Wheeled footwear with spring suspension system

Abstract

An exemplary wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system is provided. In one embodiment, the footwear includes an upper, a midsole positioned in a midsole region, and an outsole. The spring suspension system is positioned in the midsole region of the footwear, and includes plurality of spring members, each having a first end and a second end, a top layer operable to support at least a portion of the plurality of spring members at the first end, and a bottom layer operable to support at least a portion of the plurality of spring members at the second end. The bottom layer may include an opening or openings formed in the bottom layer that may receive at least a portion of a wheel or wheels that may be positioned below the top layer and operable for rolling.

1 . A wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system comprising:
 a footwear with an upper, a midsole positioned in a midsole region, and an outsole; and   a spring suspension system positioned in the midsole region, the spring suspension system including:
 a plurality of spring members, each having a first end and a second end, 
 a top layer operable to support at least a portion of the plurality of spring members at the first end, and 
 a bottom layer positioned adjacent the outsole, the bottom layer operable to support at least a portion of the plurality of spring members at the second end, and including an opening formed in the bottom layer and the outsole that may surround at least a portion of at least one wheel that is positioned to roll in the opening. 
   
   
   
       2 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 1 , wherein the midsole region includes a forefoot region, an arch region, and a heel region, and wherein the spring suspension system is positioned at least partially in the heel region of the midsole. 
   
   
       3 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 2 , wherein the spring suspension system is positioned at least partially in the heel region of the midsole, and at least partially in the arch region of the midsole. 
   
   
       4 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 2 , wherein the spring suspension system is positioned at least partially in the heel region of the midsole, at least partially in the arch region of the midsole, and at least partially in the forefoot region of the midsole. 
   
   
       5 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 2 , wherein the outsole includes a flexible forefoot portion, and wherein the flexible forefoot portion of the outsole is adjacent a flexible midsole portion positioned at least partially in the forefoot region of the midsole. 
   
   
       6 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 2 , wherein a portion of the midsole is positioned at least partially in the heel region of the midsole above the top layer of the spring suspension system. 
   
   
       7 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 6 , wherein the portion of the midsole positioned at least partially in the heel region of the midsole above the top layer of the spring suspension system is a cushioned portion of the midsole. 
   
   
       8 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 2 , wherein the bottom layer of the spring suspension system has a back end and a front end, and the top layer of the spring suspension system has a back end and a front end, and wherein the back end of the bottom layer extends towards the back end of the top layer. 
   
   
       9 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a tab portion that extends between the back end of the bottom layer and the back end of the top layer.   
   
   
       10 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 9 , wherein the tab portion is flexible. 
   
   
       11 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 8 , wherein the portion of the outsole positioned adjacent the back end of the bottom layer is a heel stop. 
   
   
       12 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 8 , wherein the back end of the bottom layer couples with the back end of the top layer. 
   
   
       13 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 2 , wherein the bottom layer of the spring suspension system has a back end and a front end, and the top layer of the spring suspension system has a back end and a front end, and wherein the front end of the bottom layer extends towards the front end of the top layer. 
   
   
       14 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a support member positioned between the front end of the bottom layer and the front end of the top layer.   
   
   
       15 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 13 , wherein the support member is a support wedge. 
   
   
       16 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the plurality of spring members including:
 a coiled spring;   a dampening member positioned within the coiled spring; and   a spring cover positioned around at least a portion of the coiled spring and the dampening member.   
   
   
       17 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 16 , wherein the spring cover is clear. 
   
   
       18 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 16 , wherein the spring cover is opaque. 
   
   
       19 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 16 , wherein the spring cover is shaped at least partially in a bellows shape. 
   
   
       20 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 1 , wherein the top layer includes a plurality of stops provided to retain one end of the plurality spring members, and wherein the bottom layer includes a corresponding plurality of stops provided to retain the opposite end of the plurality of spring members. 
   
   
       21 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 2 , wherein the outsole includes a flexible forefoot portion, and further comprising:
 a wheel positioned in the opening formed in the bottom layer of the spring suspension system and supported below the top layer of the spring suspension system, and operable to allow a user of the rolling footwear to walk on a surface using the flexible forefoot portion of the outsole, and to transition to a heel rolling state by rolling on the surface using the wheel positioned in the opening by elevating the forefoot portion above the surface, and wherein the spring suspension support provides shock absorption between at least a portion of the top layer and the bottom layer.   
   
   
       22 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 21 , further comprising a plurality of wheels positioned in one or more openings formed in the bottom layer of the spring suspension system. 
   
   
       23 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 1 , wherein clearance between the top of the wheel and the top plate is greater than the spring stop clearance when the stops of the top layer and the bottom layer do not allow any more compression of the spring members. 
   
   
       24 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom layer of the spring suspension system includes a second opening that may receive at least a portion of a second wheel. 
   
   
       25 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 1 , wherein the opening of the bottom layer of the spring suspension system may also surround at least a portion of a second wheel that is positioned to roll in the opening. 
   
   
       26 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 1 , wherein the top layer includes a plurality of stops operable to minimize lateral movement of the first end of the plurality of spring members, and the bottom layer includes a plurality of stops operable to minimize lateral movement of the second end of the plurality of spring members. 
   
   
       27 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of stops of the top layer are a separate structure or structures from the top layer. 
   
   
       28 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of stops of the bottom layer are a separate structure or structures from the bottom layer. 
   
   
       29 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of stops of the top layer are a separate structure or structures from the top layer, and wherein the plurality of stops of the bottom layer are a separate structure or structures from the bottom layer. 
   
   
       30 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 26 , wherein a plurality of stops of the top layer each include an end, and a plurality of stops of the bottom layer each include an end, and wherein the end of the stops of at least a plurality of the stops of the top layer are positioned adjacent the ends of the corresponding stops of the bottom layer. 
   
   
       31 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 1 , wherein the wherein the plurality of spring members is six. 
   
   
       32 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 2 , wherein the wheel is removably coupled to the bottom layer. 
   
   
       33 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 2 , wherein the wheel is retractably coupled to the bottom layer. 
   
   
       34 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 2 , wherein the wheel is permanently coupled to the bottom layer. 
   
   
       35 . The wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plug operable to fill at least a portion of the opening.   
   
   
       36 . A wheeled footwear with a spring suspension system comprising:
 a footwear with an upper, a midsole positioned in a midsole region, and an outsole; and   a spring suspension system positioned in the midsole region, the spring suspension system including:
 a plurality of spring members, each having a first end and a second end, 
 a top layer operable to support at least a portion of the plurality of spring members at the first end, and 
 a bottom layer operable to support at least a portion of the plurality of spring members at the second end, wherein the top layer includes a back portion and a front portion, and the bottom layer includes a back portion and a front portion, and the front portion of the top layer extends towards the front portion of the bottom layer, and wherein the midsole includes a forefoot portion and a heel portion, and the spring suspension system is positioned primarily in the midsole.