GB2200832A

GB2200832A - Heel with removable tip

Info

Publication number: GB2200832A
Application number: GB08801159A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Henry Brian Davidson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-01-24
Filing date: 1988-01-19
Publication date: 1988-08-17
Also published as: GB8801159D0

Abstract

A heel for fixing to an article of footwear is in two parts. A first part 10, to be fixed to the base of the footware article, has a rebated shaped portion 14 in its lower face extending inwardly from the rear of the heel. A complementary shaped second part 12 is to be attached in the rebate 14. The second part 12 has one or more countersunk holes 16 through which a screw 18 can be removably secured in means 20 provided in the first part 10. The rebated portion 14 and second part 12 are of a shape almost elliptical and formed by two similar segmental shapes having a commonchord and extending in opposite directions therefrom. When the rear tread edge of the second part 12 is worn, the second part 12 can be rotated or reversed to present an unworn rear tread edge. In a second embodiment (Figure 3) the rebated portion (14') and second part (12') are in the form of a single segment. In either embodiment, the means 20 (20') may be a tapped socket which may have radial sprokes 21 (21') to prevent its rotation. Male and female stud fasteners (30, 32, Figure 4) may be used in place of screws and sockets. <IMAGE>

Description

INPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO FOOTWEAR.

This invention relates to footwear, and particularly to heels having detachable tread portions for articles of footwear. The wear period of a tread portion of a heel is determined by the amount of wear occuring mainly, at the rear of the portion ie. at the position which is always the first to hit the ground surface when the wearer is walking or running.

An object of the present invention is to provide means whereby the wear period of a tread portion of a heel can be extended beyond the normal life of a conventional tread portion.

In accordance with the present invention, a heel for fixing to an article of footwear is in two parts, a first part to be fixed to the base of the article and having a rebated shaped portion in its lower face and extending inwardly from the rear of the heel, and a complementary shaped second part to be attached in the rebate of the first part, the second part having one or more holes through the or each of which a fastening can extend to be removably secured in means provided in the first part.

Preferably, the rebated portion and second part are of a shape almost elliptical and formed by two similar segmental shapes having a common chord and extending in opposite directions therefrom.

The second part of the double segmental shape may preferably be rotatable through 180 degrees to present a new tread edge portion at the rear heel edge. The second part may also preferably be reversible by releasing the or each fastening, turning the second part over and securing the or each fastening into engagement again. Again the reversed face can preferably be rotatable through 180 degrees.

Alternatively, the rebated portion and the second part are preferably of single segmental shape or substantially so with the chord side of the segment inn-ermost. The second part of single segmental shape is only reversible.

Preferably also,' the or each fastening is a machine screw with a flat head, and the or each hole in the second part is countersunk at both ends to accommodate said head, and the or each means is a tapped bore provided in said first part to be aligable with a corresponding hole in the second part. The or each tapped bore is preferably provided by a tapped metal socket. The or each socket may preferably have means to prevent rotation, for example one or more radial spokes extending outwardly therefrom.

Alternatively, the or each fastening may be a male stud fastener securable into a female stud fastener forming the or each respective means.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a first embodiment of a heel according to the present invention for an article of footwear; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a heel; Fig. 3 is a perspective exploded view of a second embodiment of a heel; and Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a heel showing a second type of fastening.

Referring to the drawings, a heel for fixing to an article of footwear is in two parts, namely a first part 10 and a second part 12. The first part 10 is to be fixed to the base of the article of footwear and is of conventional heel shape in plan. The first part 10 has a rebated shaped portion 14 in its lower face extending inwardly from the rear of the heel. The second part 12 is complementarily shaped to the rebated portion 14 and is for attaching in the rebated portion 14. The rebated portion 14 and the second part 12 are of a shape formed, almost elliptical, by two similar segmental shapes having a common chord and extending in opposite directions therefrom.In a first embodiment as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the second part 12 has one hole 16 provided centrally of and through its major faces, and through which a fastening 18, in the form of a machine screw with a flat head, can extend to be removably secured in means provided in the first part. The means is a tapped bore 20 provided in said first part 10 to be alignible with the hole 16 in the second part 12, when fitted. The bore 20 is provided with a tapped metal socket or sleeve 21 which has one or more radial spokes 22 extending outwardly therefrom: three are shown in Fig. 1. The spokes 22 are anti-torsion means to prevent rotation of the socket or sleeve 21 in the first part 10.The socket can be moulded into the first part 10 during a moulding operation to form the first part 10 from mouldable material, or can be fitted to a formed first pcirt 10.

The second part 12 of double segmental shape is intended to be able to present four possible rear tread edges indicated yenerally by "A". This is possible, after the first tread is worn, by releasing the fastening 18, hy rotatiny the second part 12 through 180 degrees and hy retightening the fastening 18 thereby to provide a second rear tread edge. Thereafter, when that tread is also worn, the fastening 18 can be removed, the second part 12 reversed, and fastening 18 retightened, thereby giving a third rear tread edge. A fourth rear tread edge is obtainable by releasing the fastening 18, rotating the second part 12 through 180 degrees, and retightening the fastening 18.

