The present invention concerns a shoe base, a heel and a shoe set comprising a shoe base with at least one heel being replaceable with heels of different height.
Women like to wear high heels. Unfortunately, the higher the heel, the less comfortable are the shoes. There are plenty of ideas to realize shoes which can change the height of the heel during the day. This allows to use high heels during an event and to use low heels for the rest of the day or for the walk to the event. The theoretic solutions for this problem are plentiful.
One possibility is to have a telescope heel, which can be extended according to the actual needs. However, this solution is difficult to realize in an aesthetically accepted form. In addition, the forces acting on a high heel are difficult to manage since the weight of the person wearing the shoe must be supported by the small surface of the heel. The higher the heel, the higher are the leverage forces on the heel. Finally, it is further essential for a high heel that it does not jiggle, because this negatively influences the stability of the person wearing the shoe. Therefore, the proposed solutions regarding a telescope heel did not solve those problems and did not lead to a marketed product.
Another possibility is to replace the heel of the shoe by another one with another height. One common solution is a dove tail connection. However, those have not succeeded on the market, because the dove tail connection is visible on at least two sides of the heel/shoe. Another solution is plug-socket-connection, wherein the heel is plugged on a socket on the sole of the shoe. However, this solution is either complex, because the heel must also cover the socket on the sole or is again aesthetically not accepted by the market. Few solutions are proposed, where the socket is arranged on the heel and the plug on the sole. For example U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,320 discloses a shoe with a form fit connection between the shoe base and the heel. The positive form of a base and a bolt is arranged under the sole of the shoe base. However, the long bolt is not configured to accept heels with low heights and the leverage forces of the long bolt are quite high on the fixation of the base. The latter could lead with the time to a loosening of the bolt and a jiggling of the heel which must be avoided in any cases. On the other side, reducing the height of the bolt may allow to using heels with lower heights, but reduces the stability of high heels on the bolt with the reduced length. Therefore, this solution is not configured to provide a stable form fit connection for heels with a large range of heights.
It is an object to provide a connection mechanism for a large range of heel heights which provides for all type of heel heights a robust and stable connection.
According to the invention, these aims are achieved by means of the independent claims.
The use of the pyramid structure with three stacked round plates for a form fit connection mechanism shows very robust and stable for high heels independently of its total height. Therefore, the connection mechanism can be used either with small heels or with high heels. The stable and robust connection even for small total heights is achieved by the stepped arrangement of the positive form which distribute leverage forces of the heel on several different edges which reduce the force on each edge. The use of round plates has the advantage that the leverage forces of the edges of the plates on the heel are the same for each direction of the leverage forces. This is important since the center point of the weight on the heel constantly changes so that also the direction of the leverage forces constantly changes. In particular, the round plates avoids corners which concentrate forces on one point which leads to increased forces on one single point. Therefore, the round pyramid structures avoids large effects of wearing the heel so that the heel, even a high heel with large leverage forces, fits even after a long wearing time tightly on the positive round pyramid form of the shoe base.
The dependent claims refer to advantageous embodiments of the invention.
The invention will be better understood with the aid of the description of an embodiment given by way of example and illustrated by the figures, in which:
The shoe base 10 comprises a sole 11 and a fixation means 30. Preferably, the shoe base 10 comprises further any foot holding means for holding a foot in position on the sole 11. The foot holding means could cover the toes and/or the foot or, in the case of sandals, could keep parts or all of the foot open.
