Abstract:
A heel guard detachably mountable onto a heel post of a high heel shoe extends the heel post pressure area, while moving over rough terrain preventing the heel post from sinking into soft surfaces. The heel guard comprises a base portion and an upper portion. The base portion dissipates the heel post pressure while the upper portion frictionally grips the heel post. The upper portion projects from the base portion in a curvilinear fashion into a plurality of stays that converge forming an aperture before extending into the upper portion interior. The upper portion can also be an hourglass columnar receptacle with a bore that tapers from a wide opening to a narrower middle section then to a wider base. The narrower middle section frictionally grips heel posts of varying thicknesses.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to shoes and, more specifically, to guards that are detachably mountable onto the post of women&#39;s high heels to extend the heel pressure area while moving over rough terrain and to prevent the heel from sinking into soft surfaces. 
     The heel guard comprises a base portion and an upper portion with the base portion made of a rigid material that will dissipate the heel pressure across the base while the upper portion is designed to frictionally grip the heel post. 
     Preferably, the upper portion is manufactured from a polymeric and/or elastomeric material that projects from the base in curvilinear fashion into a plurality of stays that converge forming an aperture before extending into the upper portion interior. 
     Furthermore, the present invention provides for an upper portion columnar receptacle with a bore manufactured from an elastomeric or polymeric material that tapers from a wide opening to a narrower middle section then to a wider base, much like an hourglass with the narrower middle section forming the frictional element for heel posts of varying thicknesses. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     There are other heel support device designed for high heels. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 1,875,806 issued to Givens on Sep. 6, 1932 
     Another patent was issued to Fredon on Apr. 22, 1969 as U.S. Pat. No. 3,439,435. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,252 was issued to Connors on Feb. 12, 1985 and still yet another was issued on May 17, 1994 to Topel as U.S. Pat. No. 5,311,675 
     Another patent was issued to Brown et al. on Jun. 26, 2008 as U.S. Patent Application No. 2008/0148606 Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 7,971,373 was issued to Epping on Jul. 5, 2011 Another was issued to Brown et al. on Oct. 11, 2011 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,033,035 and still yet another was issued on Feb. 14, 1963 to Wunderle as Germany Patent No. DE1867331. 
     Another patent was issued to Fredon on May 26, 1966 as U.K. Patent No. GB1,080,846 Yet another EU Patent No. EP2311342 was issued to Bertrand on Apr. 20, 2011. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 1,875,806 
     Inventor: Albert W. Givens 
     Issued: 30 Jun. 1931 
     The invention is a detachable enlarged wearing surface for spike heels, comprising a circular tread member integral with a conical heel embracing member having tapered concave sides and a central opening conforming in shape to a cross section of the spike heel, and a metallic disk of greater area than the spike heel secured within said tread between the shoe heel and the wearing surface at an angle thereto. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,439,435 
     Inventor: Pierre Andre Gaston Fredon 
     Issued: 22 Apr. 1969 
     Disclosed is the combination of a stiletto heel having a tip of material adapted to be attracted by magnetic forces, with a protector which comprises a cup-like device having (1) a wall portion adapted to surround a lower portion of the heel, and (2) an end closing portion, said cup-like device incorporating permanent magnet means for producing a magnetic force adapted to clamp the end closing portion to the tip. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,498,252 
     Inventor: Paul E. Connors 
     Issued: 12 Feb. 1985 
     A footwear protector with a shield portion which is a generally U-shaped wall with an open front adapted to follow the general contour of the heel and a suitable portion of the backside of the footwear. The first heel binding strap portion projects outwardly from the lateral edges of the shield portion forming a loop at the base of the shield which loop resiliently fastens around about the heel and embraces the heel breast. A heel stop portion at the base of the shield locates the heel and prevents the shield from riding up the heel. A second heel binding strap portion extends across the saddle of the shield and performs the same function as the first binding strap for heels too small to be bound by the first strap. Extending inward from the back of the shield and spaced above the base of the heel is a tab means. The tab means performs the function of a binding strap for heels with significantly reduced cross section such as spiked and high heels. The protector is a single molded piece of elastic material which can be modified by its user to conform to the heel&#39;s size of the target of the footwear. It is modified by the use of common household shears. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,311,675 
     Inventor: Tracy L. Topel 
     Issued: 17 May 1994 
     A shoe cap arranged for securement to and for reception of a lady&#39;s high heel shoe permitting extended support of the shoe for traverse of water moistened and soft turf. 
