away 1 Oc in the rear curved region 1 Od of the heel member. The cut away extends at least partly around the curved periphery of the heel, preferably the entire curved periphery as shown in Figure 2. As shown, the width w of the cut away is about 1 1% of the total width of the heel member and the depth d of the cut away is about 50% of the thickness of the heel member; these figures may be varied as required.

When the heel member 10 is attached to the stub 12, it will be apparent (see Figure 3) that the rear curved portion 1Od of the heel member defines an open but confined space 14 with stub 12. Thus when pressure is applied to the rear edge of the heel during walking, the rear portion 1 Od is bent in cantilever fashion toward and into contact with the heel stub, and is then further compressed; on removal of the pressure the rear portion 1 Od returns to its initial relaxed condition.

To assist the return function and also to provide support for rear portion 1 Od, the heel is provided with a plurality of integral peripherally spaced webs 1 Oe which are compressed by engagement with stub 12 prior to the compression of portion 10d.

It will be appreciated that the cantilever action of the rear portion 1 Odof the heel member will help to reduce and cushion shock forces experienced by the user during walking on hard surfaces, and also that the cushioning action will prolong the wearing period of the heel member.

In a modification, the heel member prior to attachment to the heel stub, may be of a two part construction separated along a line which is an extension of the line shown dotted in Figure 3. In this construction, the lower part would be shaped like a conventional heel member and the upper part would be shaped to include the cut away 1 Oc, and perhaps webs 1 Oe.

In a further modification, the surface of the heel member to be attached to the heel stub may include hollow recesses or cells to reduce the overall weight of the heel member and to increase its flexibility.

Preferably the area of the cut away 1 Oc should be in the range 1020% of the total plan area of the heel, and the thickness of the rear portion 1 Od should be in the range 40 to 50% of the total thickness of the heel member. Conveniently, the cut away 1 Oc may be located on one side only of the heel member.

In use, dirt and small stones are effectively prevented from entering confined space 14, by the constant movement of rear portion 1 Od which repeatedly closes and opens the space during the walking operation.

1. A heel member of resilient material for attachment to a footwear heel stub, the member having a ground engaging surface that matches in size and shape the heel stub surface to which it is to be attached and having a stub engaging surface opposite the ground engaging surface which is cut away in the rear curved region of the heel member so that when the heel member is attached to the heel stub an open but confined space is provided between the stub and a rear peripheral part of the heel member to allow flexing of said unsupported rear part.

2. The heel member of Claim 1, wherein a plurality of peripherally spaced support webs for said rear part are provided in the cut away area of the heel member.

3. The heel member of Claim 2, wherein prior to assembly on the heel stub, the cut away area and the webs are provided in a first heel member part

