Patent · US Expired

Pivotal heel for footwear

US5282327A · kind A · utility

94Cited by
7References
11Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 16, 1993
Grant dateFeb 1, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 16, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
  • CPC primaryA43B11/00
  • WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A shoe has a retractable heel which is normally latched in an upright position and spring biased into an inclined position. A wearer's foot, when the shoe is donned, acts on a floor member, forcing the heel section into the upright position, causing the heel section to latch to the shoe. The shoe is thus maintained in the donned state, and grips the foot without laces or other attachment devices. A release mechanism is operated by a rod projecting from the rear of the shoe. Release is actuated by moving the shoe rear end against any solid object, thus depressing the release rod. A wearer thus dons the shoe by stepping into it, and releases the heel in order to doff the shoe by manipulating the shoe by foot. Thus, a wearer does not need to use his or her hands either to don or doff the shoe.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.