Heeling apparatus and method

• US 6,739,602 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2002
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• 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): Johnson, Brian L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHRIVER II, JAMES A
• Application Number:
  US10/071,931
• Publication Number:
  US 20020074748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 838 Days
• Field of Search: 280/11.24, 280/11.223, 280/11.27, 280/11.227, 280/843, 280/825, 280/841, 280/11.232, 280/11.226, 280/11.25, 280/11.19, 361/15, 361/16, 301/5.301, 301/5.303, 301/5.305
• 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: 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. An apparatus for use on a surface, the apparatus operable to wear on one'"'"'s foot to transition from a walking state or a running state to a heel rolling state, the apparatus comprising:

a footwear having a front, a back, an upper part, and a sole, the sole includes;

a forefoot portion operable to engage the surface while in the walking state and the running state, the forefoot portion inoperable to roll on the surface while in the walking state and the running state,

an arch portion, and

a heel portion with an opening formed in the heel portion of the sole, wherein the opening is formed in a bottom surface of the heel portion of the sole and extends from the bottom surface of the heel portion of the sole into the sole towards a top surface of the sole;

an axle having a first portion and a second portion; and

a wheel rotatably mounted on the axle between the first portion of the axle and the second portion of the axle wherein the wheel rotatably mounted on the axle includes a first portion, a second portion and is coupled to the apparatus such that the first portion of the wheel resides within the opening formed in the sole of the footwear and such that the second portion of the wheel resides below the opening formed in the heel portion of the sole of the footwear wherein the apparatus is operable to allow one to transition from the walking state or the running state to the heel rolling state where the wheel rotatably mounted on the axle contacts the surface to roll.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the forefoot portion of the sole of the footwear is flexible to bend with one'"'"'s foot when in the walking state or the running state.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wheel rotatably mounted on the axle is positioned in the opening in the heel portion of the sole such that the first portion of the wheel that resides within the opening is larger than the second portion of the wheel that resides below the opening.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first precision bearing; and

a second precision bearing, and wherein the wheel rotatably mounted on the axle has a first side with a first recess and a second side with a second recess, and the first precision bearing is positioned in the first recess between the wheel and the axle and the second precision bearing is positioned in the second recess between the wheel and the axle.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first precision bearing is positioned using a first ring clip on the axle, and the second precision bearing is positioned using a second ring clip on the axle.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a heel control plate operable to allow one to gain greater control while in the heel rolling state.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wheel has an outer diameter and the second portion of the wheel resides below a lowest point of a bottom surface of the heel portion of the sole of the footwear by an amount equal to or less than half of the outer diameter of the wheel.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further operable to allow one to transition to a heel braking state where a portion of the heel portion of the sole contacts the surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a grind plate coupled adjacent the arch portion of the sole.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wheel rotatably mounted on the axle between the first portion of the axle and the second portion of the axle is further defined as more than one wheel mounted on the axle positioned in the heel portion of the sole of the footwear.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the portion of the heel portion of the sole of the footwear that contacts the surface in the heel braking state is positioned adjacent the back of the footwear.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the portion of the heel portion of the sole of the footwear that contacts the surface in the heel braking state and is positioned between the back of the footwear and the opening formed in the heel portion of the sole.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the portion of the heel portion of the sole of the footwear that contacts the surface in a heel braking state and is made of a wear resistant material.

14. An apparatus for use on a surface, the apparatus operable to wear on one'"'"'s foot to transition from a walking state or a running state to a heel rolling state, the apparatus comprising:

a footwear having a front, a back, an upper part, and a sole, the sole includes;

a forefoot portion operable to engage the surface while in the walking state and the running state, the forefoot portion inoperable to roll on the surface while in the walking state and the running state,

an arch portion, and

a heel portion with an opening formed in the heel portion of the sole, wherein the opening is formed in a bottom surface of the heel portion of the sole and extends from the bottom surface of the heel portion of the sole into the sole towards a top of the sole;

an axle having at least a first engagable segment; and

at least one wheel attached to the axle adjacent the at least first engagable segment wherein the at least one wheel attached to the axle includes a first portion, a second portion, and is coupled to the apparatus via the engagable segment such that the first portion of the wheel resides within the opening in the heel portion of the sole of the footwear and such that the second portion of the wheel resides below the opening in the heel portion of the sole of the footwear, wherein the apparatus is operable to allow one to transition from the walking state or the running state to the heel rolling state where the at least one wheel attached to the axle contacts the surface to roll.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the wheel has an outer diameter and the second portion of the wheel resides below a lowest point of the heel portion of the sole of the footwear by an amount equal to or less than half of the outer diameter of the wheel.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one wheel rotatably mounted on the axle is positioned in the opening in the heel portion of the sole such that the first portion of the wheel that resides within the opening is larger than the second portion of the wheel that resides below the opening.