U.S. patent application number 11/942087 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-26 for stabilizing and support accessory for stiletto heels.
Invention is credited to Rebecca Brown, Monica Murphy.
Application Number | 20080148606 11/942087 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39540865 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080148606 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Brown; Rebecca ; et
al. |
June 26, 2008 |
STABILIZING AND SUPPORT ACCESSORY FOR STILETTO HEELS
Abstract
A stabilizing and support accessory is provided for a stiletto
heel. A base plate, having a surface contact area significantly
greater than that of the heel, is mounted underneath the heel by
means of a simple, clip-on attachment, such that the attachment can
be easily and quickly mounted on a heel for walking over soft or
uneven surfaces, and also quickly removed when not needed. A
preferred clip-on attachment is formed of a section of spring steel
shaped into an upwardly opening, U-shaped clip and a horizontally
opening clip integrally extending from one element of the upwardly
opening clip. An alternative form, formed primarily of plastic, is
attached by a single, horizontally disposed clip gripping the heel.
The accessories are sufficiently inexpensive that they may be
discarded after use, as after walking on muddy surfaces, for
example.
Inventors: |
Brown; Rebecca; (New York,
NY) ; Murphy; Monica; (New York, NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SCHWEITZER CORNMAN GROSS & BONDELL LLP
292 MADISON AVENUE - 19th FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10017
US
|
Family ID: |
39540865 |
Appl. No.: |
11/942087 |
Filed: |
November 19, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60871170 |
Dec 21, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/72B ;
36/72R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 3/166 20130101;
A43C 13/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/72.B ;
36/72.R |
International
Class: |
A43B 13/22 20060101
A43B013/22; A43B 21/00 20060101 A43B021/00 |
Claims
1. A stabilizing and support accessory for a stiletto heel, wherein
said heel has a bottom surface and front, back and opposite side
wall surfaces extending upwardly from said bottom surface, which
comprises (a) a base plate element arranged to underlie said bottom
surface and to extend in a horizontal direction substantially
beyond said opposite side wall surfaces and said front wall surface
of the heel, (b) said base plate element having a back edge
positioned in substantial alignment with the back wall of said
heel, (c) said stiletto heel having an axis extending upwardly from
said bottom surface, (d) means for confining the lower portion of
said heel with respect to said base plate element comprising one or
more confining elements extending upward relative to said base
plate element adjacent to at least certain of said wall surfaces of
said stiletto heel, and (e) a spring clip means having an open end
for detachable gripping engagement with said heel at a level
substantially above said base plate, whereby said accessory may be
removably secured to said heel by a snap-on attachment of said clip
to said heel.
2. An accessory according to claim 1, wherein (a) said spring means
comprises an upwardly opening, generally U-shaped spring clip
having spaced-apart upwardly extending spring elements for engaging
and gripping a first pair of opposed wall surfaces of said heel,
one of said upwardly extending spring elements mounting, at
opposite edges thereof, a pair of generally horizontally extending
spring elements forming a horizontally opening spring clip, (b)
said horizontally opening spring clip engaging and gripping a
second pair of wall surfaces of said heel.
3. An accessory according to claim 2, wherein (a) one of the spring
elements of said upwardly opening spring clip extending upwardly a
greater distance than the other spring element of said clip, and
(b) said horizontally opening spring clip is mounted by said one of
said spring element and extends toward the other spring element of
said clip.
4. An accessory according to claim 3, wherein (a) said upwardly
opening clip is positioned to engage and grip front and back walls
of said heel, and (b) said horizontally opening spring clip is
positioned to engage and grip opposite side walls of said heel.
5. An accessory according to claim 4, wherein (a) the spring
element of said upwardly opening clip that mounts said horizontally
opening spring clip being positioned adjacent the front wall of
said heel, and (b) said horizontally opening clip is positioned to
extend rearwardly from said last mentioned spring clip.
6. An accessory according to claim 2, wherein (a) said upwardly
opening spring clip and said horizontally extending spring clip are
formed of a single section of spring metal material.
7. An accessory according to claim 2, wherein (a) said base plate
is formed with a downwardly opening groove therein extending from
front to back of said base plate, and (b) said upwardly opening
spring clip is formed with a generally flat bottom portion received
in said downwardly opening groove.
8. An accessory according to claim 1, wherein (a) said one or more
upwardly extending confining elements comprises an element fixed to
said base plate element and extending upwardly therefrom for
positioning adjacent the front wall of said heel and one or more
additional elements positioned adjacent to opposite side walls of
said heels.
9. An accessory according to claim 1, wherein (a) said snap-on
spring clip comprising a generally U-shaped member comprising
spaced-apart gripping elements open at one end and joined at the
other by a connecting portion, and (b) said spring clip being
generally horizontally disposed relative to said base plate
element.
