Heel stabilizer

Abstract

The present invention relates to heel stabilizing technology that can be used on many kinds of footwear. This heel stabilizing technology can be incorporated during manufacture of the footwear. This heel stabilizing technology can also be manufactured as a separate component, and then added to many kinds of footwear. The heel stabilizer of the present invention increases the stability of the wearer when walking by minimizing the side-to-side teetering a person experiences when wearing flat heels to any height heel shoe, sneakers, boot, overshoe, galoshes or any combination thereof. Implementation of the heel stabilizing technology results in the heel of the footwear being set to a raised position and then flexed downward at heel strike. The resulting vertical stretch at the heel helps lessen side-to-side teetering of the wearer and thereby increases stability. The disclosed heel stabilizer includes at least one anchoring means, at least one heel lift means, a stretch segment, and a sole. An alternative embodiment includes an upper that conceals the structural features of the overshoe; a sole; a stay to center and stabilize the foot atop the shoe; and a well in the sole's heel to receive the high heel and the bottom of the stay component or, in an alternative embodiment, a hole in the sole so that the high heel and the bottom of the stay component penetrates the hole to form a watertight joint, the protruding heel cup then forms the visible sole of the overshoe.

1 . A stabilizing overshoe comprising:
 a cuff, wherein said cuff circles a lower leg of a user above the user's ankle bone on at least two sides;   side member(s), wherein said cuff is attached to said side member(s), and wherein said side member(s) allow for fore and aft movement of said overshoe while restricting sideward bending; and   a heel receptacle; wherein said side member(s) are attached to or conjoin with said heel receptacle, or an upward projection thereof.   
   
   
       2 . The stabilizing overshoe of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a heel tip centering device, wherein said device is within said heel receptacle or is insertable into said heel receptacle.   
   
   
       3 . The stabilizing overshoe of  claim 1 , wherein said cuff is of a moldable material. 
   
   
       4 . The stabilizing overshoe of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a tension mechanism, wherein said cuff is closable by said tension mechanism   
   
   
       5 . The stabilizing overshoe of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a closing means, wherein said cuff is closable by said closing means.   
   
   
       6 . The stabilizing overshoe of  claim 1 , said heel receptacle comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, said inner surface comprising a bottom and sides; said heel receptacle further comprising treading or gripping protrusions on at least one of the inner bottom or the inner sides. 
   
   
       7 . The stabilizing overshoe of  claim 2  said heel tip centering device having a center, and said heel tip centering device further comprising at least one of appendages or flexible surfaces to guide a heel of a shoe to said center. 
   
   
       8 . The stabilizing overshoe of  claim 1 , wherein said side member(s) are rigid. 
   
   
       9 . The stabilizing overshoe of  claim 1 , further comprising a sole, said sole comprising an opening, wherein said opening allows for protrusion by said heel receptacle. 
   
   
       10 . The stabilizing overshoe of  claim 9 , wherein said heel receptacle protrudes through said sole opening and is fixed to said sole to form a watertight joint. 
   
   
       11 . The stabilizing overshoe of  claim 10 , wherein said heel receptacle forms an outwardly visible portion of said overshoe. 
   
   
       12 . The stabilizing overshoe of  claim 5 , wherein said closing means is a fastener. 
   
   
       13 . The stabilizing overshoe of  claim 1 , further comprising an upper, wherein said upper conceals said side member(s). 
   
   
       14 . The stabilizing overshoe of  claim 1 , further comprising a sole, said sole comprising a material having structural integrity to withstand at least 1000 pounds per square inch heel strike force. 
   
   
       15 . The stabilizing overshoe of  claim 1 , said side member(s) further comprising a set of side member ridges or indentations, and said heel receptacle further comprising a set of heel receptacle ridges or indentations, wherein said side member(s) ridges or indentations interlock with said heel receptacle ridges or indentations. 
   
   
       16 . The stabilizing overshoe of  claim 1 , wherein said side member(s) and said heel receptacle are connected by means of a pivot or flex joint. 
   
   
       17 . The stabilizing overshoe of  claim 16 , said heel receptacle further comprising upwardly extending projections, and wherein said upwardly extending projections are connected to said side member(s) by means of a pivot or flex joint.