GB2497587A

GB2497587A - Shoe with a hinged heel

Info

Publication number: GB2497587A
Application number: GB1121705.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jabbar Shah
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-12-16
Filing date: 2011-12-16
Publication date: 2013-06-19
Also published as: WO2013088113A2; WO2013088113A3; GB201121705D0

Abstract

An item of footwear, which is adaptable for multiple use, comprises a sole (2, figure 1) an upper (1, figure 1) and a heel 3 which is hingedly attached to the sole (2) at the rear of the shoe. Whilst in a folded state, the heel 3 lies alongside the sole (2), giving the user a flat shoe. Extending the heel 3 to a position away from the sole (2) transforms the shoe into a high heeled item of footwear. Hinging of the heel is effected by a release mechanism (5, figure 3). Whilst in a stowed position laying alongside the sole (2) the heel 3 may be enclosed by a cover 4.

Description

PATENT APPLICATION

OF

JABBAR SHAH

FOR

MULTIPLE USE FOOTWEAR

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to multiple use footwear, more particularly an item of footwear such as a shoe or boot, able to be altered from a high heeled item of footwear to a lowered heeled item.

Background

Increased working hours and flexibility, and increasing confusion or lack of distinction between work periods, and entertainment or social periods, has led to some users requiring a plurality of different outfits or styles through a day.

For example some users may commence a day in smart clothing, well suited to attending meetings and dressing aggressively, then continue to wear their same clothing, with little to no modification through their day, and into a more relaxed entertainment period in their evening.

More particularly a user may have chosen to wear high heels for a business meeting, but may be tired of wearing the heels later, when a more relaxed style is required, and inherent discomfort, danger and difficulty of high heels may be problematic.

Prior Art

Accordingly a number of patent applications have been filed in an attempt to resolve the problem, including the following: Granted United States patent US 7 578 075 (KEMP) discloses a colapsibIe shoe, comprising: a sole having a heel mounting portion, an empty cavity comprising a ridge, and a releasable button comprising a back retaining plate; and a removable heel having a heel head comprising a neck with a fillet raised edge and a front heel retaining plate, wherein the fillet raised edge of the neck slides into the empty cavity and under the ridge of the empty cavity to be secured into the empty cavity of the sole with the front heel retaining plate resting against the back retaining plate of the releasable button in a locked position; wherein, the releasable button is depressed to allow the front retaining plate of the heel head to pass by the back retaining plate of the releasable button and fit into the empty cavity and lock into place by wedging against the button and the sole, and the releasable button is depressed again to allow the heal head to come out of the empty cavity.

Chinese utility model CN 201 101 186 (YUECONJG) discloses a foldable shoe heel, which includes a shoe heel upper body and a shoe heel lower body; the lower part of the shoe upper body is provided with a lug boss; the top end of the shoe heel lower body is provided with a flute; the shoe heel upper body is connected with the flute at the top end of the shoe heel lower body via the lug boss at the lower part; the inner side of the shoe heel upper body is provided with a shoe heel lower body slot; the shoe heel upper body is provided with a fixing piece; the fixing piece is connected with a torsion piece; the fixing pieces upon and at the side of the torsion piece are respectively provided with a fixed groove and a foldable groove; the torsion piece is provided with a chute; the centre of the shoe heel lower body is fixed with a steel core; the top end of the steel core is connected with the chute of the torsion piece; as the turning of the torsion piece along the rotating shaft, the steel core inserts the fixed groove or foldable groove; a positioning ball is arranged in the chute; the joint face of the steel core and the chute is provided with a positioning groove; the positioning ball connects with the positioning groove. The foldable shoe heel has the following beneficial effects that shoe heels of different height suit different occasion; the shoe heel can be folded to reduce the height, the appearance is good, and the wearing is

comfortable.

