TITLE

VARIABLE HEIGHT HEEL STRUCTURE FOR SHOES

DESCRIPTION

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to the footwear industry and, in particular, it relates to a variable height heel structure capable of changing the aesthetic features of a shoe.

Description of the prior art

As well known, shoes exist having an extensible heel, i.e. adapted to use a same model of shoe at two or more heel heights.

For example, a type of heel of variable height comprises a fixed part, integral to the sole of a shoe, which is adapted to be coupled, by a releasable connection, such as a screw threaded coupling or similar mechanisms, to a removable part that in use comes into contact with the ground. Once separated the two parts, the removable one can be replaced with another of height different turning the shoe, for example, from a "low heel" model to a "high heel" model, or vice-versa.

Another type of variable height heel comprises, instead, two or more portions movable with respect to each other that can be locked in a measured relative position corresponding to a desired height of the heel .

However, the shoe models of prior art having a variable height heel have different drawbacks. In particular, when the heel is arranged at a height that is different from that for which the shoe has been conceived, the latter reaches a conformation that causes a wrong posture of the foot and then of

the spine, and this causes a considerable lack of comfort for the person that wears the shoe.

Furthermore, for locking the heel in the desired position an operation is necessary touching external and dirty parts of the shoe.

In some cases, it is in particular necessary to remove or add a part of the heel to carry away, with obvious discomfort for the user.

Summary of the invention

It is then a feature of the invention to provide a variable height heel structure for shoes adapted to exceed the drawbacks of prior art.

It is also a feature of the invention to provide a variable height heel structure for shoes that provides different configurations to a same shoe .

It is another feature of the invention to provide a variable height heel structure for shoes capable of assuring a considerable steadiness to the shoe and a high level of comfort to the user that wears the shoe in different configurations.

These and other features are accomplished with one exemplary variable height heel structure for shoes, according to the invention, comprising:

- a first portion adapted to engage with the sole of a shoe;

- at least a second portion sliding with respect to the first portion between a first position, corresponding to a minimum height of the heel, and a second position, corresponding to a maximum height of the heel;

- means for blocking the second portion in the first and in the second position;

whose main feature is that the second portion at the first and the second position has respective different inclinations with respect to the sole.

Advantageously, the first portion engages with a first housing made in the sole at the first position and in a second housing, also made in the sole and having different angular position with respect to the first housing, at the second position, the above described first portion being pivotally connected to a support integral to the sole whereby the first portions moves from the first at the second housing without disengaging from the shoe.

In particular, the support can be housed in a heel shaped wrapper.

In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the first and the second portion have a bent section, whereby at the first position the second portion has an inclination with respect to the sole different from the second position.

In particular, the second portion can be blocked in at least one intermediate position between the first and the second position.

If the variation of inclination of the second portion with respect to the sole is made by a selective engagement of the first portion in housings having different angular positions, the sole can be equipped with at least one third housing having a different angular position with respect to the first and the second position.

Advantageously, the first portion is a hollow body in which the second portion is arranged telescopically .

In particular, the first and the second portion are made of a stiff material selected from the group

comprised of :

- metal material;

- plastic material;

- wooden material;

- a combination thereof.

Advantageously, the means for blocking the second portion in the first position, provides:

- a magnet arranged near the sole of a shoe adapted to keep the second portion at the first position.

In particular, the means for blocking the second portion in the second position can provide:

- an abutment element hinged to the second portion and movable between a neutral position, where it does not impede the sliding movement of the second portion with respect to the first portion, and a locking position for locking the second portion in the second position. Advantageously, the abutment element is arranged in an opening made in the side surface thereof.

In particular, the first and the second housing can cross the sole of a shoe for all its height.

In particular, the first portion can engage selectively in each housing by means of an actuating element adapted to be activated by an user for causing the movement from the first to the second position and vice-versa.

Advantageously, the actuating element is connected to an elongated element adapted to translate in a recess made in the second portion biased by resilient returning means.

In particular, the elongated element has a magnet that produces an attraction force on the

abutment element for causing it to move from the neutral position to the locking position and vice- versa .

Advantageously, furthermore, means are provided for guiding the sliding movement of the second portion with respect to the first portion.

For example, the second portion can be equipped with a pin sliding in a slotted hole made on the side surface of the first portion.

In this case, the first portion can be constrained to the support by at least one pin about which it can rotate to move from the first to th at least second housing and vice-versa.

An exemplary embodiment of the variable height heel structure for shoes, according to the invention, comprises :

— a first portion adapted to engage with the sole of a shoe;

— at least a second portion sliding with respect to the first portion between a first position, corresponding to a minimum height of the heel, and a second position, corresponding to a maximum height of the heel;

— means for blocking the second portion in the first and in the second position; whose main feature is that the means for blocking the second portion in the first position provide:

— a magnet arranged near the sole of a shoe adapted to keep the second portion at the first position;

— an abutment element hinged to the second portion and movable between a neutral position, where it does not impede the sliding movement

of the second portion with respect to the first portion, and a locking position for locking the second portion in the second position. Brief description of the drawings The invention will be now shown with the following description of an exemplary embodiment thereof, exemplifying but not limitative, with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an exploded configuration of the variable height heel structure for shoes, according to the invention;

- Figures 2 and 3 show a longitudinal sectional view of two possible configurations of the structure of heel of figure 1;

- Figures 4 and 5 show a partially cross sectioned elevational side view of the heel of figure 1 mounted on a shoe for arranging it in two configurations corresponding to the different heights of the heel;

- Figure 6 shows in a rear partially cross sectioned view the shoe of figures 4 and 5;

- Figures 7 and 8 show a partially cross sectioned elevational side view of an exemplary embodiment of the variable height heel structure of figure 1;

- Figures 9 and 10 show a longitudinal sectional view of a further exemplary embodiment of the heel of figure 1 in two different configurations.

