Footwear with securely interchangeable heel portions

Abstract

Footwear with a heel portion having a clasp member with resilient arms having locking tabs that engage with locking slots in a receptacle member in a main portion, when the heel portion abuts against the main portion. The locking tabs disengage from the locking slots when simultaneously squeezed together by a tool that extends through locking tab access holes on both sides of the main portion. The locking tab access holes are too small for a child's fingers to enter. The clasp member and receptacle member can be in either the heel portion or the main portion.

Claims

1. A piece of footwear, comprising: a main portion having a receptacle recess in a rear part, and a pair of locking tab access holes in right and left side parts leading to said receptacle recess, and a retaining member hole in a bottom part, leading to said receptacle recess; wherein said locking tab access holes are less than approximately ¼ inch in diameter, whereby said locking tab access holes are too narrow for a child's finger to go through said locking tab access holes to reach said receptacle recess; a receptacle member mounted in said receptacle recess having a pair of locking slots formed in opposing sides of said receptacle member, said locking slots in communication with said locking tab access holes; a heel portion having a clasp member recess in a front part; a clasp member mounted in said clasp member recess having a pair of resilient arms extending outside said clasp recess having locking tabs thereon for releasably engaging said locking slots of said receptacle member when said front part of said heel portion abuts against said rear part of said main portion, and having a retaining member port for receiving a retaining member inserted through said retaining member hole; whereby when said front part of said heel portion abuts against said rear part of said main portion, said locking tabs releasably engage with said locking slots, said retaining member port aligns with said retaining member hole, whereby a retaining member can be inserted through said retaining member hole and retained in said retaining member port, so that said heel portion is securely joined to said main portion by both said locking tabs and by said retaining member; whereby withdrawing said retaining member from said retaining member port and using a tool that extends through said locking slots to press said locking tabs towards each other through said locking tab access holes releases said locking tabs from said locking slots to allow said heel portion to be separated from said main portion.

2. A piece of footwear according to claim 1, wherein said main portion and said heel portion comprise an elastomeric material, and said receptacle member and said clasp member comprise a resilient material.

3. A piece of footwear, comprising: a heel portion having a receptacle recess in a front part, and a pair of locking tab access holes in right and left side parts leading to said receptacle recess, and a retaining member hole in a bottom part, leading to said receptacle recess; wherein said locking tab access holes are less than approximately ¼ inch in diameter, whereby said locking tab access holes are too narrow for a child's finger to go through said locking tab access holes to reach said receptacle recess; a receptacle member mounted in said receptacle recess having a pair of locking slots formed in opposing sides of said receptacle member, said locking slots in communication with said locking tab access holes; a main portion having a clasp member recess in a rear part; a clasp member mounted in said clasp member recess having a pair of resilient arms extending outside said clasp recess having locking tabs thereon for releasably engaging said locking slots of said receptacle member when said front part of said heel portion abuts against said rear part of said main portion, and having a retaining member port for receiving a retaining member inserted through said retaining member hole; whereby when said front part of said heel portion abuts against said rear part of said main portion and said locking tabs releasably engage with said locking slots, said retaining member port aligns with said retaining member hole, whereby a retaining member can be inserted through said retaining member hole and retained in said retaining member port, so that said heel portion is securely joined abutting against said main portion by both said locking tabs and said retaining member; whereby withdrawing said retaining member from said locking member port and said locking member hole, and using a tool that extends through said locking slots to press said locking tabs towards each other through said locking tab access holes releases said locking tabs from said locking slots to allow said heel portion to be separated from said main portion.

4. A piece of footwear according to claim 3, wherein said main portion and said heel portion comprise an elastomeric material, and said receptacle member and said clasp member comprise a resilient material.

