US3266177A

US3266177A - Adjustable heel for shoes

Info

Publication number: US3266177A
Application number: US470973A
Authority: US
Inventors: Milford R Holden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1965-07-12
Filing date: 1965-07-12
Publication date: 1966-08-16
Anticipated expiration: 1983-08-16

Description

F l G. 2

INVENTOR MILFoRD R. HOLDEN ATTORNEY s E.. I W 5 Aug 16, 1956 M. R. HOLDEN ADJUSTABLE HEEL FOR SHOES Filed July l2, 1965 United States Patent O Maine Filed July 12, 1965, Ser. No. 470,973 3 Claims. (Cl. 36-36) This invention relates to shoe heels, and more particularly to an adjustable shoe heel arrangement for womens shoes whereby the height of the heel may be varied to adap-t the shoes for different occasions and purposes.

Heretofore, it has been suggested to provide adjustable shoe heel arrangements wherein variation in the height of the heel is accomplished by providing pairs of heel members of different heights, said pairs of heels being adapted for interchangeable mounting on the heel po-rtions of the shoes. It has also been suggested to pro-Vide adjustable .shoe heel devices wherein the height of the heel is continuously variable within a limited range. While the above-noted prior art arrangements no doubt function for their intended purposes, they are open to certain objections which are inherent in their respective designs.

Adjustable shoe heel arrange-ments employing inter* changeable heels require a minimum of two sets of heels, one set of desired height attached to the heel portions of the shoes, the other set of a different height being stored until an occasion arises for its use. Removal and storage of the spare sets of heels in a remote location creates a problem, for the reason thateither one or both of the heels of a particular set may-become lost or misplaced; additionally, the manipulative steps involved in connection with t-he removal of one set and the mounting of another is not only time-consuming, but requires considerable dexterity on the part of the individual confronted with the task of eifecting the interchange. Arrangements of the type wherein the height of the heel i-s continuously variable usually incorporate screw-threaded actuator means supported in ra recess formed in the heel portion of the shoe, said actuator means being operatively connected to an elongated member, whereby upon rotation of the actuator, the elongated member, which carries a heel lift at one end thereof, is reciprocated wit-h respect to the heel portion of the shoe. Devices of this type are relatively expensive because of the number of moving parts, and because careful adjustment is required in order to insure uniform projection of the heel lift carrying sections of the movable extensions, so that each heel is of the exact desired height.

After con-siderable research and experimentation, I have found that, as a practical matter, the range of variation in the height of the heels of a particular pair of womens shoes, is relatively narrow because of design restriction imposed by the designer of s-hoes of a specific category. -In this connection, it will be appreciated that -current popular styles of dress shoes are provided with so-called higheheelsj that is to say, shoe heels of the order of 4 in height, and that walking shoes are usually provi-ded Iwith heels approximately 2" high. Since dress shoes and walking shoes are of distinct types structurally and s-tylewise, it is not feasible to employ adjustable heel devices designed for general application and use with shoes of both of the above-noted types.

As a result of experimentation and study in connection with numerous shoe designs involving specically different styles and structural features, I have found that the most satisfactory height adjustment for a variety of styles of shoes is approximately 1/2 inch. In other words, the adjustment of a shoe heel 2 high would be from 2 to 3,256,l77 Patented August 16, 1966 21/2, and a 3 heel could be changed from 3" to 31/2, Iwhich provides sufficient change in height to satisfy the desire of the wearer with respect to appearance and comfort.

In accordance with the present invention, the improved adjustable shoe heel comprises, essentially, a cylindrical shaped housing mounted within the upper heel portion of a shoe, an elongated, extendable heel member slidably mounted in the housing, spring means interconnecting the housing and the heel member, and means cooperatively associated with the housing and the heel member constructed and arranged, whereby the heel member may be moved axially of the housing against the tension of the spring means to a desired selected position, at the election of the user.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustable shoe heel arrangement for womens shoes 'whereby the height of the heels may be varied.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustable shoe heel arrangement adapted for 'use with a variety of different shoe styles.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustable shoe heel device constructed and arranged whereby a change in the height of a shoe heel is easily and readily effected.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustable shoe heel device which is strong and rugged in construction, consisting of but few parts not liable to get out of order even after long and continued use.

