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US 8,112,906 B2Granted
Article of footwear with interchangeable heels
AssigneeNIKE, Inc.
InventorSeung Min Paik
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An article of footwear includes a group of interchangeable heels. Each heel in the group may be removably associated with the article of footwear. A finger-operable locking mechanism prevents a heel that has been secured to the article of footwear from unintentionally moving toward a toe region. Similarly, a tab positioned at the rear of the article of footwear inhibits a heel that has been secured to the article of footwear from unintentionally moving away from the toe region.
Claims20
An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper configured to receive any of a group of heels, the upper having toe region, a heel region, and a cavity disposed between the toe region and the heel region;
- a locking mechanism disposed on the upper and configured to retain a heel in position until intentionally removed by a user;
- the locking mechanism including a base configured to bend inwardly into the cavity to release the heel from the upper and a vertical portion protruding outwardly away from the base and the upper;
- wherein the vertical portion includes a vertical surface configured to abut a leading edge of the heel;
- a tab configured to engage a slot on the heel, wherein the tab is disposed on a rear edge of the heel region such that the heel is positioned between the locking mechanism and the tab when the upper is assembled with the heel;
- a first protruding member configured to engage a first receiving portion on the heel, wherein the first protruding member is disposed between the locking mechanism and the tab;
- and
- wherein the tab and the first protruding member are substantially the same height.
5 more elements
A footwear system comprising:
- an upper having a toe region, a heel region, and a longitudinal axis extending through the toe region and the heel region;
- a heel receiving surface disposed on the upper;
- a first protruding member having a first stem extending away from the heel receiving surface and a first extension extending from and end of the first stem toward the toe region;
- a first heel having a first receiving portion configured to engage with the first protruding member;
- a second heel having a second receiving portion configured to engage with the first protruding member;
- the heel receiving surface including a tab, wherein the tab includes a wall extending from a point on the heel region furthest from the toe region and a flange extending from an end of the wall toward the toe region and wherein the wall is configured to abut a rear side of both the first heel and the second heel and wherein the flange has a width that is less than the width of the upper;
- wherein the first protruding member and the tab are both substantially the same height and are both substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the upper;
- the first heel having a first slot configured to receive the tab;
- and
- the second heel having a second slot configured to receive the tab.
7 more elements
A footwear system comprising:
- an upper having a toe region and a heel region;
- a heel receiving surface disposed on the upper;
- a tab including a wall extending from an edge of the heel receiving surface in a location opposite the toe region and a flange extending from the wall toward the toe region, the flange having a width that is less than the width of the upper;
- a first protruding member disposed between the toe region and the tab and having a first stem extending away from the heel receiving surface and a first extension extending from the stem toward the toe region;
- wherein the first protruding member and the tab are both substantially the same height;
- a group of heels configured to be removably attached to the heel receiving surface, wherein each heel includes a slot disposed on a rear side of the heel and configured to receive the flange of the tab and wherein each heel includes an insertion chamber configured to receive the first protruding member;
- wherein the wall of the tab is configured to be exposed and to abut the rear side of each of the heels when each of the heels is engaged with the heel receiving surface;
- a locking mechanism disposed on the heel receiving surface between the first protruding member and the toe portion;
- the locking mechanism comprising a spring and a vertical surface;
- wherein the spring is configured to be compressed into the upper to release the locking mechanism;
- and
- wherein the vertical surface is configured to abut a corresponding surface on a front side of each heel in the group of heels.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.