Wheeled footwear

Abstract

Footwear comprising a detachable wheel assembly such that a wheel protrudes from a first face of the wheel assembly and is recessed from a second, opposite face of the wheel assembly. An engaging mechanism detachably engages the wheel assembly in a first orientation in which the wheel protrudes from the bottom of the wheel assembly, or in a second position in which the wheel is recessed from bottom of the wheel assembly and thereby from the supporting surface. The footwear may also have a skid pad to enable a user to come to a gradual stop rather than an abrupt stop.

1 . Footwear comprising 
 a sole comprising a recessed portion, the recessed portion comprising a cavity,    a detachable wheel assembly for mounting in the recessed portion of the sole, comprising a wheel mounted to an axle, such that the wheel rotatably protrudes from a first face of the wheel assembly and is flush with or recessed from a second, opposite face of the wheel assembly, and    an engaging mechanism disposed in the recessed portion of the sole and having at least one engaging member for detachably engaging the wheel assembly in a first orientation in which the first face of the wheel assembly forms a bottom of the wheel assembly or in a second orientation in which the second face of the wheel assembly forms a bottom of the wheel assembly,    whereby in the first orientation the wheel protrudes from the bottom of the wheel assembly to contact a supporting surface and in the second orientation the wheel extends into the cavity and is flush with or recessed from the supporting surface.    
   
   
       2 . The footwear of  claim 1  wherein the wheel assembly forms a heel for the footwear.  
   
   
       3 . The footwear of  claim 1  wherein a sole of the shoe comprises a skid pad having a lower coefficient of friction than a bottom surface of the sole.