GB2171588A

GB2171588A - Heel protector

Info

Publication number: GB2171588A
Application number: GB08521317A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Judy Valerie Cousins
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1985-02-26
Filing date: 1985-08-27
Publication date: 1986-09-03
Also published as: GB8521317D0; GB8504847D0

Abstract

A heel protector for protecting shoe heels, particularly on ladies shoes, from scuff marks for example, whilst driving, comprises a sleeve 1 which fits over the heel of the shoe and having a retaining flap 3 which tucks into the shoe behind the heel of the wearer, or is fastened around the foot of the user. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Heel protector This invention relates to a heel protector for ladies shoes, particularly so-called "high" heels.

The heels of ladies shoes are particularly prone to unsightly scuff marks which occur mainly when the shoes are being worn for driving.

A protector is known for the protection of the heel during driving and which comprises a rigid shell of moulded plastics material shaped rather like a shoe horn or sea shell and which is designed to be temporarily attached to the back of the heel of the shoe, for example, by means of an elastic retaining member passing around the heel of the shoe, or even around the foot of the user. A sponge rubber lining is provided so that the protector is a snug fit against the heel of the shoe and protects it from scuffing.

The known heel protector is, however, rather bulky and inconvenient to use, and expensive to produce.

The heel protector of the present invention is extremely cheap to manufacture, extremely simple to attach to the shoe, and in use is almost unnoticeable, and certainly no inconvenience to the user.

The heel protector of the present invention consists of a tubular sheath of thin flexible sheet material, e.g. plastics film such as polyethylene, which in use fits over the heel of the shoe, and which, in use, is retained in position by an elongated flap-like member, preferably integral with the tubular sheath, which extends upwardly from the sheath and being of a sufficient length to be tucked inside the shoe between the shoe and the users foot or otherwise fastened around the foot of the user.

In the case of a court-style shoe having a continuous upper extending around the heel, the flap-like retaining member will be of a sufficient length to be tucked over the rim of the upper and tucked inside the shoe upper between the shoe and the users foot.

In the case of a sling-back shoe, the flap-like retaining member can either be tucked over the sling-back, or less preferably, under the users heel below the sling-back between the users heel and the shoe sole. In the case of a shoe with no heel strap, the retaining flap can simply be tucked under the users foot.

The tubular sheath may be a simple cylinder in shape, but preferably it will be contoured to match the shape of the shoe heel. For this purpose the sheath may be generally conical in contour. Various different sizes and contours may be manufactured to suit different shoe and heel heights and sizes. If necessary the sheath may be cut to the required length by the user.

Of course, the protector will be provided in a variety of colours, including transparent, so as to match the shoe colour and be as unobtrusive as possible, should the user forget to remove them when getting out of the car.

As will be apparent, the fitting and removal of the protectors by the user will be a matter of seconds.

The protectors of this invention can be manufactured of any suitable sheet material or film, usually plastics sheet or film, but other materials can be used, even paper which would provide an exceptionally cheap once only, throw-away method of heel protection.

A heel protector according to this invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

As will be seen, the protector comprises a conical tubular sleeve or sheath 1 of plastics film e.g.

polyethylene contoured to fit over the heel 2 of the shoe. As will be obvious, for a flatter heeled-shoe the sheath can simply be cut to the desired length to match the heel.

Extending upwardly from the rear of the sheath 1 is an integrally formed flap 3 of the same material, the distal or free end 4 of which in use, is tucked into the shoe behind the heel of the users foot, as indicated by the arrow. The protector is thus held in position and is virtually unnoticeable by the user or by the casual observer. The flap 3 may itself be preshaped to the contour of the heel of the shoe upper, so that it fits neatly thereover, but in practice this is unnecessary since provided the sheet material from which the protector is manufactured has the requisite flexibility, the flap will automatically conform to the contour of the shoe upper.

Various modifications may be made in the design without departing from the concept of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, it is envisaged that the flap like retaining member could be of a sufficient length to be looped around the users foot and fastened back on itself by a releasable fastener such as a 'Velcro' (Registered Trade Mark) strip, or by a button or press stud or similar fastener. In yet another alternative the retaining member can be in two lengths which can be simply looped around the front of the foot and tied in position.

1. A heel protector for shoes comprising a tubular sheath of thin flexible sheet material shaped to fit over the heel of the shoe and means for securing the tubular sheath to the shoe, said means comprising a flap-like member extending upwardly from the rim of the sheath and having a distal end which can be tucked into the shoe between the shoe and the users foot, or fastened around the foot of the user.

2. A protector according to claim 1, wherein the sheath and the flap-like member are integrally formed from said thin flexible sheet material.

3. A protector according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said flexible sheet material is a flexible plastics sheet material or film.

4. A protector according to claim 1,2 or 3, wherein

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Heel protector This invention relates to a heel protector for ladies shoes, particularly so-called "high" heels. The heels of ladies shoes are particularly prone to unsightly scuff marks which occur mainly when the shoes are being worn for driving. A protector is known for the protection of the heel during driving and which comprises a rigid shell of moulded plastics material shaped rather like a shoe horn or sea shell and which is designed to be temporarily attached to the back of the heel of the shoe, for example, by means of an elastic retaining member passing around the heel of the shoe, or even around the foot of the user. A sponge rubber lining is provided so that the protector is a snug fit against the heel of the shoe and protects it from scuffing. The known heel protector is, however, rather bulky and inconvenient to use, and expensive to produce. The heel protector of the present invention is extremely cheap to manufacture, extremely simple to attach to the shoe, and in use is almost unnoticeable, and certainly no inconvenience to the user. The heel protector of the present invention consists of a tubular sheath of thin flexible sheet material, e.g. plastics film such as polyethylene, which in use fits over the heel of the shoe, and which, in use, is retained in position by an elongated flap-like member, preferably integral with the tubular sheath, which extends upwardly from the sheath and being of a sufficient length to be tucked inside the shoe between the shoe and the users foot or otherwise fastened around the foot of the user. In the case of a court-style shoe having a continuous upper extending around the heel, the flap-like retaining member will be of a sufficient length to be tucked over the rim of the upper and tucked inside the shoe upper between the shoe and the users foot. In the case of a sling-back shoe, the flap-like retaining member can either be tucked over the sling-back, or less preferably, under the users heel below the sling-back between the users heel and the shoe sole. In the case of a shoe with no heel strap, the retaining flap can simply be tucked under the users foot. The tubular sheath may be a simple cylinder in shape, but preferably it will be contoured to match the shape of the shoe heel. For this purpose the sheath may be generally conical in contour. Various different sizes and contours may be manufactured to suit different shoe and heel heights and sizes. If necessary the sheath may be cut to the required length by the user. Of course, the protector will be provided in a variety of colours, including transparent, so as to match the shoe colour and be as unobtrusive as possible, should the user forget to remove them when getting out of the car. As will be apparent, the fitting and removal of the protectors by the user will be a matter of seconds. The protectors of this invention can be manufactured of any suitable sheet material or film, usually plastics sheet or film, but other materials can be used, even paper which would provide an exceptionally cheap once only, throw-away method of heel protection. A heel protector according to this invention, in a preferred form, is illustrated in the accompanying drawing. As will be seen, the protector comprises a conical tubular sleeve or sheath 1 of plastics film e.g. polyethylene contoured to fit over the heel 2 of the shoe. As will be obvious, for a flatter heeled-shoe the sheath can simply be cut to the desired length to match the heel. Extending upwardly from the rear of the sheath 1 is an integrally formed flap 3 of the same material, the distal or free end 4 of which in use, is tucked into the shoe behind the heel of the users foot, as indicated by the arrow. The protector is thus held in position and is virtually unnoticeable by the user or by the casual observer. The flap 3 may itself be preshaped to the contour of the heel of the shoe upper, so that it fits neatly thereover, but in practice this is unnecessary since provided the sheet material from which the protector is manufactured has the requisite flexibility, the flap will automatically conform to the contour of the shoe upper. Various modifications may be made in the design without departing from the concept of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, it is envisaged that the flap like retaining member could be of a sufficient length to be looped around the users foot and fastened back on itself by a releasable fastener such as a 'Velcro' (Registered Trade Mark) strip, or by a button or press stud or similar fastener. In yet another alternative the retaining member can be in two lengths which can be simply looped around the front of the foot and tied in position. CLAIMS

4. A protector according to claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the tubular sheath is generally conical in contour to match the contour of the shoe heel.

5. A protector according to any one of claims 1-4, wherein the flap-like retaining member is designed to be tucked into the shoe between the shoe and the users foot, rather than fastened around the foot.