Abstract: An improved athletic shoe sole with rotatable and replaceable rear soles and replaceable cleats to provide the user with longer wear. The invention also provides the user with the ability to quickly and easily adapt the sole to different desired performance characteristics depending upon the intended activity and terrain or playing surface.

Abstract: A shoe (10) is disclosed including a pin member (18) projecting outwardly from a head portion (20) secured to the sole (12) by a screw (256) extending through a bore (254) and threaded in a nut (252) imbedded in the head portion (20), with the bore (254) and the screw (256) being preferably at an obtuse angle to the pin member (18). An exchangeable heel (16) includes a preassembled capsule lock (200) secured in a bore (24). The capsule lock (200) includes a housing formed by a bottom cup (202) being press fit in a top insert (222). A washer member (214) of a lock member (50) is biased against the lower surface of a plate (230) integrally formed in the cylindrical portion (224) of the top insert (222) by a compression spring (48), with the plate (230) being at an acute angle to the axis of the housing and to the pin member (18).

Abstract: An antiwear and nonskid protective element for a shoe heel comprising (a) an outside first part having a through opening therein, the cross section surface of which increases from the surface contacting the heel to the free end surface; (b) an inside second part that can be fitted into the through opening; and (c) a connecting element for connection between the second part and the heel. The head of the connecting element is buried in the top of the inside part while the body is driven into the shoe heel.

Abstract: A women's shoe with flexible shank for use with replaceable heels of different height includes a sole with a forward support portion and a raised heel portion and an overlying insole. An elongated flexible spring steel shank is nested within a slot between the insole and sole and at one end anchored thereto. A high heel registers with the heel portion and interlocking fasteners upon the heel and heel portion upon limited rotation of the heel relative to the shoe removably anchors the heel upon the shoe. The heel upon limited angular rotation and disengagement of the fasteners is adapted for removal and replacement by a low heel having similar fasteners. The shank moves within the slot to compensate for the change in height. The interlocking fasteners include opposed interconnected lock segments and anchor flanges secured respectively to the heel and heel portion.

Abstract: A shoe heel and sole structure composed mainly of two substrates or layers. The first substrate or layer is permanently attached to the shoe heel or sole, and the second substrate or layer comprises a wear layer that can be attached firmly to the first layer and removed easily for replacement. The first layer is in turn composed of two sublayers and has a number of small pocket-like cavities with openings for receiving the flat heads of pins or arbitrarily shaped protrusions, which are attached to the wear layer, i.e., the second layer. Furthermore, the first layer has a large central opening for receiving an attachment member of the wear layer. The combination of flat-headed pins and the attachment member of the wear layer are arranged such that they lock the wear layer securely to the first layer. Removal of the wear layer is achieved by folding back the attachment member out of the first layer and sliding the wear layer to disengage the flat-headed pins from the small pockets inside the first layer.

Abstract: A heel lift comprises an elongated body portion having a blunt or pointed upper end for insertion into a shoe heel, a lock washer or ring member with inwardly directed projections fitted and locked about the body portion and a head portion connected to the lower end of the body portion, the head portion having a slot and an annular undercut which cooperate to form passages within the head portion through which a molding material forming a wearing portion can flow when the lock washer and the head portion are coated with the molding material whereby the wearing portion is firmly bonded to the head portion.