MODULAR FOOTWEAR SYSTEM WITH INTERCHANGEABLE HEEL PORTION AND COMPONENTS.

Abstract

This application relates to a multi-piece footwear system that allows the interchange of footwear components such as heels and fittings, and of the parts that make up the system itself; thus extending the useful life of footwear parts and reducing the carbon footprint that the footwear industry generates in the environment.

Description

MODULAR ECO-FRIENDLY FOOTWEAR SYSTEM WITH INTERCHANGEABLE HEEL PORTION AND COMPONENTS Field of invention This patent application is applicable to the footwear industry. The proposed technology solves a technical problem inherent to all types of footwear, regardless of the gender or age of the wearer, since the heels and other components of any type of shoe suffer natural wear and tear from use. In addition to the above, and the evident economic advantages that the present invention achieves for footwear users, the positive impact that the proposed technology achieves on the environment allows not only to solve an industrial technical problem, but also to contribute to the resolution of a serious ecological problem, while guaranteeing stable functionality that does not harm the posture or any musculoskeletal system of the user. Background of the invention One of the most significant technical challenges for users in the footwear industry is the availability of durable shoe components. The invention that is the subject of this application addresses this need by proposing a novel modular system toQnnn / Lznz / e / YiAi -3All its variations are solid and complete pieces. The system described in US9486032B2 incorporates a kind of V-shaped wedge on the contact surface with the body of the shoe, thus allowing the joining of both pieces. For its part, document WO2019243553A1 describes an interchangeable heel cover; which operates by means of a mechanism comprising two securing / joining points on the heel core (one opposite the other) as a female assembly (22), and their corresponding insertion points on the cover or casing as a male assembly (64) and (72). As can be seen in figures 5 and 6, the interchangeable heel cover, however, is a solid, one-piece element that covers the entire heel core. The document US8832968B2 describes a joining mechanism (intermediary between the body of a shoe and a heel structure), which incorporates means such as springs and mechanical coupling parts, for a particular joining / separation of the two basic structures that make up a heeled shoe. Document US9009990B2 describes a shoe kit with one-piece heels of different sizes that allow the height of the shoe to be varied. These heels are assembled / disassembled by a particular mechanism, very different from that of the present application. Document US9326565B1 describes a system of interchangeable shoe and heel, again, one-piece and solid, froonnn / Lznz / B / YiAi -4where said shoe-heel system is joined by means of a metal protrusion located on the contact surface of the heel with the shoe; which slides in a groove present in the lower and rear section of the shoe. The document US9226547B2 is limited to describing a device with very particular characteristics, for exchanging heels in interchangeable shoe / heel systems designed to work with such a device. The document MX / a / 2017 / 016063 is limited to describing a system for exchanging rubber heels for flat shoes. Document MX / a / 2018 / 001869 also describes a system for exchanging solid, one-piece heels of different sizes in their various forms, using a lever-like mechanism. Document MX / a / 2008 / 005198 describes a detachable shoe, in which both its middle and rear sections incorporate appropriate measures for the assembly / disassembly of solid parts; whether of the last or the heel. Document MX / u / 2011 / 00232 describes a heel that incorporates a shock absorber in the middle of the needle structure of the heel's core, which is then covered with a casing that runs from the base of the shoe sole to the tip of the heel (covering the entire heel structure). -5 damper) to supposedly achieve damping; similar to the damping systems of a car. Document MX / u / 2015 / 00245 is limited to describing a wireless mechanism for modifying the height of a heel to two positions (low and high). This mechanism includes a sensor in the shoe that activates the height adjustment mechanism after receiving a wireless signal from a remote control. Document MX / 931855 is limited to describing a technology that involves the replacement of the entire sole of a shoe. Finally, document MX / a / 2012 / 012434 describes a heel assembly that allows a male / female assembly between the heel and a shoe, allowing the number of blocks used for assembly to be varied, and thus varying the heel height. These state-of-the-art documents as reported by the Mexican Institute of Industrial Property in search file No. IT / E / 2020 / 002173. The system of the present invention is a novel multi-piece system for footwear, which allows the total or partial replacement of one or all of the pieces of a heel and / or a fitting in a detachable and interchangeable manner, which will prolong the useful life of a product, and is described in detail below. Brief description of the figures Figures 1A, 1B, 1C and ID show one of the modalities of the system of the present application in which elements 101, 201, 301 and 401 that