Rotationally detachable low to high heel shoes

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6631570
  • Patent Number
    6,631,570
  • Date Filed
    Thursday, February 7, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, October 14, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
A structure of a low to high heel shoe wherein a sole FIG. 1 having two semicircular “D” shaped punched holes on either side of the shank is formed in the rear of the shoe sole area, to receive a bolt fitting FIG. 2 having a bight slot and two opposing distal members, fitting through the punched holes and over the shoe shank thereby adjoining to the heel FIG. 4.
Description




STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT




Not Applicable




REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE




Not Applicable




FIELD OF INVENTION




The Rotationally Detachable low to high heel shoes facilitates a means to create individual style, regarding footwear, using a mode that is interchangeable and detachable. Providing a necessary means for change by the consumer in its unyielding desire to create individual style of shoes or boots in relation to clothing.




BACKGROUND OR RELATED ART




The following listed prior art has come to the attention of applicant. The prior art is believed relevant to, but patentably distinguishable from, the present invention and is being cited pursuant to Rule 91. A copy of each prior art publication is enclosed and its relevance is discussed below.




U.S. Pat. No. 4,219,946 Shoe w/ an interchangeable heel, Uwe Baum, Sep. 2, 1980




U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,177 Style convertible footwear, Leslie Boros, Dec. 14, 1982




U.S. Pat. No. 4,400,893 Shoe w/ removably mounted heel, Nicola Musei, Aug. 30, 1983




U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,625 Interchangeable shoe, Michael Goldsmith, Dec. 26, 1995




Baum creates his design with a rigid plate in the sole of the heel. This could potentially come away from the shoe because of the dissimilar materials, one of rigidity and one of flexibility. Also, much work and excess manufacture would constitute this design, leaving the cost of the product exorbitant. My invention solves this problem due to the use of conventional materials in making the shoe, there are no pieces, which could come away from the shoe, and the easy motion of rotating the heel on and off serves the consumer with a very low change over time.




Boros creates a similar design to that of Baum having the added cutout and insertion of a square like notch and indention mounted to the heel and shoe respectively. There is a notch like protrusion, which could break off during normal wear. This leaves the design unfavorable. The addition of an extra pin like feature leaves the design unsightly with multiple parts to keep inventory of. And also creates a time consuming style changeover. My invention uses no protrusions, which could break off during normal, wear and have no extra pieces which could become lost, and the easy motion of rotating the heel on and off serves the consumer with a very low change-over time.




Musei uses a small, slim screw that one must insert down through the sole and into the heel with an additional tool. This design is also flawed due to the small screw, which will split from the heel because of direct pressure by wearer, during normal wear. The design is mostly time consuming for consumer. In addition, he uses a simi-rigid plastic sole that is unmanageable for lowering the heel. My invention uses a very thick bolt-fitting that could not potentially break, there are no tools needed to change heels, and the easy motion of rotating the heel on and off serves the consumer with a very low change-over time.




Goldsmith created a design totally unstable and unsightly. This design uses rubber which is extremely flexible lending no support to the wearer. An added inconvenience is the nuisance of a strap that purportedly secures the heel. This strap is objectionable due to the apparent volatility of movement from normal wear. The snap provides easy disengagement of the wearer from the shoe during normal wear. My invention solves these problems by creating a conventional looking shoe using the conventional shoemaking materials, already in use, and the easy motion of rotating the heel on and off serves the consumer with a very low changeover time.




BRIEF SUMMARY




Objectively, one can see the composition of the present invention will use a simple rotational means of disengagement from the heel, provided by a bolt-fitting with a bight slot forming two opposing distal ends, where such bolt is permanently bonded to the shoe sole through the necessary “D” shaped punched holes in the sole area. The shoe heel will be manufactured by injection mold process to constructively form the tapped female threads that correspond to the bolt fitting's threaded distal ends. Furthermore, a complete connected shoe, reminiscent of conventional design will be visualized by the public, having no visible structures that comprise the shoe form. Such an invention will transform the shoe and boot industry making the former way of manufacturing obsolete because the consumer will want the changes of style that only this invention can create. An offering of this invention will bring happiness to the consumer, due to the ever-changing clothing trends, which needs shoes that will fulfill interchangeable styles.











VIEWS OF DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

shows a top view looking downward upon the rear heel area in the sole of the shoe where “D” shaped holes are punched on each side of the shank juxtaposed to one another.





FIG. 2

shows a side view of a bolt-fitting shaped similar to a U-bolt, used to connect a heel to a shoe.





FIG. 3

shows the back view of a shoe where

FIG. 2

is inserted into position.





FIG. 4

shows an injection molded heel with female threading to accept FIG.


2


.





FIG. 5

shows a side view of the shoe heel area and heel before connection.





FIG. 6

shows a top view of flat, thin horizontal round head of bolt fitting,—FIG.


2


.











NUMBER REFERENCE




A Shank




B Punched holes




C Distal ends of the bolt fitting




D Bight Slot




E Flat, Thin horizontally round head




DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




Referring to the drawings for a skilled artisan to manufacture and give a layperson a definitive narrative,

FIG. 1

shows a view of the shoe sole area and punched “D” shaped holes B and B


1


near the back of the shoe where the heel of the wearer will rest. FIG.


