Threelys

Abstract

An exemplary wheeled footwear or skate is provided that may include footwear with an upper portion, a sole with a forefoot, an arch, a heel with an opening formed in the bottom surface of the heel with at least one wheel that rolls partially in the opening, at least one wheel adjacent the left side of the forefoot, and at least one wheel adjacent the right side of the forefoot. A user may roll on a surface using the wheels in the opening in the heel, and those positioned adjacent or near the left and right side of the forefoot. In other embodiments, the wheeled footwear may include removable wheels such that the wheeled footwear may be used in three configurations that may include: (i.) walking or running, (ii.) heel rolling, and (iii.) skating using wheels positioned adjacent the forefoot and the heel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), this application claims priority from, and hereby incorporates by reference for all purposes, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/965,163, entitled Threelys, naming Roger R. Adams and Erik C. Purdom as inventors, and filed Aug. 17, 2007.

This patent application hereby incorporates by reference for all purposes, issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,165,774 entitled External Wheeled Heeling Apparatus and Method naming Roger R. Adams as inventor, filed Jun. 19, 2006 and issued Jan. 23, 2007; issued U.S. Pat. No. 7,063,336, entitled External Wheeled Heeling Apparatus and Method naming Roger R. Adams as inventor, filed Feb. 18, 2003 and issued Jun. 20, 2006; issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,769, entitled Multi-Wheel Heeling Apparatus naming Roger R. Adams and Michael G. Staffaroni as inventors, filed Feb. 3, 2003 and issued Mar. 2, 2004; issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,406,038, entitled Heeling Apparatus and Method naming Roger R. Adams as inventor, filed Aug. 14, 2001 and issued Jun. 18, 2002; issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,509, entitled Heeling Apparatus and Method naming Roger R. Adams as inventor, filed Mar. 31, 2000 and issued Sep. 17, 2002; issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,739,602, entitled Heeling Apparatus and Method naming Roger R. Adams as inventor, filed Feb. 7, 2002 and issued May 25, 2004; issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,746,026, entitled Heeling Apparatus and Method naming Roger R. Adams as inventor, filed Feb. 15, 2002 and issued Jun. 8, 2004; issued U.S. Pat. No. 6,979,003, entitled Heeling Apparatus and Method naming Roger R. Adams as inventor, filed Jun. 7, 2004 and issued Dec. 27, 2005; and copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/656,595, entitled Heeling Apparatus and Method naming Roger R. Adams as inventor, filed Jan. 22, 2007 and currently pending. All of the patents and patent applications mentioned in this paragraph are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to the field of action sports and wheeled footwear, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to an apparatus with at least one external wheel positioned adjacent or near the sides of the forefoot of a wheeled footwear, and one or more wheels in an opening or openings in the heel portion of the sole of the wheeled footwear, and associated methods of use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Active wheeled footwear with a wheel in the heel was described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,406,038, entitled Heeling Apparatus and Method, which issued Jun. 18, 2002. The wheel or wheels in the heel footwear, popularly known under the HEELYS trademark for wheeled footwear, allows a user to walk and/or run and to transition to rolling on a surface by a simple shift of the user's weight to the heel while elevating the forefoot above the surface. HEELYS wheeled footwear has created an entirely new sport and activity with mass appeal due, in part, to the fact that it does not require expensive, heavy and cumbersome equipment and its use is not limited to select or limited areas, such as skating rinks or skate parks.

Inline skates and roller skates, such as conventional quad roller skates, are expensive and often include heavy frames that are cumbersome to use and that elevate the user several inches above the rolling surface. This may increase the risk of injury because when users fall, they may be travelling at a high rate of speed and are falling from a higher, elevated distance, and the increased height and positioning of the user requires constant balancing and readjusting of the user, which degrades the overall skate experience and feedback to the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Wheeled footwear that provides an even more aggressive rolling capability than “wheel-in-the-heel” wheeled footwear, or the capability to roll without having to lift the forefoot, while still enjoying or experiencing many of the features and benefits of “wheel-in-the-heel” wheeled footwear may include various aspects and additional wheeled footwear performance characteristics. An apparatus, such as a wheeled footwear or skate that includes one or more wheels adjacent or near each side of the forefoot, and one or more wheels in an opening in the heel portion of the sole may be provided. In certain embodiments, this configuration may be known under the trademark THREELYS or TRIFECTA.

In other embodiments, the wheeled footwear or skate may include removable external wheels positioned adjacent or near the side of the forefoot of the wheeled footwear, and/or a removable wheel or wheels in the opening or openings in the heel. In certain embodiments, the wheeled footwear may be used in three configurations that may include: (i.) walking or running, (ii.) heel rolling using the one or more wheels in the heel by elevating the forefoot, and (iii.) skating using both the wheels positioned adjacent or near the side of the forefoot and the one or more wheels in the heel.

According to an aspect of the present invention, the apparatus may include a front wheel adjacent, near or next to each side of the forefoot portion of the footwear, and a heel wheel in an opening in the bottom portion of the heel portion of the sole of the footwear. In certain embodiments, the apparatus may include removable front wheels such that the apparatus may be configured to operate like HEELYS wheeled footwear with one or more wheels in the heel when the front wheels removed. The wheel or wheels in the opening in the heel may be removable, retractable or permanently coupled or attached.

In other embodiments, the apparatus or wheeled footwear may also include a removable heel wheel(s) such that the apparatus may be configured to remove both the front wheels and the heel wheel(s) to allow a user to utilize the footwear for walking or running. In a preferred embodiment, the footwear is athletic footwear with a flexible forefoot.

The apparatus may be configured, in one embodiment, such that the center or axis of rotation of the front wheels is positioned above or approximate at least a portion of the surface of the insole where at least a portion of the users forefoot, such as the region of the forefoot known as the “ball” of the foot (or the region between the arch and the toes of the foot) resides below or almost below the center of the front wheels or the axis of rotation of the front wheels. As such, this increases overall stability and ease of use by providing that the user is closer to the surface being rolled upon in relation to the rotating front wheels.

In other embodiments or implementations, the apparatus may be configured such that the front wheels may be angled or positioned such that the wheels have positive/negative or in/out “toe,” “camber,” and/or “castor”.

In still other embodiments or implementations, the apparatus may be configured such that the front wheels are offset from one another and not aligned when viewing from above or from the top. For example, even though at least a portion of one front wheel on each side of the footwear is adjacent or near the forefoot of the footwear on each side, one of the front wheels on one side may be positioned, for example, closer to the front of the footwear as compared to a front wheel positioned adjacent the forefoot on the other side of the footwear. This configuration may be referred to as offset.

As a further feature, aspect or implementation of certain implementations of the apparatus of the invention, a toe start (which may also be referred to as a toe brake) may be provided on one or both of the wheeled footwear on the bottom or adjacent the bottom portion of the front of the forefoot of the sole of the footwear. This toe start or toe brake may also be used to push off of when first starting to move. The apparatus, in certain implementations may also include a “heel brake.” Because it is believed that braking will include additional friction, in one embodiment, a replaceable toe start (which may also be referred to as a toe brake) pad and/or a replaceable heel brake may also be provided.

The various embodiments and implementations of the present invention provide a profusion of potential technical advantages and benefits that may include one or more of the following. A technical advantage of the present invention may include the positioning of the front wheels such that their center or axis of rotation of the front wheels is above the bottom of a portion of the users forefoot. In this embodiment, this increased stability allows users to easily and safely use the apparatus of the present invention. This is in contrast to quad-roller skates or in-line roller skates where a user resides entirely above the center or axis of rotation of the wheels.

Another technical advantage of the present invention may include increased performance in certain embodiments by eliminating the possibility for the heel wheels to accidentally or inadvertently come into contact with one another while rolling, such as can happen with quad skates and other type roller skates. This increases overall performance and safety.

Yet another technical advantage of the present invention may include the capability to have either one or both the front wheels and the heel wheel(s) to be removably coupled. This provides the capability for the apparatus to operate in three modes: (1) regular footwear mode; (2) HEELYS wheeled footwear or heeling mode; and (3) full skate mode. This provides increased overall flexibility, value, comfort and an enhanced user experience.

