GB2415599A

GB2415599A - A heel for a dancing shoe

Info

Publication number: GB2415599A
Application number: GB0509809A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Vitaly Safarov
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-06-30
Filing date: 2005-05-16
Publication date: 2006-01-04
Also published as: GB0509809D0; GB2415598A; GB0414634D0

Abstract

A heel for a dancing shoe that incorporates a sound box 2/2 for the enhancement of the acoustic clicking of the heels when the wearer executes Irish/Flamenco and other forms of dancing movements. The heel is detachably attached to a dancing shoe via screw posts that are incorporated into the heel. The heel is hollow with an aperture 3/3 in the base that allows air to travel in and out to enhance the click of the heel during dance movements. The aperture or wall thickness can be enlarged or minimised to provide different click effects eg. sharper or duller sounds. A shock absorber pad or sound resistant board may be placed between the heel and the sole of the shoe to change the quality of the sound and provide comfort. The walls may be rounded to enable the dancer to execute dance moves and minimise any damage to the floor and the underside of heel may have ridges/patterns to provide extra grip. The heels may be made from ferrous or non-ferrous materials that are very light in weight to allow dancers to enhance their performance.

Description

24 1 5599 This invention relates to design of the Heels for shoes, more

particularly for dance shoes made from ferrous or non ferrous metals to be used in dancing fields such as Irish Dancing, Flamenco and Tap dancing etc. Primary object of my invention resides in the Heel's ability to produce loud and clear, sharp or dull tapping and Heel clicking sound effects due to the fact that they are made from ferrous or non ferrous metals with incorporated Sound Box, Sound Discharge Aperture.

My primary object is supported by the fact that dancer can achieve desirable sound effects by simply placing a shock absorber pad/sound resistance board between the Heels and sole of shoe. Using screws to affach/detach Heels at anytime enable dancer to have full control over the tapping sound quality.

Specification

The Heels are made from ferrous and non ferrous metals due to which a greater resonance of sounds can be achieved.

With its distinctive shape drw 1/1 Heels incorporate the Sound Box 2/2 more particularly a hollow area surrounded by walls with large opening from the top and Sound Discharge Aperture dry 3/3 from the bottom.

The Sound Box takes up the largest part due to the shape of the Heels which makes them very light in weight and helps to alleviate diminishing fatigue of the dancer.

Thickness of the walls & area occupied by the Sound Box determines the sound effect caused by the impact which makes sound travel around the Sound Box from the point of impact and straight out through the Sound Discharge Aperture producing sharper/clearer sound effect Walls of the Heels are relatively thin to enable natural sharp & loud sounds - but thick enough to withstand against the damage that may be cause by the nature of movements.

Sound Discharge Aperture as shown on drw 3/3 is an aperture of a no specific diameter in the base of the Heel that plays a vital rote in producing certain tapping sound effects as it ensures that sound generated by the impact is not trapped within the Sound Box. Sound effects are likely to change if the Sound Discharge Aperture is significantly increased/decreased in width & thickness or completely sealed.

Walls of the Heels are slightly rounded drw 4/4 this makes sound caused by an impact louder and sharper.

The thinner walls are the louder/clear & sharper the sound is - the thicker walls are the deeper & duller sounds are.

Rounded walls of the Heels help dancers to execute variety of Heel clicks (Heels against the Heel) movements with a minimum effort & maximum result.

Drw 5/5 shows four threaded screw posts heated around the inside edge of the Sound Box. Purpose of these screw posts as follows: Support dancer's weight - by evenly distributed screw posts inside the Sound Box Screw posts are highly resistant against the tapping pressure generated by complicated footwork and movements with great impact against the hard surface Secure the Heels to the sole of the shoe - by use of flat headed screws. A washers may be placed between the head of the screw and sole of the shoe for extra security Accommodate and hold firmly shock absorber pad /sound resistant board and any other materials to achieve desirable sound quality effects and give necessary comfort.

