Abstract:
The present invention is a shoe for women, which has a removable heel that would enable women to wear a single pair of shoes that can be used in either heel or flat form, whereby the shoe has a unique feature that allows the heel and flat component of the shoe to changeably lock in and unlock through an interlock.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a non-provisional of and claims benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/097,194, filed Dec. 29, 2014 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to women&#39;s shoes that have the dual functionality of seamlessly transforming from a shoe with an elevated heel to a flat shoe. More specifically, the present invention is related to women&#39;s shoes that can be interchanged from heel form to flat form, by interchanging a removable heel and flat component. The invention will be very useful for women, as they won&#39;t have to carry two separate pairs of shoes when going from work to a later social function. 
         [0003]    At present, the shoes in the market today that transform a heel to a flat shoe are: 
         [0000]    retractable, adjustable in height or interchangeable, whereby their only purpose is to customize and change the heel elevation and character itself. There is no such shoe in in existance for women that has a removable heel resulting in a dual configuration shoe. Currently, women have to face the problem of carrying two pairs of shoes (either one pair of heels or one flat pair), on days when they need to go to work or a social function. Some of the common symptoms women experience when wearing heels are stress on the knees and joints, and lower back pain. This invention will prevent these types of stresses and pains from occurring. 
         [0004]    There is a need for a women&#39;s shoe that can be easily interchanged from elevated heel to flat form, without causing inconvenience to the wearer. The present invention provides a shoe that has the ability to transform from a heel to a flat shoe. 
         [0005]    No other pre-existing product or publication discloses or has disclosed, prescribes or has prescribed, or provides or has provided any such system or method that has features as those of the present invention. No other invention has provided for a system and method that provides a women&#39;s shoe that can easily be interchanged from elevated heel shoe to a flat shoe. 
         [0006]    As described below, the present invention overcomes all of the limitations and non-effectiveness of the aforementioned women&#39;s shoes currently available on the market. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is a women&#39;s shoe that has the dual functionality of transforming from elevated heel to flat form. The shoe has a unique feature allowing the construction of the shoe to change from heel to flat by using a unique lock to conveniently transform the elevated heel to flat form. Along with the function of the interchangeable lock, it will offer a unique shank invention that has not been invented in the footwear market. 
         [0008]    In one embodiment, a primary mechanism of this women&#39;s shoe is to transform from heel to flat form by locking either component into a unique feature under the shoe. There is also a button-like feature under the shoe which, when pressed, will either eject or slide out the flat or heel component. In one embodiment, the interlock is a press and slide to engage and disengage. The heel itself will fold at an angle of approximately  90  degrees strictly for storage purposes. 
         [0009]    One objective of the invention is to provide a more convenient alternative for women that have to carry two pairs of shoes on days when they need to go to work or a social function. 
         [0010]    Another objective of the invention is to provide additional support and comfort for the foot when arched in the heel position by using certain materials, such as memory foam, in the sole of the shoe. Ultimately, preventing the previously mentioned joint and back pains from occurring. 
         [0011]    Although specific styles are shown in the drawings, the invention is not limited to only closed-toe pump heels/closed-toe flats but can be utilized in all types of constructions such as boots, booties and open toe sandals and the like. 
         [0012]    These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those reading the entirety of this disclosure, which includes the accompanying drawings and claims. 
         [0013]    In one embodiment, the present invention is a shoe assembly comprising:
       a front main body having a distal end and a proximal end and including a   bottom positioned sole and a wall extending upward from said sole;   a receiving structure incorporated with said front main body;   a replaceable and removable heel assembly having an interlock incorporated therewith, whereby said interlock is constructed and arranged to lock into said receiving structure;   a shoe sole formed by connection of each of said front main body and said replaceable and removable heel assembly; and   an expansion member incorporated onto said front main body, said expansion member constructed and arranged to facilitate configuration of said shoe assembly between elevated heel and flat form heel depending on configuration of heel height selected for said replaceable and removable heel assembly.       
