US20180027925A1 - High heel shoe - Google Patents
High heel shoe Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20180027925A1 US20180027925A1 US15/724,931 US201715724931A US2018027925A1 US 20180027925 A1 US20180027925 A1 US 20180027925A1 US 201715724931 A US201715724931 A US 201715724931A US 2018027925 A1 US2018027925 A1 US 2018027925A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- shank
- heel
- toe
- assembly
- rigid
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
- A43B13/38—Built-in insoles joined to uppers during the manufacturing process, e.g. structural insoles; Insoles glued to shoes during the manufacturing process
- A43B13/40—Built-in insoles joined to uppers during the manufacturing process, e.g. structural insoles; Insoles glued to shoes during the manufacturing process with cushions
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
- A43B13/02—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the material
- A43B13/12—Soles with several layers of different materials
- A43B13/125—Soles with several layers of different materials characterised by the midsole or middle layer
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
- A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
- A43B13/141—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
- A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
- A43B13/18—Resilient soles
- A43B13/187—Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials
- A43B13/188—Differential cushioning regions
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
- A43B13/28—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by their attachment, also attachment of combined soles and heels
- A43B13/30—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by their attachment, also attachment of combined soles and heels by screws
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
- A43B13/37—Sole and heel units
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
- A43B13/38—Built-in insoles joined to uppers during the manufacturing process, e.g. structural insoles; Insoles glued to shoes during the manufacturing process
- A43B13/41—Built-in insoles joined to uppers during the manufacturing process, e.g. structural insoles; Insoles glued to shoes during the manufacturing process combined with heel stiffener, toe stiffener, or shank stiffener
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B21/00—Heels; Top-pieces or top-lifts
- A43B21/36—Heels; Top-pieces or top-lifts characterised by their attachment; Securing devices for the attaching means
- A43B21/38—Heels; Top-pieces or top-lifts characterised by their attachment; Securing devices for the attaching means by screws only
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B21/00—Heels; Top-pieces or top-lifts
- A43B21/36—Heels; Top-pieces or top-lifts characterised by their attachment; Securing devices for the attaching means
- A43B21/39—Heels; Top-pieces or top-lifts characterised by their attachment; Securing devices for the attaching means by rib groove
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B23/00—Uppers; Boot legs; Stiffeners; Other single parts of footwear
- A43B23/22—Supports for the shank or arch of the uppers
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
- A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
- A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
- A43B7/1415—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot
- A43B7/1425—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot situated under the ball of the foot, i.e. the joint between the first metatarsal and first phalange
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
- A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
- A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
- A43B7/1415—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot
- A43B7/1445—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the location under the foot situated under the midfoot, i.e. the second, third or fourth metatarsal
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
- A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
- A43B7/1405—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form
- A43B7/1475—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts with pads or holes on one or more locations, or having an anatomical or curved form characterised by the type of support
- A43B7/148—Recesses or holes filled with supports or pads
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
- A43B7/14—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with foot-supporting parts
- A43B7/30—Protecting the ball-joint against pressure while standing
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B9/00—Footwear characterised by the assembling of the individual parts
- A43B9/14—Platform shoes
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43C—FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL
- A43C11/00—Other fastenings specially adapted for shoes
- A43C11/14—Clamp fastenings, e.g. strap fastenings; Clamp-buckle fastenings; Fastenings with toggle levers
Definitions
- This disclosure relates to high heel shoes, their methods of manufacture and structural components.
- High heel shoes are very popular for their aesthetic appeal. However, high heel shoes are typically not very comfortable and can cause pain in a wearer's foot when worn for prolonged periods of time.
- the use of high heel shoes and the elevation of the wearer's heel shifts the balance of the coronal plane of a body from back to front. Due to the shift of the coronal plane from back to front, the center of gravity of the body shifts towards the ball of the foot.
- This change of balance demands compensation in posture by other parts of the body causing the knees to bend slightly forward and pushing the hips and spinal cord out of alignment. This results in an increased amount of pressure on the ball of the foot rather than the heel bone.
- the change of the center of coronal balance pushes the weight of the body uncomfortably onto the metatarsals, sesamoids or floating bones of the foot instead of a natural distribution of force onto the heel bone.
- inserts do not fit all shoe types and attempt to compensate for a poorly shaped shoe rather than correct the shoe itself.
- Shoes typically are referenced with front, rear, top and bottom, which are all taken from the frame of reference of the wearer.
- Typical high heel shoes have three primary components, uppers, heel and sole.
- the uppers are at the top of the shoe and help hold the shoe onto the foot.
- the sole is between the foot and the ground.
- the heel provides lift and supports the heel of the foot.
- the sole of a high heel shoe typically has an outsole, an insole which may include cushioning and a shank which is between the outsole and insole and which bridges the outsole to the heel.
- the outsole is the exposed part of the sole that is contact with the ground.
- the outsole provides grip with the ground and durability.
- the sole often includes an insole which is disposed above the outsole and provides a platform upon which the foot can operate. Where the ball of the foot sits on the sole is called the toe box.
- the shank supports the foot and the weight of the wearer.
- the shank is what provides the structural support, and strength between the heel and the ground, allowing the shoe to create the ‘lift’ of a high heel.
- the shank is akin to a support beam in architecture. It supports the foot and weight of the wearer at the angled position of the shoe.
- the heel raises the rear of the shoe in relation to the front.
- the heel includes a seat where the heel of the wearer's foot sits in the shoe.
- the distance the wearer's heel is raised is called the heel height
- heel height is defined as the distance from the top of the toe box (where the ball of the foot rests) to the top of the seat.
- Heel height typically is between 20 mm to 140 mm, though higher heel heights can be accomplished with an accompanying platform under the toe bed section of the shoe.
- a top piece of the heel is where the heel comes in contact with the ground.
- the heel breast describes front face of the heel.
- a thin high heel is called a stiletto.
- the pitch is the angle between the toe bed (where the forefoot rests) and the heel seat (where the heel rests).
- the incline, between the toe bed and the heel seat is a flat, angled plane, due to the flatness of the steel shank inside the sole.
- the lift is the total increase in a wearer's height while wearing the shoe.
- the bottom of the heel which comes in contact with the ground is referred to as the heel tip or top piece.
- Shoes are open, closed or partially open, based upon whether the top of the foot is covered by the upper. If open or partially open, the upper includes straps, such as at the front (toe), mid, ankle or rear (heel).
- FIG. 1 is a side view of the main structural components of a first high heel shoe.
- FIG. 2 is a cut-away view of the first shoe.
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the main structural components of a second high heel shoe.
- FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the structural components of the second high heel shoe from above.
- FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the structural components of the second high heel shoe from below.
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the second high heel shoe fully assembled.
- FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a shank and a heel as alternatives to those of the second high heel shoe.
- FIG. 8 is a top view of a shank.
- elements appearing in figures are assigned three-or four-digit reference designators, where the most significant digit of a three-digit number and the most significant two digits of a four-digit number is/are the figure number and the two least significant digits are specific to the element.
