Abstract:
A hinge member incorporated between a footbed toe plate and footbed arch plate allowing a shoe to be configured as a flat or heeled shoe. The footbed toe plate and footbed arch plate are rotatably joined via one or more hinge pins inserted through interlaced teeth of each plate. A spring-biased hinge lock extending between the two plates is controlled by a spring-biased pin in positioned with a notch selectively receiving the hinge lock such that the hinge lock disengages said footbed arch plate allowing said footbed arch plate to rotate relative to said footbed toe plate. The heel block includes a spring-biased heel lock extending into a removable heel and is controlled by a spring-biased pin positioned with a notch selectively receiving the hinge lock such that the hinge lock disengages said heel allowing said heel to be freely removed from said heel block.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The embodiments of the present invention relate to a shoe having an adjustable footbed and interchangeable heels. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    It is well-known that women have a natural affinity to shoes. Women tend to own numerous pairs of shoes of many different types for many different occasions. Given the price of shoes, it would be advantageous for women to own shoes capable of multiple configurations. Besides financial considerations, shoes capable of multiple configurations require less storage space and provide versatility. 
         [0003]    Thus, the embodiments of the present invention are directed to a reconfigurable shoe incorporating means to adjust a footbed and interchange heels thereof. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In one embodiment of the present invention, a hinge member incorporated between a footbed toe plate and footbed arch plate permits a shoe to be modified from a flat to a heeled shoe while a heel mechanism allows different heels to be interchanged with the shoe. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment, the hinge member comprises the footbed toe plate and footbed arch plate rotatably joined via one or more hinge pins inserted through interlaced teeth of each plate. A spring-biased hinge lock extending between the two plate sections is controlled by a spring-biased in positioned with the notch selectively receiving the hinge lock such that the hinge lock disengages said footbed arch plate allowing said footbed arch plate to rotate relative to said footbed toe plate. 
         [0006]    In one embodiment of the present invention, a heel interchanging mechanism comprises a spring-biased heel lock extending between a heel block an heel is controlled by a spring-biased notched pin positioned with the notch selectively receiving the hinge lock such that the hinge lock disengages said heel allowing said heel to be freely removed from said heel block. 
         [0007]    Other variations, embodiments and features of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description, drawings and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a top down view of a shoe hinge member according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIGS. 1   a - b  illustrate perspective and side views of hinge lock components according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 1   c  illustrates a top down view of a shoe hinge member incorporated in a shoe according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0011]      FIG. 1   d  illustrates a top down view of an alternative shoe hinge member according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 1   e  illustrates a perspective view of alternative hinge lock components according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 1   f  and 1 g  illustrate perspective views of alternative spring-biased pins for use with the shoe hinge member according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 1   h  illustrates a transparent view of a footbed toe plate according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 1   i  illustrates an exploded view of the shoe hinge member according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  illustrates side views of the shoe hinge member of  FIG. 1  according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of a first heel block according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  illustrates a top view of the first heel block of  FIG. 3  according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  illustrates a front view of a second heel block according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  illustrates a perspective heel block with internal portions shown according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  illustrates a side view of a heel block and heel lock according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIGS. 8   a  and  8   b  illustrate side and top down views, respectively, of a flat shoe incorporating the shoe hinge member and heel block according to the embodiments of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of a high heel shoe incorporating the shoe hinge member and heel block according to the embodiments of the present invention; and 
           [0024]      FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b  illustrates perspective and end views, respectively, of a dovetailed heel cavity according to the embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0025]    For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive feature illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention claimed. 
         [0026]    The components of the embodiments of the present invention may be fabricated of any suitable materials, including plastics, alloys, composites and metals and may be fabricated using suitable techniques including molding, machining and rapid prototyping. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 1 ,  1   a - 1   i  and  2  show a shoe hinge member  100  according to the embodiments of the present invention. The hinge member  100  comprises generally a footbed toe plate  105  and footbed arch plate  110 . The footbed toe plate  105  includes multiple teeth  106 - 1  through  106 - 4  which interlace with teeth  111 - 1  through  111 - 3  of the footbed arch plate  110 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  1   h , a first pin  115 - 1  extends through a channel  107 - 1  in tooth  106 - 1  of said footbed toe plate  105  and a channel in tooth  111 - 1  of said footbed arch plate  110  and into a cavity  108 - 1  in said tooth  106 - 2  of said footbed toe plate  105 . Similarly, a second pin  115 - 2  extends through a channel  107 - 2  in tooth  106 - 4  of said footbed toe plate  105  and a channel in tooth  111 - 3  of said footbed arch plate  110  and into a cavity  108 - 2  in said tooth  106 - 3  of said footbed toe plate  105 . The first pin  115 - 1  and second pin  115 - 2  may be secured within the respective channels with end caps or other mechanical components. Alternatively, a frictional relationship between the pins  115 - 1  and  115 - 2  and channels secures the pins  115 - 1  and  115 - 2  in place while allowing rotation of the footbed arch plate  110  relative to the footbed toe plate  105 . 
