US20030227153A1

US20030227153A1 - Shoes with roller device

Info

Publication number: US20030227153A1
Application number: US10/294,031
Authority: US
Inventors: Sang-Cheol Yoo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-11-13
Filing date: 2002-11-12
Publication date: 2003-12-11
Also published as: KR20030039603A; KR100530834B1; WO2003041526A1

Abstract

There is provided a shoe with a roller device suitable for use in walking as an ordinary shoe and for use in skating as an in-line roller skate, and comprising a body including a body part to receive the foot of a user and an sole integrally formed with the bottom of the body part and having a receiving groove in the vertical direction, a roller device including a housing placed inside the sole, a stopper provided in the housing to movably reciprocate back and forth, a first wheel assembly movably fixed to the front of the housing and fixed to maintain the state for use in the ordinary shoe or for use in the in-line skate by the stopper, and a second wheel assembly provided on the back of the housing, movably fixed in the direction confronting with the moving direction of the first wheel assembly, and fixed to maintain the state for use in the ordinary shoe or for use in the in-line skate by the stopper, and a switch provided on the side of the sole of the body with engaged with the stopper to control the movement of the stopper of the roller device.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of the Korean Application No. P10-2001-0070569 filed on Nov. 13, 2001 which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a shoe with a roller device, and more particularly, to a shoe with a roller device in which a wheel assembly protrudes out of the shoe toward the ground for in-line skating or roller blading as needed. The wheel assembly retracts so that the shoe may be as an ordinary shoe in ordinary times.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

An in-line skate, which is generally called a roller blade, is widely used by people of various ages, including children, for sports or recreation, etc. The in-line skate as shown in FIG. 1 includes a

boot type shoe

1, which a user wears, and a wheel blade assembly 2 fixably installed on the bottom of the shoe 1. The wheel blade assembly 2 includes a runner or a blade 3 fixably installed in the boot 1, and four or five of rollers or wheels 5 rotatably fixed to the blade 3 by a shaft 4 with uniformly distanced each other. According to the structure as above, a user who wears the boot 1 can play roller blading or in-line skating just like ice-skating.

However, skating as described above results in many inconveniences and problems. First, a user can normally enjoy skating only on rigid and flat paved ground such as asphalt or concrete, etc. Next, it is inconvenient to carry; a user always carries an in-line skate separately, and thus, after playing skating or when passing through a non-flat area, he or she takes off his or her shoes and changes into ordinary shoes. That is, the user must change his or her shoes depending on whether he or she must wear either an in-line skate or an ordinary shoe. Thus, the user must carry the one not being used, which is inconvenient. There is also the extra expense of purchasing two separate pairs of shoes.

