Sub-assembly for incorporation into a shoe having an adjustable heel

Abstract

A sub-assembly for incorporation into a shoe, in particular a ladies shoe, comprises a base having at least an arch portion and a heel portion, and a heel, which is adjustable between a first, relatively low position and a second, relatively high position. The heel is at least partially detachable from the base and, once at least partially detached, is freely rotatable or rotatable about a pivot that is movable with respect to the base.

1 . A sub-assembly for incorporation into a shoe, comprising:
 a base having at least an arch portion and a heel portion, and   a heel, which is adjustable between a first, relatively low position and a second, relatively high position, wherein   the heel is at least partially detachable from the base and, once at least partially detached, is freely rotatable or rotatable about a pivot that is movable with respect to the base.   
   
   
       2 . The sub-assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the heel is detachable from the base, and wherein the base comprises a protrusion or a recess, and the heel comprises two recesses or protrusions, respectively, to connect the heel to the base a in either the first, relatively low position or the second, relatively high position. 
   
   
       3 . The sub-assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the heel comprises two heel tips, a first heel tip to contact the ground when the heel is in its first position and a second heel tip to contact the ground when the heel is in its second position. 
   
   
       4 . The sub-assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein the recess or protrusion in or on the heel corresponding to the first, relatively low position is closer to the second heel tip than the recess or protrusion corresponding to the second, relatively high position. 
   
   
       5 . The sub-assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the heel is connected to an arm, which in turn is rotatably or flexibly connected to the base. 
   
   
       6 . The sub-assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a shank having two or more segments that are movable with respect to each other. 
   
   
       7 . The sub-assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a sole element provided with at least one cut, which facilitates rotation or flexing of the arch portion and the heel portion of the base relative to each other, and a cover. 
   
   
       8 . The sub-assembly according to  claim 1  and further comprising a separate element, wherein the protrusion or recess is part of or attached to this element. 
   
   
       9 . A shoe comprising an upper and sub-assembly, the sub-assembly comprising:
 a base having a toe portion, an arch portion, and a heel portion, and   a heel, which is adjustable between a first, relatively low portion and a second, relatively high position, wherein   the heel is at least partially detachable from the base and, once at least partially detached, is freely rotatable or rotatable about a pivot that is movable with respect to the base.   
   
   
       10 . The shoe according to  claim 9 , comprising an upper having at least three parts connected, respectively, to the toe portion, the arch portion, and the heel portion of the base and wherein at least one of the part connected the toe portion and the part connected to the heel portion is moveable with respect to the part connected to the arch portion, at least when the shoe is adjusted from its relatively low position to its relatively high position or vice versa. 
   
   
       11 . The shoe according to  claim 9 , wherein the heel is detachable from the base, and wherein the base comprises a protrusion or a recess, and the heel comprises two recesses or protrusions, respectively, to connect the heel to the base a in either the first, relatively low position or the second, relatively high position. 
   
   
       12 . The sub-assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the heel comprises two heel tips, a first heel tip to contact the ground when the heel is in its first position and a second heel tip to contact the ground when the heel is in its second position. 
   
   
       13 . The sub-assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the recess or protrusion in or on the heel corresponding to the first, relatively low position is closer to the second heel tip than the recess or protrusion corresponding to the second, relatively high position. 
   
   
       14 . The sub-assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the heel is connected to an arm, which in turn is rotatably or flexibly connected to the base. 
   
   
       15 . The sub-assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the base comprises a shank having two or more segments that are movable with respect to each other. 
   
   
       16 . The sub-assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein the base comprises a sole element provided with at least one cut, which facilitates rotation or flexing of the arch portion and the heel portion of the base relative to each other, and a cover. 
   
   
       17 . The sub-assembly according to  claim 9  and further comprising a separate element, wherein the protrusion or recess is part of or attached to this element.