Technical field

The present invention relates to a footwear article with a heel. This application has application in the fashion footwear sector, but also in the orthopaedic footwear sector.

The heel is a very important element in a shoe. A low heel allows wearing comfort to be prioritised, a high one allows a person to be slimmed by making them appear taller. However, wearing shoes with a high heel may tire a person who, especially after prolonged use, may feel a need to change into more comfortable shoes.

Prior art

Shoes with an interchangeable heel of varying length are known. Therefore, the user can adopt a heel of the size they most prefer.

In this context, the technical task at the basis of the present invention is to propose a shoe that enables an adaptation of the heel height by means of an optimised mechanism.

Object of the invention

The stated technical task and specified objects are substantially achieved by a footwear article comprising the technical features disclosed in one or more of the appended claims.

Brief description of the drawings

Additional features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the approximate, and thus non-limiting, description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a footwear article as illustrated in the appended figures, wherein:

- figure 1 shows a side view of a footwear article according to the present invention;

-figure 2 shows a portion of the footwear article in figure 1 ;

-figures 3 and 4 show internal components of the footwear article. Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

In the appended figures, the reference number 1 indicates a footwear article (for example a shoe, a sandal, a boot, etc.). Conveniently, it is a male or female footwear article. The footwear article 1 comprises an extendable heel 2. The heel is extendable along a predetermined direction. In particular, the heel 2 is telescopic. Therefore, there are a plurality of sectors insertable into one another and extractable. By way of example, the heel 2 comprises a lower portion made of metallic material, whilst a lateral telescopic portion is made of rubber or plastic or other materials in order to enhance the aesthetics or feel thereof.

The footwear article 1 comprises a means 3 for lengthening/shortening the extendable heel 2. The heel 2 may be lengthened/shortened in a continuous or discrete manner.

The lengthening/shortening means 3 comprises an electric motor 31. Conveniently, it is a direct current motor. Conveniently, the footwear article 1 comprises an electric energy storage device 8 (commonly defined as a battery). Typically, but not necessarily, it is a rechargeable electric energy storage device 8. Conveniently, it can be an electric energy storage device 8 that is rechargeable: in a wireless mode (e.g. by induction) and/or by means of an electric cable connection (for example with a socket or magnetic connector) and/or by means of a photovoltaic system applied to the footwear article 1 and/or by exploiting the movement of the user’s foot. Conveniently, the footwear article 1 can comprise a photovoltaic panel 90 applied onto a surface of the footwear article 1 (for example in a front zone). Alternatively, the photovoltaic panel 90 is an external element connectible externally to the footwear article 1 (for example by means of a cable). Alternatively, or in addition, the energy storage device 8 (battery) is extractable from the footwear article (in order to be replaced or for external recharging).

The lengthening means 3 comprises an actuator 32 determining the movement of the heel 2. The actuator 32 is for example a cable. For example, it is a steel cable. The cable can be wrapped with a rubber guide to optimise slidability. The actuator 32 has a certain flexibility transversely to a longitudinal direction of extension. The actuator 32 (in particular the cable) is flexible (cabled). The actuator 32 is conveniently connected to the most internal sector of the telescopic heel 2. The actuator 32 is operatively interposed between the electric motor 31 and the extendable heel 2. The actuator 32 enables the telescopic heel 2 to be closed or lengthened (in the latter case the adjustment of the heel does not require overcoming the weight of the user; for example, the heel 2 can be adjusted with the footwear articles already being worn and while the user is standing on tiptoes to raise their heel from the footwear article 1). The electric motor 31 is conveniently directional. A lengthening of the heel corresponds to a first direction of rotation of the electric motor 31 and a shortening of the heel corresponds to a second direction of rotation of the electric motor 31. Conveniently, the footwear article 1 comprises a guide 4 (preferably tubular), in which at least a part of said actuator 32 slides. The guide 4 counters any deformations of the actuator 32 (in particular of the cable) relative to a longitudinal line of extension. Alternatively, or in addition, the footwear article 1 can comprise one or more guide elements for the actuator 32 (in particular for the cable) arranged along the longitudinal extent of the actuator 32. The guide elements could for example comprise annular elements through which the cable passes through. Optionally, rolling elements could be interposed between the cable and the guide elements.

