Heel protector
AssigneeStacie A. Urbach
InventorsStacie A. Urbach, David Conroy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A heel protector is disclosed. The heel protector includes a stem portion having a body and at least one retaining portion. A channel is formed between the body and the at least one retaining portion. A biasing portion extends from the stem portion. The biasing portion includes an opening therein. A leaf portion extends from the biasing portion. A shoe and heel protector assembly is also disclosed. A method of using the heel protector to protect the heel and waist of a shoe is also disclosed.
Claims36
A heel protector comprising:
- a stem portion having a body including at least one retaining portion, and a channel formed between the body and the at least one retaining portion;
- a biasing portion extending from the stem portion, the biasing portion including an opening therein;
- and
- a leaf portion extending from the biasing portion.
A shoe and heel protector assembly comprising:
- a heel protector comprising:
- a stem portion having a body including at least one retaining portion, and a channel formed between the body and the at least one retaining portion;
- a biasing portion extending from the stem portion, the biasing portion including an opening therein;
- and
- a leaf portion extending from the biasing portion, and
- a shoe having a heel and a waist disposed forward of the heel and the heel extending through the opening and into the channel such that the heel urges the at least one retaining portion away from the channel.
A method of retaining a heel protector on a shoe heel comprising the steps of:
- providing a shoe comprising a heel and a waist disposed forward of the heel;
- providing a heel protector comprising:
- a stem portion having a body and at least one retaining portion, and a channel formed between the body and the at least one retaining portion;
- a biasing portion extending from the stem portion, the biasing portion including an opening therein;
- and
- a leaf portion extending from the biasing portion;
- inserting the heel through the opening;
- and
- inserting the heel into the channel such that the leaf portion engages the waist.
A method of protecting a heel and a waist of a shoe comprising the steps of:
- providing a heel protector comprising:
- a stem portion having a body and at least one retaining portion, and a channel formed between the body and the at least one retaining portion;
- a biasing portion extending from the stem portion, the biasing portion including an opening therein;
- and
- a leaf portion extending from the biasing portion;
- providing a shoe comprising a heel and a waist disposed forward of the heel;
- and
- fitting the heel protector over the heel with the stem portion protecting the heel and the leaf portion protecting the waist.
A method of resisting rotation of a heel protector about a heel on which the heel protector is fitted, comprising the steps of:
- providing a heel protector comprising:
- a stem portion having a body and at least one retaining portion, and a channel formed between the body and the at least one retaining portion;
- a biasing portion extending from the stem portion, the biasing portion including an opening therein;
- and
- a leaf portion extending from the biasing portion, the leaf portion including at least one leaf tip extending from the leaf portion, away from the biasing portion;
- providing a shoe comprising a heel and a waist disposed forward of the heel;
- and
- fitting the heel protector over the heel with the stem portion protecting the heel and the at least one leaf tip engaging the waist, the at least one leaf tip frictionally engaging the waist.
A method of indicating wear on a heel tip comprising the steps of:
- providing a heel protector comprising:
- a stem portion having:
- a body;
- at least one retaining portion;
- a channel formed between the body and the at least one retaining portion;
- and
- a top lift tab extending away from the body;
- a biasing portion extending from the stem portion, the biasing portion including an opening therein;
- and
- a leaf portion extending from the biasing portion;
- providing a shoe comprising a heel and a top lift extending away from the heel;
- fitting the heel protector over the heel such that the top lift tab is flush with the top lift;
- and
- correlating wear of the top lift tab with wear of the top lift.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.