Other technical advantages and benefits may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures, description, and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following brief description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and detailed description, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view that illustrates a heeling apparatus implemented using an athletic shoe according to one aspect of the present invention;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are bottom views that illustrate two embodiments of a sole of the heeling apparatus with openings in the sole;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are bottom views of the two embodiments of the sole as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B that illustrate a wheel in each of the openings of the soles;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view that illustrates a wheel rotatably mounted to an axle, which also may be referred to as a wheel/axle assembly, for use in a wheel assembly according to one aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view that illustrates a mounting structure for use with a wheel rotatably mounted to an axle, as illustrated in FIG. 4, to form a wheel assembly;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view that illustrates a wheel assembly that includes the wheel rotatably mounted on the axle as shown in FIG. 4 and the mounting structure of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view that illustrates the wheel assembly positioned above and through the opening in a footwear to form a heeling apparatus;

FIGS. 8A, BB, 8C, and 8D are profile views of various wheels that illustrate the surface profile of these wheels that may be used in various embodiments of the heeling apparatus;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view that illustrates a mounting structure of another embodiment for use in a wheel assembly of a heeling apparatus;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view that illustrates a wheel assembly that uses yet another embodiment for use in a heeling apparatus;

FIG. 11 is a side, partial cutaway view that illustrates one embodiment of a heeling apparatus that illustrates the wheel assembly provided in the sole of the heeling apparatus and the opening in the sole not extending completely through the sole;

FIG. 12 is a side view of another embodiment that illustrates the heeling apparatus with a removable wheel cover positioned to cover the wheel and the opening in the sole;

FIG. 13 is a bottom view that illustrates another embodiment with a spherical ball serving as a wheel and positioned in a mounting structure in an opening in the heel portion of the sole;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view that illustrates a “heeler” heel rolling;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view that illustrates a wheel rotatably mounted to an axle, which also may be referred to as a wheel/axle assembly, similar to FIG. 4;

FIG. 16 is a cutaway view that illustrates a collapsible axle of the wheel/axle assembly of FIG. 15 implemented as a spring loaded collapsible axle;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view that illustrates another mounting structure for use with the wheel/axle assembly and the collapsible axle, as illustrated in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, to form a wheel assembly;

FIG. 18 is a side, cutaway view that illustrates a wheel assembly positioned through an opening in a sole that illustrates one embodiment of an axle that couples to the mounting structure to provide a retractable wheel using an assembly that may be referred to as a king pin arrangement;

FIG. 19 is a bottom view that illustrates the wheel assembly of FIG. 18 that further illustrates the dual king pin arrangement;

FIG. 20 is a side view that illustrates one member of the mounting structure that further illustrates the coupling of the axle to the mounting structure using the dual king pin arrangement;

FIG. 21 is a breakaway and perspective view that illustrates a two piece wheel that includes an inner core and an outer tire and that may be used in the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a side view of a roller skate apparatus, such as a wheeled footwear or roller skate, implemented according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 is a bottom view of one embodiment of the wheeled footwear;

FIG. 24 is a bottom view of the wheeled footwear of FIG. 23 without the front wheel assembly that illustrates a brace or member disposed on the forefoot portion of the footwear of the apparatus;

FIG. 25 is a side view of the wheeled footwear of FIG. 24 that illustrates the heeling apparatus configuration;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of a front wheel assembly according to one implementation;

FIG. 27 is a bottom view of one embodiment of another wheeled footwear;

FIG. 28 is a bottom view of the wheeled footwear of FIG. 27 with the front wheel assembly, the heel wheel, and the heel brake not installed;

FIG. 29 is a side view of the wheeled footwear of FIG. 28 in heeling apparatus mode;

FIG. 30 is a perspective, partially unassembled view of a front wheel assembly according to one implementation;

FIG. 31 is a side view of the wheeled footwear of FIG. 27 in roller skate mode;

FIG. 32 is a front view of the wheeled footwear of FIG. 31 that illustrates a flexible forefoot of the athletic shoe such that the a portion of the forefoot can extend above the supporting structure of the front wheel assembly;

FIG. 33 is a perspective view showing one implementation of the front wheel assembly interfacing with an arch tab (or tab) structurally coupled to the heel bracket; and

FIGS. 34-40 are various views of another wheeled footwear, including a removable front wheel assembly that removably couples to the arch portion through a spring biased mechanism to aid with installation and removal of the front wheel assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

It should be understood at the outset that although an exemplary implementation of the present invention is illustrated below, the present invention may be implemented using any number of techniques, materials, designs, and configurations whether currently known or in existence. The present invention should in no way be limited to the exemplary implementations, drawings, and techniques illustrated below, including the exemplary designs and implementations illustrated and described herein. Additionally, the drawings contained herein are not necessarily drawn to scale.

FIGS. 1 through 21 are illustrated herein to illustrate various aspects of a heeling apparatus and method, without specifically referencing or illustrating a front wheel assembly, such as a removable front wheel assembly, which is described and illustrated more fully in further drawings and description. The process of walking or running, and transitioning to rolling using a heeling apparatus is described in connection with FIGS. 1 through 21. The heeling apparatus, and various elements and embodiments thereof, may be used in certain embodiments of a roller skate apparatus, which may be referred to as the THREELYS OR TRIFECTA, that includes wheels adjacent the sides of the forefoot portion of the sole as well as one or more wheels in an opening in the heel portion of the sole, such as that provided by the heeling apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a heeling apparatus 10 implemented using an athletic shoe 12 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The heeling apparatus 10 preferably includes a wheel assembly provided in an opening in the heel portion of the sole of a footwear. For example the athletic shoe 12 includes an opening in the bottom of a heel portion 18 of a sole 14 with a wheel assembly provided in the hole such that a wheel 16 extends below the bottom of the sole 14. The wheel assembly preferably includes at least one wheel, such as the wheel 16, rotatably mounted on an axle (not illustrated in FIG. 1). The wheel 16 mounted on the axle is preferably positioned in the opening of the sole 14 through a mounting structure (not illustrated in FIG. 1) that is operable to support the axle such that a portion of the wheel 16 extends below the heel portion 18 of the sole 14.

The amount or length of the portion of the wheel 16 that extends below the bottom of the sole 14, as defined by a distance 24, will preferably be less than the diameter of the wheel 16. The distance 24, however, may be greater than, less than, or equal to the diameter of the wheel 16.

The athletic shoe 12, as is true of most footwear, may be generally described as having the sole 14 and an upper part 26. The upper part 26 may be constructed of virtually any material such as, for example, leather, plastic, or canvas. The sole 14 may include three parts: (1) an inner sole or insole (not illustrated in FIG. 1); (2) a midsole 28; and (3) an outer sole or outsole 30. The insole may provide added cushion and may or may not be removable. In some embodiments, the insole may include a removable portion, such as a DR. SCHOLL'S insole, and a portion that remains attached to the athletic shoe 12. The outsole 30, or sole 30, will preferably be made of a durable material, such as rubber, and may have a textured surface, such as with knobbies, to provide added traction. The midsole 28 will generally be constructed of a soft or “cushiony” material and will generally be thicker than the insole and the outsole 30. In some embodiments, however, the sole 14 will comprise only one part, such as the leather sole of a loafer. In other embodiments, the sole 14 may include a separate heel block or object that elevates the footwear, such as the heel of a leather wingtip dress shoe. This heel block or object may be considered to be part of the heel portion 18 of the sole 14. It should be understood that the present invention may be implemented in virtually any footwear, irrespective of the design or the make-up of the sole 14. Various styles of footwear and methods of making footwear are known in the art and are known by one of ordinary skill in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,245,406, 5,319,869, 5,384,973, 5,396,675, 5,572,804, 5,595,004, and 5,885,500, which are hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes, provide various background information regarding various footwear and methods of making footwear.

In most footwear, including the athletic shoe 12, the sole 14 may also be divided into three portions or regions: (1) the heel portion 18, (2) an arch portion 20, and (3) a forefoot portion 22, as illustrated in FIG. 1. It should be understood that the heel portion 18, the arch portion 20, and the forefoot portion 22 of the sole 14 are incapable of being exactly defined and located in certain footwear, and that such portions vary from one footwear type to another. Thus, the location, the boundaries between, and the size of the heel portion 18, the arch portion 20, and the forefoot portion 22 of the sole 14 are only rough approximations as shown in FIG. 1.

It should also be understood that although the position of the opening in the bottom of the sole 14, and hence also the wheel 16, is preferably located in the heel portion 18 of the sole 14, such an opening may also be located at the boundary of the heel portion 18 and the arch portion 20, at the arch portion 20, or at virtually any other location on the sole 14. The opening in the bottom of the sole 14 may extend entirely through the sole 14, e.g., through the outsole, the midsole and the insole, or only partially through the sole 14, e.g., through the outsole, and a portion or all of the midsole.

The wheel 16 may be constructed or made of virtually any known or available material such as, for example, a urethane, a plastic, a polymer, a metal, an alloy, a wood, a rubber, a composite material, and the like. This may include, for example, aluminum, titanium, steel, and a resin. Preferably, the material will be durable, provide quiet performance, and will provide a “soft” or “cushioning” feel. In one embodiment, the wheel 16 may be implemented as one or more precision bearings such that the precision bearing serves as the wheel 16 itself. In yet another embodiment, the wheel assembly may include a spring or suspension such as, for example, a leaf spring, to provide additional cushion or suspension when the wheel 16 contacts a surface and a force is applied to the athletic shoe 12 in the direction of the surface, such as when someone is wearing and walking in the heeling apparatus 10. The spring is preferably provided as part of the mounting structure of the wheel assembly. In still another embodiment, the wheel 16 is provided as a two piece wheel with an inner core, such as a hard inner core, surrounded by an outer tire, such as a urethane tire.

