U.S. patent application number 14/956924 was filed with the patent office on 2017-06-08 for removable heel connector apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is Tin Ray HO. Invention is credited to Tin Ray HO.
Application Number | 20170156441 14/956924 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58799420 |
Filed Date | 2017-06-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170156441 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HO; Tin Ray |
June 8, 2017 |
REMOVABLE HEEL CONNECTOR APPARATUS
Abstract
A removable heel connector apparatus comprises a shoe, a heel
connector, a heel, a heel release. The heel connector includes a
bolt to connect the heel against withdrawal from the shoe. The heel
may be withdrawn from the shoe by depressing the heel release. The
heel connector also includes a torque balance providing strength
and durability in use to a shoe with removable heel as if an
ordinary shoe without removable heel.
Inventors: |
HO; Tin Ray; (San Bruno,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
HO; Tin Ray |
San Bruno |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
58799420 |
Appl. No.: |
14/956924 |
Filed: |
December 2, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 13/42 20130101;
A43B 13/37 20130101; A43B 21/36 20130101; A43B 21/46 20130101; A43B
21/48 20130101; A43B 13/41 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A43B 21/46 20060101
A43B021/46; A43B 3/24 20060101 A43B003/24 |
Claims
1. A removable heel connector apparatus comprising: a shoe
comprising a top shoe sole and a bottom shoe sole having a
protrusion, a connector opening, a thrust surface and a connector
cavity; a heel connector including a torque balance and a bolt
having a slot and tilt surface; a heel including a button opening,
a sole cavity having a bolt cavity, a cover ledge, a thrust wall
and two screw holes; a heel release including a push button and a
detent plate having a plate opening, a detent and two spring
recesses; a release cover including a bolt opening and two screw
openings, one screw opening having one screw recess; two springs
being accommodated at said spring recesses; two screws being
assembled at said screw holes; said sole cavity accommodating said
protrusion; said bolt cavity accommodating said bolt; said opening
allowing the insertion of said bolt into said heel irrespective the
depression of said heel release; said release cover being
relatively fixed with said heel and contacting said thrust surface
at full insertion of said bolt into said heel; said tilt surface
interacting in a tilting manner with said detent and depressing the
spring during the insertion of the said into the said heel; said
spring thrusting against said heel at said thrust wall and
thrusting against said detent plate at said spring recess at full
insertion of said bolt into said heel; said detent plate being
projected outwardly by the bias of said spring and interlocking
said bolt at said slot at full insertion of said bolt into said
heel; said push button being relatively fixed with said detent
plate; and said detent unlocking said bolt as said push button is
depressed.
2. The removable heel connector apparatus of claim 1, wherein said
torque balance includes an enforcement portion.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to shoes and more particularly
pertains to a new removable heel connector apparatus.
[0003] Description of the Prior Art
[0004] The use of shoes with removable heel is known in the prior
art. Known prior art shoes include U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,953,836;
8,112,908; 8,505,218; 8,657,110; 8,832,968 and 9,009,990.
[0005] While these devices fulfill their respective, particular
objectives and requirements, they are generally weak in strength
and not durable in daily use. The aforementioned patents do not
disclose a new removable heel connector apparatus providing quick
and simple mechanism of locking and releasing the removable heel
against withdrawal from the shoe and providing strength and
durability in use to a shoe with removable heel as if an ordinary
shoe without removable heel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In general the present invention is directed to a wholly
unique removable heel connector apparatus. The structure of the
present removable heel connector apparatus comprises a shoe, a heel
connector, a heel, a heel release, a release cover and two springs.
The shoe comprises a top shoe sole and a bottom shoe sole having a
protrusion, a connector opening, a thrust surface and a connector
cavity. The heel connector includes a bolt having a slot and a tilt
surface and includes a torque balance having an enforcement
portion. The heel includes a button opening, a sole cavity having a
bolt cavity, a cover ledge, a thrust wall and two screw holes. The
heel release includes a push button and a detent plate having a
plate opening, a detent and two spring recesses. The release cover
includes a bolt opening and two screw openings having screw
recess.
[0007] In relation to the assembly of the removable heel connector
apparatus, the connector opening and connector cavity provide a
fixed assembly relation between the shoe and the heel connector.
The protrusion and the sole cavity provide relative assembly
relation between the shoe and the heel. At full insertion of the
bolt into the heel, the thrust surface contacts with the release
cover and provides stops limiting the insertion of the bolt into
the heel.
[0008] The heel connector is the key feature revealing novelty and
non-obviousness of this invention.
[0009] The first role of the heel connector in this invention is to
connect the removable heel against withdrawal from the shoe. During
the insertion of the bolt into the heel, the tilt surface interacts
with the detent and depresses the spring in a tilting manner. At
full insertion of the bolt into the heel, the detent plate of the
heel release is projected outwardly by the bias of the spring
thrusting against the heel at thrust wall and against the detent
plate at the spring recess urging the detent to interlock the bolt
at the slot. This illustrates the mechanism of locking the heel
against withdrawal from the shoe. The heel may be withdrawn from
the shoe by depressing the push button. It depresses the spring and
moves the detent out from the slot to unlock the heel from the
shoe.
