FIELD

[0001] The specification relates generally to footwear that permit rolling on the ground and more particularly to footwear that permit rolling and that feature retractable wheels.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] Typically, traditional inline skates have a shoe body that encloses the foot of the user and have wheels in a linear arrangement which are permanently attached to the underside of the shoe body. This traditional arrangement has the disadvantage of requiring the wearer to carry an additional set of footwear for walking in areas where rolling is not desired.

[0003] Another popular variation is to incorporate a small wheel in the sole of a shoe with a mechanism to allow the wheel to be retracted into the sole when rolling is not desired. This arrangement, however, limits the size of the wheel to be no bigger than the thickness of the sole to allow complete retraction for walking. Proposed arrangements of this type have included relatively small wheels in order to prevent the sole of the shoe from being undesirably thick. However, such small wheels are prone to being obstructed by relatively small obstacles such as pebbles or small cracks in the pavement.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0004] In a first aspect, a wearable device is provided for supporting a foot of a user. The wearable device includes a support structure having a longitudinal axis, and having an interior. The support structure is positioned to support a foot of a user, wherein the support structure has a ground engagement surface. The wearable device further includes a first wheel shaft having a first wheel connected thereto, and a second wheel shaft having a second wheel connected thereto. The first and second wheel shafts are connected to the support structure and are movable between a stowage position in which the first and second wheel shafts hold the first and second wheels above the ground engagement surface and a rolling position in which the first and second wheel shafts hold the first and second wheels below the ground engagement surface. In both the stowage and rolling positions, the first and second wheels are laterally outside of the interior of the support structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005] For a better understanding of the various embodiments described herein and to show more clearly how they may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0006] Fig. 1 is a plan view of a pair of first and second wearable devices for supporting feet of a user in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0007] Figs. 2A and 2B are perspective views of one of the wearable devices shown in Fig. 1 , including a support structure, first and second wheels, and first and second latching structures;

[0008] Fig. 3 is an exploded view of the wearable device shown in Figs. 2A and 2B;

[0009] Fig. 4A is a side elevation view of the wearable device shown in Figs 2A and 2B, in which the wheels are in a stowage position;

[0010] Fig. 4B is a side elevation view of the wearable device shown in Figs 2A and 2B, in which the wheels are in a rolling position;

[0011] Fig. 5A is a side elevation view of the wearable device shown in Figs 2A and 2B, without the wheels, in which the latching structures are in the stowage position; and

[0012] Fig. 5B is a side elevation view of the wearable device shown in Figs 2A and 2B, without the wheels, in which the latching structures are in the rolling position [0013] Fig. 6 is a magnified perspective view of a portion of one of the latching structures of the wearable device shown in Fig. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014] For simplicity and clarity of illustration, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described herein may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the embodiments described herein. Also, the description is not to be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein.

[0015] Fig. 1 is a plan view of a pair 10 of wearable devices 11 with retractable wheels for use by a person P (Fig. 4A), (which may also be referred to as a user P), in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The wearable devices 11 (Fig. 1 ) may be wearable over footwear 12 or may be directly worn on the person's feet (not shown). The example footwear 12 shown in Fig. 1 is a pair of running shoes, however, it will be understood that any other suitable footwear may be used with the wearable devices 1 1 , such as, for example, boots or sandals. Footwear 12 may also be referred to herein as a footwear member 12.

[0016] Figs. 2A and 2B are perspective views of one of the wearable devices 11 shown in Fig. 1. The wearable device 11 may be described as a wearable roller device configurable to selectively provide roller transportation.

[0017] The wearable device 11 may include a support structure 20, first and second latching structures 30 (shown individually at 30a and 30b), and two wheel assemblies 40 (shown individually at 40a and 40b). The support structure 20 has an interior 240 (Fig. 3) and is mountable to a footwear member 12 to hold the footwear member 12 in the interior 240. Thus the support structure 20 may be said to be configured to support a foot of the user P. In some embodiments, the support structure 20 may itself be arranged as a footwear member itself and may thus directly support a foot of the user P. In the example shown, the support structure 20 may include a first support structure portion 22 and a second support structure portion 24, which are movably connectable together to permit lateral adjustment therebetween, in order to accommodate footwear members 12 of different widths. The particular mechanism for permitting lateral adjustment can be selected as desired.

[0018] Each of the first and second support structure portions 22 and 24 includes a side support 221 and a base portion 222. The base portions 222 of the first and second support structure portions 22 and 24 slidably connect together to provide the aforementioned lateral adjustment capability. The base portions 222 together act as a base 223 for the support structure which engages a lower surface 121 of the footwear member 12. The support structure 20 has a ground engagement surface 225, which is the surface of the support structure 20 that engages the ground (shown at G) during use. In the example shown, the ground engagement surface 225 is a lower surface of the base 223.