Depending on the desired implementation, the wheel 16 and the axle may be removable from the wheel assembly. In other embodiments, the wheel 16 may be retractably engaged in the opening, and/or permanently or non-removably engaged in the opening such that the wheel 16 cannot be easily removed without some effort, such as, for example, through the use of tools. A removable cover may be provided in the opening in the sole 14 to cover the opening so that debris and dirt does not enter the opening. The removable cover may be provided in virtually any available configuration readily ascertainable by one of ordinary skill in the art. In one embodiment of the removable cover, an axle portion of the removable cover fits and/or couples to the mounting structure in the same or similar manner that the axle in which the wheel 16 is mounted fits and/or couples to the mounting structure of the wheel assembly. A tool may also be provided to facilitate the removal of the axle and wheel 16. This tool will, preferably, be small and multi-functional to provide any other possible adjustments to the heeling apparatus 10, such as a screw driver, a wrench, and the like. In other embodiments of the heeling apparatus 10, the wheel 16 may be retractable into the opening in the sole 14. In this manner, the wheel 16 may be retracted into the sole 14 and, thus, will not extend below the bottom of the sole 14. This allows the heeling apparatus 10 to function just like ordinary footwear, such as the athletic shoe 12.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the wheel assembly does not include an axle, and, arguably, not a mounting structure, and the wheel 16 is provided as a sphere, such as a stainless steel ball bearing, that is rotatably positioned in the opening in the bottom of the heel portion 18 of the sole 14, one embodiment of which is shown in FIG. 13. In another embodiment, the wheel assembly comprises an axle positioned completely through or partially through the heel portion 18 of the sole 14 such that the sole 14 supports the axle and the wheel is rotatably mounted on the axle in the opening of the sole 14. In this manner, the need for the mounting structure is eliminated.

In operation, and in one embodiment of the heeling apparatus, a person wearing the heeling apparatus 10 may either walk normally or roll on the wheel 16 by lifting or raising the sole 14 so that only or almost only the wheel 16 contacts a surface. This action may be referred to as “HEEL SKATING” or to “HEEL.” The wheel 16, depending on the desired implementation of the present invention, may be removed or retracted to a position such that the wheel 16 does not extend below the bottom of the sole 14. This, generally, will result in the heeling apparatus 10 performing like an associated footwear. When the wheel 16 is removed or retracted, a removable cover may be placed over the opening in the bottom of the sole 14 to prevent debris from entering the opening and potentially damaging the wheel assembly. In still other embodiments, a removable cover may be placed over the wheel 16 while a portion of the wheel 16 remains extended below the bottom of the sole 14 to assist with walking, an example of this is illustrated in FIG. 12.

It should be understood, however, that even if the wheel 16 is not removed or retracted as just described, the user may still comfortably walk and run, even with the wheel 16 extended. This generally occurs because the distance 24 can be minimal, which provides a unique “stealth” or “covert” aspect to heeling. This also results in the wheel rolling the opening or hole in the sole 14 of the heeling apparatus 10. In one embodiment, the distance 24 is less than the radius of the wheel 16, which results in most of the wheel residing within the opening of the sole 14.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are bottom views of two embodiments of the sole 14 of the heeling apparatus 10. In particular, the outsole 30 or bottom of the sole 14 is illustrated in FIG. 2A with an opening 40 in the heel portion 18 of the sole 14. In the embodiment illustrated, the opening 40 is provided in a square or rectangular configuration. The opening 40, however, may be provided in virtually any configuration, such as, for example, a circular or an elliptical configuration.

As mentioned previously, the opening 40 may extend partially or completely through the sole 14. The opening 40 may be provided through a heel block or object. Further, the opening 40 may be positioned in, near, or in a combination of the heel portion 18, the arch portion 20, and the forefoot portion 22.

FIG. 2B illustrates a second embodiment as to the placement and configuration of the opening 40. The outsole 30 is illustrated with an opening 40A and an opening 40B in the heel portion 18 of the sole 14. In this manner, one or more wheels, including one or more axles, may be positioned in both the opening 40A and 40B.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are bottom views of the two embodiments of the sole 14 as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B and illustrate a wheel in each of the openings of the soles. This includes a wheel 42 positioned in the opening 40 in FIG. 3A and a wheel 42A and a wheel 42B in the openings 40A and 40B, respectively, of FIG. 3B.

The wheel 42 and the wheels 42A and 42B are illustrated as cylindrical wheels. These wheels, however, may be provided in virtually any available configuration. Further, one or more wheels may be positioned in each opening.

FIG. 3A further illustrates other elements of the wheel assembly that include a first member 48 and a second member 54 of a mounting structure that is used to removably couple with an axle 50. The axle 50 extends through the wheel 42 such that the wheel 42 is rotatably coupled or mounted to the axle 50. This preferably involves the use of precision bearings, such as high performance precision bearings, provided in a recess, such as an annular recess, on either side of the wheel 42. A first precision bearing 56 and a second precision bearing 58 may be ABEC grade precision bearings and are illustrated with hidden lines and positioned in the first recess and second recess of the wheel 42. In alternative embodiment, loose ball bearings may be used.

The axle 50 may be made of any material that provides suitable physical characteristics, such as strength and weight, to name a few. The axle 50 is preferably made of hardened steel, is cylindrical in shape, each end is rounded, and is removably coupled with a first member 48 and a second member 54, respectively, of the mounting structure. The removable coupling between each end of the axle 50 and the first member 48 and the second member 54 may be achieved by any known or available mechanism. In a preferred embodiment, a sphere or a ball bearing, preferably using a moveable spring and/or a screw bias, is used to contact and exert a side wall force between one or members of the mounting structure and the axle 50.

It should also be noted that because the weight of the user of the heeling apparatus 10 will exert a significant downward force and the ground or surface will exert an equal force upward, the axle 50, and, hence, the wheel 42 will generally be forced into place. Only when the heel is raised from a surface will any force or friction be required to keep the axle 50 in place. Thus, the present invention does not require a large side force to keep the axle 50 and the wheel 42 in place. The recognition of this fact may be considered an aspect of the present invention for the embodiment as shown. This recognition allows the removable coupling between each end of the axle 50 and the first member 48 and the second member 54 to be optimally designed.

FIG. 3A also illustrates a grind plate 44 (which also may be referred to as a slide plate 44) that may be used in conjunction with the heeling apparatus 10 of the present invention. The grind plate 44 provides a smooth or relatively smooth surface to allow a user to “grind” or “slide” on various surfaces such as hand rails, curbs, steps, corners, and the like. The grind plate 44 is preferably somewhat thin and made of a plastic or polymer material. In a preferred embodiment, the grind plate 44 is removably attached to the arch portion 20 of the outsole 30 of the sole 14. The grind plate 44 may be attached using any known or available fastener, such as, for example, a fastener 46 shown in various locations around the periphery of the grind plate 44.

FIG. 3B further illustrates an axle 52 in which the wheel 42A and the wheel 42B are coupled to either end in the opening 40A and the opening 40B, respectively. The axle 52 extends through both the wheels 42A and 42B and through a portion of sole 14, not visible in FIG. 3B. This serves to support the axle 52 and illustrates the situation where the sole 14 serves as the mounting structure of the wheel assembly. This reduces the overall number of parts. In an alternative embodiment, a metal or some other suitable material may be used within the heel portion 18 of the sole 14 where the axle 52 is positioned to provide additional support and stability. This is an example where the mounting structure is, in effect, integrated into the sole 14. As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the present invention may be implemented in any number of ways.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a wheel 60 rotatably mounted on an axle 62, which also may be referred to as a wheel/axle assembly, for use in a wheel assembly, or in a heeling apparatus, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The wheel 60 and the axle 62 may also be referred to as a wheel/axle assembly 400. In this embodiment, the axle 62 extends through the wheel 60 and includes two ends that are rounded or bullet shaped. A precision bearing 64 is shown positioned in a recess, which is shown as an annular recess, of the wheel 60 to facilitate the rotation of the wheel 60 around the axle 62. Preferably a second precision bearing is positioned in a second recess, not shown in FIG. 4, to further facilitate such rotation.

A slip clip, slip ring, or ring clip 66 is shown positioned around, or nearly around, the axle 62 near the precision bearing 64. This serves to ensure that the precision bearing 64 remains in place in the recess of the wheel 60. The slip clip or ring clip 66 will preferably be positioned on the axle 62 through a groove, such as a radial groove or radial indentation, in the axle 62. It should be understood, however, that one of ordinary skill in the art may use any of a variety of other arrangements to ensure that the precision bearing 64 stays in position. In alternative embodiments, the precision bearing 64 may be eliminated or loose bearings may be used.

The wheel 60 rotatably mounted on the axle 62 may, in alternative embodiments, serve as the wheel assembly of the present invention. In such a case, the axle 62 may be mounted to the sole, such as the midsole and heel portion, at its ends while the wheel 60 is rotatably provided in the opening of the sole. In this manner, the need for a mounting structure may be thought of as eliminated or, alternatively, the mounting structure may be thought of as integrated into the sole of the footwear.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a mounting structure 70 for use with a wheel rotatably mounted to an axle, such as is illustrated in FIG. 4, to form a wheel assembly. The mounting structure 70 generally includes a heel control plate 72, a first member 74, and a second member 76. In alternative embodiments, a spring, such as a leaf spring, could be provided where the two members contact the heel control plate 72. This would provide the added benefit of greater cushion and suspension. The two members include an opening, such as the opening 78 of the first member 74 to receive an end of an axle. It should be mentioned that the opening may be provided in virtually any configuration, including extending through the member, or placed at different positions, or even multiple positions for mounting the wheel/axle assembly 400 at a retractable position and an extended position, on the member.

The axle that is to be positioned in the openings of the first member 74 and the second member 76 will preferably be removably coupled. This may be achieved by any number of arrangements and configurations, all of which fall within the scope of the present invention. One such arrangement is the screw/spring/ball bearing arrangement 80 provided in first member 74. This arrangement provides an adjustable bias or force that can be exerted against the axle when it is inserted into the opening 78. The screw is accessible and adjustable by the user. The turning of the screw affects the compression of a spring which, in turn, provides a force on a ball bearing that extends out into the opening 78. When the axle is inserted into the opening 78, the ball bearing may be displaced an amount and the screw/spring/ball bearing arrangement 80 will provide a side force to allow the axle to be secure, yet removable. A similar arrangement may also be provided in the second member 76 to provide a friction fit or coupling on the other end of the axle 62.

