Patent ID: 8132341

Claim:
A detachable heel system, comprising: (a) a shoe that includes a sole, (b) a heel that is detachably-attachable with respect to said shoe, and (c) a bayonet mount that includes a first half of said bayonet mount and a second half of said bayonet mount, wherein said first half of said bayonet mount is attached to said shoe; and (d) wherein said second half of said bayonet mount is attached to said heel; wherein said second half of said bayonet mount is able to cooperate with said first half of said bayonet mount to secure said heel to said shoe and to permit removal of said heel from said shoe; wherein said first half of said bayonet mount includes a mechanical latch, and wherein said mechanical latch prevents an unintentional release and separation of said heel from said shoe, and wherein said mechanical latch includes a release member that is attached to said first half of said bayonet mount and wherein a force is supplied to said release member by a spring that is sufficient to normally urge a tip of said release member into a slot that is provided in said first half of said bayonet mount, and wherein said second half of said bayonet mount is prevented from rotating an entire length of said slot when said tip of said release member is disposed in said slot, and wherein said release member includes an end that is able to be grasped and urged in a direction away from said slot an amount sufficient to withdraw said tip from said slot when a force sufficient to overcome a force supplied by said spring is applied to said release member, and wherein said end of said release member includes an enlarged end, and wherein said slot includes an enlarged opening at a first end thereof and wherein said slot extends along a radius for a predetermined length along said radius and wherein said slot includes an opposite end, and wherein said slot includes an upside-down T-shape when viewed in cross-section and wherein said upside-down T-shape extends along said length.