Granted Patent B2

US 12,484,664 · App. 18/394,051 · Granted Dec 2, 2025

Inventor: Priyank G. Patel (Phoenixville, PA)

Assignee: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

A43B21/42A43B3/248

Abstract

Claims (52)

1 . An adjustable heel comprising:

a top section configured to couple to a sole portion of an article of footwear at a top surface of the top section, the top section defining a top section vertical cavity, a top section upper horizontal cavity, and a top section lower horizontal cavity, the top section vertical cavity having an opening in a bottom surface of the top section and the top section horizontal cavity extending between the top section vertical cavity and an external surface of the top section;

a movable top locking pin positioned at least partially within the top section upper horizontal cavity;

a bottom section coupled to the top section and configured to contact a walking surface at a bottom surface of the bottom section, the bottom section configured to extend beyond the bottom surface of the top section when extended and to be contained at least partially within the top section vertical cavity when retracted, the bottom section defining a bottom section upper horizontal cavity having an opening in an external surface of the bottom section; and

a movable spring-loaded locking pin positioned at least partially within the bottom section upper horizontal cavity,

the spring-loaded locking pin configured to hold the bottom section in an extended or retracted position when the spring-loaded locking pin is positioned partially within the bottom section upper horizontal cavity and the spring is at most partially compressed and to allow the bottom section to move when the spring-loaded locking pin is positioned completely within the bottom section upper horizontal cavity; and

at least one intermediate section positioned between the top section and the bottom section, each intermediate section defining a respective intermediate section vertical cavity, a respective intermediate section upper horizontal cavity, and a respective intermediate section lower horizontal cavity, each intermediate section upper and lower horizontal cavities extending between the respective intermediate section vertical cavity and an external surface of the respective intermediate section;

each intermediate section configured to be contained in a next higher section vertical cavity with the respective intermediate section upper horizontal cavity aligned with a next higher section upper horizontal cavity when the intermediate section is in a retracted position and with the respective intermediate section upper horizontal cavity aligned with a next higher section lower horizontal cavity when the intermediate section is in an extended position;

each intermediate section vertical cavity configured to contain a next lower section with a next lower section upper horizontal cavity aligned with the respective intermediate section upper horizontal cavity when the next lower section is in a retracted position and with a next lower section upper horizontal cavity aligned with the respective intermediate section lower horizontal cavity when the next lower section is in an extended position;

each intermediate section upper horizontal cavity configured to contain at least partially a respective movable intermediate locking pin, each intermediate locking pin configured to hold the respective intermediate section in the extended or retracted position; and

each intermediate locking pin configured to move to a locked position in response to a spring force of the spring-loaded locking pin or move to an unlocked position in response to an externally applied force.

2 . The adjustable heel of claim 1 , further comprising a vertical spring configured to assist extending the bottom section, the vertical spring positioned within each vertical cavity.

3 . The adjustable heel of claim 2 , wherein each locking pin is configured to extend external to the external surface of its respective section when aligned with the spring-loaded locking pin.

4 . The adjustable heel of claim 1 , wherein each locking pin is configured to extend external to the external surface of its respective section when aligned with the spring-loaded locking pin.

5 . A footwear system comprising:

an upper portion;

a sole portion; and

an adjustable heel, the adjustable heel comprising:

a top section configured to couple to the sole portion at a top surface of the top section, the top section defining a top section vertical cavity, a top section upper horizontal cavity and a top section lower horizontal cavity, the top section vertical cavity having an opening in a bottom surface of the top section and each top section horizontal cavity extending between the top section vertical cavity and an external surface of the top section;

a movable top locking pin positioned at least partially within the top section upper horizontal cavity;

a bottom section coupled to the top section and configured to contact a walking surface at a bottom surface of the bottom section, the bottom section configured to extend beyond the bottom surface of the top section when extended and to be contained at least partially within the top section vertical cavity when retracted, the bottom section defining a bottom section upper horizontal cavity having an opening in an external surface of the bottom section; and

a movable spring-loaded locking pin positioned at least partially within the bottom section upper horizontal cavity;

the spring-loaded locking pin configured to hold the bottom section in an extended or retracted position when the spring-loaded locking pin is positioned partially within the bottom section upper horizontal cavity and the spring is at most partially compressed and to allow the bottom section to move when the spring-loaded locking pin is positioned completely within the bottom section upper horizontal cavity; and

wherein the adjustable heel further comprises at least one intermediate section positioned between the top section and the bottom section, each intermediate section defining a respective intermediate section vertical cavity, a respective intermediate section upper horizontal cavity, and a respective intermediate section lower horizontal cavity, each intermediate section upper and lower horizontal cavities extending between the respective intermediate section vertical cavity and an external surface of the respective intermediate section;

