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A shoe has a sole with a toe, heel and arch. A two part heel has a low heel block attached to the sole heel and includes a slot therein. A high heel extension is attached to the low heel block through a support beam having a substantially rectangular cross-section capable of limited axial and pivota

A shoe has a sole with a toe, heel and arch. A two part heel has a low heel block attached to the sole heel and includes a slot therein. A high heel extension is attached to the low heel block through a support beam having a substantially rectangular cross-section capable of limited axial and pivotal movement. The fit between the beam and the slot prevents rotational movement of the high heel about its axis. The high heel extension can be pivoted between a first position where it underlies the low heel block and a second position where it lies beneath the sole arch. The bottom of the low heel block has a heel lift extending downwardly engaging the ground when the high heel is stowed. This low heel lift is enclosed by a beveled edge at the top of the high heel piece when it is vertical.

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1. In a shoe having a sole with a toe portion, a heel portion and an arch portion located between said heel and toe portions, the improvement comprised of a stowable heel comprising: a low heel block attached to the heel portion of said shoe sole, said low heel block having a slot formed therein tha

1. In a shoe having a sole with a toe portion, a heel portion and an arch portion located between said heel and toe portions, the improvement comprised of a stowable heel comprising: a low heel block attached to the heel portion of said shoe sole, said low heel block having a slot formed therein that is open adjacent the bottom of said low heel block and continues through the forward part of said low heel block adjacent said arch portion of said shoe;a high heel extension piece attached to said low heel block, said high heel extension piece having a support beam affixed therein and protruding upwardly from the top of said high heel extension piece, said support beam having a substantially rectangular cross-section and defining a substantially central axis of said high heel extension piece, said support beam being capable of limited axial and pivotal movement within said slot, said support beam further including a depression in a side thereof;said low heel block including a spring biased ball located adjacent said slot with said ball engaging said support beam whereby, when said support beam is moved axially, said spring biased ball is adapted to fit within said depression, the location of said depression and of said ball being such that when said ball enters said depression, said high heel extension piece is in a the first or second position;the dimensions of said support beam and said slot preventing rotational movement of said high heel extension piece about the central axis of said high heel extension piece relative to said low heel block, anda rotatable slotted pivot including an elongated groove for allowing pivotal motion of said high heel extension piece relative to said sole so that said high heel extension piece can be moved between a first position wherein said high heel extension piece underlies and is in substantial alignment with said low heel block creating a high heel and a second position wherein said high heel extension piece lies substantially beneath said arch portion of said sole resulting in a low heel, said spring biased ball being carried by said pivot and enters said groove. 2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein the bottom of said low heel block has a low heel lift of noncircular cross-section that extends downwardly, and is the portion of the heel that engages the ground when the high heel extension piece is in the second position stowed under the arch of the sole. 3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein said low heel lift is essentially U-shaped. 4. The invention according to claim 2 wherein said low heel lift is removably attached to the remaining portion of said low heel block for the purpose of replacement when worn out. 5. The invention according to claim 4 wherein said low heel lift includes a plurality of stems extending upwardly and wherein said low heel block includes a plurality of apertures therein for receiving said stems for the purpose of securing the low heel lift to the low heel block. 6. The invention according to claim 5 wherein each of said stems, the inner walls of their apertures, or both have a textured surface providing a friction fit between said stem and said apertures in order to maintain said low heel lift in place. 7. The invention according to claim 2 wherein said high heel extension piece has a recess in the top thereof surrounded by a beveled edge that fits over the low heel lift of said low heel block and hides the low heel lift when the heel is in the high heel configuration. 8. The invention according to claim 7 wherein said low heel block includes an opening at a forward surface facing towards the toe region adjacent the arch portion of said shoe, said opening being essentially the same shape as the perimeter of the beveled edge and top of the high heel extension piece with a substantial portion of the beveled edge of said high heel extension piece fitting into said opening when said high heel extension piece is in the second position. 