Heeling apparatus and method
AssigneeHeeling Sports Limited
InventorRoger R. Adams
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heeling apparatus includes a shoe with a unique feature in the heel that allows one to walk, run, or roll seamlessly. The appearance is that of normal footwear because of the covert wheel assembly. The stealth wheel in the heel gives one the ability to roll or slide in areas you could only walk. Heeling is a new activity that employs a unique method of rolling and requires a newly learned skill set of balance, positioning, and coordination.
Claims159
A wheel assembly for use in a heeling apparatus, the wheel assembly comprising:
- an axle;
- a wheel mounted on the axle;
- and
- a mounting structure operable to support the axle so that a portion of the wheel resides in an opening formed in a sole of the heeling apparatus.
A heeling apparatus comprising:
- a footwear having a sole with an opening formed in the sole;
- and
- a wheel assembly that includes a wheel mounted on an axle, and a mounting structure operable to support the axle so that a portion of the wheel resides in the opening.
A heeling apparatus comprising:
- a footwear having a sole with an opening formed in a heel portion of the sole;
- and
- a wheel rotatably mounted in the opening formed in the heel portion of the sole.
A wheel/axle assembly for use in a wheel assembly of a heeling apparatus comprising:
- a wheel having an axle opening, a first annular recess on a first side of the wheel that surrounds the axle opening on the first side, and a second annular recess on a second side of the wheel that surrounds the axle opening on the second side;
- a first bearing positioned in the first annular recess on the first side of the wheel;
- a second bearing positioned in the second annular recess on the second side of the wheel;
- and
- an axle positioned within the axle opening of the wheel such that the wheel is rotatably coupled to the axle through the first bearing and the second bearing.
A method for making a heeling apparatus comprising:
- providing a footwear that includes a sole;
- forming an opening in the sole of the footwear that extends to a bottom surface of the sole;
- and
- positioning a wheel assembly in the opening of the sole of the footwear.
A method for using a heeling apparatus on a surface, comprising:
- running on a surface by using a forefoot portion of a sole of the heeling apparatus to contact the surface;
- and
- 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.
A heeling apparatus comprising:
- a footwear having a sole with an opening formed in a heel portion of the sole;
- a wheel assembly that includes a wheel mounted on an axle, and a mounting structure operable to support the axle so that a portion of the wheel resides in the opening, and wherein no other wheel is provided on the bottom of the sole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.