HK1194260B - High-heeled shoe - Google Patents

Description

High-heeled shoes

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a high-heeled shoe with a shock-absorbing, silent heel, which can also have an extremely high and particularly slim configuration. These heels require a certain type of shock absorption due to the increased load and pressure conditions. A study on nearly 2,000 women published in the scientific journal Arthritis Rheum (29Sep 2009; 61(10): 1352-. This is one of the 20 most common reasons women aged 65 to 74 have consulted physicians.

Background

The invention allows painless wearing of high-heeled shoes for a long time, while at the same time leaving the joints, which are particularly affected by extreme tilting, unharmed compared to conventional high-heeled shoes. This is made possible by the bio-dynamic construction of the heel, which conforms to and mimics the function of physiological shock absorption and thus provides stability of the absorbed concurrent, minimal relative movements.

The sole of the foot has an anatomical structure adapted to the local pressure loads, such as shock absorbers, the sole deforms in a non-linear manner under load, the sole initially offers less resistance to pressure under increased load, the sole becomes increasingly rigid under heavy load (Biomechanik des Fu β es, Debrunner, Hilaire,1998, p.19), the overall body load is distributed over the surface of these loadable soles when the arch and the muscles and joint structure of the foot are not damaged, the different load distributions almost always leading to medical problems (orthopedics, orthopedics: diagnosis and treatment of the locomotor apparatus facing the patient: (r) (r))Chirurgie:PatientenorientierteDiagnostik und Therapie des Bewegungsapparates),Debrunner,2002,p.1123)。

The physiological cushioning properties of the heel when striking the ground are based on the displacement principle. Under load, the calcaneus bone lowers toward the ground and displaces the underlying soft tissue structures to the periphery. Thus, under load on a flat ground, a hemispherical pressure distribution occurs under the heel, with the highest pressure under the calcaneus. The reference value of the normal physiological load under the heel is about 30N/cm²The pressure of (a). When wearing extremely fine high-heeled shoes with a diameter of less than 10mm in some cases, the weight is distributed over a substantially smaller surface and the pressure load can be many times higher than the normal pressure load.

When walking normally with the flat shoe, these forces are transferred from the weight bearing bones to the ground via soft tissue structures. Stability and kinetic interactions are also essential for optimal function: when strong structures, especially bones, and tension muscles provide sufficient stability, joints, especially cartilage, must exhibit high compressive flexibility.

The process of absorbing body loads begins with initial ground contact. When walking with a flat shoe, the ankle joint is in a neutral position (interior angle: 90 °) when initially striking the ground. The heel is thus used to support and establish an optimal rolling motion on the heel for a sufficiently long time in order to achieve motion continuity.

In high-heeled shoes, the starting position of the ankle joint is different: due to the inclination of the whole foot, the angle is not 90 °, but may range between more than 100 ° and in extreme cases up to 160 ° depending on the height of the heel. At an average height of 10cm, the foot is inclined at an angle of approximately 135-140. This has a large effect on the weight distribution and on the load forces acting on the joint. During normal walking with a flat shoe, a vertical force may already be generated when the heel hits the ground, which exceeds the vertical force of the body's own weight. The higher the heel, the greater the angle and the greater the pressure on the heel at the initial impact with the ground.

The pathological movement pattern is further enhanced by elegant high-heeled shoes with a heel diameter of only a few millimeters at the lower end. When the foot, i.e. the heel, hits the ground, the entire weight is concentrated in this area.

The larger the surface becomes due to the larger the heel diameter, the better the weight distribution. The smaller the heel diameter at the lower end, i.e. the smaller the heel tip, the greater the weight impact on a very small surface (pressure force/surface [ newton/cm ])²- ]). In the long term, the increased pressure is no longer balanced by normal physiological shock absorption. The joints are overstrained due to the non-physiological position of the foot and increased stress. These changes have been addressed by starting heel separation from 5 to 6cm (Hansen, Childress, Journal of rehabilitation research and development (Journal of Rehab R)&D) 41(4) booklet, page 547-554).

Some flatshoes, particularly athletic shoes, have provided various shock absorbing systems. Their purpose is to reduce the load on the joints, especially the ankle and knee joints, when the heel strikes the ground and to alleviate rolling on the midfoot and the thumb ball. With flat shoes, these shock-absorbing systems are mostly integrated in the sole of the shoe and are usually arranged at least in the region of the heel.

At the same time as this development began, a very soft material was used to support the sinkage into the heel base, while at the same time it proved that too much compression (i.e. the distance by which the thickness of the elastic sole was reduced when the heel hit the ground) could also lead to joint instability. Based on recent findings, perfect shoes have the characteristics of little walking and sufficiently high shock absorption (orthopedic shoe technology, shock absorption measurement of sports shoes: (Schuhtechnik,von Laufschuhen), Gustafsson, Heitz5/2012, p 38).

The idea of shock absorption for outdoor shoes has also been recognized and implemented to some extent in the form of patents. Generally, the embodiments described therein do not meet the practical requirement of sufficient stability of the overall construction while providing sufficient elasticity. Moreover, most of them refer to thicker and very thick heels that can even reach a wedge shape. This does not satisfy the increased loading conditions of the slender and/or taller heels described above. The heels of high-heeled shoes therefore continue to be manufactured from hard plastics, metals or metal alloys, which do not provide or do not sufficiently absorb shock when the heel strikes the ground. While women's shoes with shock-absorbing heels are generally known from the prior art, to date no satisfactory commercially practical and commercially viable solution has been provided, the known structures being inferior in practice because of the instability or frictional noise of the structure detected by the inventors of the present invention. Practical implementations often require considerable installation space rather than an elegant slim heel design.

For example, women's shoes have a pneumatic chamber in the heel for cushioning the step. However, this construction requires a relatively large installation space, which, when viewed from all angles, appears to be contrary to heels having a very slim design. In addition, sealing and durability problems can occur.

Document DE 4219152 a1 describes a shoe heel in which a resilient shell is fitted over a rigid solid inner core. The described construction does not allow for a slim heel design nor sufficient shock absorption.

Document DE 2908023 a1 discloses a heel with an insert made of elastic material. When considering that the foot strikes the ground not less than the body's own weight on the heel (for example, when running, the force may be 1.5 to 2.5 times greater than the weight, depending on the step and the speed), it must be assumed that a relatively thick layer of elastic material is required, which is contrary to the stability and practicality of these shoes.

Document US 7140125B 2 describes a high-heeled shoe with elastically compressible elements in the heel. The elements described therein may bounce strongly. Furthermore, with the above-described structure, both normal pace and adequate shock absorption are not satisfied.

Document DE 29807242U 1 discloses a heel-separated 30mm cushion for women's shoes which fills the cavity in the lateral region between the foot and the shoe and has an arc-shaped cut-out in front of the heel. In this way, the heel is closed and the foot is prevented from sliding towards the toe box.

Disclosure of Invention

The basic object of the present invention is to provide a high-heeled shoe with an improved shock-absorbing device, in particular to eliminate the drawbacks of the known devices. This object is achieved by the features of the claims. Preferred embodiments can be found in the dependent claims.

The basic idea of the invention is to provide a heel for a high-heeled shoe with a damping device comprising at least one damping element which has a different effective damping cross section along the longitudinal axis of the heel and/or is freely deformable in at least one direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the heel. The damping device is preferably configured such that the damping is at least partially achieved by the different effective damping cross sections expanding in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the heel. More preferably, the shock-absorbing means are configured such that shock absorption is at least partially achieved by a free enlargement of all effective shock-absorbing cross-sections in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the heel. This ensures that the elastic properties are effective and not affected by the undesirable stiffness of the material. Preferably, the shock-absorbing element deforms by at least 3mm or at least 5mm in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the heel.

The cushioning device according to the invention is designed for use in high-heeled shoes having a heel height of at least 4cm, preferably at least 6cm, more preferably at least 8cm, and most preferably at least 10 cm. In the context of the present invention, heel height is defined as the median height of the heel, which represents the height difference between the heel in the area of the ball of the thumb and in the central area of the heel when the shoe is viewed from the side.

Preferably, a high-heeled shoe is provided with a damping device according to the invention, which high-heeled shoe has a heel diameter of at most 4cm, preferably at most 2cm, and more preferably at most 1.2cm or at most 1.0cm, and a heel height of at least 4cm, preferably at least 5cm, more preferably at least 6cm, and most preferably at least 8 cm. It is particularly preferred that the heel diameter is no more than 4cm, preferably no more than 2cm, and more preferably no more than 1.2cm or no more than 1.0cm, across substantially its entire length or height. Preferably, the heel diameter of the high-heeled shoe is not more than 4cm, preferably not more than 2cm, more preferably not more than 1.5cm, also in the region of the shock-absorbing element.

Furthermore, the cushioning device according to the present invention is preferably provided in a high-heeled shoe having a heel height to heel diameter ratio of at least 2.5, more preferably at least 4.0, even more preferably at least 5.0, and most preferably at least 7.5. The ratio of the heel height to the heel diameter is preferably in the range between 2.5 and 15.0, more preferably in the range between 4.0 and 12.0.

The high-heeled shoe according to the invention preferably comprises an upper heel part and a lower heel part, wherein the lower heel part is movable or slidable relative to the upper heel part in at least one direction, preferably in the longitudinal direction of the heel (axial direction of the heel). The damping element of the damping device is preferably arranged between the upper heel part and the lower heel part, so that forces between the heel parts in at least one direction are transmitted exclusively via the damping element. Preferably, the suspension element limits the relative movement of the two heel portions in at least one direction and dampens the transferred impact. In this way, for example, the shock-absorbing element can be arranged between the upper heel part and the lower heel part, so that forces acting on the heel in the longitudinal direction of the heel and when the heel toe strikes the ground are suppressed.

The damping element of the damping device preferably comprises a gel-like or elastic material. The shock absorbing element preferably comprises a polymer (e.g., thermoplastic, elastomer, thermoplastic synthetic material), polyurethane, natural rubber, rubber or rubber-like plastic, foam, and/or cork-like material (e.g., cork latex compound). Materials with high resilience are particularly suitable.

Along the longitudinal axis of the heel and perpendicular to said axis, the shock-absorbing element preferably comprises different cross-sections with different surface areas and/or shapes, in order to allow the shock-absorbing characteristics to be individually adjusted according to the requirements of the wearer. Thus, cross-sectional portions of different surface areas and/or shapes provide different cushioning characteristics and/or stiffness and undergo different deformations when transferring forces from one heel portion to another via the cushioning element. Furthermore, the lateral extension perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the heel is preferably not or substantially not impeded in at least one direction.

Although the shock-absorbing element may be composed of discrete portions each having a constant cross-sectional area, it is preferred that the cross-sectional variation along the longitudinal axis of the heel and/or the variation of the cross-sectional surface follow at least in part a continuous function. The function may be defined in terms of the desired performance of the shock absorbing element.

Preferably, the ratio between the largest cross-sectional surface and the smallest cross-sectional surface of the shock-absorbing element is at least with respect to 1.3, preferably at least with respect to 1.5, more preferably at least with respect to 4.0. The shock-absorbing element may have a convex or concave configuration in at least one cross-section. Additionally, the shock absorbing element may have at least in part a spherical or substantially spherical configuration. The height of the shock-absorbing means or shock-absorbing element along the longitudinal axis of the heel is preferably at least 1.0cm, more preferably at least 2.0cm or even at least 3cm or 4cm, in order to substantially dampen the impact when the heel strikes the ground. The volume of the damping element and/or of all damping elements is preferably between 0.5 and 15.0cm³In the range between 1.75 and 5.0cm, preferably³In the range between, more preferably between 1.5 and 4.0cm³Within the range of (a).

