Abstract:
A shoe with a removable and interchangeable heel that may be removably secured to a heel region of a shoe sole, thus, allowing a user to adjust a way the shoe engages a ground surface. The shoe includes an attachment system for removably securing the removable and interchangeable heel to the heel region of the shoe sole, the attachment system comprising a magnetic fastener between the removable and interchangeable heel and the heel region of the shoe sole.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims benefit from U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/660,716, filed on Mar. 11, 2005, which is incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates generally to shoes. In particular, the present invention relates to bowling shoes that allow the user adjust the way their bowling shoes engage a bowling surface depending on the bowling surface conditions and the bowler&#39;s individual style. 
   2. State of the Art 
   Generally, when a bowler approaches the bowling lane to throw the bowling ball down the bowling lane, the foot opposite the bowler&#39;s throwing hand performs a sliding function and the other foot performs a kicking function. For a right-handed bowler, the left-foot performs the slide function and the right-foot performs the kicking function. The sliding function of the bowler&#39;s foot can affect the bowler&#39;s ball control and power. Additionally, the condition of the bowling lanes, lane approaches, room temperature and humidity will influence the sliding function and the bowler&#39;s performance. As such, bowlers would benefit from the ability to adjust the way their bowling shoes engage the bowling surface depending on the bowling surface conditions and the bowler&#39;s individual style. 
   One disadvantage of a bowling shoe with a fixed sole is the inability to get the best sliding function under changing bowling surface conditions. Furthermore, fixed-sole bowling shoes make it necessary for the bowler to have many pairs of bowling shoes in order to be prepared for different bowling surface conditions. 
   Different bowling shoe designs have been developed which allow the bowler to adjust the friction of the shoe by changing the tread surface of the sole of the shoe, including the toe portion, the heel portion and the center, or arch, portions of the sole. The tread surface of the sole is changed by using removable slide parts that attach to the bottom surface of the sole with adhesive tape, interlocking hook and pile loop fasteners and other fasteners. However, the use of these fasteners allows the removable slide parts to move and, thus, compromises the stability of the bowling shoe. Moreover, the movement of the slide parts and instability of the bowling shoe decreases the durability and life of the bowling shoe, particularly of the heel portion of shoe which bears the greatest weight. 
   Accordingly, there is a need for bowling shoes that allow the user to change the friction of the shoe sole on the bowling surface that also have increased stability and durability. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention includes a bowling shoe that has various options for adjustment or customization by featuring a plurality of removable and interchangeable heels with a predetermined frictional characteristic that is freely put on or off the heel region of the shoe sole. The removable and interchangeable heel may be removably secured to the heel region of the shoe sole using a magnetic fastener between the removable and interchangeable heel and the heel region of the shoe sole. The magnetic fastener may be such that the interchangeable heel may be freely removed from the heel region of the shoe sole. The magnetic fastener may include a first magnet or magnetic material on a shoe-sole-facing surface of the heel and a second magnet or magnetic material on the heel region of the shoe sole, wherein the first and second magnet or magnetic materials are magnetically attracted to each other sufficiently to removably secure together the heel region of the shoe sole and the desired removable and interchangeable heel. Magnetic materials that may be used with embodiments of the invention may include materials that are magnetizable or are magnetically attracted to a magnetized material, such as iron or steel. 
   The bowling shoe of the instant invention may comprise a shoe upper and a shoe sole mounted to the shoe upper. The shoe sole may have a tread surface extending longitudinally, continuously or intermittently, from a toe end of the shoe sole rearward to an arch portion thereof. The shoe may further comprise a removable and interchangeable heel that may be freely put on or off the heel region of the shoe sole. The removable and interchangeable heel includes a shoe-sole-facing surface and a ground-touching tread surface. The ground-touching tread surface may include a predetermined frictional characteristic, and may also include a perimeter substantially congruent with an outer perimeter of the heel region of the shoe sole. 
   The shoe may also include a heel region of the shoe sole with a cut out or indention formed centrally in the heel region of the shoe sole or the cut out or indention may be formed longitudinally or laterally across at least a partial width of the heel region of the shoe sole. Moreover, the cut out or indention may be configured to secure therein a magnet or magnetic material. Furthermore, the cut out or indention may be formed to accept at least a portion of a magnet or magnetic material that is attached to the shoe-sole-facing surface of a removable and interchangeable heel. 