     U.S. Patent Application Number 2008/0148606 
     Inventor: Rebecca Brown et al 
     Published: 26 Jun. 2008 
     A stabilizing and support accessory is provided for a stiletto heel. A base plate, having a surface contact area significantly greater than that of the heel, is mounted underneath the heel by means of a simple, clip-on attachment, such that the attachment can be easily and quickly mounted on a heel for walking over soft or uneven surfaces, and also quickly removed when not needed. A preferred clip-on attachment is formed of a section of spring steel shaped into an upwardly opening, U-shaped clip and a horizontally opening clip integrally extending from one element of the upwardly opening clip. An alternative form, formed primarily of plastic, is attached by a single, horizontally disposed clip gripping the heel. The accessories are sufficiently inexpensive that they may be discarded after use, as after walking on muddy surfaces, for example. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,971,373 
     Inventor: Astrid Epping 
     Issued: 5 Jul. 2011 
     A support sleeve for high heels on ladies shoes with a sleeve body to accommodate a heel, the sleeve body having a substantially larger base than the base of the heel to be accommodated, and a fixing arrangement ( 36 ,  38 ,  46 ) for attaching it to the heel. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 8,033,035 
     Inventor: Rebecca P. Brown et al 
     Issued: 11 Oct. 2011 
     A slip-on, slip-off stabilizing support accessory for a stiletto heel. The device is a unitary molding of semi-rigid, resilient plastic material formed with a generally hourglass configuration, with outwardly concave, resiliently flexible side walls for frictionally engaging opposite sides of a stiletto heel. An outwardly flared top opening facilitates application of the device to the heel, while an outwardly flaring bottom configuration provides a greatly enlarged ground contact area. Front and back edges of the side walls are of outwardly concave shape. Front and back wall structures, formed by relatively narrow, spaced-apart elements, enable the side walls to be flexed for easy application to heels of various sizes, while firmly gripping heels of the smallest size. 
     Germany Patent Number DE1867331 
     Inventor: Franz Wunderle 
     Issued: 14 Feb. 1963 
     The invention discloses an easily removable rubber cap for ladies shoes to protect against spiked heel pressure point in floors. 
     U.K. Patent Number GB1,080,846 
     Inventor: Pierre Andre Gaston Fredon 
     Published: 23 Aug. 1967 
     An attachment for the heels of ladies&#39; shoes, e.g. of the “stiletto” type, to prevent damage to floors consists of a permanent magnet arranged to adhere magnetically to the steel tip of the heel and a cap e.g. of thermoplastic resin which surrounds the magnet and at least a lower part of the heel. In a first embodiment the cap is additionally secured to the heel by a locking ring which forces a tapered portion which is lined with felt against the heel. In a modification, the cap has vertical slits, which enable it to extend over the wider part of heel, and an external screw thread. An internally threaded ring is screwed over the cap to clamp the cap over the heel. In a second embodiment, the cap merely surrounds the magnet, no additional fastenings being provided. The magnet may be a solid block of ferrite or magnet alloy or may be a compound magnet formed from an annular magnet and a disc of soft iron. 
     EU Patent Number EP2311342 
     Inventor: Ruiz De Velasco Inigo 
     Issued: 20 Apr. 2011 
     An accessory element for spike heel characterized in that it comprises a platform that houses the tip of said heel, a support wall for said heel placed at the periphery of said platform, and means for detachably fixing said heel to said platform, said fixing means being configured to permit the fixation of said heel next to said support wall so that the tip of the heel is placed off-center in the platform to minimize the torque momentum that receives the platform when walking. With these features the stability and comfort of the user when she walks on soft grounds is enhanced and a detachable accessory element is obtained. 
     While these heel guards may be suitable for the purposes for which they where designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described. 
