Abstract:
A women&#39;s high heel shoe and method of manufacturing, the shoe having improved safety and usability features including an improved traction shoe sole and an improved yet stylish narrowed high heel that terminates in a widened heel tip with improved traction and reduced surface penetration susceptibility.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/807,742, filed Apr. 2, 2013, as well as U.S. Design patent application No. 29/472,829, filed Nov. 15, 2013. The disclosures of these applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to man-made shoes and, more specifically, to man-made women&#39;s high heel shoes having anti-slip, anti-abrasion and/or anti-catch soles and heels. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
         [0004]    Although athletic and some casual shoes have had patterned soles and/or extended structures on such soles for improved traction on varying surfaces, many dress shoes including women&#39;s high heel shoes. High-heeled footwear is footwear that raises the heel of the wearer&#39;s foot significantly higher than the toes. High heels tend to give the aesthetic illusion of longer, more slender legs, which are attractive feminine features and serve as a status symbol. Many industry experts consider high heels as heels ranging from 2 inches to 5 inches in height, though these are unscientific measurements. These high fashion women&#39;s high heel shoes traditionally have smooth soles. This is true of both natural leather soles, as well as synthetic soles such as those of suede, rubber or sueded-rubber. Such soles do not necessarily offer optimum traction and on certain surfaces such as wet surfaces, wearers of such dress shoes having such soles often encounter slipping on smooth, wet or slippery surfaces. As such, these shoes are fashionable and provide an aesthetic benefit to the wearer, there are a number of reasons the women often chose not to wear such shoes on certain occasions. These include situations where they may not be practical or where a safety issue may be present. In certain situations, the wearer of high heels may be vulnerable to injury due to unstable ground, slick or wet surfaces, surfaces that include cracks or holes or other types of terrain such as when exposed to common hazards such as metal grates, drains, hole-covered sidewalks, decks having spaced apart wood planks, and/or cracked surfaces. For example, they are often not easily, comfortably or safely worn on any non-hardened surface. Wearers of existing high heel shoes have gotten their heels stuck in various cracks and holes or penetrable surfaces with the result being a loss of footing and potential falls. 
         [0005]    Thus, an invention that allows for greater stability with high heels, in addition to anti-slip and anti-abrasion utility would provide significant benefits to consumers and wearers of high heels. The prior art related to various efforts have included adding on an outer extendable layer, cutting an opening in a shoe sole, particularly a leather shoe sole, for the affixing of a rubber insert with a glue or adhesive compound so that the rubber insert protrudes beyond the surface of the sole to provide additional traction. Further, this can also be performed through automated molding of a synthetic sole having the anti-skid insert provided without having to cut an opening in the sole. In such prior art, molds are provided accepting different materials in one or two molding steps for providing an insert of portion of the sole having a higher surface friction than other portions of the sole being molded. 
         [0006]    Furthermore, such existing inserts may be viewed as being stylish for athletic shows, but are not view as being desirable from a visual perspective for shows of high style such as women&#39;s high heel shoes. 
         [0007]    Further, women&#39;s high heel shoes have a high or elevated shoe heel that extends downward either towards a heel end or heal tip or cap having a sole portion for the heel that is often significantly narrowed (referred to as a stiletto heal) or relative straight or is a bulky heal (referred to as a chunky heal). While stylish, these elongated heels often cause the wearer to get their heels caught in various manners such as in holes or grates or cracks on the walking surface such as iron grates, and cracks in wood floors, by ways of example. Further, the heels and therefore the shoes are often restrictive as to the surface upon which they can be comfortably and safely worn. However, the production of such soles is relatively time-consuming and labor-intensive as compared to the production of smooth soles and are not often used in women&#39;s high heel shoes as they are viewed has detracting from the fashionable image of the shoe. 
         [0008]    The inventor hereof has created improvements to the design of women&#39;s high heel shoes to address these limitations in the prior art while still maintaining the high heel shoe as fashionable and stylish footwear. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    The inventor hereof has succeeded at designing a high heel shoe assembly that allows for greater stability with high heels, in addition to anti-slip and anti-abrasion utility would provide significant benefits to consumers and wearers of high heels. This can include, in some embodiments a high heel shoe with a man-made sole and heel for a woman&#39;s high heel show that are stylish as well as having improved traction and that are more comfortable and safe for wearing on walking surfaces having holes, cracks or that are penetrable. 
