Replaceable Heel System for Footwear

Abstract

The problems of easily lost locking pins and lack of compatibility with traditional footwear in providing replaceable heel systems for the footwear are solved by a heel system comprising a locking unit having a first bore and a shoulder in the first bore; a heel unit having a second bore; and a locking member in the first bore, wherein the heel unit is attachable and detachable to the locking unit by sliding the heel unit, wherein the locking member extends from the first bore into the second bore when the footwear assumes ordinary orientations, wherein the locking member is disposed into the first bore when the footwear assumes out of the ordinary positions, and wherein the locking member has a stop which engages the shoulder in the first bore.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A heel system for footwear comprising:
 a locking unit having defined therein a first bore and a shoulder n the first bore;   a heel unit having defined therein a second bore; and   a locking member in the first bore, wherein the heel unit is attachable and detachable to the locking unit by sliding the heel unit,   wherein at least a portion of the locking member extends from the first bore into the second bore thereby preventing the heel unit from being slid when the footwear assumes ordinary orientations,   wherein the locking member is disposed into the first bore thereby allowing the heel unit to be slid when the footwear assumes out of the ordinary orientations, and   wherein the locking member has a stop which engages the shoulder in the first bore which retains the locking member at least in part in the first bore when the locking member is disposed into the second bore in the heel unit.   
     
     
         2 . The heel system according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking unit is attachable to a sole of the footwear. 
     
     
         3 . The heel system according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking unit has a shape that enables the footwear to take on a traditional appearance when the heel system is attached to the footwear. 
     
     
         4 . The heel system according to  claim 1 , wherein the heel unit has a shape that enables the footwear to take on a traditional appearance when the heel system is attached to the footwear. 
     
     
         5 . The heel system according to  claim 2 , wherein the sole further comprises a sloped surface and the heel unit further comprises an upper surface, and wherein the locking unit has a thickness varying in compliance with the sloped surface of the sole. 
     
     
         6 . The heel system according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking unit has a male beveled member and the heel unit has defined therein a female beveled cavity, and wherein the female beveled cavity and the male beveled member are coupled together by sliding one along the other in such a manner that the locking unit is hidden inside the heel unit. 
     
     
         7 . The heel system according to  claim 5 , where the footwear has a longitudinal axis and wherein the male beveled member of the locking unit has a thickness varying along the longitudinal axis of the footwear. 
     
     
         8 . The heel system according to  claim 5 , where the footwear has a longitudinal axis and wherein the female beveled cavity of the heel unit has depth varying along the longitudinal axis of the footwear. 
     
     
         9 . The heel system according to  claim 1 , where locking member has a proximate end and a distal end, wherein the stop of the locking member is at least adjacent to the proximate end and has a nailhead-like shape capable of being disposed by gravity adjacent to the shoulder of the first bore and where the distal end is capable of extending into the second bore when the stop is adjacent to the shoulder. 
     
     
         10 . The heel system according to  claim 1  wherein the footwear is mens footwear. 
     
     
         11 . A footwear comprising:
 a sole;   a locking unit being attached to the sole, the locking unit having defined therein a first bore and a shoulder in the first bore;   a heel unit having defined therein a second bore; and   a locking member in the first bore, wherein the heel unit is attachable and detachable to the locking unit by sliding the heel unit,   wherein at least a portion of the locking member extends from the first bore into the second bore thereby preventing the heel unit from being slid when the footwear assumes ordinary orientations,   wherein the locking member is disposed into the first bore thereby allowing the heel unit to be slid when the footwear assumes out of the ordinary orientations, and   wherein the locking member has a stop which engages the shoulder in the first bore which retains the locking member at least in part in the first bore when the locking member is disposed into the second bore in the heel unit.   
     
     
         12 . The footwear according to  claim 11 , wherein the locking member has an adjacent end capable of being disposed into a position adjacent to the shoulder of the first bore and a distal end being opposite to the adjacent end capable of extending into the second bore of the heel unit, and wherein the stop has a nailhead-like shape and forms at least a part of the adjacent end. 
     
     
         13 . The footwear according to  claim 11 , wherein the locking unit has a shape that enables the footwear to assume a traditional appearance when the heel system is attached to the footwear. 
     
     
         14 . The footwear according to  claim 11 , wherein the heel unit has a shape that enables the footwear to assume a traditional appearance when the heel system is attached to the footwear. 
     
     
         15 . The footwear according to  claim 11 , wherein the locking unit has a male beveled member and the heel unit has defined therein a female beveled cavity, and wherein the female beveled cavity and the male beveled member are connected together by sliding one along the other in such a manner that the locking unit is hidden inside the heel unit. 
     
     
         16 . The footwear according to  claim 15 , wherein the sole has a sloped surface. 
     
     
         17 . The footwear according to  claim 15 , where the footwear has a longitudinal axis and wherein the locking unit has a thickness varying along a direction of the longitudinal axis of the footwear in conformity with the sloped surface of the sole. 
     
     
         18 . The footwear according to  claim 15 , where the footwear has a longitudinal axis and wherein the female beveled cavity of the heel unit has a thickness varying along a longitudinal axis of the footwear in compliance with the sloped surface of the sole. 
     
     
         19 . The footwear according to  claim 11  which is men's footwear.