GB2535477A

GB2535477A - Multi level height adjustable shoe heel

Info

Publication number: GB2535477A
Application number: GB1502597.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Bliss Nwachukwu Ngozi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-02-16
Filing date: 2015-02-16
Publication date: 2016-08-24
Also published as: GB201502597D0

Abstract

A multi-level height adjustable shoe heel comprising at least two heel layers (1, 2, 3), wherein the at least one of the layers is slideable within at least one of the other layers to telescopically extend the height of the heel, the heel including a hollow middle for receiving an insertable object (7, fig. 12) when the heel is in the extended position. There may three heel layers allowing a low (retracted), mid and high (extended) heel state and the first layer may be rigidly fixed to a shoe. The inside face of the layers may have lines (6, fig. 7) forming part of a twist lock mechanism for extending the heel. A heel base 4 may extend from the base of the heel to act as a handle for extending the heel when in a low (retracted) state (see fig. 2). When attached to a shoe, the object 7 may be inserted by lifting the insole of the shoe (figs. 9, 10).

Description

TITLE

Multi level Height adjustable shoe heel FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a mechanism for altering shoe heel heights for individuals' need for speed and/or comfort.

BACKGROUND

Problem: Majority of women wear shoes with heels for various reasons and find it difficult to have speed and comfort particularly when high heel shoes are worn for long periods. There is also the possibility of back pain etc. Most people therefore carry an extra pair of flat shoes, which is an extra burden and there is waste of carrying space or suffer the discomfort of wearing high heels.

Solution: The current invention seeks to provide a solution to the problem above by providing a mechanism that alters heel heights such that the same pair of shoes can be worn as low heel, mid heel or high heel. The mechanism allows heels to be extended telescopically and "inserts" are put in to make the heels solid throughout.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention is concerned with multi level height adjustable heels. As mentioned above, most women suffer various forms of discomfort after wearing high-heeled shoes for long periods. It is therefore an objective of the present invention to overcome and/or mitigate the problems associated with wearing high-heeled shoes for long periods.

Accordingly, the present invention conveniently provides height adjustable heels that can be worn at varying levels including low heel, mid heel and high heel, which is achieved through the adoption of a telescopic mechanism with "Inserts".

There now follows a detailed description of the invention, which is to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side perspective view of the shoe when extended at full high heel with three levels according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a side perspective view of the shoe with the heel when not extended at low heel level.

Figure 3 is a side perspective view of the shoe with the heel when extended to mid level.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the shoe heel from the back when extended to mid level heel.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the shoe heel from the back when not extended, at low heel level.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the shoe heel from the back depicting the three heel levels as separate.

Figure 7 is the shoe heel from an inner perspective view of Figure 6 depicting the lines that enable the mechanism according to the invention.

Figure 8 is a side perspective view of the shoe indicating the insole of the shoe. Figure 9 is a side perspective view of the shoe indicating the insole as lifted or raised. Figure 10 is a perspective view of the shoe from the top with the insole raised or lifted. Figure 11 is a side perspective view of the "insert" according to the invention.

Figure 12 is a side perspective view of the shoe with the "insert" inserted in the middle of the shoe heel.

Figure 13 is a side perspective view of the shoe with the shoe heel extended and designed to appear smooth according to the invention.

In order to create a height adjustable heel, the present invention works by splitting the heel of the shoe into three levels of low, mid, high (1, 2, 3, Figure 1) where the low level (1) of the heel is a basic or standard part of the shoe body which remains unmoved.

The shoe heel is extended from low heel (Figure 2) to mid heel (Figure 3) and mid heel to high heel (see Figure 1), by simply twisting the heel loose using the base or bottom (4, Figure 2) of the shoe heel as a handle, pulling down the heel to extend and twisting back to lock in place.

To enable the 'twist pull twist' technique, lines (6, Figure 7) are designed into wall of the heel on the inner part of the heel on both sides and at all levels (see 1, 2, 3, Figure 6) and outer top edge of heel level 2 and 3 (2, 3, Figure 6) so that each level engages the other as the heel is twisted.

The shoe heel when fully extended (see Figure 8) will be hollow in the middle of the heel. The hollow area will be filled by inserting a separate object referred to as an "insert" (see Figure 11) for the purpose of this document. The insert is designed to fit into the hollow or middle area of the shoe heel so that the heel remains solid all the way through (see Figure 12).

The 'insert' is placed into the whole or hollow area in the middle of the shoe heel from the top (8, Figure 9) of the heel portion of the shoe. This may be done easily by lifting the insole (5, Figure 9, Figure 10), slotting in the insert object and closing the inner shoe.

Subsequently, the shoe heel is adjusted back from high heel (Figure 1) to mid heel (Figure 3), mid heel to low heel (Figure 2), by implementing same technique applied to extend the shoe heel. Accordingly, the user may remove the 'insert', un-twist the heel by the base (4), push up (see Figure 4, Figure 5) and twist back to lock in as required.

Thus, the mechanism for the present invention is telescopic in the sense that the middle layer (2, Figure 1) of the shoe heel slides out of the top layer (1, Figure 1) and the bottom layer (3, Figure 1) slides out of the middle layer (2, Figure 1) respectively in the process of extending or pulling out the shoe heel.

Similarly, in the process of pushing in, the bottom layer (3, Figure 5) is pushed into the middle layer (2, Figure 5) of the heel and the middle layer (2, Figure 5) is pushed into the top layer (1, Figure 5) as shown on Figure 5. The shoe arch or base of the heel (4, Figure 5) which is in contact with the ground is intentionally designed to slightly edge out of the heel in order to act as a handle to enable the height adjustment of the shoe heel.

The shoe heel layers when extended at high heel(see Figure 1) or mid heel(see Figure 3) level is designed to lock in neatly and completely into the each other to appear fine or smooth (see Figure 13) such that it is not obvious that the heel is has been extended.

Claims

CLAIMSThe embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows: 1. A multi level Height adjustable shoe heel extended telescopically, consisting of levels of height adjustment, wherein an 'insert' object is inserted into the middle of the heel through the top of the shoe to fill the hollow created from extension, the heel layers slide in and out of the other.
2. A Height adjustable shoe heel according to claim 1, consisting of a separate insert object inserted and fits into the middle of the heel upon extension of the heel.
3. A Height adjustable shoe heel according to claim 2, characterised in that, an insert object is inserted from the top of the heel portion shoe by opening and closing the insole of the heel.
4. A height adjustable shoe heel according to Claim 1, characterised in that, the heel levels are alterable wherein each heel level slips into the one above it and slips out of the one above it accordingly (Figure 5).
5. A height adjustable shoe heel according to Claim 4, characterised in that, the heel level is altered by a twist, pull and twist mechanism applied to extend the heel height and a twist, push and twist mechanism to reduce or shorten the heel height.
6. A height adjustable shoe heel according to Claim 5, characterised in that, each heel level is designed with lines on the inside (Figure 7), the lines engage those on the adjacent heel.
7. A Height adjustable shoe heel according to claim 4, characterised in that, the shoe heel consists of the base or bottom (4, Figure 2) wherein acts as a handle for the heel to be manipulated.
8. A Height adjustable shoe heel according to claim 1, wherein the said shoe heel when extended at any heel height as aforesaid locks in neatly and completely such that it is not obvious that the heel is extended.
9. A Height adjustable shoe heel as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.