CRADLE HEELS

Abstract

A high-heel cradle stability device with a tube-post, truss/beams/chords, insole, midsole, outsole, toe platform, bridge, pillar, arch, x-bracing, shank seating and a heel cup, having a pole for fitting the support pillars and sphere balls in a first seated raised area in a region underlying the forward edge of a heel bone, and a second shanked raised area underlying the metatarsal of the comforted arched between. A cradle structure to form part of a shoe, comprising a molded sole member of semi flexible material providing a plurality of fitting holes, said chassis holes fitted for a sole spherical ball. A lightweight platform and heel constructed as a frame for a build to resist drift.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to footwear build, and more particularly to a footwear construction for walking and other active use. The invention has particular utility in connection with high-heeled shoes, and will be particularly described in connection with such utility, although other utilities are contemplated.

Conventional high-heeled shoes have a reputation of being extremely uncomfortable. There is survey information indicating that as many as 20% of the users of such shoes experience foot pain related to the shoes immediately, and the majority of users experience such pain after as little as four hours of use.

Balls Technology consisted of a midsole 5 that used anatomically placed, cushioned balls in the heel 3, which offered cushioning while enhancing energy return. It increased energy return by utilizing the natural progressive rebound characteristics of a sphere 2. The sphere-shaped urethane balls 2 because as you compress on a sphere 2 it actually starts to push back, it gives great initial cushioning, and then it will never bottom out. It wants to push back and give energy return.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In FIGS. 1-15 accordance with the present invention, there is provided a cradle 1, ball 2, tube-post 4 and heel 3 device for mounting over or under the insole 7 or within structure of a conventional high-heeled shoe, which device serves to locate and stabilize the heel 3 of the wearer in the shoe whereby the heel 3 of the wearer is retained in a near parallel relationship to the ground plane, and causes the foot to assume an anatomically correct position in the shoe whereby to buttress the phalanges of the wearer to prevent forward sliding of the foot of the wearer relative to the shoe. A feature and advantage of the device of the present invention is that the device may be universally applied to conventional high-heeled shoes without the need to otherwise modify the shoes, or the shoe last. The device according to the present invention may be incorporated into the manufacturing process, or applied as the last step in the manufacturing process, e.g., by fixing the device in position on the insole 7 top surface of the finished shoe. The device also may be applied post-manufacture, i.e., as an after-market device. U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,176, U.S. Pat. No. 4,219,945, U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,029 by Rudy air and gas sole compression, U.S. Pat. No. 4,768,295 by Ito gel cushioning, U.S. Pat. No. 0,555,763 by W. N. Fessenden, J. A. Enright U.S. Pat. No. 0,894,488, H. H. Band U.S. Pat. No. 2,474,300 ball fountain pens and an EVA constructed ball by Miller U.S. Pat. No. 4,529,200, Dean shoe patents U.S. Pat. No. 7,152,341, U.S. Pat. No. 6,519,874, Baumann U.S. Pat. No. 3,091,872, Ponce U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,897.

It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a shoe with a cradle 1, ball 2, tube-post 4, and heel 3 of various forms. Another objective of the present invention to provide a shoe cradle 1 heel 3 and/or toe platform 10 of various profiles and colors. Last, another objective of the present invention to provide a shoe cradle 1 heel 3 which is cost-effective and comfortable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention will be seen from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1-2 is a side view of a cradle-heel made in accordance of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a cradle-shank made in accordance of the present invention;

FIG. 4-5 are top view of a cradle-heel made in accordance of the present invention; shown disposed thereon;

FIG. 6-7 are rear view of cradle-post heels made in accordance of the present invention;

FIG. 8-9 are front views of cradle-shank and toe platform of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an alternative Arch sole view, similar to FIG. 9 of the heel device; and

FIGS. 11 thru 15 are views, similar to FIG. 3, alternative embodiments of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In the present invention, a device is provided for installation in high-heeled shoes. The device comprises a semi-rigid or flexible shaped device formed of a plastic or rubber-like material, and adhered to the midsole 5, insole 7 board or sock liner of a high-heeled shoe. The device may be formed of any of the several semi-rigid or flexible materials known to those of ordinary skill in the art, that can be molded or shaped. The device has two distinct raised areas, a first distinct raised area comprising a tapered crescent-shaped shank-post 4, and a ball 2 located within a shoe to underlie the forward edge of the superior surface of the calcaneus of the wearer's foot, and a second distinct raised area, of rounded or ball 2 shape located within a shoe to underlie the metatarsal shafts of the wearer's foot. The first fitting hole 11 and second fitting hole 11 raised areas are joined by a cradle 1 bridge or central area of reduced thickness underlying the arch area of the wearer's foot, i.e., the midsole 7 area of the shoe and optional toe platform 10.

