U.S. patent application number 13/428983 was filed with the patent office on 2013-09-26 for standardized shoe heel attachment mechanism.
The applicant listed for this patent is Maxwell Shanti Du Coeur. Invention is credited to Maxwell Shanti Du Coeur.
Application Number | 20130247412 13/428983 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49210437 |
Filed Date | 2013-09-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130247412 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Du Coeur; Maxwell Shanti |
September 26, 2013 |
Standardized Shoe Heel Attachment Mechanism
Abstract
One embodiment of a housing unit (12) containing a spring-loaded
button plate (14), which slides to the rear of the unit (12)
creating a dual chamber opening (34). The heelpiece (20) has a dual
pronged appendage (16) at its top flat surface. When the heelpiece
appendage (20) is nudged into the bottom of the unit (12), the
partially open chambers are coaxed fully open, allowing full
insertion of the heelpiece (20) into said unit (12). The heelpiece
(20) is locked in place for ready wear. The heelpiece (20) is
removed from said unit (12) by pushing the release button (18).
This action slides the button plate (14) to the rear of the unit
(12) opening the dual chambers (34) for quick removal of the
heelpiece (20).
Inventors: |
Du Coeur; Maxwell Shanti;
(San Diego, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Du Coeur; Maxwell Shanti |
San Diego |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
49210437 |
Appl. No.: |
13/428983 |
Filed: |
March 23, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 21/48 20130101;
A43B 21/36 20130101; A43B 21/37 20130101; A43B 21/42 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/42 |
International
Class: |
A43B 21/36 20060101
A43B021/36; A43B 21/37 20060101 A43B021/37 |
Claims
1. A standardized shoe heel attachment mechanism, comprising: a. a
housing unit containing and seating a spring-loaded slidable plate,
b. varied height heelpieces with a hooking feature, c. means for
capturing, securing and releasing said heelpieces within and from
said unit. d. multi-directional in that the slidable plate and
other features can be designed and constructed to function from
front to back, back to front, or side to side.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND
Prior Art
CITATIONS
TABLE-US-00001 [0002] US181109 Aug. 15, 1876 Improvement in heels
US1516355 Nov. 18, 1924 Detachable shoe heel US1604826 Oct. 26,
1926 Removable heel US2139885 Dec. 13, 1938 Removable heel
US2224476 Dec. 10, 1940 Footwear heel fastener US2439310 Apr. 06,
1948 Detachable heel US2707341 May 03, 1955 Shoes with convertible
heels US2852866 Sep. 23, 1958 Shoe heel mounting US2943404 Jul. 05,
1960 Replaceable heel construction US3266177 Aug. 16, 1966
Adjustable heel for shoes US3782010 Jan. 01, 1974 Detachable heel
for shoes US3805418 Apr. 23, 1974 Adjustable heel apparatus
US4198770 Apr. 22, 1980 Device for fixing heels US4219946 Sep. 02,
1980 Shoe with a interchangeable heel US4443956 Apr. 24, 1984 Shoe
replaceable heel kit US4670996 Jun. 09, 1987 Womens shoes with
flexible height US4805320 Feb. 21, 1989 Shoe with exchangeable heel
US5079857 Jan. 14, 1992 Shoe having a detachable heel US5133138
Jul. 28, 1992 Replaceable high heel US5309651 May 10, 1994 Fabulous
Feet Inc. Transformable shoe US5347730 Sep. 20, 1994 Colon Low heel
shoe convertible to high heel and vice versa with an... US5519950
May 28, 1996 Wang Structure for engaging a heel to a shoe US5524365
Jun. 11, 1996 Goldenberg Shoe with exchangeable heel US5615497 Apr.
01, 1997 Meschan Athletic shoe with improved sole US6021586 Feb.