5. A piece of footwear according to claim 4, wherein said receptacle member and said clasp member are embedded in said elastomeric material of said main portion and said heel portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view from above of a left side of footwear according to a presently preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing the joinable and separable cooperating clasp member and receptacle member of a buckle, securely insertable and removable respectively into a heel portion and a main portion of said footwear, and a retaining member positioned for insertion.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded view of the bottom of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is a perspective separated view from above of an alternative embodiment of the present invention, with the clasp member and receptable member of the buckle inserted into the main portion and heel portion of the footwear, respectively, showing the heel portion separated from the main portion, ready to be joined together by the buckle, and the retaining member positioned for insertion.

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective separated view of the bottom of the embodiment of FIG. 1, with the clasp member and receptable member of the buckle inserted into the heel portion and main portion of the footwear, respectively, showing the heel portion separated from the main portion, ready to be joined together by the buckle, and the retaining member positioned for insertion.

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective joined view from above of the embodiment of FIG. 1, with the interchangeable heel portion securely joined to the main portion by the buckle (not shown).

(6) FIG. 6 is a perspective joined view of the bottom the embodiment of FIG. 1, with the heel portion joined to the main portion by the buckle (not shown) and the retaining member inserted.

(7) FIG. 7 is a top plan joined view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

(8) FIG. 8 is an elevational joined view from the front of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

(9) FIG. 9 is an elevational joined view from the rear of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

(10) FIG. 10 is an elevational joined view from the left side of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

(11) FIG. 11 is an elevational joined view from the right side of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

(12) FIG. 12 is a plan joined view of the bottom of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

(13) FIG. 13 is an plan joined cutaway view of the bottom of the embodiment of FIG. 1, along the line 13-13 of FIG. 11.

(14) FIG. 14 is an elevational joined cutaway view of the left side along the line 14-14 of FIG. 12.

(15) FIG. 15 is a side view of a first preferred embodiment of a tool that can be used to separate the clasp member and receptacle member of the buckle where locking tab access holes have a round cross section.

(16) FIG. 16 is a perspective view from the side of an alternative preferred embodiment of a tool that can be used to separate the clasp member and the receptable member of the buckle where locking tab access holes have a rectangular cross section.

(17) FIG. 17 is a perspective view from the side of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with a plurality of heel portions that can be interchanged.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT INVENTION

(18) The presently preferred best mode for practicing the present invention is illustrated by way of example in FIG. 1, which is an exploded perspective view from above of a left side of footwear 100 according to the present invention, having a main portion 140 and a heel portion 160. The main portion 140 preferably has a receptacle member recess 142 in a rear part 143, and the heel portion 160 preferably has a clasp member recess (not shown) in a front part 163.

(19) A buckle 200 to fasten the heel portion 160 to the main portion 140 together is provided, consisting of a clasp member 240 inserted in the clasp member recess and a receptacle member 260 inserted in the receptacle member recess 142. When the heel portion 160 is brought together with the main portion 140, with the front part 163 of the heel portion 160 abutting against the rear part 143 of the main portion 140, the clasp member 240 becomes engaged with with, and retained in, the receptacle member 260 as described in more detail below, to securely join the heel portion 160 to the main portion 140 together.

(20) The main portion 140 has locking tab access holes 144 in right and left side parts that lead into the receptacle member recess 142. The locking tab access holes are preferably circular in cross section, but can be rectangular or of some other shape in cross section.

(21) Preferably, the locking tab access holes 144 are less than approximately ¼ inch (approximately 60 millimeters) in width, so that the locking tab access holes 144 are too narrow for a child's finger to go through to reach the receptacle recess 142.

(22) Preferably, the main portion 140 also has a retaining member hole 146 in a bottom part (see FIG. 2) leading to the receptacle member recess 142.

(23) The receptacle member 260 mounted in the receptacle recess 142 has a pair of locking slots 264 formed in opposing sides of the receptacle member 260, and the locking slots 264 are in communication with the locking tab access holes 144 when the receptacle member 260 is inserted in the receptacle member recess 142.

