US3199232A

US3199232A - Convertible shoe

Info

Publication number: US3199232A
Application number: US405028A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lorren R Pike
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1964-10-20
Filing date: 1964-10-20
Publication date: 1965-08-10
Anticipated expiration: 1982-08-10

Description

Aug. 10, 1965 L. R. P1KE CONVERTIBLE SHOE Filed 001;. 20, 1964 INVENTOR LoRRf/v n. P/KE United States Patent O 3,199,232 CNVERTHBLE SEDE Lorren R. Pike, 5624 El Arado Way, Sacramento, Calif. Filed Get. 26, 1961i, Ser. No. 495,028 4 Claims. {CL 36-2.5)

This invention relates to shoes and, more particularly, to a shoe which is convertible between a heelless type shoe and a shoe having an upper heel portion.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a comfortable and convenient shoe which can be readily converted for use with and without an upper heel portion, whereby such can be readily worn as a sandal or as a dress shoe for various occasions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a convertible shoe of the type described having ,an upper heel portion which can be readily detached or used, without discomfort to the wearer, and without detracting from the appearance or usefulness of the shoe.

Still an aditional object of the present invention is to provide a convertible shoe of the aforementioned type which is simple in construction, can be manufactured at relatively low cost, and which is highly attractive in appcarance and desirability.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following, specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FGURE l is a side elevational view of a convertible shoe made in accordance with one form of the present invention, in actual use;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of certain parts of the shoe shown in FGURE l, with the upper heel portion removed;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the upper heel portion forming a part of the shoe shown in FIGURE l;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal cross sectional view of a slightly modiiied form of construction; and

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of the internal frame of the upper shoe portion shown in FIGURE 4, showing details thereof.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGURES 1 to 3 thereof, a convertible shoe 143 made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include a soie member i2 having a rear lsutrface portion 14 for receiving the heel of a foot, and having a depending structural heel 16.

The rear surface portion 14 of the sole, defines a rearwardly opening socket 2i? in the form of an aperture lying in a plane intermediate the upper surface portion and the structural heel i6, for slidably receiving a forwardly projecting tab 22 of a heel receivinU upper 24 of any suitable construction and design. This tab 22 is integral with a frame portion 26 which, when the heel upper is applied to the shoe, snugly engages with the sides of the rear surface portion 114 of the sole to provide a finished appearance. A tie string 23, strap, or the like, is carried by the heel upper 2d for engagement with the foot of the wearer, thus serving to maintain the heel upper in assembly with the shoe and providing support for the wearer.

It will thus be recognized that upon removal of the heel upper 2e, the shoe 1t) can be comfortably worn as a sandal.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 and 5 of the drawing, a slightly modified form of construction 3l) is shown wherein the sole 32 has an upper portion 34 that defines a forvuardly and upwardly opening slot 3o which receives a depending and rearwardly extending tab 38 of the frame il of a removable heel upper 4Z. This frame ill also includes an upwardly projecting stifener member i4 and side frame iti for adding body to the upper 42 to sustain the foot of the wearer without any additional reinforcement or strap. The heel upper 42 also includes a heel pad 28 that overlies the opening Sie, and frame portion di), to avoid discomfort to the wearer. 2l/hen the heel upper is removed from the shoe, simply by forwardly disengaging it from the sole portions, the heel pad may be applied directly to the upper surface of the portion 34 to provide similar protection against discomfort to the wearer because of the aperture 36.

It will now be appreciated that an extremely simple, highly styled, and convenient shoe has been provided which can be readily converted by the user for various occasions.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thu-s described my invention, I claim as new and. desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A convertible shoe comprising, in combination, a sole having a rear surface portion for receiving the heel of ya foot and having a depending structural heel, a shoe upper having lower marginal portions corresponding to the outline of an upper extremity of said structural heel, a mounting plate carried by said shoe upper above said lower marginal portions thereof, and said rear portions of said sole having a terminal section defining socket means detachably receiving said mounting plate of said upper with said lower marginal portions of said shoe unper enveloping said upper extremity `of said structural heel to masi: said mounting plate and socket means from View externally of said shoe.

2. A convertible shoe as set forth in claim 1, wherein said socket means comprises a rearwardly opening aperture in the terminal section of said sole, said aperture lying in a plane intermediate said surface portion and Said structural :heel and opening rearwardly outwardly, said mounting plate comprising a forwardly protruding tab carried by said upper slidably received within said aperture.

3. A convertible shoe as set forth in claim i, wherein said socket means comprises a forwardly and upwardly opening aperture defined by said rear surface portion of said sole, and said mounting plate comprising a rearwardly projecting tab carried by said upper slidably receivable within said aperture.

A convertible shoe as set forth in claim 3, wherein said upper further comprises a heel pad overlying said aperture and said tab.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,207,306 7/40 Taaler 36-2-5 2,276,894 3/42 Vardy c 36-585 3,081,561 3/63 Taieher 36-2.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 1,626,809 2/53 France.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. FRANK J. COHEN, Examiner.

Claims

1. A CONVERTIBLE SHOE COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A SOLE HAVING A REAR SURFACE PORTION FOR RECEIVING THE HEEL OF A FOOT AND HAVING A DEPENDING STRUCTURAL HEEL, A SHOE UPPER HAVING LOWER MARGINAL PORTIONS CORRESPONDING TO THE OUTLINE OF AN UPPER EXTREMITY OF SAID STRUCTURAL HEEL, A MOUNTING PLATE CARRIED BY SAID SHOE UPPER ABOVE SAID LOWER MARGINAL PORTIONS THEREOF, AND SAID REAR PORTIONS OF SAID SOLE HAVING A TERMINAL SECTION DEFINING SOCKET