- An element that is not described in conjunction with a figure may be presumed to have the same characteristics and function as a previously-described element having a reference designator with the same least significant digits.
- the functional components of the shoes described herein have a variety of specifications. These specifications include dimensions, shapes, thicknesses, strength, rigidity and flexibility, including variations of these throughout the component.
- the specifications of many of the components are related such that changes to one component suggest or require a change to other components. These specifications are selected based upon the intended wearer or range of wearers, such as ranges of weight and shoe size. Furthermore, intended use of the shoe, including useful life, may guide performance and tolerance requirements, which then impact specifications of the components.
- a number of relative terms are used with respect to various shoe components. In practice, these relative terms serve as guides to how to achieve specific dimensions for a desired shoe.
- the main structural components of a high heel shoe 100 include a toe bed 110 , a shank 120 and a heel 130 .
- the shank 120 , the toe bed 110 and the heel 130 are strong and rigid enough to maintain structural integrity and support the wearer during the intended use of the shoe 100 .
- Through a composite, interlocking structure of these three structural components of the high heel shoe 100 forces imparted by the wearer are more evenly absorbed and distributed to provide a more comfortable experience.
- the components 110 , 120 , 130 have geometric details to create an interlocking mechanism for assembly.
- the toe bed 110 attaches to the front of the shank 120 and the heel 130 attaches to the rear.
- the components 110 , 120 , 130 include joints (not shown) which ‘click and lock’ into place, such as with a one quarter turn.
- the interlocking mechanism creates structural continuity between the toe bed 110 , shank 120 heel and 130 , working to distribute loading between the components and avoiding the weak joints where standard shoes traditionally break, such where the heel joins the body of the shoe.
- the toe bed 110 includes a composition of layered materials which when combined work to provide both stability and shock absorption to the ball of the foot during the foot strike of walking.
- the shank 120 extends from the wearer's toe area to heel area, and across the foot from left to right, is not flat but has varying thicknesses and varying outer dimensions.
- the shank 120 has a precision sculpted geometry of varying thickness and varying dimensions. Think of it like a ski slope—on the traditional shoe, the wearer's weight comes down the flat incline of the steel shank and crashes down onto the floor hard.
- the shank 120 may have an outer profile which matches that of the toe bed 110 , including a taper down as the combination extends from heel 130 to the ground below the toe bed 110 for the aesthetic effect of slimming the outline of the shoe 100 .
- This aesthetic aspect may be provided in whole or in part by a welt (not shown).
- the form of the toe bed 110 provides a slightly wider base than is provided by corresponding structures in conventional high heel shoes and keeps the big toe pointed straight (at an approximately 10 degree angle). This works to mitigate rotation in the ball of the wearer's foot and allows for natural positioning.
- the toe bed 110 may have a bottom surface 125 having a coating of a base layer of urethane tread (Shore 90) to provide traction with the ground to reduce slipping.
- the toe bed geometry is minimizes the displacement of the big toe.
- Traditional high heel shoes tend to push the big toe aggressively toward the other toes, which causes discomfort, foot damage and difficulty walking for some users.
- FIG. 2 there is shown a cutaway side view of the shoe 100 .
- An insole cushion 250 is disposed at the top surface of the shank 120 .
- the insole cushion 250 forms an internal support structure of the shoe 100 functioning as a flexible, padded barrier and intermediary between the rigidity of the shank 120 and the softness of the uppers (not shown).
- the insole cushion 250 represents an intricate approach to nuanced geometries, and may be made of foam materials which have a broad range of compression states which can gently conform and support a greater variation of foot shapes.
- the insole cushion 250 may be made of a combination of viscoelastic polyurethane foam, commonly referred to as memory foam, and sorbothane, a viscoelastic polymer, in Shore durometers ranging from 30 to 50.
- the viscosity of memory foam allows the material to resist shear stress and strain when under pressure, while the elasticity provides a spring back property to provide support, holding the foot in compression. Together these properties provide comfort through gentle support optimized for a wider variety of foot shapes.
- the insole cushion 250 rises from the underside of the foot to the back of the foot to spherically support the rounded structure of the ball of the foot, reducing movement of the foot inside the shoe 100 during walking. It also runs under the pads of the foot and continues around the outer sides of the toe bed 110 .
- the insole cushion 250 provides a gentle rise under the midsection of the foot.
- the goal is to not provide specialized rigid arch support like that of an orthotic shoe insert (which would be uncomfortable if not customized), but to provide a gentle soft compression support across the midsection of the shoe, holding the foot in place during walking.
- the insole cushion 250 may be created through a combination of sheet foam (for flat 2D areas) and cast foam (for 3D structures) of both Sorbothane® and memory foam.
- Sheet foam in the form of sheet stock, may be cut to size using a CNC knife.
- 3D components of the insole cushion 250 may be fabricated through reaction injection molding (RIM). The 3D components are modeled and the 3D model is inverted to create a 3D model of the mold.
- RIM reaction injection molding
- the two chemicals used to make the foam isocyanate and polyol
- the reaction of the hot mixture causes it to expand until it reaches the wall of the mold.
- the hot mixture touches the relatively cold wall of the mold a foam skin forms.
- the 2D and 3D components of the insole cushion 250 may be laminated together and applied to the shank 220 using a foam fast spray adhesive (such as Claire Mist, Camie 373 or 3M 77) where necessary.
- a foam fast spray adhesive such as Claire Mist, Camie 373 or
- a downwardly-projecting heel pin 231 rigidly fastened to the shank 120 extends down into a similarly-sized cavity formed in the heel 130 .
- the heel pin 231 fits closely into the cavity and is secured therein, such as with adhesive, a friction-fit, and/or threads.
- the heel pin 231 may be metal or other strong, rigid material.
- a rib 222 commences generally at the rear edge of the toe bed 110 and extends rearward to the heel 130 .
- the rib 222 is an elongated central section of the shank 120 which projects below its bottom surface but not necessarily to the sides.
- the rib 222 provides longitudinal rigidity to the shoe 100 and essentially replaces the strength function of metal shanks that have previously been used in the production of high heel shoes.
- Assembly of the shoe 100 may start with forming the shank 120 through a two part overmolding process.
- the toe bed 110 and the shank 120 may be made from a layered blend of polyether copolymer based thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), sorbothane (Shore 50), and silicone gel (Shore 20), forming a multi-material composite that works to absorb some of the shock moving from the feet to hips, thus reducing the impact from heel to toe strike during walking.
- Other internal geometries of the layers within the shank 120 and the toe bed 110 may be included, such as honeycomb structures which enhance shock absorption while increasing support and stability.
- the toe bed 110 and shank 120 may be enclosed and hidden in uppers (not shown).
- the uppers may include fabric, leather or bioleather, enclosures plus adornments (e.g., buckles, laces and decorative metal and fabric elements).
- the uppers may entirely encase the height of the toe bed 110 , shank 120 and heel 130 , creating a continuous surface from top of the foot to the ground.
- the uppers may be made in conventional processes from leather or other common fabric materials and function to encase the insole cushion 250 by wrapping and securing the foam elements in place through sewing and adhesive techniques.
- the high heel shoe 300 includes a toe bed 310 , a shank 320 (mostly hidden), a heel 330 and an insole cushion 350 .
- the toe bed 110 and the shank 120 of the shoe 100 twist, click and lock, in the shoe 300 the toe bed 310 and the shank 320 snap and lock together.
- left and right side views may look the same, the left and right parts are different.
- the shank and heel are the same for the left and the right side.
- the left and right toe beds, shanks and heels are specific to each side. That is, the structural components of the left shoe and the right shoe are each tuned to provide lateral stability and comfort for the wearer.
- the toe bed 310 provides a wide base and keeps the big toe pointed straight (at an approximately 10° angle).
- the shank 320 is shaped to distribute weight for increased comfort.
- the shape of the shank 320 provides load balancing under often punishing conditions during use of the shoe 300 .
- the shank 320 is made of a material such as nylon that when cured is relatively rigid and has sufficient strength to support the user's weight on the high heel shoe 300 .
- the shape of the shank 320 is contoured to the geometry of the foot. The contoured shape along with the increased surface area compared to a conventional shank allow the forces of walking or standing to be more easily distributed through the shoe avoiding pressure points at the ball of the foot which cause pain and injury. Pitch is also improved.
- the toe bed 310 and the shank 320 together provide at least 2 inches of lift, with 2-4 inches providing a good compromise between a desire for increased height and a desire for comfort and stability.
- This is based upon body geometry of a range of people and a standard configuration of the shoe 300 of component size, shape and behavior to accommodate that range.
- body geometry of a range of people and a standard configuration of the shoe 300 of component size, shape and behavior to accommodate that range.
- For a given person's body there is generally a range where increasing lift has only a small impact on comfort and stability.
- increased lift has increasing impact on comfort and stability.
- comfort and stability may vary independently, and an improvement in one may result in a decline in the other.
- the heel 330 tapers downward from a relatively large upper end to a narrow lower end having a greater lateral dimension than a longitudinal dimension. This provides enhanced stability to the shoe 300 while maintaining a relatively thin and elegant profile from the side.
- the heel 330 therefore presents a generally conventional appearance with several functional variances which enhance comfort and/or stability.
- the heel may taper from top to bottom 335 with maximized surface area of the bottom 335 at the point of strike with the ground while retaining a minimal and aesthetically appealing silhouette from the side view. This is achieved through the base shape of an oval or lozenged rectangle whose long dimension is at the heel breast 336 and provides up to triple the amount of striking surface of traditional stilettos.
- the heel 330 is further contoured in gentle curves in both the side and back views, furthering the appearance of an elegant minimal aesthetic similar to that of a traditional stiletto.
- the heel 330 may be made of a thermoplastic polyamide blend substrate, such as glass filled nylon, mixed to create maximum structural support while retaining impact absorption crucial for heel strike.
- FIG. 4 there is shown an exploded perspective view of the structural components of the high heel shoe 300 from above.
- the insole cushion 350 is shown separated from the shank 320 but they may be unitary and co-molded.
- the insole cushion 350 may cover the entire upper surface of the shank 320 , with a plurality of through holes 452 in the rear (heel) portion that correspond with through holes 422 in the shank 320 . All but central through holes 422 a, 552 a align with threaded bores 432 opening upward in the heel 330 .
- the shaft 431 may be made of strong, rigid material which extends down into a central through bore 432 a in the heel 330 .
- the shaft 431 includes an upper reinforced end 431 a.
- the shaft 431 may be tubular for lower weight, and may have a cross section of constant or varying shape and width, and may taper from the end 431 a toward its bottom, like a dental implant.
- the bore 432 a has a shape and dimensions complementary to those of the shaft 431 to achieve a snug fit.
- a friction fit and/or adhesive provided within the through bore 432 a in the heel 430 may secure the shaft 431 therein.
- the shaft 431 may extend down to the bottom end of the through bore 432 a, or a lower cap (not shown) may be inserted therein to cover any recesses.
- the shank 320 has a central body that extends to both toe and heel ends and to the lateral sides of the shoe, and an upper raised area 425 thereform which is relatively shallow compared to an outer edge 427 of the shank 320 , which is itself thin to minimize weight but thick enough to provide sufficient support.
- the upper raised area 425 extends from the toe bed rearward to the heel area and fits into a similarly-shaped cavity 352 on the underside of the insole cushion 350 (see FIG. 5 ).
- the upper raised area 425 and the outer edge 427 generally conform to the contours of the wearer's foot, except for a plurality of forward lobes 423 in the upper raised area 425 .
- the lobes 423 may be somewhat bulbous shaped.
- a central channel 424 extends from a forward end of the upper raised area 425 and provides lateral flexibility to the shank 320 . In FIG. 8 , the central channel 424 is more visible. FIG. 8 also shows a curvature of the central spine of the shank 320 as designated by broken line 820 .
- the toe bed 410 has three parts, a middle rigid portion 415 sandwiched between a soft lower layer 418 and a number of soft cushions 413 .
- These three layers 413 , 415 , 418 are of different materials which combine to provide both stability and shock absorption to the ball of the foot during the foot strike of walking.
- the lower layer 418 and soft cushions 413 may be formed through co-molding with the rigid portion 415 to form a unit.
- the rigid portion 415 includes a cavity 412 surrounded by a number of through holes 416 and cells 414 provided between cell walls 417 .
- the soft cushions 413 fill the cells 414 .
- Some of the cells 414 such as the two middle cells, may be left without cushions to provide some flexibility in the toe area and enhance comfort thereto.
- the rigid portion 415 may be made of nylon or other such rigid polymer, while the lower layer 418 and cushions 413 may be formed of a soft polymer such as TPU.
- An outsole (not shown) is secured to the underside of the lower layer 418 and to a portion of the underside of the shank 320 .
- the shank 420 has through holes 426 in the toe region which line up with those 416 in the rigid portion 415 .
- the through holes 416 in the rigid portion 415 may be threaded to receive fasteners 455 which pass through the through holes 426 to secure the toe bed 310 and the shank 320 together.
- Fasteners 453 may be installed through the holes 452 , 422 , 432 respectively in the insole cushion 350 , the shank 320 and the heel 330 .
- Fasteners 455 may be installed through the holes 456 , 426 , 416 respectively in the insole cushion 350 , the shank 320 and the toe bed 310 . These fasteners 452 , 455 secure the respective parts.
- FIG. 5 there is shown an exploded perspective view of the structural components of the high heel shoe 300 from below.
- the upper reinforced end 431 a of the shaft 431 fits closely into a recess 521 a in the underside of the shank 320 concentric with the central through hole 422 a ( FIG. 4 ).
- the recess 521 a and the end 431 a have complementary shapes and dimensions to permit a close fit. Adhesives may be used to reinforce the connection.
- the upper raised area 425 fits closely much like a puzzle piece into the similarly-shaped cavity 352 on the underside of the insole cushion 350 .
