The present invention relates generally to a height adjusting and stabilizing assembly for footwear. More so, the present invention relates to a height adjusting and stabilizing assembly that raises the height of the shoe wearer through use of an elevation insert that fits into an interior cavity of footwear and is selectively height adjustable through insertion of support pads, and a pair of stabilizing straps that extend from the open ankle to the lower regions of the shoe to create lateral stability the wearer while in the unnatural raised position from the elevation insert.
The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.
Typically, people in society gather for parties and events that require nice dressing. The identity of the people at the party can be determined quickly by height, and other physically observable parameters. Often, the group of people are short, and thus require a boost in height. In this manner, height becomes a social parameter for male and female actors/characters. The additional height can also be used to shorter users. an emotional and confidential push to look like an equivalent height person.
In general, high-heel shoes have a relatively large heel which is fixed to the sole and has a single, predetermined height. This creates disadvantages for the wearer. In particular, high-heel shoes cause the wearer to feel discomfort in their feet because the high heel requires the foot to be bent into an unnatural position. It is also known that prolonged wearing of high-heel shoes can lead to more serious foot problems. Furthermore, some women prefer to wear shoes with relatively low heels at one time of the day, for example, while commuting to work, and then change to shoes with relatively high heels while at work and again back to the shoes with low heels after work.
It is known in the art of footwear that there exist devices to regulate the height of the shoe wearer. There are devices that are composed from a tube inside of the heel, and are bolted to the structure of the shoe, in which another tube moves with the aid of a spring, through the slots in the first tube. The mechanism for setting the shoe height is made in most existing models, by a bolt that in some models is removable, which rotation coupling through the second tube in the groove of the first tube—fixing the second tube that slides over the first. There is also footwear that utilizes damping mechanism filled with air or a gel. The empty space between two rubbers dampens the pressure of the foot on the floor. Yet other systems consist of several layers of rubber or other flexible materials that are overlapping each other and to cushion the pressure on the foot.
Other proposals have involved footwear devices that adjustably raise the height of the wearer. The problem with these heights adjusting footwear devices is that they do not allow the wearer to select the desired height. Also, the wearer remains unstable due to the unnatural elevation in height from the footwear. Even though the above cited footwear devices that adjustably raise the height of the wearer meet some of the needs of the market, a height adjusting and stabilizing assembly for footwear that raises the height of the shoe wearer through use of an elevation insert that fits into an interior cavity of footwear and is selectively height adjustable through insertion of support pads, and a pair of stabilizing straps that extend from the open ankle to the lower regions of the shoe to create lateral stability the wearer while in the unnatural raised position from the elevation insert, is still desired.
Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure are generally directed to a height adjusting and stabilizing assembly for footwear. The height adjusting and stabilizing assembly for footwear is configured to adjustably and selectively elevate a user who is wearing the footwear. The assembly provides an elevation insert that removably fits into the interior cavity of the footwear. The elevation insert is designed to be selectively height adjustable, as set by the user. The elevation insert fits into the cavity of footwear to selectively elevate the user while wearing the footwear.
In some embodiments, the elevation insert has a ramp-like shape defining a wide rear end that tapers to a narrow front end. The wide rear end orients to a heel end of the footwear, and the narrow end extends to a toe end of the footwear. The elevation insert is fabricated from a flexible material that compresses under the weight of the user, providing additional comfort and reducing stress. The wide end of the elevation insert has multiple spaced apart slots that are sized to receive multiple corresponding support pads.
In some embodiments, the support pads are fitted into a corresponding slot, causing the elevation insert to rise, or not compress as much under the weight of the user. This elevated configuration creates more height to the user while wearing the footwear. The assembly also includes a pair of stabilizing straps that extend from the open ankle of the footwear to the lower regions of the footwear. The stabilizing straps are taut, so as to create lateral stability the user.
In one aspect, a height adjusting and stabilizing assembly for footwear, comprises an elevation insert defined by a wide rear end that tapers to a narrow front end, the wide end being defined by multiple spaced-apart slots, the elevation insert further being defined by a resilient configuration, whereby the wide end of the elevation insert compresses under pressure. The height adjusting and stabilizing assembly further comprises multiple support pads configured to fit inside the slots, the support pads further being configured to help restrict compression of the wide end of the elevation insert when fitted inside the slots. The height adjusting and stabilizing assembly further comprises a front stabilizing strap defined by a top end and a bottom end; and a rear stabilizing strap defined by a top end and a bottom end.
In another aspect, the elevation insert is further defined by a top face and a bottom face.
In another aspect, the assembly further comprises a traction panel disposed to overlay the top face of the elevation insert.
In another aspect, the traction panel is defined by a gripping texture.
In another aspect, the elevation insert is operable to enable insertion into a cavity of a footwear, the footwear having a sidewall forming an ankle opening, a sole, a heel end, and a toe end.
In another aspect, the wide rear end of the elevation insert is disposed to orient towards the heel end of the footwear.
In another aspect, the bottom face of the elevation insert is disposed to orient towards the sole of the footwear.
In another aspect, the top end of the front stabilizing strap detachably attaches to the ankle opening of the footwear.
In another aspect, the bottom end of the front stabilizing strap detachably in proximity to the toe end of the footwear.
In another aspect, the top end of the rear stabilizing strap detachably attaches to the ankle opening of the footwear.
