Multi-wheel heeling apparatus

• US 20030146583A1
• Filed: 02/03/2003
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heeling Sports Limited (Sequential Brands Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Heeling Sports Limited (Sequential Brands Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Adams, Roger R., Staffaroni, Michael G.
• Granted Patent: US 6,698,769 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/11.19
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/1633 Multipurpose skate boots roller skates convertible to ice skates A63C17/18, with fixable wheels permitting walking A63C17/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/008 with retractable wheel, i.e. movable relative to the chassis out of contact from surface
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/20 with fixable wheels permitting the skates to be used for walking
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/26 with special auxiliary arrangements, e.g. illuminating, marking, or push-off devices

Abstract

A multi-wheel heeling apparatus is provided. The multi-wheel heeling apparatus has a sole with a first opening formed in a heel portion of the sole and a second opening in the sole formed adjacent the first opening. The multi-wheel heeling apparatus includes a first and a second wheel assemblies. The first wheel assembly includes a first wheel mounted on a first axle, and a first mounting structure operable to support the first axle so that a portion of the first wheel resides in the first opening. The second wheel assembly includes a second wheel mounted on a second axle, and a second mounting structure operable to support the second axle so that a portion of the second wheel resides in the second opening.

Claims

1. A multi-wheel heeling apparatus for walking and running and transitioning to rolling on a surface, comprising:

a footwear having a sole having a forefoot portion, a heel portion and an arch portion, the forefoot portion of the sole inoperable for rolling to provide the primary contact with the surface for walking and running and to inhibit rolling;

a first opening formed in a heel portion of the sole;

a second opening formed in at least a portion of the arch portion of the sole adjacent the first opening;

a first wheel mounting structure operable to support a wheel, the first wheel mounting structure provided in the first opening;

a second wheel mounting structure operable to support a wheel, the second mounting structure provided in the second opening;

a first wheel assembly having a first wheel mounted on a first axle coupled at the first axle to the first mounting structure such that a portion of the first wheel resides in the first opening; and

a second wheel assembly having a second wheel mounted on a second axle coupled at the second axle to the second mounting structure such that a portion of the second wheel resides in the second opening, wherein the first and second wheels providing the primary contact with the surface to roll on the surface when the forefoot is disengaged from the surface.

2. The multi-wheel heeling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second wheels are the only wheels provided an underside of the footwear.

3. The multi-wheel heeling apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of openings provided in the heel portion and arch portion of the sole of the footwear; and

a plurality of wheels located in the plurality of openings in the heel portion and arch portions of the sole of the footwear.

4. The multi-wheel heeling apparatus of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the first wheel is substantially similar to a diameter of the second wheel.

5. The multi-wheel heeling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the heel portion of the sole of the footwear includes a brake operable for slowing the heeling apparatus.

6. The multi-wheel heeling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second wheels are removably coupled to the mounting structure.

7. The multi-wheel heeling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second axles are further defined as having a first and second engagable segments and wherein the first and second mounting structures further include a first and second receiving slots such that the first and second engagable segments of the first axle tensioningly couple to the first and second receiving slots, respectively, of the first mounting structure and the first and second engagable segments of the second axle tensioningly couple to the first and second receiving slots, respectively, of the second mounting structure.

8. A method of transitioning from a stationary state to a rolling state on a surface, comprising:

contacting at least a portion of a forefoot of a footwear on a surface to inhibit rolling, a sole of the footwear having a heel portion and an arch portion with a first opening formed in a bottom surface of the heel portion of the sole and a second opening formed in bottom surface of a portion of the arch portion of the sole;

elevating the forefoot of the sole of the footwear relative to the surface such that either none or an insubstantial portion of a user'"'"'s weight is supported by the forefoot; and

rolling on the surface using a first wheel operable to rotate in the opening formed in the bottom surface of the heel portion of the sole of the footwear and using the second wheel operable to rotate in the opening formed in the bottom surface of the portion of the arch portion of the wheel of the footwear while supporting at least a portion of the user'"'"'s weight.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the rolling on the surface further comprises:

balancing a substantial portion of the user'"'"'s weight between the first and second wheels while rolling on the surface.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the rolling on the surface further comprises:

practicing rolling on the surface using both the first and second wheels;

practicing rolling on the surface using only the first wheel operable to rotate in the opening formed in the bottom surface of the heel portion of the sole of the footwear;

removing the second wheel operable to rotate in the opening formed in the portion of the arch portion of the sole of the footwear; and

rolling on the first wheel operable to rotate in the opening formed in the bottom surface of the heel portion of the sole of the footwear with the second wheel removed from the opening formed in the bottom surface of the arch portion of the sole of the footwear.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the practicing rolling on the surface using both the first and second wheels further includes:

balancing a substantial portion of the user'"'"'s weight between the first and second wheels while rolling on the surface.

12. A multi-wheel heeling apparatus for walking and running and transitioning to rolling on a surface, comprising:

a footwear having a sole having a forefoot portion, a heel portion and an arch portion, the forefoot portion of the sole providing the primary contact with the surface for walking and running and to inhibit rolling;

an opening formed in the sole of the footwear, the opening extending from the heel portion to at least a portion of the arch portion of the sole;

a wheel mounting structure operable to support one or more wheels, the wheel mounting structure provided in the opening in the sole;

a first wheel assembly having a first wheel mounted on a first axle coupled at the first axle to the wheel mounting structure such that a portion of the first wheel resides in the opening; and

a second wheel assembly having a second wheel mounted on a second axle coupled at the second axle to the wheel mounting structure such that a portion of the second wheel resides in the opening, and wherein the first and second wheels providing the primary contact with the surface to roll on the surface when the forefoot is disengaged from the surface.

13. The multi-wheel heeling apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a third wheel assembly having a third wheel mounted on a third axle coupled at the third axle to the wheel mounting structure such that a portion of the third wheel resides in the opening.

14. The multi-wheel heeling apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of wheel assemblies having a plurality of wheels mounted on a plurality of axles coupled at the plurality of axles to the wheel mounting structure such that a portion of the plurality of wheels reside in the opening.

15. The multi-wheel heeling apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first wheel assembly is removably coupled to the wheel mounting structure.

16. The multi-wheel heeling apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second wheel assembly is removably coupled to the wheel mounting structure.

17. The multi-wheel heeling apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first axle and second axles tensioningly couple to the wheel mounting structure.

18. The multi-wheel heeling apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a heel brake positioned on the heel portion of the sole of the footwear.

19. The multi-wheel heeling apparatus of claim 12, wherein the forefoot portion of the sole of the footwear is inoperable for rolling.

20. The multi-wheel heeling apparatus of claim 12, wherein a diameter of the first wheel is substantially similar to a diameter of the second wheel.

21. The multi-wheel heeling apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second wheel coupled to the mounting structure substantially in the arch portion of the sole of the footwear.