DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a method for the production of a damped heel for high-heeled footwear, a heel so obtained and footwear incorporating such heel.

In the pertinent art it is known that resilient dampers housed in a cavity in a heel can be constructed in order to increase the comfort of wearing footwear. There are however some problems in the practical implementation of these devices when they are associated with high-heeled footwear. Constructing the damper is in particular laborious because it requires a large number of components that are relatively difficult to assemble. The reliability of the footwear during use is as a result uncertain.

The object of the invention is that of providing a method for the manufacture of a heel for footwear structurally and functionally designed so that all the disadvantages mentioned in connection with the cited known art can be overcome.

A heel constructed using this method and footwear incorporating such heel is also provided.

Characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment illustrated by way of indication and without limitation with reference to the appended drawings, in which :

Figure 1 is a diagrammatical view in cross-section of a heel and corresponding shoe manufactured according to the method of this

l invention;

Figure 2 is a view in cross-section of a detail of the heel in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view in transverse cross-section of the detail in Figure 2.

In the figures, 1 indicates as a whole a ladies' shoe (illustrated only partly by dashed lines) of the high-heeled type, comprising a heel 2 containing a damping device indicated overall by 3.

Device 3 is predominantly embedded in the body 4 of heel 2, from the free lower extremity 5a of the same intended to face the ground when in use to an enlarged portion 5 through which heel 2 is connected to an upper 16 of shoe 1.

Damping device 3 comprises a sheath 6 of elongated shape consistent with the height of heel 2 and internally hollow, having within its longitudinal extremity a seat 7 for a resilient member 8.

Seat 7 and sheath 6 both have a cylindrical cross-section, seat 7 having a greater diameter than the diameter of sheath 6.

Between seat 7 and the corresponding extremity of sheath 6 there is an annular shoulder 9 comprising a first stop member for a plate 10. Plate 10 is dimensioned so as to move within seat 7 and abut against shoulder 9.

Plate 10 is attached to a first longitudinal extremity of a rod 11 moving axially within sheath 6; plate 10 acts as the second stop member as will be clarified below. A tip 12 which is removably inserted by pressure into an axial hole 13 of rod 11 in order to permit easy replacement is removably fixed at the opposite longitudinal extremity of rod 11. It will be seen that tip 12 projects with respect to sheath 6 and beyond the corresponding free extremity 5a of each other.

Resilient member 8 preferably comprises a block of elastomer inserted into seat 7 and dimensioned to be compressed between plate 10 and a contact surface 15 of a plug 14 which is applied to an opening 24 in seat 7 once rod 11 and resilient member 8 have been inserted into sheath 6 in order to close off opening 24.

Resilient member 8 is inserted into seat 7 in such a way that it is located between plate 10 and contact surface 15.

Plug 14 is held in place by riveting opening 24 of seat 7 and gives rise to an axial compression preloading of the resilient member 8.

In order to construct heel 2 required sheath 6 according to the height of the heel is located with plate 10 abutting against shoulder 9. In this first position tip 12 and preferably a final length of rod 11 project at least partly from the corresponding extremity of sheath 6 to allow rod 11 to move in sheath 6 towards a second position in which resilient member 8 is compressed between plate 10 and contact surface 15 of plug 14. In the first position the first and second stop members, that is shoulder 9 and plate 10, abut against each other, while in the second position shoulder 9 and plate 10 are at a distance from each other.

After plug 14 closing off opening 24 of seat 7 has been inserted and secured, the manufactured item so obtained is inserted in a mould cavity to be co- moulded with heel 2 itself.

Heel 2 is constructed by injecting plastics material or by means of another conventional method. It will be noted that in all cases damping member 3 comprises an individually- manipulatable unit incorporating all the components necessary for its operation and is fully pre-assembled.

The invention thus resolves the problem set, allowing footwear to be easily and solidly constructed, in particular ladies' shoes, including those with high heels.