         [0010]    According to one aspect, a sole for a women&#39;s high heel shoe includes a sole base, a cavity and an insert. The sole base includes a lower sole, a mid-sole and an upper sole. The lower sole is positioned at a front of the shoe for supporting a ball and toes of a wearer of the high heel shoe and an upper sole positioned at a back of the shoe for supporting the heel of the wearer. The back of the sole provides for attaching or having an integrated high heel of the shoe. The sole includes a sole shank defined between the lower sole and the upper sole. The sole base has an outer perimeter defines the shape of the sole base by an exposed sidewall. The outer perimeter defines the shape of the lower sole, the shank sole, and the upper sole. The sole base also defines a top sole base surface and a bottom base surface. The sole base is composed of a sole base material. The sole includes a cavity in the lower sole base having a shape that conforms to a shape of the lower sole. The cavity has a cavity perimeter that is set back or spaced apart inwardly from the outer perimeter defining the lower sole and defines an outsole there between. The cavity defines a raised cavity wall about a perimeter of the cavity. The insert is positioned in the cavity and is coupled to the sole base material. The insert has an insert shape defined by a periphery that is substantially the same as the shape of the cavity. The insert has an outer edge, a top surface and a bottom surface. The bottom surface of the insert includes one or more anti-skid features. The insert is composed of an insert material selected from a material having anti-skid characteristics and that is a different material than the sole material. 
         [0011]    According to another aspect, a method of making a lower sole for a women&#39;s high heel shoe includes providing a shoe sole base that has a lower sole positioned at a front of the shoe for supporting a ball and toes of a wearer of the high heel shoe. The sole base also has an upper sole positioned at a back of the shoe for supporting the heel of the wearer and for attaching or having an integrated heel of the shoe. The sole base also has a shank sole defined between the lower sole and the upper sole. The base has an outer perimeter defining the shape of the upper sole and an exposed sidewall thereof, the shank sole and the lower sole. The outer perimeter defines the perimeter of an upper base surface and a bottom base surface. The sole is provided to be composed of a sole base material. The method includes creating a cavity in the lower sole base having a shape that conforms to a shape of the lower sole. The cavity has a cavity perimeter that is set back or otherwise spaced apart from the outer perimeter defining the lower sole and defines an outsole there between. The cavity includes a defined raised cavity wall that is about a perimeter of the cavity. The method also includes creating an insert having an insert shape defined by a periphery that is substantially the same as the shape of the cavity. The insert is created to have an outer edge, a top surface and a bottom surface with the bottom surface having one or more anti-skid features thereon. The insert is composed of an insert material selected from a material having anti-skid characteristics and that is composed of a different material than the sole material. The method includes inserting the insert into the cavity and coupling the insert to the base material after insertion in the cavity. 
         [0012]    According to yet another aspect, a heel for a women&#39;s high heel shoe includes a heel main body having a proximal end defining an upper attachment portion, a heel distal end and a heel shank defined there between. The proximal end can be configured for attachment to a heel portion of a shoe sole base and has a widened dimension corresponding to an outer periphery thereof. The distal end has an outer periphery with an outer dimension that in some embodiments is between about 0.9 and about 1.25 inches, and in one embodiment is one inch. The heel shank or middle portion of the heel has a comparatively narrowed neck portion with an outer dimension that is less than the outer dimension of the distal end or proximate end. In some embodiments the heel shank has an outer dimension that is visibly less that the outer dimension of the distal end and is between 0.25 and 0.40 inches, and in one embodiment is between about 0.3 and about 0.36 inches. 
         [0013]    According to still another aspect, a women&#39;s high heel shoe includes a shoe sole base that has a lower sole positioned at a front for supporting a ball and toes of a wearer of the high heel shoe and an upper sole position at a back for supporting the heel of the wearer and for attaching a heel of the shoe and a shank sole defined between the lower sole and the upper sole. The base has an outer perimeter defining the shape of the upper sole and an exposed sidewall thereof, the shank sole and the lower sole, and defining the perimeter of an upper base surface and a bottom base surface. The sole is composed of a sole base material. A cavity is formed in the lower sole base having a shape that conforms to a shape of the lower sole. The cavity has a cavity perimeter that is set back from the outer perimeter and defines the lower sole and defines an outsole there between. The cavity defines a raised cavity wall about a perimeter of the cavity. An insert is positioned in the cavity and is coupled to the sole base material. The insert has an insert shape defined by a periphery that is substantially the same as the shape of the cavity. The insert has an outer edge, a top surface, and a bottom surface with the bottom surface including a plurality of anti-skid features. The insert is composed of an insert material selected from an material having anti-skid characteristics and being different than the sole material. A heel main body has a proximal end defining an upper attachment portion, a heel distal end and a heel shank defined there between. The proximal end is configured for attachment to a heel portion of a shoe sole base and having a wide dimension corresponding to an outer periphery thereof. The distal end has an outer periphery with an outer dimension of at least about one inch, and the heel shank has a substantially narrowed neck portion with an outer dimension substantially less than the outer dimension of the distal end. 
         [0014]    Further aspects of the present disclosure will be in part apparent and in part pointed out below. It should be understood that various aspects of the disclosure may be implemented individually or in combination with one another. It should also be understood that the detailed description and drawings, while indicating certain exemplary embodiments, are intended for purposes of illustration only and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is a side isometric view of a shoe assembly according to one exemplary embodiment. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a bottom view of the shoe according to one exemplary implementation of the shoe shown in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIGS. 3A-3C  are cut away cross-sectional views of a ball area of a shoe sole assembly along Section A-A according to a first exemplary embodiment. 
           [0018]      FIGS. 4A-4C  are cut away cross-sectional views of a ball area of a shoe sole assembly along Section A-A according to a second exemplary embodiment. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 5A-5C  are cut away cross-sectional views of a ball area of a shoe sole assembly along Section A-A according to a third exemplary embodiment. 
           [0020]      FIGS. 6A-6F  are illustrations of a heel for a women&#39;s shoe having a widened star-shaped heel tip according to some exemplary embodiments. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 7A-7F  are illustrations of a heel for a women&#39;s shoe having a widened flower petal-shaped heel tip according to some exemplary embodiments. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is an isometric view of a heel according to some embodiments on a perforated/grated walking surface. 
       
    
    
       [0023]    It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0024]    The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure or the disclosure&#39;s applications or uses. 
         [0025]    In some embodiment, a sole for a women&#39;s high heel shoe includes a sole base, a cavity and an insert. The sole base has a front, middle and back as oriented from the front or toes of a foot backward towards the heel. The front includes a lower sole positioned at a front of the shoe for supporting a ball and toes of a wearer of the high heel shoe. The upper sole is positioned at a back of the shoe for supporting the heel of the wearer. The back of the sole provides for attaching or having an integrated high heel of the shoe. The sole includes a sole shank defined between the lower sole and the upper sole. The sole base can be formed of a sole base material that can be any suitable material and in some embodiments is leather or can be a man-made material composition such as a polymer or rubber, by way of example. The sole base has an outer perimeter defining the shape of the sole and therefore the shoe. The outer perimeter, in that that the sole base has a width between a top surface and an bottom surface, defines an exposed sidewall for each of the upper sole, the shank sole and the lower sole. 
         [0026]    The sole includes a cavity that is formed or cut or otherwise created in the lower sole of the sole base for receiving an insert. The cavity and the insert are formed to have similar or matching outer shapes so that the insert fits within the cavity. The cavity further can be shaped to conform to the shape of the lower sole such as that portion below the ball of the foot or the ball and toes of the foot of the wearer. The cavity has a cavity perimeter that is set back or spaced apart inwardly from the outer perimeter defining the lower sole and defines an outsole between the perimeter of the cavity and the perimeter of the sole base at the side wall, e.g., the outsole as defined herein is the portion of the sole base between the defined cavity and any insert positioned therein and the outer perimeter defining the side wall of the sole base. 
         [0027]    The cavity defines a raised cavity wall within the body of the sole base that is about a perimeter of the cavity. The insert is dimensioned and formed to be positioned in the cavity and coupled or otherwise fixedly positioned within the cavity of the sole base. The insert has an insert shape defined by a periphery that is substantially the same as the shape of the cavity, but can have a thickness or depth from the bottom contacting surface to the top surface which is inserted first into the cavity. The insert has an outer edge, a top surface that is inserted first into the cavity and a bottom surface that includes one or more anti-skid features thereon for providing an increased friction against the walking surface. To further aid in a slip resistant use, the insert is composed of an insert material selected from a material having anti-skid characteristics in addition to the one or more anti-skid features. As such, the insert is composed of a material that is different that the material of the sole base. 
         [0028]    The insert is positioned in the cavity of the lower sole base for providing an improved anti-skid surface for contacting the walking surface. The insert is further dimensioned to make contact with the walking surface and in some embodiments has a portion that extends downward towards the walking surface and extends out of the cavity and beyond the bottom surface of the sole base. 
