US2825154A

US2825154A - Adjustable resilient heel construction

Info

Publication number: US2825154A
Application number: US635736A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl A Windle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1956-03-16
Filing date: 1957-01-23
Publication date: 1958-03-04
Anticipated expiration: 1975-03-04
Also published as: US2836907A; FR1227004A; US2807100A

Description

March 4, 1958 c. A. WINDLE ADJUSTABLE RESILIENT HEEL CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 23, 1957 Carl A. Wind/e INVENTOR.

8y M M Fig.2

ADJUSTABLE RESILIENT HEEL CONSTRUCTION Carl A. Windle, Hollywood, Calif. Application January 23, 1957, Serial No. 635,736

3 Claims. (C. 36-'-38) This invention comprises a'novel and useful adjustable resilient heel construction, and is more particularly concerned with a shock absorbing heel particularly related to womens spike or high heeled shoes, and constitutes an improvement over the subject matter disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 572,153, filed March 16, 1956, for Resilient Heel Construction.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a shock absorbing high heel for womens shoes including a spring urged reciprocating piston supported in a longitudinal bore disposed in alignment with the longitudinal axis of a womans high heel whereby placement of weight on the heel results in compression of a shock absorbing spring, and compression of air within the bore by the reciprocating piston therein resulting in the absorption of shock to the bone structure of a person wearing the shoes incorporating such heels.

Another object of the invention in conformance with that set forth above is to provide a shock absorbing high heel construction for womens shoes which is readily and economically manufactured, easily installed, may be readily adjusted as to its spring tension, and highly efficient and satisfactory for the purpose intended.

A still further object of the invention in conformity with the above mentioned objects is to provide a cushioning construction for high heels in which a piston element constituting a cushioning member of the device shall have an improved guided engagement with the heel structure.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide a construction in accordance with the above set forth objects which shall be extremely simple in construction and shall reduce the number of parts to a minimum.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, parts being broken away and omitted, and showing the novel shock absorbing high heel construction;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a high heel in accordance with the invention, the same being shown removed from a shoe; and

Figures 3 and 4 are horizontal sectional detail views taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section lines 3-3 and 4-4 respectively of Figure l.

Indicated generally at is a womans shoe, said shoe incorporating an arch support portion 12 of steel, or any other suitable material, said arch support portion extending beneath the heel of the shoe at 14 and incorporating therein suitable apertured portions for receiving fasteners 16 of any suitable character which are utilized'to secure a shock absorbing shoe heel indicated generally at 18, said heel being constructed of a cast metal, wood, or any other suitable material.

United States Patent The shock absorbing heel includes a bodymember 20 which is downwardly and convergently tapering to provide a vertically elongated body in which is disposed a vertically elongated bore 22 extending substantially axially of the body member 20 and opening at the top and bottom sides thereof. body member of the heel, in the outwardly flaring or swelling portion of the same is provided with a downwardly projecting recess 24 to which the upper end of the bore 22 opens. As will be seen, this recess provides a clearance space below the heel portion 14 for a purpose to be subsequently apparent.

Adjacent its periphery, the upper portion of the heel body 20 is provided with a plurality of internally threaded bores 26 for the reception of the'previously mentioned fasteners 16 whereby the heel may be detachably secured to the heel portion of a shoe.

The upper portion of the bore 22 is internally threaded,

When the heel is removed from the shoe, access may be had to the closure plug 30 for removing the same or for adjusting the plug downwardly into the bore for a purpose to be subsequently set forth. At its lower end, the plug is provided with a cylindrical depending extension or projection 34 which is diametrically reduced for a purpose to be subsequently apparent.

Intermediate its ends, and opening upon the breast surface of the heel is a longitudinally extending slot 36. Slidably received within the open lower end of the bore 22 is a piston indicated generally by the numeral 38 and which as shown may conveniently consist of a sleeve 40 which is open at its upper end and is closed at its bottom end as by an integral closure wall 42. Secured to the bottom surface of the sleeve as by a fastener 44 is a heel cap 46. As so far described it will thus be apparent that the piston member is received in the bore for vertical sliding movement therein, and projects below the lower open end of the bore with its heel cap. A compression spring 48 is received within the bore, the upper end of this spring encircling and being guided by the depending extension 34 of the closure plug 30, while the lower end of the spring is received within the sleeve portion 50 of the piston. The spring serves to yieldingly urge the piston downwardly of the bore and to yieldingly project the lower end of the piston and the heel cap 46 carried thereby from the bottom surface of the heel.

It will be further seen that there is provided a laterally projecting screw 50 which is carried by the sleeve portion 40 of the piston and is slidably and guidingly received in the slot 36, thereby preventing rotation of the piston therein, and limiting vertical reciprocation of the piston.

At its lower end, the bore 22 is provided with a laterally projecting recess 52 which opens the breast side of the heel, and which recess constitutes also an enlargement of the bore towards the back side of the heel as shown in Figure l. The lower end of the piston portion 42 and the heel cap 46 are laterally enlarged to have a snug sliding and guiding fit in this recess, thereby preventing rotation of the heel cap.

It will thus be apparent that adjustment of the closure plug will vary thecompression of the spring and the cushioning action of the heel. However, adjustment of the spring tension will he usually effected as follows. The soft leather flap or lining 54 in the heel of the shoe can be lifted exposing an aperture 56 by means of which a screw driver can be engaged in the kerf of the plug 36. The spring tension can thus be easily adjusted without removing the heel from the shoe.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous The upper surface of the i modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact constructionand operation shownand described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed. t, i i t What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A shock absorbing heel comprising'a tapering, downwardly convergent elongated body member having a longitudinal axially disposed bore therein opening at both the top and bottom of said body member, a piston snugly and slidably received in the lower end of said bore, a heel tap secured to the piston and projecting beneath the body member, a compression springin said bore, having its lower end engaging the piston and yieldingly biasing the latter downwardly of the body member, the lower end of the body member having a lateral recess opening into the bore, said piston and heel taphaving each a lateral projection slidably and guidably received in said recess, said body member having a recess in its top surface into which said bore opens, a closure plug for said bore extending into said last mentioned recess and constituting an abutment for the upper end of said spring.

2. A shock absorbing heel comprising a tapering, downwardly convergent elongated body member having a longitudinal axially disposed bore therein opening at both the top and bottom of said body member, a piston snugly and slidably received in the lower end of said bore, a heel tap secured to the piston and projecting be- 4 neath the body member, a compression spring in said bore, having its lower end engaging the piston and yieldingly biasing the latter downwardly of the body member, said body member havinga longitudinal slot in the side thereof communicating with said bore, a laterally projecting screw on said piston slidably and guidably re ccived in said slot,the lower end of the body member having a lateral recess opening into the bore, said piston and heel tap having each a lateral projection slidably and guidably received in said recess, said body member having a recess in its top surface into which said bore opens, a closure plug for said bore extending into said last mentioned recess and constituting an abutment for the upper end of said spring.

3. The combination of claim 2 including means opening into said recess from the interior of a shoe for obtaining access to said closure plug for adjusting the compression of said spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,218,391 Gay Mar. 6, 1917 1,5l4,154 Hajduczky Nov. 4, 1924 2,159,943 Palley May 23, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS 245,812 Italy Dec. 12, 1925 483,269 Great Britain Apr. 14, 1938 502,917 Great Britain Mar. 28, 1939