Heel pad having a malleable member and method of use

Abstract

A heel pad for placement within a shoe and a method of use. The heel pad includes a pliable body, a filler element contained within the pliable body, and a malleable member fastened within the pliable body and extending along at least part of a length of the pliable body. In use, the heel pad is positioned in a heel section of the shoe. A longitudinal end of the heel pad is folded along an upper edge of the heel section of the shoe. The folded longitudinal end of the heel pad is affixed to an outer surface of the heel section of the shoe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heel pad for placement within a shoe, the heel pad comprising:
 a pliable body;   a filler element contained within the pliable body; and   a malleable member fastened within the pliable body and extending along at least part of a length of the pliable body.   
     
     
         2 . The heel pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the malleable member comprises a metal material. 
     
     
         3 . The heel pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the malleable member comprises a metal material inserted within a fabric covering. 
     
     
         4 . The heel pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the pliable body has a shape configured to fit the back of a wearer's heel. 
     
     
         5 . The heel pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the pliable body is constructed from a fabric sheet. 
     
     
         6 . The heel pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the filler element comprises a material having soft, flexible, and moldable properties. 
     
     
         7 . The heel pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the filler element comprises a polyester pile, beads, foam, multiple sheets of polyester, microfiber, or gel. 
     
     
         8 . The heel pad according to  claim 1 , wherein a shoe side of the pliable body is mounted to an inner surface of a heel section of the shoe such that the heel pad is integrated with the heel section of the shoe. 
     
     
         9 . The heel pad according to  claim 1 , wherein a shoe side of the pliable body is releasably attached to an inner surface of a heel section of the shoe using a fastener such that the heel pad is attached and detached from the heel section of the shoe. 
     
     
         10 . The heel pad according to  claim 1 , wherein the malleable member is fastened to the pliable body with stitching. 
     
     
         11 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a shoe having an insole coupled to a heel section; and.   a heel pad positioned in the heel section of the shoe, the heel pad comprising:
 a pliable body; 
 a filler element contained within the pliable body; and 
 a malleable member fastened within the pliable body and extending along at least part of a length of the pliable body; 
   wherein the malleable member is bent to fold a longitudinal end of the pliable body along an upper edge of the heel section of the shoe and affix the end of the pliable body to an outer surface of the heel section of the shoe.   
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear according to  claim 11 , further comprising an extender heel pad positioned along part of a foot side of the heel pad, the extender heel pad comprises a pliable body having a filler element therein. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear according to  claim 12 , wherein the extender heel pad is mounted to part of the foot side of the heel pad and a shoe side of the heel pad is mounted to an inner surface of the heel section of the shoe such that the heel pad and extender heel pad are integrated with the heel section of the shoe. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear according to  claim 12 , wherein the extender heel pad is mounted to part of the foot side of the heel pad and a shoe side of the heel pad is mounted to an inner surface of the heel section of the shoe such that the extender heel pad is attached and detached from the heel pad and the heel pad is attached and detached from the inner surface of the heel section of the shoe. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear according to claim.  11 , wherein a shoe side of the pliable body is mounted to an inner surface of the heel section of the shoe such that the heel pad is integrated with the heel section of the shoe. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear according to  claim 11 , wherein a shoe side of the pliable body is releasably attached to an inner surface of the heel section of the shoe using a fastener such that the heel pad is attached and detached from the heel section of the shoe. 
     
     
         17 . A method of using a heel pad for a shoe, the method comprising:
 providing the heel pad, the heel pad comprising:
 a pliable body; 
 a filler element contained within the pliable body; and 
 a malleable member fastened within the pliable body and extending along at least part of a length of the pliable body; 
   positioning the heel pad along an inner surface of a heel section of the shoe;   folding a longitudinal end of the heel pad along an upper edge of the heel section of the shoe; and   affixing the folded longitudinal end of the heel pad to an outer surface of the heel section of the shoe.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the malleable member comprises a metal material. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the pliable body has a shape configured to fit the back of a wearer's heel. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the pliable body is constructed from a fabric sheet.