Although the screw/spring/ball bearing arrangement 80 of FIG. 5 is shown being implemented through a horizontal opening in the first member 74, it may be implemented in using an opening aligned in virtually any manner in the member. For example, the adjustment of the tension or pressure on the screw/spring/ball arrangement 80 may be achieved through a diagonal opening such that the exposed end of the screw/spring/ball arrangement 80, normally a screw head end, is provided where the reference line for numeral 74 in FIG. 5 contacts the first member 74. This provides easier access to adjust the tension and friction fit on the axle 62 when the wheel assembly, such as wheel assembly 100 of FIG. 6, is engaged or positioned within the opening of a sole to form a heeling apparatus. Of course, any of a variety of other arrangements, configurations, and opening alignments may be contemplated and implemented under the present invention.

The mounting structure 70 can be made or constructed of virtually any material, generally depending on the desired mechanical characteristics such as, for example, rigidity and strength. These materials may include, for example, a plastic, a polymer, a metal, an alloy, a wood, a rubber, a composite material, and the like. This may include aluminum, titanium, steel, and a resin. In one embodiment, the mounting structure 70 is made of a metal, such as aluminum, that has been anodized such that the mounting structure 70 presents a black color or hue.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a wheel assembly 100 that includes the wheel 60 rotatably mounted to the axle 62, as shown in FIG. 4, and the mounting structure 70 of FIG. 5. The first member 74 and the second member 76 each removably couple with the ends of the axle 62 through a bias mechanism implemented using a bias mechanism, such as the screw/spring/ball bearing arrangement 80. A ball bearing 102 is shown contacting one end of the axle 62 in the opening 78. Further slip clips or ring clips (which may also be referred to as snap rings or slip rings), such as ring clip 66, are provided to ensure that the precision bearings positioned in the recesses of the wheel remain in position.

The heel control plate 72 allows the user of the heeling apparatus to gain greater control and to obtain greater performance out of the heeling apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the wheel assembly 100 positioned above and through the opening to form a heeling apparatus 120. The heel control plate 72 resides inside the shoe so that the heel of the user may apply pressure to the heel control plate as desired to provide better handling and performance of the heeling apparatus 120.

FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, and 8D are profile views of various wheels 200 that illustrates the surface profile of these wheels that may be used in various embodiments of the present invention. In FIG. 8A, a wheel 202 is shown with a flat or square surface or exterior profile 204. In FIG. 8B, a wheel 206 is shown with an inverted surface profile 208. In FIG. 8c, a wheel 210 is shown with round surface profile 212. Finally, in FIG. 8D, a wheel 214 is shown with a steep surface profile 216. The present invention may incorporate virtually any available surface profile of a wheel, including those used for the front wheels described below in connection with the roller skate configuration.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view that illustrates a mounting structure 500 of another embodiment for use in a wheel assembly of a heeling apparatus. The mounting structure 500 includes an axle 502, which may be considered one axle that extends through and is mounted through a member 50 or as an axle 502 that couples with the member 506 along with an axle 504 that couples with the member 506 opposite axle 502. The mounting structure 500 also includes a heel control plate 508 coupled with the member 506.

The mounting structure 500 allows for two wheels to be mounted to form a wheel assembly. A wheel may be rotatably mounted on the axle 502, preferably using a precision bearing, and a wheel may be rotatably mounted on the axle 504, also preferably through a precision bearing as illustrated previously herein.

The axle 502 and the axle 504 include a threaded portion such that a nut, such as a lock nut 510 may be included to secure a wheel to each axle. In other embodiments, the end of the axles may include internal threads, as opposed to external threads as shown, so that a screw, such as the hex screw as shown in FIG. 10. It should be understood that virtually any available coupling may be provided between the axle and the member. FIGS. 9 and 10 are examples of a non-removable and non-retractable wheels and associates assemblies or mounting structures.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view that illustrates a wheel assembly 520 that uses yet another embodiment for use in a heeling apparatus and includes a wheel 522 rotatably mounted to an axle 524 using a precision bearing 526, and a first member 528 and a second member 530 coupled to each end of the axle 524 through a screw, such as hex screw 532. The wheel assembly 520 is similar to wheel assembly 100, which was described above in connection with FIG. 6, except that the wheel/axle assembly cannot be as easily inserted and removed.

FIG. 11 is a side, partial cutaway view that illustrates one embodiment of a heeling apparatus 600 that illustrates a wheel assembly 602 provided in a sole 604 and an opening 606 in the sole 604 that does not extend completely through the sole 604. As such, the mounting structure 608 may be provided or integrated into the sole 604 and may not be readily or easily removed. A wheel 610 is also shown extending partially below the bottom of the sole 604, which provides the advantage of stealth heeling.

FIG. 12 is a side view of another embodiment that illustrates a heeling apparatus 620 of the present invention with a removable wheel cover 622 positioned to cover a wheel 624 and an opening 626 in a sole 628. The removable wheel cover 622 allows for the wheel to be provided in an extended position, i.e., below the bottom surface of the sole 628, yet not engage a surface to roll. Although the heeling apparatus 620 of the present invention allows a user to walk and run, even with the wheel in an engaged position, the removable wheel cover 622 provides protection from dirt and debris and provides greater stability.

In an alternative embodiment, a wheel stop, not expressly shown in FIG. 12, may be provided, in lieu of or in conjunction with the removable wheel cover 622, to stop the rotation of the wheel 624. In one embodiment, the wheel stop is made of virtually any material, such as a sponge or flexible material, that can be wedged between the wheel 624 and the opening 626 to stop or prevent the rotation of the wheel 624 and to stay in place through friction.

In other embodiments of the wheel cover 622, a wheel cover is provided when the wheel 624 has been removed from the heeling apparatus 620. In a preferred embodiment, this wheel cover is generally flush with the remainder of the bottom of the sole 628, and, hence, provides the function of a regular shoe when desired and protects the opening. This wheel cover may couple in any available manner, but preferably will couple to the wheel assembly in the same or similar manner that the wheel/axle assembly couples to the mounting structure. The removable wheel cover could clip or attach to the wheel assembly in many different ways.

FIG. 13 is a bottom view that illustrates another embodiment of a heeling apparatus 700 with a spherical ball 702 serving as a wheel and positioned in a mounting structure 704 in an opening in the heel portion of the sole 706.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view that illustrates a “heeler” 800 using an embodiment of a heeling apparatus to “heel skate” Heel skating can be achieved using various techniques and, generally, requires a skill set of balance, positioning, flexibility, and coordination.

An illustrative method for using a heeling apparatus on a surface may include running on a surface by using a forefoot portion of a sole of the heeling apparatus to contact the surface, which may be referred to as a non-rolling mode, and then rolling on the surface with a wheel of the heeling apparatus extended below the bottom of the sole through an opening in the sole by using a wheel of the heeling apparatus to contact the surface. Before running on a surface, the method may include walking on the surface, also a non-rolling mode, while wearing the heeling apparatus with a wheel of the heeling apparatus extended below the bottom of a sole portion of the heeling apparatus before running on the surface.

The method of heeling may also include engaging the wheel of the heeling apparatus to extend below the bottom of the sole portion of the heeling apparatus before walking on the surface. The method may also include walking on the surface while wearing the heeling apparatus before engaging the wheel of the heeling apparatus and with the wheel of the heeling apparatus retracted. Other variations on the method may include transitioning from rolling on the surface to either running, walking, or stopping on the surface by running on the surface through using the forefoot portion of the sole of the heeling apparatus to contact the surface just after rolling on the surface.

The preferred position while heel skating is illustrated by the heel skater or heeler 800 in FIG. 14 where one heeling apparatus 802 is placed in front of the other heeling apparatus 804 while rolling on a surface. As can be seen from a back heel portion 806 of the heeling apparatus 804, sometimes the clearance between the back heel portion 806 and the surface is small. As a result, in a preferred embodiment, the back heel portion may implement any number of techniques for slowing or stopping. For example, rolling may be slowed by contacting the forefoot portion of the sole of the heeling apparatus to contact the surface to create friction and to remove the wheel from the surface. Another example includes slowing by contacting a heel portion of the sole of the heeling apparatus to contact the surface, such as a portion of the heel portion behind the opening and wheel, which may be referred to as a heel brake. In some embodiments, the heel brake may be a removable/replaceable portion of the heel portion if it becomes excessively worn.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view that illustrates a wheel 902 rotatably mounted to a collapsible axle 904, which also may be referred to as a wheel/axle assembly 900, similar to FIG. 4. The collapsible axle 904 may be implemented in any number of ways, such as an adjustable axle that is spring loaded, similar to what is shown in FIG. 16, or as a screw collapsible axle. This allows the wheel/axle assembly 900 to be more easily removable and/or retractable to a position where the wheel would not engage the ground if the wheel/axle assembly 900 were implemented in a heeling apparatus.

FIG. 16 is a cutaway view that illustrates a collapsible axle 904 of the wheel/axle assembly 900 of FIG. 15 implemented as a spring loaded collapsible axle. As can be seen, the collapsible axle 904 may be adjusted or shortened by inwardly compressing both ends of the collapsible axle 904 to overcome the internal spring force.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view that illustrates another mounting structure 920 for use with the wheel/axle assembly 900 and the collapsible axle 904, as illustrated in FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, respectively, to form a wheel assembly. The collapsible axle 904 may couple to a first member 922 and a second member 924 at a first position 926 at the first member 922 and the second member 924 so that the wheel is in a retracted position. The collapsible axle 904 may also couple to the first member 922 and the second member 924 at a second position 928 so that the wheel is in an extended position for rolling.

FIG. 18 is a side, cutaway view that illustrates a wheel assembly 940 positioned through an opening in a sole 942 that illustrates one embodiment of an axle 944 that couples to a mounting structure 946 to provide a retractable wheel 948 using an assembly that may be referred to as a king pin arrangement or dual king pin arrangement. This allows the retractable wheel 948 to be adjusted up or down, as desired, and from a retractable position to an extended position. A king pin 950 (which may be implemented as a threaded screw or bolt) is shown threadingly engaged in a threaded opening in a member of the mounting structure 946. As the king pin 950 is screwed further into the opening in the member, the axle 944 is further retracted. A king pin 950 will also be provided at the other member to raise the other side of the axle 944. In other embodiments, such as the mounting structure 500 in FIG. 9, a single king pin could be provided through the single member to provide retractable wheels through the coupling of the members and the axle.

An example of a king pin type assembly is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 4,295,655, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, issued to David L. Landay, et al., was filed on Jul. 18, 1979, was issued Oct. 20, 1981. This patent illustrates a king pin type assembly that could be implemented in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19 is a bottom view that illustrates the wheel assembly 940 of FIG. 18 and further illustrates the dual king pin arrangement and the king pins 950 through the members of the mounting structure 946.

FIG. 20 is a side view that illustrates one member of the mounting structure 946 and further illustrates the coupling of the axle 944 to the mounting structure 946 using the dual king pin arrangement similar to FIG. 18. As discussed above, this allows the axle 944, and hence the attached wheel, to be transitioned to any of a desired levels, and from a retracted position to an extended position.

It should be understood that the axle may couple to a member of a mounting structure using any available technique and in virtually an unlimited number of ways. For example, an axle may couple to the first member and the second member of a mounting structure to move from a retracted position to an extended position through a spring arrangement. Similarly, an axle may couple to the first member and the second member of a mounting structure to move from a retracted position to an extended position through a hinged arrangement.

Many other examples are possible, for example U.S. Pat. No. 3,983,643, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, issued to Walter Schreyer, et al., was filed on May 23, 1975, was issued Oct. 5, 1976 illustrates a retractable mechanism that may be implemented in one embodiment of the present invention. U.S. Pat. No. 5,785,327, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes, issued to Raymond J. Gallant, was filed on Jun. 20, 1997, issued on Jul. 28, 1998 illustrates simultaneously retractable wheels.

FIG. 21 is a breakaway and perspective view that illustrates a two piece wheel 970 that includes an inner core 972, an outer tire 974, such as a urethane wheel, an axle 976 (which may not be shown to skill), and a bearing 978 that may be used in the present invention. In a preferred embodiment, the bearing 978 is small in comparison to the two piece wheel 970, for example, the bearing 978 may have an outer diameter that is less than half the outer diameter of the outer tire 974. This can provide significant advantages, that include a softer ride, better control, and are longer lasting. This is because the outer tire 974 can be larger and thicker. In other embodiments, the bearing 978 is larger and has an outer diameter that is more than half the outer diameter of the outer tire 974. In a preferred embodiment, the inner core portion of the two piece wheel is made of a harder material that provides rigidity for enhanced bearing support, while the outer tire portion is made of a softer material, such as a soft urethane, for improved performance and a quieter ride. These types of wheels may be referred to as a “dual durometer” type wheel.

FIGS. 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26 illustrate various aspects of an exemplary wheeled footwear apparatus, roller skate or “Threelys” that may be used for walking, running and rolling on a surface according to one or more aspects of the present invention. It should be appreciated, however, that the present invention is not limited to the construction, configuration and implementations of the footwear illustrated in these FIGURES and may be utilized on any footwear or with additional or different components or configuration which are within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a side view of an apparatus, such as a roller skate apparatus or wheeled footwear 1000, implemented according to one embodiment of the present invention. The roller skate 1000 is shown implemented using an athletic shoe 1014 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The wheeled footwear 1000 preferably includes a rear wheel assembly 1018 provided in a cavity or an opening 1023 in the heel portion 1026 of the sole 1030. The rear wheel assembly 1018 is disposed or positioned in the opening 1023 such that a wheel 1034 extends at least partially below the bottom of the sole 1030 in the heel portion 1026. The rear wheel assembly 1018 preferably includes at least one wheel, such as the wheel 1034, rotatably mounted on an axle as illustrated in FIG. 1B. The wheel 1034 mounted on the axle is preferably positioned in the opening 1023 of the sole 1030 through a mounting structure (not illustrated) that is operable to support the axle such that a portion of the wheel 1034 (which may be referred to as a heel wheel or rear heel wheel) extends below the heel portion 1026 of the sole 1030. In certain implementations, the wheel 1034 may be removably mounted in the opening 1023. In other implementations the wheel 1034 may be retractable mounted, and in other implementations the wheel 1034 may be non-removably and non-retractably mounted in the opening 1023.

The amount or length of the portion of the wheel 1034 that extends below the bottom of the sole 1030, as defined by a distance 1024, will preferably be less than the diameter of the wheel 1034. The distance 1024, however, may be greater than, less than, or equal to the diameter of the wheel 1034.

The wheeled footwear 1000, in one embodiment, includes a front wheel assembly 1042 mounted on the forefoot portion 1022 of the sole 1030 such that at least one wheel is rotatably mounted adjacent each side of the forefoot portion 1022 of the sole 1030 to provide a roller skate implementation of the wheeled footwear 1000. For example, the front right wheel 1046 is shown rotatably positioned adjacent or near the side of the forefoot portion 1022. A front left wheel, not shown in FIG. 22, will be rotatably disposed or positioned adjacent or near the left side of the forefoot portion 1022 of the footwear of the wheeled footwear 1000. The front wheels may elevate the bottom surface of the forefoot portion a distance above the rolling surface, such as the distance 1044 as shown. The combination of the front wheels, and the rear heel wheel elevates the entire bottom of the sole 1030 so that the wheeled footwear functions as a roller skate. If the front wheels can be removed, in certain implementations, the wheeled footwear 1000 may then function as a heeling apparatus to allow a user to walk or run and transition to a heel rolling state as described above and herein. If the rear wheel 1034 is removable, the wheeled footwear may function as ordinary footwear, such as the athletic shoe 1014 with an upper portion and a flexible forefoot portion 1022.

In other embodiments, the wheeled footwear 1000 does not include a front wheel assembly, but the front wheels are rotatably positioned adjacent or near the sides, such as the outer peripheral sides, of the forefoot portion 1022. These front wheels may be connected directly to the sole using any known or available mechanism for connecting such wheels as would be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. In one embodiment, such front wheels may be removably coupled such as through an axle, spring arrangement. In other implementations the front wheels may be non-removably coupled to the forefoot portion 1022.

Assuming the front wheel assembly 1042 is provided, the front wheel assembly 1042 may be removably mounted to sole 1030, such as through the bottom portion and/or side portion of the forefoot portion 1022 of the sole 1030, and/or through the arch portion 1020 of the sole 1030. The front wheel assembly 1042 will generally include a right front wheel, such as the right front wheel 1046, a left front wheel, not shown in FIG. 22, and support members, such as a right wheel support and a left wheel support to rotatably support the front wheels adjacent or near the side of the forefoot portion 1022. The front wheel assembly 1042 will also preferably include a support frame (not expressly shown in FIG. 22) that is positioned on the underside of the bottom surface of the sole 1030.

In one implementation the center of rotation or axis of rotation of the right front wheel 1046 is shown by the center “dot” or “point” of the right front wheel 1046, and may be thought of as an axis that extends into and out of the drawing. Similarly, the dotted line 1012 may be designated as an imaginary plane that extends into the drawing page, and parallel to the ground or surface that is being rolled upon by the wheeled footwear 1000. In a preferred embodiment, at least a part of the bottom of the forefoot portion of the user's foot (such as the “ball” of the user's foot) that resides between the right and left front wheels is positioned in the upper of the athletic footwear on top of an insole portion at a point below or near the axis of rotation on one or both of the front wheels, or below the imaginary plane designated by the dotted line 1012, such as that level within the footwear designated by line 1048. This should increase overall “ridability,” ease of use, and mechanical stability while using. This increases overall safety of operation as compared to a quad roller skate or inline skate. In other embodiments, that part of the user's forefoot may reside at or near the axis of rotation, or slightly above the axis of rotation at a level such as that illustrated by line 1040. The axis of rotation between the right and left front wheels will preferably be the same or similar, but not necessarily.

