U.S. patent number 3,646,497 [Application Number 05/003,029] was granted by the patent office on 1972-02-29 for shoe with interchangeable heels.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Martha Ann Willis. Invention is credited to Bobby G. Gillikin.
United States Patent |
3,646,497 |
Gillikin |
February 29, 1972 |
SHOE WITH INTERCHANGEABLE HEELS
Abstract
A shoe construction having angle irons mounted to the heel seat
of the shoe for slidably mounting interchangeable low and high
heels. An arch supporting plate is attached to the shoe shank for
rendering vertical support to the shank when a high heel is
utilized. An elastic band is attached to the upper opening for
retaining the upper snugly against the wearer's foot. Stiffening
strips are attached to oppositely disposed vertical arch portions
of the shoe to prevent outward bulging of this shoe portion when
the high heel is employed.
Inventors: |
Gillikin; Bobby G. (Beaufort,
NC) |
Assignee: |
Willis; Martha Ann (Harkers
Island, NC)
|
Family
ID: |
21703752 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/003,029 |
Filed: |
January 15, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/58.5;
36/42 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43C
11/002 (20130101); A43B 21/39 (20130101); A43B
13/34 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A43C
11/00 (20060101); A43B 13/00 (20060101); A43B
13/34 (20060101); A43b 023/28 () |
Field of
Search: |
;36/58.5,51,42,36,34 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Guest; Alfred R.
Claims
What is claimed as new is as follows.
1. A shoe structure having removable heels comprising mounting
means fastened to the heel seat for removably attaching a heel, and
means attached to the shoe upper for retaining a snug fit between
the shoe and the wearer's foot when the shoe is worn with either
heel, the means connected to the upper of the shoe including
vertically extending stiffening strips attached directly to
oppositely disposed lateral side portions of the upper in the shank
portion along a substantial length of each stiffening strip for
retaining a snug fit between the side portions of the upper and the
wearer's foot when the shoe is worn with either heel and to prevent
outward bulging of the side portions when the high heel is
worn.
2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein the means attached to
the upper includes a generally U-shaped elastic band attached to
the upper opening, the bight of the band lying along the throat
portion of the upper opening and the outward ends of the bands
extending to points in general vertical alignment with the
breasting of the heel, the band overlying at least a portion of
each stiffening strip serving to retain the shape of the side
portions by preventing outward bulging in the proximate areas of
the stiffening strips.
3. The structure set forth in claim 2 together with a shank
stiffening plate attached to the shank for vertically supporting
the shank when the shoe is worn with a high heel.
4. The structure set forth in claim 3 wherein said elastic band
overlies a substantial vertical area of each side portion to
prevent bulging in a generally horizontal direction, said
stiffening strips maintaining the side portions shape to prevent
bulging in a vertical direction.
Description
In the past, several designs have been conceived which allow the
shoe wearer to switch between interchangeable high and low heels.
However, such shoe constructions generally require the fastening of
hardware which requires tools. One type of prior art construction
utilizes a dovetail connection for attaching a heel to the shoe.
However, this retention loses its effectiveness as the shoe is worn
and play in the connections develops. A common problem with the
prior art resides in the absence of means for retaining the shoe
upper in intimate contact with the wearer's foot when the shoe is
converted to high heel use. Therefore, although the prior art
constructions allow for snug fit when the shoe is worn with a flat
heel, when the high heel is mounted, the flexing of the shoes
causes outward bulging which definitely detracts from the shoe's
aesthetic appearance.
The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide means
for retaining the shape of a shoe having interchangeable heels. The
present construction includes stiffener strips inserted in the
oppositely disposed lateral arch portions of the shoe as well as an
elastic band attached to the collar of the shoe. This combination
of means provides intimate fitting between the shoe upper and a
wearer's foot when the shoe is changed from a flat low-heel
position to a flexed high heel position. Also, an arch supporting
plate is mounted to the shoe shank for rendering vertical support
to the shank thereby preventing the shank from sagging when the
high heel is used.
In order to allow heel interchangeability, angle irons are suitably
fastened to the heel seat of the shoe body, each of the angle irons
being shaped to include a tapered or wedged flange portion. Mating
grooves are formed in the heel so that sliding engagement between
the heel and the angle irons can be effected. When the heel fully
engages the angle irons, a wedging action is achieved thereby
connecting the heel securely to the shoe. This wedging action is
not lost after prolonged use and many changeovers, as is prevalent
with prior art constructions.
These together with other objects and advantages which will become
subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and
operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed,
reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part
hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and
in which:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the present invention having a
cutaway portion to illustrate an elastic band along the shoe
collar, the shoe being illustrated with a high heel.
FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the shoe shown in FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a partial longitudinal sectional view taken along a plane
passing through section line 3--3 in FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a rear elevational view of the shoe shown in FIG. 3 with
a cutaway portion to illustrate the mechanical components allowing
shoe interchangeability.
