Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B21/00—Heels; Top-pieces or top-lifts
  • A43B21/24—Heels; Top-pieces or top-lifts characterised by the constructive form
  • A43B21/26—Resilient heels

Definitions

• This invention relates to the footwear sector and in particular relates to a heel for footwear provided with a cushioning device, in particular for women's footwear.
• the invention also relates to footwear fitted with a cushioned heel.
• the invention relates to a heel which helps to improve the comfort of the wearer of the footwear of which the heel is a part.
• the cushioning device according to the invention and the cushioned heel for women's footwear according to the invention make it possible to rest the foot while walking.
• Footwear especially elegant women's footwear, normally has a heel which may be up to 12-20 cm tall, is rigidly fixed to the posterior part of the sole of the footwear and has a base supported on the ground of extremely small size.
• the considerable height and the small size of the supporting base make the wearing of footwear with a high heel extremely uncomfortable, especially when worn for a long time. It is extremely uncomfortable to walk for long distances and/or stand for a long time in such footwear.
• the first extremity of the pin is attached to a resilient member positioned in a recess defined within the heel, while at the opposite extremity there is provided a cap designed to be supported on the ground having a larger cross-section than the pin, coinciding with the external cross-section of the body of the heel.
• a packing which is intended to be compressed during use and prevent dirt from entering within the hole in the heel in which the pin slides.
• the sliding travel of the pin and therefore the relative displacement between the cap and the body of the heel is limited by the packing and its compressibility.
• a sleeve covering member positioned outside the heel body between the cap and the body of the heel to guide sliding of the pin with respect to the heel and prevent dirt from entering the hole.
• the cushioning effect which can be obtained with a heel according to US 3,043,024 is predetermined, that is it cannot be adjusted by the user.
• the cushioned heel according to US 3,043,024 comprises a plurality of parts, which appreciably complicates its production and assembly, appreciably increasing the cost of footwear fitted with the heel according to US 3,043,024, thus restricting its widespread use.
• One object of this invention is to provide a cushioned heel that provides great comfort when the footwear with which it is provided is worn.
• Another object of the invention is to provide a cushioned heel and footwear fitted with a cushioned heel which is simple to produce and is at the same time very comfortable when worn.
• the heel for women's footwear according to this application comprises four main parts:
• the cap and guide are inserted within the housing containing the elastomer at the top where the body weight exerts a pressure during walking through the heel of the foot causing the cap to enter into the housing; the relative movement of the guide within the housing and consequent compression of the polyurethane elastomer, which being a material having a memory deforms and then returns to its initial shape when the foot is supported on the ball thereof, assist walking and at the same rest the foot thereby allowing women to wear footwear with very high heels, including stilettos, without losing comfort, and eliminating the annoying noise typical of heels on the pavement.
• the heel according to the invention has no metal housing, the cushioning device being housed in a cavity defined within the body of the heel.
• Figure 1 is a diagrammatical cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a cushioning device according to the invention in a first configuration of use
• Figures la and lb are diagrammatical views of two separate parts of the device in Figure 1.
• Figure 2 is an interrupted diagrammatical view in partial cross-section of footwear provided with the device according to the invention in its first configuration of use
• Figure 3 is a diagrammatical view of a second embodiment of the cushioning device according to the invention.
• Figure 4 is a diagrammatical view of the device in Figure 3 in a first configuration of use of a heel for footwear
• Figures 5 and 6 are views similar to that in Figure 4 but relating to a second and a third configuration of use of the cushioning device respectively
• Figures 7-9 are interrupted perspective views of footwear in which the heel is provided with the device according to the invention in the configurations in Figures 4-6 respectively.
• the new heel for women's footwear comprises an upper elastomer of polyurethane (D), a lower cap (Al), with a metal guide (A2) acting upon the said elastomer (D). It also comprises a metal housing (B) for the said cap (Al), guide (A2) and elastomer (D) and also a distributing and reinforcing plate (AC) for the said guide (A2).
