Patent Grant
10549176
Action or extreme sports include various sports such as, for example, skateboarding, snow boarding, inline skating, rock climbing, and skydiving. Most action or extreme sports require expensive and cumbersome equipment that can only be used in select and, often, limited areas. Because these select and limited areas are not convenient to most people, these activities can only be enjoyed at select times. This results in a substantial investment in equipment that is only used sporadically, when large blocks of time are available to travel to such select and limited areas available for the activity. Because of these limitations and inconveniences, many times interest in the activity wanes.
The present invention presents the rare opportunity to create an entirely new sport and activity with mass appeal that does not suffer from the disadvantages, limitations, and problems mentioned above. From the foregoing it may be appreciated that a need has arisen for a heeling apparatus and related methods to create the foundation for a new action or extreme sport that can be pursued in many locations and conditions without the need for a large investment in equipment.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a heeling apparatus is provided that includes a footwear having an opening in a sole, such as the heel portion of the sole, to receive a wheel assembly, and a wheel assembly positioned in the opening of the sole of the footwear. The wheel assembly may include an axle, a wheel mounted on the axle, and a mounting structure operable to support the axle. In alternative embodiments, the wheel assembly includes only the wheel mounted on the axle without the need for the mounting structure. In other embodiments, the mounting structure is integrated or included as Part of the opening in the sole of the footwear.
According to another aspect of the present invention a wheel/axle assembly for use in a wheel assembly of a heeling apparatus is provided that includes a wheel, a first bearing, a second bearing, and an axle. The wheel has an axle opening, a first annular recess on a first side of the wheel that surrounds the axle opening on the first side, and a second annular recess on a second side of the wheel that surrounds the axle opening on the second side. The first bearing is positioned in the first annular recess on the first side of the wheel, and the second bearing is positioned in the second annular recess on the second side of the wheel. The axle is 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.
According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a method for using a heeling apparatus on a surface is provided that includes 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.
According to a still further aspect of the present invention, a method for making a heeling apparatus is provided that includes 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.
The present invention provides a profusion of technical advantages that include the capability of the heeling apparatus to function as normal, comfortable footwear for walking, and even running, and to function as rolling footwear, which may be referred to only herein as “heeling.”
Another technical advantage of the present invention includes the capability to implement the invention using virtually any available footwear such as, for example, conventional shoes, boots, dress shoes, loafers, sandals, slippers, bindings, and the like. Conventional footwear may be incorporated into a heeling apparatus by, preferably, forming or cutting an opening in the heel portion of the sole of such conventional footwear. Thus, the present invention may be implemented using conventional footwear that appears externally, during normal use, as conventional footwear. This allows the present invention to be practiced as a “stealth” or “covert” activity because, from external appearances, it is being performed using conventional footwear. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sole of conventional athletic shoes may be used in the present invention without the need to design awkward looking thick soled shoes to house the wheel.
A further technical advantage of the present invention includes the capability to implement the present invention with other active sport accessories such as in a grind shoe, such as the grind shoe made by SOAP, which also provides grinding or sliding functionality.
Yet another technical advantage includes the capability to use the present invention to enjoyably obtain an overall aerobic workout.
Still yet another technical advantage of the present invention includes the capability of enhanced control for turning and maneuvering, while still providing durability, reliability, and mechanical strength. The present invention provides this durability and reliability in harsh environments and with heavy and demanding use, including the capability to withstand the forces of jumps, spins and maneuvers of all kinds.
Another technical advantage includes capability of removable wheels and axles so that bearings may be easily changed and maintained and so that different types of wheels, bearings, and axles may be used as desired by the user and as dictated by the conditions.
