This invention relates to footwear, and, more particularly, to an article of footwear having an outsole formed with a cavity in the toe area and a cavity in the heel area each of which receive a roller connected together by a strap so that the rollers may be removed as a unit from the outsole to convert the shoe from a roller shoe to a walking or running shoe.
Traditional roller skates, and more recently, inline roller skates, are popular among children and adults alike. While originally intended for roller rinks and the like, modern roller skates commonly employ rollers with a rubber-like covering which permit them to be used on roadways, sidewalks and other outdoor surfaces. One issue with these types of roller skates is that they may only be used for skating. If an individual is using the roller skates outdoors, he or she must either carry a pair of walking or running shoes, or return home, when finished skating because its is difficult to walk around in such skates.
This problem has been addressed at least to some extent in the prior art. In one design, the outsole of a shoe is formed with one or more cavities which receive rollers capable of moving between an extended position in contact with the ground or other surface and a retracted position inside of the outsole. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,474,661; 6,523,836; 5,797,609 and 5,785,327. These types of shoes may be used as a roller skate with the rollers extended, but can function as a walking or running shoe by retracting the rollers within the cavities. This versatility provides an advantage over traditional roller skates or inline skates, but also creates problems. In particular, shoes of this type are relatively heavy when worn as a walking or running shoe due to the presence of multiple rollers in the shoe outsole. Additionally, the outsole must be made relatively thick to receive the entirety of the rollers when in the retracted position which adds weight to the shoes and detracts from their aesthetic appearance.
Another approach in the prior art is to provide a shoe with a detachable skate. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,736,411 and 6,120,038 disclose shoes which may be releasably attached to an inline roller assembly to covert the shoe from a conventional walking or running shoe to a roller skate. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,729,629 and 6,702,304 teach the combination of a shoe and a roller base having a platform with a pair of rollers at either end. The shoes of these two patents may be releasably attached to the roller base, and detached, depending on whether they are to be used as roller skates or walking shoes. Limitations with both of these designs include the fact that both the inline roller assembly and the roller base are relatively cumbersome to attach and detach from the shoe, and they are inconvenient and heavy to carry around after conversion from a roller skate to a walking shoe.
This invention is directed to a roller shoe having a pair of rollers connected together by a strap which may be converted to a walking or running shoe by removing the rollers and strap as a unit from the outsole of the shoe.
In the presently preferred embodiment, the outsole of the shoe is formed with a cavity in the toe area and a second cavity in the heel area with a recess extending along the outsole in between the two cavities. Each cavity releasably mounts a roller, and the two rollers are connected together by a strap which is received within the recess. The shoe may be converted to a walking or running shoe by removing the two rollers and the strap as a unit from their respective cavities and recess, and then preferably covering at least the cavities with a cap to prevent the accumulation of dirt or other debris therein.
The structure, operation and advantages of the presently preferred embodiment of this invention will become further apparent upon consideration of the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Referring now to the Figs., a shoe 10 is depicted having an upper 12 connected to an outsole 14. It should be understood that other articles of footwear may be employed, and the one shown in the Figs. is only for purposes of illustration. The shoe 10 has a toe area 16, a heel area 18 and an arch area 20 located between the toe and heel areas 16, 18. The toe area 16 is formed with a cavity 22, and the heel area 18 is formed with a cavity 24. In one presently preferred embodiment, a recess 26 is formed in the outsole 14 which extends from its bottom surface 28 toward the upper 12 and in between the cavities 22 and 24. The recess 26 may include opposed, inwardly extending projections 30 and 32, a first locking tab 34 located adjacent to the cavity 22 and a second locking tab 36 adjacent to the cavity 24.
As best seen in
One end of the axle 62 of each roller 44 and 46 protrudes outwardly from the bearing 58, and its opposite end protrudes outwardly from the bearing 60. These ends of the axle 62 are received and mounted within the roller grooves 40, 42, respectively, of a roller support 38 to releasably secure the rollers 44 and 46 within respective cavities 22 and 24. In one presently preferred embodiment, the axle 62 of rollers 44 and 46 has a magnet 64 embedded within each end and the roller support 38 within each cavity 22, 24 is formed of a ferrous material so that the axle 62 is magnetically attracted to the roller support 38 to assist in retaining the rollers 44, 46 in place. Alternatively, the dimensions of the protruding ends of the axle 62 and mating 25 roller grooves 40, 42 in each roller support 38 are such that the axle 62 may be frictionally retained within the roller support 38, and, hence, the cavities 22 or 24. In either case, a portion of the rollers 44 and 46 extend into the respective cavities 22 and 24, and the remainder protrudes outwardly from the bottom surface 28 of the outsole 14 so that the rollers 44 and 46 can contact the ground or other surface for use of the shoe 10 as a roller shoe.
Referring now to
Each end of the strap 68 is formed with a coupler 78 to connect the strap 68 to rollers 44 and 46. Each coupler 78 comprises a first arm 80, a second arm 82, a first spacer 84 extending from the strap 68 and connected between one end of the two arms 76, 78, and, a second spacer 86 connected between the opposite end of the arms 80, 82. In essence, each coupler 78 forms a square surrounding one of the rollers 44, 46. The coupler 78 is connected to a roller 44 or 46 by inserting the one end of axle 62 through a bore formed in an enlarged portion 88 of the first arm 80, and by inserting the other end of axle 62 through a bore formed in an enlarged area 90 of the second arm 82. The coupler 78 is dimensioned so as not to interfere with the rolling movement of rollers 44, 46, while remaining secured affixed thereto.
With the rollers 44 and 46 in place within respective cavities 22 and 24, and the strap 68 located within the recess 26, the shoe 10 is configured to function as a roller skate. In order to covert the shoe 10 for use as a walking or running shoe, the rollers 44 and 46 are removed with the strap 68 as a unit from the shoe outsole 14. The strap 68 assists in detaching the rollers 44 and 46 from their respective cavities 22 and 24, and retains the rollers 44, 46 together once they are removed from the shoe 10 so that they are not lost or misplaced. Preferably, a cap 92 may be placed over each of the cavities 22 and 24, and, optionally, the recess 26 may be provided with a cap (not shown) to prevent dirt or other debris from entering same when the rollers 44, 46 and strap 68 are removed. The caps 92 are removed and the rollers 44, 46 and strap 68 is inserted back in place in the outsole 14, to convert the shoe 10 back to use as a roller skate.
While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof.
For example, the strap 68 is depicted as being received within a recess 26 formed in the outsole 14 of the shoe 10. It should be understood that the recess 26 may be eliminated and the strap 68 may rest directly against the bottom surface 28 of the outsole 14. Further, it is contemplated that in the event the recess 26 is employed, other means of affixing the strap 68 within the recess 26 could be employed such as merely a friction fit between the strap 68 and recess 26 thus eliminating the locking tabs 34, 36 protruding from the recess 26 and the openings 74, 76 in the strap 68.
Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
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