Abstract:
The item of footwear ( 10 ) is provided with rolling means ( 52, 54 ) to enable the item of footwear to roll over a surface when the rolling means is in a first active position. The item of footwear ( 10 ) has retracting means ( 34 ) for retracting the rolling means ( 52, 54 ) to a second latent position, thereby disabling the rolling means and preventing the item of footwear from rolling over a surface (see  FIG. 2 ).

Description:
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to an item of footwear, and is particularly concerned with a wheeled shoe for recreation.  
         [0002]     In a known wheeled shoe, a wheel may be housed in the heel of a specially adapted shoe. The wheel must be inserted and fitted into the heel of the shoe prior to use as a wheeled shoe for recreation, and the wheel must be removed entirely from the shoe when not in such use. The user is provided with a removal tool to remove the wheel from the shoe. In this way, the shoe is converted from a first state, whereby the shoe in combination with the wheel facilitates the foot of a wearer to roll across a road surface or similar, to a second state, whereby the shoe is made suitable for walking as would be considered normal. A heel plug is provided to replace the wheel when the shoe is converted into the second state. To convert wheeled shoes of this type from the second state to the first state, it is necessary to remove the wheel from the shoe using a removal tool. This causes the wearer considerable inconvenience when changing the configuration of the shoe, and a removal tool must be available.  
         [0003]     Furthermore, the housing which is vacated by the wheel should be plugged using a heel plug. The heel plug or the wheel should be available if the wearer wishes to change the configuration of the shoe.  
         [0004]     An aim of the present invention is to provide a wheeled shoe in which the wearer does not have to remove entirely the wheel from the shoe to convert the shoe to a state suitable for normal walking or running.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     In accordance with the invention there is provided an item of footwear provided with rolling means to enable the item of footwear to roll over a surface when the rolling means is in a first active position, the item of footwear further comprising retracting means for retracting the rolling means to a second latent position, thereby disabling the rolling means and preventing the item of footwear from rolling over a surface.  
         [0006]     In this way the wearer may use the item of footwear both for normal activities, such as, for example, walking and running, and recreational activities where footwear that rolls over a road surface or similar is required. Moreover, it is not necessary to remove and replace the rolling means from the item of footwear to change the function of the item of footwear from a normal mode to a recreational mode.  
         [0007]     Preferably the rolling means comprises a cylindrical roller defining a longitudinal axis about which the roller can rotate, and, preferably, the rolling means is attached to the retracting means by an axle.  
         [0008]     Preferably the item of footwear includes a heel, and, preferably, the rolling means and the retracting means are housed in the heel.  
         [0009]     In a preferred embodiment the retracting means comprises a slidable member, and, more preferably, the retracting means comprises a slidable yoke-shaped member. Advantageously the slidable yoke-shaped member includes at least one elongate arm for moving the yoke-shaped member from a first position to a second position within the heel. The slidable yoke-shaped member may include two elongate arms. In this way the slidable yoke-shaped member may be moved.  
         [0010]     Preferably the yoke-shaped member includes a pair of angled slots for receiving the rolling means. In this way the rolling means may be positioned in a first active state when positioned in a lower portion of the angled slots, or, in a second latent state when positioned in a higher portion of the angled slots.  
         [0011]     Preferably still, the angled slots define detent notches to retain the rolling means in the first active position or the second latent position. In this way the rolling means is held in position until a suitable force great enough to overcome the resistance of the detent notches is applied. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]     Two items of footwear in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0013]      FIGS. 1   a  and  1   b  are, respectively, side elevations of a wheeled shoe showing a wheel in a raised position and a wheel in a lowered position in accordance with a first embodiment of the invention;  
         [0014]      FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  are, respectively, horizontal and vertical cross-sections of a heel of a wheeled shoe as shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0015]      FIG. 3  is a perspective exploded view of a heel top portion, a roller, a roller pin, and a slide yoke as shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0016]      FIG. 4  is a perspective exploded view of a roller, a roller pin, a slide yoke, a heel mid section, and a heel bottom section as shown in  FIG. 2 ; and,  
         [0017]      FIG. 5  is a partial side view of a slide yoke showing an angled slot with detent notches.  
         [0018]      FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  are, respectively, perspective views of a portion of a wheeled shoe having a bottom portion removed showing a wheel in a raised position and a wheel in a lowered position in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a shoe  10  comprises three main sections, namely an upper  12 , a sole  14 , and a heel  16 , where the heel is joined to the underside of the sole at a rear end.  
         [0020]     Referring particularly to  FIG. 2   a , the front portion of the heel  16  has a straight vertical face  24  facing forwards away from the heel. The rear portion of the heel  16  has a curved face  26  facing rearwards.  
         [0021]     Referring particularly to  FIG. 2   b , the heel  16  is split in two separate horizontal planes into three portions, namely a top portion  18 , a mid portion  20  and a bottom portion  22 . The mid portion  20  is thicker than the top portion  18 , and the top portion is thicker than the bottom portion  22 .  
         [0022]     The upper face of the top portion  18  is joined to the underside of the sole  14 . Referring to  FIG. 3 , the top portion  18  has a slot  28 , the slot has an arcuate inner face shaped to complement a roller  50 . The slot  28  opens on the bottom face of the top portion  18 .  
         [0023]     Referring particularly to  FIG. 2   b  and  FIG. 4 , the mid portion  20  is joined to the underside of the top portion  18  such that, when the mid portion is joined to the top portion, the join therebetween is barely noticeable. The mid portion  20  has a central vertical hole  21  of rectangular cross-section, the hole extending through the full height of the mid portion. The mid portion  20  further defines a pair of opposing slots  30  and a pair of opposing channels  32 . An axis through the pair of slots  30  is perpendicular to an axis through the pair of channels  32 .  