The suspension element of the high-heeled shoe according to the invention may have many shapes, as long as the desired advantageous suspension is achieved in combination with the material of the suspension element, the shape of the heel, the material of the heel or other potential parts of the shoe (e.g. heel tip, shoe heel, midsole, insole). The shock-absorbing element may have, for example, a spherical, hemispherical, oval, egg-shaped, pear-shaped, heart-shaped, cross-shaped, flower-shaped, pyramidal or conical shape, or a cubic shape standing on the edge, for example, or a combination thereof, when the shoe is viewed from the side. Various other shapes are possible.

The suspension element is preferably configured such that all cross-sectional surfaces at least partially overlap each other in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the heel, in order to distribute the pressure while the flow of force from one heel portion to the other is not redirected in the suspension element. The shape of the elastic component should preferably follow the physiological cushioning properties of the foot and increasingly absorb shock under increasing weight loads or pressures (progressive mechanical cushioning). The force counteracting the deformation therefore rises disproportionately with increasing compression. The shock absorbing element is preferably not a coil spring or a leaf spring.

The shock-absorbing device of a high-heeled shoe according to the invention preferably comprises at least one transmission and/or guide element extending through the shock-absorbing element. The transmission and/or guide element can be configured such that forces and/or impacts which are not effective in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the heel can be transmitted directly from one heel portion to the other without loading the damping element. Furthermore, the transfer and/or guide element is preferably configured such that it guides the damping element and prevents it from separating laterally. Alternatively or additionally, the shock-absorbing element can be firmly attached to the underside and/or the upper side of the heel, for example by gluing.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the transmission and/or guide element is firmly attached to the lower part of the heel and/or to the heel tip. Preferably, the transmission and/or guide element extends from the upper part of the heel to the heel tip and comprises an internal thread at the lower end, wherein the heel tip can be screwed into the internal thread. Furthermore, the transfer and/or guide element is preferably provided with an external thread, by means of which the lower heel part can be screwed onto the transfer and/or guide element. Similarly, alternative securing methods and/or devices (e.g., adhesives, crimping, stapling, welding, and/or engagement mechanisms) may be used. Preferably, the transfer or guide element is firmly attached to the lower heel part and is stably embedded in the upper heel part, for example extending over at least 50%, at least 60%, at least 75%, at least 90% or the entire heel length. Sufficient length ensures long-term stability of the heel and prevents it from breaking beforehand.

Although it is important to achieve stability, at the same time there is not enough space for sufficient relative movement. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the transmission and/or guide element is mounted movably in the upper part of the heel and is preferably axially slidable along the longitudinal axis of the heel. The elements are preferably in an extended position when the load is released from the heel and are shifted towards the upper part of the heel when the heel is loaded. This relative movement and freedom of movement allow particularly advantageous positioning of the resilient plastic part which is capable of providing a damping effect.

The axial sliding mounting of the transmission and/or guide element in the upper part of the heel is preferably achieved by means of a piston-cylinder connection. Furthermore, the upper part of the heel or the sleeve arranged therein (barrel sleeve) preferably forms a cylinder which encloses the transfer and/or guide element. It will be obvious to the skilled person that the surrounding cylinder may be provided, for example, by a cylindrical opening in the upper part of the heel. If a cylindrical sleeve is used, a thread may be provided on the outside of the sleeve so that the sleeve may be screwed into the thread in the upper part of the heel and may be stably mounted therein. The cylinder and piston may each have a circular or non-circular cross-section (e.g., oval, rectangular, square, etc.).

In this case, the upper end of the transmission and/or guide element preferably forms a piston which is mounted in a surrounding cylinder such that it can be displaced along the longitudinal axis of the heel. This construction enables a particularly slim heel design by a reliable and stable mounting of the transfer and/or guide elements in the upper part of the heel. Alternatively, the upper part of the heel may form a piston and the transfer and/or guide elements may form a cylinder, for example for shoes with thicker heels according to the invention.

Preferably, the transfer and/or guide element is prevented from falling out of the surrounding cylinder by means of a fixing mechanism. For this purpose, a pin can be used which is connected to the upper part of the heel and projects into or extends through the opening of the transfer and/or guide element. Alternatively, the cylinder may be provided with a lower end stop limiting the axial movement of the transmission and/or guide element. This may for example comprise a lower end piece comprising an opening for the transfer and/or guide element, but at least partially covering the lower axial opening of this cylinder. The end member may be secured to the cylinder by welding, soldering, gluing or other securing means and/or means or may be integrally configured with the cylinder. If the cylinder is provided with a lower end piece, the transfer and/or guide element preferably comprises an enlarged cross-section or head in its upper end region, so that the end piece prevents the upper end region from sliding out of the cylinder. When the lower end piece is configured integrally with the cylinder, the cylinder can be sealed by means of the upper cover (for example, after insertion of the transfer and/or guide element). Preferably, the material is chosen such that the enlarged cross-section cannot break loose, which would lead to instability.

Experiments have shown that the use of the piston-cylinder connection disclosed above generates considerable noise during heel loading and unloading. This can greatly impair or even hinder industrial applicability. The piston-cylinder connection according to the invention is therefore preferably provided with at least one, more preferably several, means for reducing noise which reduce or prevent the generation of noise when the heel strikes the ground and when the heel leaves the ground, in particular when the piston moves within the cylinder.

The piston-cylinder connection preferably comprises at least one bumper and/or damping element which prevents the piston from colliding or bouncing back against the axial end of the cylinder.

The piston-cylinder connection preferably comprises an upper buffer arranged between the transfer and/or guide element and the upper end of the cylinder. The shock absorber reduces noise generated from the heel when it is loaded, and partially contributes to shock absorption of the shock absorbing device according to the present invention according to its structure. Preferably, the cushion is at least to some extent freely deformable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the heel and can be configured, for example, as a solid cylinder, a hollow cylinder, a sphere, a hollow sphere or a hemisphere (in principle, angular shapes are also possible). The upper damper can be inserted loosely into the gap between the transfer and/or guide element and the cylinder end. Alternatively, the upper damper can be connected to the transmission and/or guide device, for example at its upper end or at its upper end, and/or to the cylinder, for example at its upper end. The connection may be accomplished, for example, by gluing, welding and/or injection molding.