 
         [0020]    Front main body refers generally to the portion distal to the wearer being the area of the toes and forefoot. Heel assembly refers to the back off or portion proximal to the body including, but not limited to, the heel of the wearer. 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, the expansion member includes a pair of expansion members positioned on said proximal end of said main body wall. 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, there is a buckle mechanism by which to control and manage expansion of said expansion member. 
         [0023]    In one embodiment, there is a band configured as a bolt and a strip, to transform said shoe from elevated heel to flat form. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, there is an expansion member is configured as having an inner layer that is be folded and opened, and changes its shape according to the position of shoe in the high heel and flat form. 
         [0025]    In one embodiment, there is a living hinge formed on inner portion of said shoe sole. 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, there is an interlock constructed and arranged to lock into said receiving structure is a lock button and a lock hole positioned underneath the sole of the shoe, through which the shoe can be transformed from high heel to the flat form by operating said interlock. 
         [0027]    In one embodiment, there is a hinge connected to the side of the shoe so that a high heel can be tilted at an angle of approximately 90 degrees to enable storage inside the shoe when the shoe is transformed to a flat form. 
         [0028]    Also contemplated is a method of assembling and dissembling a shoe, said method comprising the steps of:
       providing a shoe assembly as described herein, wherein each of said front main body and said replaceable and removable heel assembly are provided separately such that said assembly is in an unassembled configuration;   connecting each of said front main body and said replaceable and removable heel assembly to form an assembled configuration;   disconnecting each of said front main body and said replaceable and removable heel assembly to form a disassembled configuration.       
 
         [0032]    The method includes providing more than one removable heel assembly. 
         [0033]    The method includes providing more than one of said front main assemblies. 
         [0034]    In one embodiment, the present invention is a shoe assembly consisting of:
       a front main body having a distal end and a proximal end and including a bottom positioned sole and a wall extending upward from said sole;   a receiving structure incorporated with said front main body;   a replaceable and removable heel assembly having an interlock incorporated therewith, whereby said interlock is constructed and arranged to lock into said receiving structure;   a shoe sole formed by connection of each of said front main body and said replaceable and removable heel assembly; and   an expansion member incorporated onto said front main body, said expansion member constructed and arranged to facilitate configuration of said shoe assembly between elevated heel and flat form heel depending on configuration of heel height selected for said replaceable and removable heel assembly.       
 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0040]      FIG. 1  is a side perspective view of a shoe according to one embodiment of the present invention demonstrating the retractable plastic and round locks. 
           [0041]      FIG. 2  is a side view according to one embodiment of the present invention demonstrating the flat form. 
           [0042]      FIG. 2B  is an expanded view from  FIG. 2  demonstrating placement of one interlock mechanism. 
           [0043]      FIG. 2C  is an assembled interlock according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0044]      FIG. 2D  is a separated view of an interlock according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0045]      FIG. 3  is a side perspective view according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0000]    demonstrating a shoe having removable heels with a belt buckle, which will be used to adjust and support the in-step and tread point where extra material is needed for stretching from heel to flat form aspect of the shoe allowing it to convert from flat to heel form. 
           [0046]      FIG. 4  is a side perspective view according to one embodiment of the present invention demonstrating a flat form of the present invention with a belt buckle, which will be used to adjust and support the in-step and tread point where extra material is needed for stretching from heel to flat form aspect of the shoe allowing it to convert from heel to flat form. 
           [0047]      FIG. 5  is a side perspective view according to one embodiment of the present invention demonstrating a shoe having removable heels of the present invention with an adjustable, expandable, elastic type band, which will be used to adjust and support the in-step and tread point where extra material is needed for stretching from heel to flat form aspect of the shoe allowing it to convert from to flat to heel form. 
           [0048]      FIG. 6  is a side perspective view according to one embodiment of the present invention demonstrating a flat form of the present invention with an adjustable, expandable, elastic type band, which will be used to adjust and support the in-step and tread point where extra material is needed for stretching from heel to flat form aspect of the shoe allowing it to convert from heel to flat form. 