• the assembly comprising the cap (Al), the metal guide (A2) and the elastomer element (D) are assembled and held together through screw (V).
• Cap (Al) with guide (A2) is inserted into housing (B), which contains elastomer (D) at the top.
• metal housing (B) is not provided, that is the cushioning device is directly inserted into a suitably shaped cavity in the heel.
• FIGS. 3-9 show a variant embodiment of cushioning device 1 according to the invention which is intended to be at least partially inserted into a body of a heel 10 of footwear 100.
• This device is particularly suitable for insertion into a heel 10 of women's footwear to increase comfort during use by reducing associated inconveniences, as more particularly explained below.
• Cushioning device 1 is particularly suitable for use with heels of 5 considerable height, for example approximately
• cushioning device 1 may be advantageously used with heels of any desired height, thereby improving comfort during use as will be clarified below.
• Cushioning device 1 is particularly suitable for use with heels having small 10 supporting cross-sections, the heels known as stiletto heels.
• cushioning device 1 is also suitable for use with high heels having a wide supporting base, or even with heels which are not very high, improving the comfort of wearing the footwear in which the device is fitted in every case.
• Heel 10 comprises a first base portion 15 designed to receive and support the posterior portion of sole 10' of footwear 100 and a second base portion 16 intended to face the ground when in use.
• the average distance between first base portion 15 and second base portion 16 considered along the longitudinal axis Y of the heel, that is the average 20 height H of heel 10, is preferably between 6 and 20 cm.
• heel 10 is provided with a cavity 14 for slidably housing cushioning device 1, as will be more particularly described below.
• Cavity 14 extends along the longitudinal axis Y of heel 10, that is over the height H of heel 10.
• Cushioning device 1 comprises a thrust member 30 made of metal or metal alloy, and a cushioning member 4 attached to thrust member 30.
• Thrust member 30 is preferably made of steel.
• Thrust member 30 comprises a rod 2 provided at its first extremity 21 with a plate 3 to which cushioning member 4 is attached, and is intended to face first base portion 15 when in use, or sole 10' of footwear 100.
• Plate 3 is preferably constructed as a single piece with rod 2, but in other embodiments not shown plate 3 and rod 2 may be constructed in two separate parts and then attached together in any suitable way, for example by screwing plate 3 onto rod 2.
• Cushioning member 4 is adhesively bonded to plate 3 through adhesives which are suitable for the nature of the material of cushioning member 4.
• Plate 3 may also be provided with locking members acting with the adhesive to immobilise cushioning member 4 on plate 3.
• cushioning member 4 is a block of polymer material, preferably polyurethane elastomer material which can deform between an extended configuration and configurations which are contracted through the action of a force, as will be more particularly described below.
• Plate 3 and cushioning member 4 have a larger cross-section in the transverse direction X than the cross-section of rod 2, the base cross- section of cushioning member 4 being virtually the same as the dimensions of plate 3.
• Thrust member 30 also comprises a supporting member 5 associated with rod 2 at second extremity 22 of rod 2 which is intended to face the ground when in use.
• the second extremity 22 of the rod is provided with a head 23 having a larger cross-section than rod 2.
• Supporting member 5 comprises a cylindrical sleeve 6 provided with a first extremity portion 6a which when in use is intended to be supported on the ground and an opposite second extremity portion 6b which when in use is intended to be inserted within cavity 14.
• Sleeve 6 internally defines a threaded hole 7 made in such a way as to receive rod 2 and head portion 23 thereof.
• Head 23 preferably has an external thread so that it can be screwed into threaded hole 7 and be stable within the same in any desired position.
• Sleeve 6 is also provided with a restriction 8 in second extremity portion 6b defining a hole 9 of reduced cross-section in comparison with threaded hole 7 so as to allow rod 2 to pass but not head 23. Restriction 8 therefore acts as an end-of-travel stop for the movement of rod 2 in supporting member 5, as more particularly explained below.