The U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,125 discloses a boot in which a roller device is equipped when necessary and which can be also used as an in-line skate. The in-line skate has a roller device detachably installed therein. However, the in-line skate is not easy for a user to handle, and its outer look is not compact so that the wearing of the skate as an ordinary shoe brings difficult problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a shoe with a roller device that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a shoe with a roller device, which can be used as an ordinary shoe in the case of walking, and as a roller blade in the case of in-line skating.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shoe with a roller device, which can be rapidly changed to the function of either an ordinary shoe or an in-line skate.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a shoe with a roller device, which is light in weight and stable.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a shoe with a roller device includes a main body including a body part to receive the foot of a user and an sole integrally formed with the bottom of the body part and having a receiving groove in the vertical direction. In addition, the shoe may include a roller device, and the roller device includes a housing placed inside the sole, a stopper provided in the housing to movably reciprocate back and forth, a first wheel assembly movably fixed to the front of the housing and fixed to maintain the state for use in an ordinary shoe or for use in an in-line skate by the stopper, and a second wheel assembly provided on the back of the housing, movably fixed in the direction confronting with the moving direction of the first wheel assembly, and fixed to maintain the state for use in an ordinary shoe or for use in an in-line skate by the stopper. In addition, the shoe includes controller for controlling the movement of the stopper of the roller device.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings: [0015]
FIG. 1 is a side view of a conventional general in-line skate; [0016]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a shoe with a roller device of the present invention showing the state that a wheel assembly of the shoe is protruded; [0017]
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a roller device employed in the shoe of FIG. 2; [0018]
FIG. 4 is a detailed perspective view of a stopper of the roller device of FIG. 3; [0019]
FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a first link of each wheel assembly of the roller device of FIG. 3; [0020]
FIG. 6 is a back perspective view of the first link of FIG. 5; [0021]
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the structure of a side part of a second link of each wheel assembly of the roller device of FIG. 3; [0022]
FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of a switch employed in the roller device of FIG. 3; [0023]
FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a brake employed in the main body; [0024]
FIG. 10 a side view of the state of the roller device when the shoe is used as an ordinary shoe; [0025]
FIG. 11 is a side view of the moving state of the stopper when the shoe is changed from an ordinary shoe to an in-line skate; [0026]
FIG. 12 is a side view of the state of the roller device for use in skating; [0027]
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the installed state of the brake for use in skating; [0028]
FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the roller device employed in the shoe according to another embodiment of the present invention; [0029]
FIG. 15 is a detailed perspective view of the stopper of the roller device of FIG. 14; [0030]
FIG. 16 is a side view of the state of the roller device for use in an ordinary shoe; [0031]
FIG. 17 is a side view of the moving state of the stopper when the shoe is changed from an ordinary shoe to an in-line skate; [0032]
FIG. 18 is a side view of the state of the roller device for use in skating; and [0033]
FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the state that the wheel completely protrudes from the bottom of the shoe for use in skating.[0034]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. [0035]
First, referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, a shoe provided with a roller device of the present invention includes a [0036] main body 10 which the foot of a user is put into when he or she wears the shoe. The main body 10 includes a body part 12 in which the foot of the user is placed in the shoe, and a bottom or a sole 14, which is integrally formed with the lower side of the body part 12. In particular, the sole 14 includes a receiving groove 16 for receiving the roller device, which is described later in detail, and an installation hole 18 into which a switch operation in combination with the roller device is inserted to control the roller device.
Particularly, a [0037] roller device 20 is inserted into the receiving groove 16 formed on the sole 14 of the main body 10. The roller device 20 is provided with a housing 22 fixed and inserted into the main body 10. The housing 22 is generally formed in the form of a cubical rectangle, and its bottom is completely open. In the both sides of the housing 22, there are provided a plurality of installation holes 24,26,28,30 symmetrical to each other to install each of the links forming a wheel assembly, which is described later. In particular, it is preferable to form a fixing groove 24 a, 28 a on the installation holes 24, 28 to elastically install a coil spring provided in the link, which is described later in detail. An installation hole 32 is formed penetratingly at the center of one of the both sides to install a handle. The installation hole 32 communicates with an installation hole 18 of the sole. In addition, it is preferable to install a reinforcing member 34 at the center of the both sides of the housing 22 so that its two ends are fixed to the both sides of the housing 22.
