Collapsible shoe heel

Abstract

A collapsible shoe heel is provided. The collapsible shoe heel features a support member having a first end and second end, a substantially u-shaped lifting member having a first end and a second end, an angle, formed by the support member and the lifting member, which has a natural position, a first hinge rotatably connecting the first end of the support member and the first end of the lifting member, and a second hinge rotatably connecting the second end of the support member and the second end of the lifting member. The first hinge and second are configured to retain the natural position of the angle.

Claims

1. A shoe comprising: a collapsible shoe heel integrated into the shoe, the collapsible shoe heel comprising: a support member having a first end that is rounded and second end, the support member further includes a support structure providing support to the second end of the support member and extending across the second end of the support member, wherein the support member and the support structure are located within a sole of the shoe; a lifting member having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the lifting member has a rounded curve and comprises a protrusion section, wherein the protrusion section protrudes from the first end of the lifting member and is configured to provide support to a portion of a shoe being lifted by the lifting member, and wherein the second end of the lifting member; a 30 degree angle formed between the second end of the support member and the second end of the lifting member when the lifting member is in an expanded position without an application of a compressive load; a first hinge rotatably connecting a portion of the second end of the support member and a portion of the second end of the lifting member; and a second hinge rotatably connecting another portion of the second end of the support member and another portion of the second end of the lifting member, wherein each of the first hinge and second hinge are configured to define the 30 degree angle when the lifting member is in the expanded position without the application of the compressive load, and wherein the first hinge and the second hinge are located within the sole of the shoe.

2. The collapsible shoe heel of claim 1, wherein the first hinge and second hinge are torsional springs.

3. The collapsible shoe heel of claim 1, wherein the first hinge and second hinge are torsional springs.

4. The collapsible shoe heel of claim 1, wherein the first hinge and the second hinge are coated in rubber.

5. The collapsible shoe heel of claim 1, wherein support member is partially covered in rubber.

6. The collapsible shoe heel of claim 1, wherein lifting member is partially covered in rubber.

7. The collapsible shoe heel of claim 1, wherein the first hinge and the second hinge are configured such that the support member is offset from the lifting member.

8. The collapsible shoe heel of claim 1, wherein the support member, the lifting member, the first hinge, and the second hinge, are all constructed out of a single continuous material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention when integrated with a women's dress shoe.

(2) FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention when integrated with a casual shoe.

(3) FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of yet another alternative embodiment of the present invention when integrated with a shoe.

(4) FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a rendering of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 5 is a callout view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4.

(6) FIGS. 6A and 6B show two perspective view of an embodiment of the slider of the present invention.

(7) FIGS. 7A and 7B show two perspective view of an embodiment of the base of the present invention.

(8) FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the bar of the present invention.

(9) FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the integration member of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(10) The preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. Identical elements in the various figures are identified with the same reference numerals.

(11) Reference will now be made in detail to each embodiment of the present invention. Such embodiments are provided by way of explanation of the present invention, which is not intended to be limited thereto. In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art may appreciate upon reading the present specification and viewing the present drawings that various modifications and variations can be made thereto.

(12) Referring to FIG. 1, an embodiment of the present invention is shown. Here, collapsible shoe heel 100 features support member 101, lifting member 102, and angle 103. The support member 101 has a first end disposed opposite a second end. The first end of the support member 101 has a rounded curve. The lifting member 102 has a first end disposed opposite a second end. The first end of the lifting member 102 has a rounded curve and comprises a protrusion section 117A (of FIGS. 1) and 117B (of FIG. 3). The second end of the support member 101 comprises a support structure 116. Here, collapsible shoe heel 100 is shown in the natural position. Upon application of a compressive load at the top of the lifting member, the lifting member arm rotates in a downward direction as the load is applied, with the support member support member biased against the bottom insole surface of the show, and essentially does not move. Preferably, the present invention operates by a person's hand squeezing against and compressing a shoe back which contains the lifting member. According to an embodiment, the support member 101 further includes a support structure 116 extending across the support member 101 and configured to provide additional support to the support member 101. According to an embodiment, the lifting member 102 further includes a protrusion section 117B (further shown in FIG. 3) that protrudes from the lifting member 102, wherein the protrusion section 117B is configured to provide further support to a portion of a shoe being lifted by the lifting member 102.

