Patent Publication Number: US-8112908-B2

Title: Shoe with removable/interchangeable heel and related method

Description:
Priority is claimed from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/907,319, filed Mar. 28, 2007. 
    
    
     The present invention relates to a shoe, sandal or the like with a removable and interchangeable heel and a method of altering the effective height of the heel of the shoe. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     High heel shoes and pumps are, of course, well known. However, high heel shoes can be uncomfortable and, after extended use, have a tendency to make a user&#39;s feet ache. Thus, many people have to either carry a more comfortable pair of shoes on days that they wear high heels, or simply avoid wearing high heels all together, because they cannot tolerate extended wear times. 
     Additionally, high heels are not practical in terms of the range of activities for which they can be worn. For example, walking extended distances or standing for extended periods of time in high heels can be difficult. 
     Thus, it is desirable to provide a high heel shoe that can be worn comfortably by a user for a broad range of activities without compromising the aesthetic value of the high heel style. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first exemplary and nonlimiting aspect of the invention, a shoe is provided that also has an additional removable and interchangeable heel. The shoe includes a first fixed heel disposed on a heel bottom portion of the shoe. The fixed heel includes a first fastener, such as a nut, embedded (or otherwise secured) in a blind bore or recess extending from a bottom surface of the fixed heel. A second removable and interchangeable heel is also provided for selective attachment to the shoe whenever it is regarded as desirable to increase the effective height of the heel. This second heel incorporates a second fastener, such as a bolt, so that a portion of the bolt extends above the upper end of the second removable heel. The bolt is engageable with the nut disposed in the fixed heel to thereby secure the second removable heel to the first fixed heel, thus changing, i.e., increasing, the effective height of the heel of the shoe. 
     Another feature of the invention is to form the second removable heel with an upstanding collar that substantially encloses three sides of the fixed heel when the second heel is attached. 
     It is another feature of the invention that plural, removable and interchangeable heels of varying height are provided, for selective attachment to the fixed heel. 
     According to a second exemplary and nonlimiting aspect of the invention, a method of changing the effective height of the heel of a shoe is provided. The method includes providing a first fixed heel disposed on a heel bottom portion the shoe. A nut or other fastener is disposed in a bottom surface of the fixed heel. A second removable and interchangeable heel is also provided, incorporating a second complimentary fastener, such as a threaded bolt, a portion of the bolt extending above the upper surface of the removable heel. The method in one embodiment may further include screwing the bolt in the second removable heel into the nut in the first fixed heel so that the second removable heel is secured to the first fixed heel, thereby increasing the effective height of the heel of the shoe. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view, partially in section, of a shoe in a first configuration according to an exemplary and nonlimiting embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2A  is a partial section view of a first fixed heel where a fastener in the heel is relocated as compared to  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2B  is a side elevational view, partially in section, of a second removable heel that can be attached to the shoe of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 2C  is a partial section of a removable heel as shown in  FIG. 2B , but with an alternative heel tip arrangement; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the shoe of  FIG. 1  having the removable and interchangeable heel of  FIG. 2B  attached thereto; and 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a removable and interchangeable heel in accordance with the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary and nonlimiting embodiments and methods of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the drawings. It should be noted, however, that the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details, representative devices and methods, and illustrative examples shown and described in this section in connection with the preferred embodiments and methods. The invention according to its various aspects is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the attached claims read in view of this specification, and appropriate equivalents. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 1 , a shoe  2  includes a first fixed heel  10  that provides a first, as purchased height to the heel of the shoe  2 . The fixed heel  10  has a height within a range that is not normally considered a “high heel”. In one exemplary embodiment, the fixed heel  10  includes a threaded nut  14  embedded or otherwise fixedly secured in the heel  10  for facilitating attachment of a second removable and interchangeable heel, as described in detail further below. 