On the front sidewall of the [0038] housing 22, there is provided an opening 36 so that the front end of the stopper of the roller device can enter, and on the back sidewall of the housing 22, there is provided another opening 38 so that the switch in the stopper is inserted reciprocally. In addition, on the inner both sidewalls of the housing 22, there are provided three pin fixing grooves 40, 42, 44 formed in the form of a pair confronting each other. Pins 46,48,50 are respectively inserted and fixed to the pin fixing grooves 40, 42, 44 formed in the form of a pair.
A [0039] stopper 52 is reciprocally inserted into the housing 22 within a predetermined range. Fixing plates 54, 56 are equipped on the bottom of both ends of the stopper 52 respectively. The front end of the stopper 52 can be inserted into one opening 36 of the housing 22 when the stopper 52 moves forwardly, and the back end can be inserted into the other opening 38 when the stopper 52 moves backwardly. Accordingly, the stopper 52 can be reciprocally inserted into the housing 22.
At the center of the [0040] housing 22, there is provided a sliding part 62 integrally formed with a predetermined size. The sliding part 62 has a plurality of grooves 60 formed at a constant interval. A spring fixing piece 64 is integrally protruded at a selected location of one side of the housing 22. To the spring fixing piece 64 is fixed one side of the spring 66 while the other side of the spring 66 is fixed to one of the pins 46 provided in the housing 22. Structured as above, the housing 22 and the stopper 52 are elastically connected by the spring 66.
In addition, two fixing [0041] pieces 68, 70 as a pair protrude downward and toward the lateral side at both sides apart by a certain distance from the both sides of the stopper 52 to stably fix each of the links, which will be described.
A [0042] first wheel assembly 72 is provided on the inner front of the housing 22 under the stopper 52 to be able to protrude. The first wheel assembly 72 has a first link 74 to be movably fixed to the housing 22. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, it is preferable that the first link 74 is elastically and movably fixed to the installation hole 24 formed on the both sides of the housing 22 by a fixing rod 76 and the coil spring 78 provided on the both ends of the fixing rod 76. Here, the both ends 78 a of the coil spring 78 is fixed to the fixing grove 24a of the installation hole 24 to provide the elastic force to the fixing rod. In particular, a first contact part 80 is formed on the generally upper both sides of the first link 74, and the first contact part 80 contacts the fixing plate 54 formed on the front end of the stopper 52 when a user uses the shoes of the present invention as ordinary shoes. On the other side, there is provided a second contact part 82 on which the fixing plate 54 of the stopper 52 is mounted to stably support a link when a user tries to protrude the roller assembly to play in-line skating or roller blading. In addition, on one end of the first link 74 is rotatably fixed a wheel or roller 84 to be actually driven to roll on the ground by a fixing bolt 86 and a nut 88.
The [0043] first wheel assembly 72 has a second link 90 to be actively connected to the first link 74. As shown in FIG. 7, a fixing piece 92 is integrally formed on the upper side of the second link 90 to be movably fixed to another installation hole 26 formed on the both sides of the housing 22. In particular, on one upper side of the second link 90 is provided a contact part 94 to contact one fixing piece 68 formed on the front side of the stopper 52 when a user tries to use the shoes of the present invention as ordinary shoes. On one end of the second link 90 is rollably fixed a roller or a wheel 96 by a fixing bolt 98 and a nut 100.
In particular, the [0044] first link 74 and the second link 90 are preferably connected each other to be mutually and simultaneously used and driven.
In addition, on the back of the [0045] housing 22 is provided a second wheel assembly 104 which has the same structure as that of the first wheel assembly 72 but is placed opposite. The second wheel assembly 104 has a first link 106 to be rotatably fixed to the housing 22. The first link 106 is preferably fixed elastically and rotatably to the installation hole 28 formed on the both side of the housing 22 by fixing rod 108 and coil spring 110 provided on both ends of the fixing rod 108. Here, both ends 110 a of the coil spring 110 are fixed to the fixing groove 28 a of the installation hole 28, thereby providing elastic force to the fixing rod 108. Especially as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, on one upper side of the first link 106 is provided a first contact part 112 to contact the other fixing plate 56 formed on back end of the stopper 52 when a user tries to use the shoes of the present invention as ordinary shoes, and on the opposite side is provided a second contact part 114 on which the fixing plate 56 of the stopper 52 is installed to stably support the link when the user tries to protrude the roller assembly to play in-line skating or roller blading. In addition, on one end of the first link 106 is fixed a wheel or a roller 116 to be actually driven to roll on the ground by a fixing bolt 118 and a nut 120.