In another aspect, the bottom end of the rear stabilizing strap detachably in proximity to the heel end of the footwear.
In another aspect, the assembly further comprises at least one fastener configured to detachably attach the ends of the stabilizing straps to the footwear.
In another aspect, the front and rear stabilizing straps comprise a stretchable material.
In another aspect, the at least one fastener includes at least one of the following: Velcro, a hook and loop fastener, and a nylon belt.
In another aspect, the stabilizing straps include at least one of the following: Velcro, a hook and loop fastener, and a nylon belt.
In another aspect, the elevation insert has a ramp shape.
In another aspect, the narrow front end of the elevation insert is elongated.
In another aspect, the wide rear end of the elevation insert has a height of at least 3 inches.
In another aspect, the elevation insert comprises a resilient polymer or rubber material.
In another aspect, the multiple spaced-apart slots comprise three slots.
In another aspect, the multiple spaced-apart slots are arranged along the vertical of the elevation insert.
In another aspect, the multiple support pads comprise 3 support pads.
One objective of the present invention is to elevate the height of a user who is wearing the footwear.
Another objective is to enable the user to selectively adjust the height of the footwear.
Yet another objective is to stabilize the ankle and foot through use of stabilizing straps.
An exemplary objective is to provide a height adjustable insert for all types of footwear.
Additional objectives are to provide an inexpensive to manufacture height adjusting and stabilizing assembly for footwear.
Other systems, devices, methods, features, and advantages will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims and drawings.
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views of the drawings.
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
A height adjusting and stabilizing assembly 100 for footwear is referenced in
Consequently, a user 108 wearing the footwear is elevated, due to the assembly 100 inserted into the footwear, beneath the feet of the user. The height of the user can also be increased or decreased by the user, as needed. Specifically,
For purposes of the present invention, and as shown in a standard footwear 104 in
The assembly 100 provides an elevation insert 102 that serves to elevate the heel end 208 of the footwear 104. Further, the elevation insert 102 is designed to be selectively height adjustable, as set by the user 108.
As referenced in
The elevation insert 102 is also defined by a resilient configuration; whereby the wide rear end 212 of the elevation insert 102, especially, compresses under the weight of the user. In some embodiments, the elevation insert 102 is fabricated from a flexible material that enables the comfort-conforming compression under the weight of the user. This serves to provide additional comfort and reduce stress to the feet of the user. In some embodiments, suitable materials for the elevation insert 102 may include, without limitation, a resilient polymer, rubber, foam, gel, cork, and leather.
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In one non-limiting embodiment, the front and rear stabilizing straps 218, 222 comprise a stretchable material. This allows the stabilizing straps to stretch in a taut configuration that creates greater structural support to the ankles, especially when walking or moving in the footwear (See
In another embodiment, the rear stabilizing strap 222 has a top end 224b and a bottom end 224a. The top end 224b of the rear stabilizing strap 222 detachably attaches at, or near, the ankle opening 204 of the footwear 104. Further, the bottom end 224a of the rear stabilizing strap 222 detachably in proximity to the heel end 208 of the footwear 104.
In some embodiments, the stabilizing straps 218, 222 are universal, so as to attach to any type of footwear from opposing ends. In one non-limiting embodiment, a front stabilizing strap 218 extends along the vertical of the footwear 104. The rear stabilizing strap 222 extends along the vertical near the heel end of the footwear 104. The front stabilizing strap 218 is defined by a top end 220b and an opposing bottom end 220a. The rear stabilizing strap 222 is defined by a top end 224b and an opposing bottom end 224a.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that the stabilizing function provided by the stabilizing straps is useful since the user is now in the unnatural position of being lifted by the elevation insert 102. The top end of the stabilizing straps 218, 222 attaches to the open ankle 204; while the bottom ends 220a, 224a of the stabilizing straps attach to the slots 216a-c for the laces or other fastening means in the front stabilizing strap 218; and the rear of the shoe for the rear stabilizing strap 222.
In some embodiments, at least one fastener 226a, 226b is used to detachably attach the stabilizing straps to the footwear. The at least one fastener 226a-b that is configured to detachably attach the ends of the ends of the front and rear stabilizing strap 222s to their respective placement points on the footwear. The ends of the stabilizing straps 218, 222 attach to their respective end of the footwear 104 through the at least one fastener 226a-b, so as to create enhanced stability for the user while in the elevated position. In some embodiments, the at least one fastener 226a-b may include, without limitation, a cable, a pin, a button, a bolt, a hook and loop fastener, a screw, a magnet, and an adhesive.
In conclusion, the assembly 100 raises the height of a user wearing footwear. The assembly 100 comprises an elevation insert 102 that fits into an interior cavity of footwear 104 to selectively raise the height of the user. The elevation insert 102 has a ramp shape with a wide rear end 212 that tapers to a narrow front end 214 oriented towards the toe end 210 of footwear 104. The elevation insert 102 is a flexible material that compresses under the weight of the user. The wide end of the elevation insert 102 has spaced apart slots 216a-c that are sized to receive support pads 304a-c. The support pads 304a-c are fitted into a corresponding slot, causing the elevation insert 102 to rise, or not compress as much under the weight of the user; thereby increasing the height of user. The assembly 100 also includes stabilizing straps that extend from the open ankle to the lower regions of the footwear to create lateral stability.
These and other advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and appended drawings.
Because many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalence.