WO2019087135A1

WO2019087135A1 - Shoe with interchangeable heels

Info

Publication number: WO2019087135A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/058604
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lia CORREZZOLA
Original assignee: Tecnogroup S.R.L.
Priority date: 2017-11-03
Filing date: 2018-11-02
Publication date: 2019-05-09

Abstract

The invention concerns a shoe (2a, 2b) with interchangeable heels comprising: (a) a shoe upper (26) and/or tapes; (b) a sole (10); (c) a heel structure comprising: (c1) a first heel (4a), and (c2) a second heel (4b) which has a smaller height with respect to the first heel (4a), wherein the first heel (4a) is fixed with one end by means of a first hinge (6), reversibly inclinable towards the sole (10) in direction of the tips of the feet, in the heel area (8) of the shoe (2a, 2b) on the sole (10) such that with said first hinge (6) the first heel (4a) and the sole (10) can form in the open position between each other a "V". The second heel (4b) is fixed with one end by means of a second hinge (14), reversibly inclinable towards the first heel (4a), on the other end, the tip, of the first heel, such that with the second hinge (14) the first (4a) and the second heel (4b) form in the open position between each other a "V". The second heel (4b) is situated between said sole (10) and said first heel (4a), wherein said first heel (4a) comprises an aperture (20) adapted to receive the second heel (4b) at least partially when the first heel (4a) is supported on said sole (10), preferably in a recess (24) that for this purpose is foreseen in said sole (10). The invention further concerns a relative process for interchanging heels (4a, 4b) of a shoe (2a, 2b).

Description

TITLE: SHOE WITH INTERCHANGEABLE HEELS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a shoe with interchangeable heels, that is, a shoe that includes both a high heel and a low heel which can be interchanged to transform a high heel shoe into a low heel shoe and vice versa.

STATE OF THE ART

A shoe with exchangeable heels is known in the market. A high-heeled shoe can be transformed into a low-heeled shoe and vice versa. It is necessary to detach the high heel and mount the low heel to make the "low heel" version, and then it is necessary to detach the low heel and mount the high heel to go back to the "high heel" version. Users must therefore carry the currently unused heel with them in their bag. A shoe with interchangeable heels is disclosed in document GB 2 483 900 A.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is to propose a shoe wherein a high heel and a low heel are interchangeable and which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks, and which is precisely avoiding having to carry the heel not currently used in a bag or the like in order to be able to change heels anywhere and at any time.

The purpose is achieved by a shoe with interchangeable heels comprising:

(a) a shoe upper and/or tapes;

(b) a sole;

(c) a heel structure comprising:

(cl) a first heel, and

(c2) a second heel which has a smaller height with respect to the first heel, wherein the first heel is fixed with one end by means of a first hinge, reversibly inclinable towards the sole in direction of the tips of the feet, in the heel area of the shoe on the sole such that with said first hinge the first heel and the sole can form in the open position between each other a "V";

wherein the second heel is fixed with one end by means of a second hinge, reversibly inclinable towards the first heel, on the other end, the tip, of the first heel, such that with the second hinge the first and the second heel form in the open position between each other a

"V",

wherein the second heel is situated between said sole and said first heel,

wherein said first heel comprises an aperture adapted to receive the second heel at least partially when the first heel is supported on said sole, preferably in a recess that for this purpose is foreseen in said sole.

According to the invention, both heels are an integral part of the shoe and are not removed with the heel change. In this way, it is not necessary to detach the currently unused heel and store it in a bag or the like.

The low heel in the open version of the shoe, that is, in the "high heel" version, forms a triangle with the low heel and a part of the sole and the heels form a "V" between them. This structure allows the forces given by the weight of the person to be unloaded in a relatively small single point, the tip of the high heel.

The two-heel system according to the invention is applicable to any type of shoes, shoes with a more or less open shoe upper, as well as sandals or the like in which the shoe upper is replaced by a plurality of tapes. The shoe can be a court shoe, a boot, an Oxford shoe etc.

The second heel, i.e. the low heel, advantageously comprises an actual heel part and a sole part which integrates the sole of the shoe in the closed position of the shoe.

Preferably, the hinges are selected between torsion springs and a pair of pins connected by a hinge. Each pin is recessed in one of the two elements to be connected. The person skilled in the art will easily find hinge variants allowing an aperture and closing of the two elements connected forming a "V". Connections comprising a spring, or more generally an elastic element, which support and facilitate the heel change, are advantageous.

Torsion springs will be illustrated in the description of a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention. The two spring rods are each inserted in one of the two elements to be connected by means of the hinge, while the central part of a preloaded spiral spring gives the hinge an elasticity that realizes the aperture of the hinge.