Referring to FIGS. 4-5, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of a cradle device 101 consistent with the invention. The cradle device 101 is formed from a flexible or semi-flexible material, e.g., molded plastic or rubber, such as polyurethane, TPR, PVC or EVA. The device 101 comprises a metatarsal end 110 and a heel end 103. The device includes two raised areas 110 and 103. The first raised area 103 is generally crescent-shaped and positioned in a shoe to underlie substantially immediately in front of the anterior edge of the heel bone or calcaneus of the wearer's foot. The first raised area 103 has a rounded contour to avoid discomfort from sharp edges, and the distal end of the first raised area 103 tapers quickly to a bridge 104 arch 105 which connects the first raised area 103 with the second raised area 110, providing stable lightness.

A thermosetting resin is used instead of metal to form the shoe shank having a shank 12 function, an arch function, and a heel cup 9 function through the use of injection molding. The shank integrally includes a heel 3 part, an arch part, and a front foot part and forms an arch-like three-dimensional shape. The heel part forms a cup-like three-dimensional shape having smooth curved surfaces matched with a heel. Side wall parts are provided for the circumference of the shank 12 except the front foot part to secure the rigidity of the shank 12, like a chassis 15 frame.

A resin plate comprising the shank is divided into an inside arch counter and an outside arc counter, with the front arch counter made a raised structure. and at least one through hole 11 is provided on the part of the resin plate 12 corresponding to the heel in the thickness direction. Depending on a desire, a through hole 11 is also provided on a mid sole, an intermediate sole and an insole, and is made to communicate with the through hole 11 formed in the part of the resin plate 12 corresponding to the heel 3; thus, a stability and flex system is constituted inside a shoe.

Alternate Embodiments

Hitherto, FIG. 10, the sole has three layers: insole 7, midsole 5, and outsole 6. The insole 7 is a thin layer of man-made ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). The components of the midsole 5, which provides the bulk of the cushioning, will vary among manufacturers. Generally it consists of polyurethane surrounding another material such as gas, gel or liquid silicone, or polyurethane foam given a special brand name by the manufacturer. In some cases the x-bracing may surround capsules of compressed air and further structured by posts 4 and truss/beams/chords 13. Outsoles 6 are usually made of carbon rubber, which is hard, or blown rubber, a softer type, although manufacturers use an assortment of materials to produce different textures on the outsole 6. EVA offers lightweight cushioning, EVA balls 2 add stability and durability. EVA can be compressed to make it somewhat more durable midsole 5. A truss 13 platform 10 and heel constructed as a frame for a bridge to resist drift. Tubes 13 are web girders and bundle tubes provide stiffness.

The shoe heel of the present invention may comprise a support pillar 8 mounted under the rear portion of a shoe sole, and a heel body of rubber plastic materials and provided with a fitting hole 11 into which the support pillar 8 is fitted. The heel 3 body is formed by grind or mold. The shoe heels 3 may have a variety of profiles and colors. The heel 3 also comprise a cradle 1 heel 3 cup 9, truss/tube 13 post 4, shank 12, tube-post 4, mid-heel 3, out-heel 3, and ball 2 cushion.

It is, therefore, evident that there is provided, in accordance with the present invention, a device that fully satisfies both the aims and objectives hereinbefore set forth. While this high heel invention has been described in conjunction with specific embodiments thereof, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that many alternatives, modifications, and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the instant invention. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the insole 7 board 13 or foot seating 12 of the shoe could be integrally shaped or molded to conform to the sphere 14 shape of the device. Also, the two raised areas may be made as separate pieces, and individually positioned in a shoe. However, for ease of manufacture, a single device having the separate raised areas joined by a bridging section is preferred. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the spirit and broad scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cradle device constructed in a high-heeled shoe having a tube/truss platform and a heel, said stable device having a first raised area in a heel cup underlying the forward edge of a heel bone, and a second raised area underly the ball cushioned metatarsal of the comfort, and bundle post: a. cradle device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first raised area comprises a crescent shaped heel cup, tube post with truss, beams and/or chords raised area that underlies in front of a forward bridge arch of a superior surface seated shank, insole, midsole, and outsole of the calcaneus; andb. a cradle structure to form part of a shoe, comprising a molded sole member of semi flexible material providing a plurality of fitting holes, said chassis holes fitted for a sole spherical ball.

2. The cradle heel provides a shoe shank capable of achieving lightness in weight, shank having a shank function, an arch function, a heel cup function, post/beam/tube/chord function and balls providing cushion, wherein cushioning is of EVA, a gel, a foam, a plastic, a rubber, a gas and air combinations, lightweight platform and heel constructed as a frame for a build to resist drift.

3. The cradle shank integrally includes a heel part, an arch part, and a front foot part and forms an arch-like shape, wherein the heel part forms a cup-like shape having smooth curved surfaces matched with a heel post for stability, through hole is also provided on a mid sole, an out sole and an insole, and is made to communicate with the through hole formed in the part of the resin plate corresponding to the heel and ball spheres for cushioned flex, with tube truss x-bracing.