         [0028]    A pair of recessed ball plungers  140 - 1 ,  140 - 2  in channels  139 - 1 ,  139 - 2  of said footbed toe plate  105  communicate with spaced indentations in said teeth  111 - 1 ,  111 - 3  of said footbed arch plate  110 . This relationship provides an audible noise (i.e., “click”) as the footbed arch plate  110  is rotated relative to the footbed toe plate  105 . The clicking noise provides a mechanism by which the user is able to determine when the footbed arch plate  110  is in a lockable position as detailed below. 
         [0029]    An end section  149  of a spring-biased hinge lock  150  extends from a recess  155  in said footbed toe plate  105  to selectively engage, as shown in FIGS. la and lb, one of a plurality of matching, locking cavities  160  in tooth  111 - 2  of said footbed arch plate  110  thereby locking the footbed arch plate  110  in place. In another embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 1   d - 1   e , a spring-biased hinge lock  150 ′ may include a pin  151  corresponding to circular locking cavities  160 ′ in said tooth  111 - 2  of said footbed arch plate  110  thereby locking the footbed arch plate  110  in place. 
         [0030]    A spring-biased pin  165  integrated into channel  159  in said footbed toe plate  105  controls the spring-biased hinge lock  150 . A notch  170  (as shown in  FIG. 10  in said spring-biased pin  165  receives an extension  151  of said spring-biased hinge lock  150  when said spring-biased hinge lock  150  is disengaged.  FIG. 1   g  shows an alternative spring-biased pin  165 ′ with an alternative spiral notch  170 ′. 
         [0031]    Operation of the spring-biased hinge lock  150  comprises applying pressure to an end cap  166  of said spring-biased pin  165  which causes: (i) the spring-biased pin  165  to move inward as slot  167  traverses along guide pin  168  and, spring  169  to compress and (ii) compressed springs  152  to urge extension  151  into notch  170  thereby removing spring-biased hinge lock  150  from one of said position cavities  160  permitting the footbed arch plate  110  to rotate relative to said footbed toe plate  105 . Engaging said spring-biased hinge lock  150  occurs automatically upon release of the pressure on said end cap  166  permitting said compressed spring  167  to expand thus urging said spring-biased pin  165  outward causing said extension  151  to be urged from said notch  170  thus urging said spring-biased hinge lock  150  into one of said position cavities  160 . 
         [0032]      FIG. 2  shows the footbed arch plate  115  in a generally horizontal or flat position and angled (in dotted lines) relative to said footbed toe plate  105 . When angled, the footbed arch plate  110  is able support a medium or high heel. 
         [0033]      FIG. 1   c  shows the shoe hinge member  100  incorporated in a shoe. As shown, the shoe hinge member  100  is angled (angle identified by A) relative to a shoe bisection line and configured to match the shoe configuration, namely the orientation of the toe footbed. Depending on the shoe, the shoe hinge member  100  may also be incorporated without the angle (see,  FIG. 8   b ). 
         [0034]      FIGS. 3-7  show a heel block  200  configured to accept one or more unique heels  202 ,  282  and is connected to a bottom surface  201  of a shoe. The heel block  200  incorporates two channels  205 ,  210  ( FIG. 6 ) for accommodating a spring-biased heel lock  215  and spring-biased pin  230  for controlling said spring-biased heel lock  215 . The spring-biased heel lock  215  is positioned within channel  205  and includes a spring  206  and a tip section  207  which extends into a removable heel with an accommodating cavity. In another embodiment, the spring-biased heel lock  215  includes an external spring  216  and interior spring  217  ( FIGS. 7-9 ). In such an embodiment, channel  205  has an upper portion  206  having a first diameter and a lower portion  207  having a second smaller diameter wherein said upper portion  206  accommodates an upper section  218  of said spring-biased heel lock  215  and said lower portion  207  accommodates a lower section  219  of said spring-biased heel lock  215 . 
         [0035]    The spring-biased heel lock  215  includes a piston  225  contained within chamber  226  along with said biasing interior spring  217 . When the spring-biased heel lock  215  is positioned within said channel  205 , a portion of the chamber  226  and the contained piston  225  extend from the confines of the channel  205  for reasons described below. 