- a lower raised area 522 from the central body of the shank 320 has a plurality of forward lobes 523 which together mimic a gecko's foot.
- the lower raised area 522 extends rearward from the rear edge of the toe portion of the shank 320 and gradually diminishes prior to reaching the heel region of the shank 320 , providing rigidity to the shank 320 much like the rib 222 in the shank 120 of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 .
- the lower raised area 522 is relatively thicker than the upper raised area 422 ( FIG. 4 ) and fits snugly much like a puzzle piece into the similarly-shaped cavity 412 ( FIG. 4 ) in the toe bed 310 .
- the lobes 523 provide increased surface area for great contact between the shank 320 and the toe bed 310 .
- FIG. 6 there is shown a perspective view of the high heel shoe 300 fully assembled.
- components of an upper can be seen, including an insole 660 , a counter 680 attached to one or more heel straps 682 , and an arch strap 690 .
- the insole 660 is secured on top of the insole cushion 350 and covers the holes 452 , 456 and top ends of the fasteners 453 , 455 ( FIG. 4 ).
- the heel straps 682 may be affixed below the insole 660 , such as to the shank 320 or sandwiched between the shank 320 and toe bed 310 .
- the arch strap 690 spans across the shoe 300 and may be affixed like the heel straps 682 .
- the counter 680 , heel straps 682 , arch strap 690 and other parts of the upper may include material (not shown) akin to that of the insole cushion 350 .
- the counter 680 may include two narrow channels of foam running longitudinally along the sides of the heel 330 , holding the tendon of the back of the ankle in gentle compression. This provides structural support to hold the foot in place during walking without attempting to grip at the top of the heel 330 , an area which generally gathers blisters from repeated rubbing.
- toe bed 310 The combination of toe bed 310 , the shank 320 and the heel 330 provide a platform suitable to a limitless variety of aesthetic upper designs.
- One or more straps running across the top of the foot provide support during walking, especially during the lifting of the foot.
- the straps may be aligned with cushions to provide padding and compression which serves to hold the foot in place inside the shoe and increases stability during stepping.
- the straps may be disposed midway between the toe bed 310 and the ankle.
- FIG. 7 there is shown a perspective view of a shank 720 and a heel 730 as alternatives to those 320 , 330 of the second high heel shoe 300 .
- a non-circular reinforcing member 724 formed in the shank 720 extends down into a cavity 734 in the heel 730 .
- the reinforcing member 724 fits snugly into the cavity 734 and provides a non-rotatable coupling.
- the member 724 and cavity 734 may both be hexagonal, or may have different but compatible shapes and dimensions. As in FIG.
- one of the fasteners 453 extends downward through a bore 725 in the reinforcing member 724 and secures into the cavity 734 .
- Adhesive may also be provided between the reinforcing member 724 and the cavity 724 for added strength, and also between an upper surface 738 of the heel 730 and a contacting lower surface 728 of the shank 720 .
- “plurality” means two or more. As used herein, a “set” of items may include one or more of such items.
- the terms “comprising”, “including”, “carrying”, “having”, “containing”, “involving”, and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of”, respectively, are closed or semi-closed transitional phrases with respect to claims.
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Abstract
There are disclosed high heel shoes where separate components combine to create load balancing internal footwear technology. A two-piece system includes interlocking toe bed and shank constructed of complex three dimensional curved surfaces which create an intricately sculpted volume to provide structural support down the length of the entire foot. The toe bed provides a wide base and keeps the big toe pointed straight (at an approximately 10° angle). A heel maximizes the surface area of the bottom of the heel at the point of strike with the ground while retaining a minimal and aesthetically appealing silhouette from the side view. The toe bed and shank feature a composition of layered materials which when combined work to provide both stability and shock absorption to the ball of the foot during the foot strike of walking. An internal support structure provides a padded barrier and intermediary between the rigidity of the shank and the softness of the shoe upper.
Description
- This patent application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/369,588, filed Dec. 5, 2016, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,781,973, which is a continuation-in-part of PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US16/47106, filed Aug. 15, 2016, which claims priority from U.S. application Ser. No. 15/236,478, filed Aug. 14, 2016, now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,510,647, and from the following provisional patent applications, all of which are incorporated by reference: Application Nos. 62/205,459; 62/205,575; 62/205,578; 62/205,581; 62/205,584; and 62/205,587, all filed Aug. 14, 2015.
- A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. This patent document may show and/or describe matter which is or may become trade dress of the owner. The copyright and trade dress owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright and trade dress rights whatsoever.
- This disclosure relates to high heel shoes, their methods of manufacture and structural components.
- High heel shoes are very popular for their aesthetic appeal. However, high heel shoes are typically not very comfortable and can cause pain in a wearer's foot when worn for prolonged periods of time. The use of high heel shoes and the elevation of the wearer's heel shifts the balance of the coronal plane of a body from back to front. Due to the shift of the coronal plane from back to front, the center of gravity of the body shifts towards the ball of the foot. This change of balance demands compensation in posture by other parts of the body causing the knees to bend slightly forward and pushing the hips and spinal cord out of alignment. This results in an increased amount of pressure on the ball of the foot rather than the heel bone. The change of the center of coronal balance pushes the weight of the body uncomfortably onto the metatarsals, sesamoids or floating bones of the foot instead of a natural distribution of force onto the heel bone.
- Various methods for enhancing the comfort level of high heeled shoes have been attempted, such as inserts. However, inserts do not fit all shoe types and attempt to compensate for a poorly shaped shoe rather than correct the shoe itself.
- Shoes typically are referenced with front, rear, top and bottom, which are all taken from the frame of reference of the wearer. Typical high heel shoes have three primary components, uppers, heel and sole. The uppers are at the top of the shoe and help hold the shoe onto the foot. The sole is between the foot and the ground. The heel provides lift and supports the heel of the foot.
- The sole of a high heel shoe typically has an outsole, an insole which may include cushioning and a shank which is between the outsole and insole and which bridges the outsole to the heel. The outsole is the exposed part of the sole that is contact with the ground. The outsole provides grip with the ground and durability. The sole often includes an insole which is disposed above the outsole and provides a platform upon which the foot can operate. Where the ball of the foot sits on the sole is called the toe box. The shank supports the foot and the weight of the wearer. The shank is what provides the structural support, and strength between the heel and the ground, allowing the shoe to create the ‘lift’ of a high heel. The shank is akin to a support beam in architecture. It supports the foot and weight of the wearer at the angled position of the shoe.
- The heel raises the rear of the shoe in relation to the front. The heel includes a seat where the heel of the wearer's foot sits in the shoe. The distance the wearer's heel is raised is called the heel height, and heel height is defined as the distance from the top of the toe box (where the ball of the foot rests) to the top of the seat. Heel height typically is between 20 mm to 140 mm, though higher heel heights can be accomplished with an accompanying platform under the toe bed section of the shoe. A top piece of the heel is where the heel comes in contact with the ground. The heel breast describes front face of the heel. A thin high heel is called a stiletto. The pitch is the angle between the toe bed (where the forefoot rests) and the heel seat (where the heel rests). In traditional heels, the incline, between the toe bed and the heel seat is a flat, angled plane, due to the flatness of the steel shank inside the sole. The lift is the total increase in a wearer's height while wearing the shoe. The bottom of the heel which comes in contact with the ground is referred to as the heel tip or top piece.
- Shoes are open, closed or partially open, based upon whether the top of the foot is covered by the upper. If open or partially open, the upper includes straps, such as at the front (toe), mid, ankle or rear (heel).
-
FIG. 1 is a side view of the main structural components of a first high heel shoe. -
FIG. 2 is a cut-away view of the first shoe. -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the main structural components of a second high heel shoe. -
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the structural components of the second high heel shoe from above. -
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the structural components of the second high heel shoe from below. -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the second high heel shoe fully assembled. -
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a shank and a heel as alternatives to those of the second high heel shoe. -
FIG. 8 is a top view of a shank. - Throughout this description, elements appearing in figures are assigned three-or four-digit reference designators, where the most significant digit of a three-digit number and the most significant two digits of a four-digit number is/are the figure number and the two least significant digits are specific to the element. An element that is not described in conjunction with a figure may be presumed to have the same characteristics and function as a previously-described element having a reference designator with the same least significant digits.
- The functional components of the shoes described herein have a variety of specifications. These specifications include dimensions, shapes, thicknesses, strength, rigidity and flexibility, including variations of these throughout the component. The specifications of many of the components are related such that changes to one component suggest or require a change to other components. These specifications are selected based upon the intended wearer or range of wearers, such as ranges of weight and shoe size. Furthermore, intended use of the shoe, including useful life, may guide performance and tolerance requirements, which then impact specifications of the components. In the following description, a number of relative terms are used with respect to various shoe components. In practice, these relative terms serve as guides to how to achieve specific dimensions for a desired shoe.
- Referring now to
FIG. 1 , the main structural components of ahigh heel shoe 100 include atoe bed 110, ashank 120 and aheel 130. Theshank 120, thetoe bed 110 and theheel 130 are strong and rigid enough to maintain structural integrity and support the wearer during the intended use of theshoe 100. Through a composite, interlocking structure of these three structural components of thehigh heel shoe 100, forces imparted by the wearer are more evenly absorbed and distributed to provide a more comfortable experience. - The
components toe bed 110 attaches to the front of theshank 120 and theheel 130 attaches to the rear. Thecomponents toe bed 110,shank 120 heel and 130, working to distribute loading between the components and avoiding the weak joints where standard shoes traditionally break, such where the heel joins the body of the shoe. - The
toe bed 110 includes a composition of layered materials which when combined work to provide both stability and shock absorption to the ball of the foot during the foot strike of walking. - Unlike a conventional shank which is merely flat, stamped spring steel, the
shank 120 extends from the wearer's toe area to heel area, and across the foot from left to right, is not flat but has varying thicknesses and varying outer dimensions. Unlike a conventional shank, which is a flat piece of spring steel and begins at the heel and ends where the shoe connects to the ground, theshank 120 has a precision sculpted geometry of varying thickness and varying dimensions. Think of it like a ski slope—on the traditional shoe, the wearer's weight comes down the flat incline of the steel shank and crashes down onto the floor hard. With the custom curved geometry of the shanks disclosed herein which match the underside geometry of the human foot, the slope is softer, and the ‘skier’ or ‘load’ does not crash hard into the ground but rather goes down in a more controlled way. These improved shanks provide arch support via the asymmetry in the part's left and right side (in one shank, not referred to the left and right side shoes). Each shank has increased height toward the inside of the foot, to again match the geometry of the underside of the foot. Since the wearer's arches create a higher ‘ceiling’ on the inside of the foot, these improved shanks are designed with a higher curve on the inside. Thus, the contact between the foot and the sole unit is maximized. This provides arch support which shifts weight off of the toe bed and back towards the heel, and improving load distribution. Furthermore, there is an increase the overall amount of surface area connecting the foot and sole, providing for superior load distribution. Traditional heels put a majority of the load on the toe bed area, but the improved shank changes this. - The
shank 120 may have an outer profile which matches that of thetoe bed 110, including a taper down as the combination extends fromheel 130 to the ground below thetoe bed 110 for the aesthetic effect of slimming the outline of theshoe 100. This aesthetic aspect may be provided in whole or in part by a welt (not shown). - The form of the
toe bed 110 provides a slightly wider base than is provided by corresponding structures in conventional high heel shoes and keeps the big toe pointed straight (at an approximately 10 degree angle). This works to mitigate rotation in the ball of the wearer's foot and allows for natural positioning. Thetoe bed 110 may have a bottom surface 125 having a coating of a base layer of urethane tread (Shore 90) to provide traction with the ground to reduce slipping. The toe bed geometry is minimizes the displacement of the big toe. Traditional high heel shoes tend to push the big toe aggressively toward the other toes, which causes discomfort, foot damage and difficulty walking for some users. - Referring now to
FIG. 2 , there is shown a cutaway side view of theshoe 100. Aninsole cushion 250 is disposed at the top surface of theshank 120. Theinsole cushion 250 forms an internal support structure of theshoe 100 functioning as a flexible, padded barrier and intermediary between the rigidity of theshank 120 and the softness of the uppers (not shown). Theinsole cushion 250 represents an intricate approach to nuanced geometries, and may be made of foam materials which have a broad range of compression states which can gently conform and support a greater variation of foot shapes. Theinsole cushion 250 may be made of a combination of viscoelastic polyurethane foam, commonly referred to as memory foam, and sorbothane, a viscoelastic polymer, in Shore durometers ranging from 30 to 50. The viscosity of memory foam allows the material to resist shear stress and strain when under pressure, while the elasticity provides a spring back property to provide support, holding the foot in compression. Together these properties provide comfort through gentle support optimized for a wider variety of foot shapes. - At the
toe bed 110, theinsole cushion 250 rises from the underside of the foot to the back of the foot to spherically support the rounded structure of the ball of the foot, reducing movement of the foot inside theshoe 100 during walking. It also runs under the pads of the foot and continues around the outer sides of thetoe bed 110. - At the wearer's arch, the
insole cushion 250 provides a gentle rise under the midsection of the foot. The goal is to not provide specialized rigid arch support like that of an orthotic shoe insert (which would be uncomfortable if not customized), but to provide a gentle soft compression support across the midsection of the shoe, holding the foot in place during walking. - The
