Field Of The Invention

[0001] The embodiments of the present invention relate to a shoe having an adjustable footbed and interchangeable heels.

Background

[0002] It is well-known that women have a natural affinity to shoes. Women tend to own numerous pairs of shoes of many different types for many different occasions. Given the price of shoes, it would be advantageous for women to own shoes capable of multiple configurations. Besides financial considerations, shoes capable of multiple configurations require less storage space and provide versatility.

[0003] Thus, the embodiments of the present invention are directed to a reconfigurable shoe incorporating means to adjust a footbed and interchange heels thereof.

Summary

[0004] In one embodiment of the present invention, a hinge member incorporated between a footbed toe plate and footbed arch plate permits a shoe to be modified from a flat to a heeled shoe while a heel mechanism allows different heels to be interchanged with the shoe.

[0005] In one embodiment, the hinge member comprises the footbed toe plate and footbed arch plate rotatably joined via one or more hinge pins inserted through interlaced teeth of each plate. A spring-biased hinge lock extending between the two plate sections is controlled by a spring-biased in positioned with the notch selectively receiving the hinge lock such that the hinge lock disengages said footbed arch plate allowing said footbed arch plate to rotate relative to said footbed toe plate.

[0006] In one embodiment of the present invention, a heel interchanging mechanism comprises a spring-biased heel lock extending between a heel block an heel is controlled by a spring-biased notched pin positioned with the notch selectively receiving the hinge lock such that the hinge lock disengages said heel allowing said heel to be freely removed from said heel block.

[0007] Other variations, embodiments and features of the present invention will become evident from the following detailed description, drawings and claims.

Brief Description Of The Drawings

[0008] Fig. 1 illustrates a top down view of a shoe hinge member according to the embodiments of the present invention;

[0009] Figs. 1 a-1 b illustrate perspective and side views of hinge lock components according to the embodiments of the present invention;

[0010] Fig. 1c illustrates a top down view of a shoe hinge member incorporated in a shoe according to the embodiments of the present invention;

[0011] Fig. 1 d illustrates a top down view of an alternative shoe hinge member according to the embodiments of the present invention;

[0012] Fig. 1e illustrates a perspective view of alternative hinge lock components according to the embodiments of the present invention;

[0013] Figs. 1f and 1g illustrate perspective views of alternative spring- biased pins for use with the shoe hinge member according to the embodiments of the present invention;

[0014] Fig. 1 h illustrates a transparent view of a footbed toe plate according to the embodiments of the present invention;

[0015] Fig. 1 i illustrates an exploded view of the shoe hinge member according to the embodiments of the present invention; [0016] Fig. 2 illustrates side views of the shoe hinge member of Fig. 1 according to the embodiments of the present invention;

[0017] Fig. 3 illustrates a side view of a first heel block according to the embodiments of the present invention;

[0018] Fig. 4 illustrates a top view of the first heel block of Fig. 3 according to the embodiments of the present invention;

[0019] Fig. 5 illustrates a front view of a second heel block according to the embodiments of the present invention;

[0020] Fig. 6 illustrates a perspective heel block with internal portions shown according to the embodiments of the present invention;

[0021] Fig. 7 illustrates a side view of a heel block and heel lock according to the embodiments of the present invention;

[0022] Figs. 8a and 8b illustrate side and top down views, respectively, of a flat shoe incorporating the shoe hinge member and heel block according to the embodiments of the present invention;

[0023] Fig. 9 illustrates a perspective view of a high heel shoe incorporating the shoe hinge member and heel block according to the embodiments of the present invention; and

[0024] Figs. 10a and 10b illustrates perspective and end views, respectively, of a dovetailed heel cavity according to the embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed Description

[0025] For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive feature illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would normally occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention claimed.

[0026] The components of the embodiments of the present invention may be fabricated of any suitable materials, including plastics, alloys, composites and metals and may be fabricated using suitable techniques including molding, machining and rapid prototyping.

