Heeling apparatus and method

Abstract

A heeling apparatus includes a shoe with a unique feature in the heel that allows one to walk, run, or roll seamlessly. The appearance is that of normal footwear because of the covert wheel assembly. The stealth wheel in the heel gives one the ability to roll or slide in areas you could only walk. Heeling is a new activity that employs a unique method of rolling and requires a newly learned skill set of balance, positioning, and coordination.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for making an apparatus for use on a surface, the apparatus operable to wear on one's foot to transition from a walking state or a running state to a heel rolling state, the method comprising: 
 providing a footwear that includes a front, a back, an upper part, and a sole, the sole includes: 
 a forefoot portion to engage the surface while in the walking state and the running state,  
 an arch portion, and  
 a heel portion;  
   forming an opening in at least a portion of the heel portion of the sole of the footwear;    providing a wheel assembly including an axle having an engageable segment and at least one wheel rotatably mounted on the axle adjacent the engagable segment; and    positioning the wheel assembly in the opening in the at least the portion of the heel portion of the sole of the footwear wherein the at least one wheel mounted on the axle includes a first portion, a second portion, and is positioned such that the first portion of the wheel resides within the opening in the heel portion of the sole of the footwear and such that the second portion of the wheel resides below the opening in the heel portion of the sole of the footwear, wherein the apparatus is operable to allow one to transition from the walking state or the running state to the heel rolling state where the at least one wheel mounted on the axle contacts the surface to roll.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the forefoot portion of the sole of the footwear is flexible to bend with one's foot when in the walking state or the running state.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wheel rotatably mounted on the axle is positioned in the opening in the heel portion of the sole such that the first portion of the wheel that resides within the opening is larger than the second portion of the wheel that resides below the opening.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing a first precision bearing; and    providing a second precision bearing, and wherein the at least one wheel rotatably mounted on the axle has a first side with a first recess and a second side with a second recess, and the first precision bearing is positioned in the first recess between the wheel and the axle and the second precision bearing is positioned in the second recess between the wheel and the axle.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the first precision bearing is positioned using a first ring clip on the axle, and the second precision bearing is positioned using a second ring clip on the axle.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing a heel control plate operable to allow one to gain greater control while in the heel rolling state; and    positioning the heel control plate adjacent the wheel assembly.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wheel has an outer diameter and the second portion of the wheel resides below a lowest point of a bottom surface of the heel portion of the sole of the footwear by an amount equal to or less than half of the outer diameter of the wheel.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is formed in a bottom surface of the heel portion of the sole and extends from the bottom surface of the sole to a top of the sole.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is formed in a bottom surface of the heel portion of the sole and is closed on all sides except for the bottom surface of the heel portion of the sole and a top of the sole.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the opening is formed in a bottom surface of the heel portion of the sole and is also formed in a bottom surface of the arch portion of the sole.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing a grind plate; and    positioning the grind plate adjacent the arch portion of the sole.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wheel rotatably mounted on the axle is further defined as more than one wheel mounted on the axle positioned in the at least portion of the heel portion of the sole of the footwear.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the heel portion of the sole of the footwear is operable to contact the surface in a heel braking state.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the portion of the heel portion of the sole of the footwear operable to contact the surface in the heel braking state is made of a wear resistant material.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wheel is removable from the opening formed in at least the portion of the heel portion of the sole.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one wheel is retractable within the opening formed in at least the portion of the heel portion of the sole.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further includes providing at least a second wheel and positioning the at least second wheel in the opening formed in at least the portion of the heel portion of sole.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further includes providing a second opening formed in at least a portion of the arch portion of the sole and providing at least a second wheel and positioning the at least second wheel in the second opening formed in the at least the portion of the arch portion of the sole.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further includes providing a second opening formed in the arch portion of the sole and providing at least a second wheel provided in the second opening formed in the arch portion of the sole.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further includes providing an opening formed in a portion of the forefoot portion of the sole and providing at least a second wheel positioned in the opening formed in the portion of the forefoot portion of the sole, the at least second wheel in a retracted position within the opening formed in the portion of the forefoot portion of the sole.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method further includes providing an opening formed in a portion of the forefoot portion of the sole and providing at least a second wheel removed from the opening formed in the portion of the forefoot portion of the sole.  
     
     
         22 . A method for making an apparatus for use on a surface, the apparatus operable to wear on one's foot to transition from a walking state or a running state to a heel rolling state, the method comprising: 
 providing a footwear that includes a front, a back, an upper part, and a sole, the sole includes: 
 a forefoot portion to engage the surface while in the walking state and the running state,  
 an arch portion, and  
 a heel portion;  
   forming an opening in at least a portion of the heel portion of the sole of the footwear;    providing a wheel assembly including an axle having an engageable segment and at least one wheel rotatably mounted on the axle adjacent the engagable segment; and    positioning the wheel assembly in the opening in the at least the portion of the heel portion of the sole of the footwear wherein the at least one wheel mounted on the axle includes a first portion that resides within the opening in the heel portion of the sole of the footwear.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 forming a heel control plate having a heel surface and a wheel assembly adjacent the heel surface, the wheel assembly receiver operable to receive the wheel assembly; and    positioning the heel control plate adjacent the sole such that the wheel assembly receiver is disposed in the opening in the at least the portion of the heel portion of the sole of the footwear, the heel control plate operable to allow one to gain greater control while in the heel rolling state.    
     
     
         24 . A method for making a wheel assembly for a footwear operable wear on one's foot for use on a surface to transition from a walking state or a running state to a heel rolling state, the footwear having a sole with an opening formed in at least a portion of a heel portion sole, the method comprising: 
 providing a wheel assembly including at least an axle having an engageable segment and at least one wheel rotatably mounted on the axle adjacent the engagable segment, the wheel assembly positionable in the opening in the at least the portion of the heel portion of the sole of the footwear wherein the at least one wheel mounted on the axle includes a first portion operable to reside within the opening in the heel portion of the sole of the footwear.