         [0029]    The cavity and insert arrangements can vary and can be of any shape or arrangement and can be configured in any suitable manner for securing the insert into and/or within the cavity. This can include securement or attachment of the insert to the sole base or to another component of the shoe such as a mid-sole positioned above the top surface of the sole base, or to the insole in some embodiments. The insert can be coupled to the sole base or to the mid-sole by an adhesive, or by sewing. 
         [0030]    In one embodiment, the cavity in the sole base formed to include a groove along at least a portion of the raised cavity wall between the top surface of the sole body and spaced apart from the bottom surface of the sole. In other embodiments, rather than a groove, the cavity wall can be inwardly sloped or curved or shaped for engagement with the outer periphery of the insert for coupling thereto. Where a groove is formed in the cavity wall, the insert can include a protrusion about all or a portion of the periphery of the insert that corresponds to a mating portion of the raised cavity wall having the groove formed therein. In this manner, the mating of the insert into the groove can provide for at least a portion of the securement of the insert. The insert can be coupled to the sole base material at least in part by placement of the protrusion of the insert into the corresponding groove of the raised cavity wall and an adhesive can be added to one or both. 
         [0031]    The cavity as described can be a cavity that is only a partial cavity in the sole base that defines a cavity surface that is a predefined depth from an outer or bottom surface of the sole base, defined from the bottom sole surface down by the cavity wall to a bottom cavity surface. In other embodiments, the cavity can be a through hole in the sole base. 
         [0032]    In the embodiments where the cavity is only a partial cavity having a cavity bottom surface, the insert can be coupled to the sole base by an adhesive that can be placed between the upper surface of the insert and/or the bottom cavity surface of the sole base prior to placement of the insert within the cavity. This can be in additional to any adhesive around the cavity wall or the interlocking of the sidewalls with the edges or formations thereon of the insert, such as the groove and protrusion or sloped or curved or otherwise mating wall surfaces as described above. 
         [0033]    In another embodiment, a method of making a lower sole for a women&#39;s high heel shoe includes providing a shoe sole base that includes a lower sole positioned at a front for supporting a ball and toes of a wearer of the high heel shoe and an upper sole position at a back for supporting the heel of the wearer and for attaching a heel of the shoe and a shank sole defined between the lower sole and the upper sole. The base, cavity and insert are as described above. The method of making can include forming the sole base and creating a cavity in the lower sole base having a shape that conforms to a shape of the lower sole. This creating can be by cutting, molding, shaping or other suitable means. When leather is used as the sole base, cutting or pressing may be used. Where a molded sole base is used, the cavity can be formed during the sole base molding process. The created cavity has the cavity perimeter that is set back from the outer perimeter defining the lower sole and defining an outsole there between and defines a raised cavity wall about a perimeter of the cavity. The insert is created by cutting or molding to have an insert shape defined by a periphery that is substantially the same as the shape of the cavity. The insert is created to have an outer edge, a top surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface including one or more anti-skid features. As noted above, the insert can be composed of an insert material selected from a material having anti-skid characteristics and being different than the sole material. The next step is the inserting of the insert into the cavity and the coupling of the insert within the cavity or to the sole or to a mid-sole base or inner sole or other component of the shoe. This coupling secures the insert within the cavity to become an integral and fixed part of the shoe sole. 
         [0034]    The creation of the shoe sole and the cavity can be performed in a single molding process where a non-leather sole base is utilized. The mold can be filled with different compositions for the sole base with the outsole as compared to the composition material for the insert. The insert can be formed to include one or more or in many embodiments a plurality of anti-skid features on the bottom of the surface of the insert using a molding process. These can include an anti-skid patter of protruding features. The insert can also be made not of a single composition but of more than one composition such that certain of the anti-skid features are composed of a material having a different, such as increased, friction or softness or pliability, as compared to other features of the insert. 
         [0035]    As noted above, the method can include forming a groove or other feature or shape of at least a portion of the cavity wall that is between the outer surface of the sole body and spaced apart from the bottom surface of the cavity. This can include creating a groove along the wall either between the top and bottom of the wall or can be a groove or notched formation at the bottom of the wall adjacent to the bottom surface of the cavity. Similarly, the creation of the insert can include making a mating component to the wall formation or feature such as forming a protrusion about all or a portion of the periphery of the insert corresponding to a mating portion of the raised cavity wall having the groove formed therein. In such embodiments, the process of coupling includes placing the protrusion of insert into the corresponding groove of the raised cavity wall. This can also include in some embodiments, applying an adhesive to at least one of the groove and the protrusion prior to the placing of the protrusion into the groove. Where a through cavity is not created, this can also include coupling the upper surface of the insert to the bottom cavity surface of the sole such as be applying an adhesive. 