(24) The clasp member 240 has a pair of resilient (as defined below) arms 244, each of which has a locking tab 248 that extends outside the clasp member recess, and also has a retaining member port 242, described in more detail below.

(25) When the heel portion 160 is brought together with the main portion 140, with the front part 163 of the heel portion 160 abutting against the rear part 143 of the main portion 140, resilient arms 244 extend into the receptacle member 260 and the locking tabs 248 then become engaged with, and retained in, the locking slots 264 in the receptacle member 260, to fasten the buckle 200 and securely join the heel portion 160 to the main portion 140 together.

(26) As explained in more detail below, if the locking tabs 248 are pushed towards each other, they will become disengaged with the locking slots 264, thereby releasing the buckle 200, allowing the heel portion 160 to be released from the main portion 140.

(27) Preferably, the clasp member 240 and the receptable member 260 are made from a material such as plastic, that is rigid and strong enough to provide rigidity and strength to securely join the heel portion 160 to the main portion 140, yet resilient enough that the locking tabs 248 can be pushed towards each other to disengage from the locking slots 264, to release the buckle 200, allowing the heel portion 160 to be released from the main portion 140. A material that is rigid and strong enough to form the clasp member 240 and the receptacle member 260 so that they can join and separate by pushing the locking tabs 248 towards each other to disengage from the locking slots 264 to release the buckle is called a “resilient” material.

(28) Of course, the clasp member 240 and the receptable member 260 need not be inserted into recesses in the main portion 140 and the heel portion 160, but can instead be embedded in the elastomeric material of the main portion 140 and heel portion 160 when the portions are manufactured, because the clasp member and receptacle member do not need to be removable from the heel portion and main portion.

(29) Thus, the locking tabs 248 releasably engage with the locking slots 264 when the front part 163 of the heel portion 160 abuts against the rear part 143 of the main portion 140.

(30) As shown in FIG. 17, after the heel portion 160 is released from the main portion 140, an alternate heel portion having its own clasp member with locking tabs that can engage with the locking slots 264 can then be interchanged with the original heel portion 160 and securely fastened. The alternate heel portion can be the same size as the heel portion 160, such as, for example, if the heel portion 160 is worn out and it is only desired to replace the worn-out portion. Or the alternate heel portion can be a different size or shape from the heel portion 160, such as, for example, to accommodate a different size foot, or provide a different height, or for different styling, or for other reasons.

(31) Referring to FIG. 2, shown is a perspective exploded view of the bottom of the embodiment of FIG. 1. As can be seen, preferably the clasp member 240 has a retaining member port 242 for receiving a retaining member RM inserted through the retaining member hole 146 to additionally secure the heel portion 160 to the main portion 140. Preferably, the retaining member is a screw that can be inserted through the retaining member hole 146 and screwed into the retaining member port 242.

(32) Referring to FIG. 3, shown is a perspective separated view from above of an alternative embodiment of the present invention, with the clasp member 240 having arms 244 inserted into a clasp member recess (not shown) in the main portion 140, and the receptable member 260 inserted into a receptacle member recess 162 in the heel portion 160, so that the clasp member 240 and receptacle member 260 are ready to be joined together, with the retaining member RM positioned for insertion. As can be seen, because the clasp member 240 and receptacle member 260 are made of resilient material, and also span across a substantial portion of the heel portion 160 and the main portion 140, when the clasp member 240 and receptacle member 260 are joined together to form the buckle 200, they prevent twisting of the heel portion 160 with respect to the main portion 140, and also make the footwear stronger than if it were made purely of elastomeric material.

(33) Referring to FIG. 4, shown is a perspective separated view of the bottom of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing the heel portion 160 separated from the main portion 140, ready to be joined together, and the retaining member RM positioned for insertion through the retaining member hole 146 and into the retaining member port 242.

(34) It is preferred that the main portion 140 and the heel portion 160 both be provided with non-slip soles.

