Shoe with interchangeable heel

Abstract

Disclose embodiments include shoes with interchangeable heels permitting a plurality of heel heights and styles, addressing the need for aesthetic appeal, ease of use, comfort, simplicity of design, and sturdiness. More particularly, disclose embodiments include a modifiable shoe heel consisting of a fixed heel part and an interchangeable heel part removably attachable by a system of magnets.

1 . A modifiable shoe heel comprising:
 a) a fixed heel part adapted on one end for attachment to a shoe sole and on the other end for removable magnetic attachment to an interchangeable heel part; and   b) an interchangeable heel part adapted on one end for removable magnetic attachment to said fixed heel part and on the other end for contact with the ground,   
       whereby the height and style of the heel of a shoe may be adjusted by attachment of the desired interchangeable heel part to said fixed heel part of said shoe. 
     
     
         2 . The modifiable shoe heel of  claim 1 , wherein said fixed heel part comprises a socket and a first magnetic material, and said interchangeable heel part comprises an insert and a second magnetic material, said insert is shaped to fill said socket, and said first and second magnetic materials exhibit magnetic attraction when in mutual proximity. 
     
     
         3 . The modifiable shoe heel of  claim 2 , wherein said interchangeable heel part is retained in said fixed heel part solely by both lateral support of said socket wall surfaces and mutual attraction of said first and second magnetic materials. 
     
     
         4 . The modifiable shoe heel of  claim 3 , wherein said socket upper wall surfaces converge gradually, and corresponding lower wall surfaces converge markedly to 1) enable full insertion of said insert into said socket with negligible friction, 2) establish full contact between said socket wall surfaces and said insert wall surfaces only upon full insertion, 3) facilitate a deep socket for improved lateral retention of the insert, and 4) facilitate a wider and stronger insert base due to the marked downward divergence of said socket lower wall surfaces. 
     
     
         5 . The modifiable shoe heel of  claim 4 , wherein said socket and insert wall surfaces are substantially conical with a non-circular cross-section to prevent rotation of said interchangeable heel part. 
     
     
         6 . The modifiable shoe heel of  claim 5 , wherein said cross-section is substantially squared to prevent rotation of said interchangeable heel part. 
     
     
         7 . The modifiable shoe heel of  claim 6 , wherein at least one of said first and second magnetic materials are neodymium magnets. 
     
     
         8 . The modifiable shoe heel of  claim 7 , wherein said fixed heel part connects to a flexible sole permitting flexing of the sole for adjustment to high and low heel heights. 
     
     
         9 . The modifiable shoe heel of  claim 8 , wherein said socket is at least two centimeters in depth in said fixed heel part, and said socket can securely retain an interchangeable low heel part and an interchangeable high heel part. 
     
     
         10 . The modifiable shoe heel of  claim 9 , wherein said fixed heel part is composed of molded ABS plastic injected around said first magnetic material. 
     
     
         11 . The modifiable shoe heel of  claim 10 , wherein said interchangeable heel part is composed of molded polyurethane plastic injected around said second magnetic material.