SHOE WITH INTERCHANGEABLE HEEL
Disclose embodiments include shoes with interchangeable heels permitting a plurality of heel heights and styles, addressing the need for aesthetic appeal, ease of use, comfort, simplicity of design, and sturdiness. More particularly, disclose embodiments include a modifiable shoe heel consisting of a fixed heel part and an interchangeable heel part removably attachable by a system of magnets.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/430,992 filed on Jan. 8, 2011 by the present inventors, which is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDDisclosed embodiments relate to shoes with interchangeable heels, and more particularly to modifiable shoe heels.
BACKGROUNDThe selection of a shoe to wear is often influenced by the height or style of the shoe heel, with low wide heels primarily used for comfort and mobility, and tall narrow heels for elegance. Active lifestyles often involve long periods of walking or standing, and prolonged wearing of high heels causes tiredness, discomfort, and health problems for the feet. For that reason, the ability to flexibly change shoe heel depending on one's environment and activity is desirable.
Numerous designers have attempted to create a shoe with variable heel height and style, yet such designs have not proven successful in addressing the need for aesthetic appeal, ease of use, comfort, simplicity of design, and sturdiness.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,138 discloses a shoe with a replaceable high heel; however, the disclosed design has a number of drawbacks. Typically, the greatest stress on a shoe's heel is at the top of the heel where it attaches to the sole, and therefore a wide join is advisable. As is evident from FIG. 1 of the aforementioned disclosure the fixed-heel insert attached to the sole is of lesser width than the top surface of the detachable-heel, and consequently provides less strength than the shoe's non-replaceable heel counterpart provides. Furthermore, the need to maximize the width of the fixed-heel insert for strength, conflicts with the design of narrow heels, since the interchangeable-heel part must house the fixed-heel insert. In addition, due to the wide top surface of the detachable-heel even a slight movement of the heel relative to the sole will result in a noticeable gap between the sole and top edge of the detachable-heel. Moreover, the use of a retractable pin to manually lock and unlock the detachable-heel makes detachable-heel replacement awkward for a wearer of the shoes.
WO91108685 discloses a shoe with a detachable heel. The disclosed design has all of the drawbacks of U.S. Pat. No. 5,133,138, except that the retractable pin is not required. However, in addition to the shoe upper, sole, fixed-heel insert, detachable-heel, and magnets, all embodiments (shown in
US Pub. No. 20070000152 discloses a bowling shoe with interchangeable plate-type heels with magnetic attachment. This disclosure only addresses the attachment of interchangeable heels that are shallow friction plates, and therefore the manifest challenge of attaching low and high heels to shoes is unanswered by that disclosure.
SUMMARYDisclosed embodiments of the shoe with interchangeable heel include: a) a fixed heel part adapted on one end for attachment to a shoe sole and on the other end for removable attachment of an interchangeable heel part; and b) an interchangeable heel part adapted on one end for removable attachment to the fixed heel part and on the other end for contact with the ground. Consequently, the height and style of the heel of a shoe may be adjusted by attachment of the desired interchangeable heel part to the fixed heel part of the shoe.
Disclosed embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.
According to one particular embodiment of the shoe with interchangeable heel (10), shown in
The fixed heel part (106), socket (126), insert (128), upper magnet (112), and lower magnet (114) of the embodiment shown in
According to the embodiment of the fixed heel part (106) shown in
According to the embodiment of the interchangeable low heel part (110) shown in
According to the embodiment of the interchangeable high heel part (108) shown in
Alternate embodiments of the fixed heel part (106), interchangeable low heel part (110), and interchangeable high heel part (108) are composed of any type of plastic, or any other strong and lightweight material suitable for use in the shoe with interchangeable heel (10). Alternate embodiments of the fixed heel part (106), permit other attachment methods to the sole (102) which achieve a secure and durable bond.
According to the embodiment of the shoe with interchangeable heel (10) shown in
Alternate embodiments of the sole (102) include a sole (102) made of flexible leather, rubber, a mixture of the aforegoing materials, or any other suitable material. Alternative embodiments of the shoe upper (104) include a shoe upper (104) comprising leather, cloth, Lycra®, a mixture of the aforegoing materials, or any other suitable material. In some shoe designs it is advantageous for the upper (104) to be constructed of a flexible material to facilitate proper foot position and support with both high and low heels.
