Patent ID: 7610972

Claim:
A motorized footwear for use on a surface, the motorized footwear comprising: a motorized wheel assembly operable to propel the motorized footwear in a forward direction when electrical power is provided, and operable to roll in a forward direction when power is not provided, the motorized wheel assembly includes: an electric motor that includes a housing that at least partially surrounds a motor coil, wherein the electric motor is operable to rotate at least a portion of the housing that is provided in a generally cylindrical shape in a forward rotational direction around the motor coil in response to applying electrical power to the electric motor, a wheel positioned around the at least a portion of the housing that is provided in a generally cylindrical shape, and operable to rotate with the housing in the forward rotational direction when electrical power is applied to the electric motor, and wherein the wheel and the housing that is a generally cylindrical shape are operable to serve as a roller to roll on the surface; a battery operable to provide electrical power to the electric motor of the motorized wheel assembly; a throttle operable to control the speed of the rotation of the roller by controlling the amount of electrical power provided to the electric motor of the motorized wheel assembly; a footwear that includes a sole with a forefoot portion, an arch portion and a heel portion, the heel portion having a bottom surface and an opening formed therein; and wherein the roller is positioned adjacent and within the opening in the bottom surface of the heel portion of the sole such that, in use, in an electric powered rolling mode, the roller provides contact with the surface to allow a user to roll in the forward direction on the surface while electrical power is applied to the electric motor to rotate the roller in the forward rotational direction, and wherein the roller, in a passive rolling mode, provides contact with the surface to allow the user to impart roll to the roller in the forward rotational direction on the surface while electrical power is not applied to the electric motor.