Patent Publication Number: US-6662475-B2

Title: Reversible heel

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to footwear. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The outsoles of shoes are formed of different materials and different surfaces to provide varying amounts of shoe resistance and abrasion depending on the specific characteristics of the floor surface. In specific floor conditions, for instance, such as in a bowling lane, the stopping and sliding characteristics of the shoe can greatly enhance the ability of the bowler to stop his feet suddenly and abruptly. 
     SUMMARY 
     In a general aspect of the invention, a heel includes a member having a first surface with a fastening layer that allows for removable attachment of the heel to an outsole in a first and a second position. The member also includes a second surface that has an outer layer with a first sliding characteristic in the first position and a second sliding characteristic in the second position. 
     In embodiments of the invention, one or more of the following features may also be included. 
     In certain embodiments, the member includes a first rounded end and a second rounded end both corresponding to a shape of a heel section of the outsole. 
     As yet another feature, the outer layer of the member has a number of wedges defining a series of apexes separated by a series of nadirs. 
     Further, the wedges are in an angled configuration sloping toward a rear section of the heel in the first position and the wedges are in an angled configuration sloping toward a foot section of the heel in the second position. The first position of provides less stopping ability than the second position. 
     As another feature, the first position is rotated 180 degrees from the second position relative to the outsole. 
     Moreover, the fastening layer includes interlocking hook and pile fastener materials for attaching the fastening layer to the outsole. 
     As another feature, the outer layer includes molded rubber material, and the material forming the apexes is different than a material forming the nadirs. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, a method of changing a sliding characteristic of a shoe includes removing a heel member from an outsole of the shoe, the member having a fastening layer for removable attachment to an outsole in a first position having a first sliding characteristic provided in an outer layer. The method further includes changing the member from a first orientation to a second orientation, and reattaching the member to the outsole in a second position having a second sliding characteristic. 
     In embodiments of the invention, one or more of the following features may also be included. The first orientation includes a configuration of the first position and the second orientation includes a configuration of the second position. 
     In certain embodiments, the method also includes providing two rounded ends in the heel member where both ends correspond to a shape of a heel section of the outsole. 
     As another feature, the method includes providing the outer layer with wedges defining a series of apexes separated by a series of nadirs. The wedges include both an angled configuration sloping toward a rear section of the heel in the first position and an angled configuration sloping toward a foot section of the heel in the second position. 
     As another feature, the first position provides less stopping ability than the second position. 
     As yet another feature, the method also includes rotating the first position 180 degrees from the second position relative to the outsole. Additionally, the method includes providing the fastening layer with interlocking hook and pile fastener materials for attaching the fastening layer to the outsole. 
     As yet another feature, the outer layer includes molded rubber material. In addition, the sliding characteristic includes friction. 
     In certain embodiments, the method provides a different material to form the apexes and the nadirs. 
     Embodiments may have one or more of the following advantages. The reversible heel described above can provide the user with varying degrees of friction against the surface floor. The heel can provide users, especially bowlers who require maximum control and security in slippery surfaces, the ability to adjust their stopping ability in an abrupt manner. 
     Another advantage is the readily interchangeable nature of the reversible heel. Users may use the same heel to obtain what is essentially a different heel providing different friction or sliding characteristics. 
     In addition, another advantage of the reversible footwear is the enhanced comfort provided by the cushioning and resilience of the rubber layer of the reversible heel, which provides support and enhance the abrupt stopping ability of the user while in high-speed motion. Moreover, even with prolonged daily wear, the heel is less prone to deformation, wear, and tear. 
     Therefore, the removable heel provides bowlers with the flexibility to have one pair of shoes featuring different sliding characteristics to satisfy their needs in different lane surface conditions. 
     The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bowling shoe. 
     FIG. 2 is a side view of the bowling shoe of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a bottom view of the bowling shoe of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 4A is an exploded side view of a reversible heel. 
     FIG. 4B is another exploded side view of the reversible heel. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the figures in which identical elements are numbered identically throughout, a description of the embodiments of the present invention will now be provided. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a bowling shoe  10  includes an upper  12  and a sole  14 . The shoe upper  12  is constructed, for example, from leather materials. The shoe sole  14  is constructed from rubber, although other conventional shoe sole materials are also suitable. The sole  14  includes a toe end  18 , a heel  22 , and a downwardly facing tread surface  24 . The sole  14  also includes a heel arch  15 . 
     Referring to FIG. 3, the tread surface  24  includes a slide area  26  adjacent the toe end  18  of the sole  14 . More specifically, the slide area  26  extends longitudinally from the toe end  18  rearwardly to the heel arch  15 , and laterally across the entire width of the tread surface  24 . Accordingly, it can be seen that the slide area  26  covers the entire tread surface  24  adjacent to the toe end  18  of the sole  14 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a slide pad  16  is provided in the slide area  26  and a heel  22  is provided in a heel region  23 . The heel  22  includes a fastening sheet  25 , a middle layer  27 , and a wedge layer  29 . 
     The slide pad  16  includes a thick sheet of flexible “slide material”  30  having a predetermined friction characteristic. In this connection, different types of “slide materials,” such as leather and the like, which have varied friction characteristics, can be used. The slide pad  16  preferably has a substantially identical peripheral margin as the slide area  26  so that pad  16  covers the entire slide area  26 . 
     The fastening sheet  25  removably secures the heel  22  to the outsole  14  by means of hook and pile fastener materials which are attached to the tread surface  24  and the slide material  30 . The hook material is preferably attached to the entire slide area  26  of the tread surface  24 , and the pile material is preferably attached to the slide material  30 . Attachment of the hook and pile materials to their respective surfaces is accomplished using adhesives. 
     The middle layer  27  and the wedge layer  29  are fabricated with molded rubber material. The wedge layer  29  includes a number of wedges  31  with apexes  33  separated by nadirs  35 . 
     Referring to FIG. 3, the heel  22  has a circular shape with a rear arch end  37  and an opposite arch end  39 , both corresponding to the shape of the heel arch  15  (FIG. 2) of the sole  14 . Therefore, the heel  22  may be positioned in the sole  14  in varying configurations, namely, rotated 180 degrees. 
     Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the heel  22  is illustrated in two different configurations. In FIG. 4A, the heel  22  is positioned in a configuration  40  where the wedges  31  slope toward the heel region  23  of the heel  22  whereas in FIG. 4B, the heel  22  has a configuration  42  where the wedges  31  slope toward the toe end  18  of the heel  22 . In the configuration  40 , the wedges  31  provide less stopping ability, i.e., less friction against a surface floor of a bowling lane, for instance. On the other hand, in the configuration  42 , the wedges  31  provide more stopping ability and friction against the surface floor. 
     In use, the heel  22  is aligned over the heel region of the sole  14  and the fastening sheet  25  firmly pressed against the sole  14  to secure the fastening sheet  25  in position. The wearer may choose either configuration  40  or  42  depending on the desired level of friction against the surface of the bowling lane. For example, to vary the friction characteristics of the bowling shoe  10 , the user simply removes the heel  22 , turns it 180 degrees to another configuration and presses the heel  22  against the sole  14 , thereby providing the bowling shoe  10  with a different friction or sliding characteristic in the heel  22 . 
     Although the example described above provides that the middle layer  27  and the wedge layer  29  are made from the same type of material, different material may be used to form the various layers of the heel  22 . In particular, the material forming the apexes  33  may be different than the material forming the nadirs  35 , for example. 
     While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.