US3481053A - Plastic shoe heel - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 2, 1969 DE FELJCE 3,481,053

' EEL Filed Nov. 4, 1968 a I INVENTO AMEDIO FELICE BY v ATTORNEY United States Patent O 3,481,053 PLASTIC SHOE HEEL Amedio P. De Felice, 251 Florence St., Leominster, Mass. 01453 Filed Nov. 4, 1968, Ser. No. 773,124 Int. Cl. A43b 21/20 US. C]. 36-36 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE each pin having a pair of diametrically opposed relatively soft fins running along the same in a general longitudinal direction, and each of the recesses being provided with a pair of spaced, annular ribs at the interior thereof, the fins on the pins having their edges spaced apart a greater distance than the internal diameter of said ribs, forming mechanical locking means for the lift to the main body of the heel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Plastic shoe heels particularly for ladies shoes have long been made, but it has always been a problem to provide lifts therefor which are adequately secured thereto for the prevention of accidental displacement, especially where it is desired to secure the lift to the heel without the use of adhesives.

The prior art has provided a heel with a plurality of recesses and a lift with a plurality of corresponding pins which are slightly tapering, the idea being to frictionally hold the pins in the recesses. Due to the fact that the plastic molded material shrinks and more especially because the lift is made of a less rigid material than the main body of the heel, the shrinkage is different in the two pieces. This makes it very difficult to hold tolerances to such a degree that the lift is easily applied to the heel by means of the pins, and still firmly holds. Where the lift is able to closely engage the corresponding he'el surface as is of course desirable, the pins in most cases will not adequately hold. In cases where the pins hold adequately, it is difficult to fully seat the lift. In large part, this is because in some instances the pins may have a firmly engaging contact with its recess at one portion only thereof, or even no engagement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In this invention the lift is molded of softer material than the heel body and is provided with a plurality of pins, preferably three, arranged as for instance at the corners of an isosceles triangle, each pin having a pair of longitudinal diametrically opposed relatively small sharp edged fins extending therefrom from the base of the pin to or adjacent to the free end thereof.

The heel body is molded of harder material and has molded therein a series of recesses or receptacles, one for each pin. In each of these recesses or receptacles there is provided a pair of inwardly directed annular ridges or ribs of rounded contour and section, these ridges or ribs being located in planes parallel to the face of the heel receiving the lift.

The pins are provided with a slight clearance so that they easily fit within the recesses but the fins thereon are deformed by the annular ribs, as the pins enter .the recesses. The fins are thus reduced in total diameter, and then expand behind the annular ribs toward the interior Wall of the respective recess to form four mechanical locking means for each pin. This means that where there "ice are three pins, there are twelve mechanical locks between the lift and the heel. It is of course to be noted that there may be as many pins in corresponding recesses in the respective heel body as may be found desirable, but experience has shown that three is usually sufficient.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DMWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation illustrating a form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a lift illustrating the pins thereon;

FIG. 3 is a view in elevation illustrating the lift and one of its pins on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the heel body showing one of the recesses therein to receive the pin on the lift as shown in FIG. 3, and

FIG. 5 is a top plan view looking in the direction of arrow 5 in FIG. 3.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION As shown in FIG. 1 the heel consists of two parts, the main body 10 and the lift 12. The lift has a series of outstanding pins 14 thereon, these being received in recesses 16 in the main body 10 for frictionally securing the lift to the heel. The heel body 10 is molded of a suitable plastic and the lift 12 is molded of another but different suitable plastic of a softer nature as will be well recognized by those familiar with the art since the lift is desired to absorb shock.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that each of the pins 14 is slightly tapered, this shape aiding in the entrance of the narrow free ends as for instance at 18 of the pins 14 into the recesses 16 in the heel body portion 10. These recesses may be slightly enlarged at the entrance portion thereof as at 20 to further assist in centering the pins. There are of course more than one of these pins, preferably three, located in the positions shown in FIG. 2 where there are two pins adjacent the breast line 22 and one pin at the rear portion of the heel at 24. There may of course be as many pins and corresponding recesses as may be necessary.

Longitudinally located along diametrically opposite sides of each pin 14 are a pair of fins indicated at 26, 26. Theseribs are essentially the same and are preferably relatively sharply edged as is illustrated in FIG. 5 It will be seen that these fins are therefore triangular in section, and While they are shown to be diametrically opposed, this particular arrangement is of course not essential in all cases.

