Accessory For a Shoe

Abstract

An accessory for a shoe includes a heel support member and at least one shoe gripping member arranged on the heel support member and configured to engage, in a releasable manner, at least opposite sides of the shoe when a heel of the shoe is supported by the heel support member. The heel support member is configured to raise the heel of a user by a predetermined extent.

1 . An accessory for a shoe, the accessory comprising:
 a heel support member; and   at least one shoe gripping member arranged on the heel support member and configured to engage, in a releasable manner, at least opposite sides of the shoe when a heel of the shoe is supported by the heel support member, the heel support member being configured to raise the heel of a user by a predetermined extent.   
     
     
         2 . An accessory as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the heel support member has a substantially flat bottom surface and a substantially flat top surface, the top surface being angled with respect to the bottom surface so that an operative back of the heel support member is thicker than an operative front of the support member. 
     
     
         3 . An accessory as claimed in  claim 1 , which includes one gripping member that extends about at least an operative back of the heel support member. 
     
     
         4 . An accessory as claimed in  claim 1 , which includes a pair of opposed gripping members that extend along respective sides of the support member and at least partially about the back of the heel support member. 
     
     
         5 . An accessory as claimed in  claim 1 , which is an assembly of two bases to define the heel support member and two gripping members arranged on respective bases. 
     
     
         6 . An accessory as claimed in  claim 5 , in which each base defines at least two passages, the passages of respective bases being capable of being brought into register with each other, the accessory including fasteners that can be received through respective passages so that the bases can be fastened to each other. 
     
     
         7 . An accessory as claimed in  claim 6 , which includes an adjustable spacing arrangement to permit the bases to be spaced from each other to a desired extent to adjust an overall width of the accessory. 
     
     
         8 . An accessory as claimed in  claim 7 , in which the spacing arrangement includes at least one spacer that can be received between at least the bases, the, or each spacer being shaped to accommodate the fasteners so that the bases can be fastened to each other with the spacers sandwiched between the bases. 
     
     
         9 . An accessory as claimed in  claim 8 , in which the spacing arrangement includes a plurality of the spacers. 
     
     
         10 . An accessory as claimed in  claim 8 , in which the, or each, spacer has a profile that corresponds with that of the bases and the gripping members such that edges of the spacers are flush with the bases and the gripping members to define continuous, even surfaces. 
     
     
         11 . An accessory as claimed in  claim 9 , in which the spacers and the bases have complementary locating formations that engage each other when the bases are fastened together such that relative rotational movement of components can be inhibited during use. 
     
     
         12 . An accessory as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the, or each, gripping member includes a wall that extends from a periphery of the support member, the wall having at least one heel gripping formation that extends inwardly into a zone defined by the support member and the, or each, wall, the, or each, gripping formation being configured to engage a sole or other part of the shoe when the shoe, worn by the user, is positioned in the zone thus inhibiting release of the shoe from the accessory when the shoe is lifted. 
     
     
         13 . An accessory as claimed in  claim 12 , in which the, or each, gripping formation is in the form of a ridge extending along the wall, the ridge projecting into the zone so that a shoe, worn by a user, can be slid operatively backwards into the zone such that the gripping formation at least partially embeds itself into the sole or other part of the shoe. 
     
     
         14 . An accessory as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the, or each, gripping member includes a wall that extends from a periphery of the support member and that is angled inwardly with respect to the support member. 
     
     
         15 . An accessory as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the heel support member defines a passage, a strap being receivable through the passage, the strap being configured so that the accessory can be strapped to the shoe if necessary. 
     
     
         16 . An accessory as claimed in  claim 1 , which includes a roller assembly that is mounted in the heel support member, the assembly including a roller that extends rearwardly from a back of the heel support member. 
     
     
         17 . An accessory as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the heel support member defined an externally opening recess so that a user can use a shoe, worn by the user, to engage the recess and so detach another shoe, worn by the user, from the accessory.