Skate with removable wheel assembly

Abstract

A skate with removable wheel assembly including a boot portion comprised of an upper foot receiving portion and a lower sole portion. The upper foot-receiving portion has an open upper end and a closed lower end. The lower sole portion is removably secured to the closed lower end of the upper foot-receiving portion. The lower sole portion has a groove formed therein. The groove has an open forward end. A wheel assembly is adapted for removably coupling with the boot portion. The wheel assembly is comprised of a housing having an inverted U-shaped configuration. The housing has an upper end and a lower end. The lower end has a plurality of wheels coupled thereto in a linear configuration. The upper end has a track secured thereto. The track is dimensioned for being slidably received within the open forward end of the groove of the lower sole portion of the boot portion.

What is claimed as being new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:  
     
         1 . A skate with removable wheel assembly for allowing a pair of shoes to be converted from an in-line skate to a pair of walking shoes comprising, in combination: 
 a boot portion comprised of an upper foot receiving portion and a lower sole portion, the upper foot receiving portion having an open upper end and a closed lower end, the upper foot receiving portion further including a toe portion and a heel portion, the heel portion of the upper foot receiving portion having a locking pawl pivotally coupled thereto, the lower sole portion being removably secured to the closed lower end of the upper foot receiving portion, the lower sole portion having a T-shaped groove formed therein, the T-shaped groove extending a length of the lower sole portion, the T-shaped groove having an open forward end; and    a wheel assembly adapted for removably coupling with the boot portion, the wheel assembly being comprised of a housing having an inverted U-shaped configuration, the housing having an upper end, a lower end, a forward end, and a rearward end, the lower end having a plurality of wheels coupled thereto in a linear configuration, the upper end having a T-shaped track secured thereto, the T-shaped track being dimensioned for being slidably received within the open forward end of the T-shaped groove of the lower sole portion of the boot portion, the rearward end having a ratchet disposed thereon for being selectively engaged by the locking pawl of the boot portion in a locked orientation.    
     
     
         2 . A skate with removable wheel assembly for allowing a pair of shoes to be converted from an in-line skate to a pair of walking shoes comprising, in combination: 
 a boot portion comprised of an upper foot receiving portion and a lower sole portion, the upper foot receiving portion having an open upper end and a closed lower end, the upper foot receiving portion further including a toe portion and a heel portion, the lower sole portion being removably secured to the closed lower end of the upper foot receiving portion, the lower sole portion having a groove formed therein, the groove extending a length of the lower sole portion, the groove having an open forward end; and    a wheel assembly adapted for removably coupling with the boot portion, the wheel assembly being comprised of a housing having an inverted U-shaped configuration, the housing having an upper end, a lower end, a forward end, and a rearward end, the lower end having a plurality of wheels coupled thereto in a linear configuration, the upper end having a track secured thereto, the track being dimensioned for being slidably received within the open forward end of the groove of the lower sole portion of the boot portion.    
     
     
         3 . The skate with removable wheel assembly as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the heel portion of the upper foot receiving portion has a locking pawl pivotally coupled thereto and the rearward end of the housing of the wheel assembly has a ratchet disposed thereon for being selectively engaged by the locking pawl of the boot portion in a locked orientation.  
     
     
         4 . The skate with removable wheel assembly as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the groove and the track both are T-shaped.