08, 2000 Bucalo et. al. Adjustable heel assembly and shoe including
the same US6023858 Feb. 15, 2000 Reflections Shoe Two-piece shoe
bottom system US6711835 Mar. 30, 2004 Militello Shoe and
replaceable heel US7168184 Jan. 30, 2007 Wallin Shoes US7185448
Mar. 06, 2007 Schupbach Shoes with interchangeable heel members
US7578075 Aug. 25, 2009 Kemp Collapsible shoe and methods for
making and using same US7770306 Aug. 10, 2010 Lyden Custom article
of footwear US7877902 Feb. 01, 2011 Pieriboni Footwear with
variable configuration heel US7954256 Jun. 07, 2011 Colella
Interchangeable footwear system and method US8069583 Dec. 06, 2011
Simchuk Shoe with replacement sole cartridges US8112906 Feb. 14,
2012 NIKE, Inc. Article of footwear with interchangeable heels
Patents: Publication number US2001/0052195 Blakey Convertible shoe
ensemble US2004/0128860 Smaldone et.al. Article of footwear having
a sole structure with adjustable characteristics US2006/0101670
Bucalo Self stabilizing adjustable dihedral heel assembly and shoe
. . . US2008/0184598 Handel Adjustable height high heel shoe
US2010/0146817 Crispo Footwear having adjustable height heel and
method thereof US2010/0083537 Weirda et. al. Sub-assembly for
incorporation into a shoe having an adjustable heel
The above citations show references to related but not relevant
patents granted for shoes having adjustable heels. I am unaware of
any applications granted that closely resemble this one submitted
herewith.
SUMMARY
[0003] A standardized shoe heel attachment mechanism allowing a
person wearing a pair of shoes with this property, to change the
heel height of both shoes whenever they choose, and for whatever
reasons, which may include comfort or styling. The styling of this
shoe mechanism includes a low, medium and high heelpiece option.
The alternate heelpieces may be carried in a customized pouch with
the person for their ease of alternating the heel height at any
moment of their day or evening. The mechanism functions with a push
of a release button on the housing unit that disengages the
heelpiece in use. That heelpiece is removed and the newly selected
replacement heelpiece is placed into the dual opening chambers
inside the housing unit with a quick and easy motion of
insertion.
Advantages
[0004] 1. The heels can be changed quickly and easily. [0005] 2.
The heels can be changed without tools. [0006] 3. Different size
heels can be used without changing shoes; i.e. low, medium and high
height heelpieces. [0007] 4. The heels are small and easy to carry
in a custom, fitted pouch. [0008] 5. The heels can range from flat
to the currently fashionable 150 cm. [0009] After considering the
drawings and following description, other advantages of one or more
aspects will be apparent.
DRAWINGS
Figures
[0010] FIG. 1A-1C shows the overall view of the 3 varied height
heelpieces with the housing unit engaged.
[0011] FIG. 1D shows the housing unit with the release button
pushed and in the dual opening chamber position.
[0012] FIG. 2A-2B shows the singular heelpieces with the dual
engaging and hooking feature for the high and medium heels.
[0013] FIG. 2C shows a side view of the low heel engaged with the
housing unit.
[0014] FIG. 3A is a close up view of the front and topside of the
housing unit in use with the low heel employed via the dual
engaging and hooking feature.
[0015] FIG. 3B shows a view of the housing unit from the bottom
side where the heelpieces engage and hook with the button
plate.
[0016] FIG. 3C shows a view of the topside of the housing unit, the
button plate and dual opening chambers as well as where 4 screws
(32) attach the unit to the actual shoe.
[0017] FIG. 3D provides a view of the inside layout of the housing
unit, level 1 and level 2, without the button plate and the
cover/base plate.
[0018] FIG. 4 shows another angle of the medium heel with the dual
engaging and hooking feature.
[0019] FIG. 5 offers a view of the low heel with dual engaging and
hooking feature.
[0020] FIG. 6 shows the design of the button plate, the location of
the 2 springs for the spring-released button action, as well as the
release button.
REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0021] 10 cover/base plate [0022] 12 housing unit [0023] 14 button
plate [0024] 16 dual engaging and hooking feature [0025] 18 release
button [0026] 20 varied height heelpieces; a, b, c [0027] 22 level
1 [0028] 24 cutout [0029] 26 springs [0030] 28 screws [0031] 30
level 2 [0032] 32 screws [0033] 34 dual opening chambers [0034] 36
rest position [0035] 38 open chamber position
DESCRIPTION
[0036] This invention is a mechanism that allows the heelpiece of a
shoe to be changed without the use of tools. The mechanism consists
of six components, not including screws FIG. 1A-C. The heelpiece,
locked into the housing unit 12, is released by pressing a
spring-loaded release button 18. The unit 12 contains the button
plate 14 and 2 springs 26. Items 20.a, 20.b, 20.c are the varied
height heelpieces. The base plate 10 is a cover plate 10 on the
unit 12 and acts to constrain the 2 springs 26 and button plate 14.