         [0036]    The spring-biased pin  230  is positioned in channel  210  and, is configured and operates like spring-biased pin  165  shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  1   a - 1   i  and  2 . The spring-biased pin  230  includes notch  235  and slot  240  which accepts guide pin  245 . 
         [0037]    Operation of the spring-biased heel lock  215  comprises applying pressure to an end cap  231  of said spring-biased pin  230  which causes: (i) the spring-biased pin  230  to move inward as said slot  240  traverses along guide pin  245  and, spring  246  to compress; (ii) compressed external spring  216  to urge piston  225  into notch  235  thereby allowing an upper portion of said spring-biased heel lock  215  to extend into said notch  235  while said piston  225  remains extended from said channel  205 . The piston  225  is able to move from an extended position if said internal spring  217  is compressed. 
         [0038]      FIGS. 8   a ,  8   b  and  9  show the hinge member  100  and two shoe blocks  200 - 1 ,  200 - 2  incorporated into a shoe  300 . The hinge member  100  is integrated within, and substantially concealed by, the toe footbed  305  and arch footbed  310  of the shoe  300 . Only the end caps  166 ,  231  and  232  are exposed for a user to depress. Accordingly, the end caps  166 ,  231  and  232  may be covered with material matching the shoe  300 . The heel blocks  200 - 1 ,  200 - 2  are attached to a bottom surface of the shoe  300  using conventional attachment means such as screws, nails, rivets, adhesives, etc. 
         [0039]    The heel blocks  200 - 1 ,  200 - 2  receive one of multiple heels  310 - 1 ,  310 - 2  configured with a void substantially matching the heel blocks  200 - 1 ,  200 - 2 . In operation, heels  310 - 1 ,  310 - 2  slide onto the heel blocks  200 - 1 ,  200 - 2  when the spring-biased heel locks  215 - 1 ,  215 - 2  are disengaged responsive to end caps  166 ,  231  and  232  being depressed. A shown in  FIGS. 10   a  and  10   b , dovetailed channels  311  on an underside of the voids  312  of the heels  310 - 1 ,  310 - 2  allow the piston  225  to be initially extended from said channel  205  of the heel block  200 - 1 ,  200 - 2  and guided by said dovetailed channel  311  until the heel  310 - 1 ,  310 - 2  nears a final position at which point the piston  225  is able to further extend from channel  205  into heel cavities  314  at ends of the dovetailed channel  311 . Accordingly, the heels  310 - 1 ,  310 - 2  are held in place via a frictional relationship between the heel blocks  200 - 1 ,  200 - 2  and heel voids  312  as well as the extension of the pistons  225 - 1 ,  225 - 2  of the spring-biased heel locks  215 - 1 ,  215 - 2  into the heel cavities  314 . 
         [0040]    In one embodiment, the heels  310 - 2  (and other heels) slide on heel block  200 - 2  from a rear of the shoe  300  and the spring-biased heel locks  215 - 2  are angled forward or oppositely such that the lower section  219 - 2  of the spring-biased heel lock  215 - 2  inserts or extends into the heel cavity in downward, forward direction thereby resisting any desire of the heel  310 - 2  to disengage from the heel block  200 - 2  in a rearward direction.  FIG. 9  shows a shoe  301  having a high heel  307 . 
         [0041]    In one embodiment, the end caps  166 ,  231  and  232  are covered or fabricated of material  177  matching the shoe  300 . Alternatively, the end caps  166 ,  231  and  232  are fabricated of a noticeably distinct material from the shoe  300  such that the end caps  166 ,  231  and  232  act as an indication of the source of the shoes incorporating the hinge member  100  and heel block  200 . For example, the end cap  231  may be fabricated of silver or platinum thus being easily visible relative to the other portions of the shoe  300  and acting as a readily identifiable trademark. 
         [0042]    The embodiments of the present invention may be made of various types of materials including plastics, alloys, metals and composites and the components may be fabricated using techniques including molding, machining and rapid prototyping. The hinge member  100  in integrated into the shoe footbed such that the line of connection/rotation between the first plate  105  and the second plate  110  aligns with a folding partition or similar shoe footbed design to allow the shoe footbed to fold or rotate commensurate with the hinge member  100 . For example, in one embodiment, the shoe footbed may comprise two separate sections—(i) a toe footbed section and an (ii) arch footbed section which are joined to one another by means of a weak joint or other mechanism allowing the arch footbed section to rotate relative to the toe footbed section. 
         [0043]    Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to several embodiments, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.