form the basis of the system of the present application can be seen. Figures 2A, 2B, 2C and 2D show another modality of the system of the present application applicable to low heeled footwear, in its front view (2A), side view (2B), rear view (2C) and side view without element 401' (2D) in which elements 101', 201', 301' and 401' that make up that modality can be seen. Figures 3A, 3B, and 3C show in detail a subassembly that can be considered a fixed part of the system. This fixed system is located proximal to a buttress / heel of the system described in this application. Figures 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D and 4E show in detail the detachable sub-assembly of the system of the present application in its different views. Figures 5A, 5B and 5C show in detail one of the modalities of another piece of the footwear system that is located in contact with the ground. Figures 6A, 6B, 6C and 6D show in detail another of the 201 modalities of another piece of the footwear system that is located between the piece proximal to the heel counter / heel and the piece in contact with the ground. froonnn / Lznz / e / YiAi -7Figures 7A, 7B and 7C show in detail another of the 301 modalities of another of the system pieces that is located in contact with the ground. Figures 8A and 8B show in detail one of the modalities of another of the system's parts (500), which serves as a disassembly tool or wrench. Figures 9A and 9B show the application of the part (500) shown in Figures 8A and 8B in use within the system of the present application. Figures 10A, 10B and 10C show a third embodiment of the invention in which one of the system pieces (101) is elongated in its dimensions (600) and incorporates at least one protruding element (601) that allows the exchange of whips and collars in ladies' shoes. Figures 11A and 11B show this third embodiment of the invention in use with the rest of the elements of the system. Figures 12A and 12B show an additional element (700) made of flexible materials that is part of the system of the present application, and which is mechanically coupled to the elements of the 200 series (201, 201'not shown] or 201). Figures 13A and 13B show an additional modality (700') of said flexible element 700, which is also mechanically coupled to the elements of the series. 200 (201, 201'not shown] or 201) . froonnn / Lznz / B / YiAi Detailed description of the invention As described above, this application relates to a multi-piece footwear system, which allows the interchange of footwear components such as the heel, fittings, straps, among others, as well as the interchange of the pieces that, in themselves, make up the system. The foregoing allows the invention described in this application to extend the useful life of a piece of footwear that incorporates it, in a novel way, since, being made up of a plurality of pieces, these can be exchanged in themselves due to wear, or be replaced by sets of at least one, at least two, at least three and up to at least n number of pieces; jointly or separately as external functional or aesthetic elements of the pieces of footwear. By external aesthetic elements, the present application refers to the functional elements of a piece of footwear that can be coupled to the proposed system, and that give the final appearance to the pieces of footwear. -9In a first embodiment of the invention, the footwear system is composed of a fixed sub-assembly and a detachable sub-assembly. The fixed sub-assembly, comprising at least one of elements 101 and 401, and is preferably, without limitation, an assembly of at least two pieces, or in some embodiments, is a single unitary piece in which elements 101 and 104 are, for example, extruded or 3D printed as a single piece, and in which said assembly or unitary piece may be of a uniform material or a mixture of materials, and serves a support function both for the footwear piece and for the rest of the elements that make up the system of the present application. By piece of footwear, we mean a set of elements such as, for example, and without limitation, a bridge, shank, sole, insole, footbed, lining, welt, toe cap, straps, ankle straps, vamp / neckline, heel counter, toe cap, instep, loops, tongue, etc., which, together with the system of the present invention, make up a shoe, sneaker, tennis shoe, or any other type of footwear. Element 101 of the sub-assembly (or acting as a fixed unit piece) is the element of the system that, in the preferred embodiments of the invention, is located proximally or in direct contact with the froonnn / Lznz / e / YiAi piece. -10footwear, and which houses (when it is an assembly) element 401 at least partially. Element 401 acts as the core of the system by being in contact with all the elements that make up the system. Said element 401 is preferably composed of a tough material, selected from the group comprising metals, metal alloys, compacted plastics, compacted wood(s), or any mixture thereof; and in general, of any material suitable to provide appropriate support and stability to both the system of parts of the present invention and the footwear piece. Element 401 also incorporates, in some forms, at the end of its distal end to the body of the footwear piece, element 402. This element 402, which is a reduction of the perimeter of the body of element 401, allows element 401 to be configured to