Wearable device with one or more retractable wheels

Abstract

In a first aspect, a wearable device is provided for mounting to a foot of a user. The wearable device includes a support structure having a longitudinal axis, and having an interior. The support structure is positioned to support a foot of a user, wherein the support structure has a ground engagement surface. The wearable device further includes a first wheel shaft having a first wheel connected thereto, and a second wheel shaft having a second wheel connected thereto. The first and second wheel shafts are connected to the support structure and are movable between a stowage position in which the first and second wheel shafts hold the first and second wheels above the ground engagement surface and a rolling position in which the first and second wheel shaft hold the first and second wheels below the ground engagement surface. In both the stowage and rolling positions, the first and second wheels are laterally outside of the interior of the support structure.

1 . A wearable device for supporting a foot of a user, comprising:
 a support structure having a longitudinal axis, and having an interior, and wherein the support structure is positioned to support a foot of a user, wherein the support structure has a ground engagement surface; and   a first wheel shaft having a first wheel connected thereto, and a second wheel shaft having a second wheel connected thereto, wherein the first and second wheel shafts are connected to the support structure and are movable between a stowage position in which the first and second wheel shafts hold the first and second wheels above the ground engagement surface and a rolling position in which the first and second wheel shafts hold the first and second wheels below the ground engagement surface,   wherein, in both the stowage and rolling positions, the first and second wheels are laterally outside of the interior of the support structure.   
     
     
         2 . A wearable device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first and second wheel shafts move in a generally vertical plane between the stowage and rolling positions. 
     
     
         3 . A wearable device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the support structure has a base that is positioned to engage a bottom of the footwear member and wherein the base has a height, and the diameter of the first and second wheels is greater than the height of the base. 
     
     
         4 . A wearable device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an actuator that is movably connected to the support structure and extends rearwardly of the interior, wherein the actuator is movable between a stowage actuation position and a rolling actuation position, wherein, movement of the actuator to the stowage actuation position drives movement of the first and second wheels to the rolling position, and movement of the actuator to the rolling actuation position drives movement the first and second wheel shafts to the stowage position. 
     
     
         5 . A wearable device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a latching structure that includes a first link and a second link, wherein the first link has a first link guide slot and the second link has a second link guide slot, and a first guide projection extends from the support structure and passes through both the first link guide slot and the second link guide slot,
 wherein the first link is engaged with the support structure by way of a support projection on one of the first link and a support slot on the other of the first link and the support structure, wherein the support slot has a first end and a second end, wherein engagement of the support projection at the first end of the support slot holds the first and second wheel shafts in the stowage position, and engagement of the support projection at the second end of the support slot holds the first and second wheel shafts in the rolling position.   
     
     
         6 . A wearable device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the support slot is V-shaped. 
     
     
         7 . A wearable device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the support slot is in the support structure, and the support projection is on the first link. 
     
     
         8 . A wearable device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the second link guide slot has a first end and a second end, and wherein the wearable device further comprises a biasing member that urges the guide projection towards the second end of the second link guide slot,
 and wherein engagement of the support projection at the first end of the support slot aligns the first and second link guide slots which permits the biasing member to move the guide projection to the second end of the second link guide slot,   and wherein engagement of the support projection at the second end of the support slot causes a misalignment between the first and second link guide slots, which holds the guide projection at the first end of the second link guide slot.   
     
     
         9 . A wearable device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the first link and the second link are further slidably connected to one another via a driver slot in one of the first and second links and a driver projection on the other of the first and second links and which projects into the driver slot. 
     
     
         10 . A wearable device as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising an actuator that is connected to the second link and extends rearwardly of the interior, wherein the actuator is movable between a stowage actuation position and a rolling actuation position, wherein, movement of the actuator to the stowage actuation position drives movement of the second link to align the first and second link guide slots with one another, and movement of the actuator to the rolling actuation position causes misalignment of the first and second link guide slots with one another. 
     
     
         11 . A wearable device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the latching structure is a first latching structure and is laterally on one side of the support structure, and wherein the wearable device includes a second latching structure laterally on another side of the support structure. 
     
     
         12 . A wearable device as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the support structure is mountable to a footwear member to hold the footwear member in the interior. 
     
     
         13 . A pair of wearable devices for supporting feet of a user, comprising a first and a second of the wearable devices as claimed in  claim 1 . 
     
     
         14 . A wearable device for supporting a foot of a user, comprising:
 a support structure having a longitudinal axis, and having an interior, and wherein the support structure is positioned to support a foot of a user, wherein the support structure has a ground engagement surface; and   a first wheel shaft having a first wheel connected thereto, wherein the first wheel shaft is connected to the support structure and is movable between a stowage position in which the first wheel shaft holds the first wheel above the ground engagement surface and a rolling position in which the first wheel shaft holds the first wheel below the ground engagement surface,   wherein, in both the stowage and rolling positions, the first wheel is laterally outside of the interior of the support structure.   
     
     
         15 . A wearable device as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising a second wheel shaft having a second wheel connected thereto, wherein the second wheel shaft is connected to the support structure and is movable along with the first wheel shaft between the stowage position in which the second wheel shaft holds the second wheel above the ground engagement surface and the rolling position in which the second wheel shaft holds the second wheels below the ground engagement surface,
 wherein, in both the stowage and rolling positions, the second wheel is laterally outside of the interior of the support structure.