Heeling apparatus

Abstract

Provided is a heeling apparatus. The heeling apparatus includes a sole including a forefoot portion and a heel portion. The heel portion has an opening formed therein. In one embodiment, the sole includes a removable portion. The heeling apparatus further includes a wheel assembly including wheel rotably mounted to an axle and a mounting structure, wherein the wheel extends through the opening in the heel portion.

The invention is claimed as follows: 
     
         1 . An item of footwear comprising:
 a sole including a forefoot portion and a heel portion, the heel portion having an opening formed therein, wherein the sole includes: (a) an inner sole and (b) an outer sole, and wherein the inner sole includes a removable portion; and   a rolling means retained in the opening of the heel portion, wherein the rolling means is positioned such that, in use, in a non-rolling mode a primary contact of the item of footwear with a ground is provided by the forefoot portion of the sole and as such the item of footwear does not roll and, in a rolling mode, the rolling means provides the primary contact with the ground.   
     
     
         2 . The item of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the rolling means is a wheel removably mounted to an axle. 
     
     
         3 . The item of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the axle is removably mounted to a mounting structure. 
     
     
         4 . The item of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the hole is configured to receive a removable cover. 
     
     
         5 . The item of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the sole includes a midsole made of a soft material. 
     
     
         6 . The item of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein a change from the rolling mode to a non-rolling mode is caused by a transfer in weight of the user from the forefoot portion to the rolling means. 
     
     
         7 . An item of footwear comprising:
 a sole including a forefoot portion and a heel portion, the heel portion having an opening formed therein, wherein the sole includes a removable portion; and   a rolling means retained in the opening of the heel portion, wherein the rolling means is positioned such that, in use, in a non-rolling mode a primary contact of the item of footwear with a ground is provided by the forefoot portion of the sole and as such the item of footwear does not roll and, in a rolling mode, the rolling means provides the primary contact with the ground, a change in mode being effected by a transfer in weight of the user from the forefoot portion to the rolling means.   
     
     
         8 . The item of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein the rolling means is a wheel removably mounted to an axle. 
     
     
         9 . The item of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the axle is removably mounted to a mounting structure. 
     
     
         10 . The item of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein the hole is configured to receive a removable cover. 
     
     
         11 . The item of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein the sole includes an inner sole, a midsole and an outer sole. 
     
     
         12 . The item of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the removable portion of the sole is a portion of the inner sole. 
     
     
         13 . The item of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the midsole is made of a cushiony material. 
     
     
         14 . The item of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein a change from the rolling mode to a non-rolling mode is caused by a transfer in weight of the user from the forefoot portion to the rolling means. 
     
     
         15 . A heeling apparatus comprising:
 a sole including a forefoot portion and a heel portion, the heel portion having an opening formed therein, wherein the sole includes a removable portion; and   a wheel assembly including wheel rotably mounted to an axle and a mounting structure, wherein the wheel extends through the opening in the heel portion.   
     
     
         16 . The heeling apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the hole is configured to receive a removable cover. 
     
     
         17 . The heeling apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the sole includes an inner sole, a midsole and an outer sole. 
     
     
         18 . The heeling apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the removable portion of the sole is a portion of the inner sole. 
     
     
         19 . The heeling apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the midsole is made of a cushiony material. 
     
     
         20 . The heeling apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein a change from the rolling mode to a non-rolling mode is caused by a transfer in weight of the user from the forefoot portion to the rolling means. 
     
     
         21 . The heeling apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the axle is removably mounted to the mounting structure.