This glue free method of attaching & detaching the Heels by means of screws ensures a simple, accurate and secure fixing which enable dancers to change the tapping sound quality by placing a desired thickness of a shock absorber pad or sound resistance board between the Heels and sole of the shoe or just attaching Heels direct onto the sole of the shoes.

Whilst the all the features in my invention play vital rote in producing desirable sound effects to enhance dancer's performance it is emphasized that loudness will have to be generated by the dancer's ability to strike the floor with controlled force and floor's surface upon which tapping is performed.

Drw 6/6 shows a Recess - a curve on the top part of the Heel and its purpose is to cover a visible gap of insignia cant size between the sole of the shoe and the Heel.

This is due to extra padding for comfort applied to the Heel part of the sole by manufactures which creates that slight curve on the sole and subsequently gap when Heels are attached.

Applied Recess ensures accurate and neat tiffing. Recess however can be Neatened in accordance with the sole of the shoe.

Drw 7/7 shows that the Heed have round edges and it has been designed this way specifically to ensure minimum damage to the floor* surface and the upper part of the shoes during complicated footwork or dance movements with great impact and force.

Another object of my invention resides in the fact that the Heels can be used in any dance forms where tapping is an integral part.

This can be achieved by simply increasing or decreasing its height during manufacturing. For example the Heels can be used in Irish Dancing, Flamenco Dancing or Tap Dancing etc. To prevent slipping and give extra grip between the Heels and the dance floor -various patterns or ridged surface can be applied onto its bottom part surface during the manufacturing process.

All features listed in this description are subject to minor alterations and improvements to meet individual requirements without loosing its external appearance and purpose.

Claims

Claims Having now fully described and ascertained the nature of my

invention I declare that what I claim is: 1) Heels - designed for shoes, more particular for dancing shoes worn in Irish Dancing, Flamenco Dancing, Tap Dancing or any other forms of dance where tapping is an integral part 2) Heels - with its distinctive shape that can be used in dance forms described in claim 1 by increasing/decreasing its height and width 3) Heels - made from ferrous metals resistant against the pressure caused by tapping, an ideal agent in producing distinctive tapping sounds and maintaining the shape/longevity of the Heels 4) Heels - made from non ferrous metals resistant against the pressure caused by tapping, an ideal agent in producing distinctive tapping sounds and maintaining the shape/longevity of the Heels 5) Heels - with incorporated Sound Box, more particularly a hollow area surrounded by relatively thin and slightly rounded walls to produce natural sharp & loud tapping sound and capable of withstanding pressure caused by impact to maintain its shape 6) Heels with Sound Discharge Aperture - an opening on the base of the Heels to ensure that sound generated by impact is not trapped inside the Sound Box and that sound is likely to change if an aperture is significantly increase/decreased in diameter or completely sealed 7) Heels - with the Sound Box and Sound Discharge Aperture as described in claims 5 & 6 play vital part in producing sharp & loud or deep& dull tapping sounds and its emphasized that the loudness of the sound will depend upon the thickness & height of the walls, floor's surface and dancers ability to strike the floor with controlled force 8) According to claim 5 Heels are hollow inside which makes them light in weight to alleviate diminishing fatigue of the dancer 9) Heels - with its top part supplied by number of threaded screw posts for the purpose of attaching and removing Heels at anytime by means of number of screws, to support dancers weight and to enable an instant sound quality change by placing a sound resistant board / shock absorber pads between the Heel and sole of the shoe 10) Heels - with introduced Recess to its top part to ensure accurate and neat tiffing and to cover insignificant gap caused by extra padding applied to the sole of the shoe by manufactures Recess however can be flattened according with flatness of the sole of the shoe 11) Heels - with rounded edges to prevent damage caused to the upper part of the shoe and floor's surface due to the movements with great force and impact of complicated footwork 12) Heels to the base of which desirable pattern can be applied during manufacturing to give extra grip between the Heels and the floor 13) According to all above claims some features in my invention are subject to minor alteration and improvements to meet individual requirements without losing Heel's external appearance and purpose