Heel protection device

Abstract

In a device for the protection of floors and/or heels, in particular stilettos, which includes a flexible hollow body ( 1 ) for embracing the heel ( 9 ), an end wall ( 2 ) of the hollow body ( 1 ) comprises a plate-shaped reinforcement or stiffening means ( 5 ) and the oppositely located end wall ( 3 ) is designed to be slotted.

1 . A device for the protection of floors and/or shoe heels, comprising a flexible hollow body for embracing a shoe heel, wherein
 a first end wall ( 2 ) of the hollow body ( 1 ) comprises a plate-shaped reinforcement or stiffening means ( 5 ) and an oppositely located end wall ( 3 ) of the hollow body ( 1 ) is designed to be slotted,   the slotted end wall ( 3 ) comprises at least two slots ( 6 ) oriented radially outwards from a center of the slotted end wall ( 3 ),   a support wall ( 10 ) is slotted, and is formed substantially parallel with the slotted end wall ( 3 ) and arranged in an interior of the hollow body ( 1 ), and   material of the slotted end wall ( 3 ) and of the support wall ( 10 ) between the slots forms flexible gripping tongues ( 7 ), which are dimensioned to bend inwardly while sliding onto the heel.   
     
     
         2 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible hollow body ( 1 ) is of substantially parallelepiped shape. 
     
     
         3 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible hollow body ( 1 ) is formed of a synthetic material. 
     
     
         4 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the plate-shaped reinforcement or stiffening means ( 5 ) is formed of a durable or dimensionally stable material. 
     
     
         5 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the plate-shaped reinforcement or stiffening means ( 5 ) is cast into the first end wall ( 2 ). 
     
     
         6 . A method for protecting floors and/or shoe heels, comprising the step of sliding of a device according to  claim 1  onto a heel, wherein the flexible gripping tongues are bent inwardly and exert an elastic retention force on the heel. 
     
     
         7 . A method for protecting floors and/or shoe heels, comprising the step of sliding a device according to  claim 2  onto a heel, wherein the flexible gripping tongues are bent inwardly and exert an elastic retention force on the heel. 
     
     
         8 . A method for protecting floors and/or shoe heels, comprising the step of sliding a device according to  claim 3  onto a heel, wherein the flexible gripping tongues are bent inwardly and exert an elastic retention force on the heel. 
     
     
         9 . A method for protecting floors and/or shoe heels, comprising the step of sliding a device according to  claim 4  onto a heel, wherein the flexible gripping tongues are bent inwardly and exert an elastic retention force on the heel. 
     
     
         10 . A method for protecting floors and/or shoe heels, comprising the step of sliding a device according to  claim 5  onto a heel, wherein the flexible gripping tongues are bent inwardly and exert an elastic retention force on the heel. 
     
     
         11 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the heel is a stiletto heel. 
     
     
         12 . A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the slotted end wall ( 3 ) comprises four or more slots ( 6 ). 
     
     
         13 . A device according to  claim 2 , wherein the synthetic material of which the flexible hollow body ( 1 ) is formed is latex or rubber. 
     
     
         14 . A device according to  claim 4 , wherein the durable or dimensionally stable material of which the plate-shaped reinforcement or stiffening means ( 5 ) is formed is metal or hard plastic. 
     
     
         15 . A device according to  claim 2 , wherein the flexible hollow body ( 1 ) is formed of a synthetic material. 
     
     
         16 . A device according to  claim 2 , wherein the plate-shaped reinforcement or stiffening means ( 5 ) is formed of a durable or dimensionally stable material. 
     
     
         17 . A device according to  claim 3 , wherein the plate-shaped reinforcement or stiffening means ( 5 ) is formed of a durable or dimensionally stable material. 
     
     
         18 . A device according to  claim 2 , wherein the slotted end wall ( 3 ) comprises four or more slots ( 6 ), the flexible hollow body ( 1 ) is formed of latex or rubber, the plate-shaped reinforcement or stiffening means ( 5 ) is formed of metal or hard plastic, and the plate-shaped reinforcement or stiffening means ( 5 ) is cast into the first end wall ( 2 ).