FIG. 5 is an exploded view illustrating the interchangeable heels
and means for mounting the same to the shoe body and also
illustrates means for retaining the shoe upper in intimate contact
with the wearer's foot.
FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view illustrating the contour of a
groove formed in a heel which permits the mounting of the heel to
the shoe body.
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating the shoe employed
with a low heel.
FIG. 8 is a top view of the heel of FIG. 7.
Referring to the figures and more particularly FIG. 1 thereof,
reference numeral 10 generally denotes a shoe construction having
interchangeable heels. The shoe includes an upper 12 bounded along
the top edge thereof referred to as a collar 13. The forward
portion of the collar is referred to as a throat 14. The sole of
the shoe 15 resembles the conventional sole and articulates the
rear portion of an interchangeable high heel 16. As will be seen by
FIG. 7, the high heel may be removed from the shoe and in its
stead, a low or flat heel 18 can be mounted. The heel forms an
interface with a heel seat 17.
Referring to FIGS. 1-3, in order to retain the shape of shank 22
when the shoe is employed in the high-heel mode, a shank stiffening
plate 20 is sandwiched between the shank 22 and an inner sole pad
21. This plate is fabricated from steel and is characterized by
dimensions typically approximately 1/2 inch in width and 41/2
inches in length. The steel plate exhibits little flexibility
thereby rendering vertical support of the shank as becomes apparent
in FIG. 1.
As previously mentioned, a common problem with shoes having
interchangeable heels is that when a snugly fitting shoe with a
mounted low heel is converted to high heel use, the laterally
opposing arch portions 25 of the shoe upper, as well as the shoe
collar 13 have a tendency to bulge outward thus decreasing foot
support and detracting from the aesthetic appearance of the shoe.
In order to obviate this problem, two angularly inclined plastic
strips 24 are suitably attached to the inner surface of the arches
25 and extend at the transverse edges thereof between the shoe
collar and the shoe shank. These rigidifying strips prevent the
outward bulging and drooping of the shoe arch portions.
In order to retain the shoe collar 13 against the wearer's foot, a
generally U-shaped elastic band 26 clearly shown in FIG. 8 is sewn,
pasted or otherwise suitably attached along the shoe collar. The
bight portion of the band extends around the instep of the shoe
while the outer band ends are generally disposed in vertical
alignment with the breasting 27 of the heel.
A pair of mounting brackets 28 illustrated in FIG. 5 are mounted to
the heel seat 17 and provide means for mounting the interchangeable
heels. Each bracket 28 has an upper flange 30 including a series of
apertures 32 therein for allowing rivet attachment of the bracket
between the heel seat 17 and inner sole pad 21, as shown in FIG. 3.
The web portion 34 of the bracket is formed perpendicular to the
flange 30 and is fashioned in the shape of a wedge or elongated
trapezoid. Thus, the forward edge of web 32 is smaller in height
than the rearward edge. This configuration permits wedging
engagement between the brackets and grooves formed in the
interchangeable heels as hereinafter explained. A third bottom
horizontal flange 36 appends from web 34 and is oppositely directed
from the aforementioned flange 30. Thus, the cross section of the
mounting brackets may be characterized as a dimensionally varying
Z-shaped member as shown in FIG. 4. When mounted to the heel seat,
the free ends of the bottom horizontal flanges 36 confront one
another.
Once an interchangeable heel is slidably mounted on the angle irons
28, the heel is locked into place by a detect assembly including a
plate 38 riveted to the shank 22 immediately in front of the heel
breasting 27. A downwardly extending projections 42 is adapted to
engage an aperture 46 formed in a cantilevered projection 45 which
extends forwardly of the top edge of the interchangeable heels 16
and 18. The engagement of projection 42 and aperture 46 complete
the detent engagement between the main shoe body and the heel. The
forward edge of the cantilevered projection 45 is turned downwardly
somewhat thereby permitting the wearer to manipulate the projection
45 when release of locking engagement is desired so that the
mounted heel may be removed and an alternate heel put on. Two
parallel spaced grooves generally indicated by reference number 44
are forward in the upper surface of heels 16 and 18. The cross
section of these grooves is substantially L-shaped thereby
permitting intimate sliding engagement between the angle irons 28
and the grooves 44. As previously mentioned, the web portion 34 of
the angle irons 28 is wedged into mating groove portions so that
the heel is snugly engaged by the angle irons. This engagement
coupled with the locking engagement of the aforementioned detent
assembly insures secure attachment of the heel to the shoe
body.
When removal of a particular heel is desired, the cantilever
projection 45 is pulled thus permitting easy sliding displacement
of the mounted heel from the angle irons and positioning of a
second heel thereon.
The present invention is particularly attractive for working women,
such as secretaries and store clerks because it provides means for
wearing low heels during the working day and rapid changeover to
high heels when desired, such as for evening wear. The extra pair
of heels can be conveniently carried in the lady's purse and when
changeover is desired, it may be effected simply and
conveniently.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles
of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes
will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired
to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation
shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and
equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the
invention as claimed.
* * * * *