           [0049]      FIG. 7  is a side perspective view according to one embodiment of the present invention demonstrating a shoe having removable heels with foldable fabric, which will be used to adjust and support the in-step and tread point where extra material is needed for stretching from heel to flat form aspect of the shoe allowing it to convert from flat to heel form. 
           [0050]      FIG. 8  is a side perspective view according to one embodiment of the present invention demonstrating a foldable fabric, which will be used to adjust and support the in-step and tread point where extra material is needed for stretching from heel to flat form aspect of the shoe allowing it to convert from heel to flat form. 
           [0051]      FIG. 9  is a bottom perspective view according to one embodiment of the present invention.demonstrating a shoe having removable heels. 
           [0052]      FIG. 10  is a bottom perspective view according to one embodiment of the present invention.demonstrating a flat form of the present invention. 
           [0053]      FIG. 11  is a side perspective view according to one embodiment of the present invention.demonstrating a flat form of the present invention, with buckle and strap, which will be used to adjust and support the in-step and tread point where extra material is needed for stretching from heel to flat form aspect of the shoe allowing it to convert from heel to flat form. 
           [0054]      FIG. 12  is a side perspective view according to one embodiment of the present invention.demonstrating a shoe having removable heels with a buckle and strap, which will be used to adjust and support the in-step and tread point where extra material is needed for stretching from heel to flat form aspect of the shoe allowing it to convert from flat to heel form. 
           [0055]      FIG. 13  is a side view according to one embodiment of the present invention. demonstrating a shoe having removable heels with hinge attached, the hinge will be used to fold the heel at an angle of approximately  90  degrees for storage purposes. 
           [0056]      FIG. 14  is a top view according to one embodiment of the present invention.demonstrating a living hinge on the insole of the shoe. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0057]    In the present disclosure, numerous specific details are provided, such as the modules, components and method, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. The reader will readily be able to recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more specific details. This description is not exhaustive, however, as some of the more well-known details of certain parts are common and not shown here. 
         [0058]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show a side perspective view of the shoe showing the heel and flat form of the shoe.  FIG. 1  shows shoe assembly configuration  100  in an elevated heel. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2, 2  is the back portion of the shoe and  4  is the front portion of the shoe.  6  is the front sole of the shoe below front portion  4 . 
         [0059]    As shown in  FIG. 1, 8  is the high heel attached to rear portion  8  in the shoe and  10  is the inner fabric of the shoe rear portion  8 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 2  shows shoe assembly configuration  200  in a flat heel. As used herein, “flat heel” does not require a completely flat outer sole configuration. Flat heel is substantially flat and flat rear portion  16  can still have some small degree of elevation. 
         [0061]    As shown in  FIG. 2, 16  is the lower outer sole attached to flat rear component  2  of the shoe. 
         [0062]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2, 12  is an elastic and retractable material that is configured to lock into itself utilizing locks  14 , and will allow the shoe angle to be adjusted. The actual material is any elastic or elastic type material that will urge the opposing vertical sides inwards towards one another as shown by the directional arrow of  FIG. 2  and configured to expand outward, as shown by the directional arrow in  FIG. 1 , when force is applied. 
         [0063]    As demonstrated in  FIGS. 2B, 2C, and 2D , one embodiment includes a ball detent locking type arrangement whereby locking ball  14 A is set within locking ball retainer  14 B and directionally urged by spring  14 C resting on spring support  14 D placed withing ball housing  14 E. Although the figures demonstrate a ball detent locking mechanism, the invention contemplates use of varied locking mechanism configured to achieve the desired result. 