It will be noted from FIG. 2 that the fins 26 are shown as located diametrically opposite each other in each instance and that the two fins on each of the two pins adjacent the breast line 22 are located at an appropriate fortyfive degree angle with respect to said breast line; whereas a plane passing through the two fins 26 on the pin 14 close to the rear of the heel is generally parallel to the breast line 22. This arrangement provides that the fins point in different directions.

Referring now to FIG. 4 where one of the recesses to receive one of the pins is shown in detail, it will be seen that the same has a longitudinal dimension greater than that of the respective pin so as to provide for fully seating the pin in the recess. Also the overall diameter at any point in the recess is very slightly greater than the diameter at the corresponding point on the pin 14. This makes for easy assembly of the pins in the recesses in spite of different shrinkage of the two different materials.

Each recess in the heel body 10 is provided with at least two interior annular ribs or ridges 28 and 30. These are spaced apart and each one lies in a plane parallel to the surface 32 which is usually flat and receives in contacting relationship the upper surface 34 of the lift 12. The crosssectional shape of the annular ribs at 28 and 30 is preferably smooth and rounded.

With the above construction in mind, it will be seen that the lift 12 is easily applied to the heel body 10. The proportions of the pins to the recesses is such that the pins easily enter the recesses, but when the fins 26 engage the annular ribs 28 and 30 they are deformed inwardly with respect thereto, i.e., the overall diameter from sharp edge to sharp edge of the longitudinal fins 26 is reduced at any particular increment thereof which contacts a rib 28 or 30. However, upon passing the respective annular rib 28 or 30, the relatively soft material of the fins 26, 26 expands into its normal position and when the lift is seated with surface 34 against surface 32 of the heel body, the proportions are such that the material of each of the fins is expanded behind (in an upward direction in FIG. 4) to the respective annular rib. This therefore forms four mechanical locks between each pin and each recess, there being two diametrically opposed locks for each of the annular ribs 28 and 30.

It will be seen that the construction provided by this invention insures that the lifts shall be received in the exact location called for and that they are very easy to assemble, the narrow ends of the pins easily entering the oversize recesses. At the same time, mechanical locks are formed between the respective pins and their recesses, but frictional contact between the remainder of the surfaces of the pins is not depended upon to secure the pins in position, and therefore they have to closely contact for a good securement. This insures a complete penetration of each pin into its respective recess as well as positive holding thereof when seated.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

1. A heel construction comprising a molded plastic heel member, a lift member therefor, interengaging means between the lift and the heel members securing the lift member in position on the heel member, said interengaging means comprising a pin of resilient material on one member and a cooperating recess in the other member,

said recess having a slightly larger cross section than said 4 pin at the same position when said lift is secured to said heel member, a relatively longitudinal extending deformable fin on the pin and a cooperating protruding element in the recess, said fin being deformable by the element as the lift is attached to the heel by forcing the pin in the recess and then expanding behind the element to mechanically locking the lift member to the heel member.

2. The heel construction of claim 1 wherein the pin is provided with a pair of outstanding fins.

3. The heel construction of claim 1 wherein the pin is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed outstanding fins.

4. The heel construction of claim 1 wherein the protruding element in the recess comprises an annular rib extending inwardly from the interior wall of the recess.

5. The heel construction of claim 1 wherein the protruding element in the recess comprises a pair of spaced annular ribs extending inwardly from the interior wall of the recess.

6. The heel construction of claim 1 wherein the protruding element in the recess comprises an annular rib extending inwardly from the interior wall of the recess.

7. The heel construction of claim 1 wherein there is a plurality of pins on each lift member and a fin on each pin, the corresponding recesses being in the heel member.

8. The heel construction of claim 7 wherein each pin is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed outstanding fins, said fins extending in different directions.

9. The heel constructon of claim 7 wherein each pin is provided with a pair of diametrically opposed outstanding fins, said fins extending in different directions and being located in planes inclined with respect to each other.

10. A heel and a lift therefor, a plurality of pins on the lift, a plurality of corresponding recesses in the heel, the pins being seated in the recesses,

means mechanically holding each pin in its respective recess, said means comprising a longitudinal extending fin of resilient material on each pin and an annular inwardly directed rib in the recess, said recess having a slightly greater cross section than said pin at the same position when said lift is secured to said heel, the material of the fin being deformable so as to pass said rib and then expanding behind the rib in a direction toward the bottom of the recess when the lift is seated properly on the heel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 953,099 3/1910 Nash 36-36 2,734,288 2/1956 Phillips et a1. 2,923,071 2/1960 Whitted 3636 ALFRED R. GUEST, Primary Examiner

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