Apparatus and related methods for securing the heel of a foot within footwear

Abstract

A device for directly securing the heel of the foot of a wearer to the interior of a rear heel cap of a shoe. The device can include a first portion for adhering directly to the skin of the heel of the wearer's foot. The device can include a second portion for adhering directly to the material of the interior heel of the shoe. The device can be particularly useful in connection with shoes leaving the upper portion of the foot exposed without securing straps and having high heels. The device is subject to a shear force between the first and second portions when worn as opposed to a tensile force more commonly exhibited when a base of an implement is attached to the sole of a shoe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device for securing a heel portion of the heel of the wearer's foot to a heel cap of footwear, comprising:
 a foot attaching portion including:
 a first attaching surface of the foot attaching portion having an adhesive for adhering the foot attaching portion directly to the heel of a person's foot; and 
 a second mating surface of the foot attaching portion including a first mechanically interlocking surface; 
   a shoe attaching portion including;
 a first attaching surface of the shoe attaching portion having an adhesive for adhering the shoe attaching portion directly to the interior of a heel cap of a shoe; and 
 a second mating surface of the shoe attaching portion including a second mechanically interlocking surface. 
   
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first attaching surface of the foot attaching portion is configured to attach directly to the skin of the heel of the wearer using bio-compatible adhesive. 
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and second mechanically interlocking surfaces each include a hook and/or loop mechanically interlocking surface. 
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the second mating surface of the shoe attaching portion includes a fabric material. 
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 4 , wherein the fabric material includes a knit fabric material. 
     
     
         6 . A device according to  claim 5 , wherein the first mating surface of the foot attaching portion includes a plurality of rough or hook features for mating with the knit fabric surface of the first mating surface. 
     
     
         7 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device includes a portion defined by a bean shaped outer perimeter. 
     
     
         8 . A device according to  claim 7 , wherein the shoe attaching portion is bean shaped and the foot attaching portion is rectangular shaped. 
     
     
         9 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein a thickness of the device is less than 5 millimeters. 
     
     
         10 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the height of the device is defined by a profile of a rear heel cap of a shoe to which the device is to be attached and is less than 1.5 inches. 
     
     
         11 . A shoe comprising the device according to  claim 1 , wherein the shoe attaching portion of the device is attached directly to a heel cap of a rear portion of the shoe when worn by the wearer. 
     
     
         12 . A kit of devices for securing a heel cap of a shoe to a heel of a foot of a wearer of the shoe, comprising
 a shoe attaching portion sized, shaped and configured to adhere directly to the interior of a heel cap of a shoe upper;   a foot attaching portion sized, shaped and configured to adhere directly to the heel of the foot of the wearer, wherein:   the shoe attaching portion has a shoe attaching surface and a mating surface;   the foot attaching portion has a foot attaching surface and a mating surface; and   the mating surface of the shoe attaching portion is configured to mate with the mating surface of the foot attaching portion to directly mechanically secure the heel of the foot to the heel cap of the shoe.   
     
     
         13 . A kit of devices for securing the heel cap of the shoe to the heel of the foot of the wearer according to  claim 12 , further comprising a plurality of the foot attaching portions for removable replacement to the heel of the wearer's foot. 
     
     
         14 . A kit of devices for securing the heel cap of the shoe to the heel of the foot of the wearer according to  claim 12 , wherein the shoe attaching portion includes an adhesive for more permanent adhesion directly to the interior of a heel cap of a shoe upper as compared to the permanency of direct adhesion of the foot attaching portion adhered directly to the heel of the foot of the wearer. 
     
     
         15 . A kit of devices for securing the heel cap of the shoe to the heel of the foot of the wearer according to  claim 12 , wherein the shoe attaching portion is subject to a shear force relative to the foot attaching portion during use. 
     
     
         16 . A kit of devices for securing the heel cap of the shoe to the heel of the foot of the wearer according to  claim 15 , wherein the shoe attaching devices are designed to be disposed over the rear portion of the heel of the wearer during use so as to be oriented substantially vertically with respect to a sole of the shoe when worn. 
     
     
         17 . A method of manufacturing a device for directly securing a heel of a foot of a wearer to an interior heel cap of a shoe upper, comprising:
 selecting a bio-compatible adhesive for adhering a foot attaching portion of the device directly to the heel of the foot of the wearer;   selecting an adhesive for adhering a shoe attaching portion of the device directly to the interior surface of a heel cap of the shoe;   manufacturing the foot attaching portion including:
 a first surface of the foot attaching portion having the bio-compatible adhesive for adhering the foot attaching portion directly to the heel of the wearer's foot; and 
 a second mating surface of the foot attaching portion including a first mechanically interlocking surface; 
   a shoe attaching portion including;
 a first surface of the shoe attaching portion having the adhesive for adhering the shoe attaching portion directly to the interior of the heel cap of the shoe; and 
 a second mating surface of the shoe attaching portion including a second mechanically interlocking surface. 
   
     
     
         18 . A method of manufacturing a device according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 selecting the first and second interlocking surfaces based on a shear force applied thereto when the shoe and device is worn by the wearer.   
     
     
         19 . A method of manufacturing a device according to  claim 18 , wherein the shear force includes a sliding force of the heel of the foot against the interior of the heel cap of the shoe. 
     
     
         20 . A method of manufacturing a device according to  claim 17 , wherein the first and second interlocking surfaces include hook and loop features. 
     
     
         21 . A method of manufacturing according to  claim 17 , wherein the first and second interlocking surfaces include a fabric material. 
     
     
         22 . A method of manufacturing according to  claim 17 , further comprising consideration of the shape of the heel of the foot to create a bean shaped device that extends over the top of the heel and around the sides of the heel.