With these and other objects in view, w-hich may be incident to my improvements, the invention consists in the parts and combinations to be hereinafter set forth and claimed, with the understanding that the several necessary elements, comprising my invention, may be varied in construction, proportions and arrangement, Without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In order to make my invention more clearly understood, I have shown in the accompanying drawings means for carrying the same into practical effect, without limiting the improvements in their useful applications to the particular construction which, for the purpose of eX planation, have been made the subject of illustration.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a Womans shoe equipped with an adjustable shoe heel device of the presen-t invention;

FIGURE 2. is an enlarged sectional View of the adjustable shoe heel device of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a perspective, expanded view of the adjustable shoe heel device of `FIGURE 2, showing the relationship of the components thereof.

`Referring to the drawings, there is shown a womans dress shoe 1 havin-g an upper heel portion 2 formed with a central bore 3 adapted to receive an adjustable heel mechanism 4 therein, said mechanism comprising a cylindrical shaped housing 5 formed from metal, and provided with a concentric passage 6 to receive the upper portion 7 of an elongated, metal heel member 8 adapted for axial movement in said passage. The housing 5 is further provided with a pair of similar, o ppositely disposed bayonet type slots 9, one of the slots being shown vin FIGURE 3, adapted to receive the end portions of a pin 10, used to support the elongated heel member in a selected position, as will be described more fully hereinafter.

A coil spring 112, having its

end convolutions

13 and 14 terminating in linear portions 13 and 14', respectively, is adapted for insertion in the housing `5, the linear porf) D tion 13 seating in an opening 15 `formed in the wall of the housing, and linear portion 14 resting in a slot 16 defined by bifurcations 17 formed on the upper end of the elongated heel member 8. The heel member is further formed with a passage 18 for the reception of the pin used to support the heel member in desired position, and with a peripheral flange 19 adapted to support a decorative collar member 20 in seated position thereon, whereby to cover the exposed ends of the pin, as will be described hereinafter.

Referring to FIGURE 2, it will be observed that the 'bottom of the heel lmember 8 is tapped as at 21 to receive a threaded stud 22 having a heel lift 23 secured thereto, whereby a damaged or worn lift may be conveniently replaced. It will be further observed that the head portion 24 of the heel member, which is relatively thick, is centrally tapped as at 25 to receive a screw 26 threadable therein, whereby to secure the elongated heel member to the shoe. The head of the screw is counter-sunk in the upper heel portion 2 of the shoe, as shown, FIG- URE 2, and covered by t-he sole and inner liner of the shoe.

In assembling the above-described components of the Aadjustable heel device, and securing the same in operative position within t-he central bore of the upper heel sect-ion 2 of a shoe, the spring 12 is positioned on the elongated heel member 8, with the linea-r portion 14 of the spring seated in the slot 16 of the heel member (FIGURE 3), the heel member and associated spring then being moived upwardly of t-he passage 6 so as to seat the linear portion 13 in the opening 1S in the wall of the housing 5. The heel member is then rotated approximately 180 to bring the passage 11S thereof into alignment with cor-respondin-g opposite portions of the bayonet slots 9, and the pin 10 inserted in one of the slot portions and pushed through the passage to bring the ends of the pin flush with the exterior surface o-f the housing. Thereafter, the collar 20 is moved downwardly of the housing to seated position on the ange or shoulder member 19, thus covering the exposed ends of the pin 10. The heel lift 23 may then be attached by turning the stud 22 down into the threaded opening 21 in the bottom of the heel member.

In use, assuming that the dress shoe illustrated in FIG- U'RE 1 is of the type which would normally be equipped with 3 heels, and the wearer is satised with the height of the heel, the end portions of the pin 10 will be seated in the upper portions 9a (FIGURE 3) of the bayonet slots, and the heel will be in the solid line position of FIGURE 1; if, on the other hand, the wearer nds that the heels should be elevated to provide desired comfort, or for other reasons, the end portions of the pin are seated in the *lower portions 9b of the bayonet slots. Since the vertical distance be'tween the slots is approximately 1/2", the heel height is increased from 3 to 31/2 when the end portions of the pine are seated in the lower portions 9b of the slots, t-he heel then being in the dotted line position of FIGURE l. Movement of the heel to a selected desired elevation is accomplished by grasping the shoulder member 19 and turning it about 2 in the direction of the arrow, FIGURE 3, to bring the end portions of the pin into alignment with vertical portions 9c of the slots. If the height of the heel is to be increased,