Advantageously, means are provided for fixing the first and / or the second heel in the extracted or retracted position wherein said means are preferably selected among snap-in systems and/or magnet pairs.

Preferably, the sole comprises a recess for receiving the high heel at least partially in the closed version of the shoe, i.e. in the "low heel" version. A possible fixing means as above can be a snap-in means provided in the recess for engaging the high heel and possibly also a disc, preferably a semi-circle, rotatable or slidable, which can be inserted over at least the tip of the high heel to fix it in its position.

Other fixing means may be a pair of magnets wherein a magnet is located in the element to be fixed (for example the heel) and the other in the place where this element is to be fixed (for example the recess in the sole or simply the sole).

If the hinges are springs or other elastic elements, the open position is held (also) by the springs which push the two elements connected by the hinge to open. Advantageously, the sole further comprises a profile, for example a step, on which the low heel (the second heel) may be supported. The profile acts as a stop in the aperture of the two heels. At the contact points between the low heel and the profile, one or more magnets may advantageously be provided to further ensure the position of the low heel and to prevent the accidental closure of the heel. Obviously, other snap-in fixing means which use snap-in closures known in the market also in other technical fields may be hypothesized.

Pairs of magnets can be added to each intended fixing means for additional safety. Suitable magnets are, for example, neodymium magnets.

An alternative to fix the closed version (with "low heel") features side release buttons on the sole protruding beyond the high heel resting on the sole to fix the closed position that can be opened by pressing the buttons. A button system could replace the mechanical stop under the sole with the rotatable or slidable disc.

Advantageously, the first hinge is a double hinge comprising two hinge elements located on the sides of the first heel which enclose said aperture. They could therefore be two distinct springs which make the bending of the first heel from and towards the sole. For stability reasons, advantageously, in the heel area the sole comprises a frame, preferably made of metal, which houses (and hides) part of the first hinge, in particular the rods for the springs and the central part, the spiral.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the central part of the sole which is in the bending area of the foot is elastic. This measure facilitates the adaptation of the sole between the "flat" position of the foot (low heel) and the position of the foot on tiptoe ("high heel").

In another preferred variant of the invention, the shoe comprises a shoe upper and a flexible insert is located between the tip of the shoe upper and the remaining part of the shoe upper. This insert supports the adaptation described in the previous paragraph. The insert could be made, for example, of fabric or mesh.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a process for interchanging heels of a shoe comprising the following steps:

(i) providing a shoe according to the invention comprising a first heel and a second heel with a height inferior to that of the first heel;

(ii) if the shoe is in the high heel version wherein the first heel and the second low heel form with the rear part of the sole a triangle:

(ii-1) untightening the fixation between the second heel and the sole;

(ii-2) bending of the first heel towards the sole and fixing it in the sole receiving the second heel at least partially in an aperture in the first heel and clamping it contemporarily between sole and the first heel;

(iii) if the shoe is in the low heel version as obtained according to step (ii-2);

(iii-1) untightening of the fixation of the first heel with the sole;

(iii-2) bending the first heel towards the heel portion of the sole and let exit the second heel from the aperture and opening it in the form of a "V" with respect to the first heel and fixing it on the sole to obtain the initial position of step (ii).

The fixations mentioned above advantageously correspond to the fixations which can be made with the fixing means illustrated above with reference to the shoe according to the invention. The bendings made in the above process are advantageously made with the hinges illustrated with reference to the shoe according to the invention. The technology to open and close the heel structure, that is to interchange the low heel with the high one and vice versa, is based on the principle that the heel structure is basically composed of two parts: the high heel and the low heel, the latter also acting as a push in the "open heel" position and inserting into the high heel when closing. The low heel, inserting itself into the aperture of the high heel, brings into view the low heel that replaces the high heel.

The sole is preferably shaped to partially receive the heel in the closed position and has a system, for example mechanical, for maintaining it in a closed position. By releasing this latter system, in the case of spring hinges, the preloaded springs open the "tulip-shaped heel" which automatically goes into the open position. The user can act on this system without removing the shoes and using just one hand (both to close and to open), and without having to put his/her hands in the potentially "dirty" area of the shoe.

The features described for one aspect of the invention may be transferred mutatis mutandis to any other aspect of the invention.

In summary, it can be seen that the invention achieves the predetermined objects, offering a shoe in which it is possible to interchange high heel and low heel without having to detach the heel that is not currently in use and having to keep it elsewhere.