The sole 11 provides the support for the foot of the person wearing the shoe 1. The sole 11 has a ground portion 12 which is configured to be in contact with the ground, when the shoe 1 is used. This ground portion 12 is in the region of the ball of the foot and/or the toes of the foot. The sole 11 is configured to be used with heels of different height, preferably for heel heights between 2 cm and 10 cm, even more preferably between 26 mm or 27 mm (26.8 mm) and 96 mm. Therefore, the bending line of the sole 11 must be variable to allow the sole 11 to take the necessary bending line for the height of the connected heel 20. On the other side, the portion of the sole 11 between the heel and the ground portion must be rigid enough to provide a support for the foot between the ball of the foot and the heel of the foot. This portion between the ground portion 12 and the heel has a bridging function. This is solved by a metal layer 114 which is rigid but extends only from point 13 of the sole 11 to the fixation means 30. Therefore, the region around the ball of the food remains flexible to adapt the bending line of the sole 11 to different heel heights. This shortened metal layer 114 ends in the direction of the toes of the foot already at point 13. Point 13 is arranged between 11 to 14 cm from the heel end of the sole 11 or between 8 to 10 cm from the central axis 14 of the fixation means 30. A point 13 with a distance of 12.5 cm from the heel end of the sole 11 or with a distance of 9 cm (8.7 cm) from the central axis 14 of the fixation means 30 has proven to work particularly well for any shoe size. The metal layer 114 is preferably a steel plate.
The metal layer 114 has preferably a reduced width compared to the sole 11. Preferably the width of the metal layer 114 is between 1 and 3 cm, preferably between 1.2 and 1.6 cm, in particular 1.4 cm as shown in
The described sole 11 is in particular advantageous for the fixation means 30 described in the following, but can also be used for any other fixation means.
The fixation means 30 is configured to replaceably connecting the heel 20 with the shoe base 10.
Preferably, the fixation means 30 is a positive form providing a form fit with the heel 20. The positive form is sometimes also described as the male part of the form fit mechanism. The positive form is configured that the heel can be plugged on the positive form in a direction 14 substantially rectangular to the sole 11 surface in the portion of the fixation means 30. This is achieved by a stepped form comprising at least three plates 31, 32, 33 (forming at least three steps). Preferably, the plates 31, 32, 33 are circular. Preferably the plates 31, 32, 33 are cylinders, in particular right circular cylinders. Preferably, the cylinders 31, 32, 33 are arranged so that they have a common cylinder axis 14. The cylinder form is defined by a first flat site, a second flat side and a lateral side. The first and second flat sides are parallel. The lateral side depends on the type of cylinder and forms a circular wall in the case of a right circular cylinder. The three cylinders are stacked such that the cylinder with the next smaller diameter is arranged with one of its flat sides on the flat side of the cylinder with the next larger diameter. Thus, a pyramidal form is achieved which reduces the diameter of each subsequent plate the greater the distance from the sole 11 becomes. Such a form proved very stable against leverage forces of high heels, in particular not to damage the negative form of the heels by the leverage forces, and at the same time suitable for small heel heights and for thin high heels. Preferably, the positive form of the fixation means 30 is formed by one integral part, but it is also possible to form the positive form by three separate cylinders 31, 32, 33 mounted together.
A particular advantageous dimensioning of this positive form with three stacked right circular cylinders 31, 32, 33 having the same common cylinder axis 14 is described now.
Preferably, the total height of the three cylinders 31, 32, 33 is smaller than 40 mm, in particular smaller than 30 mm. A total height equal to 22 mm proved a particular good compromise between stability and size. Preferably, the height is distributed on the three cylinders 31, 32 and 33 as follows. The first cylinder 31 has a height of 7 mm, the second cylinder 32 has height of 10 mm and the third cylinder 33 has a height of 5 mm. In the latter embodiment, the fixation means 30 proves particularly stable at small dimensions.
Preferably, the diameter of the first cylinder 31 is between 22 mm and 30 mm, the diameter of the second cylinder 32 is between 12 mm and 20 mm and a diameter of the third cylinder 33 is between 4 mm and 12 mm. Even more preferably, the diameter of the first cylinder 31 is between 24 mm and 28 mm, the diameter of the second cylinder 32 is between 14 mm and 18 mm and a diameter of the third cylinder 33 is between 6 mm and 10 mm. In particular, when the diameter of the first cylinder 31 is 26 mm, the diameter of the second cylinder 32 is 16 mm and the diameter of the third cylinder 33 is 8 mm, the fixation means 30 proves particularly stable at small dimensions.
