Convertible shoe

Abstract

The present invention relates to a convertible shoe, which is convertible between a high heel mode and a low heel mode, the convertible shoe comprising a front part, a first rear part having a heel, and a second rear part having a heel which is lower than the heel of the first rear part, wherein the first and second rear parts are exchangeable, allowing the shoe to be converted between the high heel mode and the low heel mode, wherein the convertible shoe comprises a coupling between the front part and the rear part which allows coupling and uncoupling of the front part and rear part and exchanging the rear part, wherein the coupling comprises a front coupling part provided at a rear end of the front part and a rear coupling part provided at a forward end of the rear part.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A convertible shoe, which is convertible between a high heel mode and a low heel mode, the convertible shoe comprising:
 a front part,   a first rear part having a first heel, and   a second rear part having a second heel which is lower than the heel of the first rear part,   wherein the first and second rear parts are exchangeable, allowing the shoe to be converted between the high heel mode and the low heel mode,   wherein the convertible shoe comprises a coupling between the front part and anyone of the rear parts which allows coupling, uncoupling and exchanging of the first or second rear part, wherein the coupling comprises a front coupling part provided at a rear end of the front part and a rear coupling part provided at a forward end of the first and second rear part,   wherein the front coupling part comprises at least one recess and wherein the rear coupling part comprises at least one protrusion which fits in the recess, and   wherein the coupling comprises a locking device for locking the first or second rear part to the front part, wherein the locking device comprises an operating member for unlocking the coupling and allowing the front part and the first or second rear part to be taken apart.   
     
     
         22 . The convertible shoe according  claim 21 , wherein each of the rear parts comprises a right and left protrusion which define a gap between them, and wherein the front part comprises a right and left recess into which the right and left protrusion fit, wherein the protrusions protrude in particular horizontally from the forward end of the rear part. 
     
     
         23 . The convertible shoe according to  claim 21 , wherein in the locked state of the front part and rear part the locking device is located centrally between the left and right protrusion. 
     
     
         24 . The convertible shoe according to  claim 21 , wherein the operating member is provided on a top side of the convertible shoe and is accessible for a user from the top side of the convertible shoe when the front part and rear part are interconnected. 
     
     
         25 . The convertible shoe according to  claim 21 , wherein the front part comprises the locking device. 
     
     
         26 . The convertible shoe according to  claim 21 , wherein in the locked state the locking device is positioned centrally on the shoe, wherein the locking device is in particular positioned between the left and right protrusion. 
     
     
         27 . The convertible shoe according to  claim 21 , wherein the operating member is configured to be pushed downwards by a user to unlock the coupling and allow the front or second rear part to be removed from the front part, and wherein in particular the operating member is biased by a spring member in an upward direction, wherein the user pushes the operating member downwards against the biasing force to unlock the coupling. 
     
     
         28 . The convertible shoe according to  claim 21 , wherein the operating member is a push button which extends upwards. 
     
     
         29 . The convertible shoe according to  claim 21 , wherein the locking device comprises at least one locking pin, wherein each of the rear parts and in particular the at least one protrusion thereof comprises at least one locking recess into which the locking pin is inserted in a locked state of the convertible shoe, wherein in particular the right and left protrusion each comprise a locking recess and the locking device comprises a first and second locking pin which fit into respectively the first and second locking recesses. 
     
     
         30 . The convertible shoe according to  claim 21 , wherein in top view the locking pin extends over a horizontal distance away from the operating member. 
     
     
         31 . The convertible shoe according to  claim 21 , wherein the front part comprises a first abutment surface at a rear end thereof, which first abutment surface faces in a rearward and upward direction, and wherein each of the rear parts comprises a second abutment surface at a forward end thereof which faces in a forward and downward direction and which is configured to abut the first abutment surface, wherein in side view the first and second abutment surface are tilted in a forward direction over an angle α. 
     
     
         32 . The convertible shoe according to  claim 21 , wherein the front part comprises a rear lower end on which the rear part rests in the assembled state, wherein the rear part does not touch a ground surface at the coupling and only touches the ground surface with a lower end of the heel. 
     
     
         33 . The convertible shoe according to  claim 29 , wherein the at least one locking recess faces downwardly. 
     
     
         34 . The convertible shoe according to  claim 29 , wherein the at least one protrusion comprises a locking portion positioned forward of the at least one locking recess, wherein the at least one locking portion is configured to slide under the at least one locking pin, wherein the locking pin is biased in an upward direction and clicks into the at least one locking recess once the locking portion has slid over the locking pin. 
     
     
         35 . The convertible shoe according to  claim 21 , comprising a right locking pin and a left locking pin which in top view protrude to the left and to the right from the operating member, each of the rear parts comprising a left protrusion having a left locking recess and a right protrusion having a right locking recess, wherein the left locking pin fits in to the left locking recess and the right locking pin fits into the right locking recess. 
     
     
         36 . The convertible shoe according to  claim 21 , wherein each of the rear parts comprises a central rear recess into which the locking device fits. 
     
     
         37 . The convertible shoe according to  claim 21 , wherein the at least one recess is only open at the rear end of the front part and is covered at the top side by a top layer of the front part and is covered on a bottom side by a lower layer of the front part. 
     
     
         38 . A pair of convertible shoes according to  claim 21 , comprising at least one right front part, at least one left front part, at least a first and second right rear part and at least a first and second left rear part, the convertible shoe being convertible between the high heel mode and the low heel mode by exchanging the first right and left rear parts for the second right and left rear parts or vice versa. 
     
     
         39 . A set comprising multiple front parts of a left shoe, multiple front parts of a right shoe, multiple rear parts of a left shoe and multiple rear parts of a right shoe, allowing various combination of front part and rear part for both the left and the right shoe. 
     
     
         40 . A method of manufacturing the convertible shoe according to  claim 21 , the method comprising manufacturing the front coupling member and rear coupling members from a synthetic material by injection moulding.