Heeling apparatus and method

• US 6,746,026 B2
• Filed: 02/15/2002
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• 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:
  US10/076,954
• Publication Number:
  US 20020074749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 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 item of footwear comprising:

a sole comprising a forefoot portion, an arch portion and a heel portion, the heel portion having an opening formed therein;

a rolling means retained in the opening in the heel portion; and

wherein the rolling means is positioned such that, in use, in a non-rolling mode a primary contact of the item of footwear with a ground is provided by the forefoot portion of the sole and as such the item of footwear does not roll and, in a rolling mode, the rolling means provides the primary contact with the ground to allow a user to roll on the ground, a change in mode being effected by a transfer of weight of the user from the forefoot portion to the rolling means, wherein the rolling means includes a wheel with an axle opening, a first annular recess on a first side of the wheel that surrounds the axle opening on the first side, and a second annular recess on a second side of the wheel that surrounds the axle opening on the second side, the rolling means further includes;

a first bearing positioned in the first annular recess on the first side of the wheel;

a second bearing positioned in the second annular recess on the second side of the wheel; and

an axle positioned within the axle opening of the wheel such that the wheel is rotatably coupled to the axle through the first bearing and the second bearing.

2. The item of footwear of claim 1, wherein the wheel further includes:

an inner core portion that forms the axle opening, the first annular recess, the second annular recess, and includes an outer curved surface; and

a softer outer tire positioned on the outer curved surface of the inner core portion of the wheel.