The present application relates to shoe heels and more particularly shoe heel wear inserts.
Heels are commonly the first to wear on shoes. When this occurs, the heel is replaced or most often the shoe is discarded. All of these options are costly and inconvenient. A number of systems have been proposed for extending the life of shoes, such as those discussed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,832,744, 2,095,110, 2,221,718, 2,530,395, 5,615,497, 5,826,352, each of which are incorporated herein by reference. The replaceable heel inserts discussed therein, however, are now without substantial limitations, including requiring professional installation and limited life. Accordingly, there is a need for heel wear inserts that can be easily replaced and that can be reused more than once
In at least one embodiment, a shoe is provided that includes a heel having a centerline and cutout for a heel wear insert recessed into the heel; and a heel wear insert removably attached to the heel in the cutout for the heel wear insert. The heel wear insert has a plurality of curved sides around at least a portion of a perimeter of the heel wear insert that intersect at at least a point A and a point B, and a line drawn between points A and B is other than perpendicular to the centerline of the heel.
In one embodiment, the heel wear insert has a wear area between points A and B, and the curve of a side that is biased toward a side of the heel that experiences greater wear. Each curve of the sides of the heel wear insert may be identical to the curve of another of the sides of the heel wear insert, which allows the heel wear insert to be turned from a first position that provides a first wear edge to another position that provides another wear edge.
In one embodiment, the heel wear insert includes at least three curved sides, where each curve of the three sides of the heel wear insert is identical to the curve of the other of the sides of the heel wear insert, which allows the heel wear insert to be turned from a first position that provides a first wear edge, to a second position that provides a second wear edge, and third position that provides a third wear edge. Lines drawn between the intersections of the curved sides of the three sided heel wear insert may form an equilateral triangle. The heel and the heel wear insert each may have an outer surface that would come into contact with the ground that are essentially on the same plane.
In one embodiment, one of the heel and the heel wear insert includes at least one post and the other of the heel and the heel wear insert has a hole that receives the at least one post.
In one embodiment, one of the heel and the heel wear insert includes a plurality of posts and the other of the heel and the heel wear insert has a plurality of holes that receive each of the plurality of the posts. In this instance, the posts and the holes are located on the vertices of the equilateral triangle equidistant from the center point of the triangle.
In one embodiment, at least one post has a dimension greater than a diameter of the at least one hole to provide a positive grip there between. The at least one post may also be tapered for grip free initial insertion into the at least one hole.
In one embodiment, the heel insert is removably attached to the heel with a friction fit only and replacement of the heel insert is accomplished by prying the heel insert from the heel.
In one embodiment, the show includes a second heel wear insert that has a characteristic different that the first heel wear insert, such as a wear rating, comfort level, slip resistance, and electrical conductivity.
In another embodiment, a shoe is provided that includes a heel having a centerline and cutout for a heel wear insert recessed into the heel; and a heel wear insert removably attached to the heel in the cutout for the heel wear insert. The heel wear insert has at least three curved sides around a perimeter of the heel wear insert that intersect at at least a point A and a point B. Further, each curve of the three sides of the heel wear insert is identical to the curve of the other of the sides of the heel wear insert, which allows the heel wear insert to be turned from a first position that provides a first wear edge, to a second position that provides a second wear edge, and third position that provides a third wear edge.
In one embodiment, a line drawn between points A and B is other than perpendicular to the centerline of the heel, and a wear area between points A and B, and the curve of a side is biased toward a side of the heel that experiences greater wear.
In one embodiment, lines drawn between the intersections of the curved sides of the heel wear insert form an equilateral triangle.
In one embodiment, one of the heel and the heel wear insert includes at least one post and the other of the heel and the heel wear insert has a hole that receives the at least one post.
In one embodiment, one of the heel and the heel wear insert includes a plurality of posts and the other of the heel and the heel wear insert has a plurality of holes that receive each of the plurality of the posts. In this instance, the posts and the holes located on the vertices of the equilateral triangle equidistant from the center point of the triangle.
In one embodiment, at least one post has a dimension greater than a diameter of the at least one hole to provide a positive grip there between. The at least one post may further be tapered for grip free initial insertion into the at least one hole.
In one embodiment, a line drawn between points A and B is perpendicular to the centerline of the heel.
Referring to
Referring to
The process by which a manufacturer develops a three sided heel insert is as follows: First, the manufacturer selects the outer limits of that part of the edge of the heel 100 he or she wished to replicate. A straight line, such as line AB shown in
Referring to
Referring to
The insert 200 may be attached to the heel 100 by a number of means. Preferably, the insert 200 is removably attached to the heel 100 in a manner that does not require special tools for removal. For example, the insert 200 can be attached by a Velcro backing, or the insert 200 can be screwed in place using a threaded screw or bolt that extends into corresponding threads in the heel 100. In at least one embodiment, the heel insert 200 is attached to the heel 100 with one or more posts that are molded as part of the insert 200 or as part of the heel 100, as shown in
Although the insert may be described herein with reference to a three sided insert, other configurations may also be used. For example, a two sided insert may be used, such as that shown in
The insert may be inserted into a sole with a separate heel, as shown in
As an aid to releasing the insert, a tiny channel, e.g., the width of a screwdriver head can be molded or cut into either the insert 200 or the receiving heel cavity 300 to facilitate removal. In a similar manner, the entire insert can be replaced when all 3 sides are worn, or when the wearer wishes to switch to an insert with different material characteristics, such as greater slip resistance or cushioning.
As noted herein, wearers may replace the insert when all of the available sides of the insert are spent. The ability to replace the insert further allows the wearer to replace the insert with similarly shaped inserts having different characteristics. For example, a first heal insert having a particular wear rating may be replaced with another insert having a different wear rating, e.g., more or less resistant to wear. Similarly, inserts may have different comfort, slip resistance, and electrical conductivity characteristics. With regard to comfort, the some inserts may be made of softer compounds than other inserts thereby altering the feel of the shoe for the wearer. Slip resistance may be altered with different compounds as well as different patterns on the exterior side of the insert. For example, one insert may have a relatively smooth outer surface whereas another may include grooves or ridges.
While the foregoing invention has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, from a reading of the disclosure, that various changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the true scope of the invention.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/313,580, filed Mar. 12, 2010, which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61313580 | Mar 2010 | US |