         [0036]    Wherein the cavity is a through cavity extending between the bottom sole base surface and the top sole base surface, the cavity wall mating features can also be formed and coupled as described above. However, in such embodiments, the top surface of the insert cannot be secured to the bottom of the cavity surface as it is a through cavity. However, the insert can be secured such as by an adhesive to a mid-sole or inner sole component of the shoe. 
         [0037]    In some embodiments, an assembly of a women&#39;s high heel shoe includes a heel. The heel includes a main heel body having a proximal end defining an upper attachment portion for attaching to the sole base or other component forming the sole of the shoe directly supporting the foot of the wearer. In some embodiments, the proximal end can be integrally formed with the heel sole base. Below the heel proximal end is a middle portion of middle or shank of the heel. This portion extends downward from the proximal end and the wide area of the sole base associated therewith, and significantly narrows to have a narrowed cross-sectional area near the center or at a narrowed portion. From there, the heel widens downward to a heel distal end that can include a heel tip or cap for contacting the walking surface. As noted the proximal end and the distal end are wider than the heel shank which is in the middle defined there between. The proximal end can have a width of the bottom of a women&#39;s heel that can range, by way of example, between about 1.375 to about 1.75 inches, or could be more or less. In contrast, the width of the cross-sectional area of the shank or narrowest portion of the heel, at least as viewed from the rear of the shoe, can range between about 0.25 and about 0.14 inches, by way of example. This can include in some embodiments, a shank width of between about 0.3 and about 0.4 inches and in one embodiment is about 0.31 inches and in another embodiment is about 0.36 inches. The shape of the shank can be of any cross-sectional shape including a circle, an oval, a parallelogram, or otherwise. 
         [0038]    The widened distal end can have a range of cross sectional widths of between about 0.8 inches to about 1.25 inches and in one embodiment is about 0.89 inches, in a second embodiment is about 0.99 inches and in another embodiment is about 1.0 inches. The widened distal end provides the heel tip that is considerably wider than the shank width, but that provides a stable and widened heel tip that contacts the walking surface. While the shank of the heel provides the thin and desirable narrowed shape of a stylish high heel of between 2 and 3 or more inches, the widened distal end provides a heel tip that can prevent the heel from getting caught in holes, slots or soft walking surfaces. 
         [0039]    In some embodiments, the heel having the combination of widths as described above is considered to have a substantially narrowed neck or shank portion with an outer dimension substantially less than the outer dimension of the distal end. This substantial difference or comparative difference in the widths is relative to the dimensions typically used for a high heel shoe as known to one of skill in the art and is not orders of magnitude but comparative visually substantially different. The selection of the combinations of the various sizes allows for designers of shoes to design shoes with high heels, but that provide for the safe utilitarian aspects of the widened heel tip in a stylistic manner. 
         [0040]    Further, the distal end can include a heel tip with a surface contact portion coupled to the distal end that is composed of a non-skid material. This can include a single material, a material that is similar to that of the insert, multiple materials or compositions having different frictional characteristics, or can include on or more anti-skid features such as patterns. 
         [0041]    The distal end can be formed to have any shape that may be desirable by the design of the shoe, such as a polygon, a regular convex polygon, an equiangular polygon, circle, an oval, a star shape, flower shape, and any such with rounded corners or other features. Whatever shape is chosen, the width, cross sectional area and shape is preferred to limit any retention of the distal end in a hole or crack or would otherwise catch or restrain the heel tip in a feature of the walking surface. 
         [0042]    In some embodiments, the upper sole and lower sole of the shoe are one continuous piece. The shell of the shoe may have a cavity where the ball of the foot and toes would be so that the sole then protrudes through that hole and is stabilized. The sole&#39;s construction offers comfort for the foot and the anti-slip element, adding general stability with each stride. The sole may be lined with padding and covered so that the appearance of the inside of the shoe is not that of tire tread but more in-line with the outside aesthetic of the shoe for visual purposes. Additional anti-abrasion features may be added to the footwear, including but not limited to, steel-toed or steel-rimmed parts of the footwear, weather-proof materials, or cushion-like components that reduce normal wear and tear. 