3


and

FIG. 4

shows a view of the back of a completely constructed rotationally-detachable low to high heel shoe with the bolt fitting


2


bonded to the shoe sole

FIG. 1

, and a view of the injection molded shoe heel which will adjoin with the bolt fitting


2


by a simple rotation, connecting the two.




The shoe sole

FIG. 1

is made of conventional materials; preferably leather. By reference, the shoe sole comprises two “D” shaped punched B and B


1


in juxtaposition forming a backward “D” shape and a forward “D” shape at either side of the shoe's shank A, nearing the back of the sole area. It is possible for the punched holes to be rounded or squared, however for the aesthetic appeal of a finished product the “D” shape is preferred due to its corresponding shape to the bolt fitting's opposing distal ends C and C


1


.




To form a complete shoe sole

FIG. 3

a male threaded bolt-fitting

FIG. 2

must pass through the two “D” shaped punched holes B and B


1


. A bolt fitting in

FIG. 2

shows a bight slot D and two opposing distal ends C and C


1


. Bolt fitting

FIG. 2

is straddled over the shank A and through the two “D” shaped punched holes Ba nd B


1


which is permanently bonded using glue or other fastening options. It is preferable for the bolt-fitting

FIG. 2

to be manufactured of rigid plastic or polymer.




The embodiment of a complete shoe sole

FIG. 3

with the shoe heel

FIG. 4

, includes an injection molded shoe heel having female threads to accept the bolt-fitting FIG.


2


and its two opposing distal ends C and C


1


. The shoe heel

FIG. 4

will be tapped having female threading with a downward circular fashion or countersunk depression so that the bolt fitting FIG.


2


and its opposing distal ends C and C


1


are oriented inside the shoe heel joining thereto. Preferably, this treading will remain at a static measurement after the injection mold has been obtained. Finding the longitudinal axis extending through the sole where the “D” shaped holes B and B


1


will remain static allowing the connection of bolt fitting FIG.


2


and shoe heel FIG.


4


. One skilled in mathematics or engineering will be able to obtain such measurement without difficulty.





FIG. 6

shows a top and side view of the thin flat horizontally rounded head of the bolt-fitting

FIG. 2

, which will cover a generous area of the shoe sole

FIG. 1

, after the bolt fitting

FIG. 2

is permanently affixed to shoe sole FIG.


1


. The rounded head

FIG. 6

is preferred as opposed to squared or other geometric shape. By rotating the shoe heel

FIG. 6

clockwise onto the bolt fitting

FIG. 2

until rotation is stopped, a complete shoe is ready for wear. Conversely, by rotating the shoe heel

FIG. 4

counter clockwise until the shoe heel is disjoined from the shoe sole FIG.


3


and exposing the bolt fitting

FIG. 2

will provide the wearer with a new option for joining a second differently styled shoe heel FIG.


4


.




FIGS.


2


—bolt fitting and


4


—heel, may be formed of a rigid plastic or similar material.




It is understood that for adjoining and disjoining, only the heel needs rotation.



Claims
  • 1. A low to high heel shoe or boot with a composition of:a shoe sole having in a heel portion a backward “D” shape and forward “D” shape punched hole, said punched holes having juxtaposition on either side of shank near a heel portion of said shoe sole, a bolt fitting permanently bonded to said shoe sole, said bolt fitting having a bight and two threaded opposing distal ends, said opposing distal ends passing through and straddling said “D” shaped punched holes of said shoe sole, a rotationally-detachable shoe heel, said shoe heel having downwardly driven threads.
  • 2. A shoe or boot of composition in claim 1, wherein said bolt fitting has a generally flat horizontally rounded head covering a generous portion of said shoe sole.
  • 3. A shoe or boot of composition in claim 1, in which said “D” shaped punched holes corresponds to the periphery measurement of said opposing distal ends of said bolt fitting so as to allow passage of said opposing distal ends.
  • 4. A shoe or boot of composition in claim 1, wherein said threads are generally atop said shoe heel, extending in a downward circular fashion making a cavity such that receives said opposing distal ends of said bolt fitting.
  • 5. A shoe or boot of composition in claim 1, in which the circumference of said bolt fitting distal ends measure smaller to said threads of said shoe heel.
  • 6. A shoe or boot of composition in claim 1, in which said shoe heel is injection molded.
CROSS REFERENCE

U.S. Pat. No. 4,363,177 to Boros 1982 U.S. Pat. No. 4,219,946 to Baum 1980 U.S. Pat. No. 4,400,893 to Musci 1983 U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,625 to Goldsmith et al 1995

US Referenced Citations (9)
Number Name Date Kind
2656621 Hoffmann Oct 1953 A
2937461 Trela May 1960 A
4219946 Baum Sep 1980 A
4272897 Ponce Jun 1981 A
4363177 Boros Dec 1982 A
4400893 Musei Aug 1983 A
5477625 Goldsmith Dec 1995 A
5581910 Lewis Dec 1996 A
6442871 Doerer et al. Sep 2002 B2
Foreign Referenced Citations (1)
Number Date Country
2276805 Oct 1984 GB