Furthermore, the piston-cylinder connection is preferably provided with at least one lower bumper which prevents the piston from hitting the lower end of the cylinder and thus reduces the generation of noise when lifting the heel. Depending on the configuration of the piston-cylinder connection, the damper may be arranged between the transfer and/or guide element and the lower end of the cylinder (e.g. the lower end piece) and may have the shape of a ring and/or a hollow cylinder. If the piston comprises a head at its upper end, the lower damper can for example be connected below said head or above the lower axial end of the cylinder. If pins are used in order to prevent the transfer and/or guide element from slipping out of the cylinder, a lower buffer can also be provided between the transfer and/or guide element and said pins. The lower bumper is preferably made of a polymer (e.g., thermoplastic, elastomer, thermoplastic synthetic material), polyurethane, natural rubber, rubber or rubber-like plastic, foam, and/or cork compound (e.g., cork latex compound).

The piston moves in the guide channel to generate sliding friction. The sliding friction depends on the pressure, speed, type of material and roughness of the friction surface. To reduce or prevent said sliding friction, the piston cylinder connection may further comprise an anti-friction coating (e.g. industrial ceramics, polymers, PTFE, nanostructures, nickel, chromium, zinc, varnish, powder and/or diamond-like carbon-DLC), which may optionally be provided on the inner circumferential surface of the surrounding cylinder and/or on the outer circumferential surface of the transfer and/or guide element.

The DLC coating is a coating of amorphous carbon (ta-C or bound hydrogen a-C: H).

The DLC layer is produced in a reactor under vacuum. Two horizontally mounted graphite electrodes are located in the reactor, and an electric arc is ignited between the two graphite electrodes. One graphite electrode serves as the cathode and the other as the anode. Argon gas, which is very easily ionized, is additionally provided to ignite the arc. Due to the extremely high temperatures in the arc, the graphite on the electrodes transforms into the plasma phase. The plasma generated by the energy input of the arc is located between the cathode and the anode in the form of a cloud. The substrate holder is placed under the plasma cloud and a sample of metal, plastic or glass is placed on the substrate holder.

Due to the spatial proximity of the plasma, carbon in the plasma phase is deposited on the substrate in the form of a thin DLC layer. In addition, a pulsed bias voltage is applied, whereby the carbon in the plasma reaches the substrate with a relatively high energy. High energy leads to the formation of sp³A key. Until a maximum is reached, it is not considered that the higher the bias voltage, the stiffer the layer.

If a pin is used, which is connected to the upper part of the heel and protrudes into and/or through the opening of the transfer and/or guide element, said pin and/or opening may be coated in whole or in part with a low-friction surface.

By coating the cylinder and/or the piston of the piston-cylinder system with a low-friction surface, the frictional resistance and thus the noise generation that occurs when the piston moves in the cylinder can be greatly reduced.

Alternatively or additionally, inserts and/or coatings made of the above-mentioned materials may be provided. Therefore, to reduce friction, a sleeve or sliding bearing (e.g., made of polytetrafluoroethylene or industrial ceramics) may be inserted into the surrounding cylinder.

Finally, the upper part of the heel can also be made of a low-friction material. In the context of the present invention, a low friction material refers to a material having a (sliding) coefficient of friction which is lower than the material of the cylinder and/or piston. In embodiments that include a pin, the pin may include a surface of low friction material or may be made of such material. The areas of the opening of the transfer and/or guide element can also be provided with such low-friction surfaces. It is obvious to the skilled person that the above means for noise reduction can be applied alone or, preferably, in combination.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the piston-cylinder connection comprises an anti-rotation protection against rotation of the transmission and/or guide element relative to the upper heel. The anti-rotation protection can be realized, for example, by the above-described pin which is connected to the upper part of the heel. Furthermore, the cylinder and/or the piston may be provided with an inner and an outer contour, respectively, as a protection against rotation. In a view transverse to the longitudinal axis of the heel, the contour is not circular (e.g., polygonal, angular, rectangular, hexagonal, elliptical or with straight sides).

The shock-absorbing element is preferably visible from the outside, allowing an elongated heel design while ensuring a free deformability of the shock-absorbing element in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the heel. However, mounting in the heel is also possible. In this case, however, the shock-absorbing element should preferably be freely deformable in at least one direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the heel and/or should not be restricted from lateral expansion in order to allow the expansion of the elastic properties required for shock absorption. Preferably, the heel of a high-heeled shoe according to the invention has a diameter of at least 1cm, preferably at least 1.2cm, in the region of the shock-absorbing element.

In addition, the damping device may comprise additional springs in order to ensure the return of the damping element or in order to movably connect the upper heel part with the lower heel part.

The heel and the shock absorbing means are preferably configured so that the shock absorbing elements can be easily replaced.

The high-heeled shoe according to the invention preferably combines the described shock absorbing means with additional measures adapted to further decompress the foot and/or the ball of the foot. For example, the longitudinal arch may be elevated to accommodate the cavity for greater stability. Alternatively, the thumb area may be filled with cork, latex, gel or a similarly soft material. It is particularly preferred to lower the cushioning in the heel area and fill the area with a gel or similarly soft material in order to transfer the weight of the wearer to the heel more than other high-heeled shoes with comparable heel separation. By way of example, this may be achieved by a specific shaping of the sole.

The invention thus describes a shock-absorbing heel that follows the physiological shock-absorbing principle and thus at the same time ensures a clearly functioning stability of the relative movements. Due to the space-saving structure of the heel, it is also possible to use extremely thin and/or tall models and thus combine the comfort of wear and a proactive, commonly friendly measure with a stylistic and aesthetic design.

