Replaceable heel system

Abstract

The specification and drawing figures disclose, describe and claim replaceable heel system for footwear that includes a plurality of heel bodies. The heel bodies are interchangeably and demountably connectable to footwear. A rigid orthotic plate that is positionably insertable in the footwear for distributing forces longitudinally and laterally during use of the footwear. In one aspect, a compressible spring is positionable in the plurality of heel bodies to relieve pain during use of the footwear. In another embodiment opposing pressure connectable and detachable members are provided to demountably connect the heel bodies to the footwear. In an alternative aspect a flared plug and hollow receptacle are provided to demountably connect the heel bodies to the footwear.

1 . A replaceable heel system for footwear, comprising:
 a rigid contoured orthotic plate adapted to support a foot by distributing variable forces associated with weight and walking both longitudinally and laterally during wearing of the footwear;   means for disposing the rigid contoured orthotic plate in the footwear;   a plurality of substantially inelastic dimensionally different heel bodies not installed on the footwear or on the rigid contoured orthotic plate as substantially permanent integral components; and   means for interchangeably mounting to and demounting from the footwear the plurality of substantially inelastic dimensionally different heel bodies.   
     
     
         2 . A replaceable heel system for footwear as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a resilient pad replaceably mountable on the top surface of the rigid contoured orthotic plate adapted to cushion a foot during use of the footwear. 
     
     
         3 . A replaceable heel system for footwear as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of substantially inelastic dimensionally different heel bodies and the rigid contoured orthotic plate are made from material selected from the group of materials consisting of one or more resins, plastic, metal, rigid rubber, metal alloys, and/or vinyl. 
     
     
         4 . A replaceable heel system for footwear as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the means for interchangeably mounting to and demounting from the footwear the plurality of substantially inelastic dimensionally different heel bodies requires no tool. 
     
     
         5 . A replaceable heel system for footwear as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the means for interchangeably mounting to and demounting from the footwear the plurality of substantially inelastic dimensionally different heel bodies further comprises one or more dimensionally different compressible coiled springs that compress on application of pressure during use but regain original shape as forces and pressures vary during use to relieve pain to the user during wearing of the footwear. 
     
     
         6 . Footwear having a plurality of replaceable heels, comprising:
 a rigid orthotic plate adapted to support a foot during use of the footwear;   a substantially inelastic housing integrally formed on the lower surface of the rigid orthotic plate adjacent the trailing end of the rigid orthotic plate;   a plurality of substantially inelastic dimensionally different heels formed with a chamber for removably holding at least one compressible spring adapted to relieve pain during use of the footwear;   a plurality of dimensionally different compressible springs interchangeably insertable into the chamber of the plurality of substantially inelastic dimensionally different heels;   a lock-and-release device formed in the substantially inelastic housing formed with a flexible lever that protrudes through a first opening in the plurality of substantially inelastic dimensionally different heels adapted to lock the plurality of substantially inelastic dimensionally different heels on the substantially inelastic housing and to release the plurality of substantially inelastic dimensionally different heels from the substantially inelastic housing;   a compressible plunger insertable through an orifice of the plurality of substantially inelastic replaceable heels adapted to provide resilient support during use of the footwear; and   a resilient pad mountable on the top surface of the rigid orthotic plate adapted to cushion a foot during use of the footwear.   
     
     
         7 . Footwear having a plurality of replaceable heels as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the substantially inelastic housing further comprises a bore adapted to receive one end of the plurality of dimensionally different compressible springs. 
     
     
         8 . Footwear having a plurality of replaceable heels as recited in  claim 7 , wherein the compressible plunger is formed with a neck adapted to engage at least one other end of the plurality of dimensionally different compressible springs. 
     