Granted Korean patent KR 100 805 349 (KIM) discloses a height adjustable high-heeled shoes for woman having foldable heels are provided to facilitate height adjustment of shoes and to reduce fatigue by folding the heel. Each of height adjustable high-heeled shoes for woman having foldable heels includes: a main body of shoes; a fixed heel established on the rear bottom of the main body of shoes.

which includes a receiving pan; a rotation heel formed on the bottom side of the fixed heel possible to be folded and inserted into the receiving part of the fixed heel; a hinge member established on the bottom side of the fixed heel, which enables the rotation heel to rotate and to be inserted into the receiving part of the fixed heel; and a wrinkle part.

Chinese utility model CN 2 862 772 (WEI) refers to a foldaway high and flat-heeled dual-purpose shoe. In detail, it is characterized in that: two foldaway heels are divided into the front and back end of heel. Back end and back-end joint is linked by locating hinge on the edge of back end. Moreover, demands for flat-heeled shoe on some occasions by folding back-end of heel based on above structure can be met, thus fulfilling the aims of utility model.

Granted United States patent CN 101 222 662 (HANDEL) discloses a shoe having a sole with a toe portion, a heel portion and an arch portion located between said heel and toe portions, the improvement comprised of a stowable heel comprising: a low heel block attached to the heel portion of said shoe sole, said low heel block having a slot formed therein that is open adjacent the bottom of said low heel block and continues through the forward part of said low heel block adjacent said arch portion of said shoe; a high heel extension piece attached to said low heel block, said high heel extension piece having a support beam affixed therein and protruding upwardly from the top of said high heel extension piece, said support beam having a substantially rectangular cross-section and defining a substantially central axis of said high heel extension piece, said support beam being capable of limited axial and pivotal movement within said slot; the dimensions of said support beam and said slot preventing rotational movement of said high heel extension piece about its central axis relative to said low heel block, and means for allowing pivotal motion of said high heel extension piece relative to said sole so that said high heel extension piece can be moved between a first position wherein it underlies and is in substantial alignment with said low heel block creating a high heel and a second position wherein it lies substantially beneath said arch portion of said sole resulting in a low heel.

Chinese utility model CN 2 653 932 (ZHOU) relates to a foldable high-heel shoe, which comprises an upper and a sole. The utility model is characterized in that: a foldable heel consists of a moveable heel, a rotating shaft, a U-shaped heel outline; an operation and control mechanism consists of a switch key, a sliding film, a fixed pressing bar, a spring, a screen and a compressing spring; and the operation and control mechanism is arranged in the side face of the U-shaped heel outline. The foldable high-heel shoe is able to convenient realize mutual conversion of a flatty and a high-heel shoe through the operation and control mechanism that the operation and control mechanism is able to change a flatty to a high-heel shoe, or change a high-heel shoe to a flatty through the operation and control mechanism according to realistic needs.

United States patent application US 3 464 126 (SARKISSIAN) discloses a shoe having an adjustable height heel, the shoe comprising: a front shoe member for receiving the front or toe portion of a wearer's foot, an upper shank and heel member for supporting the rear or heel portion of a wearer's foot, a rigid ground engaging portion extending heelward from said front shoe member beneath said shank and heel member, hinge means connecting said upper shank and heel member to said front shoe member and said ground engaging portion whereby said shank and heel member may be raised or lowered relative to said ground engaging portion, and locking means between said shank and heel member and said ground engaging portion for locking the relative position of said shank and heel member and said ground engaging portion and determining the height of the heel end of said shank and heel member.

In contrast the present invention provides a means of easily converting a day4ime outfit into a more relaxed evening outfit, or vice versa, without carrying additional parts, pieces or portions.

Summary of the Invention

According to the present invention there is provided multiple use footwear including a sole and upper, said sole supporting a flippable heel, that allows hinged flipping of the heel away from the sole reducing contact between the sole and heel and elevating a user.

Said heel according to a second aspect of the present invention is hinged about a rearward point of the sole in use. This hinge ideally allows up to a 90 degree flipping angle.

In preferred embodiments, when the heel is flipped towards the sole or away from it, the footwear will allow comfortable use on at least two angles, typically by formation of a profile that is suitable for use in at least two angle positions.