     As best shown in  FIG. 2A , the nut  14  is disposed in a blind bore or recess  18  extending into the heel  10  from a bottom surface thereof, thus permitting access to the nut. Returning to  FIG. 1 , a resilient plug  12  is removably disposed in the bore or recess  18  formed in the fixed heel  10  to prevent dirt and debris from accumulating not only in the bore or recess  18 , but also in the threaded area of the nut  14 . The plug  12  may be made of, for example, rubber, plastic or other suitable material, and has a flat portion that is preferably substantially flush with the flat bottom surface  11  of the fixed heel  10  so as not be felt by a user when wearing the shoe  2 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 2B , the shoe  2  may be modified to the extent of changing its effective heel height by attachment of a second removable and interchangeable heel  20  having a threaded bolt  22  disposed lengthwise therein so that a head  23  of the bolt  22  is accessible from a flat bottom surface  25  of the removable heel  20 . Bolt  22  extends through a bore in the second removable heel, with an end portion  21  (note that only the exposed end portion  21  of the bolt shank need be threaded) extending beyond the upper surface  19  of the heel. The removable heel  20  can be secured to the fixed heel  10  of the shoe  2  by removing the plug  12 , and then threading the bolt  22  into the nut  14  using, for example, a screw driver or the like, applied to the head  23  of the bolt, until the second removable heel is tightly secured to the first fixed heel  10 . The upper surface  19  of the second removable heel  20 , and the lower surface  11  of the fixed heel  10  are complementary in shape so that the shoe  2  has an aesthetically attractive appearance. The bolt head  23  may be countersunk within the lower end of the heel  22 , with a plug  24  similar to plug  12  covering the head  23  as shown in  FIG. 2C , or with a conventional heel tip  24 ′ applied over the exposed head  23  and bottom surface of the heel as shown in  FIG. 2B . These arrangements prevent the head  23  from impacting a surface being walked on by a user wearing the shoe  2 . More specifically, the impact absorbing plug  24  or tip  24 ′ prevents the head  23  of the bolt  22  from scratching hardwood floors, etc. while also preventing unnecessary stress on the removable heel  20 . The impact absorbing plug  24  or tip  24 ′ may be made from rubber, plastic or the like and may be removably secured to the surface  25  by any suitable means. 
     While bolt  22  is shown extending the full length of the removable heel  20 , it may be appreciated that the bolt  22  need only extend into the removable heel  20  a distance sufficient to provide a rigid connection to the fixed heel  10 . Thus the bolt could be molded into, or otherwise embedded within the second removable heel, with the threaded shank portion  21  extending the necessary distance above surface  19  to allow shank  21  to be threaded into nut  14  via rotation of the removable heel  20  relative to the fixed heel  10 . Also, while the nut  14  is illustrated at the distal end of bore  18 , it may be located at the proximal end of the bore or in the mid-portion of the bore as shown in  FIG. 2A  so that the length of shank  21  need not be precisely controlled. In other words, so long as the bore  18  is of sufficient depth, the shank  21  may extend through nut  18  while still providing a rigid connection. 
     The removable heel  20 , having a height in a range, for example, of about 1 to about 5 inches, thus provides a second alternative height to the shoe  2 , in addition to the first height provided by the fixed heel  10 , as best shown in  FIG. 3 . It will be appreciated that additional interchangeable heels of varying height could be attached to the fixed heel  10  of the shoe  2 . For example, plural interchangeable heels may be provided with heights varying in a range of from about one to about 5 inches, and preferably about 2 to 5 inches, thereby permitting the user to selectively change the effective height of the shoe heel as desired. 