receive or come into contact with element 301 or 306 (described in detail below). Element 102 (see Figure 3C), which is an integral part of element 101, either as a single piece or as a separable part thereof, plays an essential role in the invention, since it not only serves as a connecting element between element 101 and element 201 through its coupling with element 202, but also, the specific shape of said element 102 prevents rotational movement of the different parts that make up the system, froonnn / Lznz / e / YiAi -Tilo, in a novel way, prevents undesirable play between the system's components. Thus, the geometric shape of element 102 in the preferred embodiments of the present invention must be a geometric shape that, in addition to being complementary to the geometric shape of element 202, avoids geometries close to cylindrical. Therefore, any prism with at least 3 sides and up to n sides is included within the scope of the present invention for said element 102. In yet another modality of the fixed sub-assembly of the present application, element 101 incorporates additional elements (see figures 10A-10C) in the form of buttons or protrusions that allow the user of the footwear piece to fasten and / or button and unfasten and / or unbutton additional elements to the system that may form part of the footwear piece, such as whips, covers, wristbands, etc. Another preferred embodiment of the fixed sub-assembly of the system includes essentially the same elements described above, but designed so that their dimensions are adapted to heels considered low heels within the technical field of the present invention, such as, for example, heels for men's and / or women's casual footwear, heels for tennis shoes, and / or athletic shoes. In this other embodiment, the dimensions and configurations of the different elements of the system are frOQnnn / Lznz / e / YiAi -12 are adjusted to allow optimal ergonomics and support (see figures 2A-2D) in this type of footwear. Furthermore, in this embodiment of the invention, element 401 can be completely eliminated (see figure 2D) and instead, elements 101' and 301' are in direct contact. On the other hand, the detachable sub-assembly of the present application, in one of its forms, comprises an element 201 which, in a novel and simplified manner compared to the state of the art, is coupled both to the fixed sub-assembly of the present application at one of its ends and to element 301 or 301' (described in detail below) at the other end, by means of a system of receptacles 202, 203, 206 designed to have simple geometries and complementary to the elements of the fixed sub-assembly and other parts of the system (for example to element 303 (described in detail below) to fit by pressure with said rest of the elements that make up the system. Thus, the male / female geometric joining mechanism proposed by the system in this application not only allows for low production costs compared to complex clip, hook, spring, etc. systems described in the prior art, but also distributes wear among the system's different parts, making it the only system capable of being modular and replacing froonnn / Lznz / e / YiAi -13only the individually worn parts, which are themselves also low cost to replace and which use preferably up-recycled materials. Elements 201, 201', 201, 202, 203, 204, 205, collectively referred to as the elements of the 200 series; can in some forms, adopt geometries such as prisms, external geometries of n number of sides, and even completely cylindrical geometries, on the condition that their internal geometry is always complementary to the geometry of element 102, which, as previously described, is a geometry that prevents a total or partial rotational movement of the elements of the 200 series. Likewise, the bodies of the elements in the 200 series can be hollow, partially hollow, or solid, depending on their application. When lighter footwear is desired, the design will aim to incorporate as many hollow spaces as possible, while when the goal is to achieve footwear with a greater degree of resistance to wear or the mechanical stress exerted on it by the user, the 200 series can be designed with a solid, hollow composition. In another of the system's modalities, elements 202, 203, 205 have prism geometries that are wider at their base than at their top, that is, with variable perimeters in froonnn / Lznz / e / YiAi -14Its different sections (in the form of a cone) to promote the pressure fixing of the male elements that they receive. Element 204 is a channel-like notch that allows the energy from the pressure applied to the system to be absorbed, reducing the risk of system blockage due to the applied pressure. Since the system covered by this application is a technology applicable to footwear components, the presence of element 204 within the system is relevant for distributing the applied pressure and preventing the system components from becoming blocked (especially between components 201 and 301). Element 204 also serves as a release notch and provides access to element 500 (see Figures 8A and 8B), which is a release key designed within the same inventive concept of this application to easily release the system components in case of a temporary blockage due to the applied pressure (see Figures 9A and 9B). In yet another of the preferred forms of the present application, element 