     It is thus desirable to provide a heel guard having a rigid base with a vertically projecting receptacle for accommodating and gripping the post of high heel shoes that can easily be mounted onto and removed from the heel post without marring or scratching the post. 
     It is further desirable to provide a heel guard having an upper portion extending from a base portion having a plurality of bow-like stays converging into a pliable aperture that accommodates and grips the post of a high heel shoe. 
     SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     A primary object of the present invention is to provide a heel guard for high heel shoes, such as stiletto heels, that will prevent the heel from sinking into soft ground. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a heel guard for high heel shoes that once mounted onto the heel provides a greater heel surface while moving over rough terrain, such as graveled surfaces. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a heel guard that is easily mounted onto and removed from the heel post of high heel shoes without marring the surface of the shoes. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a heel guard having a base portion and an upper portion. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a base portion manufactured from a rigid polymeric and/or elastomeric material that will disperse the pressure placed on the heel over the breadth of the base portion. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a heel guard upper portion structure that encompasses an aperture that receives the heel post of a high heel shoe with the structure frictionally engaging and holding the heel guard to the post of said high heel shoe. 
     A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a heel guard wherein said base portion has a top surface and a bottom surface with said top surface having a substantially centered rimmed receptacle for receiving the heel of a high heel shoe therein. 
     A still yet further object of the present invention is to provide a base portion having an interiorly positioned peripheral ridge forming seat for an upper portion. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a base portion with said peripheral ridge having a plurality of outwardly projecting flanges each having a lip for engaging correspondingly located catches within the heel guard&#39;s upper portion. 
     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a heel guard wherein said base portion optionally provides a bottom surface having a textured surface forming a heel guard ground engaging frictional surface. 
     Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a base portion having a geometric shape with an upper portion extending therefrom, 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a base portion having an irregular shape with an upper portion extending therefrom, 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a heel guard having an upper portion that project from the periphery of the base portion. 
     A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a heel guard having an upper portion with a base having a smaller footprint that the base portion. 
     A still yet further object of the present invention is to provide a heel guard having an upper portion that projects from the base in curvilinear fashion into a plurality of stays that converge forming an aperture before extending into the upper portion interior. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a heel guard having a concave shape on the terminal ends of said stay. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a heel guard having a plurality of post-like supports extending between the bow-like stays and base portion. 
     A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a heel guard further providing panel-like structure extending between the post-like supports and terminal ends of said stays to prevent puckering of the stays as the heel post is removed from the heel guard. 
     A still yet further object of the present invention is to provide a heel guard that will accommodate heel posts of varying thicknesses by virtue of the pliable stays. 
     Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds. 
     The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a heel guard having a base portion made of a rigid material that will distribute heel pressure during use across the breadth of the base and an upper portion forming a heel post receptacle that frictionally grips the heel post preferably by a plurality of pliable bow-like stays having interior support structure engaging a rimmed heel receptacle forming an integral part of the base portion that will prevent puckering of the stays as the heel guard is removed from the heel post. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawing, like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views. 
     The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 
       In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustrative chart of embodiments of the heel guard of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an illustrative view of the preferred embodiment of the heel guard of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is an illustrative view of the preferred embodiment of the heel guard of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  is an illustrative chart of the preferred embodiment of the heel guard of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the heel guard of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the heel guard of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the heel guard of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  is an illustrative view of the heel guard of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  is an illustrative view of the heel guard of the present invention. 
         FIG. 10  is an illustrative assembly view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is an illustrative view of the heel guard of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the heel guard of the present invention. 
         FIG. 13  are plan views of an enablement of the heel guard of the present invention. 
         FIG. 14  is a top view of a plurality of shapes for the heel protector. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCED NUMERALS 
     Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the Figures illustrate the heel guard of the present invention. With regard to the reference numerals used, the following numbering is used throughout the various drawing figures.