FIG. 23 is a bottom view of one embodiment of the wheeled footwear 1000. As illustrated in FIG. 23, the front wheel assembly 1042 has at least two front wheels 1046 and 1050 rotatably mounted on support frame, such as a connecting member 1054, that extends generally across the bottom of the forefoot portion of the sole. The front wheels 1046 and 1050 are mounted on an axle and a right wheel support and a left wheel support of the front wheel assembly 1042 such that each of the two front wheels 1046 and 1050 rotate beside an outer peripheral edge of the forefoot portion 1022 at a desired height, as discussed above.

The rear heel wheel 1034 is shown removably coupled in the opening 1023 in the heel portion 1026. A grind plate 1059 is shown in the arch portion 1020 in the implementation of the wheeled footwear 1000 shown in FIG. 23. A toe brake 1043 (or sometimes referred to as a brake pad, a toe stop or toe start) is shown provided as part of the supporting structure of the front wheel assembly 1042. In other embodiments, the toe brake 1043 may be provided independent of the front wheel assembly 1042. The toe brake 1043 may be used to stop forward motion when rolling, and may include a replaceable pad, as shown in FIG. 23, when worn down. The toe brake 1043 may be used as a “toe start” to provide traction to allow for a fast start to engage rolling when starting from a stopped position. In other embodiments, the toe brake 1043 resides at the front of the forefoot portion 1022 or near the front but on the bottom surface of the forefoot portion 1022.

A right release lever 1061 (also known as a right coupling member) and a left release lever 1047 (also known as a left coupling member) are shown as part of the front wheel assembly 1042 to provide a releasable or removable front wheel assembly 1042.

FIG. 24 is a bottom view of the wheeled footwear 1000 of FIG. 23 without the front wheel assembly 1042 and with the rear wheel 1043 removed from the opening 1023. A brace or member 1064 is shown disposed on or in the forefoot portion of the footwear extending generally from the right forefoot side to the left forefoot side. The member 1064 includes grooves (or receiving slots or brackets) such as a right groove 1072 that extends at least partially up the right side of the forefoot portion 1022, and a left groove 1068 that extends at least partially up the left side of the forefoot portion 1022. The grooves and the member 1064 provide a mating junction for the front wheel assembly 1042 to removably couple to the wheeled footwear 1000. The right release lever 1061 (also known as a right coupling member) of the front wheel assembly 1042 couples with the right groove 1072, and the left release lever 1047 (also known as a left coupling member) couples with the left groove 1068.

FIG. 25 is a side view of the apparatus or wheeled footwear 1000 of FIG. 24 that illustrates upwardly extending portions or groove 1072 of the member 1064 to engage the front wheel assembly 1042. The heel wheel 1034 is shown such that the wheeled footwear 1000 is operable to function as a heeling apparatus in this state with the front wheel assembly 1042 removed.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view of the front wheel assembly 1042 in more detail according to one implementation. The front wheel assembly 1042 includes the right front wheel 1046, the right release lever 1061 (also known as a right coupling member), the left front wheel 1050, the left release lever 1047 (also known as a left coupling member, the toe brake 1043, and the supporting frame or connecting member 1054. Two upwardly extending portions 1088 and 1092 each at opposite ends of the connecting member 1084 are illustrated and used to connect with the right groove 1072 and the left groove 1068, respectively. The release levers provide additional friction to secure these connections. Thus, the front wheel assembly 1042 extends upwardly to position the rotatably mounted front wheels 1046 and 1050 at a height or distance above the surface as desired.

By mounting the front wheels 1046 and 1050 as desired, the axis of rotation of the front wheels 1046 and 1050 is elevated to provide improved performance as discussed previously. As discussed, by elevating the axis of rotation of the front wheels 1046 and 1050 above the bottom of a part of the user's foot, stability is increased when a user is in a rolling mode, such as a roller skating mode. In one embodiment, at least a portion of the bottom of the forefoot of the user's foot is positioned below the axis of rotation while the user is rolling in the wheeled footwear. As the axis of rotation of the front wheels 1046 and 1050 is elevated with respect to the bottom of the sole 1030, the user in a rolling mode skates closer to the ground in addition to being provided more stability, which further increases the safety of operation of the wheeled footwear 1000.

As will be appreciated, when the front wheel assembly 1042 is attached to the wheeled footwear 1000, the sole 3000 does not engage the surface and remains above the surface. Thus, the wheeled footwear 1000 is transformed into a skate or rolling wheeled footwear apparatus having two front wheels and at least one rear wheel. In other embodiments, additional front wheels may be added. The three-wheeled footwear permits users to engage in more aggressive rolling than is possible with a traditional wheel in the heel shoe featuring only one wheel at the rear. With a traditional wheel in the heel footwear, a user in a rolling mode must transfer the user's weight to the heel of the footwear so that the forefoot does not engage the surface, thus permitting the user to roll. Because the user is required to maintain his weight on the heel at all times during rolling action, aggressive rolling may not always be possible using the traditional wheel in the heel footwear.

In contrast, the roller skate apparatus or wheeled footwear 1000 disclosed herein features, in a preferred embodiment, two front wheels and at least one rear wheel. The three wheels cooperatively operate to elevate the sole 30 above the surface, thus permitting more aggressive and relaxed rolling as desired by some skaters. Also, as discussed before, by elevating the axis of rotation of the front wheels 1046 and 1050 relative to at least a portion of the bottom of the user's forefoot, increased stability and ease of use is provided during a rolling mode, thereby decreasing the likelihood of the user accidentally losing balance.

In one embodiment, the front wheel assembly 1042 is adjustably coupled to the footwear 10 such that the distance 1044 of FIG. 1 can be adjusted depending on the preference of a particular user. In other words, the front wheel assembly 1042 can be adjusted by the user so that the length of the portion of the wheels 1046 and 1050 that extend below the bottom of the sole 1030, as defined by the distance 1044 illustrated in FIG. 1, can be varied.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, various well known mechanisms can be implemented in the front wheel assembly 1042 and the supporting structure such as connecting member 1054 that will cooperatively permit adjustment of the distance 1044. For example, the front wheel assembly 1042 can have a slide and lock mechanism permitting the adjustment of the distance 1044. Also, a series of complementary openings may be provided to allow a user to set the front wheels to a desired position.

When the front wheel assembly 1042 is removed, the forefoot portion 1022 engages the surface for walking and running and is inoperable for rolling on the surface. The primary contact of the wheeled footwear 1000 with the surface is provided by the forefoot portion 1022 and as such the wheeled footwear 1000 does not roll, even if the heel wheel 1034 is still contacting the surface. Thus, by removing the front wheel assembly 1042, the wheeled footwear 1000 is transformed into a walking/running footwear or heeling apparatus, as discussed above.

In one embodiment, the wheeled footwear 1000 may also include a wheel locking mechanism (not illustrated) coupled to the rear axle or opening 1023. The locking mechanism prevents rotation of the rear wheel 1034 when the locking mechanism is in a locked position, thereby preventing any inadvertent rolling of the heel wheel 1034.

The wheeled footwear 1000 may be generally described as having the sole 1030 and an upper part 1032. The upper part 1032 may be constructed of virtually any material such as, for example, leather, plastic, or canvas. The sole 1030 may include three parts: (1) an inner sole or insole (not illustrated in FIG. 1); (2) a midsole; and (3) an outer sole or outsole. The insole may provide added cushion and may or may not be removable. Although an athletic shoe is illustrated, the present invention may be implemented in virtually any footwear, irrespective of the design or the make-up of the sole 1030. Various styles of footwear and methods of making footwear are known in the art and are known by one of ordinary skill in the art.

It should also be understood that although the position of the cavity or opening 1023 in the bottom of the sole 1030, and hence also the wheel 1034, is preferably located in the heel portion 1026 of the sole 1030, such an opening may also be located at the boundary of the heel portion 1026 and the arch portion 1020. The opening in the bottom of the sole 1030 may extend entirely through the sole 1030, e.g., through the outsole, the midsole and the insole, or only partially through the sole 1030, e.g., through the outsole, and a portion or all of the midsole.

FIG. 27 is a bottom view of one embodiment of another wheeled footwear 2000 that includes a front wheel assembly 2054 that attaches at the arch portion of the footwear through a screw 2056. The front wheel assembly 2054 may be made of a supporting structure with a material such as a polymer, metal or steel that can provide, in certain embodiments, a suspension effect and torsion control, such as a leaf spring effect, while still providing rigidity where needed, such as through the use of angled steel, when using the wheeled footwear 2000. The front wheel assembly 2054 includes left front wheel 2046 and right front wheel 2050 mounted through a support member 2042. The coupling of the front wheel assembly to the wheeled footwear may provide a structural connection with the heel bracket that is provided in the opening of the heel portion to support the rear heel wheel 2034. This structural (or mechanical) connection is not visible entirely in FIG. 27, but is shown below in connection with FIG. 33.

FIG. 28 is a bottom view of the wheeled footwear 2000 of FIG. 27 with the front wheel assembly 2054, the heel wheel 2034, and the heel brake 2035 not installed. Indentations 2020 are shown on the surface of the forefoot portion 2060 that match with the various members of the front wheel assembly 2054 to provide a more secure connection when coupled together. The heel brake 2035 is shown detached from the portion of the heel portion that resides behind the opening in the heel portion to receive the rear heel wheel 2034.

FIG. 29 is a side view of the wheeled footwear 2000 of FIG. 28 in a heeling apparatus mode. This allows a user to walk or run and transition to heel rolling by shifting weight to the heel portion and elevating the forefoot portion. A receiving indentation 2068 for receiving a left side support member 2071 of the front wheel assembly.