insole cushion 250 may be created through a combination of sheet foam (for flat 2D areas) and cast foam (for 3D structures) of both Sorbothane® and memory foam. Sheet foam, in the form of sheet stock, may be cut to size using a CNC knife. 3D components of theinsole cushion 250 may be fabricated through reaction injection molding (RIM). The 3D components are modeled and the 3D model is inverted to create a 3D model of the mold. To mold memory foam, the two chemicals used to make the foam (isocyanate and polyol) are heated, mixed together and shot into the mold. Once in the mold the reaction of the hot mixture causes it to expand until it reaches the wall of the mold. When the hot mixture touches the relatively cold wall of the mold a foam skin forms. Depending on the geometries, the 2D and 3D components of theinsole cushion 250 may be laminated together and applied to the shank 220 using a foam fast spray adhesive (such as Claire Mist, Camie 373 or 3M 77) where necessary. - A downwardly-projecting
heel pin 231 rigidly fastened to theshank 120 extends down into a similarly-sized cavity formed in theheel 130. Theheel pin 231 fits closely into the cavity and is secured therein, such as with adhesive, a friction-fit, and/or threads. Theheel pin 231 may be metal or other strong, rigid material. - A
rib 222 commences generally at the rear edge of thetoe bed 110 and extends rearward to theheel 130. Therib 222 is an elongated central section of theshank 120 which projects below its bottom surface but not necessarily to the sides. Therib 222 provides longitudinal rigidity to theshoe 100 and essentially replaces the strength function of metal shanks that have previously been used in the production of high heel shoes. - Assembly of the
shoe 100 may start with forming theshank 120 through a two part overmolding process. Thetoe bed 110 and theshank 120 may be made from a layered blend of polyether copolymer based thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), sorbothane (Shore 50), and silicone gel (Shore 20), forming a multi-material composite that works to absorb some of the shock moving from the feet to hips, thus reducing the impact from heel to toe strike during walking. Other internal geometries of the layers within theshank 120 and thetoe bed 110 may be included, such as honeycomb structures which enhance shock absorption while increasing support and stability. - For aesthetic benefit, the
toe bed 110 andshank 120 may be enclosed and hidden in uppers (not shown). The uppers may include fabric, leather or bioleather, enclosures plus adornments (e.g., buckles, laces and decorative metal and fabric elements). The uppers may entirely encase the height of thetoe bed 110,shank 120 andheel 130, creating a continuous surface from top of the foot to the ground. The uppers may be made in conventional processes from leather or other common fabric materials and function to encase theinsole cushion 250 by wrapping and securing the foam elements in place through sewing and adhesive techniques. - Referring now to
FIG. 3 , there is shown a secondhigh heel shoe 300. Like theshoe 100, thehigh heel shoe 300 includes atoe bed 310, a shank 320 (mostly hidden), aheel 330 and aninsole cushion 350. Whereas thetoe bed 110 and theshank 120 of theshoe 100 twist, click and lock, in theshoe 300 thetoe bed 310 and theshank 320 snap and lock together. While left and right side views may look the same, the left and right parts are different. In typical high heel shoes, the shank and heel are the same for the left and the right side. In theshoe 300, the left and right toe beds, shanks and heels are specific to each side. That is, the structural components of the left shoe and the right shoe are each tuned to provide lateral stability and comfort for the wearer. - The
toe bed 310 provides a wide base and keeps the big toe pointed straight (at an approximately 10° angle). - The
shank 320 is shaped to distribute weight for increased comfort. The shape of theshank 320 provides load balancing under often punishing conditions during use of theshoe 300. Theshank 320 is made of a material such as nylon that when cured is relatively rigid and has sufficient strength to support the user's weight on thehigh heel shoe 300. The shape of theshank 320 is contoured to the geometry of the foot. The contoured shape along with the increased surface area compared to a conventional shank allow the forces of walking or standing to be more easily distributed through the shoe avoiding pressure points at the ball of the foot which cause pain and injury. Pitch is also improved. - There is generally a relationship between lift, stability and comfort of a shoe. The
toe bed 310 and theshank 320 together provide at least 2 inches of lift, with 2-4 inches providing a good compromise between a desire for increased height and a desire for comfort and stability. This is based upon body geometry of a range of people and a standard configuration of theshoe 300 of component size, shape and behavior to accommodate that range. For a given person's body, there is generally a range where increasing lift has only a small impact on comfort and stability. Eventually, increased lift has increasing impact on comfort and stability. Furthermore, comfort and stability may vary independently, and an improvement in one may result in a decline in the other. - The
heel 330 tapers downward from a relatively large upper end to a narrow lower end having a greater lateral dimension than a longitudinal dimension. This provides enhanced stability to theshoe 300 while maintaining a relatively thin and elegant profile from the side. Theheel 330 therefore presents a generally conventional appearance with several functional variances which enhance comfort and/or stability. In this regard, the heel may taper from top tobottom 335 with maximized surface area of the bottom 335 at the point of strike with the ground while retaining a minimal and aesthetically appealing silhouette from the side view. This is achieved through the base shape of an oval or lozenged rectangle whose long dimension is at theheel breast 336 and provides up to triple the amount of striking surface of traditional stilettos. This increased surface area helps mitigate strain from foot strike and provides further balance support in the lateral direction, critical for walking in any areas of irregular or rough terrain. Theheel 330 is further contoured in gentle curves in both the side and back views, furthering the appearance of an elegant minimal aesthetic similar to that of a traditional stiletto. Theheel 330 may be made of a thermoplastic polyamide blend substrate, such as glass filled nylon, mixed to create maximum structural support while retaining impact absorption crucial for heel strike. - Referring now to
FIG. 4 there is shown an exploded perspective view of the structural components of thehigh heel shoe 300 from above. - The
insole cushion 350 is shown separated from theshank 320 but they may be unitary and co-molded. Theinsole cushion 350 may cover the entire upper surface of theshank 320, with a plurality of throughholes 452 in the rear (heel) portion that correspond with throughholes 422 in theshank 320. All but central throughholes 422 a, 552 a align with threadedbores 432 opening upward in theheel 330. - To strengthen the junction of the
shank 320 andheel 330, there may be ashaft 431 made of strong, rigid material which extends down into a central throughbore 432 a in theheel 330. Theshaft 431 includes an upper reinforcedend 431 a. Theshaft 431 may be tubular for lower weight, and may have a cross section of constant or varying shape and width, and may taper from theend 431 a toward its bottom, like a dental implant. Thebore 432 a has a shape and dimensions complementary to those of theshaft 431 to achieve a snug fit. A friction fit and/or adhesive provided within the throughbore 432 a in the heel 430 may secure theshaft 431 therein. Theshaft 431 may extend down to the bottom end of the throughbore 432 a, or a lower cap (not shown) may be inserted therein to cover any recesses. - The
shank 320 has a central body that extends to both toe and heel ends and to the lateral sides of the shoe, and an upper raisedarea 425 thereform which is relatively shallow compared to an outer edge 427 of theshank 320, which is itself thin to minimize weight but thick enough to provide sufficient support. The upper raisedarea 425 extends from the toe bed rearward to the heel area and fits into a similarly-shapedcavity 352 on the underside of the insole cushion 350 (seeFIG. 5 ). The upper raisedarea 425 and the outer edge 427 generally conform to the contours of the wearer's foot, except for a plurality offorward lobes 423 in the upper raisedarea 425. Thelobes 423 may be somewhat bulbous shaped. In the secondhigh heel shoe 300 there are fourlobes 423 and they are splayed outward in a pattern that resembles a gecko's foot. The gecko's foot shape mitigates the structural loading within theshank 320 by distributing forces within theshank 320 and passing them through to the outsole of theshoe 300. At least two lobes are necessary, and more than eight lobes generally less beneficial. Acentral channel 424 extends from a forward end of the upper raisedarea 425 and provides lateral flexibility to theshank 320. InFIG. 8 , thecentral channel 424 is more visible.FIG. 8 also shows a curvature of the central spine of theshank 320 as designated bybroken line 820. - The toe bed 410 has three parts, a middle