The fixation means 30 comprises preferably a stopping means configured to stop the heel 20 plugged on the positive form of the fixation means 30. In this embodiment, the stopping means is button 34 activating a pin 35 for locking the movement of the heel 20. Since the heel movement is blocked by the form fit in the directions radial to the cylinder axis 14, the pi 35 must only stop the movement in the cylinder axis 14. Therefore, the pin 35 activated by the button 34 moves preferably radially to the cylinder axis 14. In this case, the button 34 activates a button pin which is connected over a connection pin 36 with the pin 35. The button pin and the pin 35 are arranged coaxial so that the movement of the button pin is transferred on the activated pin 35. The connection pin 36 is preferably inserted in the hole 34.1 of the button pin and the hole 35.1 of the pin. The connection pin 36, the button pin with the button 34 and the pin 35 form the button mechanism. The button mechanism thus forms a U-form which is arranged in the positive form of the fixation means 30 in the guide channels 39.1 and 39.2 which are connected by the channel 39.3. The channel 39.3 is arranged in a form which extends in the direction of the movement of the button 34 and the pin 35 respectively. Thus, the channel 39.1 receives the button pin and allows a movement of the button pin in a first direction (which is radial to the cylinder axis 14). The channel 39.2 receives the pin 35 and allows also a movement of the pin 35 in the first direction. Due to the elongated form of the channel 39.3 also the connection pin 36 can move in the first direction. The button mechanism is pre-loaded by spring 37 so that the spring 37 presses the button mechanism in the closed position. In this embodiment, the spring 37 is arranged at the end of the button pin. In the closed position, the pin 35 projects from the lateral side of one of the three cylinders 31, 32 and 33, in this embodiment from the lateral side of the second cylinder 32. When the button 34 is pressed against the force of the spring 37, the pin 35 moves in the first direction versus the central axis of the cylinder 32 until the pin 35 finally vanishes in the second cylinder 32. Once the pin 35 vanishes in the second cylinder 32, the stopping means is in an open position or state and a heel 20 could be removed from the fixation means 30 or plugged on the fixation means 30. Preferably, the button 34 projects from the first cylinder 31. Preferably, the button 34 is arranged on the first cylinder 31 in the direction of the ground portion 12 of the sole 11 such that the button 34 is not visible when the shoe 1 is worn.
In an alternative embodiment of the stopping means described here, the button mechanism could have two stable positions, one in the closed position and a second in the open position. The change from the open to the closed position and from the closed to the open position could be respectively achieved by pressing the button 34 once.
However other stopping means than the described ones are also possible.
The four holes 38 are used to fix the fixation means 30 to the sole 11, in particular to the metal layer 114 of the sole 11, e.g. by screws as described above. However, other fixation mechanisms are possible.
The heel 20 comprises a ground surface 21, a mounting surface 22 and a fixation means. The
The ground surface 21 is the surface of the heel 20 on which the person wearing the shoe 1 walks, i.e. the surface being in contact with the ground, during the use of the shoe 1. Preferably, the ground surface 21 is flat. Depending on the type of heel, the surface area of the ground surface 21 can vary as shown in the three embodiments of the heel 20.
The mounting surface 22 is the surface of the heel 20 which is in contact with the sole 11 of the shoe base 10 to which the heel 20 is connected, when the heel 20 is connected to a shoe base 10. In the subsequent embodiments of the heel 20, the mounting surface 22 is concave, but a lateral projection of the borders of the mounting surface 22 form a straight line as seen in the side views in
The mounting surface 22 of the heel 20 comprises further a negative form as fixation means. The negative form is sometimes also described as the female part of the form fit mechanism. The negative form corresponds to the positive form of the shoe base 10 such that the positive form can be inserted in the negative form and such that the positive form cannot be moved in the negative form except in the insertion direction. Even if in this application the same dimensions are given for corresponding parts of the positive and the negative form, the negative form with a little bit bigger dimension, e.g. 0.1 mm larger, shall be included by the invention in order to easily insert the positive form in the negative form. Preferably, the negative form and/or its arrangement in the mounting surface 22 does not distinguish for different embodiments of the heel 20 so that different heels 20 can be always mounted on the same sole 11 of the shoe base 10.
