Heeling apparatus and method

• US 6,406,038 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2001
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Heeling Sports Limited (Sequential Brands Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Heeling Sports Limited (Sequential Brands Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Adams, Roger R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Olszewski, Robert P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): McClellan, James S.
• Application Number:
  US09/930,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20010054802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 308 Days
• Field of Search: 280/11.24, 280/11.19, 280/11.25, 280/11.226, 280/11.232, 280/841, 361/15, 361/16, 301/5.301, 301/5.303, 301/5.305
• US Class Current: 280/11.24
• 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: A43B 5/1641 characterised by the sole skates with special foot-plates for the boot A63C1/22; characterised by the attachment of the skate A43B5/1633 takes precedence; skates rigidly mounted to the sole of the boot A63C1/02
• 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 17/08 single-wheel type with single axis
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/20 with fixable wheels permitting the skates to be used for walking
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/24 with ball-shaped or spherical running surfaces

Abstract

A heeling apparatus includes a shoe with a unique feature in the heel that allows one to walk, run, or roll seamlessly. The appearance is that of normal footwear because of the covert wheel assembly. The stealth wheel in the heel gives one the ability to roll or slide in areas you could only walk. Heeling is a new activity that employs a unique method of rolling and requires a newly learned skill set of balance, positioning, and coordination.

Claims

1. A method for use of a heeling apparatus on a surface by a user, the method comprising:

moving on a surface in a first direction by placing at least a portion of a forefoot of the heeling apparatus in contact with the surface;

rolling on the surface in generally the first direction while the forefoot of the heeling apparatus is elevated relative to the surface such that either none or an insubstantial portion of the weight of the user is supported by the forefoot, and with at least a portion of at least one wheel extended below the bottom of a sole of the heeling apparatus through an opening in a heel portion of the sole by using the at least one wheel of the heeling apparatus to contact the surface, wherein the at least one wheel is operable to roll while supporting at least a portion of the weight of the user; and

transitioning from rolling on the surface to either running, walking, or stopping on the surface by placing at least a portion of the forefoot of the heeling apparatus in contact with the surface.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

walking on the surface while wearing the heeling apparatus with at least the portion of the wheel of the heeling apparatus extended below the bottom of the sole through the opening in the heel portion of the sole of the heeling apparatus before moving on the surface.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the surface includes a decline.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

engaging the at least one wheel of the heeling apparatus so that at least the portion of the at least one wheel extends below the bottom of the sole of the heeling apparatus before walking on the surface.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

walking on the surface while wearing the heeling apparatus before engaging the at least one wheel of the heeling apparatus and with the wheel of the heeling apparatus retracted.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein wearing the heeling apparatus includes wearing a heeling apparatus on each foot of the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein rolling on the surface includes placing one heeling apparatus in front of another heeling apparatus.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein walking on the surface includes walking with the at least one wheel extended partially below the bottom of the sole such that the wheel is not readily visible when walking.

9. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

inserting a removable wheel in the opening in the heel portion of the sole before walking on the surface.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

slowing rolling by contacting the forefoot portion of the sole of the heeling apparatus to contact the surface.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

slowing rolling by contacting the heel portion of the sole of the heeling apparatus to contact the surface.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the opening heeling apparatus includes at least a second wheel operable to roll that is positioned in a second opening, the second opening at least partially in an arch portion of the sole.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the heeling apparatus includes at least a second wheel operable to roll that is positioned in the opening, and wherein the opening is at least partially in an arch portion of the sole.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the opening is at least partially in an arch portion of the sole.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein moving on a surface includes walking on the surface.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein moving on a surface includes running on the surface.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transitioning from moving on the surface to rolling on the surface by elevating the forefoot portion of the sole of the heeling apparatus.

18. A method for transitioning from a walking state or a running state to a rolling state, comprising:

walking on a surface using at least a portion of a forefoot of a footwear, a sole of the footwear having a heel portion with an opening formed in a bottom surface of the heel portion of the sole; and

rolling on the surface using at least one wheel operable to rotate in the opening formed in the bottom surface of the heel portion of the sole of the footwear, wherein the at least one wheel is operable to roll while supporting a portion of the weight of a user, and the transitioning from the walking state to the rolling state includes elevating the forefoot relative to the surface such that either none or an insignificant of the footwear relative to the surface such that either none or an insubstantial portion of the user'"'"'s weight is supported by the forefoot;

so that the at least one wheel operable to rotate in the opening formed in the bottom surface of the heel portion of the sole of the footwear contacts the surface.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

running on the surface using at least the forefoot portion of the sole of the footwear; and

rolling on the surface using the at least one wheel operable to rotate in the opening formed in the bottom surface of the heel portion of the sole of the footwear.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the footwear includes a first footwear provided on a first foot of the user and a second footwear provided on a second foot of the user, and wherein rolling on the surface includes placing the first footwear in a position advanced forward relative to the second footwear.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

contacting the forefoot portion of the sole of the first footwear on the surface;

stepping forward with the second footwear and contacting the surface with the at least one wheel operable to rotate in the opening formed in the bottom surface of the heel portion of the sole of the second footwear;

pushing forward from the forefoot portion of the sole of the first footwear in contact with the surface; and

contacting the surface with the at least one wheel operable to rotate in the opening formed in the bottom surface of the heel portion of the sole of the first footwear.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein elevating the forefoot portion of the sole includes a shift of the weight of the user from the forefoot portion of the sole of the footwear to the heel portion of the sole of the footwear.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one wheel is removable and further comprising:

inserting the at least one wheel in the opening formed in the bottom surface of the heel portion of the sole of the footwear before walking on the surface.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the at least one wheel is removable and further comprising:

removing the wheel in the opening formed in the bottom surface of the heel portion of the sole of the footwear after rolling on the surface.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

contacting the forefoot portion of the sole of the footwear on the surface after rolling on the surface so as to cease rolling.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

contacting a portion of the heel portion of the sole of the footwear on the surface after rolling on the surface so as to slow rolling.

27. A method for transitioning from a stationary state to a rolling state, comprising:

contacting at least a portion of a forefoot of a footwear on a surface, a sole of the footwear having a heel portion with an opening formed in a bottom surface of the heel portion of the sole;

relative to the surface such that either none or an

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

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