In yet a further technical advantage of the present invention includes a wheel/axle assembly that can be easily inserted or removed from a wheel assembly or mounting structure, such as by using a friction fit. In other embodiments, the wheel assembly, or heeling apparatus, includes the capability of a retractable wheel. This allows a user to quickly and conveniently convert from using the heeling apparatus as normal footwear into using the heeling apparatus for “heeling.” The wheel is moved from a retracted position in the sole or heel of the heeling apparatus to an extended position where at least a portion of the wheel is exposed below the sole for rolling. The retractable wheel may be implemented using any number of designs and/or configurations such as a king pin arrangement, a dual position arrangement using a collapsible axle, a hinged arrangement, or even a spring arrangement.
Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will be apparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures.
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:
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.
It should be understood at the outset that although exemplary implementations of the present invention are illustrated below, the present invention may be implemented using any number of mechanisms, arrangements, structures, and/or techniques. Thus, the present invention should in no way be construed to be limited to the exemplary implementations, drawings, and techniques illustrated and described herein.
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
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
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 such a case, 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
In operation, 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 “HEELING” 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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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 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
In an alternative embodiment, a wheel stop, not expressly shown in
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.
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, 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 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. Heeling may also be performed on a hill or a surface that includes a decline.
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 heeling is illustrated by the heeler 800 in
The method of heeling may also 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.
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
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.
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.
Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance with the present invention, a heeling apparatus and method that defines a new activity and sport 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 identified above are not present. For example, the various embodiments shown in the drawings herein illustrate that the present invention may be implemented and embodied in a variety of different ways that still fall within the scope of the present invention. Also, the techniques, designs, elements, and methods described and illustrated in the preferred embodiment as discrete or separate may be combined or integrated with other techniques, designs, elements, or methods without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the wheel assembly may be removable or integrated into the sole of the footwear. Although the present invention has been primarily described with only one wheel positioned in the opening of the heel, the present invention certainly contemplates and covers multiple wheels positioned in the opening of the heel. 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.
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/991,553 filed Jan. 8, 2016, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/253,512 filed on Apr. 15, 2014, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,242,169, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/666,684 filed on Nov. 1, 2012, which was abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/592,440, filed Nov. 23, 2009, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,480,095, which claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/656,595, filed Jan. 22, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,621,540, which claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/317,977, filed Dec. 22, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,165,773, which claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/863,090, filed Jun. 7, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,979,003, which claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/076,954, filed Feb. 15, 2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,746,026, which claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/540,125, filed Mar. 31, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,450,509, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/127,459, filed Apr. 1, 1999. The entire disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1068575 | Demorey et al. | Jul 1913 | A |
| 1984989 | Reed | Dec 1934 | A |
| 3306623 | Weitzner | Feb 1967 | A |
| 3860293 | Labeda | Jan 1975 | A |
| 3884485 | Walle | May 1975 | A |
| 4295655 | Landay | Oct 1981 | A |
| 5249376 | Capria | Oct 1993 | A |
| 5398970 | Tucky | Mar 1995 | A |
| 5441286 | Pozzobon | Aug 1995 | A |
| 5590890 | Rosso | Jan 1997 | A |
| 5785327 | Gallant | Jul 1998 | A |
| 5922151 | Piper | Jul 1999 | A |
| 6132006 | Post | Oct 2000 | A |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20180021664 A1 | Jan 2018 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60127459 | Apr 1999 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14991553 | Jan 2016 | US |
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14253512 | Apr 2014 | US |
| Child | 14991553 | US | |
| Parent | 13666684 | Nov 2012 | US |
| Child | 14253512 | US | |
| Parent | 12592440 | Nov 2009 | US |
| Child | 13666684 | US | |
| Parent | 11656595 | Jan 2007 | US |
| Child | 12592440 | US | |
| Parent | 11317977 | Dec 2005 | US |
| Child | 11656595 | US | |
| Parent | 10863090 | Jun 2004 | US |
| Child | 11317977 | US | |
| Parent | 10076954 | Feb 2002 | US |
| Child | 10863090 | US | |
| Parent | 09540125 | Mar 2000 | US |
| Child | 10076954 | US |
