GB2166338A - Improvements in or relating to footwear components - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a top-piece (6) for attachment to a heel component (2), for example a stiletto heel. A bore passes axially through the top-piece and comprises a first portion (16), and a second portion (18) which has a larger diameter and is provided with a grip-enhancing surface comprising axially-arranged internal splines which engage with the splined head (14) of an attachment pin (8), the shank (10) of which is received in a split tube (4) in the heel component (2). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to footwear components The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to footwear components, particularly to the securing of top-pieces.

In the manufacture of footwear, for example ladies' fashion wear, it is customary to fit top-pieces to the heel components of the footwear in a replaceable manner. Even if the intention is that the material of the top-piece should last as long as the article of footwear, it is necessary to manufacture the top-piece separately from more durable material than that of the heel. Fastening this type of top-piece to a heel of the stiletto type, in which the tread surface is very small, is usually carried out by moulding the heel component so as to embed within its plastics material a metal reinforcing tube, the hollow end face of which is planar with the end surface of the heel component to which the toppiece is to be secured. The top-piece is provided with a bore having a shoulder portion.A splined holding pin is then driven through the bore and into the hollow end of the tube to secure the toppiece.

However the top-piece must be correctly orientated on the heel component and must not rotate in wear. The head of the splined pin is therefore also provided with splines which bite into and deform the metal of the top-piece, the head being slightly oversize with respect to the bore. However, if the top-piece is inadvertently mis-aligned in the heel component during fixing, this is corrected by twisting the top-piece so as to rotate it. The splined head cuts into the deformed metal and shears the bore smooth, so that in wear the top-piece tends to rotate and the wearer is dis-satisfied.

Because of this disadvantage, it is often preferred to use top-pieces of durable plastics material such as polyurethane and to mould the top-piece around the pin to ensure adequate keying.

It will be noted that the pin shank and the split tube remain in firm engagement despite the rotational correction because of the very much larger surface contact area therebetween compared with that between the pin head and the bore of the toppiece.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a metal top-piece which ensures adequate keying with the pin head.

The invention provides a top-piece for attachment to a heel component by means of a pin having a splined head, wherein a bore in the top-piece has a first portion having a first diameter and a second bore portion having a second, greater, diameter, said second bore portion being provided with a grip-enhancing internal surface adapted to engage splines on the pin head.

Advantageously, the grip-enhancing internal surface is comprised of axially arranged internal splines.

An example of a top-piece of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a heel component, a top-piece and a holding pin; and Figure 2 is sectional view on line ll-ll of Figure 1, with the parts in an assembled condition.

A stiletto-type heel component 2 moulded from plastics material contains a split tube 4 embedded longitudinally therein in a conventional manner. A zinc alloy top-piece 6 is secured in place by means of a splined pin indicated at 8. The pin 8 has a splined shank 10 receivable in the open hollow end of the tube 4, a neck portion 12 and a splined head 14. The top-piece 6 is provided with a bore having two portions, a first portion 16 having a diameter large enough to accept the shank 10 of the pin therethrough and to encircle the neck portion 12, and a second, splined, portion 18 having a greater diameter arranged to receive the pin head 14 in a force-fit.

The inter-engagement of the splines on the head 14 and the preformed splines on the bore portion 18 will be found to be strong enough to withstand any rotational correction of the orientation of the top-piece 6 on the heel 2 without detectable shearing occurring. Thus, firm engagement is maintained between pin and top-piece, the usual firm engagement of shank 10 and the tube 4 being also achieved.

1. A top-piece for attachment to a heel component by means of a pin having a splined head, wherein a bore in the top-piece has a first portion having a first diameter and a second bore portion having a second, greater, diameter, said second bore portion being provided with a grip-enhancing internal surface adapted to engage splines on the pin head.

2. A top-piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grip-enhancing surface is comprised of axially arranged internal splines.

