US3581413A - Detachable heel - Google Patents

Abstract

A detachable heel for shoes such as ladies'' or men''s shoes that includes a means for permitting the manual locking or unlocking of the heel with respect to the shoes, so that heels can be placed or changed whenever desired or required.

Description

United States Patent [72] Inventor Harvey Simonetti 56] References Cited 635 Princeton Place N.W., Washington, UNITED STATES PATENTS Pl] A 1 NO g 'g' g 2,195,324 3/1940 Brunmark 36/42 P 2,439,310 4/1948 Mancuso 36/42 [22] Filed Dec. 18,1969 [45] Pmemsd Junel 1971 2,492,0l3 12/l949 Sorofman 36/42X 2,795,867 6/1957 Zuckerman et al 36/42 Primary ExaminerH. Hampton Hunter AttorneySherman Levy [54] DETACHABLE HEEL 5 Clalms 6 Drawing ABSTRACT: A detachable heel for shoes such as ladies or [52] U.S. Cl 36/42 mens shoes that includes a means for permitting the manual [51] Int. Cl A43b 21/39 locking or unlocking of the heel with respect to the shoes, so [50] Field of Search 36/ 12,41, that heels can be placed or changed whenever desired or 36, 36 A, 36 B, 36 C VIII/I111" required.

PATENTEU JUN 11971 3,581,413

II "IIIIII n "l"...""""" INVENTUR. HARVEY $1M NET'N m'TaeA/EV DETACIIABLE HEEL The present invention relates to detachable shoe heel, and the present invention is an improvement over the detachable shoe heel shown in prior US. Pat. No. 2,449,914.

An object of the present invention is to provide a detacha ble heel for shoes that includes an improved locking arrangement and wherein a shoe heel can be easily and quickly changed or replaced when desired.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a detachable shoe heel that works automatically, and wherein there is nothing to detract from of appearance of the shoe when the device of the present invention is being used, and, in addition, the present invention will not hurt the wearer's foot, and the present invention permits heels to be readily changed so that, for example, heels of a desired color or style can be used by the wearer.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described that is economical to manufacture and efficient in operation as well as being rugged in structure and foolproof in use.

Still other objects will become apparent in the subsequent description in the specification. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the detachable heel of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of certain constructional details of the present invention,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of'FlG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an exploded view showing certain of the parts of the detachable heel and locking mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a bottom view.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view illustrating the present invention for a mans shoe.

Referring in detail to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-5 of the drawings, the numeral indicates a shoe such as a lady's shoe and includes the usual upper 21, inner sole 22, outer sole 23 and a heel 24 that is detachably mounted. In accordance with the present invention there is provided an improved means for locking the heel such as the heel 24 in place on the shoe 20, and this lock is indicated generally by the numeral 29. The numeral 25 indicates a recess that is formed in the upper portion of the heel 24, an the recess 25 extends from the front edge of the shoe heel to a point 26 that is spaced forwardly of the rear edge of the heel. There is also provided a tapered surface or clearance space 27 adjacent the lower front portion of the recess 25 for a purpose to be later described.

The numeral 28 indicates a lever that includes a main flat portion 29, and the lever 28 further includes a curved fingerengaging springy portion 31. The numeral 32 indicates a base piece that is mounted in the recess 25 above the lever 28, and the base piece 32 includes a horizontally disposed bottom wall 33 as well as spaced parallel sidewalls 34 and upwardly arranged inwardly disposed flanges 35 whereby there is defined within the base 32 a pair of diametrically disposed trackways 36. The bottom wall 33 of the base piece 32 has spaced-apart countersunk openings 37 that register with the openings 38 in the lever 28 and securing elements such as screws 39 are adapted to extend to the registering openings 37 and 38 for fastening the base piece 32 to the sidewalls 34. The projecting portion 31 of the lever 28 has an apertured portion therein. The numeral 41 indicates a support member that has spacedapart openings 42 therein that register with aligned openings in the rear portions of the inner and outer wall and shank I9. Securing elements such as rivets 43 extend through these lastnamed registering openings for maintaining the support member 41 connected in place to the shoe. The support member 41 includes a lower portion 44 of increased width as well as an upper portion 45 of decreased width so that there is defined on the support member 41 shoulders 46 that are slidably received in the trackways 36. The numeral 47 indicates a pin that depends from the lower front portion of the support member 41, and the pin 47 is adapted to selectively engage the aperture in the lever 28.

Attention is directed to FIG. 6 of the drawings wherein the numeral 48 indicates a portion of a mans shoe that includes an upper 49, the usual sole 50, and a detachable heel 51 that is adapted to be held in place by a mechanism similar to that described in connection with the ladys shoe of FIGS. l-5.

From the foregoing it will be seen that there has been provided a detachable heel and locking means therefor, and in use with the parts arranged as shown in the drawings it will be noted that a member such as the support member 41 is permanently secured to the rear bottom portion of the shoe, as, for example, by means of securing elements 43. The support member 4] has a prong or pin 47 depending from he front end thereof.

The replaceable or detachable heel 24 has the recess 25 therein which snugly receives the base piece 32, and the base piece 32 as well as the lever 28 are secured to the heel 24 by means of securing elements such as the screws 39.