10. An accessory according to claim 9, wherein, (a) one of the
gripping elements of said spring clip being mounted on one of said
confining elements with said clip extending is a side to side
direction for gripping front and back walls of said heel.
11. An accessory according to claim 10, wherein (a) said spring
clip, said base plate element and said confining means comprising a
unitary molding of plastic material.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is related to and claims the priority of
provisional application Ser. No. 60/871,170, filed Dec. 21,
2006.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Fashionable shoes for women frequently are provided with
tall, very narrow heels, sometimes referred to as "spiked" or
"stiletto" heels. These heels are very narrow and provide a minimal
support surface at the bottom, which can make the shoes difficult
to walk in on uneven or soft surfaces. For example, in uneven
surfaces, such as cobblestone sidewalks and pavements, cracked and
uneven sidewalks, ventilation and drainage grates, etc., stiletto
heels can easily tip or snag, potentially causing injury to the
wearer of the shoes and/or damage to the heels. Likewise, walking
on soft surfaces, such as wet ground, can be very difficult when
wearing stiletto-heeled shoes.
[0003] As will be readily understood, the bottom surface area of a
stiletto heel is very small, such that the pressure loading on the
heel surface is very high. The heels thus can easily penetrate and
sink down into soft ground or other soft surfaces, making normal
walking very difficult. This problem has been well recognized, and
some attempts have been made to provide accessory devices, for
temporary attachment to stiletto heels, in an effort to provide
greater support and stability. Such prior attempts, insofar as we
are aware, have been unsuccessful for a variety of reasons. Prior
proposals of the Givens U.S. Pat. No. 1,875,806 and Topel U.S. Pat.
No. 5,311,675, are large and unwieldy. While providing a large
bottom surface area, the design of these attachments would make
walking somewhat difficult.
[0004] Other proposals, such as the Grossman U.S. Pat. No.
2,875,534 and the Tilden U.S. Pat. No. 3,150,453 while avoiding the
overly large and cumbersome characteristics of the before mentioned
patents, are flawed in other ways. The device of the Grossman
patent is secured to the heel by folded-over flaps of resilient
material, which would provide a tenuous attachment, given the
forces acting at the bottom of a stiletto heel during normal
walking. The device of the Tilden '453 patent, on the other hand,
incorporates an unnecessarily complicated hinged clip arrangement
and has other faults.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In the device of the invention, a base plate element is
provided which has a surface area significantly greater than that
of a stiletto heel to which it may be attached. One or more
confining elements extend upward from the base plate for engagement
with outer surfaces of the heel for positioning the lower extremity
of the heel on the base plate. The positioning arrangement is such
that the back edge of the base plate does not extend significantly
beyond the back edge of the heel, while other portions of the base
plate extend laterally outward as well as forward from the heel, to
provide the desired increased surface area. A simple spring clip
arrangement, in the form of one or more U-shaped spring clips
provides means for attachment of the accessory to the heel. The
device is simple, lightweight, inexpensive to make, and easily
carried in a woman's handbag, for use when needed. When a walking
surface is encountered that would suggest use of the accessory, it
can be quickly and easily attached to the heel with a simple
snap-on attaching action, and just as easily removed when
desired.
[0006] In one advantageous embodiment of the invention, a
combination of upwardly and laterally opening spring clips is
provided, preferably using a single section of spring steel
material or the like, to provide an inexpensive yet highly
effective and convenient attachment for securing the accessory to a
stiletto heel. In another advantageous embodiment, a single,
laterally opening spring clip element is provided, working in
conjunction with confinement means extending upward from the base
plate of the device.
[0007] The device of the invention is of lightweight construction,
and is so configured as to have a minimal effect on the walking
stride of the user. In this respect, the base plate is positioned
on the heel such that there is little if any projection of the
plate behind the back edge of the heel. Thus, in a normal walking
gait of the user, the presence of the base plate does not
significantly alter the initial contact point when an upwardly
tilted shoe of the front foot initially contacts the walking
surface.
[0008] For a more complete understanding of the above and other
features and advantages of the invention, reference should be made
to the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, and
to the accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing an advantageous
form of the invention attached to the stiletto heel of a shoe.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a back elevational view showing the clip attached
to a stiletto heel.
[0011] FIG. 3 is an oblique view of the clip attached to a
heel.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a back elevational view.
[0013] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view as taken generally on line
5-5 of FIG. 4.
[0014] FIGS. 6 and 7 are side and back elevational views
respectively of the accessory device according to one embodiment of
the invention, shown separately from the heel.
[0015] FIGS. 8 and 9 are top plan and top perspective views
respectively of the clip of FIGS. 6 and 7.