Said objects and advantages will be better highlighted during the description of a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention given, by way of example and not of limitation. Variants of the invention are the object of the dependent claims. The description of the preferred exemplary embodiment of the shoe and of the process to interchange different heels according to the invention is given by way of example and not of limitation with reference to the attached drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT EXAMPLE

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates in a simplified manner the "high heel" version and the

"low heel" version of an embodiment of the shoe with interchangeable heels according to the invention in side view.

Fig. 2 shows a side view the "high heel" version of Fig. 1 with details of the heel and the front part of the shoe. Fig. 3 shows a side view of the "low heel" version of Fig. 1 with details of the heel and the front part of the shoe.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view and a rear view of the "high heel" version of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 shows in a rear view the "low heel" version of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 shows in a perspective view the mechanism of the interchangeable heels inside the shoe.

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates in a simplified manner the "high heel" version and the "low heel" version of an embodiment of the shoe with interchangeable heels according to the invention in side view. On the left it is possible to see the "high heel" version 2a with the respective high heel 4a, while on the right it is possible to see the "low heel" version 2b with the respective low heel 4b. The same shoe, in the two versions 2a and 2b, can be worn with a high heel 4a or with a low heel 4b which are interchangeable between them.

Figure 2 shows a side view of the "high heel" version of Figure 1 with details of the heel and the front part of the shoe. The high heel includes the structure of the same high heel 4a as the low heel 4b which serves as a support for the high heel 4a. The high heel 4a is connected by a first hinge 6 to the rear part 8 (where it supports the heel of the foot) of the sole 10. The tip 12 of the high heel 4a is connected with a second hinge 14 to the low heel 4b which comprises a sole extension 16 and the actual heel 18. The hinges 6, 14 are torsion springs. The heel 4b is supported by the sole 10 of the shoe 2a. The high heel 4a and the sole part 16 of the low heel 4b form a "V" structure. The high heel 4a is provided with an aperture 20 adapted to receive the heel 18 in the "low heel" version of the shoe. The upper part of the sole 16 of the low heel 4b is stopped and held in position by a profile, a step 22, made on the sole of the shoe 10. The step 22 may contain a magnet, as well as the part of the low heel which is supported by the step 22 to further secure the position of the low heel 4b against the step. The sole 10 comprises a recess 24 adapted to receive the high heel 4a when, in the "low heel" version of the shoe, it is bent towards/into the sole 10. To compensate for the fact that the shoe upper 26 in low-heeled shoes is more extended than a shoe upper of a high-heeled shoe, the shoe is provided with a fabric insert 28 between the tip 30 of the shoe upper 26 and the remaining part of the shoe upper. This insert 28 is elastic. Still for the same purpose, the sole 10 comprises an elasticized part 11. To transform the "high heel" shoe into the "low heel" version, the sole part 16 of the low heel 4b is detached from the step 22 with a simple push of the hand and the structure 4b with the actual heel 18 is inserted in the aperture 20 of the high heel 4a, bending it around the second hinge 14. Subsequently or simultaneously, the high heel 4a is bent about the first hinge 6 towards the sole 10 to house the high heel 4a in the recess 24, following the dashed line 13. The tip 12 of the high heel 4a will be fixed on the sole 10 by a semicircle-shaped disc 19 rotatable in the direction of the arrows 21 shown in Figure 6 which covers the tip of the high heel 4a by rotating after the insertion into the recess 24.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the "low heel" version 2b of Figure 1 with details of the heel and of the front part of the shoe. The high heel 4a is resting on the sole 10 and forms part of it, while the low heel 4b projects with the actual heel 18 from the aperture 20 of the high heel 4a and rests on the ground 32. The fabric insert 28 between the tip of the shoe upper 30 and the remaining part of the shoe upper 26 is enlarged with respect to the more relaxed state in the "high heel" version of the shoe 2a.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view and a rear view of the "high heel" version 2a of Figure 2. Inside the high heel 4a, the aperture 20 can be seen to receive the low heel (not shown) in the closed state of the shoe.

Fig. 5 shows a rear view of the "low heel" version 2b of Figure 3. The "low heel" structure 4b consisting of a low heel 18 and the sole extension 16 fills the aperture 20 between the walls of the high heel 4a. Differently with respect to the other figures, Figure 5 shows an alternative fixation system for fixing the high heel on the sole: a snap-in system (release buttons) 34 stops the heels in their position.

To transform the "low heel" version 2b back into the "high heel" version 4a, the snap-in system 34 is pressed by hand, or the "rotatable semi-circle" connection 19 is untightened as per Figure 6, the high heel 4a is raised about the first hinge 6 and the low heel 4b is pushed out of the aperture 20 about the second hinge 14 against the stop 22.