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in and relating to footwear The present invention relates to footwear and in particular to the heel structure of such footwear. A conventional heel structure comprises a heel stub to which is secured as by gluing or nailing, a ground engaging heel member having an upper stub-facing, surface of size and shape matching that of the lower face of the stub. The disadvantages with the above described conventional heel structure are (1) the rear curved edge of the heel member is worn away in a very short time due to constant contact of the heel structure in use with hard surfaces and (2) the heel structure is not designed to effectively absorb the shock transmitted to the feet and legs of the users when walking on hard surfaces. It is an aim of the present invention to provide a heel member and heel structure that will make footwear more comfortable to wear by absorbing more shock and that will make the heel member more durable. According to the present invention, there is provided a heel member of resilient material for attachment to a footwear heel stub, the member having a ground engaging surface that matches in size and shape the heel stub surface to which it is to be attached and having a stub engaging surface opposite the ground engaging surface which is cut away in the rear curved region of the heel member so that when the heel member is attached to the heel stub an open but confined space is provided between the stub and a rear peripheral part of the heel member to allow flexing of said unsupported rear part. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa top plan view of a footwear heel member according to the present invention, Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the heel member of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a side view of the heel member of Figures 1 and 2 secured to the heel stub of a boot or shoe. Referring to the drawings, the heel member 10 is of a resilient material such as a good quality natural rubber or a plastics material of similar properties. The member 10 has a ground engaging surface 1 Oa that matches in size and shape the heel stub 1 2 to which the heel member is to be attached, and a stub engaging surface lOb opposite surface 1 Oa which is cut away 1 Oc in the rear curved region 1 Od of the heel member. The cut away extends at least partly around the curved periphery of the heel, preferably the entire curved periphery as shown in Figure 2. As shown, the width w of the cut away is about 1 1% of the total width of the heel member and the depth d of the cut away is about 50% of the thickness of the heel member; these figures may be varied as required. When the heel member 10 is attached to the stub 12, it will be apparent (see Figure 3) that the rear curved portion 1Od of the heel member defines an open but confined space 14 with stub 12. Thus when pressure is applied to the rear edge of the heel during walking, the rear portion 1 Od is bent in cantilever fashion toward and into contact with the heel stub, and is then further compressed; on removal of the pressure the rear portion 1 Od returns to its initial relaxed condition. To assist the return function and also to provide support for rear portion 1 Od, the heel is provided with a plurality of integral peripherally spaced webs 1 Oe which are compressed by engagement with stub 12 prior to the compression of portion 10d. It will be appreciated that the cantilever action of the rear portion 1 Odof the heel member will help to reduce and cushion shock forces experienced by the user during walking on hard surfaces, and also that the cushioning action will prolong the wearing period of the heel member. In a modification, the heel member prior to attachment to the heel stub, may be of a two part construction separated along a line which is an extension of the line shown dotted in Figure 3. In this construction, the lower part would be shaped like a conventional heel member and the upper part would be shaped to include the cut away 1 Oc, and perhaps webs 1 Oe. In a further modification, the surface of the heel member to be attached to the heel stub may include hollow recesses or cells to reduce the overall weight of the heel member and to increase its flexibility. Preferably the area of the cut away 1 Oc should be in the range 1020% of the total plan area of the heel, and the thickness of the rear portion 1 Od should be in the range 40 to 50% of the total thickness of the heel member. Conveniently, the cut away 1 Oc may be located on one side only of the heel member. In use, dirt and small stones are effectively prevented from entering confined space 14, by the constant movement of rear portion 1 Od which repeatedly closes and opens the space during the walking operation. CLAIMS 1. A heel member of resilient material for attachment to a footwear heel stub, the member having a ground engaging surface that matches in size and shape the heel stub surface to which it is to be attached and having a stub engaging surface opposite the ground engaging surface which is cut away in the rear curved region of the heel member so that when the heel member is attached to the heel stub an open but confined space is provided between the stub and a rear peripheral part of the heel member to allow flexing of said unsupported rear part. 2. The heel member of Claim 1, wherein a plurality of peripherally spaced support webs for said rear part are provided in the cut away area of the heel member. 3. The heel member of Claim 2, wherein prior to assembly on the heel stub, the cut away area and the webs are provided in a first heel member part which is separately formed from the remainder of the heel member. 4. The heel member of any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the cut away area extends around the entire rear curved portion of the heel member. 5. The heel member substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 6. A heel stub with a heel member according to any one of the preceding Claims attached thereto. 7. A heel stub and heel member substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings. New claims or amendments to claims filed on 25/5/83. Superseded claims 1 to 7. New or amended claims: CLAIMS

1. A heel member of resilient material for attachment to a footwear heel stub, the member having a ground engaging surface that matches in size and shape the heel stub surface to which it is to be attached and having a stub engaging surface opposite the ground engaging surface which is cut away in the rear curved region of the heel member so that when the heel member is attached to the heel stub an open but confined space is provided between the stub and a rear peripheral part of the heel member to allow flexing of said unsupported rear part, the heel member being such that pressure applied to the rear of the heel member during walking causes the rear part to flex toward and into contact with the heel stub thereby at least partly closing the confined space.

2. The heel member of Claim 1, wherein the depth of the space is about 50% of the thickness of the heel member.

3. The heel member of Claim 1 or 2, wherein the overall area of the space is in the range of 1020% of the total plan area of the heel.

4. The heel member of any one of the preceding Claims, wherein a plurality of peripherally spaced support webs for said rear part are provided in the cut away area of the heel member.

5. The heel member of Claim 4, wherein prior to assembly on the heel stub, the cut away area and the webs are provided in a first heel member part which is separately formed from the remainder of the heel member.

6. The heel member of any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the cut away area extends around the entire rear curved portion of the heel member.

7. The heel member substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. A heel stub with a heel member according to any one of the preceding Claims attached thereto.

9. A heel stub and heel member substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.