Patent Document ID: 20100117314
Application ID: 12592440
Patent Flag: 0

Claim One:
1. A wheel assembly for use with a heeling apparatus that is used by a user on a surface, the wheel assembly comprising: at least one wheel that includes: an axle opening, a first annular recess on a first side of the at least one wheel, the first annular recess surrounds the axle opening on the first side, a second annular recess on a second side of the at least one wheel, the second annular recess surrounds the axle opening on the second side; a first bearing positioned in the first annular recess on the first side of the at least one wheel; a second bearing positioned in the second annular recess on the second side of the at least one wheel; and an axle positioned within the axle opening of the at least one wheel such that the at least one wheel is rotatably coupled to the axle through the first bearing and the second bearing, and wherein the heeling apparatus includes: a sole that includes a forefoot portion, an arch portion and a heel portion, the heel portion having an opening formed therein and operable to receive the wheel assembly with the at least one wheel operable to rotate around the axle; and wherein the at least one wheel of the wheel assembly is positioned partially in the opening in the heel portion of the sole and partially below the opening in the heel portion of the sole; and such that, in use in a non-rolling mode, a primary contact of the wheeled footwear with the surface is provided by the forefoot portion of the sole and as such the user does not roll and, in a rolling mode, the forefoot is elevated above the surface and the at least one wheel provides the primary contact with the surface to allow the user to roll on the surface and the at least one wheel of the wheel assembly to rotate around the axle, a change in mode being effected by a transfer of weight of the user from the forefoot portion to the at least one wheel positioned partially in the opening in the heel portion of the sole.