[0010] The second role of the heel connector in this invention is
to balance the stress acting on the heel from the ground and the
stress acting by the user's foot on the walking shoe. The heel
connector should be integrally cast or machined from relatively
strong and durable material, such as metal or steel. As the heel
connector starts from the toe area of the shoe and ends inside the
heel, it provides strength and durability in use to a shoe with
removable heel as if an ordinary shoe without removable heel.
[0011] Further scope of applicability of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter.
However, it should be understood that the detailed description and
specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the
invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various
changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from
this detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] The present invention will become more fully understood from
the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying
drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are
not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a removable heel connector
apparatus in accord with the present invention
[0014] FIG. 2 is a full cross section elevation view taken on the
line 2-2 of FIG. 1
[0015] FIG. 3 is a detail cross section elevation view taken on the
line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing the mechanism of locking the heel
against withdrawal from the shoe in the removable heel connector
apparatus of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a cross section elevation view taken on the line
4-4 of FIG. 3 showing the mechanism of locking the heel against
withdrawal from the shoe in the removable heel connector apparatus
of the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 5 is a detail cross section elevation view taken on the
line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing the mechanism of withdrawing the heel
from the shoe in the removable heel connector apparatus of the
present invention.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a cross section elevation view taken on the line
6-6 of FIG. 5 showing the mechanism of withdrawing the heel from
the shoe in the removable heel connector apparatus of the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a full elevation view of the shoe without
assembling the heel connector and the heel.
[0020] FIG. 8 is a full elevation view and a full bottom side view
of the heel connector.
[0021] FIG. 9 is a full top side view of the heel and a full cross
section elevation view taken on the line 9-9.
[0022] FIG. 10 is a full top side view of the heel release and a
full cross section elevation view taken on the line 10-10.
[0023] FIG. 11 is a full top side view of the release cover and a
full cross section elevation view taken on the line 11-11.
[0024] FIG. 12 is a full cross section elevation view taken on the
line 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing the forces acting on a walking shoe of
the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0025] Referring to the drawings and with particular referring
first to the FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a removable heel connector
apparatus 100 embodying the invention is illustrated. The heel
connector 300 is relatively fixed in its assembled relation in the
shoe 200 while the heel 400 is selectively removable upon
depression of the heel release 500. As will be seen, upon insertion
of the bolt 320 of the heel connector 300 into the heel 400, the
heel release 500 locks the heel 400 against withdrawal from the
shoe 200. At full insertion, as seen in FIG. 2, the shoe 200 and
heel 400 are interlocked by means of a detent element and the
detent element, on depression of the heel release 500, releases the
bolt 320 and allows simple withdrawal of the heel 400 from the shoe
200.
[0026] By reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the mechanism of locking
the heel 400 against withdrawal from the shoe 200 is best
understood. The release cover 600 is relatively fixed in its
assembled relation with the heel 400 and provides working cavity
for the heel release 500. The release cover 600 also provides stops
limiting the insertion of the bolt 320 into the heel 400. The bolt
320 of the heel connector 300 is shown fully inserted into the bolt
cavity 421 of the heel 400. The bolt 320 and the heel 400 are
connected together against withdrawal by the detent 522 of the
detent plate 520.
[0027] During the insertion of the bolt 320 into the heel 400, the
tilt surface 322 interacts with the detent 522 and depresses the
spring 700 in a tilting manner. At full insertion of the bolt 320
into the heel 400, the detent plate 520 of the heel release 500 is
projected outwardly by the bias of the spring 700 thrusting against
the heel 400 at thrust wall 423 and against the detent plate 520 at
the spring recess 523 urging the detent 522 to interlock the bolt
320 at the slot 321. This illustrates the mechanism of locking the
heel 400 against withdrawal from the shoe 200.
[0028] By reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the mechanism of
releasing the heel 400 from the shoe 200 is best understood. The
push button 510 is relatively fixed in its assembled relation with
the detent plate 520 so that as the push button 510 is depressed it
depresses the spring 700 and move the detent 522 out from the slot
321 to unlock the bolt 320 so that the heel 400 may be freely
withdrawn from the shoe 200. This illustrates the mechanism of
releasing the heel 400 from the shoe 200.
[0029] FIG. 7 illuminates the formed construction of the shoe 200.