         [0064]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show a side perspective view of the shoe showing the heel and flat form of the shoe.  FIG. 3  shows assembly configuration  400  utilizing buckles and an elevated heel.  FIG. 4  shows assembly configuration  500  utilizing buckles and a flat heel. As shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , buckle mechanism  18  is provided by which to control and manage the angle and distance between the high heel  8  and the flat front part  6  of the shoe. In this configuration, a user can adjust buckle  18  as desired and completely open buckle  18  when utilizing flat rear portion  2  as shown in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0065]      FIG. 5  shows assembly configuration  600  utilizing a locking strip  20  and an elevated heel.  FIG. 6  shows assembly configuration  700  utilizing a locking strip  20  and a flat heel.  FIGS. 5 and 6  show a side perspective view of the shoe showing the heel and flat form of the shoe. As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , there is an adjustable band to operate the angle change in the shoe through a cavity or bolt  20  and utilizing locking strip  22 . 
         [0066]      FIG. 7  shows assembly configuration  700  utilizing a compression fold  24  and an elevated heel  8 .  FIG. 8  shows assembly configuration  800  utilizing a compression fold  24  and a flat heel  16 .  FIGS. 7 and 8  show a schematic view of the shoe showing the heel and flat form of the shoe. As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , there is a compression fold  24  an inner layer folded and upon application of pressure in opposing directions, expansion material  26  is exposed and opened. In a preferred embodiment, expansion material  26  is formed of material or fabric that changes its shape according to the position of the shoe in the high heel  8  and flat form  16 . 
         [0067]      FIG. 9  shows assembly configuration  1000  with high heel  8  disconnected to the shoe. 
         [0068]      FIG. 10  shows assembly configuration  1100  a disassembled configuration with flat heel disconnected from the shoe.  FIGS. 9 and 10  show a schematic view of the shoe showing the heel and flat form of the shoe. As shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 , high heel  8  is configured with a removable locking tab  28  configured to interact with lock receiver  30 . Alignment tab  42  interacts with alignment groove  44  to ensure proper placement of high heel  8  into shoe  2 . The configuration allows shoe assembly according to the present invention to easily to be transformed to flat form by replacing high heel  8  with flat form  16 . In one embodiment, hinge  34  is connected to the side of the heel  8 , so that the heel  8  can be tilted at an angle of approximately  90  degrees for the inside storage purpose when the shoe is transformed to a flat form. 
         [0069]      FIG. 11  shows assembly configuration  1200  with flat form heel  16  connected to the shoe. 
         [0070]      FIG. 13  shows assembly configuration  1300  with high heel  8  connected to the shoe. 
         [0071]      FIGS. 11 and 12  show a schematic view of the shoe showing the heel and flat form of the shoe with the buckle and strap. As shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12 , the buckle  36  and strap  38  are attached to the shoe, which are used for opening the shoes and adds aesthetic value. 
         [0072]      FIG. 13  shows a schematic side of a shoe having removable heels with hinge attached. As shown in  FIG. 13 , the hinge  34  will be used to fold the heel at an angle of approximately 90 degrees, for storage purposes. 
         [0073]    The embodiment of  FIG. 14  is assembly configuration  1500  whereby a living hinge  40  allows for the sole movement between high heel and flat form. 
         [0074]    The present invention is very useful for women, as they sometimes have to face the problem of carrying two pairs of shoes (either one pair of heels or one flat pair), on days when they need to go to work or a social function The present invention is also very useful from a health perspective, as one of the materials used is memory foam, which provides additional support and comfort for the feet when arched in the heel position Ultimately, preventing the previously mentioned joint and back pains from occurring. 
         [0075]    As generally understood, and described herein the present invention provides an assembly and method for transforming a shoe between elevated heel and flat form as desired. The shoe has a front form member constructed and arranged to receive a removable heel member. A user will select a desired heel ranging from flat form to at least one elevated heel form. The user will secure the desired heel into position and place the shoe on their foot. 
         [0076]    While the foregoing written description of the invention is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, others will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should thereof not to be limited by the above embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed. 
         [0077]    While specific embodiments of the present invention have been provided, is to be understood that these embodiments are for illustration purposes and not limiting.