The hole 16 in the second part 12 is countersunk at hoth ends to accommodate the head of the screw.

In a second embodiment as shown in Fiy. 3, the heel is a simplified version of that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and like parts are denoted by like numerals. The only differences between the two enbodiments is that two countersunk holes 16' and two corresponding bores 20' are provided, each bore 20' having a socket or sleeve with five spokes 22' and the second part 12' is of sinyle segmental shape and is onlycapable of a double life, ie. it is only reversible and not rotatable as above described in the first embodiment.

The first part 10,10' is of leather or of any suitable hard wearing plastics material, and the second part 12, 12' is of metal, of leather or of any suitahle hard wearing plastics material.

In a first modification, one or more proturbarices (not shown) car. be provided in the rebated portion of the first part 10 to be engaged in corresponding complernentarily shaped recesses (not shown), such protuberances and recesses heiny to assist in positioning the second part 12, 12' in its seating in a corresponding first part 10, 10'. The protuberances and recesses are provided on or in the major faces of the first part and second part respectively. The recesses niay he forked by tlle entrances/exits of holes hetween the major faces of the second part.

In a second modification, and alternative to the radial spokes, the means to prevent rotation may comprise the socket having a shaped outer surround ie.

the horizontal cross-section may be square or hexagonal.

In a development of the first modification, the protuberances may be peg projections to engage and extend through the holes their frill depth so to give added stability to the second part with one peg projection and corresponding hole on each side of the fastening of the first embodiinent in the event that the fastening may become partially unscrewed.

In Fig. 4, a third modification is shown, namely a second type of fastening formed by a male stud fastener 30, and a female stud fastener 32 forming the securing means. The female stud fastener 32 is moulded into or adhered to the first part 10,10' and the male stud fastener 30 being inoulded into or adhered to the second part 12,12' in such manner that the lower surface of the rebate of the first part and upper surface of the second part are a flush fit together when snap secured.In this third modification as applied to the first embodiment, the double segmental shape of the second part 1 2 only has two posssible rear tread edyes; and as applied to the second embodiment, the single segmental shape of the second part 12' only has one rear tread edge. One or more fastellings of the second type can be provided. The male and female stud fasteners 30,32 may be provided with anti-torsion elements and/or with retaining means of any conventional construction to assist with giving retension of the male and female stud fasteners 30,32 in the first part 10,10'.

The heels above-described are fitted as stated and as each rear tread edge is worn the second part 12, 12' is adjusted to give an unworn rear tread edge. After all the edges on the second part are worn, a new replacement second part can be fitted. If, however, the first part of the heel is also worn, then a new heel requires to be fitted.

Variations can he made to the invention ahove described without departing from the scope thereof, and second part replacements can he provided for owner/user 'do it yourself' fitment.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A heel for fixing to an article of footwear is in two parts comprising a first part to be fixed to the base of th-article and having a rebated shaped portion in its lower face and extending inwardly from the rear of the heel, and a complementary shaped second part to be attached in the rebate of the first part, the second part having one or more fastenings to be removably secured in means provided in the first part.

2. A heel as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the rebated portion and second part are of a shape almost elliptical and formed by two similar segmental shapes having a common chord and extending in opposite directions therefrom.

3. A hee as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the second part of the double segmental shape is rotatable through 180 degrees to present a new tread edge portion at the rear heel edge.

4. A heel as claimed in Claim 2 or 3, wherein the second part is also reversible by releasing the or each fastening, turning the second part over and securing the or each fastening into engagement again.

5. A heel as claimed in Claim 2,3 or 4, wherein the reversed second part is rotatable through 180 degrees.

6. A heel as claimed in Claim 1 , wherein the rebated portion and the second part are of single segmental shape or substantially so with the chord side of the segment innermost.

7. A heel as claimed in Clairn 6, wherein the second part of single segmental shape is reversible.

8. A heel as claimed in any one of the preceding - Claims, wherein the or each fastening is a machine screw with a flat head.

9. A heel as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein one or more holes are provided in the second part and the or each hole is countersunk at both ends to accommodate said head.

10. A heel as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the or each means is a tapped bore provided in said first part to be aligable with a corresponding hole in the second part.

11. A heel as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the or each tapped bore is provided with a tapped metal socket.

12. A heel as claimed in Claim 11, wherein the or each socket is provided with means to prevent rotation.

13. A heel as claimed in Claim 12, wherein the means to prevent rotation is one or more radial spokes extending outwardly from the socket.

14. A heel as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein the or each fastening may be a male stud fastener securable into a female stud fastener forming the or each respective means.

15. A heel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

16. A heel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 3-of the accompanying drawings.

17. A heel substantially as hereinhefore described with reference to Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings.