Patent Publication Number: US-2017367440-A1

Title: Shoe with replaceable heel

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Fields of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a shoe, and more particularly, to a shoe with a replaceable heel. 
     2. Descriptions of Related Art 
     There are many different types of shoes which have different purposes and functions, such as mountain shoes, jogging shoes, walking shoes, basketball shoes . . . etc., all of the shoes generally comprise an outsole which is directly in contact with the ground so that the outsole is worn out because of friction. The heel is an important portion of shoes and the heel usually is the first part that is worn out before the rest portion does. Once the heel is worn out, deformed or cracked, the shoe has to be replaced with a new one. It is noted that most of the shoes that are discarded still have their vamp and other portions in good shape, the only portion that loses its function is the heel. To purchase new pairs of shoes may cost a lot and the shoes need a lot of space to store. 
     The present invention intends to provide a shoe with a replaceable heel to eliminate the shortcomings mentioned above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a shoe and comprises an outsole, a shank and a heel area defined in the underside of the shoe. The shank is connected between the outsole and the heel area. The heel area is a recessed area. A replaceable heel has a connection portion which is located at the top of the replaceable heel and detachably connected to the heel area. A heel lift is defined in the underside of the replaceable heel, and multiple anti-slip members extend from the heel lift. 
     Preferably, the shank has a protruded portion which extends toward the heel area. The replaceable heel has an engaging end and a pull end, wherein the engaging end is matched with the protruded portion, and the pull end protrudes beyond the rear end of the heel area. 
     Preferably, the heel area is tapered from a rear end thereof toward the protruded portion. The thickness of the protruded portion is thicker than that of the engaging end. 
     Preferably, the heel area has a hook-surface formed thereon. The connection portion of the replaceable heel has a loop-surface which is connected to the hook-surface of the heel area. 
     Preferably, the anti-slip members have spikes extending therefrom. 
     Preferably, the anti-slip members have cylindrical protrusions extending therefrom. 
     The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view to show the shoe with the replaceable heel of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the shoe and the replaceable heel of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is another exploded view of the shoe and the replaceable heel of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross sectional view, taken along line IV-IV in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of the circled A in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of the circled B in  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross sectional view, taken along line VI-VI in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  shows that the anti-slip members have spikes, and 
         FIG. 9  shows that the anti-slip members have cylindrical protrusions. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 to 9 , the shoe  1  of the present invention comprises an outsole  11 , a shank  12  and a heel area  13  defined in the underside of the shoe  1 , and the shank  12  is connected between the outsole  11  and the heel area  13 . The heel area  13  is a recessed area. A replaceable heel  2  has a connection portion  21  which is located at the top of the replaceable heel and detachably connected to the heel area  13 . A heel lift  22  is defined in the underside of the replaceable heel  2 , wherein multiple anti-slip members  3  extend from the heel lift  22 . 
     As disclosed in  FIGS. 1 to 7 , the shank  12  has a protruded portion  121  which extends toward the heel area  13 . The replaceable heel  2  has an engaging end  23  on the front end thereof, and a pull end  24  on the rear end thereof The engaging end  23  is matched with the protruded portion  121 , and the pull end  24  protrudes beyond the rear end of the heel area  13 . The heel area  13  is tapered from the rear end thereof toward the protruded portion  121 , and the thickness of the protruded portion  121  is thicker than that of the engaging end  23 . The different thickness between the protruded portion  121  and the engaging end  23  allows the user to easily aim and match the protruded portion  121  with the engaging end  23 . The engaging end  23  is a recessed end which is located between two protruding portions, so that the two recesses between the protruded portion  121  restrict the two protruding portions of the replaceable heel  2 , so that the replaceable heel  2  does not drop from lateral direction of the shoe  1 . When removing the replaceable heel  2 , the user simply pushes the pull end  24  that protrudes beyond the rear end of the heel area  13  and separates the replaceable heel  2  from the shoe  1 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4 to 7 , the heel area  13  is tapered from the rear end thereof toward the protruded portion  121 , so that when the replaceable heel  2  is connected to the heel area  13  of the shoe  1 , the thickness of the protruded portion  121  is thicker than that of the engaging end  23 , so that when stepping on pebbles on the road, the pebbles do not contact the engaging end  23  of the replaceable heel  2  and replaceable heel  2  does not separated from the shoe  1  by the pebbles. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the heel area  13  has a hook-surface  131  formed thereon, the connection portion  21  of the replaceable heel  2  has a loop-surface  211  which is connected to the hook-surface  131  of the heel area  13  to connect the replaceable heel  2  to the shoe  1 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the anti-slip members  3  have spikes  31  or cylindrical protrusions  32  extending therefrom. The replaceable heel  2  can also be a cushion heel or any known heel according need. 
     By the replaceable heel  2 , the users can change the replaceable heel  2  as needed so that the users do not need to purchase too many pairs of shoes. 
     While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.