Transformable shoe having a sole that allows different height heels to be detached and attached easily

Abstract

A shoe assembly includes a front sole section, a rear sole section, a heel, and a hinge. The front sole section has a front sole section rear edge. The rear sole section includes a rear sole section front edge, a shank, and a release button. The heel may be removably attached to the shank and may be released from a locked position by the release button. The hinge connects the front sole section and the rear sole section. The hinge is perpendicular to a rear sole section axis.

1 . A shoe assembly comprising:
 a front sole section having a front sole section rear edge;   a rear sole section comprising a rear sole section front edge, a shank, and a release button;   a heel removably attached to said shank, wherein said heel is released from a locked position by said release button; and   a hinge connecting said front sole section and said rear sole section, wherein said hinge is perpendicular to a rear sole section axis.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said rear sole section further comprises a rear sole section rear edge, said rear sole section axis extending from approximately a midpoint of said rear sole section rear edge to approximately a midpoint of said rear sole section front edge, and said shank extending from front to rear along said rear sole section axis.   
     
     
         3 . The shoe assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said shank includes:
 a rear edge;   side edges;   a slot that is accessible through said rear edge;   a hole passing through at least one of said side edges perpendicular to said slot; and   a latching mechanism passing through said hole and attached to said release button, wherein said latching mechanism is configured to automatically lock said heel to said shank when said heel is slid onto said shank.   
     
     
         4 . The shoe assembly of  claim 3 , wherein:
 said heel comprises a heel post configured to removably attach said heel to said shank when said heel post is slid into said slot and engages said latching mechanism.   
     
     
         5 . The shoe assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said heel post comprises a rigid material and is configured to rigidly engage said shank when slid into said slot. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe assembly of  claim 5  wherein:
 said latching mechanism comprises a threaded rod configured to engage threads in said hole and said heel post. 
 
     
     
         7 . The shoe assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said latching mechanism is configured to release said heel when said release button is rotated. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said latching mechanism is configured to release said heel when said release button is pressed. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe assembly of  claim 4 , wherein said latching mechanism is configured to release said heel when said release button is pulled. 
     
     
         10 . A customizable shoe kit comprising:
 a shoe assembly including (i) a front sole section having a front sole section rear edge, (ii) a rear sole section comprising a rear sole section front edge, a shank, and a release button, and (iii) a hinge connecting said front sole section and said rear sole section, wherein said hinge is perpendicular to said rear sole section axis; and   a plurality of heels, each of said plurality of heels removably attachable to said shank, wherein when a particular one of said plurality of heels is attached to said shank, the particular one of said plurality of heels is released from a locked position by said release button.   
     
     
         11 . A method of attaching each of a plurality of heels to a shoe, said method comprising:
 providing a shoe having a shank that includes a rear edge, side edges, a slot that is accessible through said rear edge, a hole passing through at least one of said side edges perpendicular to said slot, and a latching mechanism passing through said hole and attached to a release button; and   providing said plurality of heels, each heel comprising a heel post configured to removably attach said heel to said shank when said heel post is slid into said slot and engages said latching mechanism, wherein said latching mechanism is configured to automatically lock said heel to said shank when said heel is slid onto said shank and said release button is configured to disengage said latching mechanism.