With the parts in a position such as that shown in FIG. 2 for example, when it is desired to remove the heel 24 it is only necessary to manually depress the projecting portion 31 so that the aperture 40 will clear the prong 47 whereby the entire heel 24 can be separated from the shoe since the trackways 36 will be able to slide rearwardly and separate from the stationary base piece 32 affixed to the shoe. The tapered surface 27 provides clearance space to permit the portion 31 to move downwardly slightly in order to clear the prong or pin 47. After the heel 24 has been removed another heel can be readily put in place by reversing the previously described procedure. The lever 28 is adapted to be made of a suitable material such as a thin metal of sufficient resiliency so that the parts will be normally in the position of FIG. 2 whereby the prong 47 will project through the aperture 40 in order to prevent accidental separation or disengagement of the heel from the shoe. Thus, there is provided the automatic locking feature.

When positioning a heel on the shoe, the heel is moved so that the trackways 36 engage the side shoulders 46 of the support member 41, and then when the heel 24 is moved a sufficient and proper distance the prong or lock pin 47 will automatically snap into place in the aperture 40 so as to maintain the shoe heel in its proper assembled position. A cover piece 52 may be arranged as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 for assuring comfoizt to the wearer.

FIGS. I5 illustrate the present invention on a ladys shoe heel while FIG. 6 shows a portion of a shoe heel 48 on a man's shoe that is adapted to be mounted as previously described for a ladys shoe heel.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in dif ferent shapes and sizes.

The shank l9 helps stabilize the parts together. The entire unit is all in one piece. It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to any particular type or shape of shoe. The main feature is the locking arrangement. The present in vention consists of a minimum number of pieces. Also, the present invention is an improvement over prior US. Pat. No. 2,449,914 since it has fewer parts and a simpler construction. With the present invention there will be no scarring of the uppers, soles and the like, and the device is easy and quick to use, and it is not necessary to bother with trimming. Also, when the device is being used there will be nothing to detract from the appearance of the shoe. When the heel is slid in place the lock is automatically actuated. The device does nothing to hurt the foot, and with the present invention one can get two or three sets of heels and slip it on the shoe as desired. The present invention only takes a short period of time to put on or take off, and if a woman wants a lower or higher heel she can readily put it on and change different colors and styles of heels. She can readily change heels in the desired manner. The shank 19 serves to stabilize the shoe so that the parts will not accidentally break off.

While the present invention has been shown and described specifically for use with a detachable heel for shoes, it is to be understood that the principles of the present invention are applicable to any devices that are adapted to be connected together. In other word, the present invention is not restricted or limited to use on detachable heels for shoes.

While a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention has been illustrated and described, it is understood that various modifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the appended claims.

lclaim:

1. In a shoe, including an upper, inner and outer sole, a detachable heel, a shank interposed between said inner and outer soles, the improvement consisting in providing a means for detachably connecting said heel to said shoe, said means comprising a recess in said heel extending from the front edge to a point spaced forwardly of the rear edge of the heel, there being a tapered surface on said heel adjacent the front of the recess, a lever mounted in said recess and having a curved finger-engaging springy portion adjacent said tapered surface, a base piece mounted in said recess above said lever, said base piece including a bottom wall, spaced parallel sidewalls, inwardly disposed flanges and diametrically disposed trackways, said bottom wall having registering openings therein, securing elements extending through said registering openings into engagement with the heel, the projecting portion of said lever having an aperture therein, a support member having spacedapart openings therein registering with aligned openings in the outer sole inner sole and shank, securing elements extending through said registering openings, said support member having a lower portion of increased width and an upper portion of decreased width and defining shoulders that are slidably received in said trackways, and a pin depending from the front end of said support member for selective engagement with the aperture in the lever.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said shoe is a ladys shoe.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the shoe is a man's shoe.

4. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the lever is made of material having inherent springiness.

5. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the top of the base piece is substantially flush with the top of the support member.

Claims (5)

1. In a shoe, including an upper, inner and outer sole, a detachable heel, a shank interposed between said inner and outer soles, the improvement consisting in providing a means for detachably connecting said heel to said shoe, said means comprising a recess in said heel extending from the front edge to a point spaced forwardly of the rear edge of the heel, there being a tapered surface on said heel adjacent the front of the recess, a lever mounted in said recess and having a curved finger-engaging springy portion adjacent said tapered surface, a base piece mounted in said recess above said lever, said base piece including a bottom wall, spaced parallel sidewalls, inwardly disposed flanges and diametrically disposed trackways, said bottom wall having registering openings therein, securing elements extending through said registering openings into engagement with the heel, the projecting portion of said lever having an aperture therein, a support member having spaced-apart openings therein registering with aligned openings in the outer sole , inner sole and shank, securing elements extending through said registering openings, said support member having a lower portion of increased width and an upper portion of decreased width and defining shoulders that are slidably received in said trackways, and a pin depending from the front end of said support member for selective engagement with the aperture in the lever.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said shoe is a lady''s shoe.

3. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the shoe is a man''s shoe.

4. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the lever is made of material having inherent springiness.

5. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein the top of the base piece is substantially flush with the top of the support member.

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