[0027] Figs. 1 , 1 a-1 i and 2 show a shoe hinge member 100 according to the embodiments of the present invention. The hinge member 100 comprises generally a footbed toe plate 105 and footbed arch plate 1 10. The footbed toe plate 105 includes multiple teeth 106-1 through 106-4 which interlace with teeth 11 1-1 through 11 1-3 of the footbed arch plate 110. As shown in Figs. 1 , 2 and 1 h, a first pin 1 15-1 extends through a channel 107-1 in tooth 106-1 of said footbed toe plate 105 and a channel in tooth 11 1-1 of said footbed arch plate 1 10 and into a cavity 108-1 in said tooth 106-2 of said footbed toe plate 105. Similarly, a second pin 1 5-2 extends through a channel 107-2 in tooth 106-4 of said footbed toe plate 105 and a channel in tooth 11 1 -3 of said footbed arch plate 110 and into a cavity 108-2 in said tooth 106-3 of said footbed toe plate 105. The first pin 115-1 and second pin 115-2 may be secured within the respective channels with end caps or other mechanical components. Alternatively, a frictional relationship between the pins 15-1 and 115-2 and channels secures the pins 115-1 and 115-2 in place while allowing rotation of the footbed arch plate 110 relative to the footbed toe plate 105.

[0028] A pair of recessed ball plungers 140-1 , 140-2 in channels 139-1 , 139-2 of said footbed toe plate 105 communicate with spaced indentations in said teeth 1 11-1 , 1 1 1-3 of said footbed arch plate 110. This relationship provides an audible noise (i.e., "click") as the footbed arch plate 1 10 is rotated relative to the footbed toe plate 105. The clicking noise provides a mechanism by which the user is able to determine when the footbed arch plate 1 10 is in a lockable position as detailed below. [0029] An end section 149 of a spring-biased hinge lock 150 extends from a recess 155 in said footbed toe plate 105 to selectively engage, as shown in Figs. 1a and 1 b, one of a plurality of matching, locking cavities 160 in tooth 11 1-2 of said footbed arch plate 1 10 thereby locking the footbed arch plate 110 in place. In another embodiment as shown in Figs. 1d-1e, a spring- biased hinge lock 150' may include a pin 151 corresponding to circular locking cavities 160' in said tooth 111-2 of said footbed arch plate 1 10 thereby locking the footbed arch plate 110 in place.

[0030] A spring-biased pin 165 integrated into channel 159 in said footbed toe plate 105 controls the spring-biased hinge lock 150. A notch 170 (as shown in Fig. 1f) in said spring-biased pin 165 receives an extension 151 of said spring-biased hinge lock 150 when said spring-biased hinge lock 150 is disengaged. Fig. 1g shows an alternative spring-biased pin 165' with an alternative spiral notch 170'.

[0031] Operation of the spring-biased hinge lock 150 comprises applying pressure to an end cap 166 of said spring-biased pin 165 which causes: (i) the spring-biased pin 165 to move inward as slot 167 traverses along guide pin 168 and, spring 169 to compress and (ii) compressed springs 152 to urge extension 151 into notch 170 thereby removing spring-biased hinge lock 150 from one of said position cavities 160 permitting the footbed arch plate 1 10 to rotate relative to said footbed toe plate 105. Engaging said spring-biased hinge lock 150 occurs automatically upon release of the pressure on said end cap 166 permitting said compressed spring 167 to expand thus urging said spring-biased pin 165 outward causing said extension 151 to be urged from said notch 170 thus urging said spring-biased hinge lock 150 into one of said position cavities 160.

[0032] Fig. 2 shows the footbed arch plate 115 in a generally horizontal or flat position and angled (in dotted lines) relative to said footbed toe plate 105. When angled, the footbed arch plate 110 is able support a medium or high heel.

[0033] Fig. 1c shows the shoe hinge member 100 incorporated in a shoe. As shown, the shoe hinge member 100 is angled (angle identified by A) relative to a shoe bisection line and configured to match the shoe configuration, namely the orientation of the toe footbed. Depending on the shoe, the shoe hinge member 100 may also be incorporated without the angle (see, Fig. 8b).

[0034] Figs. 3-7 show a heel block 200 configured to accept one or more unique heels 202, 282 and is connected to a bottom surface 201 of a shoe. The heel block 200 incorporates two channels 205, 210 (Fig. 6) for accommodating a spring-biased heel lock 215 and spring-biased pin 230 for controlling said spring-biased heel lock 215. The spring-biased heel lock 215 is positioned within channel 205 and includes a spring 206 and a tip section 207 which extends into a removable heel with an accommodating cavity. In another embodiment, the spring-biased heel lock 215 includes an external spring 216 and interior spring 217 (Figs. 7-9). In such an embodiment, channel 205 has an upper portion 206 having a first diameter and a lower portion 207 having a second smaller diameter wherein said upper portion 206 accommodates an upper section 218 of said spring-biased heel lock 215 and said lower portion 207 accommodates a lower section 219 of said spring- biased heel lock 215.