Description of the preferred embodiments With reference to figure 1, a variable height heel structure 1 for a shoe 50, according to the invention, provides a cylindrical portion 15 made of stiff material, for example of a metal material, or a plastic material, coupled telescopically to a cylindrical portion 25 which is made also of stiff material and sliding with respect to portion 15 along

a longitudinal axis 7 (figures 2 and 3) .

In particular, portion 25 passes from a first position, corresponding to a minimum height (h _m i _n ) of heel 1 (figure 2), to a second position corresponding a maximum height (h _ma χ) of heel 1 (figure 3) . The sliding movement of portion 25 with respect to portion 15 can be guided, for example, by a pin 27 sliding in a housing, for example a passing through, or not passing through, slotted hole 28 made in portion 15. In alternative, according to an exemplary embodiment not shown in the figures, but completely- similar to the previous, pin 27 can be arranged at portion 15 and, therefore, slotted hole 28 is made on portion 25. Furthermore, pin 27 can be indifferently arranged near the upper base or the lower base of portion 15, or of portion 25, on which it is made.

Slotted hole 28 can, advantageously, extend up to the lower end, or the upper end, of portion 15 on which it is made in order to make easier the assembling step with portion 25 through the sliding engagement of pin 27 inside.

At the first and the second position, heel 1 and, in particular, portion 25, have different inclinations with respect to sole 10. This allows the maintainiment of a correct posture of the foot both at the minimum that at the maximum height of heel 1.

For example, the variation of inclination in the two positions can be obtained by engaging portion 15 in housings 13a and 13b that have different angular positions with respect to sole 10.

In particular, portion 25 is held at the first position by a magnet 18 integral to portion 15. The passage from this position of minimum height of heel 1 to that of maximum height, is effected by means of

an elongated element 17 mounted with possibility of translating in a recess 30 in portions 15 and 25. More in detail, elongated element 17 at the upper end is fastened, for example, by means of a screw threaded connection, to a stem 48 of a key 16. This engages alternatively in the housings 13a and 13b of sole 10 and can be then easily operated from the inside of the shoe 50 by a user. By acting on key 16, the attraction force of the magnet 18 on portion 25 is contrasted releasing it from the first position and at the same time causing elongated element 17 to slide through portion 15.

Then, elongated element 17 is moved back to the starting position for the presence of a return spring 45, wound about stem 48, which opposes to its translation. Portion 25 achieves then the second position in which it stops for the presence of an abutment element, for example a plate 40, which is interposed between portion 15 and portion 25 preventing it from a further relative sliding. Plate 40 can be hinged in a point 41 to portion 25 and housed within an opening 42 made on the side surface of portion 15. This way, plate 40 can pass from a neutral position (figure 2) in which it does not impede the reciprocation of portions 15 and 25, to a locking position (figure 3) . This is obtained by a magnet 29, integral to elongated element 17, which attracts plate 40 causing it to rotate about point 41 when passing beyond portion 15. By operating again elongated element 17, the attraction of magnet 29 on plate 40 causes a further rotation about the pivoting point 41 up to bringing it back to the neutral position and releasing then portion 25- from the second position. Therefore, it is possible to cause

portion 25 to slide in portion 15 for returning heel 1 to the minimum height (hmin) .

As shown in figures from 4 to 6, the heel of variable height 1 as above described can be integrated in a shoe 50 equipped with a hollow heel 55 that works as a wrapper for it. In this case, heel 1 can be constrained at portion 15 to wrapper 55 by pins 33. The pins are arranged with possibility of rotation in holes 44 made in portion 25 (figure 6), so that heel 1 can rotate about them.

In figures 7 and 8 an exemplary embodiment is shown 101 of heel 1 of variable height alternative to that shown in figures from 1 to 6. Like in the previous case, heel 101 provides a portion 115 and a portion 125 telescopically arranged and sliding with respect to each other to move from a first relative position, corresponding to the minimum height of heel 101 (h _min ) , to a second relative position, corresponding to the maximum height of heel 101 (h _max ) . In this case, however the variation of the inclination of portion 125 with respect to sole 10 of the shoe 50 for keeping a correct posture of the foot is made owing to the curved section of portions 115 and 125. The sliding of portion 125 in portion 115 can be guided, for example, by a pin 127 sliding in a guide 128 made on the side surface of portion 115. Furthermore, portions 115 and 125 are kept in the relative positions corresponding to the maximum and to the minimum height of heel 101 by means of abutment elements, such as screws, magnets, etc., not shown.

In figures 9 and 10, finally, a hybrid exemplary embodiment 1' os shown of heel 1 different to that shown in figures from 1 to 6. In particular,

portions 15' and 25' of heel 1' have a curved section that increases further the steadiness of the shoe on which it is mounted, both in the configuration of minimum height (figure 7) and in the configuration of maximum height (figure 8) .

The foregoing description of a specific embodiment will so fully reveal the invention according to the conceptual point of view, so that others, by applying current knowledge, will be able to modify and/or adapt for various applications such an embodiment without further research and without parting from the invention, and it is therefore to be understood that such adaptations and modifications will have to be considered as equivalent to the specific embodiment. The means and the materials to realise the different functions described herein could have a different nature without, for this reason, departing from the field of the invention. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.