         [0043]    Referring now to the exemplary embodiments as shown in the drawings,  FIG. 1  illustrates a women&#39;s high heel shoe  100  includes a sole  102  having a front portion  104  (associated with the toes and a least a portion of the vamp), a shank portion  106  (associated with the instep) and a rear or back portion  109  (associated with a heel), that later of which forms the back edge  126 . The shoe upper  120  includes a front portion  129  that has an upper vamp portion  124  (referred herein as vamp  124 ) that defines a toe cavity  125  with a front or toe tip  122 . The shoe upper  120  also has a mid-portion and a heel portion  128 . An insole  118  is positioned on a top surface of the sole  102  within the shoe upper  120  for providing a cushioned material and/or a support layer for the wearer&#39;s foot. 
         [0044]    The sole  102  defines an outer sole periphery defined by an exposed side wall  114 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the front portion  104  of the sole  102  that is proximate to and below the portion where the ball of the foot is located within the shoe  100  includes an anti-skid insert  112  on the bottom surface thereof that includes one or more anti-skid features (not shown) that can be a pattern or a plurality of raised anti-skid protrusions of features arranged on or about the bottom surface of insert  112 . The insert is formed within the front portion  104  while retaining a portion of the sole base  102  so that an outsole  115  is formed between the side wall  114  and the insert  112 . In this manner, the sole 
         [0045]    The shoe  100  also includes heel  108  that is formed with the sole  102  or attached thereto during assembly. The heel  108  typically intersects with the sole  102  at a heel to sole intersection  110  at which the proximal end  130  is attached or coupled or integrally formed with the sole base  102 . The proximal end is directly below and supports the back portion  109  and has a width that is associated with the width of the back portion  109  or can be narrower. The heel  108  then narrows downwardly to a shank portion  138  in the middle of the high heel  108  as described above. From this narrowed shank portion, the closer to the heel tip  134 , the width of the heel  108  widens to form the widened distal end  135  of the heel. The distal end  135  can also be configured with an attached or integrally formed heel tip  134 . The heel tip  134  (also referred often as the top lift, the heel tip, heel cap and/or the top piece) can be made of a non-skid material. This can include one or more materials or formations such as shown in  FIG. 2 . As shown here, the distal heel end  132  includes a widened distal end  135  with a heel tip  134 . As shown the heel tip  134  includes an outer portion  137  and an inner portion  141 . The inner portion  141  can be made of a material that has improved traction or non-skid characteristics but can also be shaped to have a style or trademark appearance. 
         [0046]    The shoe  100  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  also includes a heel plate  143  positioned on the heel portion  128  at the rear of the shoe. This heel plate  143  can provide protection for the heel of the shoe such as when the wearer is driving a car or sitting or against other scuffs to the rear of the shoe as are currently common among such shoes. Further, the heel plate  143  can include a trademark or other indicator (not shown). 
         [0047]      FIGS. 3A-C ,  4 A-C and  5 A-C are each are cross-sectional views of section A-A of  FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrating three exemplary embodiments of the formation of the sole base  102 . Each “A” figure illustrates the shoe  100  with the vamp  124  and toe cavity  125  and inner sole  118  positioned on the sole base  102 . 
         [0048]      FIGS. 3A-C  illustrate a first embodiment for the formation of the cavity  150  and insert  112 . In  FIG. 3A , the cavity  150  is formed in the sole base  102  with cavity wall  154  being spaced from the exposed side wall  114  to form an outsole  115 . The cavity  150  is not a through cavity includes a sole back layer  153  extending from side to side to form the cavity back surface  152 . As shown in this example, the cavity wall  154  includes a groove  156  positioned adjacent to the back surface  152  thereby forming a cavity lip  158  adjacent to the outsole  115  and the bottom surface of the sole  102 .  FIG. 3B  illustrates a mating insert  112  that includes insert side edge or side wall  169  that has a protrusion  166  dimension for mating with the cavity groove  156 . The insert side wall  169  extends downward from the protrusion  166  with wall extension  164  that conforms to the cavity lip  158  of the cavity wall  154 . The shape and dimensions of the insert side wall  169  corresponds with the shape and dimensions of the cavity wall  154  for insertion of the insert  112  therein as shown in  FIG. 3C  in an illustration of the assembled sole  102 . 
         [0049]      FIGS. 4A-C  similarly illustrates a second embodiment for the formation of the cavity  150  and insert  112 . In  FIG. 4A , the cavity  150  is formed in the sole base  102  with cavity wall  154  being spaced from the exposed side wall  114  to form an outsole  115 . The cavity  150  is also not a through cavity includes a sole back layer  153  extending from side to side to form the cavity back surface  152 . As shown in this example, the cavity wall  154  includes a groove  156  but in this embodiment, the groove  156  is positioned mid-way between the cavity back surface  152  and the bottom surface as defined by the outsole  115 . In this case, the cavity wall  154  includes a back cavity lip  159  that is adjacent to the back surface  152  that then forms the groove  156  and a front cavity lip  158  that is adjacent to the outsole  115  and the bottom surface of the sole  102 .  FIG. 4B  illustrates a mating insert  112  that includes insert side wall  169  that has a protrusion  166  dimension for mating with the cavity groove  156 , and an inner side wall portion  167  that conforms to the back lip  159  for full insertion into the cavity  150 . The protrusion  166  conforms to the groove  156  and the outer wall extension  164  conforms to the cavity lip  158  of the cavity wall  169 . The shape and dimensions of the insert side wall  166  corresponds with the shape and dimensions of the cavity wall  154  for insertion of the insert  112  therein as shown in  FIG. 3C  in an illustration of the assembled sole  102 . 
         [0050]      FIGS. 5A-C  similarly illustrates a third embodiment for the formation of the cavity  150  and insert  112 , but in this embodiment the cavity in the sole  102  is a through cavity  150 . As shown in  FIG. 5A , the cavity  150  is formed in the sole base  102  so that the sole has the two out soles  115  separated and not coupled at cross-section A-A of the sole  102 . In this embodiment, the cavity wall  154  and insert  112  are similarly formed to that shown in  FIG. 4A-4C  but without the back portion  153  and therefore without the back surface  152 . As shown in  FIG. 5C , the insert  112  is dimensioned so that the insole  118  (or a mid-sole not shown) is engaged with the back or top surface  162  of the insert  112 . 
         [0051]    As shown in each of these embodiments, the insert  112  is also dimensioned to have a downward extending portion  165  that extends downward towards the walking surface as compared to the out sole  115  or other portions of the sole  102 . The extended portion  165  of the side wall  169  of the insert  112  can be the entire cross sectional area of the insert  112  or only portions of the insert  112  such as one or more of the non-skid features or portions of the bottom surface of the insert  112 . The extent of the downward extending distance of the downward extending portion  165  of all or a portion of the insert  112  or any non-skid feature thereof provides for contact of the non-skid insert  112  on the walking surface during normal use of the shoe  100  to provide the non-skid feature thereof. While  FIGS. 3C ,  4 C, and  5 C all illustrate that the downward extending portion  165  is a slight downward extended distance, this dimension can be greater or less than illustrated as these drawings are only exemplary and art not to scale. In some embodiments, this downward extending portion  165  is only slight as shown so that the general appearance of the high heel shoe  100  does not change from that of other high heel shoes, e.g., the general observer would not see the insert  112  nor the downward extending portion  165  but would generally only see the side wall  114  of the sole  102 . In other embodiments, the amount of downward extension of downward extending portion  165  can be increased. 
         [0052]    Further, while not shown, but as disclosed above, an adhesive can be used to couple and secure the insert  112  within the cavity  150  either between the cavity walls  154  and the insert side walls  169  or the back surface  162  of the insert either the bottom surface  152  of the cavity  150  or the bottom surface  119  of the insole  118 . The adhesive is not shown in these figures but will be understood to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0053]    Referring now to the heel  108  as discussed above,  FIGS. 6A-6F  illustrate various aspects and features.  FIG. 6A  is a side perspective view;  FIG. 6B  is a front perspective view;  FIG. 6C  is a top perspective view;  FIG. 6D  is a right side view; and  FIG. 6E  is a bottom view of a heel  108  that is separated from the shoe sole  102  and other components of the shoe  100  for illustration of the specific components thereof. As shown, heel  108  for a high heel shoe is between about 2 inches and about 5 inches in height. The heel  108  includes a top or proximal end  130  which is widened for coupling to or association with the back portion  109  of the sole  102 . 
         [0054]    The back edge  126  of the proximal end  130  can be formed with the back edge  126  of the sole  102 . The front edge of the proximal end is defined by the demarcation edge  110 . As addressed above, the heel width of the proximal end HW 3  of the heel  108  can range depending on the size of the shoe as well as the design of the shoe, but HW 4  often ranges between about 1.375 to about 1.75 inches. The length proximal end HW 4  as shown in  FIG. 6D  can also have similar sizing or can be adjusted for the particular implementation. 
