Replaceable shoe heel spring and stabilizer

• US 5,596,819 A
• Filed: 06/06/1995
• Issued: 01/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Congress Financial Corporation (Wells Fargo & Company)
• Original Assignee: LA Gear Incorporated (ACI International)
• Inventors: Bemis, Jon, Pelsue, David, Goldston, Mark R.
• Primary Examiner(s): DAYOAN, BETHANNE CAROLINE
• Application Number:
  US08/469,793
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 36/27, 36/114, 36/30 R, 36/30 A, 36/32 R, 36/37, 36/38, 36/107, 36/108, 36/28
• US Class Current: 36/35.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 21/26 Resilient heels
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 21/42 Heels with replaceable or adjustable parts , e.g. top lift
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 21/47 by resilient means

Abstract

A replaceable shoe heel spring assembly allows the wearer of a shoe to selectively change the energy absorption and return characteristics of the heel portion of the shoe by changing shoe heel spring cartridges. The wearer activates a release mechanism located on an exterior surface of the shoe and a cartridge containing a shoe heel spring is ejected from a location in the mid-sole of the shoe. Another shoe heel spring cartridge having different energy absorption and return characteristics can then be inserted into the mid-sole. The cartridge is securely held in the mid-sole by a locking mechanism connected to the release mechanism. The shoe heel spring is provided with a cover which matches the material of the mid-sole. The cover assists in preventing debris from entering the mid-sole. The selectable range of energy absorption and return characteristics is limited only by the number of cartridges available.

Claims

1. An athletic shoe comprising:

an upper;

a mid-sole formed from a resilient material;

an out-sole;

absorbing means, selectively replaceable by a user of the athletic shoe, for absorbing shock energy and returning at least a portion of the absorbed shock energy to the foot of the user, wherein the absorbing means comprises a replaceable spring cartridge including a spring plate having a spring member upwardly inclined and cantilevered relative to a plane of the spring plate, and a first pair of lateral side rails; and

receptacle means for supporting the absorbing means in the athletic shoe.

2. An athletic shoe according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle means is disposed in the mid-sole of the athletic shoe, the mid-sole having an opening formed therein to enable the absorbing means to be inserted into and removed from the receptacle means by the user.

3. An athletic shoe according to claim 2, wherein the receptacle means includes locking means for securely engaging the absorbing means in the receptacle means.

4. An athletic shoe according to claim 3, further including release means, connected with the locking means and operable by the user, for releasing the absorbing means from locking engagement with the receptacle means.

5. An athletic shoe according to claim 4, further including ejection means for at least partially ejecting the absorbing means from the receptacle means upon operation of the release means.

6. An athletic shoe according to claim 3, wherein the receptacle means includes stabilizing means for stabilizing the foot of the user, thereby preventing over-supination and over-pronation of the user'"'"'s foot.

7. An athletic shoe according to claim 1, wherein the replaceable spring cartridge includes a cover formed of the resilient material.

8. An athletic shoe according to claim 1, wherein the receptacle means includes a base plate and a second pair of lateral side rails, the second pair of lateral side rails slidably engaging the first pair of lateral side rails as the replaceable spring cartridge is inserted into and removed from the receptacle means.

9. An athletic shoe according to claim 8, wherein the base plate and second pair of lateral side rails serve to prevent vertical and lateral movement of the replaceable spring cartridge when the replaceable spring cartridge is inserted in the receptacle means.

10. An athletic shoe according to claim 9, wherein the receptacle means includes locking means, responsive to a predetermined force from the user, for locking the replaceable spring cartridge in an inserted position in receptacle.

11. An athletic shoe according to claim 10, further including releasing means, disposed on a surface of the athletic shoe and operable by the user, for releasing the replaceable spring cartridge from the locking means.

12. An athletic shoe according to claim 11, further including ejection means, disposed on at least one of the replaceable spring cartridge and the receptacle means, for ejecting the replaceable spring cartridge from the receptacle means upon operation of the release means by the user.

13. A shoe comprising:

an upper;

a sole formed from a resilient material;

absorbing means, selectively replaceable by a wearer of the shoe, for absorbing shock energy and returning at least a portion of the absorbed shock energy to the foot of the wearer, the absorbing means comprising a removable spring cartridge including a spring plate having a spring member upwardly inclined and cantilevered relative to a plane of the spring plate, and a first pair of lateral side rails; and

receptacle means for supporting the absorbing means in the shoe.

14. A shoe according to claim 13, wherein the receptacle means is disposed in the sole of the shoe, the sole having an opening formed therein to enable the absorbing means to be inserted into and removed from the receptacle.

15. A shoe according to claim 14, wherein the receptacle means includes means for securing the absorbing means to the receptacle means.

16. A shoe according to claim 15, further including release means, operable by the wearer, for releasing the absorbing means from the receptacle means.

17. A shoe according to claim 16, further including ejection means for at least partially ejecting the absorbing means from the receptacle means upon operation of the release means by the wearer.

18. A shoe according to claim 13, wherein the receptacle means includes stabilizing means for stabilizing the foot of the wearer, thereby preventing over-supination and over-pronation of the wearer'"'"'s foot.

19. A shoe according to claim 13, wherein the sole includes an opening formed therein to enable the absorbing means to be inserted into and removed from the receptacle means.

20. A shoe according to claim 19, wherein the removable spring cartridge includes a cover formed of the resilient material.

21. A shoe according to claim 19, wherein the receptacle means includes a base plate and a second pair of lateral side rails, the second pair of lateral side rails slidably engaging the first pair of lateral side rails as the removable spring cartridge is inserted into and removed from the receptacle means.

22. A shoe according to claim 21, wherein the base plate and second pair of lateral side rails are formed so as to prevent vertical and lateral movement of the removable spring cartridge when it has been inserted into the receptacle means.

23. A shoe according to claim 22, wherein the receptacle means includes means for locking the removable spring cartridge in an inserted position in the receptacle means.

24. A shoe according to claim 23, further including means, disposed on a surface of the athletic shoe and operable by the wearer, for releasing the removable spring cartridge from the means for locking.

25. A shoe according to claim 24, further including ejection means, disposed on at least one of the removable spring cartridge and the receptacle means, for ejecting the removable spring cartridge from the receptacle means upon operation of the means for releasing.

26. A method for providing wearer selectable shock energy absorption in a shoe having an upper and a sole, the method comprising the steps of:

providing, in the sole, absorbing means, removable by a wearer of the shoe, for absorbing shock energy and returning at least a portion of the absorbed shock energy to the foot of the wearer, the absorbing means including a removable spring cartridge including a spring plate having a spring member upwardly inclined and cantilevered relative to a plane of the spring plate, and a first pair of lateral side rails; and

disposing, in the sole, receptacle means for supporting the absorbing means in the shoe.