[0019] The side supports 221 provide lateral support to the footwear member 12 to help maintain the footwear member 12 in position on the second support portion 24. Each of the side supports 221 may include a rear support projection 224 that acts to support a rear of the footwear member 12. Additionally, in some embodiments, a front support 226 is provided, which engages a forward-facing surface of the footwear member 12. As a result, the footwear member 12 is supported on the front, the rear and both sides and is thus retained in the interior 240 of the support structure 20. The front support 226 may be considered to be a third support structure portion and may be connected to the first and second support structure portions 22 and 24 via securing straps shown at 228. In some embodiments, a securing strap 228 may extend all the way from one support structure portion 22 or 24 to the other support structure portion 22 or 24 and so the strap 228 may itself act as the front support. In the example shown, the securing straps 228 include a ladder strap and a ratchet strap. In one embodiment, each set of straps 228 is locked using a locking clasp 230, although any other suitable locking structure for the straps 228 may be used.

[0020] Each wheel assembly 40 is movably connected to the support structure 20, optionally via one of the latching structures 30a or 30b. In the embodiment shown in the figures, each wheel assembly 40 includes a wheel shaft 409 that includes a first shaft portion 401 and a second shaft portion 405 that fixedly connects the first shaft portion 401 (e.g. via a threaded connection or any other suitable connection). The wheel 406 is rotatably supported on the first and second shaft portions 401 and 405 via bearing members 407 and 408. The bearing members 407 and 408 may be any suitable type of bearing members, such as ball bearings, or low-friction bushings.

[0021] Additionally, the second shaft portion 405 may act as a support projection that extends through a support slot 410 in the support structure 20 (e.g. in one of the side supports 221 ) to slidably connect the supported wheel 406 to the support structure 20. The support slot 410 has a first end 412 and a second end 414. When the support projection 405 is at the first end 412 of the support slot 410, the associated wheel 406 is in a stowage position in which the wheel 406 is held above the ground engagement surface 225. As a result, when in the stowage position, the user P can walk on the ground G while wearing the wearable devices 11.

[0022] When the support projection 405 is at the second end 414 of the support slot 410, the associated wheel 406 is in a rolling position, in which the wheel 406 is held below the ground engagement surface. It will be noted that the support slot 410 extends downwards from the second end 414 during use, as a result, the support projection is naturally supported by the second end 414 of the support slot 410, and the weight of the user P naturally retains the support projection 405 at the second end 412.

[0023] In the example shown, the support slot 410 is generally V-shaped. Thus, to move from the second end 414 to the first end 412 of the support slot 410, (or from the first end 412 to the second end 414), the support projection 405 moves downwardly initially from whichever end 412 or 414 it is at and then moves back upwards to the opposing end 412 or 414. [0024] It will be noted that each of the wheels 406 move in general in a vertical plane between the rolling and stowage positions and that the wheels 406 are positioned laterally outside of the interior 240 of the support structure 20 throughout the aforementioned movement. An advantage to this is that the wheels 406 can be larger than they are in some prior art devices. For example, in one prior art device the wheels fold up into the base of the device. Thus, the wheels are relatively small, and the base is relatively tall, both of which are disadvantageous. By contrast, the base 223 of the present disclosure has a height or thickness H and may be relatively short, while the wheels 406 may have a diameter D that is relatively large and is large than the height or thickness H of the base 223.

[0025] The latching structures 30 are configured to move the wheels 406 between the stowage position (Figs. 4A and 5A) and the rolling position (Figs. 4B and 5B) and to hold the wheels 406 at at least the rolling position. The latching structures 30 each include a first link 301 and a second link 302. The first link 301 has a first link guide slot 303 and the second link 302 has a second link guide slot 309. A guide projection 325 extends from the support structure 20 and passes through both the first link guide slot 303 and the second link guide slot 309. Additionally, the first link 301 is engaged with the support structure 30 by way of a pivotal connection to the wheel shaft 409. In the example shown, the wheel shaft 409 passes through a wheel shaft aperture 326 in the first link 301. Still further, the first link 301 and the second link 302 are slidably connected together via a driver projection 331 on one of the first and second links 301 and 302 (in the example shown it is on the second link 302) and a driver slot 332 on the other of the first and second links 301 and 302 (in the example shown it is on the first link 301 ). The driver projection 331 and the driver slot 332 are engaged in such a way as to permit the first and second links 301 and 302 to pivot relative to one another.

[0026] The second link guide slot 309 may be generally V-shaped and may thus have a first slot portion 309a that extends in a first direction, and a second slot portion 309b that extends in a second direction that is aparallel to the first direction.

[0027] A biasing member 440 is provided and extends between a receiving element on the second link 302 and a receiving element on the guide projection 325. The biasing member 440 urges the second link 302 towards a free position relative to the first link 301 , in which the guide projection 325 is at a first end 350 of the second link guide slot 309, and is oriented relative to the first link 301 such that the first slot portion 309a of the second link guide slot 309 is generally parallel to (aligned with) the first link guide slot 303 as can be seen in Fig. 5A. As a result the second link 302 can be moved relative to the first link 301. By pulling rearwardly and upwardly, the second link 302 can be moved, against the biasing force of the biasing member 440, to a position where it brings the first link 301 to pivot in a way that brings the support projection 405 for the wheel 406 down from the first end 412 of the support slot 410 to the bottom of the V-shaped support slot 410. At this point the second slot portion 309b of the second link guide slot 309 will be aligned with the first link guide slot 303. Thus the second link 302 can be further pulled upwardly and rearwardly such that the projection 331 engages an end of the slot 332 and drives movement of the first link 301 to bring the first link 301 up to the second end 414 of the support slot 410. Once the first link 301 reaches the second end 414 of the slot 410 (i.e. once the first link 301 has brought the support projection 405 to the second end 414 of the slot 410), the second link 302 may be pivoted in such a way that the second slot portion 309b of the second link guide slot 309 is aparallel with (misaligned with) the first link guide slot 303. A moment exerted on the second link 302 about the centre of the guide projection 325, as a result of the location of its centre of mass and the centre of mass of the elements connected to it (such as an actuator 313 discussed further below) retains the second link 302 with the second slot portion 309b aparallel with the first link guide slot 303 (Fig. 5B). The overall centre of mass of the second link 302, the actuator 313 and part of the biasing member 440 is shown at CG. As a result of this moment, the guide projection 325 is trapped in this position and thereby holds the first and second links 301 and 302 in a selected position relative to one another, against the biasing force of the biasing member 440, while the support projection is at the second end 414 of the support slot 410. Thus, the biasing member 440 is unable on its own to overcome the moment exerted by gravity on it and the support projection 405 is stably held at the second end 414 of the support slot 410, such that the wheel 406 is in the rolling position. When the second link 302 is in the position shown in Fig. 5B relative to the first link 301 the second link 302 may be said to be in a locked position. [0028] In order to move the second link 302 from the locked position (Fig. 5B) to the free position (Fig. 5A) the trailing end of the second link 302 may be pushed downwards and forwards which drives the first link 301 forward and downward via the engagement between the driver projection 331 and the driver slot 332. More specifically, with a force angled downwardly and forwardly on the second link 302, the driver projection 331 engages the wall of the slot 332 and drives the first link 301 in the same downward and forward direction. Once the first link 301 is so far forward that the support projection 405 reaches the bottom of the V in the slot 410, continued downward force on the trailing end of the second link 302 causes the second link to pivot about the guide projection 325. This drives the first link 301 to pivot about the guide projection 325 to bring the support projection 405 upwards in the slot 410 towards the first end 412. Once the first end 412 is reached, the second link 302 can be released at this point. The biasing member 440 holds the guide projection 325 at the first end 350 of the second link guide slot 309. The overall moment applied by gravity on the second link 302 and the actuator 313, combined with the engagement of the driver projection 331 and the driver slot 332 causes the first link 301 to remain pivoted such that the support projection 405 is held at the first end 412 of the support slot 410.

[0029] The actuator 313 may be a bar that extends between the trailing ends of the second links 302 and is thus positioned rearwardly of the interior of the support structure 20 and is, in use, positioned behind the foot of the user P. The actuator 313 is thus movably connected to the support structure 20 (via the second and first links 302 and 301 ).

[0030] As described above, the actuator 313 is operatively connected to the wheels 406 and is movable between a stowage actuation position shown in Figs. 4A and 5A, and a rolling actuation position shown in Figs. 4B and 5B. Movement of the actuator 313 to the stowage actuation position causes the first and second wheels 406 to move to the stowage position, and movement of the actuator 313 to the rolling actuation position causes the first and second links 301 and 302 to move to the rolling position.

[0031] It will be noted that the actuator 313 can be moved from the stowage actuation position to the rolling actuation position by lifting the actuator 313 with the help of the person's other foot, or alternatively by the user's hand, and that the actuator 313 can be moved from the rolling actuation position to the stowage actuation position by pushing down on the actuator with the user's hand or with the user's other foot.

[0032] As can be seen in Fig. 3, in some embodiments, the side supports 221 are sufficiently thick that the head of the support projection 405 is recessed into it and is generally flush with the interior wall of the associated side support 221 , so as to prevent the head of the support projection 405 from being prevented from moving due to frictional engagement with the footwear member 12 of the user P.

[0033] The wearable devices 11 permit the user P to roll on the wheels 406 when desired and to easily retract the wheels 406 and walk while the wearable devices 11 remain on their feet when rolling is not desirable.

[0034] While the example embodiments shown herein include two wheels 406 on each wearable device 1 1 , it will be understood that it is possible to provide embodiments with more or fewer wheels, such as, for example, one wheel or 4 wheels.

[0035] Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that there are yet more alternative implementations and modifications possible, and that the above examples are only illustrations of one or more implementations. The scope, therefore, is only to be limited by the claims appended hereto.