Replaceable heel system

Abstract

The specification and drawing figures disclose, describe and claim replaceable heel system for footwear that includes a plurality of heel bodies. The heel bodies are interchangeably and demountably connectable to footwear. In at least one of the embodiments, the plurality of heel bodies is demountably connectable to an integral contoured rigid orthotic plate that is removably insertable in the footwear for distributing forces longitudinally and laterally during use of the footwear. A compressible spring is positionable in the plurality of heel bodies to relieve pain during use of the footwear. In another embodiment opposing pressure connectable and detachable members are provided to demountably connect the heel bodies to the footwear. In an alternative embodiment a flared plug and hollow receptacle are provided to demountably connect the heel bodies to the footwear.

1 . A replaceable heel system for footwear, comprising:
 an integral contoured rigid orthotic plate extending from a region adjacent to a plurality of human toes to a region adjacent to a human heel adapted for insertion into at least an upper of footwear,
 wherein the integral contoured rigid orthotic plate is formed with a leading end, a trailing end, a top surface, and a lower surface; 
   a substantially inelastic housing integrally formed on the lower surface of the integral contoured rigid orthotic plate adjacent the trailing end of the integral contoured rigid orthotic plate and adapted to removably engage a replaceable heel;   a plurality of substantially inelastic replaceable heels formed with a chamber for removably holding at least one compressible spring adapted to relieve pain during use of the footwear;   a lock-and-release device disengageably connectable to the plurality of substantially inelastic replaceable heels;   a compressible plunger insertable in the plurality of substantially inelastic replaceable heels adapted to provide resilient support during use of the footwear; and   a resilient pad replaceably mountable on the top surface of the integral contoured rigid orthotic plate adapted to cushion a foot during use of the footwear.   
   
   
       2 . A replaceable heel system for footwear as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the substantially inelastic housing further comprises a bore adapted to receive one end of the at least one compressible spring. 
   
   
       3 . A replaceable heel system for footwear as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plunger is formed with a neck adapted to engage the other end of the at least one compressible spring. 
   
   
       4 . A replaceable heel system for footwear as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the substantially inelastic housing further comprises grooves in the outer surface of the housing adapted to reduce the weight of the footwear, to provide for slidable engagement of the substantially inelastic housing and the plurality of substantially inelastic replaceable heels, and to maintain rigidity of support between the substantially inelastic housing and the substantially inelastic replaceable heels. 
   
   
       5 . A replaceable heel system for footwear as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the lock-and-release device includes an aperture formed in the integral contoured rigid orthotic plate. 
   
   
       6 . A replaceable heel system for footwear as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the lock-and-release device includes an opening formed in the plurality of substantially inelastic replaceable heels. 
   
   
       7 . A replaceable heel system for footwear as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the lock-and-release device further comprises a lever formed with a lip flexibly extending from the aperture formed in the integral contoured rigid orthotic plate adapted to engage the opening formed in the substantially inelastic replaceable heels for removably attaching the plurality of replaceable heels on the footwear. 
   
   
       8 . A replaceable heel system for footwear as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the lock-and-release device further comprises a lever formed with a lip flexibly mountable on the substantially inelastic housing adapted to engage the opening formed in the plurality of substantially inelastic replaceable heels for repositionably attaching a replaceable heel on the footwear. 
   
   
       9 . A replaceable heel system for footwear as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of replaceable heels further comprises an orifice adapted to slidably extend and retract a portion of the compressible plunger. 
   
   
       10 . A replaceable heel system for footwear as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of replaceable heels does not include a compressible spring. 
   
   
       11 . A system for interchangeably replacing heels on footwear, comprising:
 a plurality of variably dimensioned heel bodies;   an orthotic plate insertable in the footwear for distributing forces longitudinally and laterally during use of the footwear;   a housing attached to the orthotic plate adapted to hold the plurality of variably dimensioned heel bodies;   means for demountably connecting the plurality of heel bodies to the housing; and   means positionable in the housing and in the plurality of variably dimensioned heel bodies for relieving pain during use of the footwear.   
   
   
       12 . A system for interchangeably replacing heels on footwear as recited in  claim 11 , further comprising a resilient pad replaceably mountable on the orthotic plate for cushioning a foot during use of the footwear. 
   
   
       13 . A system for interchangeably replacing heels on footwear as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of variably dimensioned heel bodies, the orthotic plate, and the housing are made from material selected from the group of materials consisting of one or more resins, plastic, metal, rigid rubber, metal alloys, and/or vinyl. 
   
   
       14 . A system for interchangeably replacing heels on footwear as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the means for demountably connecting the plurality of variably dimensioned heel bodies to the housing includes an aperture formed in the orthotic plate. 
   
   
       15 . A system for interchangeably replacing heels on footwear as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the means for demountably connecting the plurality of heel bodies to the housing includes an opening formed in the plurality of variably dimensioned heel bodies. 
   