the heel member is pulled downwardly against the tension of the spring so as to bring the end portions of the pin into alignment with the lower slot portions 9b, and while held in ithis position, the heel member is permitted to rotate in the opposite direction, under the influence of the biasing action of the spring, to bring the end portions of the pin into seated position within the lower slot portions. If the height of the heel i-s to be decreased, the procedure is reversed, that is to say, after it has been turned to bring the end portions of the pin in registe-r with the vertical portions 9c, it is permitted to move upwardly under the tension of the spring, and rotated by the biasing action of the spring to move the end portions of the pin into seated position within the upper slot portions 9a.

While I have shown and desc-ribed the preferred ernbodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not conne myself to the precise details of construction herein set forth by way of illustration, as it is apparent that many changes and variations may be made therein, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the `spirit of the invention or exceeding the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable heel for a womans shoe, comprising a heel body portion adapted to be attached to a shoe, said heel body portion having the configuration of a conventional shoe heel corresponding to a particular style designation and formed with a central bore, heel adjusting means seated within said central bore and secured to the heel body portion, the heel adjusting means comprising a cylindrical shaped housing haivling a concentric opening therein, and a pair of similar, oppositely disposed bayonet type slots formed in the wal-l thereof, an elongated heel member positioned within the concentric opening and adapted for axial movement thereof, said elongated heel member having a transverse passage adapted to `receive a pin member, spring means interconnecting the heel member and the housing, a pin member seated in said passage and having its end portions projecting into t-he bayonet type slots of the housings, whereby the heel member may be moved axially of the hou-sing against the tension of the spring to a desired selected position, at the election of the user.

i2. An adjustable heel for a womens shoe, in accordance with claim 1, wherein a heel lift is detachably secured to the exposed end of the elongated heel.

i3. An adjustable shoe heel in accordance with claim 1, wherein movement of the elongated heel member to a desired selected position with respect to the housing generates a counter-torque on the spring, 'whereby to u-rge the ends of the pin into seated position within the slots formed in the housing.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS `1,948,967 2/1934 Jassen 36-36 2,912,773 l11/1959 Boldt 36-42 2,934,840 5/1960 Mistarz 36-34 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

`FRANK I. COHEN, Examiner.

Claims

1. AN ADJUSTABLE HEEL FOR A WOMAN''S SHOE, COMPRISING A HEEL BODY PORTION ADAPTED TO BE ATTACHED TO A SHOE, SAID HEEL BODY PORTION HAVING THE CONFIGURATION OF A CONVENTIONAL SHOE HEEL CORRESPONDING TO A PARTICULAR STYLE DESIGNATION AND FORMED WITH A CENTRAL BORE, HEEL ADJUSTING MEANS SEATED WITHIN SAID CENTRAL BORE AND SECURED TO THE HEEL BODY PORTION, THE HEEL ADJUSTING MEANS COMPRISING A CYLINDRICAL SHAPED HOUSING HAVING A CONCENTRIC OPENING THEREIN, AND A PAIR OF SIMILAR, OPPOSITELY DISPOSED BAYONET TYPE SLOTS FORMED IN THE WALL THEREOF, AN ELONGATED HEEL MEMBER POSITIONED WITHIN THE CONCENTRIC OPENING AND ADAPTED FOR AXIAL MOVEMENT THEREOF, SAID ELONGATED HEEL MEMBER HAVING A TRANSVERSE PASSAGE ADAPTED TO RECEIVE A PIN MEMBER, SPRING MEANS INTERCONNECTING THE HEEL MEMBER AND THE HOUSING, A PIN MEMBER SEATED IN SAID PASSAGE AND HAVING ITS END PORTIONS PROJECTING INTO THE BAYONET TYPE SLOTS OF THE HOUSINGS, WHEREBY THE HEEL MEMBER MAY BE MOUNTED AXIALLY OF THE HOUSING AGAINST THE TENSION OF THE SPRING TO A DESIRED SELECTED POSITION AT THE ELECTION OF THE USER.