Abstract:
An improved system and method for protecting the heel area of footwear is disclosed herein. Specifically, a heel protector system is disclosed. Such heel protector system can comprise a rod member mountable above a welt of a shoe, and a sheet further comprising a curved surface, and a horizontal track along the concave side of the curved surface, wherein said horizontal track connects the sheet to the rod member. In another embodiment, the heel protector system can further comprise a sheet which is replaceable by a second sheet. The second sheet can comprise a second curved surface and a second horizontal track along the concave side of the second curved surface, wherein the second curved horizontal track capable of connecting the second sheet to the rod member.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    This disclosure relates to an improved system and method for protecting the heel area of footwear. 
         [0002]    Boots are a preferred footwear around the world for their functionality, durability, style, and comfort. Due to regular use, boots and other footwear become cracked, scraped and scratched. Often these scratch marks are found at the heel of footwear. These types of damage are usually unavoidable since the heel makes contact with various surfaces when performing activities, such as driving or working. Visible marks on footwear can be very unpleasant and can even make new footwear look old. Since damage can occur repeatedly, investment in shoe repair services is both inevitable and costly. Buying new footwear can also be quite expensive. 
         [0003]    Consequently, several developments have been made to prevent and protect the rear end of boots or other footwear from being damaged. One of the popularly known methods is by applying gels, creams, lotions, or sprays to protect boots. However, this method only protects footwear from minor scratches and stains, as additional protection is required for the parts of the boot more commonly damaged by wear and tear. 
         [0004]    Hence, another method was developed to enhance protection on the heel end of the shoe. One of the shoe guard methods previously designed by the present inventor uses a U-shaped wire rod with a correspondingly shaped plate. Its plate also includes an outwardly extending bevel, which prevents dirt and other elements from being lodged between the shoe guard and the shoes. Nevertheless, due to the plate&#39;s curved shape, this design only covers a small part of the footwear&#39;s upper heel and leaves the lower heel exposed to damage. Additionally, the upper edge of the sheet uses a protruding edge surface which can still collect small dirt and/or other small particles. Aside from functional defects, such a protruding edge surface of the plate may not look aesthetically pleasant against the sleek design of footwear. Flaws are also present in the design of the method&#39;s metallic rod, which uses an extended leg that bends outwardly. Although the rod may help keep the shoe guard in place, it still causes some damage on boots or any footwear during installation and/or removal due to its cylindrical sharp edges. 
         [0005]    As such, it would be useful to have an improved system and method for protecting the heel of footwear. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    An improved system and method for protecting the heel area of footwear is disclosed herein. Specifically, a heel protector system is disclosed. Such heel protector system can comprise a rod member mountable above a welt of a shoe, and a sheet further comprising a curved surface, and a horizontal track along the concave side of the curved surface, wherein said horizontal track connects the sheet to the rod member. In one embodiment, the heel protector system can further comprise a sheet which is replaceable by a second sheet. The second sheet can comprise a second curved surface and a second horizontal track along the concave side of the second curved surface, wherein the second curved horizontal track capable of connecting the second sheet to the rod member. 
         [0007]    Additionally, a method for attaching the heel protector is disclosed. The method can comprise a rod member mountable above a welt of a shoe, a first sheet, further comprising a curved surface, and a horizontal track along the concave side of the curved surface, wherein the horizontal track connects the first sheet to the rod member. Further, the method can comprise the steps of removing the first sheet from the rod member, and connecting a second sheet to the rod member. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a front view of a heel protector. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a rear view of a heel protector. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates the curvature of rearward portion. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  illustrates the design of sheet. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  illustrates how heel protector can be secured to boots. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  illustrates a second sheet. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of heel protector wherein sheet resides within the inner curve of rod member. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0015]    Described herein is a system and method for protecting the heel area of footwear. The following description is presented to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention as claimed and is provided in the context of the particular examples discussed below, variations of which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. In the interest of clarity, not all features of an actual implementation are described in this specification. It will be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation (as in any development project), design decisions must be made to achieve the designers&#39; specific goals (e.g., compliance with system- and business-related constraints), and that these goals will vary from one implementation to another. It will also be appreciated that such development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but would nevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in the field of the appropriate art having the benefit of this disclosure. Accordingly, the claims appended hereto are not intended to be limited by the disclosed embodiments, but are to be accorded their widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein. 
         [0016]      FIG. 1A  and  FIG. 1B  illustrate a heel protector  100 . Heel protector  100  can comprise a rod member  101  and a sheet  106 . Rod member  101  can comprise of a pair of slightly inward extending members  102 , a pair of extended members  103  and a rearward portion  104 . In one embodiment, extended members  103  can be joined permanently with inward members  102  and rearward portion  104 , forming a single body. The ends of extended members  103  can be conical in shape to ensure that boots are not scratched and damaged during installation of heel protector  100 . In such embodiment, rod member  101  furthermore can be made from any materials such as metal or plastic that can be bent and/or curved inwardly to form a rearward circular-shaped portion  105 . As such, rod member  101  can generally form a U-shape. 
