Footwear outer sole

Abstract

A footwear outer sole comprising a body having an end and a bottom surface, and a revolver provided at the end of the sole body and protruding slightly from its bottom surface. The revolver comprises a lower member supported for rotation relative to the sole body about a substantially vertical axis.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A footwear outer sole comprising a body having an end and a bottom surface, and a revolver provided at the end of the sole body and protruding slightly from its bottom surface, the revolver comprising a lower member supported for rotation relative to the sole body about a substantially vertical axis.  
     
     
         2 . The footwear outer sole as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the end of the sole body includes a recess which opens downwards and in which the revolver is partially located.  
     
     
         3 . The footwear outer sole as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lower member comprises a substantially horizontal disc.  
     
     
         4 . The footwear outer sole as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the revolver includes an upper member supporting the lower member for rotation, the upper member being fixed to the sole body.  
     
     
         5 . The footwear outer sole as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the upper member comprises a substantially horizontal disc.  
     
     
         6 . The footwear outer sole as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the lower member comprises a substantially horizontal disc.  
     
     
         7 . The footwear outer sole as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the two members are connected together by a substantially vertical shaft, the shaft having an upper end secured to the bottom wall of the sole body.  
     
     
         8 . The footwear outer sole as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the shaft comprises a bolt and nut.  
     
     
         9 . The footwear outer sole as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the two discs have opposing peripheries overlapping with each other to enclose the interior between the two discs.  
     
     
         10 . The footwear outer sole as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the revolver includes a low friction bearing provided between the two members to permit free rotation of the lower member relative to the upper member.  
     
     
         11 . The footwear outer sole as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the low friction bearing comprises an annular ball race.  
     
     
         12 . The footwear outer sole as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the ball race comprises a plurality of spheres and an annular spacer positioning the spheres, and at least one of the two members includes a recessed annular track for the spheres.  
     
     
         13 . The footwear outer sole as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the revolver is provided at a front end of the sole body.  
     
     
         14 . The footwear outer sole as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the revolver is provided at a rear end of the sole body.  
     
     
         15 . A footwear item incorporating the footwear outer sole as claimed in  claim 1.