Conveniently, the footwear article 1 comprises a mechanism 33 for driving the actuator 32. The mechanism 33 is operatively interposed between the electric motor 31 and the actuator 32. The mechanism 33 comprises a gear. In particular, the mechanism 33 comprises a first and a second body 331 , 332 for transmitting a torque. The first body 331 is operatively interposed between the electric motor 31 and the second body 332. The mechanism 33 is unidirectional. In this manner, it allows the transmission of motion from the first body 331 to the second body 332 in order to enable the lengthening/shortening of the heel 2 while preventing the transmission of motion from the second body 332 to the first body 331 in order to prevent the shortening of the heel 2 under the action of the weight of the user wearing the footwear article 1.

The first body 331 is advantageously a worm gear. The second body 332 is a helical tooth gear.

This also enables a high ratio of reduction of the number of revolutions. Conveniently, between the electric motor 31 and the worm gear a pair of gear wheels can be present (preferably straight-toothed); conveniently, they enable a reduction in the number of revolutions of the electric motor

31.

The mechanism 33 comprises a transformation means 330 for transforming an input rotary motion into a linear movement of the actuator

32. The transformation means 330 is operatively driven by the second rotating body 332. In particular, a rotation of the second rotating body 332 determines a rotation of the transformation means 330. Optionally, there can be a gear wheel 334 coaxial with the second rotating body 332 and integral therewith. The gear wheel 334 is interposed between the second rotating body 332 and the transformation means 330 for transforming the rotary motion. Conveniently, the actuator 32 comprises an external winding 320; typically, the winding 320 can be helical. Conveniently, the external winding 320 is a thread or an element wound around a central core.

Conveniently, the transformation means 330 comprises a rotating female screw that interacts (directly or through interposed rolling elements to facilitate sliding) with the external winding 320 of the actuator 32, thereby determining a longitudinal movement thereof. The rotation means 330 thus comprises an external nut.

In an alternative solution, the transformation means 330 could comprise a winder/unwinder 333 of the actuator 32. In such a case, the actuator 32 (typically the cable) is wound or unwound by the winder/unwinder 330. In particular, it is wound in the event that the heel 2 is shortened; it is unwound if the heel 2 is lengthened.

The footwear article 1 comprises a sole 5 in which said motor 31 and said mechanism 33 are placed. Conveniently, the motor 31 and the mechanism 33 are integrated in a casing 9 (for example made of rubber) conveniently housed in the sole.

Conveniently, the footwear article 1 (or rather the sole) comprises:

- a front zone 11 of the footwear article (conveniently, the front zone 11 has a tip turned - slightly - upwards);

-a rear zone 13 in which the heel 2 is fashioned;

-an intermediate zone 12.

The intermediate zone 12 is rotatably constrained to the front zone 11. This can for example be achieved by means of a hinge or a pin. Optionally, between the front zone and the intermediate zone there can be a plurality of sectors reciprocally connected by means of rotatable or oscillating connections (such connections are conveniently rotatable or oscillate around a rotation axis that extends transversely or orthogonally to the heel-tip direction of the footwear article 1). Optionally, the sole of the footwear article could be made of a material which, if heated, for example by means of one or more electric heating elements, can deform so as to be moulded into the desired shape.

The above-mentioned solutions thus allow the footwear article to be adapted to the lengthening of the heel 2.

Conveniently, the footwear article 1 comprises a receiving means 6 for receiving a wireless command (for example a receiver or transceiver antenna). Conveniently, the lengthening means 3 can be controlled by said receiving means 6. In this manner, the footwear article 1 can interact with a smartphone or tablet or computer; in particular the heel height can be set from a tablet or smartphone. The footwear article 1 can thus comprise a control system 7 for controlling the mechanism driving the actuator 32 (or rather the electric motor 31) on the basis of a signal originating from the receiving means 6. For example, the control system 7 can comprise a printed circuit board. The circuit board could be, for example, an Arduino Pro-mini printed circuit board.

Conveniently, the footwear article 1 comprises a laser or infrared obstacle detection system. Conveniently, said detection system could be located in a front zone of the footwear article 1.

Conveniently, an alarm system can be present to signal wear or damage of actuators or detectors.

The present invention achieves important advantages.

It makes it possible to provide a footwear article 1 with an extendable heel that is lightweight and compact in size. It can be used in order to have a pair of shoes showing maximum flexibility of use. Furthermore, the footwear article 1 could also be used for medical purposes, for example in cases in which a user might have one leg of a slightly different length from the other.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variants, all falling within the scope of the inventive concept that characterises it. Moreover, all of the details may be replaced by other technically equivalent elements. All of the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may in practice be any whatsoever, according to needs.