WO2008050058A2

WO2008050058A2 - Interchangeable heel system, heel production method and associated shoe

Info

Publication number: WO2008050058A2
Application number: PCT/FR2007/052230
Authority: WO
Inventors: Chantal Lespour
Original assignee: Chantal Lespour
Priority date: 2006-10-24
Filing date: 2007-10-23
Publication date: 2008-05-02
Also published as: WO2008050058A3; FR2907318B1; FR2907318A1

Abstract

The invention relates principally to an interchangeable heel system which is essentially characterized in that it comprises a shoe heel (3) mounted removably on a male base (2) connected to the shoe and engaging with a mating female part (13) made on the upper face of the heel (3) forming means for the lengthwise sliding assembly (2, 13) of the heel (3) onto the base (2), and means (7, 9, 10, 12) for locking this heel (3) to this base (2) comprising a flexible part (7) accessible to the user, which is formed upon said base (2, 2a) and which allows the base (2, 2a) to be locked to and unlocked from the heel (3). The invention also relates to a method of producing the heel, to a method of producing the base, and to a shoe comprising such a system.

Description

"Interchangeable heel system, heel manufacturing method and associated shoe"

The invention mainly relates to an interchangeable heel system.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such a heel and a shoe provided with such a system.

In heel shoes conventionally used, the heel is rigidly attached to the shoe.

Thus, when it would be significant to use for reasons of comfort or opportunity a heel more or less thick, it is necessary to change the shoe completely which may require carrying on several pairs of shoes.

Also, when for aesthetic reasons it would be advantageous to change heel color, it is also necessary to completely change the shoe.

And when a heel breaks, it is once again necessary to replace the entire shoe or to repair this heel which weakens the shoe.

There are to overcome these problems interchangeable heel systems.

But these systems use complex means that do not ensure a sufficiently secure attachment of the heel on the shoe.

The invention aims to overcome all the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing an interchangeable heel system providing maximum security of heel hold on the shoe while employing simple, inexpensive parts and easy to manufacture.

For this purpose, the system of the invention comprises a shoe heel removably mounted on a tenon base secured to the shoe and cooperating with a conjugate mortise made on the upper face of the heel forming assembly with longitudinal sliding of the heel on the base, and locking means of this heel on this base having a flexible portion accessible to the user, which is formed on said base and which allows the locking and unlocking of the base of the heel. Advantageously, the base is in integral contact with one of the soles of the shoe disposed under the outer sole which has been cut beforehand for this purpose.

Preferably, the base is fixed by means of at least one screw on the sole of the shoe receiving the shank.

For safety reasons, it can be provided that the base is advantageously fixed on the shank.

According to a variant of the invention, the base is made of a plate attached to the shoe and on which is formed the tenon which is cross-section dovetail.

In this case, it can be provided that the tenon extends longitudinally from the front face of the plate of the base so that the sliding of the heel is effected from front to rear and up to a certain distance the rear part of this plate for providing, on the heel, a rear wall forming abutment of the sliding of the heel on this base. Preferably, the heel locking means on the base comprise a flexible blade which is formed on the tenon of the base and which is delimited by two cutouts made in the post and by a cavity also made in the tenon above of this blade if we consider the shoe in a normal direction of use, said cavity allowing this blade to be constrained during assembly and disassembly of the heel on the base.

According to an alternative embodiment, the cavity extends above the flexible blade and opens on the plate of the base. Advantageously, the flexible blade has a pin for locking said system by releasing this blade and engagement of this pin in a conjugate housing made on the heel when the heel is in use position on the base.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing the system described above wherein the heel is made by plastic injection comprising at least one step of simultaneously forming the mortise and receiving housing of the pin by a suitable mold.

The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing the system described above in which the base is made at least in part by thermoplastic injection in a suitable mold. In this case, advantageously, the base is made in a single thermoplastic injection operation in a suitable mold.

Finally, the invention relates to a shoe comprising an interchangeable heel system previously described.

The invention will be better understood and other objects, advantages and characteristics thereof will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows and which is made with reference to the appended figures which represent two nonlimiting examples of embodiment of the system and of the method of the invention and in which: Figure 1 is a bottom perspective view of the system of the invention when the heel is not mounted on the base; Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the system of the invention when the heel is mounted on the base; Figure 3 is an exploded view of the system of the invention mounted on a shoe of which only some soles are shown; Figure 4 is a bottom view of the lining sole integrating the shank according to the arrow IV of Figure 3; Figure 5 is the same view as that of Figure 4 in which the shank is of modified form; Figure 6 is a perspective view from above of a shoe provided with the system of the invention shown with a thin heel not mounted on the base; Figure 7 is a perspective view from above of a shoe provided with the system of the invention shown with a thin end shown mounted on one base; Figure 8 is a perspective view from above of a shoe provided with the system of the invention shown with a thick heel not mounted on the base; Figure 9 shows in cross section the two fixed and movable parts open a mold in which is formed the heel of the system of the invention by thermoplastic injection; - Figure 10 shows the heel obtained after ejection of the mold of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a perspective view along the arrow XI of Figure 9; Figure 12 is a perspective view along arrow XII of Figure 9; Figure 13 is a perspective view of the bottom of the base according to a variant of the invention; Figure 14 is a perspective view from above of the base of Figure 13; - Figure 15 shows in cross section the two fixed and movable parts open a mold in which is formed the base of Figures 13 and 14 by thermoplastic injection; Figure 16 is a perspective view of the fixed part of the mold according to the arrow XVI of Figure 15; Figure 17 is a cross-sectional view of the mold of Figure 15 shown in closed position with the drawers in place during the injection phase; Figure 18 is a perspective view along arrow XVIII of Figure 17 on which is shown the fixed part of the mold and the base formed by the thermoplastic injection; and Figure 19 is a cross sectional view of the mold of Figure 15 in the open position showing the ejection of the drawers and the ejection of the base after the thermoplastic injection.

With reference to FIG. 1, the system of the invention 1 comprises a base 2 with integral tenon 2 and a heel 3 which is also one-piece. The base 2 comprises a plate 4 intended to be attached to the shoe by means which will be detailed later, this plate 4 having a U-shaped peripheral cutout reproducing the cutting of a sole taken at the heel. This base 2 also comprises a dovetailed cross section pin 5 extending on the plate 4 from the front face 6a of this plate 4 to a certain distance from its curved rear portion 6b making it possible to provide, on the heel 3, a rear wall 3a sufficiently thick to form stop sliding of the heel 3 on this base 2.

On this tenon dovetail 5 is formed a blade 7 whose upper face 7b is flush with the upper face 5d of the dovetail tenon and which is defined by two parallel longitudinal cuts 8a, 8b made in this case. tenon 5 and a cavity 9 also made in this pin 5 under said blade 7 when referring to Figure 1 and above this blade 7 if we consider the shoe in a normal direction of use. Furthermore, this blade 7 has a portion accessible to the user 7a protruding from the base 2 under the shoe 11 on the side of the sole 19 of origin.

This accessible portion 7a has a U-shaped peripheral cutout.

Moreover, this blade 7 comprises a pin 10 directed in the opposite direction to the boot 11 and intended to snap into a housing 12 of conjugate shape made in the heel 3 so as to lock the mounting of the heel 3 on the base 2 according to the arrow Fl.

This housing 12 is made in the bottom of a mortise 13 with a dovetail cross section made on the upper face of the heel 3 when the heel is considered in its normal direction of use and of shape conjugate to the pin 5 of the base 2.

The base is made of any suitable plastic material, for example based on Acrylobutadiene Styrene (ABS) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

The material constituting the base is therefore a rigid material.

Or the blade 7 must have a certain flexibility to allow the locking and unlocking of the base 2 on the heel 3.

To obtain this flexibility in a rigid material, the blade 7 is designed thin.