As shown in the cross-sectional views 12, 15 and 18, the negative form has a stepped form comprising at least three recesses 41, 42, 43 (forming at least three steps). Preferably, the recesses 41, 42, 43 form cylinders, in particular right circular cylinders. Preferably, the cylindrical recesses 41, 42, 43 are arranged so that they have a common cylinder axis 14. The cylinder form is defined by a first flat site, a second flat side and a lateral side. The first and second flat sides are parallel. The lateral side depends on the type of cylinder and forms a circular wall in the case of a right circular cylinder. The flat side of a cylinder being closer to the ground surface 21 is called also bottom side and the flat side of a cylinder being closer to the mounting surface 22 is called also top side. The three cylindrical recesses are arranged such that the cylindrical recess with the next smaller diameter is arranged with the top side in the bottom side of the cylindrical recess with the next larger diameter. Thus, a negative pyramidal form is achieved which reduces the diameter of each subsequent cylindrical recess the greater the distance from the mounting surface 22 becomes. Such a form proved very stable against leverage forces of high heels and at the same time suitable for small heel heights and for thin high heels.
A particular advantageous dimensioning of this negative form with three stacked right circular cylindrical recesses 41, 42, 43 having the same common cylinder axis 14 is described now.
Preferably, the total height of the three cylindrical recesses 41, 42, 43 is smaller than 40 mm, in particular smaller than 30 mm. A total height equal to 22 mm proved a particular good compromise between stability and size. Preferably, the height is distributed on the three cylindrical recesses 41, 42 and 43 as follows. The first cylindrical recess 41 has a depth of 7 mm or less, the second cylindrical recess 42 has depth of 10 mm and the third cylindrical recess 43 has a depth of 5 mm. This embodiment of the fixation means proves particularly stable at small dimensions.
Preferably, the diameter of the first cylindrical recess 41 is between 22 mm and 30 mm, the diameter of the second cylindrical recess 42 is between 12 mm and 20 mm and the diameter of the third cylindrical recess 43 is between 4 mm and 12 mm. Even more preferably, the diameter of the first cylindrical recess 41 is between 24 mm and 28 mm, the diameter of the second cylindrical recess 42 is between 14 mm and 18 mm and the diameter of the third cylindrical recess 43 is between 6 mm and 10 mm. In particular, when the diameter of the first cylindrical recess 41 is 26 mm, the diameter of the second cylindrical recess 42 is 16 mm and the diameter of the third cylindrical recess 43 is 8 mm, the fixation means proves particularly stable at small dimensions.
Preferably, the fixation means of the heel 20 comprises a stopping means for stopping the movement of the heel 20 in the direction of insertion of the heel 20 on the positive form of the fixation means 30 of the shoe base 10. The fixation means is realized by a recess 44 in the lateral wall of one of the cylindrical recesses 41, 42 or 43, preferably in the second cylindrical recess 42. The recess 44 is configured for receiving the pin 35 of the stopping means of the fixation means 30 of the shoe base 10. The recess 44 is realized here as a through hole, but the recess 44 could also be closed on the outer wall of the heel 20. Preferably, the stopping means comprises a second recess 45 for receiving the button pin. This second recess 45 is realized as a groove in the mounting surface through which the button pin can extend and project from the heel 20 in the direction of the ground surface of the shoe base 10. The button 34 allows to disengage the heel 20 mounted on the shoe base 10 by pressing the button 34.
In the first embodiment of the heel 20 in
The second embodiment in
The third embodiment in
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/IB2015/059915 | 12/23/2015 | WO | 00 |