The [0046] second wheel assembly 104 has a second link 122 to be actively connected to the first link 106. On the upper both sides of the second link 122 is integrally fixed a fixing piece 124 to be movably fixed on another installation hole 30 formed on both sides of the housing 22. Especially, on one upper side of the second link 122 is provided a contact part 126 to contact another fixing piece 70 formed on the back side of the stopper 52 when a user tries to use the shoes as ordinary shoes. On one end of the second link 122 is rollably fixed a wheel or a roller 128 by a fixing bolt 130 and a fixing nut 132.
In particular, the [0047] first link 106 and the second link 122 are preferably connected each other by a guide 134 to be mutually and simultaneously used and driven.
On one side of the [0048] housing 22 is provided a switch 136 to control the stopper 52 so that each roller is protruded or withdrawn by driving or moving the wheel assemblies 72, 104. As shown in FIG. 8, the switch 136 preferably includes a handle 138 which a user can hold and rotate, and a rod 144 inserted into installation holes 18, 32 provided on each of one side of the sole 14 of the main body 10, and one end of the rod 144 is fixed on the handle 138 by a bolt 140, and the other end of the rod 144 includes a gear 142 to fit to each of the grooves 60 provided on the sliding part 62 of the stopper 52. As constructed above, the stopper 52 can move back and forth in accordance with the rotation direction of the handle 138.
As shown in FIGS. [0049] 10 to 12, the first wheel assembly 72 and the second wheel assembly 104 are connected each other by a driving device 146 to be driven simultaneously and mutually. The driving device 146 is preferably comprised of two wires, i.e., a first wire 148 and a second wire 150. In detail, one end of the first wire 148 is fixed to a fixing piece 90 a provided at the center of one side of the second link 90 of the first wheel assembly 72, and the other end of the first wire 148 is fixed to a fixing piece 122 b provided at the upper side of one side of the second link 122 of the second wheel assembly 104. One end of the second wire 150 is fixed to a fixing piece 90 b provided on the upper side of the other side of the second link 90 of the first wheel assembly 72, and the other end of the second wire 150 is fixed to a fixing piece 122 a provided at the center of the other side of the second link 122 of the second wheel assembly 104. As constructed above, the wires 148, 150 cross each other. The reason is to make them easily driven in the mutually confronting state when changing to the states of either ordinary shoes or shoes for skating or blading. In other words, the second links 90, 122 of the wheel assemblies 72, 104 are operated mutually as a seesaw or a lever so that they are driven in the opposite directions from each other or confronting direction.
Selectively, in the shoe with a roller device of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 9, a [0050] detachable brake 152 is preferably provided. The brake 152 includes a body part 156 having a support groove 154 in contact with the bottom of the sole 14, that is, a bottom of the shoe when installed. On the front of the support groove 154 of the body 156 is provided a fixing member 158 inserted between the back end of the housing 22 and the second link 122 of the second wheel assembly 104, and connected thereto with protruded. On the front both sides is integrally formed a protrusion piece 160 to prevent the entire brake 152 from shaking right and left or moving. On the bottom of the body part 156 is provided a stopper 162 to generate a braking force by abrasion when in contact with the ground. The stopper 162 is preferably comprised of a rubber or synthetic resin to provide an abrasive force and some elastic force, and is also preferably detachably fixed to the body 156 to exchange when it wears out. As shown in FIGS. 14 to 18, the shoe with a roller device according to another embodiment of the present invention has a button 58 provided at the back side of the stopper integrally formed to operate the stopper in the back of the body part. The button 58 is inserted into another opening 38 provided on the back of the housing 22 to be movable back and forth.
As constructed above, since the [0051] button 58 is provided on the back of the stopper 52 to control the movement of the stopper, the sliding part provided on one side of the stopper 52 of the first embodiment can be omitted. In addition, because the sliding part of the stopper is omitted, a switch to fit the groove of the sliding part to control the stopper can be also omitted.
Hereinafter, the manner of using the shoe with a wheel blade device as structured above, and its driving mode are described. [0052]
First, when a user uses the shoes as ordinary shoes as shown in FIG. 10, each [0053] wheel assembly 72, 104 is inserted into the groove 16 provided on the sole 14 of the body 10 to maintain the state that the bottom of the sole 14 contacts the ground. In this state, contact parts 80, 112 of first links 74, 106 of each wheel assembly 72, 104 are in contact with the fixing plates 54, 56 provided on the bottom of both side ends of the stopper 52 and are fixed. In addition, fixing pieces 68, 70 are formed with protrusions on each of the both sides of the stopper 52 and are in contact with and fixed to the contact parts 94, 126 of the second link 90, 122 of each of the wheel assembly 72, 104. In this state, the stopper 52 is generally fixed at the center. The gear 142 of the switch 136 to control the stopper 52 is in a state to fit each groove 60 provided at the center of the sliding part 62.