For this purpose, the thickness of the blade is about 2 millimeters.

This low blade thickness 7 thus makes this blade 7 flexible. With reference to FIGS. 2 to 5, the base 2 is fixed on the boot 11, of which only the first mounting 15, the welt 16, the lining 17 on which is mounted a shank 18, and the sole 19 are shown.

The shank 18 is a metal piece that defines the arch of the shoe.

As shown in FIG. 3, the base 2 is mounted on the boot by means of two screws 21a, 21b through two corresponding holes 22a, 22b made in the lining 17 on either side of the shank 18 to the base 2.

Furthermore, the sole 19 has been cut before mounting the base 2 so that the base 2 is directly secured to the lining 17 and the plate 4 of the base 2 forms longitudinal extension of the sole 19 at the heel as more visible in Figure 1. Furthermore, for the sake of aesthetics, it can be provided for example that the plate 4 of the base 2 is the same thickness and the same color as the sole 19.

This fastening of the base 2 directly on the parts located above the soleplate 19 ensures a better security of attachment of the base 2 on the shoe compared to the securing security of the base 2 on the sole.

And with reference to FIG. 5, the securing security of the base 2 can be further improved by providing that this base 2 is directly fixed by screwing to the shank 18 whose rear portion 23 disposed at the level of the heel extends transversely to the longitudinal direction of the shoe so that the two orifices 22a, 22b receiving the two associated screws 21a, 21b also pass through the shank 18.

As illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 8, the interchangeable heel system 1 of the invention operates as follows.

When it is for example desirable to wear fine heels, a thin heel 3 can be easily mounted on the base 2 by sliding from the front to the rear of the heel 3 according to the arrow Fl of Figure 6 on this base 2 and simultaneous maintenance of the user of the accessible portion 7a of the blade 7 downwardly along the arrow F2 so that the not visible pin 10 of the blade 7 does not interfere with the positioning of the heel 3 on 1 'base 2. Then, when the heel 3 abuts on the base 2, the user releases the blade 7 which rises according to the arrow F3 of Figure 7 and whose pin 10 not visible is snapped into the conjugate housing 12 also no visible on the heel 2 so as to oppose the loss of the heel backwards.

Although not shown, to remove the end heel 2, one proceeds in the same way by separating the heel 3 of the base 2 by sliding along the arrow F4 of Figure 7 and while simultaneously maintaining the accessible portion 7a of the blade 7 downwards according to the arrow F2 so that the not visible pin 10 of the blade 7 does not interfere with the separation of the heel 3.

And if one wishes to replace the end heel with a thicker heel, as shown in Figure 8, simply mount a thicker heel 3 'equipped with the system of the invention on the base 2 by sliding according to the arrow Fl as explained above for the introduction of the end heel 2. The base 2 of the system of the invention 1 can be made by machining.

An important advantage of the invention lies in that the most complex part of the system and in particular that which comprises the flexible blade 7 is formed in the base 2 so that the heel 3 comprises only the mortise 13 and the housing 12 of the pin 10 and can be manufactured simply and cheaply for example by plastic injection.

For this purpose, with reference to FIGS. 9 to 12, the mold 25 used for the plastic injection of the heel 3 'comprises a fixed part 26 and a movable part 27.

The fixed portion 26 has a molding portion 28 of the heel 3 'from which is extracted this heel 3' by bringing the movable portion of the mold 27 of the fixed portion 26 ^e and depression of a core 29 to tail section of dovetail for making the dovetail mortise 13 of the heel 3 '. Then the moving part of the mold 27 moves back along the arrow F5, the heel 3 'being held on this moving part 27 by both the core 29 but also by a projecting retaining portion 30 on which the lower portion 31 of the heel 3 rests. '.

Then, ejection bars 32a, 32b slide along the arrow F4 by expelling the heel 3 'of the system of the invention thus formed of the movable portion 27 of the mold.

Finally, the housing 12 of the pin 10 of the blade 7 is made by subsequent machining when it can not be manufactured during the injection operation.