[0035] The spring-biased heel lock 215 includes a piston 225 contained within chamber 226 along with said biasing interior spring 217. When the spring-biased heel lock 215 is positioned within said channel 205, a portion of the chamber 226 and the contained piston 225 extend from the confines of the channel 205 for reasons described below.

[0036] The spring-biased pin 230 is positioned in channel 210 and, is configured and operates like spring-biased pin 165 shown in Figs. 1 , 1a-1 i and 2. The spring-biased pin 230 includes notch 235 and slot 240 which accepts guide pin 245.

[0037] Operation of the spring-biased heel lock 215 comprises applying pressure to an end cap 231 of said spring-biased pin 230 which causes: (i) the spring-biased pin 230 to move inward as said slot 240 traverses along guide pin 245 and, spring 246 to compress; (ii) compressed external spring 216 to urge piston 225 into notch 235 thereby allowing an upper portion of said spring-biased heel lock 215 to extend into said notch 235 while said piston 225 remains extended from said channel 205. The piston 225 is able to move from an extended position if said internal spring 217 is compressed.

[0038] Figs. 8a, 8b and 9 show the hinge member 100 and two shoe blocks 200-1 , 200-2 incorporated into a shoe 300. The hinge member 100 is integrated within, and substantially concealed by, the toe footbed 305 and arch footbed 310 of the shoe 300. Only the end caps 166, 231 and 232 are exposed for a user to depress. Accordingly, the end caps 166, 231 and 232 may be covered with material matching the shoe 300. The heel blocks 200-1 , 200-2 are attached to a bottom surface of the shoe 300 using conventional attachment means such as screws, nails, rivets, adhesives, etc.

[0039] The heel blocks 200-1 , 200-2 receive one of multiple heels 310-1 , 310-2 configured with a void substantially matching the heel blocks 200-1 , 200-2. In operation, heels 310-1 , 310-2 slide onto the heel blocks 200-1 , 200- 2 when the spring-biased heel locks 215-1 , 215-2 are disengaged responsive to end caps 166, 231 and 232 being depressed. A shown in Figs. 10a and 10b, dovetailed channels 31 1 on an underside of the voids 312 of the heels 3 0-1 , 310-2 allow the piston 225 to be initially extended from said channel 205 of the heel block 200-1 , 200-2 and guided by said dovetailed channel 31 1 until the heel 310-1 , 310-2 nears a final position at which point the piston 225 is able to further extend from channel 205 into heel cavities 314 at ends of the dovetailed channel 31 1. Accordingly, the heels 310-1 , 310-2 are held in place via a frictional relationship between the heel blocks 200-1 , 200-2 and heel voids 312 as well as the extension of the pistons 225-1 , 225-2 of the spring- biased heel locks 215-1 , 2 5-2 into the heel cavities 314.

[0040] In one embodiment, the heels 310-2 (and other heels) slide on heel block 200-2 from a rear of the shoe 300 and the spring-biased heel locks 215- 2 are angled forward or oppositely such that the lower section 219-2 of the spring-biased heel lock 215-2 inserts or extends into the heel cavity in downward, forward direction thereby resisting any desire of the heel 310-2 to disengage from the heel block 200-2 in a rearward direction. Fig. 9 shows a shoe 301 having a high heel 307. [0041] In one embodiment, the end caps 166, 231 and 232 are covered or fabricated of material 177 matching the shoe 300. Alternatively, the end caps 166, 231 and 232 are fabricated of a noticeably distinct material from the shoe 300 such that the end caps 166, 231 and 232 act as an indication of the source of the shoes incorporating the hinge member 100 and heel block 200. For example, the end cap 231 may be fabricated of silver or platinum thus being easily visible relative to the other portions of the shoe 300 and acting as a readily identifiable trademark.

[0042] The embodiments of the present invention may be made of various types of materials including plastics, alloys, metals and composites and the components may be fabricated using techniques including molding, machining and rapid prototyping. The hinge member 100 in integrated into the shoe footbed such that the line of connection/rotation between the first plate 105 and the second plate 1 10 aligns with a folding partition or similar shoe footbed design to allow the shoe footbed to fold or rotate commensurate with the hinge member 100. For example, in one embodiment, the shoe footbed may comprise two separate sections - (i) a toe footbed section and an (ii) arch footbed section which are joined to one another by means of a weak joint or other mechanism allowing the arch footbed section to rotate relative to the toe footbed section.

[0043] Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to several embodiments, additional variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in the following claims.