   Embodiments of the invention may also provide a removable and interchangeable heel that may be freely put on or off the heel region of the sole of a shoe. The removable and interchangeable heel may have a shoe-sole-facing surface and a ground-touching tread surface. The ground-touching tread surface may have a predetermined frictional characteristic and may be manufactured from, or partially or completely covered with materials such as natural or synthetic rubber, leather, felt, foam, silicone or other materials that may affect the friction and sliding performance of the shoe. The removable and interchangeable heel can be removably secured to the heel region of the shoe sole with an attachment system including one or more magnetic fasteners between the removable and interchangeable heel and the heel region of the shoe sole, the one or more magnetic fasteners configured such that the interchangeable heel may be freely removed from the heel region of the shoe sole. 
   The present invention may also provide a method of adjusting the friction and sliding performance of a bowling shoe sole on the bowling lane approach surface. The method may comprise providing a shoe with interchangeable heels, wherein the shoe includes a shoe upper and a shoe sole mounted to the shoe upper. The shoe sole may have a tread surface at the forward portion of the sole extending continuously or intermittently, from a toe end of the shoe sole rearward to an arch portion thereof. The shoe sole may also have a heel region at a rear portion of the shoe sole. The shoe may further feature a plurality of removable and interchangeable heels that may be freely put on or off the heel region of the shoe sole. The removable and interchangeable heels may each have a shoe-sole-facing surface and a ground-touching tread surface and a perimeter substantially congruent with an outer perimeter of the heel region of the shoe sole. The ground-touching tread surface of the plurality of removable and interchangeable heels may each have a predetermined frictional characteristic and may each be manufactured from, or partially or completely covered with materials such as natural or synthetic rubber, leather, felt, foam, silicone or other materials that may affect the friction and sliding performance of a bowling shoe sole on the bowling lane approach surface. The removable and interchangeable heels may be removably secured to the heel region of the sole by means of an attachment system including one or more magnetic fasteners between the removable and interchangeable heel and the heel region of the shoe sole, the one or more magnetic fasteners configured such that the removable and interchangeable heels may be freely removed from the heel region of the shoe sole. The attachment system may also include other known fastening techniques such as hook and pile loop fasteners that facilitate interchangeability. A magnetic fastener may comprise a first magnet or magnetic material on a shoe-sole-facing surface of the heel and a second magnet or magnetic material on the heel region of the shoe sole, wherein the first and second magnet or magnetic materials are magnetically attracted to each other sufficiently to removably secure together the heel region of the shoe sole and the removable and interchangeable heel. The method further comprises selecting one removable and interchangeable heel from the plurality of removable and interchangeable heels and removably securing the selected one removable and interchangeable heel to the heel region of the shoe sole and then placing the shoe on the foot opposite the bowling ball throwing hand, thus, adjusting the friction of the bowling shoe sole on the bowling lane approach and achieving the desired sliding performance. 
   Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration of the ensuing description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings, which illustrate exemplary embodiments of various aspects of the present invention: 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a side view of a construction of a shoe and a removable and interchangeable heel according to embodiments of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a rear view of a construction of a shoe and a removable and interchangeable heel according to embodiments of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a bottom view of a sole of the shoe shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a view of a shoe-sole-facing surface of the removable and interchangeable heel shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
       FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the removable and interchangeable heel shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
       FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of a construction of a shoe and a removable and interchangeable heel according to particular embodiments of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a rear view of a construction of a shoe and a removable and interchangeable heel according to particular embodiments of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a bottom view of a sole of the shoe shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ; 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a view of a shoe-sole-facing surface of the removable and interchangeable heel shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ; 
       FIG. 10  illustrates a perspective view of the removable and interchangeable heel shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 ; 
       FIG. 11  illustrates a side view of a construction of a shoe and a removable and interchangeable heel according to embodiments of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 12  illustrates a side view of a construction of a shoe and a removable and interchangeable heel according to embodiments of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown  FIGS. 1-5 . In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the bowling shoe  2  is depicted with a shoe upper  6  and a shoe sole  4  mounted to the shoe upper  6 . The shoe sole  4  having a heel region  8 . The shoe upper  6  may be made from natural or synthetic materials, or combinations thereof, including leather, synthetic leather, canvas, nylon and vinyl. The shoe sole  4  may be made from natural and/or synthetic materials such as leather, plastic, synthetic or natural rubber, etc. 