According to the embodiment of the modifiable shoe heel (100) shown in
The simplicity of design of this magnetic attachment mechanism permits quick and easy replacement of the interchangeable heel part (108, 110) by a wearer of the shoe with interchangeable heel (10) without the need for manipulating additional locking mechanisms such as retractable pins. Furthermore, the simplicity of design considerably improves manufacturability of the modifiable shoe heel (100).
Alternate embodiments of the upper magnet (112) and lower magnet (114) include magnetic materials of any composition and shape that provide secure retention of the interchangeable heel part (108, 110) to the fixed heel part (106).
According to the embodiment of the modifiable shoe heel (100) shown in
According to the embodiment of the modifiable shoe heel (100) shown in
Alternate embodiments of the insert (128) and socket (126) include inserts (128) and sockets (126) with any cross sectional design that prevents rotation of the interchangeable heel part (108, 110) relative to the fixed heel part (106).
According to the embodiment of the modifiable shoe heel (100) shown in
Alternate embodiments of the insert (128) and socket (126) include socket wall surfaces and insert wall surfaces of different conical designs, including substantially conical designs which are not entirely conical, that minimize friction between the socket wall surfaces and insert wall surfaces during insertion and removal of the interchangeable heel part (108, 110).
According to the embodiment of the modifiable shoe heel (100) shown in
While particular embodiments have been described, it is understood that, after learning the teachings contained in this disclosure, modifications and generalizations will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the disclosed embodiments. It is noted that the foregoing embodiments and examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting. While the article of manufacture and methods have been described with reference to various embodiments, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Further, although the invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the actual embodiments are not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the system extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings of this specification, may effect numerous modifications thereto and changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosed embodiments in its aspects.
Claims
1. A modifiable shoe heel comprising: whereby the height and style of the heel of a shoe may be adjusted by attachment of the desired interchangeable heel part to said fixed heel part of said shoe.
- a) a fixed heel part adapted on one end for attachment to a shoe sole and on the other end for removable magnetic attachment to an interchangeable heel part; and
- b) an interchangeable heel part adapted on one end for removable magnetic attachment to said fixed heel part and on the other end for contact with the ground,
2. The modifiable shoe heel of claim 1, wherein said fixed heel part comprises a socket and a first magnetic material, and said interchangeable heel part comprises an insert and a second magnetic material, said insert is shaped to fill said socket, and said first and second magnetic materials exhibit magnetic attraction when in mutual proximity.
3. The modifiable shoe heel of claim 2, wherein said interchangeable heel part is retained in said fixed heel part solely by both lateral support of said socket wall surfaces and mutual attraction of said first and second magnetic materials.
4. The modifiable shoe heel of claim 3, wherein said socket upper wall surfaces converge gradually, and corresponding lower wall surfaces converge markedly to 1) enable full insertion of said insert into said socket with negligible friction, 2) establish full contact between said socket wall surfaces and said insert wall surfaces only upon full insertion, 3) facilitate a deep socket for improved lateral retention of the insert, and 4) facilitate a wider and stronger insert base due to the marked downward divergence of said socket lower wall surfaces.
5. The modifiable shoe heel of claim 4, wherein said socket and insert wall surfaces are substantially conical with a non-circular cross-section to prevent rotation of said interchangeable heel part.
6. The modifiable shoe heel of claim 5, wherein said cross-section is substantially squared to prevent rotation of said interchangeable heel part.
7. The modifiable shoe heel of claim 6, wherein at least one of said first and second magnetic materials are neodymium magnets.
8. The modifiable shoe heel of claim 7, wherein said fixed heel part connects to a flexible sole permitting flexing of the sole for adjustment to high and low heel heights.
9. The modifiable shoe heel of claim 8, wherein said socket is at least two centimeters in depth in said fixed heel part, and said socket can securely retain an interchangeable low heel part and an interchangeable high heel part.
10. The modifiable shoe heel of claim 9, wherein said fixed heel part is composed of molded ABS plastic injected around said first magnetic material.
11. The modifiable shoe heel of claim 10, wherein said interchangeable heel part is composed of molded polyurethane plastic injected around said second magnetic material.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 28, 2011
Publication Date: Jul 12, 2012
Applicant: TAC REVOLUTION, S.L. (ALMANSA)
Inventors: JOSE VICENTE RUANO CERDAN (ALMANSA), MIGUEL MONTEAGUDO GARRO (ALMANSA), PATRICIA RUANO CERDAN (ALMANSA), JUAN ANGEL MONTEAGUDO GARRO (ALMANSA)
Application Number: 13/339,286