Shoe with a removable interchangeable heel and variable curvature

Abstract

The shoe with removable heel comprises an insole ( 1 ) and a removable heel ( 2 ) arranged to be securely assembled and in separable manner with a rear part ( 11 ) of the insole. The heel is connected to a shank ( 4 ) extending along a longitudinal direction of the insole and engaging with guide means located in said central part ( 12 ) and secured to the insole, the shank having a predetermined longitudinal profile so as to adapt to the curvature of the insole in said central part according to the height of the heel and the guide and retaining means ( 51, 321 ) are concealed by a central part of the sole ( 9 ).

1 . Shoe with removable heel comprising
 an insole ( 1 ) and an upper ( 10 ) attached to the insole, the insole having a flexible central part ( 12 ) to adapt its curvature to the height of the heel,   a removable heel ( 2 ), arranged so that it can be attached under a rear part ( 13 ) of the insole and form with said rear part ( 13 ) a stiff separable assembly,   a sole ( 9 ) attached under the insole forward of the heel to cover a front part ( 11 ) of the insole and comprising a rear part ( 92 ) to cover a central part ( 12 ) of the insole located between the front part and the heel,   the heel being moreover connected to a shank ( 4 ) extending along a longitudinal direction of the insole and engaging without significant play transversally to said longitudinal direction with guide and retaining means ( 51 ,  321 ) located in said central part ( 12 ) and secured to the insole, the shank having a predetermined longitudinal profile to adapt the curvature of the insole in said central part according to the height of the heel,   said guide and retaining means being wrapped by an envelope ( 6 ) made of flexible material securely attached to the insole and leaving a passage free for the insertion of the shank ( 4 ) into said guide and retaining means,   said guide and retaining means and said envelope being concealed by the rear part ( 92 ) of the sole.   
     
     
         2 . Shoe according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the guide and retaining means receiving the front part of the shank comprise a plurality of guide parts ( 51 ,  321 ) secured to the insole and distributed along the longitudinal direction being spaced in relation to each other, each guide part comprising a hole ( 511 ,  322 ) of shape adapted to allow insertion without play of the shank ( 4 ). 
     
     
         3 . Shoe according to  claim 2 , characterised in that each of the guide parts ( 51 ,  321 ) extends transversally to the longitudinal direction over a major part of the width of the insole ( 1 ). 
     
     
         4 . Shoe according to  claim 2  or  3 , characterised in that a guide ( 512 ) connects the holes ( 511 ,  322 ) of the various guide parts of the insole, the guide determining a passage of internal shape corresponding to the shape of the section of the shank ( 4 ) and with sufficient flexibility to adapt to the various curvatures of the insole. 
     
     
         5 . Shoe according to  claim 4 , characterised in that the guide ( 512 ) and the guide parts ( 51 ,  321 ) are made in one piece of plastic material. 
     
     
         6 . Shoe according to  claim 4 , characterised in that the guide parts are made of plastic material overmoulded onto the guide by injection. 
     
     
         7 . Shoe according to any one of the  claims 4  to  6 , characterised in that the envelope of flexible material is overmoulded onto the guide parts and the guide. 
     
     
         8 . Shoe according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said guide and retaining means comprise a guide integrated into said envelope, for example by overmoulding of the envelope on said guide, for the guidance of the shank. 
     
     
         9 . Shoe according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the rear part ( 13 ) of the insole comprises an attachment assembly ( 3 ) to attach the heel, the attachment assembly being secured to the insole plumb with the heel and comprising, on the one hand, heel attachment means ( 71 ;  24 , 25 ) and, on the other hand, towards the front, a rear guide part ( 321 ) comprising a hole ( 322 ) of appropriate shape to allow the insertion of the shank and in alignment with the guide means ( 51 ) of the central area ( 12 ) of the insole. 
     
     
         10 . Shoe according to  claim 9 , characterised in that the attachment assembly ( 3 ) comprises
 a base insert ( 32 ) extending substantially along the plane of the rear part ( 11 ) of the insole, covering, at least partially, said rear part and integrating the rear guide part ( 321 ), and   a base ( 31 ) located under said rear part, securely assembled with the base insert by clamping between them the insole and bearing heel attachment means ( 71 ;  24 , 25 ).   
     
     
         11 . Shoe according to  claim 9 , characterised in that the shank ( 4 ) is connected to the heel ( 2 ) by a pivot connection with an axis (A) located towards the front of the heel, the pivot connection being arranged so that, after the heel ( 4 ) has been inserted into the guide means ( 51 ,  321 ) of the insole, the heel can pivot towards the rear part of the insole to come into contact under this rear part and be anchored there, directly following the pivoting or following a complementary sliding movement, thanks to the locking means ( 71 ,  73 ;  75 ,  76 ) whilst restraining a rear end part ( 43 ) of the shank in relation to the heel. 
     
     
         12 . Shoe according to  claim 9 , characterised in that the rear end part of the shank is formed of a tongue ( 43 ) which extends rearwards from axis (A) of the pivot and which is arranged so that said tongue is blocked between the heel and the rear part of the insole when the heel is anchored on said rear part. 
     
     
         13 . Shoe according to  claim 9 , characterised in that the attachment means comprise at least one stud ( 71 ) secured to the attachment assembly ( 3 ) and extending downwards and the heel comprises at least one pivoting locking plate ( 73 ) associated with said stud, the locking plate extending along a direction transversal to that of the stud and being returned to a basic position by elastic return means ( 74 ), the locking plate comprising a stud clearance hole ( 731 ) and being arranged so as to cooperate by over-centring on the stud when said locking plate is inserted onto the stud following the pivoting of the heel towards the rear part of the insole. 
     
     
         14 . Shoe according to  claim 13 , characterised in that a compression membrane ( 23 ) made of a compressible material is located between the attachment assembly ( 3 ) and the heel ( 2 ). 
     
     
         15 . Shoe according to  claim 12 , characterised in that the shank ( 4 ) is pivotally mounted on an attachment plate ( 22 ) attached to the heel, with predetermined play at the pivot axis (A), the rear tongue ( 43 ) of the shank cooperating with the attachment plate ( 22 ) along a slanted bearing plane ( 222 ,  431 ) and the zone ( 46 ) of the front part ( 45 ) of the shank located at the rear guide part ( 321 ) having an obliqueness ( 461 ) in direction opposite to that of the tongue in an arrangement capable of ensuring the elimination of the plays between the shank ( 4 ) and the rear guide part to ensure the taking up of the play between the heel and the attachment assembly. 
     
     
         16 . Shoe according to  claim 12 , characterised in that the heel ( 2 ) is connected to the insole ( 1 ) by a sliding guide system ( 24 ,  25 ) and a lock ( 75 ) ensures the restraining of the heel in relation to the insole after assembly.