Abstract: A convertible shoe may include a sole and a plurality of interchangeable heel portions, each selectively attachable to the sole. The heel portions may each include a mounting surface configured to interface with a heel receiver of the sole. The heel receiver may include a fixed hook and a movable hook, with the movable hook being operable by an actuator coupled to a bottom surface of the sole. In some examples, an upper is secured to the sole of the shoe by one or more clamping plates. In some examples, the sole of the shoe is configured to be biased into a default bend corresponding to a high-heeled state even when a low heel is attached to the heel receiver.

Abstract: An expansion sock includes one or more expansion zones formed of a different type of knitted fabric than adjacent zones. The expansion zones permit the sock to be used on a person's bandaged foot because the bandaged portions of the foot can be accommodated without either increased pressure on the bandages while minimizing excess, bunched material adjacent thereto.

Abstract: Systems and methods for securing a removable heel that is otherwise removably attached to a heel receiver of a shoe. The heel receiver has a fixed hook portion and a movable hook portion including a body received by an internal cavity of the heel receiver and disposed opposite the fixed hook portion. The movable hook portion is configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position, where the removable heel is secured to the shoe when the movable hook portion is in the extended position. Securing the heel includes inserting a locking pin into the internal cavity to prevent movement of the hook portion from the extended position to the retracted position.

Abstract: An expansion sock includes one or more expansion zones formed of a different type of knitted fabric than adjacent zones. The expansion zones permit the sock to be used on a person's bandaged foot because the bandaged portions of the foot can be accommodated without either increased pressure on the bandages while minimizing excess, bunched material adjacent thereto.

Abstract: A convertible shoe may include a sole and a plurality of interchangeable heel portions, each selectively attachable to the sole. The heel portions may each include a mounting surface configured to interface with a heel receiver of the sole. The heel receiver may include a fixed hook and a movable hook, with the movable hook being operable by an actuator coupled to a bottom surface of the sole. In some examples, an upper is secured to the sole of the shoe by one or more clamping plates. In some examples, the sole of the shoe is configured to be biased into a default bend corresponding to a high-heeled state even when a low heel is attached to the heel receiver.

Abstract: A garment that may be donned by a person without requiring extensive lifting of the arms. The garment comprises a front panel, a rear panel attached to the front panel at left and right shoulder junctions, and a neck hole disposed between the left and right shoulder junctions. When the garment is unfolded and oriented such that the shoulder junctions are oriented horizontally, the front panel has generally vertically oriented left and right side portions extending downwardly from the respective left and right shoulder junctions, and generally straight left and right side portions extending downwardly and inwardly from the respective vertically oriented left and right side portions. The rear panel has generally vertically oriented left and right side portions extending upwardly from the respective left and right shoulder junctions, and generally straight left and right side portions extending upwardly and outwardly from the respective vertically oriented left and right side portions.

Abstract: A convertible shoe may include a sole and a plurality of interchangeable heel portions, each selectively attachable to the sole. The heel portions may each include a mounting surface configured to interface with a heel receiver of the sole. The heel receiver may include a fixed hook and a movable hook, with the movable hook being operable by an actuator coupled to a bottom surface of the sole. In some examples, an upper is secured to the sole of the shoe by one or more clamping plates. In some examples, the sole of the shoe is configured to be biased into a default bend corresponding to a high-heeled state even when a low heel is attached to the heel receiver.

Abstract: A convertible shoe may include a sole and a plurality of interchangeable heel portions, each selectively attachable to the sole. The heel portions may each include a mounting surface configured to interface with a heel receiver of the sole. The heel receiver may include a fixed hook and a movable hook, with the movable hook being operable by an actuator coupled to a bottom surface of the sole.

Abstract: A shielding cup is provided for use with a self-fusing member or collapsible heat-concentrating accessory. The shielding cup is attached to a shoe heel as a temporary fix for a worn heel tip. The cup can be attached to the heel by a self-fusing member that binds to itself. The cup can also be attached by using a heat source and collapsible heat-concentrating accessory to concentrate heat on the heat-shrink version of the shielding cup. The cup can also be press fit on to the heel tip without the use of a self-fusing member or collapsible heat-concentrating accessory. Embodiments of the cup that can be press fit on to the heel tip include a rigid portion adjacent the base of the cup that engages the heel tip and a flexible portion extending away from the base of the cup. The flexible portion can be achieved by tapering the sidewalls of the cup along a longitudinal axis of the cup.

Abstract: An expansion sock includes one or more expansion zones formed of a different type of knitted fabric than adjacent zones. The expansion zones permit the sock to be used on a person's bandaged foot because the bandaged portions of the foot can be accommodated without either increased pressure on the bandages while minimizing excess, bunched material adjacent thereto.

Abstract: A shielding cup is provided for use with a self-fusing member or collapsible heat-concentrating accessory. The shielding cup is attached to a shoe heel as a temporary fix for a worn heel tip. The cup can be attached to the heel by a self-fusing member that binds to itself. The cup can also be attached by using a heat source and collapsible heat-concentrating accessory to concentrate heat on the heat-shrink version of the shielding cup.

Abstract: A convertible shoe may include a sole and a plurality of interchangeable heel portions, each selectively attachable to the sole. The heel portions may each include a mounting surface configured to interface with a heel receiver of the sole. The heel receiver may include a fixed hook and a movable hook, with the movable hook being operable by an actuator coupled to a bottom surface of the sole.

Abstract: A convertible shoe may include a sole portion and a plurality of interchangeable heel portions, each selectively attachable to the sole portion. The heel portions may each include a mounting surface configured to interface with a heel receiver of the sole, such that mounting the heel causes a support shank of the shoe to be secured in a longitudinal position relative to the sole.

Abstract: A convertible shoe may include a sole portion and a plurality of interchangeable heel portions, each selectively attachable to the sole portion. The heel portions may each include a mounting surface configured to interface with a heel receiver of the sole, such that mounting the heel causes a support shank of the shoe to be secured in a longitudinal position relative to the sole.

Abstract: An orthotic insert device has a first portion generally underlying the plantar surface of the heel fat pad of the calcaneus of a wearer's foot when the insert is placed in a corresponding shoe. The device has a second portion which is located and sized to generally underlie the mid-foot of the wearer. The first portion under the heel is less rigid, that is, more compressible, than the second portion underlying the mid-foot. As a result, the device not only decreases the force felt on the heel, but also acts to offload the force from the heel toward the mid-foot, especially during the impact phase of a person's gait. By off-loading the heel and transferring weight to the mid-foot, force otherwise felt in the region of the calcaneus is dissipated over a much larger surface area, including the mid-foot.

Abstract: An orthotic insert device has a first portion generally underlying the plantar surface of the heel fat pad of the calcaneus of a wearer's foot when the insert is placed in a corresponding shoe. The device has a second portion which is located and sized to generally underlie the mid-foot of the wearer. The first portion under the heel is less rigid, that is, more compressible, than the second portion underlying the mid-foot. As a result, the device not only decreases the force felt on the heel, but also acts to offload the force from the heel toward the mid-foot, especially during the impact phase of a person's gait. By off-loading the heel and transferring weight to the mid-foot, force otherwise felt in the region of the calcaneus is dissipated over a much larger surface area, including the mid-foot.