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.

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.