Patent ID: 9289025
Filing Date: 2016-03-22
CPC Classification: A43B

Claim Text:
1. A flat-to-heel convertible outsole comprising: an arch platform having an outsole bottom surface and a heel recess; a collapsible heel; and a locking mechanism; the collapsible heel comprising an upper heel, a lower heel, and a heel pin; the upper heel being connected to the arch platform; an upper portion of the heel pin being hingedly connected to the upper heel; the lower heel being telescopically attached to a lower portion of the heel pin opposite the upper heel; the heel recess traversing through the outsole bottom surface into the arch platform and aligned with the collapsible heel, such that a portion of the collapsible heel is enclosed when folded into the heel recess in a stowed configuration; the locking mechanism being connected to the lower heel and positioned adjacent to the upper heel, such that the locking mechanism binds the lower heel to the upper heel when the lower heel is in an extended configuration; the upper heel comprising a pin cavity, a pin cradle, and a pin stop; the pin cavity being positioned adjacent to the heel recess, forming an empty space in the upper heel through which the heel pin traverses; the pin cradle being an annular cavity being positioned adjacent to the pin cavity; the heel pin comprising a support arm; the support arm being an annular extrusion positioned perpendicular to a main shaft of the heel pin; the support arm being positioned within the pin cradle, allowing the heel pin to pivot about a single axis; the pin cradle or the support arm being ratcheted, regulating the rotation of the heel pin from the stowed configuration to the extended configuration or from the extended configuration to the stowed configuration; the heel pin positioned within an opening in the upper heel; the pin stop also positioned within the opening such that the pin stop covers the support arm of the heel pin; the pin stop secured to the upper heel via screws, adhesive, or snap fit connection; the lower heel comprising a pin channel and a pin guide; the pin channel traversing along the lower heel; the pin guide being positioned within the lower heel, adjacent to the pin channel; the lower portion of the heel pin positioned within the pin channel and comprising a nub, such that the nub slidably engages the pin guide and limits movement of the lower heel along the heel pin; and the pin guide comprising a U-shaped track, the track allowing the lower heel to slide downwards along the heel pin, rotate 180 degrees, and slide upwards along the heel pin.