9. The invention according to claim 2 wherein the bottom of said high heel extension piece has a high heel lift that extends downwardly and is the portion of the high heel that engages the ground when the high heel extension piece is in the high heel position. 10. The invention according to claim 9 wherein said high heel lift is removably attached to the remaining portion of said high heel extension piece for the purpose of replacement when worn out. 11. The invention according to claim 10 wherein said high heel lift includes a stem extending upwardly and wherein said high heel extension piece includes an aperture therein for receiving said stem. 12. The invention according to claim 11 wherein said stem, the inner walls of said aperture, or both have a textured surface providing a friction fit between said stem and said aperture in order to maintain said high heel lift in place. 13. The invention according to claim 1 wherein said spring biased ball prevents unwanted axial movement of said support beam when said ball is in said depression. 14. In a shoe having a sole with a toe portion, a heel portion and an arch portion located between said heel and toe portions, the improvement comprised of a stowable heel comprising: a low heel block attached to the heel portion of said shoe sole, said low heel block having a slot formed therein that is open adjacent the bottom of said low heel block and continues through the forward part of said low heel block adjacent said arch portion of said shoe;a high heel extension piece attached to said low heel block, said high heel extension piece having a support beam affixed therein and protruding upwardly from the top of said high heel extension piece, said support beam having a substantially rectangular cross-section and defining a substantially central axis of said high heel extension piece, said support beam being capable of limited axial and pivotal movement within said slot;the dimensions of said support beam and said slot preventing rotational movement of said high heel extension piece about the central axis of said high heel extension piece relative to said low heel block, anda cavity within said low heel block and a rotatable slotted pivot located within said cavity for allowing pivotal motion of said high heel extension piece relative to said sole so that said high heel extension piece can be moved between a first position wherein said high heel extension piece underlies and is in substantial alignment with said low heel block creating a high heel and a second position wherein said high heel extension piece lies substantially beneath said arch portion of said sole resulting in a low heel. 15. The invention according to claim 14 wherein said cavity includes a flat wall and wherein said slotted pivot includes an elongated groove, said wall and said groove defining an opening for allowing limited axial movement of said support beam but preventing rotational movement thereof about said axis. 16. The invention according to claim 15 further including stop means for preventing said support beam from being removed from said opening formed between said groove and said wall. 17. In a shoe having a sole with a toe portion, a heel portion and an arch portion located between said heel and toe portions, the improvement comprised of a stowable heel comprising: a low heel block attached to the heel portion of said shoe sole, said low heel block having a slot formed therein that is open adjacent the bottom of said low heel block and continues through the forward part of said low heel block adjacent said arch portion of said shoe;a high heel extension piece attached to said low heel block, said high heel extension piece having a support beam affixed therein and protruding upwardly from the top of said high heel extension piece, said support beam having a substantially rectangular cross-section and defining a substantially central axis of said high heel extension piece, said support beam being capable of limited axial and pivotal movement within said slot;the dimensions of said support beam and said slot preventing rotational movement of said high heel extension piece about the central axis of said high heel extension piece relative to said low heel block;means for allowing pivotal motion of said high heel extension piece relative to said sole so that said high heel extension piece can be moved between a first position wherein said high heel extension piece underlies and is in substantial alignment with said low heel block creating a high heel and a second position wherein said high heel extension piece lies substantially beneath said arch portion of said sole resulting in a low heel, anda sturdy force plate secured to the top of said low heel block, said support beam including an upper free end that is adapted to engage the lower surface of said sturdy force plate in either of the two positions and is prevented from further rotation by engagement with said force plate. 18. The invention according to claim 17 wherein said force plate through said support beam bears the weight of the wearer when said high heel extension piece underlies and is in substantial alignment with said low heel block creating a high heel. 19. The invention according to claim 17 further including means for securing said force plate to the sole of the shoe. 20. The invention according to claim 19 wherein said means for securing includes a plurality of threaded bolts and a plurality of threaded apertures formed in said force plate.