Comfort Heel for Heeled Shoes

Abstract

A shoe shock absorbing and support system that is able to cushion the impact of a heel striking a surface to reduce injury and fatigue and to compensate for uneven surfaces while minimizing injury to the wearer. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a cushion layer formed of a soft, shock-absorption material is incorporated into the heel. The present invention also provides a multiple layer contour system that provides stability and cushioning without greatly increasing the thickness of the inner sole of the shoe.

1 . A shoe having an elevated heel, said shoe comprising:
 a heel base on said elevated heel;   a cushion layer formed from a shock absorbing material mounted to said heel base;   said cushion layer including a thick portion at the rear of said shoe to absorb the initial impact of the heel strike and a thinner portion at the mid portion of said heel of said shoe to provide cushioning and stability when the shoe is substantially flat on the surface;   an inner sole;   a cushioning layer on said inner sole; and   a thin composite layer on said inner sole formed from a composite polymer material for providing a thin cross section with lateral stability that allow said cushioning layer to be several times thicker yet stay within a thin overall cross-section for fashion purposes.   
   
   
       2 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein said cushion layer includes:
 varying hardness of said cushion layer at differing parts of said cushion layer.   
   
   
       3 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein said shoe includes:
 said cushion layer having an asymmetrical shape to allow forward/rearward movement while minimizing lateral movement of said cushion layer relative to said heel base.   
   
   
       4 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein said composite layer includes:
 an overmolded fiberglass and urethane layer.   
   
   
       5 . A shoe having an elevated heel, said shoe comprising:
 a heel base on said elevated heel; and   a cushion layer formed from a shock absorbing material mounted to said heel base;   said cushion layer formed in an asymmetrical shape for providing shock absorption as said heel initially strikes a surface while providing lateral stability for said heel base as said heel is in substantial contact with the surface.   
   
   
       6 . The shoe of  claim 5  wherein said cushion layer includes:
 a portion of said cushion layer having a thicker portion for greater shock absorption at the point of the heel strike.   
   
   
       7 . The shoe of  claim 5  wherein said cushion layer includes:
 various thickness at differing parts of said cushion layer to provide shock absorption and stability for said heel base.   
   
   
       8 . The shoe of  claim 5  wherein said cushion layer includes:
 a thick portion at the rear of said shoe to absorb the initial impact of the heel strike; and   a thinner portion at the mid portion of said heel of said shoe to provide cushioning and stability when the shoe is substantially flat on the surface.   
   
   
       9 . The shoe of  claim 5  wherein said cushion layer includes:
 varying hardness of said cushion layer at differing parts of said cushion layer.   
   
   
       10 . The shoe of  claim 5  wherein said shoe includes:
 said cushion layer having an asymmetrical shape to allow forward/rearward movement while minimizing lateral movement of said cushion layer relative to said heel base.   
   
   
       11 . The shoe of  claim 5  wherein said shoe further comprises:
 an inner sole;   a cushioning layer on said inner sole; and   a thin composite layer on said inner sole formed from a rigid polymer material for providing lateral stability of the shoe while maintaining a thin profile.   
   
   
       12 . The shoe of  claim 5  wherein said contour layer includes:
 an overmolded rigid polymer and soft urethane layer.   
   
   
       13 . A shoe having an inner sole; said shoe comprising:
 an inner sole;   a cushioning layer on said inner sole; and   a thin composite layer on said inner sole formed from a composite polymer material for providing a thin cross section that allow said cushioning layer to be several times thicker yet stay within a thin overall cross-section for fashion purposes.   
   
   
       14 . The shoe of  claim 13  wherein said contour layer includes:
 an overmolded fiberglass and urethane layer.   
   
   
       15 . The shoe of  claim 13  wherein said shoe further comprises:
 an elevated heel base on said shoe;   a cushion layer for attachment to the elevated heel base; and   a portion of said cushion layer having a thicker portion for shock absorption at the point of initial heel strike.   
   
   
       16 . The shoe of  claim 13  wherein said cushion layer includes:
 various thickness at differing parts of said cushion layer to provide shock absorption and stability for said heel base.   
   
   
       17 . The shoe of  claim 13  wherein said cushion layer includes:
 a thick portion at the rear of said shoe to absorb the initial impact of the heel strike; and   a thinner portion at the mid portion of said heel of said shoe to provide cushioning and stability when the shoe is substantially flat on the surface.