         [0024]     The channels  32  extend in the longitudinal direction with respect to the direction of forward movement of the shoe  10 . The channels  32  and the slots  30  are formed in the upper part of the mid portion  20  such that, when the mid portion  20  is joined to the top portion  22 , the slots  30  and the channels  32  are closed by the top portion  18 . A slide yoke  34  is provided to fit into the hole of the mid portion  20 .  
         [0025]     The periphery of the slide yoke  34  is substantially rectangular. The width of the slide yoke  34  is marginally narrower than the width of the hole  21  of the mid portion  20 . The length of the slide yoke  34  is substantially shorter than length of the hole  21 . This is to facilitate the slide yoke  34  to move freely forwards and backwards within the hole  21  in a direction following the longitudinal axis of the shoe  10 . The slide yoke  34  has a central vertical hole  35  of rectangular cross-section. The slide yoke  34  has two arms  36  positioned on the upper part of its front face  38  and its rear face  40 . The arms  36  are of a shape complementary to the shape of the channels  32  of the mid portion  20  such that, when the slide yoke  34  is located in the mid portion, the arms fit flush into the channels  32  and the slide yoke fits flush into the mid portion  20 . The arms  36  are of a length such that at least one of the arms always extends outwardly from the mid portion  20 . The slide yoke  34  is formed with a pair of angled slots  42  in opposite sides thereof. The angled slots  42  are located substantially midway along the slide yoke  34 .  
         [0026]     Referring particularly to  FIG. 5 , a front end  44  of each slot  42  is higher than a rear end  46 . A sloping portion  48  joins the front end  44  and the rear end  46 . A detent notch  43  is located at the front end  44  of each angled slot. A further detent notch  45  is located at the rear end  46  of each angled slot. The slide yoke  34  is manufactured from a nylon type material or similar. In this way the angled slots  42  may elastically deform at the detent notches  43 ,  45 .  
         [0027]     Referring particularly to  FIG. 2   a  and  FIG. 4 , a cylindrical roller  50  is provided with a central hole  52  for receiving a roller pin  54 . The roller pin  54  is cylindrical, and is of sufficient diameter to be inserted through the central hole  52  of the roller  50 . The roller pin  54  is of sufficient length to span the gap between the pair of opposing slots  30  of the mid portion  20 . The roller  52  is retained in the slide yoke  34  by the roller pin  54 . With the roller  50  positioned between the angled slots  42 , the roller pin  54  is inserted through the first angled slot  42 , the central hole  52  and the second angled slot  42 , such that the roller pin protrudes equally from both ends of the roller. The slide yoke  34  is inserted into the mid portion  34  and the roller pin  54  and roller  50  are locked into place.  
         [0028]     Referring particularly to  FIG. 4 , the bottom portion  22  is joined to the underside of the top portion  18  such that the join therebetween is barely noticeable. The bottom portion  32  has a centrally-located tapered hole  55  with a larger opening  56  on the top surface of the bottom portion, and a smaller opening  58  on the bottom surface of the bottom portion. The tapered hole  55  is of a shape complementary to the shape of the roller  50 .  
         [0029]     In use, the roller  50  may be positioned in a raised state  60  or in a lowered state  62  (see  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2   b ) by the slide yoke  34  held captive in the heel  16 . The slide yoke  34  may be positioned in a forward state by the wearer pushing the protruding arm  36  at the rear of the heel  16  forwards. This causes the roller pin  54  to move from the higher position  44  to the lower position  46  while remaining in the slot  30 . Some force is required to free the roller pin  54  from the front end  44  of the angled slots  42  as a result of the detent notch  43 . A similar force is required to engage the roller pin  54  in the lower end of the angled slots  42  as a result of a second detent notch  45 . In this state with the roller  50  lowered, the wearer can roll over a surface.  
         [0030]     Alternatively, the slide yoke  34  may be positioned in a rearward state by pushing the protruding arm  36  at the front of the heel  16  back into the heel. The angled slots  42  of the slide yoke  34  are pushed rearward and the roller pin  54 , held horizontally captive in the slots  30 , follows the angled slot  42  to a raised position where it is locked into place by the detent slot  43 .  
         [0031]     A modified embodiment of the invention shall now be described with reference to  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b . Like reference numerals apply from the first embodiment of the invention and only the differences will be described.  
         [0032]     A recess  68  in the sole  14  is shaped complementary to the upper face of the upper portion  18 . The recess  68  is deeper than the height of the upper portion  18 . The upper face of the upper portion  18  is joined to the sole  14  within the recess  68 . The whole of the upper portion  18  is received by the recess  68  such that the mid portion  20  contacts with the front edge  69  of the recess. A groove  70  is defined by the sole  14  and extends along its length in a forwards direction from the recess  68 .  
         [0033]     The mid portion  20  defines a channel  32  on the upper half of its front side, such that the channel  32  is facing the groove  70 . In this modified embodiment, the channel  32  is not defined in the rear of the mid portion  20  as was the case in the first embodiment.  
         [0034]     The slide yoke  34  has one arm  72  positioned on the upper part of its front face  38  (not visible in  FIG. 6 ). The arm  72  is of a shape complementary to the shape of the channel  32  and the groove  70 , such that the arm fits flush into the channel and extends therethrough and fits flush into the groove. The arm  72  is of a length such that, when the slide yoke  34  is located at the rear of the mid portion  20 , the arm protrudes through the channel  32  and into the groove  70 . The arm  72  defines a member  74  which protrudes below the groove  70  such that a user may move the position of the arm.  
         [0035]     In use, the slide yoke  34  may be positioned in a forward state by the wearer pushing the member  74  on the arm  72  forwards. Alternatively, the slide yoke  34  may be positioned in a rearward state by pushing the member  74  on the arm  72  rearwards.