Transparent heel post protecting device and method

Abstract

A device and method for protecting the heel post area of a high heel shoe that is not visible to the casual observer. The device may be comprised of flexible transparent material, having a front side for protecting the surface of the heel post area, and a back side comprising an adhesive for removably adhering the device to the surface of the heel post area, and a shape configured for wrapping around the heel post area. The method and device may also comprise a means for removing a worn device from the heel post area after use, and for replacing the worn device with a new device.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A device for protecting a heel post area of a high heel shoe, the heel post area having a surface, the device comprising:
 flexible transparent material having a shape configured for wrapping around the heel post area;   front and back sides, the front side comprising a surface for protecting the surface of the heel post area, the back side comprising an adhesive for removably adhering the device to the surface of the heel post area;   
       wherein, the back side adheres to the heel post area surface so that the device wraps around the heel post area. 
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a top end having a first width and a bottom end having a second width, the top end being connected to the bottom end by a body of flexible transparent material having at the shortest distance from the top end to the bottom end a device length. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2 , wherein the first width of the top end is wider than the second width of the bottom end. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , wherein the body of material connecting the top end to the bottom end has a plurality of body width values along the device length, and the heel post area has a plurality of circumference values at different vertical points along the heel post, and the first width of the top end, and the second width of the bottom end, and the plurality of body width values are proportional to some of the plurality of heel post circumference values. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the device is configured to cover substantially ¾ th  of the heel post. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein the high heel shoe has a toe area, and for purposes of identification the heel post area has an inner side facing the toe area, and the first width of the top end and the second width of the bottom end, and the plurality of body width values are configured to wrap around the heel post area so that a vertical slit along the inner side of the heel post area is left uncovered. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein the vertical slit provides an openable seam for removal of the device from the heel post area. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the shape of the device further comprises a fingertip gripping piece that, when the device is wrapped around the heel post area, extends horizontally into the vertical slit area. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein, the adhesive back side has sufficient adhesiveness to attach the heel post area yet be removed without leaving adhesive residue. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the heel post area surface has a level of shininess and the surface of the front side further has a level of shininess substantially matching the heel post area surface level of shininess. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible transparent material comprises a plastic. 
     
     
         12 . A method for protecting at least a portion of the surface of a heel post area of a high heel shoe using flexible transparent material comprising front and back sides, the front side comprising a surface for protecting the surface of the heel post area, the back side comprising an adhesive for removably adhering the device to the surface of the heel post area, the method comprising the following steps:
 Mounting the back side of the device so that it adheres to heel post area surface and wraps around the heel post area.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the device further comprises a top end and a bottom end, and the step of mounting the back side of the device to the heel post area surface includes mounting the top end higher along the heel post surface than the bottom end. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the heel post has varying circumferences at different vertical points along the heel post, and the device top end has a top end width, and the device bottom end has a bottom end width, and the top end is connected to the bottom end by a device body having a varying body width, and the top end width, the bottom end width, and the body width have dimensions proportionally related to the heel post circumferences, and the step of mounting the back side of the device to the heel post area surface includes matching the top end width, the bottom end width, and the body width with the heel post circumferences so that the device covers at least a portion of the heel post area without overlapping. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the high heel shoe comprises a toe area and the heel post area comprises an inner side facing the toe area, and the step of mounting the back side of the device to the heel post area surface includes matching the top end width, the bottom end width, and the body width with the heel post circumferences so that the device leaves a vertical slit of the inner side of the heel post area surface uncovered by the device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of removing the device, and wherein the vertical slit forms an openable seam for removing the device. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising a step of preparing to mount the back side of the device to the heel post area surface. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein a transfer sheet is configured to removably store the device prior to use so that the adhesive back side retains its adhesiveness, and the step of preparing to mount the back side to the heel post area surface includes peeling the device from the transfer sheet. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the step of preparing to mount the back side to the heel post area surface includes cleaning the heel post area surface. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the heel post area surface has a level of shininess, and the surface of the front side of the device further comprises a level of shininess, and further comprising the step of substantially matching the level of shininess of the front side of the device to the level of shininess of the heel post area surface.