A footwear article includes a hinged portion in a heel region that may be biased in various positions to increase or decrease a size of a foot-insertion opening. The hinged portion may be arranged in a first position, in which the hinged portion is more upright and is in position to cup a wearer's heel or Achilles region when the footwear article is worn. In addition, the hinged portion may be rotated downward or rearwardly (e.g., away from the foot-insertion opening) to a second position, which may increase a size of the foot-insertion opening and/or may change an angle along which a foot can pass through the foot-insertion opening when the footwear article is being donned or doffed. One or more elastic members may be attached to the hinged portion and to some other portion of the footwear article to bias the hinged portion.

A dual use women's shoe has a pivoting heel assembly. The heel assembly has a housing and a heel piece. pivoting is controlled by use of a two stage bayonet latch that may be selectively manipulated to convert the shoe between a ladies court style with the heel fully extended as a high heel and another style of lesser height with the heel piece in a retracted positon down beneath the sole. The other style may be a wedge, loafer, mule or sandal. The heel assembly may include with a spring that biases the heel piece towards the fully extended high heel configuration, such that the retracted heel piece in the retracted configuration springs into the fully extended high heel configuration when a button of the bayonet latch is depressed.

A dual use women's shoe has a pivoting heel assembly. The heel assembly has a housing and a heel piece. pivoting is controlled by use of a two stage bayonet latch that may be selectively manipulated to convert the shoe between a ladies court style with the heel fully extended as a high heel and another style of lesser height with the heel piece in a retracted positon down beneath the sole. The other style may be a wedge, loafer, mule or sandal. The heel assembly may include with a spring that biases the heel piece towards the fully extended high heel configuration, such that the retracted heel piece in the retracted configuration springs into the fully extended high heel configuration when a button of the bayonet latch is depressed.

A convertible high heel and flat shoe, comprising a sole including a heel section; and a high heel piece positionable between a high heel mode where the high heel piece supports the heel section and a flat shoe mode where the high heel piece is received within the sole.

A convertible high heel and flat shoe, comprising a sole including a heel section; and a high heel piece positionable between a high heel mode where the high heel piece supports the heel section and a flat shoe mode where the high heel piece is received within the sole.

A high heel footwear including a heel tip assembly and a heel assembly. The heel tip assembly includes a top lift abutting against the heel, a rigid shaft member having a threaded portion, and a first wedge-lock feature configured to prevent the top lift from rotating. The heel assembly includes a threaded insert, a spring, a hollow insert, and a second wedge-lock feature. The threaded insert is received inside an opening formed in the heel to receive the threaded portion of the rigid shaft member. The spring is also received inside the opening and abuts against the threaded insert. The hollow insert abuts against the spring. The rigid shaft member passes through the threaded insert, the spring, and the hollow insert. The second wedge-lock feature locks with the first wedge-lock feature to retain the top lift on the end of the heel.

A high heel footwear including a heel tip assembly and a heel assembly. The heel tip assembly includes a top lift abutting against the heel, a rigid shaft member having a threaded portion, and a first wedge-lock feature configured to prevent the top lift from rotating. The heel assembly includes a threaded insert, a spring, a hollow insert, and a second wedge-lock feature. The threaded insert is received inside an opening formed in the heel to receive the threaded portion of the rigid shaft member. The spring is also received inside the opening and abuts against the threaded insert. The hollow insert abuts against the spring. The rigid shaft member passes through the threaded insert, the spring, and the hollow insert. The second wedge-lock feature locks with the first wedge-lock feature to retain the top lift on the end of the heel.

Systems and methods for securing a removable heel that is otherwise removably attached to a heel receiver of a shoe. The heel receiver has a fixed hook portion and a movable hook portion including a body received by an internal cavity of the heel receiver and disposed opposite the fixed hook portion. The movable hook portion is configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position, where the removable heel is secured to the shoe when the movable hook portion is in the extended position. Securing the heel includes inserting a locking pin into the internal cavity to prevent movement of the hook portion from the extended position to the retracted position.

Systems and methods for securing a removable heel that is otherwise removably attached to a heel receiver of a shoe. The heel receiver has a fixed hook portion and a movable hook portion including a body received by an internal cavity of the heel receiver and disposed opposite the fixed hook portion. The movable hook portion is configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position, where the removable heel is secured to the shoe when the movable hook portion is in the extended position. Securing the heel includes inserting a locking pin into the internal cavity to prevent movement of the hook portion from the extended position to the retracted position.

Systems and methods for securing a removable heel that is otherwise removably attached to a heel receiver of a shoe. The heel receiver has a fixed hook portion and a movable hook portion including a body received by an internal cavity of the heel receiver and disposed opposite the fixed hook portion. The movable hook portion is configured to move between a retracted position and an extended position, where the removable heel is secured to the shoe when the movable hook portion is in the extended position. Securing the heel includes inserting a locking pin into the internal cavity to prevent movement of the hook portion from the extended position to the retracted position.