Patent ID: 6746026
Filing Date: 2004-06-08
Classification: A43B,A63C

Abstract:
An item of footwear comprising:a sole comprising a forefoot portion, an arch portion and a heel portion, the heel portion having an opening formed therein; a rolling means retained in the opening in the heel portion; and 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 to allow a user to roll on the ground, a change in mode being effected by a transfer of weight of the user from the forefoot portion to the rolling means, wherein the rolling means includes a wheel with an axle opening, a first annular recess on a first side of the wheel that surrounds the axle opening on the first side, and a second annular recess on a second side of the wheel that surrounds the axle opening on the second side, the rolling means further includes: a first bearing positioned in the first annular recess on the first side of the wheel; a second bearing positioned in the second annular recess on the second side of the wheel; and an axle positioned within the axle opening of the wheel such that the wheel is rotatably coupled to the axle through the first bearing and the second bearing.