Adjustable shoe

Abstract

A shoe comprising an extendable and retractable heel; a heel adjustment mechanism to maintain at least a section of the heel in contact with a walking surface substantially perpendicular to the walking surface; and a control mechanism including a controller to automatically control the heel adjustment mechanism

1 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A shoe comprising:
 an extendable and retractable heel;   an adjustable sole platform between an inner sole and an outer sole of said shoe comprising at least a first section attached to a second section, and wherein said first section is angularly displaceable relative to said second section and angularly displaceable relative to said heel; and   a heel adjustment mechanism to maintain at least a portion of said heel in contact with a walking surface substantially perpendicular to the walking surface.   
     
     
         41 . A heel adjustment system for use with a shoe comprising:
 an extendable and retractable heel;   one or more sensors to detect a position of at least a portion of said heel;   a heel base to which said heel is attached and comprising a heel adjustment mechanism receiving the output of said one or more sensors to maintain at least said portion of said heel in contact with a walking surface substantially perpendicular to the walking surface; and   a control mechanism including a controller to automatically control said heel adjustment mechanism.   
     
     
         42 . The shoe according to  claim 40  and wherein said heel adjustment mechanism determines perpendicularity based on the retraction and extension states of said first and second sections. 
     
     
         43 . The system according to  claim 41  and wherein said heel adjustment mechanism determines perpendicularity based on the retraction and extension states of said first and second sections. 
     
     
         44 . The shoe according to  claim 40  and also comprising a transceiver for communicating with a remote control device over a wireless network. 
     
     
         45 . The system according to  claim 41  and also comprising a transceiver for communicating with a remote control device over a wireless network 
     
     
         46 . The shoe according to  claim 44  wherein said wireless network is at least one of a wireless local area network, a cellular network, and a personal area network. 
     
     
         47 . The system according to  claim 45  wherein said wireless network is at least one of a wireless local area network, a cellular network, and a personal area network. 
     
     
         48 . The shoe according to  claim 40  and also comprising an electronic interface module to allow a user to manually activate said heel adjustment mechanism. 
     
     
         49 . The system according to  claim 41  and also comprising an electronic interface module to allow a user to manually activate said heel adjustment mechanism. 
     
     
         50 . The shoe according to  claim 48  and also comprising a sensor for detecting pressure on at least one of said heel, said first section and said second section. 
     
     
         51 . The system according to  claim 49  and also comprising a sensor for detecting pressure on said heel. 
     
     
         52 . The shoe according to  claim 40  and also comprising an electronic interface module for providing heel height adjustment data to a controller. 
     
     
         53 . The system according to  claim 41  and also comprising an electronic interface module for providing heel height adjustment data to said controller. 
     
     
         54 . The shoe according to  claim 40  and comprising a sole adjustment mechanism for automatically displacing said at least first section relative to said second section. 
     
     
         55 . The shoe according to  claim 54  wherein said sole adjustment mechanism comprises a locking mechanism to maintain said first section in a fixed position relative to said second section. 
     
     
         56 . The shoe according to  claim 48  and wherein said electronic interface module is implemented in one of: a smart phone, a tablet computer and a mobile device with communication capability. 
     
     
         57 . The system according to  claim 49  and wherein said electronic interface module is implemented in one of: a smart phone, a tablet computer and a mobile device with communication capability. 
     
     
         58 . The shoe according to  claim 52  and wherein said electronic interface module is implemented in one of: a smart phone, a tablet computer and a mobile device with communication capability. 
     
     
         59 . The system according to  claim 53  and wherein said electronic interface module is implemented in one of: a smart phone, a tablet computer and a mobile device with communication capability. 
     
     
         60 . The shoe according to  claim 40  and wherein said heel adjustment mechanism comprises an axis at a top of said heel. 
     
     
         61 . The system according to  claim 41  and wherein said heel adjustment mechanism comprises an axis at a top of said heel. 
     
     
         62 . The shoe according to  claim 50  wherein said sensor comprises at least one of a pressure sensor, an optical sensor, an electro-magnetic sensor, a magnetic sensor, and a switch. 
     
     
         63 . A system according to  claim 51  wherein said sensor comprises at least one of a pressure sensor, an optical sensor, an electro-magnetic sensor, a magnetic sensor, and a switch 
     
     
         64 . The shoe according to  claim 40  wherein said adjustable sole platform comprises means to allow said outer sole and said inner sole to assume a shape which conforms to an adjusted heel height.