GB2160410A - Heel-guards - Google Patents

Abstract

A heel-guard made of synthetic material or soil leather which, when fitted over a shoe heel prior to driving, will protect that heel from scuffs, marks and indentation. The said heel-guard can be quickly fitted and removed, is safely retained in situ and thus reduces the likelihood of expensive, premature repair or replacement. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Heel-guards This concept relates to a means of preventing superficial damage to the outer surface of fashion or other shoe heels.

Shoe heels are traditionally manufactured from, or covered by materials which are easily scratched, marked or scuffed; leading to premature deterioration in their appearance.

Once the shoes are so marked, they are virtually impossible to renovate, otherthan by expensive heel replacement.

One of the principal causes of this premature damage is the angle of repose of the heel when the wearer is driving a motor vehicle in that there is, of necessity, a frictional movement of the heel as the accelerator or clutch pedals are operated.

Further, this damage frequently occurs immediately following purchase of the shoes and represents a serious design defect which cannot easily be overcome by changing the material specification.

Thus, it is the object of the present concept to obviate this problem by providing a means whereby the heels are protected from such abuse by the fitment of heel-guards prior to driving.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide heel-guards which can be made in a wide variety of colour, size, contour and materials to match the pre-existing shoe design.

Additionally, it is the aim of the invention to provide a heel-guard which is intrinsically safe, quickly and easily fitted and removed.

According to the present invention, there is provided a heel-guard comprising a variably contoured material body, an elasticated retaining and compression band and a fastening means.

Preferably, the material is a synthetic polymerised/poromeric fabric or a soft leather having a preferred thickness of not more than 2 mm nor less than 1 mm.

The inner surface of the material should be of a non-slip nature capable of cushioning the shoe heel from transmitted frictional abrasive movement or indentation.

Preferably, the fastening method is a hook and loop fastener, e.g. Velcro "(RTM)" or stud fitment.

In the preferred embodiment, the heel-guard comprises a variably contoured body (Figure 1) having a finished base dimension in length of not more than 5 cm, a finished inside heel dimension in length of not more than 5.5 cm and a finished outside heel dimension in length of 9 cm.

The edges comprising the mouth of the heelguard are preferably decoratively stitched.

An elasticated thread or band is extended and stitched to a length of 4.5 cm on both sides of the inside heel-guard orifice (Figure 2) thus facilitating a variable diameter to the orifice and thereby accommodating a variety of shoe heel sizes whilst ensuring a close contact with the inside heel in the vertical axis.

To provide a variable length retaining mechanism, it is preferred that an elasticated band be stitched on either the left or right side of the heelguard body orifice at a point 4 cm from the inside heel edge (Figure 3) with the free end of the band fitted with a "Velcro" "(RTM)" fitment and the corresponding, opposite side of the heel-guard body similarly fitted so as to provide an adjustable tightness of fit, close contact of the back of the heelguard to the outside heel and also to bring the contoured base of the heel-guard to the correct pivotal position, dependant upon the length ofthe heel, thus preventing slipping.

In an alternative embodiment, the type of retaining mechanism is varied such that the free end of the elasticated band and the relevant side of the heel guard body is fitted with a stud fastener.

The base of the heel-guard is contoured in a Vform so as to facilitate the varying length and width of heel and to establish the pivot point from which the elasticated retaining band can operate, thus providing an intrinsically safe, non-slip product.

The two edges of the material comprising the base and inside heel are brought together by stitching or alternatively, in the case of the synthetic material, by heat sealing. (Figure 4.) The heel-guard is fitted by inserting the shoe heel into the guard and fastening the retaining band across the wearer's ankle. Similarly, the guard is quickly removed by unfastening the retaining band and slipping the guard off the shoe heel.

As previously mentioned, the heel-guard of this invention eliminates the premature deterioration in the appearance of new shoes, where the deterioration is occasioned by operating the foot controls of a motor vehicle -- thereby prolonging the life of the shoes accordingly.

The heel-guards can be produced in many colours and textures, thus providing a comprehensive choice to accommodate the variety of shoe designs and colours.

1. A heel-guard comprising a variably contoured body, an elasticated retaining and compression band and an adjustable fastening means to facilitate quickfitment and easy release.

2. A heel-guard, as claimed in Claim 1, wherein an elasticated thread or band is extended and stitched to a length of 4.5 cms both sides of the inside heelguard orifice, thus providing a variable diameter to the orifice and thereby accommodating a variety of shoe heel sizes whilst ensuring a close contact with the inside heel.

3. A heel-guard, as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2, wherein a variable length, retaining mechanism is provided, affixed to the heel-guard at such a point so as to provide an adjustable tightness of fit, close contact of the back of the heel-guard to the outside heel and to bring the contoured base of the heel-guard to the correct pivotable position, dependent upon the length of the heel, thus arresting any sliding movement of the heel within the heel-guard.