       20  heel guard     22  base portion of heel guard  20       24  rigid material of base portion  22       26  upper heel clutch portion of heel guard  20       28  polymeric material of upper portion  26       30  heel post of shoe  36       32  user of shoe  36       36  shoe     38  bottom surface of base portion  22       40  nodules/texture on bottom surface  38       42  flexible material end tip of upper portion  26       44  top side of base portion  22       46  rimmed heel receptacle on top side  44       48  peripheral circumferential ridge on top side  44       50  transverse flange on ridge  48       52  flange tip on flange  50       54  lower peripheral edge of upper portion  26       56  hook-like catch on edge  54       57  curvilinear tongue-like stay of upper portion     58  pliable stay support of stay  57       60  heel guard housing for upper portion  26       62  aperture in housing  60       64  radial slip in housing  60       66  curvilinear section of housing  60       68  heel receptacle for upper portion  26       70  curvilinear wall in heel receptacle  68     

     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The following discussion describes in detail one embodiment of the invention (and several variations of that embodiment). This discussion should not be construed, however, as limiting the invention to those particular embodiments, practitioners skilled in the art will recognize numerous other embodiments as well. For definition of the complete scope of the invention, the reader is directed to appended claims. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , shown is an illustrative chart of embodiments of the heel guard of the present invention. The present invention is a heel guard  20  having a base portion  22  made of rigid material  24  that will distribute the heel pressure across the base  22  and an upper heel clutch portion  26  made of a shape retentive polymeric material  28  that will grip the post  30  of the heel without marring the post texture. The device is inserted onto the shoe heel post  30  providing the user  32  with walking control over soft or rough terrain, such as gravel or soft ground. The heel  30  can be easily pulled out of the heel guard  20  without scratching or damaging the heel post  30  of the shoe  36 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , shown is an illustrative view of the preferred embodiment of the heel guard of the present invention. The heel guard  20  comprises a base  22  that will dissipate the pressure of a stiletto heel  30  across the heel guard base  22  fundamentally enlarging the heel footprint allowing the wearer  32  to walk over soft ground where a stiletto heel  30  may sink into the ground or on rocky terrain, such as loose gravel, that may imperil the user  32  to grave bodily harm or damage the shoes  36 . Furthermore, the heel guard  20  can be fitted onto a stiletto heel  30  to impede slipping on ice by incorporating a bottom surface  38  having nodules or texture  40  serving as a heel guard frictional element. The heel  30  can be easily pulled out of the device without scratching or marring the heel surface due to the inward bends in the flexible material end tips  42 , while accommodating a range of heel thickness. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , shown is an illustrative view of the preferred embodiment of the heel guard of the present invention. The heel guard  20  comprises a heel guard base  22  and heel clutch portion  26  attachable to the base  22 . The base  22  has a bottom side  38  and a top side  44  with the top side  44  having a rimmed heel receptacle  46  and a peripheral circumferential ridge  48  with transverse flanges  50  each terminating in a flange lip  52 . The heel clutch portion  26  has a lower peripheral edge  54  with hook-like catches  56  that matingly engage the base flange lips  52 . The body of the heel clutch portion  26  extends into a plurality of curvilinear tongue-like stays  57  that will frictional engage the heel post  30  when inserted. Each of the tongue-like stays  57  has a pliable stay support  58  that will help maintain the memory retentive stays  57  during the life of the heel guard  20  and accommodate heel posts  30  of varying thickness. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , shown is an illustrative chart of the preferred embodiment of the heel guard of the present invention. The present invention is a heel guard  20  having a bottom portion  22  made of a rigid material  24  and a top portion  26  made of a shape retentive polymeric material  28 . The device is inserted onto the shoe heel post  30  providing the user  32  with walking control over soft ground. The heel  30  can be easily pulled out of the device without scratching or damage due to the inward bends in the flexible material end tips  42 , while accommodating a range of heel thickness. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , shown is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the heel guard of the present invention. The heel guard  20  of the present invention provides a device mountable onto the heel post  30  of a high heel shoe  36  comprising a heel guard housing  60  providing a heel guard receptacle  62  with a rigid base  22  so that the pressure from a heel tip is distributed across the rigid base  22 . The housing  60  further provides an upwardly depending top portion  26  with a top side heel aperture  62  for inserting a heel  30 . Illustrated is a top portion  26  that is folded into the interior with a plurality of top portion radial slits  64  extending into the interior dividing the top portion  26  into a plurality of curvilinear sections  66  converging to form the heel aperture  62  then curving into the heel guard receptacle  68 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , shown is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the heel guard of the present invention. The heel guard  20  of the present invention provides a device mountable onto the heel  30  of a high heel shoe  36  comprising a heel guard housing  60  forming a heel guard receptacle  68  having a rigid base  22  so that the pressure from a heel tip  30  is distributed across the rigid base  22 . The housing  60  further provides an upwardly depending top portion  26  with a top side heel aperture  62  for inserting a heel  30 . Illustrated is a top portion  26  that is folded into the interior with a plurality of radial slits  64  extending into the interior dividing the top portion  26  into a plurality of curvilinear sections  66  converging to form the heel aperture  62  then curving into the heel guard receptacle  68 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , shown is a perspective view of yet another embodiment of the heel guard of the present invention. The heel guard  20  of the present invention provides for a heel guard  20  having a base  22  that radially extends beyond a heel receptacle  68  having a hourglass shape with a midpoint constriction that will frictionally engage a heel post  30 . The heel receptacle  68  consists of an upwardly depending top portion  26  with a top side heel aperture  62  for inserting a heel  30 . Illustrated is a top portion  26  having a curvilinear wall  70  with a narrower center portion flaring outwardly forming the heel aperture  62 . The narrower constriction forms a frictional element for grasping the heel  30  once inserted into the heel guard  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , shown is an illustrative view of the heel guard of the present invention. The present invention is a heel guard  20  that is inserted onto a shoe heel post  30  to aid the user  32  in walking over soft or uneven surfaces, such as gravel and grass, and to prevent damage to the shoe heel  30 , which may sink into the ground endangering the user  32  as well as the shoes  36 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 9 , shown is an illustrative view of the heel guard of the present invention. The heel guard  20  comprises a heel guard housing  60  having a rigid base  22  with a polymeric top portion  26  having a heel post aperture  62  and shaped to frictionally engage the heel post  30 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , shown is an illustrative assembly view of the present invention. The heel guard  20  can be easily pulled out of the heel post  30  without scratching or damage due to the inward bends in the flexible material end tips  42 , while accommodating a range of heel thickness. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , shown is an illustrative view of the heel guard of the present invention. The present invention is a heel guard  20  that is inserted onto a shoe heel post  30  to aid the user  32  in walking over soft or uneven surfaces, such as gravel and grass, and to prevent damage to the shoe heel  30 , which may sink into the ground endangering the user  32  as well as the shoes  36 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , shown is a perspective view of another embodiment of the heel guard of the present invention. Illustrated is a heel guard  20  for a shoe  36  having a heel post  30 . The heel guard  20  has a top portion  26  forming a heel guard receptacle  68  with a rigid base  22 , so that the pressure from the heel tip is distributed across the rigid base  22 . The heel guard receptacle  68  further provides the upwardly depending top portion  26  terminating in a top side heel aperture  62  for inserting a heel post  30  within the aperture  62 . A curvilinear wall  70  with a narrower center portion flaring outwardly to the heel aperture  62 , so that the narrower constriction forms a frictional element for grasping the heel  30  once inserted into the heel guard  20 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 13 , shown are plan views of an enablement of the heel guard of the present invention. Shown is an enablement of the present invention comprising a heel guard housing  60  manufactured from a polymeric or elastomeric material  28  having a compartment for receiving a heel  30  therein. The present invention provides a housing  60  having various shapes incorporating a base  22  for supporting the heel tip and a top side  26  having a substantially center aperture  62  formed by a plurality of inwardly depending curvilinear sections  66  that frictionally grip the heel  30  when inserted and can be easily removed without scratching or marring the heel  30 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 14 , shown is a top view of a plurality of shapes for the heel protector. The present invention envisions that the exterior housing  60  of the heel protector  20  can take any shaped housing  60  providing a receptacle  68  capable of receiving and supporting a heel tip with the heel post receptacle  68  having a plurality of radially positioned inwardly extending stays  57  for gripping a portion of the heel  30 . 
     It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. 
     While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
     Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.