High Heel Buddies

Abstract

A heel attachment device for the heel of a shoe having an elevated heel is formed from a piece of solid elastic material having a top surface, a substantially horizontal bottom surface, and a substantially vertical opening extending from the top surface part way to the bottom surface so that the bottom surface is closed, producing a bottom layer having an inner bottom surface and an outer ground contacting surface. The inner bottom surface includes features that protect the shoe and the invention. The outer ground contacting surface includes features that reduce slippage against the ground and sound produced by walking, and the bottom layer can include features that cushion walking and/or produce light or color. The outer surface of the invention may have ornamental characteristics.

Claims

1. A heel attachment device, comprising: a piece of solid elastic material having a top surface, a substantially horizontal bottom surface, and a substantially vertical opening extending from the top surface part way to the bottom surface so that the bottom surface is closed, producing a bottom layer having an inner bottom surface and an outer ground contacting surface; the opening creating an elastic wall therearound having an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface; the opening being dimensioned slightly smaller than the smallest horizontal dimension of the bottom end of an elevated heel so that when the heel is inserted into the vertical opening, the elastic wall expands to grip the bottom of the heel and the ground contacting surface of the heel seats in contact with the inner bottom surface; and the material on the outer ground contacting surface having a higher coefficient of friction than the ground contacting surface of the elevated heel.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein: said bottom layer comprises at least one cavity containing either a gas, a liquid or a gel.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein: said bottom layer comprises a means for producing light or changes color when compressed.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein: said inner wall surface and said inner bottom surface are puncture resistant.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein: said outer ground contacting surface has a lower hardness than said ground contacting surface of said elevated heel.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein: said outer wall surface is either cylindrical or of an ornamental shape.

7. The device of claim 2, wherein: said bottom layer comprises a means for producing light or changes color when compressed.

8. The device of claim 2, wherein: said inner wall surface and said inner bottom surface are puncture resistant.

9. The device of claim 2, wherein: said outer ground contacting surface has a lower hardness than said ground contacting surface of said elevated heel.

10. The device of claim 2, wherein: said outer wall surface is either cylindrical or of an ornamental shape.

11. The device of claim 3, wherein: said inner wall surface and said inner bottom surface are puncture resistant.

12. The device of claim 3, wherein: said outer ground contacting surface has a lower hardness than said ground contacting surface of said elevated heel.

13. The device of claim 3, wherein: said outer wall surface is either cylindrical or of an ornamental shape.

14. The device of claim 4, wherein: said inner wall surface and said inner bottom surface are puncture resistant.

15. The device of claim 4, wherein: said outer ground contacting surface has a lower hardness than said ground contacting surface of said elevated heel.

16. The device of claim 4, wherein: said outer wall surface is either cylindrical or of an ornamental shape.

17. The device of claim 5, wherein: said outer ground contacting surface has a lower hardness than said ground contacting surface of said elevated heel.

18. The device of claim 5, wherein: said outer wall surface is either cylindrical or of an ornamental shape.

19. The device of claim 6, wherein: said outer wall surface is either cylindrical or of an ornamental shape.

20. A heel attachment device, comprising: a piece of solid elastic material having a top surface, a substantially horizontal bottom surface, and a substantially vertical opening extending from the top surface part way to the bottom surface so that the bottom surface is closed, producing a bottom layer having an inner bottom surface and an outer ground contacting surface; the opening creating an elastic wall therearound having an inner wall surface and an outer wall surface; the opening being dimensioned slightly smaller than the smallest horizontal dimension of the bottom end of an elevated heel so that when the heel is inserted into the vertical opening, the elastic wall expands to grip the bottom of the heel and the ground contacting surface of the elevated heel seats in contact with the inner bottom surface; the material on the outer ground contacting surface having a higher coefficient of friction than the ground contacting surface of the elevated heel; the bottom layer comprising at least one cavity containing either a gas, a liquid or a gel; the bottom layer comprising a means for producing light or changes color when compressed; the inner wall surface and the inner bottom surface being puncture resistant; the outer ground contacting surface having a lower hardness than the ground contacting surface of the elevated heel; and the outer wall surface being either cylindrical or of an ornamental shape.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of the instant invention.

[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first embodiment from above.

[0011] FIG. 3 is perspective view of the first embodiment from below.

[0012] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment.

[0013] FIG. 5 is a side view of a high heeled shoe with the first embodiment applied to the heel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0014] Referring now to the drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like elements among all of the drawings, FIG. 1 is a side view of a first embodiment 1 of the instant invention. This embodiment has an option slightly flared lower portion to increase the surface area of contact with the ground. It is a piece predominantly of solid elastic material having a top surface, in this case horizontal, although curves or angles other than horizontal are included in embodiments as optional features of the invention. It also has a substantially horizontal planar bottom surface.

[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first embodiment from above. It has a substantially vertical opening 3 extending from the top surface part way to the bottom surface so that the bottom surface is closed (see FIG. 4) producing a bottom layer having an inner bottom surface and an outer ground contacting surface (see FIG. 4). The opening has an outer wall surface 2 therearound.

[0016] FIG. 3 is perspective view of the first embodiment from below. It shows an outer ground-contacting surface 4 that is this case is grooved in a cross-hatched pattern to improve slip resistance. In embodiments, other surface shapes and/or surface compositions may be used for the same purpose.

[0017] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the first embodiment. It shows the vertical opening 3, an inner surface 5, and the bottom layer 6. This bottom layer may, in embodiments, contain at least one cavity containing either a gas, a liquid or a gel to improve the shock absorption of the invention. It may also, in embodiments, comprise a means for producing light by, e.g., battery power or piezoelectric means, or changes color by, e.g., liquid crystal transformation, when compressed. The inner wall surface 5 and/or the inner bottom surface 9 may also be, in embodiments, puncture resistant to prevent the repeated impact of the shoe heel from damaging the invention.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a side view of a high heeled shoe 7 with the first embodiment applied to the bottom of and elevated (or high or spiked) heel 8. The vertical opening (see element 3 in FIGS. 2 and 4) is dimensioned slightly smaller than the smallest horizontal dimension of the bottom end of the elevated heel 8 so that when the heel is inserted into the vertical opening (see element 3 in FIGS. 2 and 4) the elastic wall (see element 2 in FIG. 2 and element 5 in FIG. 4) expands to grip the bottom of the heel, and the ground contacting surface of the elevated heel (not visible) seats in contact with the inner bottom surface (see element 9 in FIG. 4). The material on the outer ground contacting surface 4 of the invention may be comprised of material that has a higher coefficient of friction than the ground contacting surface of the elevated heel (not visible) so as to improve slip resistance. Desirably, in embodiments, the outer ground contacting surface 4 will also have a lower hardness than the ground contacting surface of the bottom of the shoe so that the heel produces less sound when it strikes the ground than otherwise.

[0019] In embodiments, the the outer wall surface 2 may have shapes other than that shown, such as ornamental or brand-specific shapes and/or colors, as examples and not limitations.

[0020] The instant invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the foregoing embodiments, which are merely illustrative of the best modes for carrying out the invention. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. This description of the invention should be understood to include all novel and non-obvious combinations of elements described herein. Moreover, the foregoing embodiments are illustrative, and no single feature or element is essential to all possible combinations that are claimed.