rigid portion 415 sandwiched between a softlower layer 418 and a number ofsoft cushions 413. These threelayers lower layer 418 andsoft cushions 413 may be formed through co-molding with therigid portion 415 to form a unit. Therigid portion 415 includes acavity 412 surrounded by a number of throughholes 416 andcells 414 provided betweencell walls 417. Thesoft cushions 413 fill thecells 414. Some of thecells 414, such as the two middle cells, may be left without cushions to provide some flexibility in the toe area and enhance comfort thereto. Therigid portion 415 may be made of nylon or other such rigid polymer, while thelower layer 418 andcushions 413 may be formed of a soft polymer such as TPU. An outsole (not shown) is secured to the underside of thelower layer 418 and to a portion of the underside of theshank 320. - Though the
toe bed 310, theshank 320 and theheel 330 are formed respectively as units or parts which snap securely together, their joints may be enhanced. The shank 420 has throughholes 426 in the toe region which line up with those 416 in therigid portion 415. The throughholes 416 in therigid portion 415 may be threaded to receivefasteners 455 which pass through the throughholes 426 to secure thetoe bed 310 and theshank 320 together.Fasteners 453 may be installed through theholes insole cushion 350, theshank 320 and theheel 330.Fasteners 455 may be installed through theholes insole cushion 350, theshank 320 and thetoe bed 310. Thesefasteners - Referring now to
FIG. 5 there is shown an exploded perspective view of the structural components of thehigh heel shoe 300 from below. - The upper reinforced
end 431 a of theshaft 431 fits closely into arecess 521 a in the underside of theshank 320 concentric with the central throughhole 422 a (FIG. 4 ). Therecess 521 a and theend 431 a have complementary shapes and dimensions to permit a close fit. Adhesives may be used to reinforce the connection. - The upper raised
area 425 fits closely much like a puzzle piece into the similarly-shapedcavity 352 on the underside of theinsole cushion 350. - A lower raised
area 522 from the central body of theshank 320 has a plurality offorward lobes 523 which together mimic a gecko's foot. The lower raisedarea 522 extends rearward from the rear edge of the toe portion of theshank 320 and gradually diminishes prior to reaching the heel region of theshank 320, providing rigidity to theshank 320 much like therib 222 in theshank 120 ofFIG. 1 andFIG. 2 . The lower raisedarea 522 is relatively thicker than the upper raised area 422 (FIG. 4 ) and fits snugly much like a puzzle piece into the similarly-shaped cavity 412 (FIG. 4 ) in thetoe bed 310. Thelobes 523 provide increased surface area for great contact between theshank 320 and thetoe bed 310. - Referring now to
FIG. 6 there is shown a perspective view of thehigh heel shoe 300 fully assembled. In this view, components of an upper can be seen, including an insole 660, a counter 680 attached to one or more heel straps 682, and an arch strap 690. - The insole 660 is secured on top of the
insole cushion 350 and covers theholes fasteners 453, 455 (FIG. 4 ). The heel straps 682 may be affixed below the insole 660, such as to theshank 320 or sandwiched between theshank 320 andtoe bed 310. The arch strap 690 spans across theshoe 300 and may be affixed like the heel straps 682. - The counter 680, heel straps 682, arch strap 690 and other parts of the upper may include material (not shown) akin to that of the
insole cushion 350. For example, the counter 680 may include two narrow channels of foam running longitudinally along the sides of theheel 330, holding the tendon of the back of the ankle in gentle compression. This provides structural support to hold the foot in place during walking without attempting to grip at the top of theheel 330, an area which generally gathers blisters from repeated rubbing. - The combination of
toe bed 310, theshank 320 and theheel 330 provide a platform suitable to a limitless variety of aesthetic upper designs. One or more straps running across the top of the foot provide support during walking, especially during the lifting of the foot. The straps may be aligned with cushions to provide padding and compression which serves to hold the foot in place inside the shoe and increases stability during stepping. The straps may be disposed midway between thetoe bed 310 and the ankle. - Referring now to
FIG. 7 there is shown a perspective view of ashank 720 and aheel 730 as alternatives to those 320, 330 of the secondhigh heel shoe 300. To strengthen the junction of theshank 720 andheel 730, a non-circular reinforcingmember 724 formed in theshank 720 extends down into acavity 734 in theheel 730. The reinforcingmember 724 fits snugly into thecavity 734 and provides a non-rotatable coupling. Themember 724 andcavity 734 may both be hexagonal, or may have different but compatible shapes and dimensions. As inFIG. 4 , one of thefasteners 453 extends downward through abore 725 in the reinforcingmember 724 and secures into thecavity 734. Adhesive may also be provided between the reinforcingmember 724 and thecavity 724 for added strength, and also between anupper surface 738 of theheel 730 and a contactinglower surface 728 of theshank 720. - Closing Comments
- Throughout this description, the embodiments and examples shown should be considered as exemplars, rather than limitations on the apparatus and procedures disclosed or claimed. Although many of the examples presented herein involve specific combinations of method acts or system elements, it should be understood that those acts and those elements may be combined in other ways to accomplish the same objectives. With regard to flowcharts, additional and fewer steps may be taken, and the steps as shown may be combined or further refined to achieve the methods described herein. Acts, elements and features discussed only in connection with one embodiment are not intended to be excluded from a similar role in other embodiments.
- As used herein, “plurality” means two or more. As used herein, a “set” of items may include one or more of such items. As used herein, whether in the written description or the claims, the terms “comprising”, “including”, “carrying”, “having”, “containing”, “involving”, and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of”, respectively, are closed or semi-closed transitional phrases with respect to claims. Use of ordinal terms such as “first”, “second”, “third”, etc., in the claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed, but are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term) to distinguish the claim elements. As used herein, “and/or” means that the listed items are alternatives, but the alternatives also include any combination of the listed items.
Claims (20)
1. A high heel shoe assembly comprising:
an upper platform subassembly including a rigid shank and a soft upper layer joined with the shank, the rigid shank being molded of a rigid polymer and angling upward from a wearer's toe area across an arch portion to a heel area and laterally across the wearer's foot, the rigid shank having a varying thickness with an upper raised area spaced from an outer edge thereof, wherein the rigid shank is contoured to match a wearer's foot and the heel area is elevated above the toe area by at least two inches;
a toe bed comprising rigid cells filled with a plurality of soft cushions, the toe bed being secured to an underside of the toe area of the upper platform subassembly using fasteners installed through aligned holes in the soft upper layer, the shank and the toe bed;
a high heel secured to an underside of the heel area of the upper platform subassembly, the high heel tapering downward from a relatively large upper end to a narrow lower end having a greater lateral dimension than a longitudinal dimension; and
flexible uppers secured above the upper platform subassembly for holding the shoe onto a foot of a wearer.