The button plate is seated in the unit 12, level 1 22. The button
plate 14 will slide back and forth inside the unit 12. The button
plate 14 is shaped such that it has dual opening chambers 34 that
receive the dual engaging and hooking feature 16, attaching the
heelpiece 20 and locking it securely into the unit 12. The
heelpiece 20 is made with a corresponding dual hooking and engaging
feature 16 that is captured by the dual opening chambers 34 in the
button plate 14. The 2 springs 26 hold the button plate 14 in the
locked, rest position 36 FIG. 1A-C. When the release button 18 is
pushed, the heelpiece 20 is unhooked and can be removed from
chambers inside the unit 12 FIG. 1D. A different heelpiece 20 is
then inserted into the unit 12. This action snaps the button plate
14 into the rest position 36. The heelpiece 20 is now locked
securely into the unit 12.
Operation
[0037] A standardized shoe heel attachment mechanism is operated by
holding the housing unit 12 in one hand and the heelpiece 20 in the
other hand. The flat side of the heelpiece 20 will be aligned with
the flat side of the unit 12 (FIG. 1A-C). By inserting the 2
pronged dual engaging and hooking feature 16 on the heelpiece 20
(FIG. 2A-B) into the corresponding dual opening chambers 34 (FIG.
3B) on the bottom side of the unit 12, using an urging motion, the
dual hooking feature 16 on the heelpiece 20 automatically pushes
the button plate 14 to the rear of the unit 12 (FIG. 6, 3C). The
button plate 14 is nudged and moved backwards automatically by the
tips of the dual hooking feature 16, becoming 2 fully opened
chambers 34, 38 for the complete insertion of the dual feature 16
on the heelpiece 20. Once the dual hooking feature prongs 16 are
over, past, the button plate 14, the heelpiece 20 is fully inserted
into the unit 12. The button plate 14 is thereby automatically
released to slide back to its rest position 36, which is also
locking position. A snap back into lock position (FIG. 1A-C) occurs
once the heelpiece 20 is fully inserted. To release the heelpiece
20 one pushes with one's finger the release button 18 (FIG. 1D, 6),
which is protruding thru the cutout 24 of the unit 12 (FIG. 3D). It
is one piece with the button plate 14 and is located on the flat
side of the unit 12. This action pushes the button plate 14
backwards, pinching the 2 springs 26 located behind the button
plate 14 (FIG. 6) inside and towards the back of the unit 12,
thereby creating the dual opening chambers 34 within the unit 12.
Holding the release button 18 holds the button plate 14 in this
open position, whereby both chambers 34 are fully open (FIG. 1D).
The heelpiece 20 is then pulled out of said dual chambers 34
created by this action and is fully disengaged from the unit 12.
Letting go of the release button 18 uncoils the 2 springs 26 behind
the button plate 14 allowing the button plate 14 to slide
automatically back into rest position 36. The button plate 14
slides, snaps, back to rest position 36 where the springs 26 are
uncoiled and are also in rest position 36 (FIG. 1A-C).
Advantages
[0038] (a) This mechanism is quick, easy and simple in its design,
construction and use. [0039] (b) The heelpiece itself can take on
infinite variations of styling and design from height to contour as
a result of the standardized attachment mechanism being localized
to the top, flat end of the heelpiece thus having no impact or
interference on the heel design itself. [0040] (c) The dual
engaging and hooking feature and the housing unit can take on
various corresponding sizes and dimensions relevant to the shoe and
its heel base on the outsole.
CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS, AND SCOPE
[0040] [0041] All of the standardized shoe heel attachment
mechanism parts can be manufactured using various materials, which
would include metals, plastics, woods and resins. This would apply
to any and all parts in various combinations of materials within
said mechanism, excluding screws, which will be composed of metal.
[0042] The said parts, being constructed out of said materials,
embody durability and strength and thereby the safety of locking
securely in place. [0043] Women potentially keep and wear their
shoes for a very long time. This mechanism has only one moving
part, the springs. For longevity purposes, any number of springs
can be housed behind the button plate for use in the unit for
purposes of durability and wear and tear. Replacing the springs is
the only repair that would potentially require action. This is not
a quick fix. Therefore, ensuring the quality and longevity of the
springs is of utmost importance.
* * * * *