         [0055]    The heel  108  extends downward a distance of HL 3  from the proximal end  130  to a narrowed shank portion  138 . The width HW 2  of the shank portion  138  is significantly narrowed as compared to the wide of the proximal end  130  and HW 2  typically ranges between about 0.3 and about 0.4 inches and in one embodiment is about 0.31 inches and in another embodiment is about 0.36 inches. The length HL 2  of the shank portion  138  will vary depending on the overall height of the heel. The heel  108  has a lower portion referred herein as the distal end  135  that has a length of HL 1 . The distal end  135  defines a distal heel end  132  that can include an integrated heel tip  134  or a heel tip  134  that is attached to the widened distal end  135  to form the heel end  132 . The widened distal end  135  can have a width HW 1  range of cross sectional widths of between about 0.8 inches to about 1.25 inches and in one embodiment is about 0.89 inches, in a second embodiment is about 1.0 inches. 
         [0056]      FIG. 6F  is a cross-section top down view along sectional line X-X of  FIG. 6B  showing one illustration of the comparative width HW 2  of the heel relative to the HW 1  width of the distal end  135 . In this illustration, the distal end  135  has a star shape, but as addressed above, the distal end  135  can have other suitable shapes. 
         [0057]      FIGS. 7A-7F  provide views of another embodiment of the heel  108 .  FIG. 7B  is a similar top down cross section view along sectional line X-X.  FIG. 7C  shows an embodiment having the distal end  135  including a center cavity  151  for receiving a mating heel tip  134 . An insert heel tip  134  for the cavity  151  is illustrated in  FIG. 7D . As shown, the heel tip  134  defines the distal heel end  132  which can include anti-skid features. Further, as shown the heel tip  134  can include an outer portion  137  and an inner portion  141  wherein the inner portion is inserted into the cavity  151  and the outer portion  137  extend to cover the remaining end of the distal end  135 . The heel tip insert  134  can include a center portion  137  with a width of IW 1  that corresponds to the width of the cavity  151  and an outer width IW 2  that corresponds to the width of the distal end HW 1 .  FIG. 7F  illustrates the heel tip insert  134  positioned in the cavity  151  wherein the heel tip  134  forms the distal heel end  132  with the outer portion  137  and the inner portion  141 . The outer portion  137  and the inner portion  141  of the heel tip insert  134  can be composed of the same material or a different material. The inner portion  141 , the outer portion  137  or their combination can be formed to have a shape that is creative, stylish, distinctive, or that acts as a trademark, while providing an improved traction and larger surface area to prevent slippage of the heal and the insertion and catching of the heel in holes, slots or crevices of the walking surface. 
         [0058]      FIG. 8  illustrates a heel  108  as described above on a common walking surface having a metal grate  202  such as is often used in sidewalks. The metal grate  202  includes beams  204  and laterals  204  that form holes  208 . These grate holes  208  typically have a surface grate width SG W  and a surface grate length SG L . The distal end  135  of the heel  108  includes the heel tip  134  and the heel tip end  134  that has a minimal heel width HW 1  that is greater than the width SG W  and/or length SG L  of the common grate  202 . As such, a wearer of the shoe  100  with the widened heel  108  as described herein will not have the heel end  135  get caught or stuck in any of the grate holes  208 . However, the heel  108  will still have a stylish narrowed shank that is desired by wearers of high heel shoes. The sole insert  112  and the heel tip  132  can also be formed of a non-slip or non-skid material that reduces slippage of the shoe  100  on slippery or wet walking surfaces such as a wet grate  202 . 
         [0059]    The heel  108  of the footwear is designed so that it holds up against normal wear and tear more so than traditional high heels. The heel shape starts out wide, thins through the middle shank portion for stylistic and proportion purposes, and then gets wide again at the distal end  135  where the heel touches the ground, which provides more support for the wearer at the heel  108  of the footwear. In some embodiments, a rubber tread piece can be affixed to the bottom of the heel end  134 , similar to that of a tire, for anti-slip utility and traction with each step. The shape and size of the heel end  134  and/or the distal end  135  is such that the heel doesn&#39;t slip into and get stuck in grates, cracks, holes, or other types of breaks, which gives added security and stability for the wearer with each step. 
         [0060]    When describing elements or features and/or embodiments thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the”, and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements or features. The terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements or features beyond those specifically described. 
         [0061]    Those skilled in the art will recognize that various changes can be made to the exemplary embodiments and implementations described above without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings should be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. 
         [0062]    It is further to be understood that the processes or steps described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated. It is also to be understood that additional or alternative processes or steps may be employed.