In comparison with the initially described prior art, the heel and/or high-heeled shoe according to the invention achieves at least some, preferably several, of the following advantages:

adapting structural design to shaping

Physiological cushioning structures meeting different criteria are less effective in the foot and/or joint area, the higher the position of the heel (the higher the heel), the greater the angle of the ankle when the heel strikes the ground. The additional external damping is therefore of greater importance. The same applies to particularly slender high-heeled shoes, in which case the pressure on the heel is many times higher due to the small heel diameter. The combination of the two criteria (slim and high heel) enhances the negative effect, which worsens with increasing height and decreasing heel diameter. However, there are not enough countermeasures for just these kinds of shoes. This problem is solved by the invention, which provides the required damping in a particularly space-saving manner.

Stability of

The transmission and/or guide element is preferably made of a strong material such as metal, metal alloy or plastic and may extend along a substantial part of the heel, so that a stable structure is provided. The upper heel part and the lower heel part are connected to each other in a stable manner in an advantageous manner by the combination of the guide element and the cylinder, i.e. by means of a piston-cylinder connection. The relative movement of the heel is additionally advantageously limited, since the guide element can only be moved in the axial direction within the upper cavity of the cylinder by a few millimeters and is substantially prevented from slipping out of the cavity. The apparatus for noise reduction according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention further ensures low-friction motion, effectively preventing the generation of audible sound. In order to further increase the stability, an anti-rotation protection can be provided which limits the movement of the guide element in a particularly space-saving manner, so that the guide element can only be moved in one direction (along the longitudinal axis) and does not prevent or strongly limit the rotation of the lower heel part relative to the upper heel part.

Elasticity

The spring element (damping element) between the upper heel part and the lower heel part of the high-heeled shoe according to the invention not only has a compact design, but also absorbs the high pressures which occur with the described heel diameter and an overextended ankle position, wherein the force can correspond to 2.5 times the weight of the wearer. To support physiological cushioning under ideal conditions, the cushioning element may be selected such that as compression increases, a greater increase in force is required for the same walk (progressive spring characteristic). In the region of maximum compression, the force required to compress the damping element preferably increases disproportionately. The damping element is therefore preferably very sensitive to the reaction to the load at the beginning, but becomes stiffer with greater deformation and thus corresponds to the physiological damping structure in the heel region.

The structure according to the invention thus ensures that the shock-absorbing element is freely deformable in at least one direction. Unlike some of the documents cited at the outset, the high-heeled shoe according to the invention ensures that the suspension element deforms sufficiently under pressure. This is advantageous because some particularly suitable materials (e.g., elastomeric polymers such as elastomers, polyurethanes, rubbers, etc.) are primarily incompressible so their volume hardly changes under pressure. As a result, the material may become stiff, which is particularly counter-productive to damping unless sufficient space for deformation is provided.

Further measures for improving wearing comfort

It can furthermore be assumed that, in particular, the combination and mutual adjustment of the damping system, the cushioning and the shoe design is necessary for the standing and walking performance of the high-heeled shoe and thus for the wearing comfort.

Drawings

A preferred embodiment of a high-heeled shoe according to the invention is described below with reference to the drawings. These figures show that:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a high-heeled shoe including a cushioning device in the heel of the shoe according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2a is a detail view in section taken along line II-II of FIG. 1, showing an option of installation of a cushioning device in a high-heeled shoe in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2b is a cross-sectional view of the suspension element of the high-heeled shoe according to the present invention, taken along line III-III of FIG. 2 a;

FIG. 2c is a cross-sectional view of the suspension element of the high-heeled shoe according to the present invention, taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 2 a;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a high-heeled shoe including a cushioning device in the heel of the shoe according to other embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a detail view, in cross-section, similar to the detail view of FIG. 2a, showing additional mounting options for a cushioning device in a high-heeled shoe according to the present invention;

FIGS. 5a-5c are schematic rear views of various embodiments of a cushioning device for a high-heeled shoe in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 6a-6d are schematic cross-sectional views of other embodiments of cushioning devices for high-heeled shoes in accordance with the present invention;

FIGS. 7a-7m are exemplary shapes of suspension elements for a high-heeled shoe in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8a is a schematic rear view of a piston cylinder connection according to a first embodiment for a high-heeled shoe according to the invention;

FIG. 8b is a sectional view taken along line V-V of FIG. 8a showing the structure of the piston cylinder connection;

FIG. 8c is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 8 a;

FIG. 8d is detail E of the cross-sectional view of FIG. 8 b;

FIG. 9a is a schematic rear view of a piston cylinder connection according to other embodiments for a high-heeled shoe according to the invention;

FIG. 9b is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 9a showing the structure of the piston-cylinder connection;

FIG. 9c is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of FIG. 9 a;

FIG. 9d is detail F of the cross-sectional view of FIG. 9 b;

FIG. 10a is a perspective schematic view of a piston cylinder connection according to other embodiments for a high-heeled shoe according to the present invention;

FIG. 10b is a perspective cross-sectional view showing the piston cylinder connection of FIG. 10a rotated 90;

FIG. 11 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a piston cylinder connector according to other embodiments for a high-heeled shoe according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a high-heeled shoe according to a first embodiment of the invention. High-heeled shoe 1 basically comprises an outsole 6, an insole 7, a soft insole 8 and a footbed 9 and a heel in the heel region 10. A pad 31 may be provided in heel region 10, a pad 32 may be provided in the midfoot region and/or a pad 33 may be provided in the thumb area, between insole 7, insole 8 and footbed 9 and/or as a component of one of the soles. These pads may be made of gel or a material that is also soft. The heel region 10 may be flattened or made lower by the particular sole deformation. The heel may include a toe at a lower end.

The heel of the high-heeled shoe 1 shown in particular in fig. 1 and 2a is preferably provided with a lower heel part 2 and an upper heel part 3 and with a shock-absorbing device 20 comprising a shock-absorbing element 21. The shock-absorbing element is arranged between the lower heel part 2 and the upper heel part 3 and is visible from the outside. The damping element 21 preferably comprises different effective damping cross sections a along the longitudinal axis of the heel₁，A₂，…，A_iAnd is free to deform in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the heel, preferably substantially in the axial direction of the heel, towards the outside along the entire height.