(13) Referring to FIG. 2, another embodiment of the present invention is shown. Of note here are first hinge 104 and second hinge 105. Here, first hinge 104 and second hinge 105 are located within the shoe to enable such recoverable shoe back compression, and are torsion springs. The first hinge 104 rotatably connects the second end of the support member 101 and the second end of the lifting member 102. The second hinge 105 rotatably connects the second end of the support member 101 and the second end of the lifting member 102. Each of the first hinge 104 and the second hinge 105 are configured to define the angle 103 (of FIG. 1) between the second end of the support member 101 and the second end of the lifting member 102 when the lifting member 102 is in an expanded position without an application of force. Such expanded position is a non-compressed position. As explained previously, the preferred angle (e.g., the angle 103 of FIG. 1) is 30 degrees. As the collapsible shoe heel 100 is collapsed or compressed, the angle 103 moves towards a 0 degree angle. The support member 101 extends along the insole of the shoe towards the heel. The lifting member 102 angles up from the torsion spring to a location at the top of the shoe back. The downward rotation of the lifting member 102 compresses the torsion spring. Removal of the compressive load from the lifting member 102 initiates torsion spring recovery. The lifting member 102 upwardly rotates to its original position, fully extending the shoe back. In this regard, use of an exceedingly flexible material to fabricate the shoe back enables multiple compression and recovery cycles without experiencing cracking or other modes of material failure.

(14) Referring to FIG. 3, an alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown. Here, the present invention features support member 101 and lifting member 102. As can be seen, support member 101 can have a variety of configurations, such as the configuration shown here. By varying the shape of the support member, one can vary the size and shape of the support member, permitting size adjustment to fit shoes of different sizes and styles.

(15) Referring to FIG. 4, another alternative embodiment of the present invention is shown. Here, collapsible shoe heel 100 features lifting member 102, and integration member 107. In this embodiment, the present invention has two positions: an up position and a down position. This embodiment will retain whichever position it is in until some force is exerted on lifting member 102. When this happens, similar to the clicking of a ballpoint pen, collapsible shoe heel 100 will shift to the second position.

(16) Referring to FIG. 5, the present invention features bar 106, slider 108, integration member 107, base 111, first spring 114, and second spring 115. This view shows how this particular embodiment functions. Specifically, upon force being applied to lifting member 102, lifting member 102 will actuate integration member 107. From there, integration member 107 will push slider 108 such that bar 106 travels along the notches of slider 108. These notches are configured so that the end of bar 106 that interfaces with the slider 108 will move counterclockwise along the notches. The first spring 114 forces slider 108 towards the integrated end of bar 106. When a user wants to toggle the position of the present invention, they merely need to exert force on lifting member 102 to start this process.

(17) FIGS. 6A-9 show detailed views of slider 108, base 111, bar 106, and integration member 107, respectively. Regarding FIGS. 7A and 7B, base 111 features sliding chamber 112, and integration hole 113.

(18) In a preferred embodiment, shows a shoe having a different type of spring installed between the outer and inner shoe layers. A pair of metal extensions (such as steel) are connected to the lifting member. In a similar manner as discussed above, application of a compressive load on the lifting member results in a bending of the lifting member, enabling the lifting member to lower towards the support member. Removal of the compressive load enables recovery of the lifting member, and the raising of the lifting member to the natural position.

(19) In another preferred embodiment, the lifting member may be fabricated out of such materials as zinc-plated steel, stainless steel or such composite materials as Nylon 6/6 Glass reinforced or ABS Glass reinforced. Utilization of the lifting member focuses flex and recovery characteristics on the material used to fabricate the lifting member, and not the steel extensions, which would permanently deform. Substitution of differently sized lifting members and support members enables the easy adaption to shoes of different size or style. The extension spring design offers long-term operational and structural stability.

(20) In some embodiments, the present invention is constructed with a ribbon spring. The spring preferably consists of a solid flat member configured into a double-loop. The lower or base loop would extend along the insole in the heel area of the shoe, the upper loop extending toward the top of the shoe back. Two substantially u-shaped segments connects the two loops, serving as the first hinge and second hinge of the present invention. Spring steel or a composite (Nylon 6/6 or ABS Glass reinforced) are materials suitable for fabricating the ribbon spring.

(21) In other embodiments, the present invention is constructed with a tube-spring that utilizes a tubular member configured into a double-loop. The lower or base loop extending along the back of the shoe insole, and the upper loop extending toward the top of the shoe back. Two substantially u-shaped segments connects the two loops, serving as the first hinge and second hinge of the present invention. Composite materials such as Nylon 6/6 or ABS Glass reinforced are suitable for fabrication of the tube spring.

(22) In still other embodiments, the present invention consists of two U-shaped members of spring steel or a composite material that are connected by extendable loop sections, serving as the support member and the lifting member.

(23) In other exemplary embodiments, the present invention is integrated into a moccasin, sneaker, dress shoe, high heel, or a sandal. Further, the present invention can accommodate all sizes of shoes by varying the size of the present invention. The present invention is suitable for use in children's shoes as well as adult shoes.

(24) When introducing elements of the present disclosure or the embodiment(s) thereof, the articles a, an, and the are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. Similarly, the adjective another, when used to introduce an element, is intended to mean one or more elements. The terms including and having are intended to be inclusive such that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

(25) Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed.