Reversible heel counter for shoes

A shoe, comprising:

• an insole, having a longitudinal axis along the center of a bottom surface of the insole;
• two quarters, fastened to the insole at a lower edge of the quarters to form a heel, the quarters also having an upper edge;
• a heel counter, fastened to the quarters at the heel to form a stiffened area at the heel counter, the heel counter having a shape smaller than, but at least roughly corresponding to the shape of that portion of the insole which is adjacent the heel counter when the heel counter is used as a heel seat, the heel counter extending from the upper edge for more than half the distance toward the insole, but ending before reaching the insole to form a flexible segment of the quarters between the end of the heel counter and the insole, about which the heel counter can rotate so as to place the heel counter against the insole to be used as a heel seat, wherein at least one of the quarters urges the heel counter to remain in the heel seat position when positioned for use as a heel seat, and to remain in the heel counter position when positioned for use as a heel counter;
• and
• a hinge in each of the quarters extending from the upper edge toward the longitudinal axis below the heel counter, the hinge formed by a cut in the quarters which has been rejoined by a merrow stitch, the heel counter being located between the hinges.

A shoe, comprising:

• an insole having a longitudinal axis along the center of a bottom surface of the insole;
• two quarters fastened to the insole at a lower edge of the quarters to form a heel, the quarters having an upper edge;
• a heel counter fastened to the quarters at the heel to form a stiffened area at the heel counter, the heel counter having a shape smaller than, but at least roughly corresponding to the shape of that portion of the insole which is adjacent the heel counter when the heel counter is used as a heel seat, the heel counter extending from the upper edge for more than half the distance toward the insole, but ending before reaching the insole to form a flexible segment of the quarters between the end of the heel counter and the insole, about which the heel counter can rotate so as to place the heel counter against the insole to be used as a heel seat, wherein at least one of the quarters urges the heel counter to remain in the heel seat position when positioned for use as a heel seat, and to remain in the heel counter position when positioned for use as a heel counter;
• and
• a hinge in each of the quarters extending from the upper edge toward the longitudinal axis below the heel counter, each hinge having a hinge line formed by a cut in the quarters, made out of fabric suitable for use with deck shoes, which has been rejoined by a merrow stitch, the heel counter being located between the hinges.

A shoe, comprising:

• an insole, having a longitudinal axis along the center of a bottom surface of the insole;
• two quarters, fastened to the insole at a lower edge of the quarters to form a heel, the quarters also having an upper edge;
• a heel counter, fastened to the quarters at the heel to form a stiffened area at the heel counter, the heel counter having a shape smaller than, but at least roughly corresponding to the shape of that portion of the insole which is adjacent the heel counter when the heel counter is used as a heel seat, the heel counter extending from the upper edge for more than half the distance toward the insole, but ending before reaching the insole to form a flexible segment of the quarters between the end of the heel counter and the insole, about which the heel counter can rotate so as to place the heel counter against the insole to be used as a heel seat, wherein the flexible segment urges the heel counter to remain in the heel seat position when positioned for use as a heel seat, and to remain in the heel counter position when positioned for use as a heel counter;
• and
• a hinge in each of the quarters extending from the upper edge toward the longitudinal axis below the heel counter, the hinge comprising a cut in the quarters which has been rejoined by a merrow stitch, the heel counter being located between the hinges.

A shoe, comprising:

• an insole having a longitudinal axis along the center of a bottom surface of the insole;
• two quarters fastened to the insole at a lower edge of the quarters to form a heel, the quarters having an upper edge;
• a heel counter fastened to the quarters at the heel to form a stiffened area at the heel counter, the heel counter having a shape smaller than, but at least roughly corresponding to the shape of that portion of the insole which is adjacent the heel counter when the heel counter is used as a heel seat, the heel counter extending from the upper edge for more than half the distance toward the insole, but ending before reaching the insole to form a flexible segment of the quarters between the end of the heel counter and the insole, about which the heel counter can rotate so as to place the heel counter against the insole to be used as a heel seat, wherein the flexible segment urges the heel counter to remain in the heel seat position when positioned for use as a heel seat, and to remain in the heel counter position when positioned for use as a heel counter;
• and
• a hinge in each of the quarters extending from the upper edge toward the longitudinal axis below the heel counter, each hinge having a hinge line formed by a cut in the quarters, made out of fabric suitable for use with deck shoes, which has been rejoined by a merrow stitch, the heel counter being located between the hinges.

A shoe, comprising:

• an insole, having a longitudinal axis along the center of a bottom surface of the insole;
• two quarters fastened to the insole to form a heel, the quarters having an upper edge;
• a heel counter, connected to the upper edge of the quarters and extending down toward, but not terminating before reaching the insole, for supporting the heel of a wearer's foot in a heel counter position, when positioned for use as a heel counter, and for acting as a heel seat when placed in a heel seat position, adjacent the insole, the heel counter having a width that is greatest adjacent the upper edge;
• hinge means, comprising a butt joint fastened together by a merrow stitch, in each of the quarters, for selectively repositioning the heel counter between the heel counter position and the heel seat position;
• and
• foxing connecting the quarters to the insole, wherein the hinge means extends from the upper edge of the quarter toward the lower edge of the quarter at a joint line, at an angle of between 25.degree. to 35.degree. with respect to a plane substantially parallel to the foxing.

A method for assembling the quarters of shoes, comprising the steps of:

• cutting quarters along at least a portion of a line running from an upper edge of the quarter, toward a lower edge of the quarters adjacent a heel portion of the quarters;
• restitching the cut to form hinge lines;
• joining the quarters;
• and
• fastening a heel counter to the joined quarters with the heel counter depending from the upper edge of the quarters toward the lower edges, but terminating spaced from the lower edge.