It can be seen from fig. 2b and 2c that the different effective damping cross sections a₁，A₂，…，A_iMay have different surface areas. Alternatively or in combination therewith, different damping cross sections A₁，A₂，…，A_iMay also be different. If the shock-absorbing element 21 has a spherical shape as shown in the embodiment of figure 1,the cross-sectional surface around the center of the sphere (fig. 2b) is substantially larger than in the polar region (fig. 2c), for example. In this way, the stiffness and damping of the damping element can be precisely adjusted.

The damping device 20 may further comprise a transmission and/or guide element 22. The illustrated elements can be firmly connected to the lower heel part 2 and can end in a hole or recess 4 in the upper heel part 3, so that forces acting in the longitudinal direction of the heel between the lower heel part 2 and the upper heel part 3 are essentially transmitted only via the damping element 21. If the transmission and/or guide element 22 is guided laterally in the recess 4 in the upper part of the heel, forces and/or impacts which are not effective in the longitudinal direction of the heel can be transmitted directly from one heel portion to the other via the element 22. Since the transmission and/or guide element 22 is guided by the damping element 21, the damping element 21 is prevented from laterally separating under load in the longitudinal direction of the heel.

Alternatively or additionally, the sleeve 25 may be provided in a recess 4 in the upper heel part 3 or in a corresponding recess in the lower heel part 2 (not shown), which extends downwards from the upper heel part and provides a larger surface to guide the transfer and/or guide element 22. The connection between the transmission and/or guide element 22 and the lower heel part 2 and/or the upper heel part 3 can be provided, for example, by form-fitting, adhesive and/or frictional engagement or the like.

Alternatively or additionally, the shock-absorbing element 21 can be firmly connected directly to the lower heel part 2 and/or the upper heel part 3, for example by gluing.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 2a, the guide element 22 is held in the recess 4 by means of a spring 24, by way of example, which may also be replaced by a resilient plastic material. As shown in fig. 4, alternatively or additionally, the guide element 22 may be prevented from slipping out by means of an enlargement at the upper end of the guide element 22, i.e. the head 26. If the head 26 is an integral part of the guide element 22, the guide element can be pushed through the upper heel part 3, for example from the heel side, and, after screwing the shock-absorbing element 21 onto it, the guide element and the lower heel part 2 and/or the heel tip 5 are connected and/or screwed together. The guide element 22 may also comprise a thread or a pushing device at the upper end in order to screw or mount the head 26 on the guide element 22 after the guide element 22 has been inserted from below into the upper heel part 3 and guided into the recess 4. There may also be other types of connections that guarantee the required degrees of freedom and that simply replace the shock-absorbing element 21.

A further embodiment of a high-heeled shoe 1 according to the invention is shown in figure 3. The basic arrangement of the shoe 1 is similar to the embodiment shown in figures 1 and 2a-2c, but differs in the shape of the suspension element 21 of the suspension device 20. As shown in fig. 3, the shock-absorbing element 21 is formed by two truncated cones 21a, 21b placed on top of each other. The two truncated cones 21a, 21b forming the shock-absorbing element 21 may be configured as a whole or as a one-piece part or as a two-piece assembly, i.e. as two shock-absorbing elements 21a, 21b connected in series.

The shock-absorbing means of the high-heeled shoe 1 according to the invention may comprise several shock-absorbing elements 21 arranged in parallel or in series. Figures 5a to 5c show rear views of heels of high-heeled shoes according to other embodiments of the present invention. As can be seen from the figures, the suspension element 20 may comprise, for example, several spherical suspension elements 21 or further suspension or non-suspension elements 23 made of a rigid material, such as a rigid plastic or metal.

Cushioning device 20 may also be located within the heel of a shoe. In the embodiment of the invention shown in fig. 6a, the shock-absorbing means 20 is located in the lower heel part 2, for example in a cavity which may be designed at least partially as a sleeve for this purpose. At least one damping element is arranged in the heel, which is freely deformable in at least one direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the heel and/or comprises different effective damping cross sections along the longitudinal axis of the heel. The shock absorbing elements may, for example, be provided in the form of one or more gel pads or other resilient material 21.

The sleeve-shaped lower heel part 2 can be made, for example, of hard plastic or metal and serves as a guide element. However, it is also possible to provide additional guide elements 22 extending through the shock-absorbing element 21, as described above in connection with the embodiment of fig. 1. Preferably, a stabilization element 27 made of a rigid material, such as medium or hard plastic, is placed in the sleeve between the shock absorbing elements 21 to transmit forces and stabilize the heel. The stabilizing element 27 can rest on the edge of the sleeve and support the sleeve. In combination with the sleeve-shaped lower heel part 2, the stability of the heel can be ensured thereby.

In the embodiment shown in fig. 6a, the sleeve-like lower heel part 2 can be held, for example, in the annular recess 4 of the upper heel part 3 via a spring 24, as described above.

As shown in fig. 6b, the lower heel part 2 of the high-heeled shoe according to the invention can essentially consist of only the heel tip 5, which heel tip 5 is directly connected to the guide element 22. In this case, the space between the heel tip 5 and the upper heel part 3 can be completely occupied by one or several shock-absorbing elements 21. Alternatively, a combination of one or more shock absorbing elements and stabilizing elements may be provided.

Figure 6c shows a rear view of the heel of a high-heeled shoe according to the invention. As can be seen from this embodiment, the shock absorbing device may also include a combination of various shock absorbing elements, such as gel pads, polymer shock absorbers (or other elastomeric materials) 28. The polymer cushion 28 and/or gel pad may include different effective cushioning cross-sections along the longitudinal axis of the heel. A stabilizing element 27 made of a rigid material may be provided between the separate polymer shock absorbers 28 and/or the gel pads in order to ensure the stability of the heel.

As shown in fig. 6d, the suspension element 21 of the high-heeled shoe according to the invention may also be formed by several, for example cylindrical elements of similar or different diameters. The embodiments shown in fig. 6c and 6d may be designed with or without guide elements.