201 comprises at least in one of the walls that make up the prism a kind of window or even being totally or partially hollow in said at least one of its walls, to incorporate a panel with ornamental designs of various materials, such as PVC, acetate, fabrics, etc. -15A As an example, the variation between the designs and dimensions of at least one panel of element 201 is shown in figures 6A and up to 6D, where a modality can be seen that incorporates larger walls and elements such as elements 205 and 206 that respect the same male / female pressure joint principle of the present application. Element 301 of the system, for its part, is the element in direct contact with the ground and is therefore more susceptible to wear. This element incorporates sub-elements 302 and 303, or 305, 306, and 307 in some other configurations, which represent, respectively, the joining and contact elements with both element 201 and elements 401 and 402. In yet another embodiment of the system claimed in this application, a series of elements are included; i.e., the 700 series elements, i.e., 700 and / or 700', which are made of some of their preferred embodiments of flexible materials, and which are configured to be coupled to the 200 series elements as a sheath, cover, jacket, etc., and which are fastened to said 200 series elements by means of mechanical fastening elements, such as the 701 and / or 701' elements shown by way of example and without limitation in Figures 12A or 12B, 13A and 13B. 13B. -16These elements of the 700 series follow the shape and silhouette of the component of the 200 series and are attached by means of a support with the lower rubber of the shoe and small notches on the inside of the heel. In some versions, these elements of the 700 series may be totally or partially painted, covered with textiles, paper, plastic, screen printing, and in general, any other material or technique that allows the appearance of the elements of the 200 series to be altered and / or modified by covering them. Materials. In general, any of the parts and / or elements of the system described above in this application may be made, in any possible combination, either individually or as a set of parts all made of the same material, and may be constituted totally or partially, preferably, and without limitation, of metallic, plastic or natural materials such as wood, bamboo, or any mixture thereof; such as lead-free steel, iron, aluminum, copper, magnesium, titanium, beryllium, lead, cobalt, tin, zinc, chromium, alloys of two or more of these metals, including steel, and plastics such as Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), Polystyrene (PS), Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), Polytetrafluoroethylene frOQnnn / Lznz / e / YiAi -17(PTFE) or Teflon, Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMI) or Plexiglas, Polyamides (PA) (example: nylon), Silicones, Polyesters, Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), or any mixture of such plastics; pine, oak, fir, maple, beech, ash, walnut, cherry, mahogany, teak wood, and mixtures of any of these, including preformed wood scraps such as plywood or any preformed composite; crystal or glass selected from the group comprising solid crystals, covalent crystals, ionic crystals, molecular crystals, metallic crystals, common glass, used glass, calcium silicate glasses, lead glasses, borosilicate glass, silica glass, or any mixture of these; and any mixture of the foregoing materials, including any of these materials from upcycling or recovery. Specifically, the preferred material modalities for the construction of elements 101, 102, 600, are selected from resin, rubber, polyurethane, PVC, EVA, injection biodegradable plastic mixture, and any mixture or combination thereof, in whole or in part. Likewise, in some preferred embodiments, the materials with which element 401, 401' and in general any of the elements that fulfill the function of core or central support in this application, may be constructed from pieces of extract of (generally) frOQnnn / Lznz / B / YiAi -19Manufacturing processes. In general, the parts that make up the system of this application can be manufactured from the materials described in the previous section, by processes known in the art, such as cold or customer extrusion, molding, carving, 3D printing, cold or hot casting, simple cutting, laser cutting, cold or hot rolling, by job, by batch, in mass, by continuous flow; or any total or partial combination of the aforementioned processes that is appropriate for the formation of the individual parts of the system. Dimensions. Although the range of dimensions that the different elements of this application can take is wide, and depends mainly on the desired design, the configuration and assembly design of the different elements and modalities of these that have been described in this application must respect a sprint in a range of between 10 mm to 16 mm ± 2 mm. In the context of this application, "sprint" shall be understood as the space or separation that the portion most distal to the heel (toe of the shoe) maintains with respect to the ground when the piece of footwear is at rest, away from the user's foot. froonnn / Lznz / e / YiAi -20Other limitations in the dimensions of the elements described above can occur, for example, in the depth / width (understood in the context of a