(35) Referring to FIG. 5, shown is a perspective joined view from above of the embodiment of FIG. 1, with the interchangeable heel portion joined to the main portion by the buckle (not shown). As can be seen, a domed cover 170 for protection of the toes can be attached to the main portion 140, having strap slots 172 for attachment of removable straps. Gaps 176 can also be provided along the base of the domed cover 170 for ventilation and air flow.

(36) Referring to FIG. 6, shown is a perspective joined view of the bottom the embodiment of FIG. 1, with the interchangeable heel portion securely joined to the main portion by the buckle (not shown) and the retaining member RM inserted.

(37) Referring to FIG. 7, shown is a top plan joined view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

(38) Referring to FIG. 8 shown is an elevational joined view from the front of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

(39) Referring to FIG. 9, shown is an elevational joined view from the rear of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

(40) Referring to FIG. 10, shown is an elevational joined view from the left side of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

(41) Referring to FIG. 11, shown is an elevational joined view from the right side of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

(42) Referring to FIG. 12, shown is a plan joined view of the bottom of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

(43) Referring to FIG. 13, shown is a plan joined cutaway view of the bottom of the embodiment of FIG. 1, along the line 13-13 of FIG. 11.

(44) Referring to FIG. 14, shown is an elevational joined cutaway view of the left side along the line 14-14 of FIG. 12.

(45) Referring to FIG. 15, shown is a side view of a first preferred embodiment of a tool T that can be used to separate the clasp member 240 and receptacle member 260 of the buckle 200 where locking tab access holes 144 have a round cross section. The driver end DE of the tool T preferably has the configuration of a screwdriver that can drive the retaining member RM, which is preferably in the configuration of a screw. Two opposing arms A extend from the end opposite the driver end DE and are provided with tab release members TRM that are configured to pass completely through the locking tab access holes 144 so as to be able to press the locking tabs 248 together simultaneously, so as to disengage both of the locking tabs 248 from the locking slots 264 simultaneously, thereby releasing the clasp member 240 from the receptacle member 260, to allow the heel portion 160 to be separated from the main portion 140. The arms A preferably comprise a material that is sufficiently flexible that the arms A can be bent to insert the tab release members TRM into both locking tab access holes 144 simultaneously, and then to squeeze the tab release members TRM together to press the locking tabs 248 together and release them from the locking slots 264. However, it is not necessary that the arms A be made of a rigid or resilient material, nor is it necessary that a driver end DE that can drive the retaining member RM be provided on the tool T.

(46) FIG. 16 is a perspective view from the side of an alternative preferred embodiment of a tool T that can be used to separate the clasp member 240 from the receptable member 260 of the buckle 200 where the locking tab access holes 144 have a rectangular cross section. As can be seen, the tab release members TRM have a rectangular cross section.

(47) Referring to FIG. 17, shown is a perspective view from the side of the embodiment of FIG. 1, with a plurality of heel portions that can be interchanged. Because heel portions can be interchanged as children grow or as heel portions become worn out, this footwear can be less expensive for parents who cannot afford to purchase new footwear as children grow or their footwear is worn out, because the parents need only purchase replacement heel portions, of the same or different sizes or styles (or other properties), which replacement heel portions can be sold separately from the main portion.

(48) While the present invention has been disclosed in connection with the presently preferred embodiments described herein, it should be understood that there may be other embodiments which fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. For example, the clasp member can be in the main portion and the receptacle member can be in the heel portion. For another example, different structures of buckles can be used, as long as the buckle has a clasp member and a receptacle member, where the clasp member has locking tabs that engage with locking slots in the receptacle member, to securely join the heel portion and the main portion when they are abutting, and the buckle can be released by a tool that extends through locking tab access holes in the receptacle member to push the locking tabs together to disengage the locking tabs from the locking slots. Accordingly, no limitations are to be implied or inferred in this invention except as specifically and as explicitly set forth in the appended claims.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

(49) The present invention is applicable whenever it is desired to provide elastomeric footwear to children with a securely interchangeable heel portion.