Figures 7a to 7m show examples of other shapes of the suspension element used in the high-heeled shoe according to the invention. All these shapes have at least two different effective damping cross sections. It is particularly preferred that the damping element used in the present invention comprises more different effective damping cross-sections.

Preferably, the high-heeled shoe according to the present invention further comprises a piston cylinder connection 40 by which the transmission and/or guide element is mounted in the upper part of the heel so as to be movable in the axial direction of the heel. Further embodiments of a piston-cylinder connection 40 according to the invention are shown in fig. 8a to 8d, 9a to 9d, 10a, 10b and 11. For reasons of clarity, the cushioning device according to the invention and the lower heel part are not shown in these figures.

A first embodiment of a piston-cylinder connection 40 according to the invention is schematically shown in fig. 8a to 8 d. As shown in fig. 8a, the piston-cylinder connection 40 preferably comprises a surrounding cylinder 125 and a piston essentially formed by the guide element 122. Furthermore, the surrounding cylinder 125 is connected to or formed by the upper heel part, which is why the cylinder can also be described as a cylindrical opening in the upper heel part. The piston is preferably connected to a guide element 122 passing through the shock-absorbing element according to the present invention, as described above. In the illustrated embodiment, the piston is integrally formed with the guide member 122. It is further shown that the guide element 122 can comprise an external thread 141 at its lower end, by means of which external thread 141 the lower heel part 2 can be screwed onto the wire element 122. Furthermore, an optional internal thread 143 makes it possible to mount the heel tip (see fig. 8 b). As can be seen from fig. 8c, which shows a cross section of the piston cylinder connection 40 of fig. 8a along the line VI-VI, the surrounding cylinder 125 and the guide element 122 preferably have a circular cross section according to this embodiment.

Fig. 8b shows the intersection along the line V-V of fig. 8a, fig. 8a showing the guide element 122 mounted in a surrounding cylinder 125, allowing movement in the axial direction. As can best be seen from the enlarged detailed view of fig. 8d, the guide element 122 is prevented from sliding out of the cylinder 125 farther than the maximum position when lifting the heel by a pin 145 which is pushed through the long opening 144 in the upper region of the guide element 122 and is mounted in or on the cylinder 125. In addition, the guide element 122 is prevented from rotating relative to the upper heel portion, thereby preventing the screwed-on lower heel portion and/or heel tip from loosening.

Due to the axial mobility, the guide element 122 is displaced upwards in the longitudinal direction of the heel when the heel is loaded and the shock-absorbing element according to the invention is deformed accordingly (not shown in fig. 8 d). The piston cylinder connection 40 is thus provided with an upper bumper 151, preferably made of elastic plastic. The shock absorber prevents the piston from colliding or rebounding without shock absorption on the axial upper end of the cylinder, and thus reduces noise generation when the heel is loaded. Alternatively, the upper bumper 151 may be made of a polymer (e.g., thermoplastic, elastomer, thermoplastic synthetic material), polyurethane, natural rubber, rubber or rubber-like plastic, foam, and/or cork compound (e.g., cork latex compound).

In addition to the buffer 151, the sleeve 147 (e.g., made of industrial ceramic or plastic) may also be provided as a means for noise reduction in order to further reduce noise generation when striking the ground and/or lifting the high-heeled shoe in accordance with the present invention. The openings 144 and/or the pins 145 of the guide element 122 may be provided with a DLC coating or another friction reducing coating in order to reduce sliding friction between these components.

Figures 9a to 9d show other embodiments of piston cylinder connectors 40 for use in high-heeled shoes according to the invention. Like reference numerals refer to elements corresponding to elements of the previously described embodiments. As shown in fig. 9a, the piston-cylinder connection further comprises a surrounding cylinder 125 and a piston formed by the guide element 122.

Fig. 9b shows a cross-section along line VII-VII of fig. 9a, wherein fig. 9d shows a detail F. The surrounding cylinder 125 is open at its lower end, as can be seen from these figures. Thus, the upper end region of the guide element 122, which comprises the enlarged cross-sectional area or head 126, can be inserted into the surrounding cylinder. Subsequently, the end piece 127 comprising the through hole of the guide element 122 is slid over said guide element and attached to the cylinder (e.g. by screwing, welding, gluing, soldering, nailing, welding or using a joining mechanism). The end piece 127 thus prevents the upper end region of the guide element 122 from slipping out of the cylinder 125.

The piston-cylinder connection of fig. 9a to 9d comprises an upper bumper 151 in the gap 149 between the guide element 122 and the cylinder 125. As previously mentioned, the upper bumper may form an upper end stop and reduce noise generation when the heel strikes the ground. Furthermore, a lower buffer 152 is provided between the head 126 of the guide element 122 and the end piece 127 of the cylinder. In the example given, the lower bumper has an annular configuration and may be made of, for example, an elastomer. The lower cushion reduces noise generation (not shown in the drawings) when the heel is unloaded and the guide member returns to its extended position due to elastic return of the shock absorbing device when the high-heeled shoe according to the present invention is lifted from the ground.

To further reduce noise generation, the inner wall of the cylinder 125 and/or the outer wall of the upper part of the guide element 122 inserted therein may be provided wholly or partly with a friction-reducing coating (e.g. plastic or DLC).

As shown in fig. 9c, the inner wall of the cylinder 125 is exactly the outer wall of the head 126 comprising a non-circular profile at the upper end of the guide element 122. Thus, contact between the inner wall of the cylinder 125 and the outer wall of the guide member 122 prevents the guide member 122 from rotating. Thus, the guide element 122 is protected from rotation in the heel.