typical reference system of height, length and width / depth where X is the width / depth, Y is the height and Z is the length) that the elements of the 200 series can take, as their magnitude is naturally limited on one of their flanks (the flank proximal to the middle zone of the footwear piece) by the distance between the heel's web (401) and the arch of the footwear piece. The system of the present application in its already assembled form is capable of resulting in multi-piece heels, ranging from 1m high up to n centimeters high and / or long (understood in the context of a typical height, length and width / depth reference system where X is the width / depth, Y is the height and Z is the length). Likewise, there is no limitation on the dimensions and proportions that one, two, or more elements in contact with each other can have within the system. For example, and without limitation, the height (understood in the context of a typical height, length, and width / depth reference system where X is the width / depth, Y is the height, and Z is the length) that element 303 can have to make contact with the elements of the 200 series or to complement element 401; froonnn / Lznz / e / YiAi -21 elements of the 200 series and / or with element 401 can vary to represent from 0% to 100% of the total height resulting from the combination of elements 303, the 200 series and element 401; likewise, the height (understood in the context of a typical height, length and width / depth reference system where X is the width / depth, Y is the height and Z is the length) of the elements of the 200 series can vary to represent from 0% to 100% of the total height resulting from the combination of elements 303, the 200 series and element 401; and the height (understood in the context of a typical reference system of height, length and width / depth where X is the width / depth, Y is the height and Z is the length) of element 401 can vary to represent from 0% to 100% of the total height resulting from the combination of elements 303, the 200 series and said element 401.This example can be understood even better by observing Figure IB, which shows a cross-sectional view of the basic elements of the described system, and it is clearly seen that the height of the elements, 303, 401, 102, and the receptacles 202 and 203 (see Figure 4B) can be variable, as long as the complementary internal structure between these elements is maintained. It should be understood that the figures illustrate the example modalities in detail, and it should be understood frOQnnn / Lznz / e / YiAi -22that the present application is not limited to the details or methodology presented in the description or illustrated in the figures. It should also be understood that the terminology is for descriptive purposes only and should not be considered limiting. Further modifications and alternative embodiments of various aspects of the invention will be evident to those skilled in the art from this description. Consequently, this description is to be considered illustrative only. The construction and arrangements shown in the various example embodiments are for illustrative purposes only. Although only a few embodiments are described in detail herein, many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, parameter values, assembly arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel lessons and advantages of the object described herein.Some elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed from multiple parts or elements, the position of elements may be reversed or otherwise varied, and the nature or number of discrete elements or positions may be altered or varied. The order or sequence of any process, froonnn / Lznz / e / YiAi. -23 Logical algorithm, or method steps, may be varied or resequenced according to alternative modalities. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may also be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the various example modalities without departing from the scope of the present invention. Although this application mentions particular combinations of features in the appended claims, several embodiments of the invention relate to any combination of the features described herein, whether or not such combination is currently claimed, and any combination of features may be claimed in this or future applications. Any of the features, elements, or components of any of the exemplary embodiments discussed above may be used individually or in combination with any of the features, elements, or components of any of the other embodiments discussed above. In several example configurations, the relative dimensions, including angles, lengths, and radii, as shown in the figures are to scale. Actual measurements of the figures will reveal the relative dimensions, angles, and proportions of the various example configurations. The 24 example modalities extend to various intervals around the dimensions, angles, and proportions that can be determined from the figures. Several example modalities include any combination of one or more of the 5 relative dimensions or relative angles that can be determined from the figures. In addition, actual dimensions not expressly stated in this description can be determined using the dimensional relationships measured on the figures in combination with the 10 explicit dimensions stated in this description.