Referring to Figures 13 and 14, the one-piece base 2a also comprises a plate 4a having a U-shaped peripheral cutout and a dovetailed cross-section pin 5a.

In this variant, the tenon 5a extends longitudinally from the front face 6a 'of the plate 4a to the U-shaped peripheral edge 40.

Furthermore, the flat upper face 41 of the tenon 5a extends, on the side of the U-shaped peripheral edge 40 of the plate 4a, by an inclined junction surface 42 towards the edge 40 which extends longitudinally from the upper face 41 of the tenon 5a to said edge 41 of the plate 4a which has the same inclination as this joining surface 42.

The one-piece heel not shown for this variant is substantially identical to the heel of Figure 1 except with respect to its rear wall and the mortise which will be of conjugate shape with the pin 5a and the inclined junction surface 42 of the pin 5a of the base 2a. The rear wall of the heel will be sufficiently thick to form a stop of the sliding of this heel 3 on this base 2.

In addition, as for the base of Figures 1 and 2, the base 2a of this variant comprises a flexible blade 42a, whose upper face 42b is flush with the upper face 41 of the pin 5a and which is defined by two parallel longitudinal cuts 8a ', 8b' made in the post 5a and a cavity 43.

This flexible blade 42a has a thickness of 2 millimeters. The blade 42 has a portion accessible to the user 42a protruding from the base 2 under the boot 11 on the side of the sole 19 not shown in Figures 13 and 14.

In this variant, the cavity 43 extends above the blade 42 in the direction of use of the base 2a and opens on the plate 4a of this base 2a so that since the plate 4a, the blade 42 is visible over its entire length.

Depending on the properties of the material used, it is possible to provide a triangular reinforcement rib 44 whose apex 45 is disposed at the junction between the blade 7a and the lateral edge of the bottom of the cavity 44a, and the adjacent sides 46, 47 are in contact with respectively the lateral edge of the bottom of the cavity 44a and the blade 7a. The base described above will be mounted on the shoe as explained above for the base of Figure 1.

The base of Figures 13 and 14 may be made by thermoplastic injection in a single operation as shown in Figures 15 to 19.

The injection mold 46 has a movable portion 47 provided with a recess 49 which is the negative of all the lower surfaces of the base 2a when this base 2a is considered in its normal direction of use, except in this case. which concerns the dovetail shape of the post 5a which is made by two sliding drawers 53, one of which is shown in FIG. 7.

The mold 46 also has a fixed portion 48 whose lateral face 50 on the side of the movable portion 47 of the mold 46 is substantially flat and comprises a core 51 projecting towards the movable portion 47 of the mold 46 which is the negative of the cavity 43 of the base 2a, two longitudinal cuts 8a ', 8b' and the accessible portion 42a of the blade 42.

This core makes it possible to make during the injection the blade 42, its accessible portion 42a, the cavity 43 and the two longitudinal cuts 8a ', 8b'.

The joint plane 52 of the base 2a is the interface plane of the two mold parts 47 and 48.

With reference to FIG. 17, during the injection phase the mold is closed and the drawers 53 have been introduced into the mold according to the arrow 54.

These drawers 53 each have a side which is the negative of the dovetail shape of the post 5a of the base 2a.

The injection is then performed. When the injection phase is complete, the base 2a is formed as visible in FIG. 18.

The mold 46 is then opened, the drawers 53 are ejected and the base 2a is itself ejected by means of unrepresented ejection bars. It is understood that the configuration of the cavity 43 which extends from the flexible blade 42 to the plate 4a of the base 2a allows this base not to have undercut and thus avoids either the use of a finger during the injection, ie the subsequent machining of the cavity 43.

The manufacture of the base 2a of this variant by thermoplastic injection is fast and inexpensive.

The base and the heel can be made of any suitable plastic material, for example based on Acrylobutadiene Styrene (ABS) or polyethylene terephthalate (PET).