Fig. 10a and 10b show exemplarily further embodiments of a piston-cylinder connection in which the guide element 122 is prevented from rotating relative to the cylinder 125 by a pin 145' which is firmly attached to the guide element 122 and received in an axial groove 156 of the cylinder. The upper cushion 151' may have different shapes (sphere, cylinder, etc.) and thicknesses and is free to deform in the gap 149 between the upper end of the guide element 122 and the cylinder 125, at least to some extent, in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the heel. Thus, the upper bumper 151' not only minimizes noise generation when the heel strikes the ground, but also supports the shock-absorbing function of the shock-absorbing member of the high-heeled shoe according to the present invention to some extent (not shown in fig. 10a and 10 b). The shape of the bumper may affect specific damping characteristics, as described above for the damping element. Since the hardness of the upper buffer 151' is significantly increased when abutting against the inner wall of the cylinder 125, the cylinder is further provided with an upper end stopper limiting the upward movement of the guide member. In the illustrated embodiment, the lower end piece of the cylinder 125 forms an integral part of the cylinder. The upper end of the cylinder 125 is sealed by a cap 160.

Fig. 11 shows a further embodiment of a piston-cylinder connection 40 for a high-heeled shoe according to the invention, wherein the upper bumper 151 "is configured as a hollow cylinder.

The invention and the more detailed embodiments described thus provide a stable functional high-heeled shoe with a slim design allowing a shock absorbing heel. At the same time, the shock absorbing characteristics can be flexibly adjusted to suit the wearer's requirements and individual walking patterns and to accommodate cushioning and shoe designs to optimize standing and walking patterns and wearing comfort. In addition, a particularly advantageous configuration of the heel structure by means of a piston-cylinder connection is disclosed, which prevents the generation of audible sounds and has a long service life, thereby overcoming the considerable problems which hitherto prevented the use of shock-absorbing high-heeled shoes in practice.

Claims (27)

1. A high-heeled shoe having a sole and a heel arranged on the sole and having a height of at least 4cm,

wherein the heel has a longitudinal axis intersecting the top and bottom of the heel, the heel being provided with a shock absorbing device,

wherein the damping device comprises at least one damping element and a guide element extending through the at least one damping element,

wherein the at least one shock-absorbing element is arranged at the upper part of the heel,

wherein the guide element is mounted on the upper part of the heel by means of a piston-cylinder connection so as to be movable in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the heel and to extend over at least 60% of the length of the heel,

wherein in the region of the at least one damping element the heel diameter is not more than 4cm,

wherein the at least one shock-absorbing element has a different effective shock-absorbing cross-section along the longitudinal axis of the heel and is freely deformable in at least one direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the heel,

wherein, in a cross-section perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, a ratio of a maximum cross-sectional area to a minimum cross-sectional area of the at least one damping element is at least 1.3.

2. The high-heeled shoe of claim 1, wherein said at least one suspension element has a ratio of maximum cross-sectional area to minimum cross-sectional area of at least 1.5.

3. The high-heeled shoe of claim 2, wherein said at least one suspension element has a ratio of maximum cross-sectional area to minimum cross-sectional area of at least 4.0.

4. The high-heeled shoe of claim 1, wherein said at least one suspension element is externally visible.

5. The high-heeled shoe of claim 1, wherein to a heel height of at least 4cm, the heel diameter is no greater than 4 cm.

6. The high-heeled shoe of claim 5, wherein said heel diameter is no greater than 2cm up to a heel height of at least 4 cm.

7. The high-heeled shoe of claim 6, wherein said heel diameter is no greater than 1.2cm up to a heel height of at least 4 cm.

8. The high-heeled shoe of claim 7, wherein said heel diameter is no greater than 1cm up to a heel height of at least 4 cm.

9. The high-heeled shoe of claim 7, wherein said heel diameter is no greater than 2cm in the area of said at least one suspension element.

10. The high-heeled shoe of claim 9, wherein said heel diameter is no greater than 1.5cm in the area of said at least one suspension element.

11. The high-heeled shoe of claim 1, wherein said at least one shock-absorbing element has a height of at least 1cm in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said heel.

12. The high-heeled shoe of claim 11, wherein said at least one shock-absorbing element has a height of at least 2cm in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said heel.

13. The high-heeled shoe of claim 12, wherein said at least one shock-absorbing element has a height of at least 3cm in the direction of the longitudinal axis of said heel.

14. The high-heeled shoe of claim 1, wherein said at least one cushioning element comprises a gel-like material or a solid compressible material.

15. The high-heeled shoe of claim 1, wherein said at least one shock-absorbing element comprises or consists of an elastomer, cork, foam and/or gel.

16. The high-heeled shoe of claim 1, wherein said at least one shock-absorbing element comprises or consists of a thermoplastic composite material.

17. The high-heeled shoe of claim 1, wherein said at least one shock-absorbing element comprises or consists of latex.

18. The high-heeled shoe of claim 1, wherein said at least one suspension element has a volume between 0.5 and 15cm³Within the range of (a).

19. The high-heeled shoe of claim 18, wherein said at least one suspension element has a volume between 1.75 and 5.0cm³Within the range of (a).

20. The high-heeled shoe of claim 19, wherein said at least one suspension element has a volume between 1.5 and 4.0cm³Within the range of (a).

21. The high-heeled shoe of claim 1, wherein said piston cylinder connection includes at least one means for reducing noise generation when said heel is loaded and/or when said heel is unloaded.

22. The high-heeled shoe of claim 21, wherein said means for reducing noise reduces noise generated when the piston moves within the cylinder.

23. The high-heeled shoe of claim 22, wherein said piston-cylinder connection comprises at least one bumper configured to prevent and/or inhibit said piston from abutting an axial end of said cylinder.

24. A high-heeled shoe according to claim 22 or 23, wherein said piston and/or said cylinder comprise a low friction surface.

25. A high-heeled shoe according to claim 24, wherein said piston and/or said cylinder is provided with a sleeve made of a low friction material.

26. A high-heeled shoe according to claim 22 or 23, wherein said piston cylinder connection comprises an anti-rotation guard which counteracts rotation of said piston in said cylinder.

27. The high-heeled shoe of claim 26, wherein said piston-cylinder connector includes an anti-rotation guard that prevents rotation of said piston in said cylinder.