Claims

CLAIMS 1.- A modular heel system for footwear, characterized in that it comprises A) a fixed sub-assembly formed by at least i) an element (101) that is in direct contact with at least a portion of the sole of a piece of footwear, said element (101) incorporating an anti-rotation element (102) in its structure, and ii) an element (401) that extends from the base of said element (101) in the opposite direction to the heel portion of said piece of footwear; and B) a variable sub-assembly formed by at least i) an element (201) that houses at least partially the elements (102) and (401) within it, and ii) an element (301) that is in contact with said element (201) at one end and with the ground at the other end. 2,- The modular heel system for footwear according to claim 1, wherein said fixed subassembly is formed in a single piece giving rise to elements (101), (102) and (401).

3. The modular heel system for footwear according to claim 1, wherein said fixed subassembly is formed by two pieces, the first piece comprising elements (101) and (102), and the second piece comprising element (401). The modular heel system for footwear according to claim 3, wherein the body of said element (401) is at least partially contained within the body of the piece that gives rise to elements (101) and (102).

5. - The modular heel system for footwear according to claim 1, wherein said elements (101) and (102) are formed from a material selected from the group comprising resins, rubbers, polyurethane, PVC, EVA, mixtures of injectable biodegradable plastics, and any mixture or combination thereof.

6. The modular heel system for footwear according to claim 1, wherein said element (201) is an element (201') and said element (301) is an element (301'), which are coupled to the rest of the elements of the system. 7 The modular heel system for footwear according to claim 1, wherein said element (401) is formed from a material selected from the group comprising lead-free steel, iron profile extract pieces, iron bars, dehydrated and rolled sargassum, aluminum, iron, aluminum, copper, magnesium, titanium, beryllium, lead, cobalt, tin, zinc, chromium, alloys of two or more of these metals, including steel, or any mixture thereof, or any mixture of materials known to have high toughness and Young's moduli greater than 5,000 MPa; including said materials or mixtures thereof originating from upcycling or recovery.

8. The modular heel system for footwear according to claim 1, wherein the body of said element (101) that is in direct contact with at least a portion of the sole of a piece of footwear comprises a tongue-like extension (600) that houses at least one fastening bolt for strap or collar-type elements that form part of the piece of footwear.

9. The modular heel system for footwear according to claim 1, wherein said system further comprises a cover element (700) or (700') that is mechanically coupled to the elements (201) or (201').

10. The modular heel system for footwear according to claim 9, wherein said cover element (700) or (701') is formed of a flexible material, selected from the group comprising resins, rubbers, polyurethane, PVC, EVA, mixtures of injectable biodegradable plastics, ductile metals, and any mixture or combination thereof, including said materials or mixtures thereof originating from upcycling or recovery. The modular heel system for footwear according to claim 10, wherein the surfaces of said materials comprising the cover element (700) or (701') may be totally or partially painted, covered by textiles, paper, plastic, screen printing, and any other material that modifies the aesthetics of the surfaces of said materials comprising the cover element (700) or (701').

12. The modular heel system for footwear according to claim 1, wherein said element (301) comprises a system of notches and cavities (302), (303) that allow the system formed between element (201) and element (301) to be unlocked by means of a key (500) comprising complementary protrusions in diameters and shapes to said system of cavities and notches.

13. A modular heel system for footwear, characterized in that it comprises A) a fixed sub-assembly formed by at least i) an element (101') that is in direct contact with at least a portion of the sole of a piece of footwear, said element (101') incorporating an anti-rotation element (102') in its structure, and B) a variable sub-assembly formed by at least i) an element (201') that houses at least partially the elements (101') and (301') inside it, and ii) an element (301') that is in contact with said elements (201') and (301') at one of its ends and with the ground at its other end. 14.- The modular heel system for footwear according to claim 13, wherein said fixed subassembly is formed in a single piece giving rise to elements (101') and (102').

15. The modular heel system for footwear according to claim 13, wherein said elements (101') and (102') are formed from a material selected from the group comprising resins, rubbers, polyurethane, PVC, EVA, mixtures of injectable biodegradable plastics, and any mixture or combination thereof.

16. The modular heel system for footwear according to claim 13, wherein said system further comprises a cover element (700) or (700') that is mechanically coupled to the elements (201').

17. The modular heel system for footwear according to claim 16, wherein said cover element (700) or (701') is formed from a flexible material, selected from the group comprising resins, rubbers, polyurethane, PVC, EVA, mixtures of injectable biodegradable plastics, ductile metals, and any mixture or combination thereof, including said materials or mixtures thereof whose origin is from upcycling or recovery.

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