   The cut out or indention  12  in the heel region  8  of the shoe sole  4  may be centrally located and configured to accept a sole magnet or magnetic material  14  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The sole magnet or magnetic material  14  may be secured to the bottom of the cut out or indention  12  and configured to fit within the boundaries defined by the edges  12   a  and  12   b  of the cut out or indention  12  such that a face of the magnet or magnetic material  14  is substantially parallel with the bottom of the cut out or indention  12 . The cut out or indention  12  may be configured as shown in  FIG. 3  with edge  12   a  and edge  12   b  having a shape and a depth configured to accommodate the sole magnet or magnetic material  14 . The cut out or indention  12  may also be configured in other desired shapes and depths. Moreover, the cut out or indention  12  may be configured with a depth and shape to receive the depth and shape of the heel magnet or magnetic material  18  as it is attached to the shoe-sole-facing surface  20  of the removable and interchangeable heel  10  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). As known by those of skill in the art, the magnet or magnetic materials used as the sole magnet or magnetic materials  14  or heel magnet or magnetic materials  18  may include materials that are magnetizable or are magnetically attracted to a magnetized material such as iron or steel. 
   The removable and interchangeable heel  10  may have a shoe-sole-facing surface  20  and a ground-touching tread surface  21  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). The removable and interchangeable heel  10  may have a predetermined frictional characteristic and may be constructed of materials such as natural or synthetic rubber, leather, felt, foam, silicone or other materials that affect the friction and sliding performance of the bowling shoe  2 . Alternatively, the ground-touching tread surface  21  may be partially or completely covered with materials such as natural or synthetic rubber, leather, felt, foam, silicone or other materials that affect the friction and sliding performance of the bowling shoe  2 . 
   The removable and interchangeable heel  10  may be removably secured to the heel region  8  of the shoe sole  4  by aligning the heel magnet or magnetic material  18  attached to the removable and interchangeable heel  10  with the cut out or indention  12  in the heel region  8  ( FIG. 11 ) and sole magnet or magnetic material  14  therein. As such, the sole and heel magnets or magnetic materials  14  and  18 , respectively, may be brought into sufficient proximity to allow a magnetic attraction between the sole and heel magnets or magnetic materials  14  and  18 , thus, removably securing the removable and interchangeable heel  10  to the heel region  8  of the shoe sole  4 . 
   The heel magnet or magnetic material  18  may be secured to base plate  22  which is secured to the shoe-sole-facing surface  20  of the removable and interchangeable heel  10  ( FIG. 5 ). In this case, the heel magnet or magnetic material  18  and the base plate  22  are inserted into the cut out or indention  12  in the heel region  8  ( FIGS. 1 and 11 ). 
   Additionally, the shoe-sole-facing surface  20  and the bottom surface  16  (see also  FIGS. 1 and 2 ) of the heel region  8 , not including the surfaces defined by the cut out or indention  12  and the heel magnet or magnetic material  18 , may have hook and pile loop fasteners attached thereon to help removably secure the removable and interchangeable heel  10  to the heel region  8  of the shoe sole  4  ( FIGS. 3-5 ). 
   The sole and heel magnets or magnetic materials  14  and  18 , respectively, may be made of a magnetized metal or out of a flexible rubber magnet or other suitable magnets or magnetic materials known in the art that allow a sufficient magnetic attraction between the sole and heel magnets or magnetic materials  14  and  18  to removably secure the removable and interchangeable heel  10  to the heel region  8  of the shoe sole  4 . 
   An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is also shown  FIGS. 6-10 . In  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a bowling shoe  30  is depicted with a shoe upper  6  and a shoe sole  4  mounted to the shoe upper  6 . The shoe sole  4  is depicted as having a heel region  8 . The shoe upper  6  may be made from natural and synthetic materials, or combinations thereof, including leather, synthetic leather, canvas, nylon and vinyl. The shoe sole  4  may be made from natural and/or synthetic materials such as leather, plastic, synthetic or natural rubber, etc. 
   The cut out or indention  32  in the heel region  8  of the shoe sole  4  may be laterally located across the entire width of the heel region  8  and configured to accept a magnet or magnetic material  34  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ). The magnet or magnetic material  34  may be secured to the bottom of the cut out or indention  32  and configured to fit within the boundaries defined by the edges  32   a  and  32   b  of the cut out or indention  32  such that a face of the magnet or magnetic material  34  is substantially parallel with the bottom of the cut out or indention  32  (see also  FIG. 8 ). The cut out or indention  32  may be configured as shown in  FIG. 8  with edge  32   a  and edge  32   b  with a shape and a depth configured to accommodate the magnet or magnetic material  34 . The cut out or indention  32  may also be configured longitudinally and/or laterally across a partial or entire width of the heel region  8 . Moreover, the cut out or indention  32  may be configured with a depth and shape to receive a depth and shape of a heel magnet or magnetic material  42  as it is attached to the shoe-sole-facing surface  20  of the removable and interchangeable heel  40  ( FIGS. 6 and 7 ). 