• Cushioning device 1 also comprises a grub screw 11 or other externally threaded immobilising member screwed into threaded hole 7 to act together with restriction 8 and stably immobilise head 23 of rod 2 in threaded hole 7. Head 23 is immobilised between grub screw 11 and restriction 8.
• restriction 8 and grub screw 11 act as immobilising members for head 23 and thus for thrust member 30 with respect to supporting member 5.
• cushioning device 1 The overall height of cushioning device 1 and the cushioning travel of the same are consequently adjusted in this way, as more particularly explained below.
• Grub screw 11 therefore acts as an adjustment device for cushioning device 1, making it possible to adjust its overall height and the cushioning obtained.
• a packing of similar thickness may be inserted between head 23 of rod 2 and restriction 8 so that head 23 is located between the packing and grub screw 11 or other adjustment device, thus varying the overall height of cushioning device 1 and immobilising translational movement of rod 2 and supporting member 5 in relation to each other in any desired mutual position.
• supporting member 5 has a height of between approximately 10-25 mm, although devices having supporting members 5 of different dimensions may be produced.
• rod 2 and supporting member 5 are formed of a single piece.
• a cap 12 or other covering element preferably made of plastics material, intended to improve the stability of heel 10 on the ground, may also be removably inserted into threaded hole 7 of supporting member 5 from first extremity portion 6a.
• cap 12 has dimensions in plan which are larger than those of sleeve 6 in such a way as to project laterally with respect to the latter, the dimensions of cap 12 being substantially the same as the dimensions of the second base portion 16 of heel 10. In this way, second base portion 16 may be received and supported on cap 12 in the compression configuration W of cushioning device 1, as will be more particularly explained below.
• Cap 12 makes it possible to prevent dirt from entering threaded hole 7, also protecting grub screw 11.
• cap 12 By removing cap 12 it is also possible to gain access to threaded hole 7 from the exterior, for example varying the extent to which grub screw 11 is screwed in, even after cushioning device 1 has already been inserted into heel 10.
• Cavity 14 formed in the body of heel 10 is, as has already been mentioned, shaped in such a way as to slidably receive cushioning device 1.
• Cavity 14 comprises a first cavity portion 18 intended to house cushioning element 4, the first portion of cavity 18 being of slightly larger size than cushioning element 4 in the extended, that is resting, configuration. In this way an intermediate space 25 for the passage of air during compression/expansion of cushioning element 4 following a displacement of thrust member 30 can be provided between cushioning element 4 and at least one wall of the first portion of cavity 18.
• the first portion of cavity 18 also comprises a base surface 17 opposite the first base portion 15 of heel 10 intended to receive and support plate 3 in resting configuration Z of cushioning device 1.
• Cavity 14 also comprises a second cavity portion 19 for slidably housing rod 2, and a third cavity portion 20 having a cross-section larger than that of 10 second cavity portion 19 and shaped in such a way as to slidably house supporting member 5.
• Supporting member 5 has a larger cross-section than rod 2 and also second cavity portion 19 so that it cannot be inserted into second cavity portion 19. Between second cavity portion 19 and third cavity portion 20 there is a i s connecting portion 24 intended to act as an end stop for supporting member 5 in the course of the movement of thrust member 30, as more particularly explained below.
• Assembled cushioning device 1 can be inserted into a mould for forming a
• cushioning device 1 is inserted within the heel right at the moulding stage.
• grub screw 11 is inserted and screwed into threaded hole 7 after moulding.
• the cushioning device may be inserted into a suitable cavity formed in heel 10 after the latter has been formed.
• an access cavity to cushioning element 4 is provided in first base portion 15 of heel 10.
• cushioning element 4 may be accessed through a cavity provided in the side wall of the heel, preferably in the part facing footwear 100, in such a way that it is not visible during use.
• cushioning device 1 can move within cavity 14 of heel 10 to cushion the walking of a wearer of footwear 10 in which cushioning device 1 is fitted.
• cushioning device 1 can be moved between a resting configuration Z illustrated in Figures 4 and 7, a compression configuration W illustrated in Figures 6 and 9 and a loaded configuration Q illustrated in Figures 5 and 8, as more particularly explained below.