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

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Heel-guards This concept relates to a means of preventing superficial damage to the outer surface of fashion or other shoe heels. Shoe heels are traditionally manufactured from, or covered by materials which are easily scratched, marked or scuffed; leading to premature deterioration in their appearance. Once the shoes are so marked, they are virtually impossible to renovate, otherthan by expensive heel replacement. One of the principal causes of this premature damage is the angle of repose of the heel when the wearer is driving a motor vehicle in that there is, of necessity, a frictional movement of the heel as the accelerator or clutch pedals are operated. Further, this damage frequently occurs immediately following purchase of the shoes and represents a serious design defect which cannot easily be overcome by changing the material specification. Thus, it is the object of the present concept to obviate this problem by providing a means whereby the heels are protected from such abuse by the fitment of heel-guards prior to driving. It is a further object of the present invention to provide heel-guards which can be made in a wide variety of colour, size, contour and materials to match the pre-existing shoe design. Additionally, it is the aim of the invention to provide a heel-guard which is intrinsically safe, quickly and easily fitted and removed. According to the present invention, there is provided a heel-guard comprising a variably contoured material body, an elasticated retaining and compression band and a fastening means. Preferably, the material is a synthetic polymerised/poromeric fabric or a soft leather having a preferred thickness of not more than 2 mm nor less than 1 mm. The inner surface of the material should be of a non-slip nature capable of cushioning the shoe heel from transmitted frictional abrasive movement or indentation. Preferably, the fastening method is a hook and loop fastener, e.g. Velcro "(RTM)" or stud fitment. In the preferred embodiment, the heel-guard comprises a variably contoured body (Figure 1) having a finished base dimension in length of not more than 5 cm, a finished inside heel dimension in length of not more than 5.5 cm and a finished outside heel dimension in length of 9 cm. The edges comprising the mouth of the heelguard are preferably decoratively stitched. An elasticated thread or band is extended and stitched to a length of 4.5 cm on both sides of the inside heel-guard orifice (Figure 2) thus facilitating a variable diameter to the orifice and thereby accommodating a variety of shoe heel sizes whilst ensuring a close contact with the inside heel in the vertical axis. To provide a variable length retaining mechanism, it is preferred that an elasticated band be stitched on either the left or right side of the heelguard body orifice at a point 4 cm from the inside heel edge (Figure 3) with the free end of the band fitted with a "Velcro" "(RTM)" fitment and the corresponding, opposite side of the heel-guard body similarly fitted so as to provide an adjustable tightness of fit, close contact of the back of the heelguard to the outside heel and also to bring the contoured base of the heel-guard to the correct pivotal position, dependant upon the length ofthe heel, thus preventing slipping. In an alternative embodiment, the type of retaining mechanism is varied such that the free end of the elasticated band and the relevant side of the heel guard body is fitted with a stud fastener. The base of the heel-guard is contoured in a Vform so as to facilitate the varying length and width of heel and to establish the pivot point from which the elasticated retaining band can operate, thus providing an intrinsically safe, non-slip product. The two edges of the material comprising the base and inside heel are brought together by stitching or alternatively, in the case of the synthetic material, by heat sealing. (Figure 4.) The heel-guard is fitted by inserting the shoe heel into the guard and fastening the retaining band across the wearer's ankle. Similarly, the guard is quickly removed by unfastening the retaining band and slipping the guard off the shoe heel. As previously mentioned, the heel-guard of this invention eliminates the premature deterioration in the appearance of new shoes, where the deterioration is occasioned by operating the foot controls of a motor vehicle -- thereby prolonging the life of the shoes accordingly. The heel-guards can be produced in many colours and textures, thus providing a comprehensive choice to accommodate the variety of shoe designs and colours. CLAIMS

1. A heel-guard comprising a variably contoured body, an elasticated retaining and compression band and an adjustable fastening means to facilitate quickfitment and easy release.

2. A heel-guard, as claimed in Claim 1, wherein an elasticated thread or band is extended and stitched to a length of 4.5 cms both sides of the inside heelguard orifice, thus providing a variable diameter to the orifice and thereby accommodating a variety of shoe heel sizes whilst ensuring a close contact with the inside heel.

3. A heel-guard, as claimed in Claim 1 and Claim 2, wherein a variable length, retaining mechanism is provided, affixed to the heel-guard at such a point so as to provide an adjustable tightness of fit, close contact of the back of the heel-guard to the outside heel and to bring the contoured base of the heel-guard to the correct pivotable position, dependent upon the length of the heel, thus arresting any sliding movement of the heel within the heel-guard.

4. A heel-guard, as claimed in Claims 2 and 3, wherein the position of the elasticated band centres the heel-guard on its pivotable point once in situ.

5. A heel-guard substantially as described herein with reference to Figures 1--4 of the accompanying drawings.