   The removable and interchangeable heel  40  may have a shoe-sole-facing surface  20  and a ground-touching tread surface  21  ( FIG. 10 ). The removable and interchangeable heel  40  may be constructed of materials such as natural or synthetic rubber, leather, felt, foam, silicone or other materials that affect the friction and sliding performance of the bowling shoe  30 . Moreover, the ground-touching tread surface  21  may have a predetermined frictional characteristic and may be partially or completely covered with materials such as natural or synthetic rubber, leather, felt, foam, silicone or other materials that affect the friction and sliding performance of the shoe. 
   The removable and interchangeable heel  40  may be removably secured to the heel region  8  of the shoe sole  4  by aligning the heel magnet or magnetic material  42  attached to the removable and interchangeable heel  40  with the cut out or indention  32  in the heel region  8  ( FIG. 12 ). As such, the magnet or magnetic material  34  and heel magnet or magnetic material  42  may be brought into sufficient proximity to allow a magnetic attraction between the magnets or magnetic materials  34  and  42 , thus, removably securing the removable and interchangeable heel  40  to the heel region  8  of the shoe sole  4 . 
   The heel magnet or magnetic material  42  may be secured to base plate  44  which is secured to the shoe-sole-facing surface  20  of the removable and interchangeable heel  40  ( FIG. 10 ). In this case, the heel magnet or magnetic material  42  and the base plate  44  are inserted into the cut out or indention  32  in the heel region  8  ( FIGS. 6 and 12 ). 
   Additionally, the shoe-sole-facing surface  20  and the bottom surface  16  of the heel region  8 , not including the surfaces defined by the cut out or indention  32  and the heel magnet or magnetic material  42 , may have hook and pile loop fasteners attached thereon to help removably secure the removable and interchangeable heel  40  to the heel region  8  of the shoe sole  4  ( FIGS. 8-10 ). 
   The magnets or magnetic materials  34  and  42  may be made of a magnetized metal or out of a flexible rubber magnet or other suitable magnets or magnetic materials known in the art that allow a sufficient magnetic attraction between the magnets or magnetic materials  34  and  42  to removably secure the removable and interchangeable heel  10  to the heel region  8  of the shoe sole  4 . 
   The removable and interchangeable heel  40  may also be removably secured to the heel region  8  of the shoe sole  4  with a cut out or indention on the shoe-sole-facing surface  20  of the removable and interchangeable heel  40 , with a magnet or magnetic material therein, the cut out or indention configured to accept a magnet or magnetic material attached on the heel region  8  of the shoe sole  4 . 
   Also, the removable and interchangeable heel  40  may be removably secured to the heel region  8  of the shoe sole  4  by a sliding fastener configured much like a dovetail joint and including a beveled lateral channel within the heel region  8  of the shoe sole  4 , or a beveled lateral channel formed within the shoe-sole-facing surface  20  of the removable and interchangeable heel  40 . The channel configured to accept a beveled lateral extension is located on the heel region  8  of the shoe sole  4  or located on the shoe-sole-facing surface  20  of the removable and interchangeable heel  40 . The beveled lateral extension is configured to slide within the beveled lateral channel much like a dovetail joint, thus removably securing the removable and interchangeable heel  40  to the heel region  8  of the shoe sole  4 . 
   According to other embodiments of the invention, methods for adjusting the friction and/or sliding performance of a bowling shoe are provided. In some embodiments, the sliding performance of a bowling shoe may be adjusted by interchanging an interchangeable heel portion of the bowling shoe with a second interchangeable heel portion to provide improved sliding performance with a bowling surface in contact with the bowling shoe. In other embodiments, the friction between a bowling shoe and a bowling surface may be improved by interchanging an interchangeable heel portion of the bowling shoe with a second interchangeable heel portion to provide improved friction between the second interchangeable heel portion and a bowling surface. 
   Although the foregoing description contains many specific examples, these examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention, but merely as providing illustrations of some exemplary embodiments. Similarly, other embodiments of the invention may be devised which do not depart form the spirit or scope of the present invention. Features from different embodiments may be employed in combination. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated and limited only by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the foregoing description. All additions, deletions and modifications to the invention, as disclosed herein which fall within the meaning and scope of the claims are to be embraced thereby.