A footwear heel

Abstract

A footwear heel 40 , including a storage cavity 32 provided within the heel 40 ; the cavity 32 provided for storing an item. The cavity 32 includes an access opening 52 providing access to the storage cavity 32 through the inside of an associated item of footwear 36 . A cover 50 is provided for covering the access opening 52 . The cavity 32 is formed in the heel 40 during manufacture of the heel 40 by providing at least one of a surround and a last within one of a footwear heel mould and a footwear sole mould, and then adding a heel material in a fluid form into the mould about at least one of the surround and last.

1 - 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . A footwear heel, comprising:
 a storage cavity within the heel, with the cavity provided for storing an item;   the cavity including an access opening providing access to the storage cavity through the inside of an associated item of footwear;   a removable cover for covering the access opening; wherein the cover is deformable, such that deformation of the cover by a wearer while wearing the footwear deforms or actuates an item stored within the cavity;   wherein the cavity is formed in the heel during manufacture of the heel by providing at least one of a surround and a last within one of a footwear heel mould and a footwear sole mould, and then adding a heel material in a fluid form into the mould about at least one of the surround and last.   
     
     
         31 . The footwear heel according to  claim 30 , wherein the heel is integrated into a footwear sole, mid-sole or outer-sole. 
     
     
         32 . The footwear heel according to  claim 30 , wherein the heel forms part of an item of footwear. 
     
     
         33 . The footwear heel according to  claim 30 , wherein the access opening includes a recessed lip region for receiving a peripheral edge region of the cover, the lip region being sufficiently recessed to receive the lid in an at least substantially flush configuration within the lip region. 
     
     
         34 . The footwear heel according to  claim 30 , wherein the cavity includes a generally curved and smooth cavity wall. 
     
     
         35 . The footwear heel according to  claim 34 , wherein the cavity has a shape at least approximating one of a tear drop, ellipsoid, obround, spherical, oblate spheroid, prolate spheroid, horseshoe, trapezium or rounded shape. 
     
     
         36 . The footwear heel according to  claim 30 , including a surround having a rigid or semi-rigid wall for protecting the storage cavity and any item stored within the cavity. 
     
     
         37 . The footwear heel according to  claim 30 , wherein the cover includes a force dampening layer to dampen any impact received by the cover while being worn by a wearer. 
     
     
         38 . The footwear heel according to  claim 30 , including padding material provided in the cavity for receiving an item therein. 
     
     
         39 . The footwear heel according to  claim 38 , the padding material having a padding opening for receiving the item within the padding material. 
     
     
         40 . The footwear heel according to  claim 30 , wherein the access opening is provided inside the footwear underneath a foot-bed or foot-bed portion, the foot-bed or foot-bed portion including a fold-back crease to provide access to the cover. 
     
     
         41 . The footwear heel according to  claim 30 , wherein the access opening is provided inside the footwear underneath a foot-bed or foot-bed portion, the foot-bed or foot-bed portion including a cut-out section to provide access to the cover. 
     
     
         42 . The footwear heel according to  claim 30 , wherein the cover includes a lock to prevent unauthorised removal of the cover for covering the access opening. 
     
     
         43 . The footwear heel according to  claim 42 , wherein the lock is a releasable lock to provide access to the access opening by removing the cover. 
     
     
         44 . The footwear heel according to  claim 30 , wherein the cavity includes a cavity item having a power supply device and a wireless power transmitting device for use with at least one of a wearable technology device, an implantable technology device and a near field/proximity technology device wherein, in use, the wireless power transmitting device wirelessly transmits energy from the power supply to each wearable technology device, implantable technology device and near field/proximity technology device so as to power each wearable technology device, implantable technology device and near field/proximity technology device. 
     
     
         45 . The footwear heel according to  claim 44 , wherein the power supply device includes an energy generation device and an energy storage device. 
     
     
         46 . The footwear heel according to  claim 44 , wherein electronic componentry of at least one of the power supply device and wireless power transmitting device is embedded within the surround. 
     
     
         47 . The footwear heel according to  claim 44 , wherein striking of the heel, such as when the item of footwear is being worn, generates energy in the power supply device. 
     
     
         48 . The footwear heel according to  claim 37 , wherein, in use, the force dampening layer is used in the calibration of force used to generate energy by a power supply device. 
     
     
         49 . A pair of footwear heels, with each heel of the pair of footwear heels in accordance with  claim 30 , with a first heel of the pair of heels associated with an item of footwear for a left foot, and a second heel of the pair of heels associated with an item of footwear for a right foot. 
     
     
         50 . The pair of footwear heels according to  claim 49 , with the cavity provided in each heel including a power supply device and a wireless power transmitting device, with power supply device and wireless power transmitting device of one heel being designated as a primary power supply device and wireless power transmitting device, and the power supply and wireless power transmitting device of the other heel being designated as a back-up power supply and wireless transmitting device for use in the event of failure of one or both of the primary power supply and wireless power transmitting devices. 
     
     
         51 . The footwear heel according to  claim 30 , wherein the cover is received within the recessed lip region with a friction fit or screw fit. 
     
     
         52 . A method of manufacturing a footwear heel, comprising the steps of:
 providing at least one of a surround and a last within one of a footwear heel mould and a footwear sole mould;   adding a heel material in a fluid form into the mould about at least one of the surround and last to form a storage cavity for storing an item within the heel;   the cavity formed with an access opening to provide access to the storage cavity through the inside of an associated shoe; and   providing a removable cover for covering the access opening wherein the cover is deformable, such that deformation of the cover by a wearer while wearing the footwear deforms or actuates an item stored within the cavity.   
     
     
         53 . The method of manufacturing a footwear heel according to  claim 52 , the surround or last including an integrated barrier preventing the heel material from flowing into an upper of an associated item of footwear during the step of adding the heel material in fluid form to the mould. 
     
     
         54 . The method of manufacturing a footwear heel according to  claim 53 , wherein the method utilises a surround, and the barrier is provided about an upper peripheral region of the surround, and the method further includes fitting the barrier snugly within, above or underneath an insole layer of the item of footwear. 
     
     
         55 . The method of manufacturing a footwear heel according to  claim 53 , wherein the method utilises a last, and the barrier is formed about the last. 
     
     
         56 . The method of manufacturing a footwear heel according to  claim 52 , wherein the step of adding a material to one of a footwear heel mould and a footwear sole mould about the surround or last, is undertaken using one of a direct injection, all moulded, casting, pouring or vulcanising processes.