The shoe 200 comprises of a top shoe sole 210 and a bottom shoe
sole 220. The bottom shoe sole 220 includes a protrusion 221, a
connector opening 222, a thrust surface 223 and a connector cavity
224. The protrusion 221 provides relative assembly relation between
the shoe 200 and the heel 400. The connector opening 222 and the
connector cavity 224 provide a fixed assembly relation between the
shoe 200 and the heel connector 300. At full insertion of the bolt
320 into the heel 400, the thrust surface 223 contacts with the
release cover 600 and provides stops limiting the insertion of the
bolt 320 into the heel 400. The top shoe sole 210 may be may be
integrally stamped from resin sheets or cardboards. The bottom shoe
sole 220 may be integrally cast or injection molded from metal or
resin. Accordingly, the top shoe sole 210 and the bottom shoe sole
220 may be colored or ornamental and shaped as desired to satisfy
external aesthetic requirements. After assembling the heel
connector 300 with the bottom shoe sole 220 by insertion of the
bolt 320 into the connector opening 222 and insertion of the torque
balance 310 into the connector cavity 224, the bottom shoe sole 220
may be assembled with the top shoe sole 210 by way of irreversible
assembly method, such as by heat stamping or by application of
glue.
[0030] FIG. 8 illuminates the formed construction of the heel
connector 300. The heel connector 300 comprises a torque balance
310 and a bolt 320. The torque balance 310 includes an enforcement
portion 311. The bolt 320 includes a slot 321 and a tilt surface
322. The enforcement portion 311 may be a short rib protruded from
the torque balance 310 or whatever features enhancing the strength
of the shoe.
[0031] During the insertion of the bolt 320 into the heel 400, the
tilt surface 322 interacts with the detent 522 and depresses the
spring 700 in a tilting manner. At full insertion of the bolt 320
into the heel 400, the detent 522 interlocks the bolt 320 at the
slot 321. The heel connector 300 should be integrally cast or
machined from relatively strong and durable material, such as metal
or steel.
[0032] FIG. 9 illuminates the formed construction of the heel 400.
The heel 400 comprises a button opening 410 and a sole cavity 420.
The button opening 410 includes a thrust ledge 411. The thrust
ledge 411 provides stops limiting the depression of the heel
release 500. The sole cavity 420 includes a bolt cavity 421, a
cover ledge 422, a thrust wall 423 and two screw holes 424. The
sole cavity 420 and the bolt cavity 421 accommodate the protrusion
221 of the shoe 200 and the bolt 320 of the heel connector 300
respectively. The protrusion 221 and sole cavity 420 provide an
assembly relation between the shoe 200 and the heel 400. The cover
ledge 422 and the two screw holes 424 provide an assembly relation
between the heel 400 and the release cover 600. The thrust wall 423
provides reaction force acting on the depressed spring 700. The
heel 400 may be integrally cast or injection molded from metal or
resin.
[0033] FIG. 10 illuminates the formed construction of the heel
release 500. The heel release 500 comprises of a push button 510
and a detent plate 520. The push button 510 is relatively fixed in
its assembled relation with the detent plate 520. The detent plate
520 includes a plate opening 521, a detent 522 and two spring
recesses 523. The plate opening 521 allows the insertion of the
bolt 320 of the heel connector 300 into the heel 400 irrespective
whether the heel release 500 is depressed. At full insertion of the
bolt 320 into the heel 400, the detent 522 interlocks the bolt 320
at the slot 321 as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4. The spring recess
523 accommodates the spring 700 as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6. The
push button 510 may be integrally cast or injection molded from
metal or resin. The detent plate 520 may be integrally cast or
injection molded from metal.
[0034] FIG. 11 illuminates the formed construction of the release
cover 600. The release cover 600 includes a bolt opening 610 and
two screw openings 610 with screw recesses 621. The bolt opening
610 allows the insertion of the bolt 320 of the heel connector 300
into the heel 400. The two screw opening 610 and the two screw
holes 424 provide an assembly relation between the heel 400 and the
release cover 600. At full insertion of the bolt 320 into the heel
400, the thrust surface 223 contacts with release cover 600 and
provides stops limiting the insertion of the bolt 320 into the heel
400. The release cover 600 may be integrally cast or injection
molded from metal. [0035] a. The heel connector 300 is the key
feature revealing novelty and non-obviousness of this invention. As
illustrated in FIG. 12, the first role of the heel connector 300 in
this invention is to connect the shoe 200 and the heel 400. The
second role is to balance the stress acting on the heel 400 from
the ground and the stress acting by the stress at the user's foot
thenar on the torque balance 310 when the shoe is worn for walking.
As the heel connector 300 starts from the toe area of the shoe and
ends inside the heel 400, it provides strength and durability in
use to a shoe with removable heel as if an ordinary shoe without
removable heel. The enforcement portion 311 further enhances the
strength of the shoe.
[0036] Having thus described our invention, other skilled in the
art will readily perceive variations, improvement and modifications
within the skill of the art and such variations, improvements and
modifications are intended to be included herein limited only by
the scope of our hereinafter appended claims.
* * * * *