   
       16 . A system for interchangeably replacing heels on footwear as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the means for demountably connecting the plurality of heel bodies to the housing includes a lever formed with a lip flexibly extending from the aperture formed in the orthotic plate adapted to engage the opening formed in the plurality of variably dimensional bodies for repositionably attaching the plurality of variably dimensioned heel bodies on the footwear. 
   
   
       17 . A system for interchangeably replacing heels on footwear as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the means for demountably connecting the plurality of variably dimensioned heel bodies to the housing includes a lever formed with a lip flexibly mountable on the housing adapted to engage the opening formed in the plurality of variably dimensioned heel bodies. 
   
   
       18 . A system for interchangeably replacing heels on footwear as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the means positionable in the housing and in the plurality of variably dimensioned heel bodies includes a compressible coiled spring that compresses on application of pressure during use but regains original shape when pressure is released. 
   
   
       19 . A system for interchangeably replacing heels on footwear as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the means positionable in the housing and in the plurality of variably dimensioned heel bodies includes a plunger slidably installed in the plurality of variably dimensioned heel bodies and in one end of the compressible coiled spring. 
   
   
       20 . A system for interchangeably replacing heels on footwear as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the means positionable in the housing and in the plurality of variably dimensioned heel bodies does not include a compressible coiled spring. 
   
   
       21 . A method of making footwear with replaceable heels, comprising the steps of:
 selecting a first material for shaping an integral contoured rigid orthotic plate for substantially enveloped insertion in the footwear;   manipulating the material to form the integral contoured rigid orthotic plate;   including a resilient pad replaceably mountable on the integral contoured rigid orthotic plate adapted to cushion the foot of a user during use of the footwear;   installing a housing on the integral contoured rigid orthotic plate for holding the replaceable heels;   choosing a second material to form a plurality of replaceable heels;   forming from the second material a plurality of replaceable heels removably connectable to the housing;   locating a lock-and-release device in the housing and in the plurality of replaceable heels for demountably connecting the plurality of replaceable heels to the housing; and   inserting a slidably adjustable plunger in the replaceable heels.   
   
   
       22 . A method of making footwear with replaceable heels as recited in  claim 21 , wherein the step of selecting a material for shaping the integral contoured rigid orthotic plate includes the substeps of:
 selecting at least one or more resins, plastic, metal, rigid rubber, metal alloys, and/or vinyl as the material; and   shaping the material to contour the shape of a foot.   
   
   
       23 . A method of making footwear with replaceable heels as recited in  claim 22 , wherein the step of installing a housing on the integral contoured rigid orthotic plate includes the substeps of:
 selecting a substantially inelastic material for integrally forming the housing on the integral contoured rigid orthotic plate;   shaping the substantially inelastic material into the housing;   fitting the housing with a chamber that includes a column adapted to receive one end of the compressible spring suspension system; and   attaching the housing to the integral contoured rigid orthotic plate.   
   
   
       24 . Footwear having a plurality of replaceable heels, comprising:
 a contoured rigid orthotic plate integrally formed with a housing adapted for insertion into the footwear;   a resilient pad replaceably mountable on the contoured rigid orthotic plate adapted to cushion a foot during use of the footwear;   a substantially inelastic housing attachable to the contoured rigid orthotic plate adapted to demountably hold a replaceable heel; and   opposing pressure connectable and detachable members mounted on the plurality of replaceable heels and on the inelastic housing adapted to demountably connect the plurality of replaceable heels to the footwear.   
   
   
       25 . Footwear with a plurality of replaceable heels as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the housing further comprises a hollow passage adapted to dispose one end of a compressible spring. 
   
   
       26 . Footwear with a plurality of replaceable heels as recited in  claim 25 , wherein the replaceable heels further comprise a cavity adapted to receive the other end of the compressible spring. 
   
   
       27 . Footwear with a plurality of replaceable heels as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of replaceable heels is substantially compressible. 
   
   
       28 . Footwear with a plurality of replaceable heels as recited in  claim 24 , wherein the opposing pressure connectable and detachable members are made from material selected from the group of materials consisting of hook and loop type fasteners including Velcro®. 
   
   
       29 . Interchangeable heels for footwear, comprising:
 a plurality of heel bodies;   at least one flared plug formed with an edge mountable on the heel of the footwear;   a substantially hollow receptacle insertable into the heels having an inner surface dimensioned for slidable engagement by the flared plug; and   a plurality of peripherally mounted protrusions extending from the inner surface of the receptacle toward the longitudinal axis of the substantially hollow receptacle adapted to removably connect the at least one flared plug and the substantially hollow receptacle.   
   
   
       30 . A system for interchangeably replacing heels on footwear as recited in  claim 29 , wherein the at least one flared plug is removably connectable to the substantially hollow receptacle by application of pressure.