Shoe surface and heel repair/protective device

Abstract

A heel repair / protective kit carried in a women's purse or handbag contains one or more cup members designed to be slipped onto the heel stem tip of a high-heel shoe. The cup member is composed of elastic material that fits snugly over the heel stem tip, covering a chipped or broken tip surface. The cup members may extend partway up the heel stem, and may contain decorative elements such as gems, rhinestones, studs and the like. The kit may additionally contain one or more sheets having a plurality of peel-and-stick patches of various sizes, colors, and shapes. These peel-and-stick patches may be applied to the heel stem and the sides or front of the shoe sole to cover up scuffs and scratches, and provide a decorative appearance that protects the sides, front or heel stem from further damage. The patches are composed of cloth, polymeric sheets or metallic foils having a stretch-release adhesive backing. The heel protection kit fixes high-heel shoe damages in an efficient, reliable manner. On-the-fly repair is readily effected, affording continuous usage without need for tools or shoe repair personnel.

Description

[0001]This application claims the benefit of provisional application No. 61 / 340,901, filed Mar. 24, 2010.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates to a shoe surface and heel repair and protective device; and more particularly to the immediate repair and ongoing protection of high-heel shoes using a repair / protective device that comprises in one aspect a cup or sheath appointed to surround the bottom tip of the stem portion of a high-heel shoe, and in another aspect a surface repair device comprising a plurality of peel and stick elements that cover up scuff marks and adorn the heel stem, toe or side of a shoe.[0004]2. Description of the Prior Art[0005]Typically, high-heel shoes wear somewhat unevenly, with the result that the bottom of the stem becomes uneven. Sometimes, the worn portion on the bottom of a high-heel shoe becomes so uneven that, when placed on a flat surface, the high-heel shoe tips over. This loss of balance leads ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0030]The present invention provides a heel repair device comprising a cup appointed to surround the entire surface of the bottom of the stem portion of a lady's high-heel shoe. The cup extends up the heel stem for a length sufficient for it to remain in place at the bottom portion of the heel stem during subsequent use of the shoe. The heel repair device is fabricated from a flexible elastomeric material such as rubber and the device thickness at the bottom ground contacting portion of the cup is larger, typically in the range of 0.125″ to 0.25″ providing longer wear life, and may be composed of an elastomer comprising wear resistant fillers. The wall portions of the cup are generally thinner, typically in the range of 0.075″ to 0.175″, enabling easy insertion of a damaged heel stem into the cup. In an optional embodiment, the upper-most edge of the cup has a taper with progressively decreasing wall thickness enabling easier insertion of a damaged heel stem into the repair cup. The heel stems of a high-heel shoe may be rectangular, hexagonal, circular or semi-circular in cross section with a size ranging from 0.375″ to 0.625″. The heel stem generally reduces in cross section as a function of distance from the ground contacting location. The cup may be made from a flexible elastomeric material exactly matching the heel stem bottom shape and size; and a quantity of the cups may be sold with the shoe. On the other hand, the cups may be sold separately in different sizes, colors, and shapes. Due to the light weight and size of the repair cups, they may carried within a lady's purse or handbag, so as to be available at all times to readily fix problems with a chipped or cracked heel stem tip. The present invention solves the wear problems associated with high-heel shoes resulting from unexpected damage to the tip of the high-heel stem, a common problem that results in loss of balance.

[0031]In accordance with the invention, there is provided a cup-shaped member that fits snuggly around the bottom of the stem, and extends a small distance, approximately 1.5 to 3 times the size of the cup, and climbs up the stem of a high-heel shoe when the cup is inserted at the bottom tip of the heel stem. The cup is easily slipped onto the stem, and owing to its elastic properties remains in place without need of further fastening means.

[0032]In addition, the present invention provides a plurality of peel and stick decorative patches affixed to a flat sheet suited for carrying in the lady's purse or handbag. The damage to a high-heel shoe may also include scratches to and along the heel stem. These scratches or scuffs, which may occur to the back portion, side portion or front portion of a high-heel shoe, create an unsightly appearance. Typically, such scratches or scuffmarks appear in common places that are contacted by other hard objects, and tend to occur over and over again. According to the present invention, a lady picks an appropriately sized patch from the peel and stick kit and affixes the patch over the scratch or scuff mark. The peel and stick patch is made from a material selected from a group consisting of cloth, polymeric sheets including vinyl, polyacetate, polyester, metallic foils each having an adhesive underlayer. The peel and stick patches may have material of different length and width, color and print texture, to provide decorative effects when used on a high-heel shoe. Since the adhered patch protects the portion of the shoe where it is applied, further damage to the shoe is avoided.

[0033]In still another embodiment of the invention, there is provided a sheath, which surrounds the bottom of the stem and extends partway up the sides of the stem. This light weight sheath may be carried in the lady's purse or handbag and is available for use to cover damage or scratches on the heel stem of a high-heel shoe or even to change the color and appearance of the heel stem at any time. The sheath is a cylindrical member composed of vinyl, rubber, metal or the like. It can be designed to create a decorative effect or be clear, so as to preserve the original appearance of the heel stem. Since the heel stem has a complex shape, this cylindrical sheath fits at the largest size location of the stem and is retained in place. Decorative sheaths can have crown shaped top portions. They would extend approximately 25% to 50% of the way up the heel stem or, in other embodiments, cover substantially the entire heel stem. They can be multi-colored and / or provided with gem stones or other decorative pieces. The sheaths shield or otherwise preserve the sides of the heel stem from being roughed up during use. They are affixed in much the same way as the stem cups; are secured in place by virtue of the elastic effect of the material used to form the sheath. In other embodiments, they can be attached to the heel stem by chemical or mechanical means. In still further embodiments, they can be arranged as peel-away strips on one or more backing sheets suitable for carriage in a women's purse or handbag.

Problems solved by technology

The damage to a high-heel shoe may also include scratches to and along the heel stem.

These scratches or scuffs, which may occur to the back portion, side portion or front portion of a high-heel shoe, create an unsightly appearance.

Typically, such scratches or scuffmarks appear in common places that are contacted by other hard objects, and tend to occur over and over again.

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