3. A top-piece as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2, wherein a shoulder is formed between said first and second bore portions, said shoulder being adapted in use to contact said pin immediately inwardly of the splined head.

4. A top-piece for attachment to a heel component constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.

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

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to footwear components The invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to footwear components, particularly to the securing of top-pieces. In the manufacture of footwear, for example ladies' fashion wear, it is customary to fit top-pieces to the heel components of the footwear in a replaceable manner. Even if the intention is that the material of the top-piece should last as long as the article of footwear, it is necessary to manufacture the top-piece separately from more durable material than that of the heel. Fastening this type of top-piece to a heel of the stiletto type, in which the tread surface is very small, is usually carried out by moulding the heel component so as to embed within its plastics material a metal reinforcing tube, the hollow end face of which is planar with the end surface of the heel component to which the toppiece is to be secured. The top-piece is provided with a bore having a shoulder portion.A splined holding pin is then driven through the bore and into the hollow end of the tube to secure the toppiece. However the top-piece must be correctly orientated on the heel component and must not rotate in wear. The head of the splined pin is therefore also provided with splines which bite into and deform the metal of the top-piece, the head being slightly oversize with respect to the bore. However, if the top-piece is inadvertently mis-aligned in the heel component during fixing, this is corrected by twisting the top-piece so as to rotate it. The splined head cuts into the deformed metal and shears the bore smooth, so that in wear the top-piece tends to rotate and the wearer is dis-satisfied. Because of this disadvantage, it is often preferred to use top-pieces of durable plastics material such as polyurethane and to mould the top-piece around the pin to ensure adequate keying. It will be noted that the pin shank and the split tube remain in firm engagement despite the rotational correction because of the very much larger surface contact area therebetween compared with that between the pin head and the bore of the toppiece. It is an object of the present invention to provide a metal top-piece which ensures adequate keying with the pin head. The invention provides a top-piece for attachment to a heel component by means of a pin having a splined head, wherein a bore in the top-piece has a first portion having a first diameter and a second bore portion having a second, greater, diameter, said second bore portion being provided with a grip-enhancing internal surface adapted to engage splines on the pin head. Advantageously, the grip-enhancing internal surface is comprised of axially arranged internal splines. An example of a top-piece of the invention will now be described with reference to the drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a heel component, a top-piece and a holding pin; and Figure 2 is sectional view on line ll-ll of Figure 1, with the parts in an assembled condition. A stiletto-type heel component 2 moulded from plastics material contains a split tube 4 embedded longitudinally therein in a conventional manner. A zinc alloy top-piece 6 is secured in place by means of a splined pin indicated at 8. The pin 8 has a splined shank 10 receivable in the open hollow end of the tube 4, a neck portion 12 and a splined head 14. The top-piece 6 is provided with a bore having two portions, a first portion 16 having a diameter large enough to accept the shank 10 of the pin therethrough and to encircle the neck portion 12, and a second, splined, portion 18 having a greater diameter arranged to receive the pin head 14 in a force-fit. The inter-engagement of the splines on the head 14 and the preformed splines on the bore portion 18 will be found to be strong enough to withstand any rotational correction of the orientation of the top-piece 6 on the heel 2 without detectable shearing occurring. Thus, firm engagement is maintained between pin and top-piece, the usual firm engagement of shank 10 and the tube 4 being also achieved. CLAIMS

1. A top-piece for attachment to a heel component by means of a pin having a splined head, wherein a bore in the top-piece has a first portion having a first diameter and a second bore portion having a second, greater, diameter, said second bore portion being provided with a grip-enhancing internal surface adapted to engage splines on the pin head.

2. A top-piece as claimed in claim 1, wherein the grip-enhancing surface is comprised of axially arranged internal splines.

3. A top-piece as claimed in either one of claims 1 or 2, wherein a shoulder is formed between said first and second bore portions, said shoulder being adapted in use to contact said pin immediately inwardly of the splined head.

4. A top-piece for attachment to a heel component constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the drawings.