     
         9 . Footwear having a plurality of replaceable heels as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the substantially inelastic housing further comprises grooves in the outer surface of the substantially inelastic housing adapted to reduce the weight of the footwear, to provide for slidable engagement between the substantially inelastic housing and the plurality of substantially inelastic dimensionally different replaceable heels, and to maintain rigidity of support between the substantially inelastic housing and the substantially inelastic dimensionally different replaceable heels. 
     
     
         10 . A system for interchangeably replacing heels on footwear, comprising:
 a rigid orthotic plate adapted to support a foot during use of the footwear;   a substantially inelastic housing integrally formed on the lower surface of the rigid orthotic plate positioned substantially beneath a human heel during use of the footwear;   a plurality of substantially inelastic dimensionally different heels formed with a chamber for removably holding at least one compressible spring adapted to relieve pain during use of the footwear;   a plurality of dimensionally different compressible springs interchangeably insertable into the chamber of the plurality of substantially inelastic dimensionally different heels;   a lock-and-release device formed in and extending from the rigid orthotic plate that is shaped and dimensioned to lock the plurality of substantially inelastic dimensionally different heels on the substantially inelastic housing and to release the plurality of substantially inelastic dimensionally different heels from the substantially inelastic housing,
 wherein the lock-and-release device further comprises a flexible lever formed with a lip that extends through a second opening formed in the plurality of substantially inelastic dimensionally different heels, the flexible lever being operable by a user of the footwear to lock and release the plurality of substantially inelastic dimensionally different heels to and from the footwear; and 
   a compressible plunger insertable through an orifice of the plurality of substantially inelastic dimensionally different replaceable heels adapted to provide resilient support during use of the footwear.   
     
     
         11 . A system for interchangeably replacing heels on footwear as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the lock-and-release device includes an aperture formed in the integral contoured rigid orthotic plate. 
     
     
         12 . A system for interchangeably replacing heels on footwear as recited in  claim 10 , further comprising a resilient pad mountable on the top surface of the rigid orthotic plate adapted to cushion a foot during use of the footwear. 
     
     
         13 . Replaceable heels for footwear, comprising:
 a contoured rigid orthotic plate adapted for insertion into the footwear;   a substantially inelastic housing attachable to the footwear adapted to demountably hold a replaceable heel; and   opposing pressure connectable and detachable dimensionally different members mounted on the plurality of replaceable heels and on the substantially inelastic housing adapted to demountably connect to, and disconnect from, the plurality of replaceable heels and the footwear.   
     
     
         14 . Replaceable heels for footwear as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising a resilient pad replaceably mountable on the contoured rigid orthotic plate adapted to cushion a foot during use of the footwear. 
     
     
         15 . Replaceable heels for footwear as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the substantially inelastic housing further comprises a hollow passage adapted to dispose one end of a compressible spring. 
     
     
         16 . Replaceable heels for footwear as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the replaceable heels further comprise a cavity adapted to receive the other end of the compressible spring. 
     
     
         17 . Replaceable heels for footwear as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the opposing pressure connectable and detachable members are made from material selected from the group of materials consisting of hook and loop-type fasteners including Velcro®. 
     
     
         18 . Interchangeable heels for footwear, comprising:
 a plurality of dimensionally different heel bodies;   at least one flared plug formed with an edge, said plug mountable on the footwear;   a substantially hollow receptacle formed in the plurality of dimensionally different heel bodies having an inner surface dimensioned for slidable engagement by the flared plug; and   at least one peripherally mounted protrusion extending from the inner surface of the substantially hollow receptacle toward the longitudinal axis of the substantially hollow receptacle adapted to removably engage the edge formed on the flared plug and connect the at least one flared plug and the substantially hollow receptacle of the plurality of dimensionally different heel bodies.   
     
     
         19 . Interchangeable heels for footwear as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the at least one flared plug is connectable to the substantially hollow receptacle by application of pressure. 
     
     
         20 . Interchangeable heels for footwear as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the at least one flared plug is removable from the substantially hollow receptacle by exerting force to pull the interchangeable heels from the footwear.