The upper therefore will comfortably accommodate the at least two angles.

The heel in preferred embodiments forms a rigid member with longitudinal and lateral structural strength.

The member is typically similar in appearance to the sole face downmost in use, and/or is provided with a cover as such, in order that the heel and sole are The upper is pically a more flexible or elastic material, such as cloth.

According to a third aspect of the present invention the upper has panels that are relatively more flexible or elastic to allow comfort and homogenous appearance.

In this way the upper may be able to flex sufficiently when the sole moves from one heel angle to another, ensuring comfort to a user.

In all preferred embodiments therefore the heel is able to be flipped from a first flat shoe usage to a second high heel usage. This enables a user to wear the shoe or boot item as a higher heeled shoe in preferred circumstances, easily and effectively allowing a user to change item as required.

In this way users having worn higher or elevated heel shoes for a time or until the sole becomes uncomfortable, and flip up the heel into the sole.

The shoe or boot then comes to a flat position, and is correspondingly improved to walk on for the user.

In preferred embodiments there is ideally a largely homogenous sole profile in the flat position. For example some embodiments may provide a large triangular wedge profile.

In such embodiments the heel is liable to have a triangular profile also, wherein the heel provides a segment of the larger profile, which detaches on flipping.

Ideally and according to a fourth aspect of the present invention a cantilever arm is included to brace the heel.

This arm may be displaced in order to brace the heel and/or move the heel. For example in some embodiments the arm may be disposed as a cover to prevent movement of the heel, when the heel is not in use., or the footwear is in a non-elevated position.

In some further embodiments the arm and heel may be enabled to move in more than one direction or on more than one axis, wherein the heel may move along the sole.

Visible heel when the item is in an elevated position is typically able to hinge at a different point to the arm.

Furthermore in preferred embodiments the heel is sprung on a hinge, wherein it is predisposed to remain in a position.

In such embodiments the user would be displace the arm in a first step and replace or otherwise brace the arm on the heel in a final step.

It may be envisaged that a resiliently deformable, click-fit, friction fit or elastic seal may be included to prevent accidental deployment or displacement of the arm, cover or heel; as may be a button or other release mechanism.

Said release mechanism forms a profile and heel area that is contiguous or preferably disposed in both preferred angle positions.

This may be achieved by recessing the button and/or mechanism.

In this way a first high heeled angle position will be easily flipped into a second flat angle that may be achieved with a click release mechanism.

This means that a user can choose whether to have a separate heel or flat sole, by easy adjustment of the sole, and without any need for extra parts, portions or pieces.

Additionally heel-sole configuration ideally provides a stable and less prone to damage or dislocation of the heel in a high heeled angler or profile.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of invention.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realised that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows a side view of a preferred embodiment of a shoe according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a rear isometric view of the shoe, with heel in process of storage; And Figure 3 shows a view from underneath of the shoe with heel extended.

Detailed Description of Figures

In the pictured and preferred embodiment the shoe includes the following: Upper (1) Sole (2) Heel (3) Cover/Brace (4) Release mechanism (5)

Claims

<claim-text>Claims 1. Multiple use footwear including a sole and upper, said sole supporting a flippable heel that allows hinged flipping of the heel away from the sole, reducing contact between the sole and heel and elevating a user.</claim-text> <claim-text>2. A shoe or boot incorporating a heel according to claim 1 which is hinged about a rearward point of the sole in use.</claim-text> <claim-text>3. A shoe or boot incorporating a heel according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the heel is cantilevered when the user is elevated.</claim-text> <claim-text>4. A shoe or boot incorporating a heel according to claim 1, 2 or 3 which when flipped towards the sole will allow comfortable sole use on at least two angles by formation of a lateral profile that has comfortable use in at least two angle positions.</claim-text> <claim-text>5. A heel according to a preceding claim.</claim-text> <claim-text>6. A method of forming a shoe or boot according to a preceding claim.</claim-text>