     It will be appreciated that the shoe  2  deforms when it is transformed from the flat configuration of  FIG. 1  to the high heel configuration of  FIG. 3 . Accordingly, and as best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the shoe  2  further includes an elastic band portion  6  disposed around a perimeter of the opening of the shoe  2  near the front or toe end of the shoe. The elastic band portion  6  allows the shoe  2  to take different shapes when the removable heel  20  is applied to the fixed heel  10  and when the removable heel  20  is not applied to the fixed heel  10 . As a result, the shoe  2  can be worn comfortably with or without the removable heel  20 . The shoe  2  may include a curved metal plate  8  disposed within the arch portion of the sole of the shoe  2  to provide additional arch support. The curved metal plate  8  is substantially rigid and provides the shape associated with a high heel, yet does not provide discomfort when the shoe  2  is worn without the removable heel  20 . The plate  8  preferably is covered by the leather, plastic or other material that forms the sole of shoe  2 , i.e., the plate  8  is located within the sole, and not externally visible. 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the shoe  2  further may include a strap  4  that is adjustable for the user&#39;s comfort. The strap  4  may be adjusted to different settings for providing different amounts of support based on whether the removable heel  20  is attached to the shoe  2 . It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to any specific style of shoe but rather, is applicable to virtually all styles of shoes, sandals or the like. 
     A method of using the shoe  2  of the present invention will now be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 3 . First, the shoe  2  can be worn without the removable heel  20  for more comfort, for example, in a less formal setting. Here, the plug  12  is employed and prevents dirt from entering the bore or slot  18  in which the nut  14  is disposed. Additionally, the elastic portion  6  allows the shape of the shoe  2  to adapt to the height of the fixed heel  10  to make a user&#39;s foot comfortable. 
     Next, a user can change the effective height of the heel of the shoe by adding the second removable heel  20 . This is done by removing the plug  12  and screwing the bolt  22  into the corresponding nut  14  in the fixed heel  10  (or by rotating the heel  20  relative to heel  10  if the bolt  22  does not extend completely through the heel  22 ). When worn in this state, the curved metal plate  8  provides the necessary support and shape to the shoe  2  for the cumulative height of the fixed heel  10  and the removable heel  20 . The elastic portion  6  also allows the shape of the front end of the shoe  2  to adapt to the combined height of the fixed heel  10  and the removable heel  20  to make a user&#39;s foot comfortable. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , the removable and interchangeable heel  20  may be formed with an integral, upstanding, substantially rigid collar  26 . The collar surrounds the fixed heel on three sides, with the front side left open. The height of the collar is substantially the same as the height of the first fixed heel  10 , and substantially covers the peripheral surface of heel  10 , with the exception of the normally unseen front edge or side thereof. The collar  26  thus provides a more integrated and streamlined appearance by hiding the seam between the two heels  10  and  20 , and the otherwise unattractive worn edges at the bottom edge of the first fixed heel. With the collared second heel  20  in place, it is not apparent that a second heel has been added to the first heel. 
     The threaded shank  21  may be provided with, for example, a pair of spring-loaded, hinged wings  28  that will collapse as the interchangeable heel  20  is inverted into the fixed heel  10  and then spring outwardly within a recess provided in the fixed heel to thereby secure the heel  20  in place. A release button  30  may be utilized to pull the wings into the shank  21 , via any suitable linkage arrangement, thus permitting removal of the heel  20 . This arrangement is merely exemplary of any number of known lock and release configurations that may be used to attach and release the heel  20 . 
     The shoe  2  as described thus provides the convenience to a user of being able to adapt a single pair of shoes between one or more high heel settings and a low heel setting. Accordingly, a user can easily remove the removable heel  20  to wear the shoe  2  more comfortably with a low heel style, and can also easily attach the removable heel  20  (or one of several interchangeable heels of varying height) for a more formal look with a high heel style. Therefore, a user need not carry an additional pair of shoes in order to wear both styles. Additionally, the shoe  2  can be worn during a broader range of activities than the conventional high heel shoe. While I illustrate the shoe  2  as being a low or flat shoe in  FIG. 1 , it may be appreciated that the attachable, interchangeable heel  20  may be used with other types and styles of footwear. 
     Although a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents. For example, while the complimentary fasteners for attaching the first and second heels have been disclosed as a combination nut and bolt, it will be appreciated that other securement techniques may be employed. For example, bayonet-type, snap-fit, or other preferably “quick-connect” arrangements are within the scope of the invention. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.