It is also possible to add an electronic chip overmolded in the base or in the heel. To do this, the chip is previously positioned before closing the mold and the injection operation. This electronic chip comprises information storage means, means for reading this information by an appropriate external device and / or means allowing the data entry or data modifications, the latter means cooperating with an external device.

Such a chip can be used as a lock for example. It may also include authentication information of the system of the invention. It can also be used in a traceability framework.

It is understood from the foregoing description that the system of the invention is particularly clever in several aspects.

First, this system is particularly simple because of the number and shape of the elements used.

Indeed, the heel and the base are monobloc and they each integrate the locking and unlocking elements of the system.

Moreover, this system is particularly secure by fixing the base 2 directly to parts disposed above the sole that has been precut.

Moreover, the dovetail shape of the tenon of the base also makes it possible to secure the attachment of the heel on the base due to the cooperation of the inclined planes between them.

Finally, because of the structural simplicity of the parts, their design is also simple since these parts, base and heel, can be made in a single thermoplastic injection operation.

Claims

1. interchangeable heel system, characterized in that it comprises a shoe heel (3) removably mounted on a base (2.2a) pin (5.5a) secured to the shoe and cooperating with a mortise conjugate

(13) made on the upper face of the heel (3) forming assembly means (5, 5a, 13) with longitudinal sliding of the heel (3) on the base (2,2a), and locking means (7). , 9, 10, 12) of this heel (3) on this base

(2,2a) having a flexible portion (7,42a) accessible to the user, which is formed on said base (2,2a) and which allows the locking and unlocking of the base (2,2a) on the heel (3).

2. interchangeable heel system according to claim 1, characterized in that the base (2,2a) is in contact with one of the soles (17) of the shoe disposed under the outer sole (19) which has been previously cut for this purpose.

3. interchangeable heel system according to claim 2, characterized in that the base (2,2a) is fixed by means of at least one screw (21a, 21b) on the sole of the shoe (17) receiving the shank (18).

4. interchangeable heel system according to claim 3, characterized in that the base (2,2a) is fixed on the shank (18).

5. interchangeable heel system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base (2,2a) is made of a plate (4,4a) attached to the shoe and on which is made the tenon ( 5.5a) which is dovetail cross section.

6. System according to claim 5, characterized in that the pin (5,5a) extends longitudinally from the front face (6a, 6a ') of the plate (4,4a) of the base (2,2a) so that the sliding of the heel (3) takes place from the front to the rear and to a certain distance from the rear part (6b) of this plate (4) making it possible to provide, on the heel (3), a rear wall (3a) forming a stop sliding of the heel (3) on this base (2,2a).

7. System according to any one of claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the locking means of the heel (3) on the base (2,2a) comprise a flexible blade (7,42a) which is formed on the tenon (5,5a) of the base (2,2a) and which is delimited by two cuts 8a, 8b made in the pin 5 and a cavity 9 also made in the pin 5 above this blade 7 if the the shoe is considered in a normal direction of use, said cavity allowing this blade (7) to be constrained during assembly and disassembly of the heel (3) on the base (2).

8. System according to claim 7, characterized in that the cavity (9) extends above the flexible blade (42a) and opens on the plate (4a) of the base (2a).

9. System according to claim 8, characterized in that the flexible blade (7,42a) comprises a pin (10) for locking said system by releasing the blade (7,42a) and engagement of this pin (10) in a conjugate housing (12) is on the heel (3) when the heel (3) is in use position on the base (2,2a).

10. A method of manufacturing the system according to claim 9, characterized in that the heel is made by plastic injection comprising at least one step of simultaneous formation of the mortise (13) and receiving housing (12) of the pin (10). in a suitable mold.

11. A method of manufacturing the system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base (2,2a) is made at least partly by thermoplastic injection in a suitable mold.

12. The method of manufacturing the system according to claims 8 and 9, characterized in that the base (2a) is made in a single thermoplastic injection operation in a suitable mold.

13. Shoe comprising an interchangeable heel system according to any one of claims 1 to 9.