FIG. 30 is a perspective, partially unassembled view of a front wheel assembly 2054 according to one implementation. Right front wheel 2050 is shown rotatably coupled to a right side support member, and a left front wheel 2046 is shown uncoupled from a left axle 2083 of the left side support member 2071. A spoke wheel is shown, but any of a variety of wheels may be used.

FIG. 31 is a side view of the wheeled footwear 2000 of FIG. 27 in roller skate mode.

FIG. 32 is a front view of the wheeled footwear 2000 of FIG. 31 that illustrates the flexible forefoot portion 2060 with the indentions shown such that the a portion of the forefoot 2060 can extend above the supporting structure of the front wheel assembly 2054. This is a significant capability by allowing the user's foot to move in a normal manner even while skating, as compared to the rigid structures found in most in-line or quad roller skates which prohibit such movement.

FIG. 33 is a perspective view showing one implementation of the front wheel assembly 2054 interfacing with an arch tab (or tab) 2057 of the heel bracket 2035. This demonstrates a structural coupling of the front wheel assembly 2054 to the heel bracket 2035. The interface or coupling is provide preferably at the arch portion of the footwear, but could be provided in other locations of the sole. This coupling provides an integrated mechanical linkage to maintain the relative position of the front wheels and the back wheel(s), while also providing some suspension and torsion control to the front wheels. The transverse member 2099 of the front wheel assembly 2054 may be made of spring steel, in one embodiment, to allow for deflection and suspension without permanent deformation of this member. This may be thought of as acting as a “leaf spring” between the two front axles used to support the front wheels and as shown. Further, the two structural members 2111 and 2112 of the front wheel assembly 2054 that extend to the coupling at the arch portion of the sole may provide torsion control to the front wheels. The heel bracket 2035, in a preferred embodiment, is made of a polymeric material, but can be made of metal and various other materials with the desired properties.

FIGS. 34-40 are various views of another wheeled footwear 3000, including a removable front wheel assembly 3042 that removably couples to the arch portion through a spring biased mechanism 3500 to aid with installation and removal of the front wheel assembly 3042, as shown in FIG. 34. The wheeled footwear 3000 is shown without the front wheel assembly 3042 mounted next to the forefoot portion 3060 in FIG. 35, while FIG. 36 illustrates the front wheel assembly 3042 relative to the wheeled footwear 3000 and the forefoot portion 3068. A notched tab 3510 of the front wheel assembly 3042 is shown along with an opening 3520 of the spring biased mechanism 3500 to illustrate an exemplary coupling that may be used in the arch portion of the footwear of the wheeled footwear 3000. A close-up of this interface or coupling is shown in FIG. 37.

Referring back to FIG. 36, a flexible member 3600, such as a nylon, polymer, or polyurethane member, such as a washer and/or a sleeve of a desired durometer or hardness may be provided at the axle/wheel connection or junction to provide some slight steering or turning capability to the front wheels. Referring now to FIGS. 39 and 40, a close-up view of this interface is shown to provide an exemplary implementation of this feature that may be provided in the wheeled footwear 3000. Other arrangements may be provided to achieve a desired turning effect.

It should be noted that the front wheels of the wheeled footwear illustrated herein as viewed from the top are generally in alignment with one another and are, preferably, not positioned in front of the footwear. In alternative embodiments, the left front wheel adjacent the side of the forefoot portion of the footwear may be closer to the front or the back as compared to the right front wheel. This may be referred to as staggered front wheel positioning. Further, the positioning of the front wheels adjacent the sides of the forefoot of the wheeled footwear may be mounted to provide desired toe-in, tow-out, and positive and negative caster and camber.

Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the present invention, a wheeled footwear, such as three wheel roller skate and associated methods, including a removable front wheel assembly and rear heel wheel in certain implementations that satisfies one or more of the advantages set forth above. Although the preferred embodiment has been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made herein without departing from the scope of the present invention, even if all of the advantages and benefits identified above are not present. For example, the various embodiments and examples shown in the drawings and descriptions provided herein illustrate that the present invention may be implemented and embodied in numerous different ways that still fall within the scope of the present invention, whether expressly shown herein or not. For example, the various elements or components may be combined or integrated in another system or certain features may not be implemented. Also, the techniques, systems, sub-systems, and methods described and illustrated in the preferred embodiment as discrete or separate may be combined or integrated with other systems, designs, techniques, or methods without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the front wheels may independently attach to the forefoot portion of the sole, or the front wheels may be integrated as part of a front wheel assembly, which may be attached to the sole of the footwear, either permanently, removably or as part of the footwear. Other examples of changes, substitutions, and alterations are readily ascertainable by one skilled in the art and could be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for rolling on a surface, the apparatus comprising:

a footwear that includes: an upper portion, a sole positioned below the upper portion that includes: a forefoot portion with a bottom surface, a left side and a right side, an arch portion, and a heel portion with a bottom surface, and an opening formed in the bottom surface of the heel portion of the sole;

at least one heel wheel rotatably mounted and disposed at least partially in the opening of the sole of the footwear and partially below the bottom surface of the heel portion of the sole of the footwear;

a left front wheel rotatably positioned adjacent the left side of at least a portion of the forefoot portion of the sole of the footwear such that a portion of the left front wheel contacts the surface and such that at least a portion of the bottom surface of the forefoot portion of the sole is elevated above the surface; and

a right front wheel rotatably positioned adjacent the right side of at least a portion of the forefoot portion of the sole of the footwear such that a portion of the right front wheel contacts the surface and such that at least a portion of the bottom surface of the forefoot portion of the sole is elevated above the surface, and wherein a user may roll using the apparatus while the at least one heel wheel, the left front wheel, and the right front wheel contact the surface, wherein the right front wheel, the left front wheel and the at least one heel wheel are operable to roll at the same time on the surface for the user to skate on the surface using the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one heel wheel is removably disposed such that the at least one heel wheel may be removed entirely from the opening in a first state, and reside at least partially in the opening in a second state.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one heel wheel is permanently disposed at least partially in the opening.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one heel wheel is retractably disposed in the opening, and wherein the at least one wheel may reside entirely within the opening in one state, and at least partially outside the opening in another state.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the left front wheel is removably positioned adjacent the left side of the forefoot portion of the sole of the forefoot, and the right front wheel is removably positioned adjacent the right side of the forefoot portion of the sole of the forefoot.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a front wheel assembly positioned at least partially adjacent the forefoot portion of the sole of the forefoot, and wherein the front wheel assembly includes: the left front wheel, a left wheel support operable to support the left front wheel adjacent the left side of the forefoot portion of the sole of the forefoot, the right front wheel, a right wheel support operable to support the right front wheel adjacent the right side of the forefoot portion of the sole of the forefoot, and a support frame positioned adjacent the sole of the footwear, and coupled to the left wheel support and the right wheel support.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the front wheel assembly is removably coupled to the sole of the footwear such that the front wheel assembly, which includes the front left wheel and the right front wheel, may be removed from the apparatus.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the front wheel assembly is removably coupled to the arch portion of the sole of the footwear such that the front wheel assembly may be removed from the apparatus.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the support frame of the front wheel assembly extends across at least a portion of the bottom surface of the forefoot portion of the sole of the footwear and provides structural support to support at least a portion of the user's weight.

10. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the support frame of the front wheel assembly extends across at least a portion of the bottom surface of the forefoot portion of the sole of the footwear, and the combination of the support frame, the left wheel support, and the right wheel support are operable to provide at least a partial suspension to the apparatus as the user rolls.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one heel wheel is removably coupled to the opening in the heel such that both the at least one heel wheel and the front wheel assembly are removably coupled to the apparatus, wherein the apparatus is operable to be used as conventional footwear in a first state with the at least one heel wheel and the front wheel assembly removed from the apparatus, wherein the apparatus is operable to be used as a heeling apparatus in a second state with the at least one heel wheel positioned at least partially in the opening in the heel portion of the sole and the front wheel assembly removed from the apparatus, and wherein the apparatus is operable to be used as a skate in a third state with the at least one heel wheel and the front wheel assembly are coupled to the apparatus and operable to roll on the surface.

12. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the support frame includes spring steel operable to elastically deform when a load is applied through the weight of the user, and to retain its original shape after the load is removed.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the support frame of the front wheel assembly includes:

a connecting member,

a right support member having a first end and a second end, the right support member coupled to the right wheel support at the first end of the right support member, and

a left support member having a first end and a second end, the left support member coupled to the left wheel support at the first end of the left support member, wherein the connecting member couples between the right support member and the left support member, and wherein the right support member and the left support member couple near or adjacent their respective second ends.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the support frame couples to the footwear through the bottom of the sole of the footwear.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the support frame couples to the footwear adjacent the arch portion of the sole of the footwear.

16. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a toe start coupled adjacent the support frame and positioned near the front of the bottom surface of the forefoot portion of the sole of the footwear, wherein the toe start is operable to be placed on the surface to allow the user to push off the surface.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a heel brake positioned behind the opening in the heel portion of the sole of the footwear.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the heel brake is removably coupled to the footwear.

19. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a heel bracket positioned at least partially in the opening in the heel portion and operable to receive the at least one heel wheel, the heel bracket including an arch tab that extends adjacent the arch portion of the sole, wherein the front wheel assembly is removably coupled to the arch portion of the sole through a coupling at least partially with the support frame and the arch tab of the heel bracket.

20. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a heel bracket positioned at least partially in the opening in the heel portion and operable to receive the at least one heel wheel, the heel bracket including a tab portion that extends adjacent the opening in the heel portion, wherein the front wheel assembly is removably coupled to the sole through a coupling at least partially with the support frame and the tab portion of the heel bracket.

21. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a heel bracket positioned at least partially in the opening in the heel portion and operable to receive the at least one heel wheel, the heel bracket including a tab portion that extends adjacent the opening in the heel portion, wherein the front wheel assembly is releasably coupled to the sole through a coupling at least partially with the support frame and the tab portion of the heel bracket, and using a notched member coupled to the support frame.

22. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the sole includes a bottom surface with indentations, and wherein the support frame couples adjacent the sole of the footwear at least partially through the bottom surface indentations of the sole.

23. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the forefoot portion of the sole of the footwear is flexible.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the flexible forefoot is operable to flex away from at least a portion of the support frame.

25. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the left front wheel and the right front wheel use precision bearings positioned around a center opening and an axle to be rotatably positioned adjacent at least a portion of the sides of the forefoot portion of the sole.

26. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the left front wheel and the right front wheel use precision bearings positioned around a center opening and an axle to be rotatably positioned adjacent at least a portion of the sides of the forefoot portion of the sole, and wherein at least one flexible member is positioned at or near the coupling between the left front wheel and the left wheel support to provide some steering effect for the left front wheel when in use, and at least one flexible member is positioned at or near the coupling between the right front wheel and the right wheel support to provide some steering effect for the right front wheel when in use.

27. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the front wheel assembly further includes:

a left coupling member operable to releasably couple the left wheel support adjacent the left side of the forefoot portion of the sole of the forefoot; and

a right coupling member operable to releasably couple the right wheel support adjacent the right side of the forefoot portion of the sole of the forefoot.

28. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one heel wheel includes one wheel.

29. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one heel wheel includes two wheels.

30. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one heel wheel includes a sphere.

31. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a left wheel support coupled to the sole of the footwear and operable to support the left front wheel adjacent the left side of the forefoot portion of the sole of the forefoot; and

a right wheel support coupled to the sole of the footwear and operable to support the right front wheel adjacent the right side of the forefoot portion of the sole of the forefoot.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the left wheel support couples to the left front wheel using a first axle and bearing assembly, and the right wheel support couples to the right front wheel using a second axle and bearing assembly.

33. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one of the left front wheel and the right front wheel is positioned closer to the front of the forefoot of the sole of the footwear than the other front wheel.

34. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a brake pad operable to engage the surface for braking when a user transfers weight to the brake pad positioned adjacent the forefoot portion of the sole to bring the footwear from a rolling mode to a stop.

35. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising a brake pad operable to engage the surface for braking when a user transfers weight to the brake pad positioned adjacent the forefoot portion of the sole to bring the footwear from a rolling mode to a stop, and wherein the brake pad is coupled to the front wheel assembly.

36. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the left front wheel and the right front wheel has camber.

37. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the left front wheel and the right front wheel has either toe-in or toe-out orientation.

38. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one of the left front wheel and the right front wheel has either positive caster or negative caster.

39. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein when the front wheel assembly is removed, the forefoot portion is operable to engage the surface for walking and running and is inoperable for rolling on the surface, and when the primary contact of the footwear with the surface is provided by the forefoot portion, the footwear does not roll even though the at least one heel wheel contacts the surface in addition to the forefoot portion.

40. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the right front wheel rotates on a first axis of rotation, and the left front wheel rotates on a second axis of rotation, and wherein when the apparatus is in use, a portion of a forefoot portion of a user's foot is positioned within the upper portion of the footwear between the left front wheel and the right front wheel such that the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are positioned above at least a bottom portion of the forefoot portion of the user's foot positioned between the left front wheel and the right front wheel when viewed from the side.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are similar in position above the surface when viewed from the side.

42. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the right front wheel rotates on a first axis of rotation, and the left front wheel rotates on a second axis of rotation, and wherein when the apparatus is in use, a portion of a forefoot portion of a user's foot is positioned within the upper portion of the footwear between the left front wheel and the right front wheel such that the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are positioned below at least a bottom portion of the forefoot portion of the user's foot positioned between the left front wheel and the right front wheel when viewed from the side.

43. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the right front wheel rotates on a first axis of rotation, and the left front wheel rotates on a second axis of rotation, and wherein when the apparatus is in use, a portion of a forefoot portion of a user's foot is positioned within the upper portion of the footwear between the left front wheel and the right front wheel such that the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are positioned a distance above the surface that is close to the distance above the surface of at least a bottom portion of the forefoot portion of the user's foot positioned between the left front wheel and the right front wheel when viewed from the side.

44. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the right front wheel rotates on a first axis of rotation, and the left front wheel rotates on a second axis of rotation, and wherein when the apparatus is in use, a portion of a forefoot portion of a user's foot is positioned within the upper portion of the footwear between the left front wheel and the right front wheel such that the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are positioned a distance above the surface that is within one-half inch from the distance above the surface of at least a bottom portion of the forefoot portion of the user's foot positioned between the left front wheel and the right front wheel when viewed from the side.

45. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the right front wheel rotates on a first axis of rotation, and the left front wheel rotates on a second axis of rotation, and wherein when the apparatus is in use, a portion of a forefoot portion of a user's foot is positioned within the upper portion of the footwear between the left front wheel and the right front wheel such that the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are positioned a distance above the surface that is within one-quarter of an inch from the distance above the surface of at least a bottom portion of the forefoot portion of the user's foot positioned between the left front wheel and the right front wheel when viewed from the side.

46. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a forward most portion of the right front wheel and the left front wheel does not extend past the front of the footwear.

47. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a grind plate positioned adjacent the arch portion of the sole of the forefoot.

48. A footwear for walking, running and rolling on a surface, the footwear comprising:

a sole having a forefoot portion, a heel portion and an arch portion,

a cavity formed in the sole portion;

at least one rear wheel rotatably mounted on a rear axle and disposed at least partially in the cavity, the rear wheel positioned at least partially inside the cavity;

a front wheel assembly removably mounted on the forefoot portion, the front wheel assembly having at least two front wheels rotatably mounted on a left front axle and a right front axle such that each of the two front wheels rotate beside a peripheral edge of the forefoot portion;

a brake pad operable to engage the surface for braking when a user transfers weight to the brake pad positioned adjacent the forefoot portion of the sole to bring the footwear from a rolling mode to a stop,

wherein when the front wheel assembly is removed, the forefoot portion is operable to engage the surface for walking and running and is inoperable for rolling on the surface, and the primary contact of the footwear with the surface is provided by the forefoot portion and as such the footwear does not roll,

and wherein when the front wheel assembly is mounted, the forefoot portion is inoperable to engage the surface for walking and running, and the front wheel assembly and the rear wheel are operable for rolling on the surface.

49. A footwear of claim 48, further comprising a brace having a bar disposed transversely on the forefoot portion of the sole of the footwear and two upwardly extending arms each at opposite ends of the bar, the upwardly extending arms having receiving brackets adapted to engage the front wheel assembly.

50. The footwear of claim 48 wherein the front wheel assembly includes a support member positioned on the bottom of the forefoot portion of the sole of the footwear that extends from a left side to a right side, and two upwardly extending portions each at opposite ends of the support member, wherein the front wheels are rotatably mounted on the left front axle and the right front axle at the upwardly extending portions such that the axis of rotation of the front wheels remain elevated relative to the support member.

51. The footwear of claim 48 wherein the brake pad is coupled to the front wheel assembly.

52. A method for rolling on a surface with a wheeled footwear, the wheeled footwear including a sole having a forefoot portion, a heel portion and an arch portion positioned between the forefoot portion and the heel portion, a cavity formed in the heel portion of the sole, at least one rear wheel rotatably mounted on an axle and disposed at least partially inside the cavity, a front wheel assembly mounted on the forefoot portion, the front wheel assembly having at least two front wheels rotatably mounted on an axle such that each of the two front wheels rotate beside an outer peripheral edge of the forefoot portion, the method comprising:

moving in a forward direction; and

alternatively transferring weight from one foot to another foot thereby generating a forward motion causing the wheels to roll and, hence, the user to roll on the surface using the wheeled footwear.

53. A method for using an apparatus to roll on a surface using a roller skate, to transition from a roller skate to a heel roller skate, and to roll on the surface using a heel roller skate, the apparatus including a wheeled footwear that includes a sole having a forefoot portion, a heel portion and an arch portion, a cavity formed in the heel portion of the sole, at least one rear wheel rotatably mounted on an axle that is positioned at least partially inside the cavity, a removable front wheel assembly mounted on the forefoot portion, the front wheel assembly having at least two front wheels rotatably mounted on an axle such that each of the two front wheels rotate beside an outer peripheral edge of the forefoot portion, the method comprising:

rolling on the surface using the apparatus as a roller skate and including the at least two front wheels and the at least one rear wheel;

removing the front wheel assembly of the apparatus, which includes the at least two front wheels, and maintaining the at least one rear wheel that is positioned at least partially in the cavity of the heel portion of the sole; and

heel rolling on the surface by elevating the forefoot portion of the wheeled footwear above the surface to allow the at least one rear wheel to roll.