2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the upper raised area of the rigid shank extends from a location near the toe area rearward to a location near the heel area.
3. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the soft upper layer has a lower cavity that closely receives the upper raised area of the rigid shank, and the soft upper layer is co-molded with the rigid shank.
4. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the toe bed has a soft lower layer underneath the rigid cells.
5. The assembly of claim 4 , wherein the soft cushions and soft lower layer are co-molded around the rigid cells of the toe bed and are contiguous through apertures formed in the rigid cells.
6. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the upper raised area defines a plurality of forward projections splayed laterally in different directions.
7. The assembly of claim 6 , further including a central channel extending from a forward end of the upper raised area that provides lateral flexibility to the rigid shank.
8. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the shank has a lower raised area spaced from the outer edge extending from a location near the toe area rearward toward the heel area and gradually diminishing to nothing before reaching the heel area, and the rigid cells of the toe bed define a cavity into which the lower raised area of the rigid shank fits snugly.
9. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the high heel is secured to an underside of the heel end of the shank using a plurality of fasteners, a central one of which engages an upper reinforced end of a shaft that extends down into and is secured within a central through bore in the high heel.
10. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the high heel has a base shape of an oval or lozenged rectangle whose long dimension is aligned with the high heel breast.
11. A high heel shoe assembly comprising:
a rigid shank angling upward from a toe end across an arch portion to a heel end, wherein the heel end is elevated above the toe end by at least two inches, the shank having a central plate-like body defining an outer edge with an upper raised area and a lower raised area both spaced from the outer edge and extending from a location near the toe end rearward toward the heel end;
a soft upper insole cushion joined with the shank and having a cavity that receives the upper raised area;
a toe bed comprising a rigid middle portion defining an upwardly-opening cavity into which the lower raised area of the shank fits and is secured;
a high heel secured to an underside of the heel end of the shank; and
flexible uppers, an outsole secured underneath the toe bed and a portion of the shank, and an insole secured above the shank and soft upper insole cushion for holding the shoe onto a foot of a wearer.
12. The assembly of claim 11 , further including a plurality of soft cushions co-molded with a soft lower layer around the middle portion of the toe bed, the soft cushions filling cells defined in an upper surface of the middle portion.
13. The assembly of claim 12 , wherein only some of the cells of the middle portion are filled with the soft cushions, and some are empty.
14. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the upper raised area defines a plurality of forward projections laterally splayed apart.
15. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the lower raised area defines a plurality of forward projections laterally splayed apart.
16. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein both the upper raised area and the lower raised area define forward projections laterally splayed apart in the shape of are bulbous lobes that resembles a gecko's foot.
17. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the toe bed is secured to the underside of the toe end of the shank using bolts or screws that pass down through aligned through holes in the soft upper insole cushion and shank and into threaded bores opening upward in the middle portion of the toe bed.
18. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the high heel is molded of a rigid polymer and tapers downward from a relatively large upper end to a narrow lower end having a greater lateral dimension than a longitudinal dimension.
19. The assembly of claim 11 , wherein the high heel is secured to an underside of the heel end of the shank using a plurality of fasteners, a central one of which engages an upper reinforced end of a shaft that extends down into and is secured within a central through bore in the high heel.
20. The assembly of claim 19 , wherein the high heel is secured to an underside of the heel end of the shank using a non-circular reinforcing member in the shank that extends down and fits snugly into a similarly-shaped cavity in the high heel, and the central fastener passes through the reinforcing member and into the cavity.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US15/724,931 US20180027925A1 (en) | 2015-08-14 | 2017-10-04 | High heel shoe |
Applications Claiming Priority (10)
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US201562205575P | 2015-08-14 | 2015-08-14 | |
US201562205581P | 2015-08-14 | 2015-08-14 | |
US201562205578P | 2015-08-14 | 2015-08-14 | |
US201562205587P | 2015-08-14 | 2015-08-14 | |
US201562205584P | 2015-08-14 | 2015-08-14 | |
US201562205459P | 2015-08-14 | 2015-08-14 | |
US15/236,478 US9510647B1 (en) | 2015-08-14 | 2016-08-15 | High heel shoe |
PCT/US2016/047106 WO2017031090A1 (en) | 2015-08-14 | 2016-08-15 | High heel shoe |
US15/369,588 US9781973B2 (en) | 2015-08-14 | 2016-12-05 | High heel shoe |
US15/724,931 US20180027925A1 (en) | 2015-08-14 | 2017-10-04 | High heel shoe |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US15/369,588 Continuation US9781973B2 (en) | 2015-08-14 | 2016-12-05 | High heel shoe |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20180027925A1 true US20180027925A1 (en) | 2018-02-01 |
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Family Applications (2)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US15/369,588 Expired - Fee Related US9781973B2 (en) | 2015-08-14 | 2016-12-05 | High heel shoe |
US15/724,931 Abandoned US20180027925A1 (en) | 2015-08-14 | 2017-10-04 | High heel shoe |
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US15/369,588 Expired - Fee Related US9781973B2 (en) | 2015-08-14 | 2016-12-05 | High heel shoe |
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US11297900B2 (en) * | 2017-04-14 | 2022-04-12 | Angela M. Yangas | Heel tip cushion with anchoring mechanism inside heel stem |
US11957209B2 (en) * | 2017-04-14 | 2024-04-16 | El A. Panda | Heel tip cushion with anchoring mechanism inside heel stem |
US11523659B2 (en) * | 2017-04-14 | 2022-12-13 | Angela M. Yangas | Heel tip cushion with anchoring mechanism inside heel stem |
USD862058S1 (en) * | 2017-12-07 | 2019-10-08 | Cinthia Karely Duarte | Transformable shoe sole |
US20200100567A1 (en) * | 2018-10-02 | 2020-04-02 | Liza Nagatani | Integrated Memory Foam High Heel Shoe |
US20200113277A1 (en) * | 2018-10-12 | 2020-04-16 | Jazmine Kionna, LLC | Systems and methods directed to footwear with adaptations for improved usability |
GB2581380A (en) * | 2019-02-15 | 2020-08-19 | Glass Slipper D O O | High heel shoe sole construction |
NL2023135B1 (en) * | 2019-05-15 | 2020-12-01 | Anbo Amersfoort B V | Shoe sole assembly, shoe, and method of manufacturing a shoe |
USD927152S1 (en) * | 2019-07-09 | 2021-08-10 | Bendicion, LLC | Shoe |
USD926450S1 (en) * | 2019-07-09 | 2021-08-03 | Bendicion, LLC | Shoe |
USD926449S1 (en) * | 2019-07-09 | 2021-08-03 | Bendicion, LLC | Shoe |
USD927153S1 (en) * | 2019-07-09 | 2021-08-10 | Bendicion, LLC | Shoe |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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US20170079379A1 (en) | 2017-03-23 |
US9781973B2 (en) | 2017-10-10 |
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