High-Heel Shoe With Exchangeable Heels and Biased Latch
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-heeled shoes with interchangeable heels lack a robust yet easily operable mechanism for attaching and detaching the heel, often requiring high spring tension or difficult manual operation.
Innovation Solution
A high-heeled shoe design featuring an elongated high-heel support with a normally biased latch system, where a pivotally connected latch plate applies a constant biasing force to securely attach the heel, allowing easy release by manual pressure, and incorporating resilient brackets for secure retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a latch with high spring tension is used to securely attach the heel, then the connection strength is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism is segmented into multiple functional parts: a first plate portion for manual operation, a second plate portion for engagement, a spring element for biasing, and a flange for connection. This segmentation allows the force application point (first plate) to be separated from the force transmission point (second plate), enabling easy operation while maintaining strong connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch utilizes rotational motion in a different dimension rather than linear compression. By pivoting the first plate portion about a pivot point, the user applies force in one dimension (manual pressing) which translates to engagement force in another dimension (heel attachment), making operation easier while maintaining connection strength.
2Reliability
If the latch carries the entire load of the heel connection, then the connection reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The latch mechanism merges multiple functions into a single integrated structure: the plate portions provide both the manual interface and the engagement interface, the spring provides both biasing force and positional control, and the flange provides both connection and retention. This merging reduces overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch plate serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a manual interface for operation, a structural element for engagement, a force transmission component, and a retention mechanism through its flange. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, lowering device complexity while ensuring reliable connection.
3Strength
If a robust attachment mechanism is used to securely hold the heel, then the connection strength is improved, but the ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The first plate portion acts as an intermediary between the user's manual force and the latch engagement mechanism. By providing a large surface area for finger application, it mediates the transition from weak manual force to strong engagement force through the pivot and spring mechanism, enabling easy operation while maintaining robust connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch mechanism is dynamic rather than static, utilizing spring biasing and rotational movement to adapt to operational forces. The spring element dynamically adjusts the engagement force based on the position of the plate portions, allowing easy operation during attachment/detachment while maintaining strong connection during use.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides a robust and easily operable attachment mechanism that securely attaches the high heel to the shoe body, distributing weight to the elongated support rather than the heel, ensuring a solid connection and easy exchange.
Implementation Method 1
a spring element configured to apply a constant biasing force to the first plate portion
Implementation Method 2
pivotally connected with or to the sole of the shoe body so as to define a first plate portion on a first side of the pivot, and a second plate portion on a second side of the pivot
Data Source
AI summary
A high-heeled shoe is configured to utilize exchangeable high-heels. A biased, pivoting latch is formed into the sole of the shoe at the heel portion of the sole. A heel stem or support is fixedly attached to the shoe and extends from the sole and about the pivoting latch, terminating in a tip. The stem has a length at least approximately equal to a desired length of the high-heel. An exchangeable high-heel is characterized by a generally hollow body having a resilient stem holder therein configured to releasably receive and hold the heel stem. A reinforcement is provided at a rear of the exchangeable high-heel that extends from a top to approximately a bottom of the exchangeable high-heel and carries a catch proximate the top thereof. The latch includes a flange that engages the catch while the latch is normally biased.