Abstract: A system is provided wherein a dress shoe may be fabricated by even small industrial enterprises or small groups of workers, using four basic components, namely an anatomically-shaped combination insole and heel jack unit, a removable heel with its securement device, an upper and a sole. By preference the insole/heel jack unit is constituted by a body of plastic material sandwiched between and united to upper and lower layers of sheet material. In the shoe assembly operation, the insole/heel jack unit is inserted into the upper and secured in place with the heel jack exposed below, a sole is laminated to the underside of the forward portion of the upper and a heel of selected height and style is removably secured in place.

Abstract: A basic design of heel-needing shoe is provided having a sole member made of semi-rigid molded plastic material including a thickened heel stub or jack portion having a downwardly-tapering outer perimetrical sidewall extending about the back and the lateral sides, and a downwardly-opening cylindrically-walled centrally-located socket. The upper surface of the sole member overlying this thickened portion is preferably provided with a small-diameter opening axially communicating with the well. The upper end of the heel is provided with a centrally located axially upwardly projecting cylindrical boss, preferably centrally provided with an upwardly opening threaded bore. The boss is surrounded by a flat upper end surface. An upstanding flange extends about the back and sides of this end surface. The inner surface of this flange tapers to match the heel jack.