         [0017]    Sheet  106  can comprise side portions  107 , a rearward portion  108 , upper rearward portion  109 , and a curved sheet holder  1010 . Further, sheet  106  can be made from materials including, but not limited to, thin metal, plastic, or rubber materials. Various types of engravings or other design materials can be decorated in the visible surface of sheet  106 . Sheet  106  can be clear, or can have any kind of color and/or textures. Further, the visible outer surface of sheet  106  can be affixed with logos, and/or brands. The logo or brand can be of a company having nothing to do with the manufacture, distribution, and/or sale of the heel protector. Hence, heel protector  100  can be used as an effective form of advertisement for items other than the heel protector. Such advertising can be words, pictures, or a combination of both. 
         [0018]    In one embodiment sheet  106  can be permanently attached to rod member  101  by a weld with solder, adhesives, and/or other bonding materials and/or methods. In another embodiment sheet  106  can be removable and easily detached from rod member  101 . In such embodiment, sheet  106  can comprise a groove that rod member  101  can snap into. As such, sheet  106  can be replaceable and/or reusable. In another embodiment sheet  106  and rod member  101  can be designed as one single piece of material. 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates the curvature of rearward portion  108 . In one embodiment, the middle curvature of rearward portion  108  can curve slightly inward up to upper rearward portion  109 , so that the rear end portion  201  of rod member  101  can be outward of rearward portion  108 . Upper rearward portion  108  can be extended upward from rod member  101 , allowing sheet  106  to cover a larger rear end portion of a heel. In one embodiment, sheet  106  can have lower portion  202 , which can extend downward from rod member  101  and add protection to heel portion of boots. In such embodiment, the rearward of lower portion  202  can be slightly curved inward. In one scenario, the rearward of lower portion  202  can extend horizontally and perpendicular to rearward circular-shaped portion  105  while in another, lower portion  202  can extend downward and perpendicular to rearward circular-shaped portion  105 . Lower portion  202  can create a larger space for designs. 
         [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates the design of sheet  106 . In one embodiment, the left and right side portion  107  of sheet  106  can be extended horizontally from rearward circular-shaped portion  105  up to rearward portion  108 . From rod member  101 , the side portion  107  of sheet  106  slightly can curve inward and extends upward. As such, side portions  107  of sheet  106  do not protrude side portions of rod member  101 , and can follow the contour of footwear. 
         [0021]    Moreover, from the upper edges  301  of side portions  107 , sheet  106  can form an upward slope towards upper rearward portion  109 . In such embodiment, upper edges  301  can slope slightly upward as it moves to slope portion  302  and then curves slightly upward towards the upper edge of upper rearward portion  109 . In such embodiment, edges  301  and  303  can be rounded in shape in order to avoid sharp edges that can scratch or damage the footwear. 
         [0022]    Sheet  106  can be extended sideward and upward to permit a larger coverage and protection of the rear end portion of the boots. In one embodiment, outward bevels that can protrude rod member  101  can be avoided for both a sleeker look and to prevent small particles or dirt from collecting on any protruding edges of sheet  106 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 4  illustrates how heel protector  100  can be secured to boots  400 . Footwear  400  can comprise of a welt  401 , a sole  402 , and an upper boot portion  403 . Welt  401  is a strip that normally extends around boots  400 . However, welt  401  can extend to create a surface between sole  402  and upper boot portion  403  and allow for rod member  101  to be formed to fit snugly on top of welt  401 . 
         [0024]    When attaching heel protector  100  to footwear  400 , the U-shaped opening of rod member  101  should face the rear end portion of footwear  400 . Thus, rod member  101  can be placed at the surface of welt  501 . In one embodiment, heel protector  100  can be slightly pushed towards footwear  400  during installation until rearward portion  108  of sheet  106  touches the heel. In such embodiment, the inward extending member  102  can be pushed outwardly, allowing heel protector  100  to slide easily to footwear  400 . Once heel protector  100  is in place, the inward extending member  102  returns to its normal form, clasping securely onto the side portion of footwear  400 . Moreover, extended members  104  which can extend and slope outward, can prevent scratching or damaging the footwear during installation. Rod member  101  can be pressed adjacent to footwear  400 , and curved sheet holder  1010  can be positioned at the outer surface of rod member  101 , making rod member  101  slightly visible. 
         [0025]      FIG. 5  illustrates a second sheet  501 . In an embodiment wherein sheet  106  is detachable, second sheet  501  can be used as a replacement for sheet  106 . Similarly, second sheet  501  can be configured exactly like sheet  106  and both can be attachable and detachable. Such embodiment of second sheet  501  can be strained inwardly in order to be secured tightly unto rod member  101 . Alternatively, in said embodiment, curved sheet holder  1010  can have an extended member or can form a semi-circle for better hold and security unto rod member  101 . Additionally, one or more small fasteners  502 , in such embodiment, can be used to make sure sheet  501  is securely in place. The fastener can be any fastener known in the art, such as snaps or hook and loop fasteners. 
         [0026]      FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of heel protector  100  wherein sheet  106  resides within the inner curve of rod member  101 . In such embodiment, sheet  106  can help prevent rod member from damaging footwear  400  during installation. 
         [0027]    Various changes in the details of the illustrated operational methods are possible without departing from the scope of the following claims. Some embodiments may combine the activities described herein as being separate steps. Similarly, one or more of the described steps may be omitted, depending upon the specific operational environment the method is being implemented in. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. For example, the above-described embodiments may be used in combination with each other. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. The scope of the invention should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. In the appended claims, the terms “including” and “in which” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms “comprising” and “wherein.”