• cushioning element 4 In resting configuration Z, which cushioning device 1 adopts when heel 10 of footwear 100 or, better, supporting member 5 is not resting on the ground, cushioning element 4 is in the resting configuration, or that of maximum expansion within first cavity portion 18, almost completely occupying it. Cushioning element 4 abuts against first base portion 15 of heel 10 and intermediate space 25 between cushioning element 4 and first cavity portion 18 has minimum dimensions, plate 3 bears against base surface 17 of first cavity portion 18.
• Base surface 17 of first cavity portion 18 acts as an end stop for rod 2 in 5 resting configuration Z of cushioning device 1.
• Z rod 2 extends between second cavity portion 19 and third cavity portion 20, supporting member 5 is partly inserted into third cavity portion 20, and projects beyond the latter by a distance dl .
• distance d l is approximately 11-15 mm, but there is 10 provision for other values according to the adjustment of cushioning device 1.
• first extremity portion 6a of supporting member 5 projects beyond second base portion 16 of heel 10 by a distance d l and second extremity portion 6b is a distance Dl frorrrconnecting portion 24.
• i s Distance Dl is preferably the same as or shorter than distance dl .
• plate 3 rises in relation to base surface 17 of first cavity portion 18, thrusting cushioning element 4 against first base portion 15. This movement then causes compression of cushioning element 4 within first cavity portion 18, and this compression cushions walking.
• first extremity portion 6a is almost in line with second base portion 16 of heel 10.
• distance Dl is shorter than dl, so in compression configuration W supporting member 5 projects from third cavity portion 20 over a second distance d of desired extent.
• This distance may for example be approximately 2 mm, but other values may be specified.
• Cushioning element 4 in particular its dimensions and material, are selected on the basis of the characteristics of the footwear in which cushioning device 1 is intended to be fitted, or on the basis of the overall height of heel 10. Cushioning element 4 may also be selected on the basis of the size of the heel and/or the users' weight.
• the cushioning effect which can be obtained with a device according to the invention is therefore varied in this way.
• the cushioning travel which can be obtained with the device according to the invention can be varied by varying the extent to which grub screw 11 is screwed in, and therefore distance Dl .
• cushioning element 4 expands again in first cavity portion 18, pushing plate 3 against base surface 17 and therefore returning cushioning device 1 to resting configuration Z.
• cushioning ⁇ device 1 provides a very fast response to deformations, and therefore the cushioning effect is provided again for each subsequent step made with footwear 100.
• Cushioning device 1 is also configured in such a way as to adopt an intermediate configuration between compression configuration W and resting configuration Z when the person wearing the footwear is standing. In this position cushioning device 1 adopts a loaded configuration Q illustrated in Figures 5 and 8.
• cushioning device 1 can move in cavity 14 either closer to first base portion 15 or vice versa, connecting portion 24 and base surface 17 acting as the corresponding stop members for the abovementioned movements.
• cushioning device 1 in loaded configuration Q makes it possible to further increase comfort when wearing footwear 100 fitted with cushioning device 1.
• the configuration of the cushioning device according to the invention makes it possible to obtain a relatively long deformation travel for cushioning device 1 and therefore great comfort when the footwear is worn.
• heel 10 does not structurally support the user's weight, and therefore the wall of heel 10 corresponding to third cavity portion 20 may also be very thin.
• the device according to the invention can also be constructed in heels having bases of extremely small size.
• the conventional shape of a heel is effectively maintained, the cushioning device being almost completely housed within the heel itself, and no covering elements to protect the cushioning device are required.

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Cited By (3)

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• 2009
  • 2009-12-01 IT ITPD2009A000362A patent/IT1397251B1/it active
• 2010
  • 2010-12-01 EP EP10818107A patent/EP2506736A2/en not_active Withdrawn
  • 2010-12-01 WO PCT/IB2010/055532 patent/WO2011067726A2/en active Application Filing

Patent Citations (1)

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