[0016] FIG. 10 is a top perspective view of a second embodiment of
the accessory device of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating the device of
FIG. 10 attached a stiletto heel.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0018] Referring now to the drawing, and initially to FIGS. 1-9
thereof, the reference numeral 12 designates generally a woman's
shoe having a high, stiletto heel 13. As will be well understood,
the heel 13 may come in various sizes and shapes. A representative
shape may have a generally flat front wall 14, opposite side walls
15, 16, and a rear wall 17. In many cases, the side and rear walls
15-17 will be arcuately shaped, such that the side walls 15, 16
merge smoothly into the back wall 17. However, the invention is not
limited in any way to a particular shape or size of spiked heel,
but is intended to be applicable to a wide variety of such. In a
representative case, the bottom 18 of the heel 13 has a very small
overall area, for example, around 0.2 square inch, more or less
corresponding to a circular area of 1/2 inch in diameter. As will
be appreciated, a 100 pound woman with all her weight on one heel,
as might occur during normal walking, would represent a loading on
the bottom of that heel of in excess of 500 pounds per square
inch.
[0019] In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a
stabilizing and support accessory device is provided for selective
mounting on the stiletto heel 13 when encountering soft or uneven
terrain. In the first illustrated form of the invention, a base
plate element 19 is provided, which has a significantly greater
bottom surface area than the bottom 18 of the heel and which has
opposite side portions 20, 21 extending laterally outward beyond
the side walls 15, 16 of the heel, and an extension 22 extending
forwardly of the front wall 14 of the heel. To particular
advantage, the back edge portion 23 of the base plate does not
extend significantly beyond the back edge 24 of the heel. Typical,
but not limiting, dimensions of the base plate 19 are approximately
1.3 inch in width and approximately 1.25 inches front to back,
which would increase the surface contact area by a factor of around
five to seven times, relative to a typical stiletto heel.
[0020] In the device of FIGS. 1-9, the base plate 19 may be molded
of a suitable hard rubber or plastic material, and desirably is
provided with upwardly extending confining means, comprising a
front confining wall 25 and side confining walls 26, 27. These
confining walls project upward from the upper surface 28 of the
base plate a short distance, for example 3/8th inch, and serve to
limit lateral and forward movement of the heel 13 relative to the
base plate 19.
[0021] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a novel and
simplified clip device is provided for mounting of the base plate
19 against the bottom of the heel 14 while accommodating easy and
rapid attachment and removal of the device. To this end, a sheet of
spring steel or similar material is formed to provide a first,
upwardly opening, generally U-shaped spring clip device 29
comprising a front spring element 30, a rear spring element 31, and
a flat connecting portion 32 extending between and joining the
front and back spring elements 30, 31. As reflected in FIGS. 4 and
5, the base plate 19 is formed with a groove 33 running from front
to back and of a suitable width and depth to receive the lower
element 32 of the spring clip 29. Desirably, the length of the
groove 33 is such, in relation to the length of the connecting
element 32 and the configuration of the front and back spring
elements 30, 31, that assembly of the base plate 19 to the spring
clip 29 can be accomplished by simply forcing the base plate
through the opening in the clip and downward against the connecting
portion 32. If necessary or desirable, however, the spring portion
32 may be fixed to the base plate 19 by a rivet or other fastening
means (not shown).
[0022] The configuration of the spring clip 29 is such that, when
the device is applied over the bottom of the heel 13, the back
element 31 of the spring presses forwardly on the back surface 17
of the heel, while the forward spring element 30 presses rearwardly
against the front surface 14, such that the heel is firmly gripped
between the spring elements 30, 31, as reflected in the
drawings.
[0023] In the form of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 1-9, a
second spring clip 40 is formed by lateral extensions 34, 35 from
an upper portion 36 of the spring element 30. The two lateral
extensions 34, 35, which form opposed spring clip elements, extend
rearwardly in a generally horizontal orientation from the spring
element 30 and are configured to surround and grip a portion of the
heel spaced upward from the heel bottom 18 a short distance,
perhaps 1.5 inch. The clip elements 34, 35 have inwardly convergent
end portions 37, 38 forming a narrow throat area 39. This forms a
snap-on clip structure, which is mounted on the heel by being
applied to the front of the heel and pressed rearwardly to
temporarily displace the clip elements 34, 35. The clip elements
34, 35 thus snugly grip and confine an elevated portion of the
heel. Between the upwardly opening, generally U-shaped clip 29, and
the laterally opening clip 40, formed by the elements 34, 35, the
heel is firmly gripped and confined, holding the base plate 19
securely against the bottom surface 18 of the heel.
[0024] Mounting of the clip on the heel 13 is a quick and simple
process of initially positioning the rearwardly opening clip 40
against the front of the heel, near the bottom of the heel, such
that the front spring element 31 is below the bottom 18 of the
heel. The spring clip 40 is pressed rearwardly and snapped on over
the heel, after which the base plate 19 is tilted and pressed
upward until the bottom of the heel is seated within the
confinement elements 25-27. The heel will then be gripped in the
front-to-back direction by the elements 30, 31 of the spring clip
29.