Fig. 6 shows in a perspective view the mechanism of the interchangeable heels inside the shoe. The sole 10 is made transparent to show the high heel 4a and the low heel 4b. In the "low heel" version, the heel 4b is located in the aperture 20 of the high heel 4a, while the latter is located in the recess 24 of the sole 10. During realization, further embodiment modifications or variants, not described, may be implemented for the shoe with interchangeable heels and for the relevant process, subject of the invention. If such modifications or such variants should fall within the scope of the following claims, they should all be considered protected by the present patent.

Claims

CLAIMS 1) Shoe (2a, 2b) with interchangeable heels comprising: (a) a shoe upper (26) and/or tapes; (b) a sole (10); (c) a heel structure comprising: (cl) a first heel (4a), and (c2) a second heel (4b) which has a smaller height with respect to the first heel (4a), wherein the first heel (4a) is fixed with one end by means of a first hinge (6), reversibly inclinable towards the sole (10) in direction of the tips of the feet, in the heel area (8) of the shoe (2a, 2b) on the sole (10) such that with said first hinge (6) the first heel (4a) and the sole (10) can form in the open position between each other a "V", wherein the second heel (4b) is fixed with one end by means of a second hinge (14), reversibly inclinable towards the first heel (4a), on the other end, the tip, of the first heel, such that with the second hinge (14) the first (4a) and the second heel (4b) form in the open position between each other a "V", wherein the second heel (4b) is situated between said sole (10) and said first heel (4a), wherein said first heel (4a) comprises an aperture (20) adapted to receive the second heel (4b) at least partially when the first heel (4a) is supported on said sole (10), preferably in a recess (24) that for this purpose is foreseen in said sole (10). 2) Shoe (2a, 2b) according to claim 1 characterized in that said hinges (6, 14) are selected among torsion springs and a pair of pins connected by a hinge. 3) Shoe (2a, 2b) according to claim 1 or 2 characterized in that means (19, 22, 34) are foreseen to fix the first (4a) and/or the second heel (4b) in the extracted or retracted position wherein said means are preferably selected among snap-in systems and/or magnet pairs. 4) Shoe (2a, 2b) according to claim 3 characterized in that said sole (10) comprises a recess (24) to receive the high heel (4a) at least partially in the closed version of the shoe (2b), wherein is foreseen as a first fixing means a snap-in means and optionally further a disc (19) which is rotatable or slidable such that it can at least cover the tip of the high heel to fix it in its position; wherein as a second fixing means a profile (22) is foreseen in the sole, in particular a small step, as a stop in the aperture of the two heels (4a, 4b) on which is supportable the second heel (4b); and wherein, optionally, are foreseen as further fixing means pairs of magnets wherein one magnet of the respective pair is situated in the element to be fixed and the other magnet of the pair is situated in the place where this element has to be fixed. 5) Shoe (2a, 2b) according to anyone of the preceding claims characterized in that said first hinge (6) is a double hinge comprising two hinge elements situated on the sides of the first heel (4a) which enclose said aperture (20). 6) Shoe (2a, 2b) according to anyone of the preceding claims characterized in that the central part (11) of the sole which is in the bending area of the foot is elastic. 7) Shoe (2a, 2b) according to anyone of the preceding claims characterized in that said shoe (2a, 2b) comprises a shoe upper (26) and that between the tip (30) of the shoe upper and the remaining part of the shoe upper is located a flexible insert (28). 8) Shoe (2a, 2b) according to anyone of the preceding claims characterized in that said sole (10) in the heel area (8) comprises a frame, preferably a metal frame, which houses part of the first hinge. 9) Process for interchanging heels (4a, 4b) of a shoe (2a, 2b) comprising the following steps: (i) providing a shoe (2a, 2b) according to anyone of the claims from 1 to 8 comprising a first heel (4a) and a second heel (4b) with a height inferior to that of the first heel (4a); (ii) if the shoe is in the high heel version (2a) wherein the first heel (4a) and the second heel (4b) form with the rear part of the sole (10) a triangle:

(ii-1) untightening the fixation between the second heel (4b) and the sole (10);

(ii-2) bending of the first heel (4a) towards the sole (10) and fixing it in the sole (10) receiving the second heel (4b) at least partially in an aperture (20) in the first heel (4a) and clamping it contemporarily between sole (10) and the first heel (4a);

(iii) if the shoe is in the low heel version (2b) as obtained according to step (ii-2); (iii-1) untightening of the fixation of the first heel (4a) with the sole (10);

(iii-2) bending the first heel (4a) towards the heel portion of the sole (10) and let exit the second heel (4b) from the aperture (20) and opening it in the form of a "V" with respect to the first heel (4a) and fixing it on the sole (10) to obtain the initial position of step (ii).