each intermediate section configured to be contained in a next higher section vertical cavity with the respective intermediate section upper horizontal cavity aligned with a next higher section upper horizontal cavity when the intermediate section is in a retracted position and with the respective intermediate section upper horizontal cavity aligned with a next higher section lower horizontal cavity when the intermediate section is in an extended position;

each intermediate section vertical cavity configured to contain a next lower section with a next lower section upper horizontal cavity aligned with the respective intermediate section upper horizontal cavity when the next lower section is in a retracted position and with a next lower section upper horizontal cavity aligned with the respective intermediate section lower horizontal cavity when the next lower section is in a extended position;

each intermediate section upper horizontal cavity configured to contain at least partially a respective movable intermediate locking pin, each intermediate locking pin configured to hold the respective intermediate section in the extended or retracted position;

and each intermediate locking pin configured to move to a locked position in response to a spring force of the spring-loaded locking pin or move to an unlocked position in response to an externally applied force.

6 . The footwear system of claim 5 , wherein the adjustable heel comprises a vertical spring configured to assist extending the bottom section, the vertical spring positioned within each vertical cavity.

7 . The footwear system of claim 6 , wherein each locking pin is configured to extend external to the external surface of its respective section when aligned with the spring-loaded locking pin.

8 . The footwear system of claim 5 , wherein each locking pin is configured to extend external to the external surface of its respective section when aligned with the spring-loaded locking pin.

9 . The footwear system of claim 5 , further comprising a heating element positioned adjacent a toe section of the sole portion.

10 . The footwear system of claim 5 , wherein the sole portion comprises at least one flexible section configured to accommodate varying heights of the adjustable heel.

11 . The footwear system of claim 10 , wherein the sole portion comprises a first flexible section positioned adjacent a toe section and a second flexible section adjacent an arch section.

12 . A footwear system comprising:

an upper portion;

a sole portion; and

an adjustable heel, the adjustable heel comprising:

a top section configured to couple to the sole portion at a top surface of the top section, the top section defining a top section vertical cavity, a top section upper horizontal cavity and a top section lower horizontal cavity, the top section vertical cavity having an opening in a bottom surface of the top section and each top section horizontal cavity extending between the top section vertical cavity and an external surface of the top section;

a movable top locking pin positioned at least partially within the top section upper horizontal cavity;

a bottom section coupled to the top section and configured to contact a walking surface at a bottom surface of the bottom section, the bottom section configured to extend beyond the bottom surface of the top section when extended and to be contained at least partially within the top section vertical cavity when retracted, the bottom section defining a bottom section upper horizontal cavity having an opening in an external surface of the bottom section;

a movable spring-loaded locking pin positioned at least partially within the bottom section upper horizontal cavity;

the spring-loaded locking pin configured to hold the bottom section in an extended or retracted position when the spring-loaded locking pin is positioned partially within the bottom section upper horizontal cavity and the spring is at most partially compressed and to allow the bottom section to move when the spring-loaded locking pin is positioned completely within the bottom section upper horizontal cavity;

at least one intermediate section positioned between the top section and the bottom section, each intermediate section defining a respective intermediate section vertical cavity, a respective intermediate section upper horizontal cavity, and a respective intermediate section lower horizontal cavity, each intermediate section upper and lower horizontal cavities extending between the respective intermediate section vertical cavity and an external surface of the respective intermediate section;

each intermediate section configured to be contained in a next higher section vertical cavity with the respective intermediate section upper horizontal cavity aligned with a next higher section upper horizontal cavity when the intermediate section is in a retracted position and with the respective intermediate section upper horizontal cavity aligned with a next higher section lower horizontal cavity when the intermediate section is in an extended position;

each intermediate section vertical cavity configured to contain a next lower section with a next lower section upper horizontal cavity aligned with the respective intermediate section upper horizontal cavity when the next lower section is in a retracted position and with a next lower section upper horizontal cavity aligned with the respective intermediate section lower horizontal cavity when the next lower section is in a extended position;

each intermediate section upper horizontal cavity configured to contain at least partially a respective movable intermediate locking pin, each intermediate locking pin configured to hold the respective intermediate section in the extended or retracted position;

each intermediate locking pin configured to move to a locked position in response to a spring force of the spring-loaded locking pin or move to an unlocked position in response to an externally applied force;

a vertical spring configured to assist extending the bottom section, the vertical spring positioned within each vertical cavity and having a first end connected to a bottom surface of the sole portion and a second end connected to a top surface of the bottom section; and

each locking pin is configured to extend external to the external surface of its respective section when aligned with the spring-loaded locking pin.

13 . The footwear system of claim 12 , further comprising a heating element positioned adjacent a toe section of the sole portion.

14 . The footwear system of claim 12 , wherein the sole portion comprises a plurality of flexible sections configured to accommodate varying heights of the adjustable heel.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (2)

References Cited (39)