[0025] In the heel accessory of the invention, the back edge 23 of
the base plate 19 is positioned to project minimally, if at all,
behind the back edge 24 of the heel. Accordingly, during normal
walking motions, when the heel engages the underlying surface,
while the front foot is in an upwardly tilted orientation, the
pressure on the back portion of the base plate is transmitted
directly upward into the heel. If the base plate were to project
rearwardly of the heel to any significant extent, it would tend to
contact the underlying surface prematurely, with a normal walking
motion, making walking somewhat awkward. Moreover, when weight is
applied to a rearwardly projecting element, a pivoting moment would
be applied to the base plate tending to cause it to tilt relative
to the heel. These undesirable actions are avoided by positioning
the base plate so that its back edge is more or less coincident
with the back edge of the heel.
[0026] The "at rest" form of the accessory device is shown in FIGS.
6-9. In the at rest position, the back spring element 31 may
project forwardly, slightly through an opening formed between the
lateral confining elements 26, 27. The front spring element 30
extends rearwardly, over the top of the front confinement element
25. This causes/enables the horizontal clip 40 to project rearward
of the base plate 19 and spring element 31, where the convergent
tabs 37, 38 can easily be brought into contact with the lower
portion of a heel and snapped over the heel during installation.
The base plate 19 can then be pressed upward and rearward, to
position the bottom of the heel in the confined area 41 mounted by
the confinement elements 25-27. Thus, the accessory can be applied
to a heel with a simple two-step motion, with a snap-on attachment
of the upper clip 40, followed by a similar attachment of the lower
clip 29.
[0027] As shown particularly in FIG. 8, the front and back edges of
the base plate 19 advantageously are notched out at 42, 43 to
receive the lower clip 29 and provide additional lateral
confinement thereof.
[0028] In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1-9, the upper and
lower spring elements 40, 29, are formed of a single stamping of
spring steel or similar material, which preferably is simply
snapped in place over the bottom of the base plate 19, such that
both manufacture and assembly of the device is very economical. Of
course, where desired, the spring clips 29, 40 may be separate
elements secured together by a rivet or other suitable means, and
may in some cases be made of suitable plastic materials.
[0029] In the embodiment of FIGS. 10 and 11, a modified form of
stabilizing and support accessory is shown, which can be a
one-piece or two-piece construction, as desired. The accessory
device includes a base plate 50, having an area significantly
greater than the bottom surface area of a typical stiletto heel. A
confinement element 51 projects upwardly from the base plate and is
supported in a generally vertical orientation by means of a gusset
plate 52. The confinement element 51 in the illustrated device is
of a generally channel-shaped cross section, defining a front
confinement 53 and opposite side confinements 54, 55. The
confinement element is adapted to seat and position the forward
portion of a stiletto heel 57 (FIG. 11). To advantage, the
confinement element 51 positions the heel on the base plate such
that the back edge 58 of the base plate does not project
significantly behind the back edge 59 of the heel.
[0030] A resilient, snap-on clip 60, of generally U-shaped
configuration, is disposed in a horizontal orientation, extending
laterally with respect to a toe-to-heel axis of a shoe on which the
accessory device is mounted. In the illustrated form of the
invention, one leg 61 of the U-shaped clip is adhesively or
otherwise secured to upper portions of the confinement element 51.
The other leg 62 of the clip, which is free to flex, projects
laterally somewhat beyond the confinement element 51 and is
provided with a curved deflection tab 63 at its outer end. The
device of FIGS. 10 and 11 is easily attached to the heel 57 by
positioning the open side of the clip 63 against one side of the
heel, and causing the resilient clip to open by pressing the clip
laterally toward the heel, until the clip snaps into place in the
arrangement shown in FIG. 11. The flexible element 62 of the clip
is preferably provided with a concave configuration at 64 to assist
in lateral confinement of the heel 57, in conjunction with the
confinement element 51.
[0031] Although the elements of the device of FIGS. 10 and 11
advantageously are of molded plastic, of a one-piece or two-piece
design, the clip element 60 could of course be made of spring
metal, if desired.
[0032] In any of its functional forms, the accessory device of the
invention can be inexpensively manufactured, and is easy to install
and remove. It is contemplated that a user will carry a set of the
devices in her handbag and quickly slip them on to her shoes when
encountering surfaces that are unsuitable or difficult to walk on
with stiletto heels. The devices can later be quickly removed, when
the walking surface is more favorable. If the accessories have
become soiled during use (for example, after use on muddy terrain)
the devices can simply be discarded after use.
[0033] It should be understood, of course, that the specific forms
of the invention herein illustrated and described are intended to
be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein
without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure.
Accordingly, reference should be made to the following appended
claims in determining the full scope of the invention.
* * * * *