In the normal state as above, a user, who enjoys skating or blading, drives each [0054] wheel assembly 72, 104 to make each of the rollers 84, 96, 116, 128 provided therein protruded out of the receiving groove 16 of the sole 14 to be rollable and to contact them with the ground. In more detail, if a user holds the handle 138 of the switch 136 provided on the side of the sole 14 with protruded, and turns it in an A1 direction as shown in FIG. 11, stopper 52 moves forward in an A2 direction by gear 142 connectively installed to the handle. As such, if the stopper 52 moves forward, each of the fixing plates 54, 56 of the stopper 52 is removed from the first contact parts 80, 112 of the first links 74, 106 of the wheel assemblies 72, 104. In addition, the contact parts 94, 126 of the second links 90, 122 of each of the wheel assemblies 72, 104 are removed from the fixing pieces 68, 70 protruding on both sides of the stopper 52.
As such, if the stopper is moved and each link is removed therefrom, each fixing [0055] rod 76, 108 supports each first link 74, 106 rotating by the elastic force of the coil spring 78, 110. At the same time, each first link 74, 106 is fixed to the fixing rod and is driven in A3 and A4 directions. Together with this, the second link 90, 122 connected to the first link 74, 106 by each guide 102, 134 is driven in the same direction. Each of the second link 90, 122 is rotated by way of a mutual cross of the first wire 148 and the second wire 150 forming driving device 146 and by a seesaw type so that the rotation force is symmetrically and uniformly applied and it is driven exactly and easily.
As such, if each of the [0056] wheel assemblies 72, 104 is rotated and each of rollers 84, 96, 116, 128 is completely protruded as shown in FIG. 12, the stopper 52 is moved backwardly, that is, in an A5 direction by elastic spring 66. If the stopper 52 is completely moved backwardly, each of fixing plates 54, 56 provided on the front and the back of the stopper 52 contacts the second contact parts 82, 114 of the first links 74, 106 of each of the wheel assemblies 72, 104. The switch 136 is driven along with the movement of the stopper 52, and is automatically rotated in the arrow direction as shown in FIG. 12. Selectively or abnormally, in case that the elastic force of the elastic spring 66 is decreased, and the stopper 52 cannot move backwardly easily or completely, the stopper 52 can be forcibly moved by using the handle 138 of the switch 136. In this state, a user plays skating or blading stably.
Selectively, to enjoy more stable skating, the user installs [0057] brake 152 at the back of the sole 14. In case of installing the brake 152, it should be installed at the back end of the sole 14 before driving the wheel assembly and protruding the roller as described above. That is, if a user holds the body part 156 of the brake 152, and inserts the support groove 154 into the back end of the receiving groove 16 of the sole 14, and drives the wheel assembly described above, the fixing member 158 is inserted between the back end of the housing 22 and the second link 122 of the second wheel assembly, and fixed. In addition, the brake 152 is prevented from shaking right and left or from moving by the protrusion piece 160. As described above, if the brake 152 is installed, braking force by abrasion is provided and the stopper 162 can be contacted with the ground in an emergency and reducing speed thus enabling the user to play skating or blading more stably.
On the contrary, after playing skating, the shoes with a roller device as above can be also used as ordinary shoes. In this case, if a user holds the [0058] handle 138 of the switch 136 and rotates in the A1 direction as shown in FIG. 11, the stopper 52 moves forwardly in the A2 direction by the gear 142 connectively installed on the handle. As such, if the stopper 52 moves forwardly, each of the fixing plates 54, 56 of the stopper 52 is removed from the second contact parts 82, 114 of the first links 74, 106 of the wheel assemblies 72, 104. In the state that the first links 74, 106 are removed from the stopper 52, if each of the wheels 84, 96, 116, 128 is suppressed, each of the first links 74, 106 and the second links 90, 122 connected to the first links 74, 106 by the guides 102, 134 are moved in A6 and A7 directions, and back to the original location. In this state, each of the second links 90, 122 can be driven easily and exactly by the rotation force of the first wire 148 and the second wire 150 of the driving device 146, which is symmetrically and uniformly applied.
After that, if the user puts down the [0059] handle 138 of the switch 136, the stopper 52 moves back to the original location by the elastic spring 66. If the stopper 52 moves back to the original location, as shown in FIG. 10, each of the wheel assemblies 72, 104 is completely inserted into the receiving groove 16 so that the first contact parts 78, 110 of each of the first links 74, 106 is placed in contact with the fixing plates 54, 56 provided under the both sides of the stopper 52. The contact parts 94, 126 of the second links 90, 122 of each of the wheel assemblies 72, 104 is also placed in contact with the fixing pieces 68, 70 provided on the both sides of the stopper 52 with protrusions so as to maintain its fixing state with each link laid and to enable the user to put in the shoe. If the brake 152 is installed, it is better to use as an ordinary shoe after the brake 152 is separated from the sole 14.
In a shoe with a roller device of another embodiment of the present invention, a user can directly operate the stopper by using a button integrally formed with the stopper to use as an ordinary shoe or an in-line skate. That is, in the case that a user uses the present invention as an ordinary shoe, each of the [0060] wheel assemblies 72, 104 is completely inserted into the groove 16 provided on the sole 14 of the body 10 as shown in FIG. 16, and the bottom of the sole 14 is maintained to contact the ground. In this state, first contact parts 80, 112 of the first links 74, 106 of each of the wheel assemblies 72, 104 is fixed and in contact with the fixing plates 54, 56 provided under the both sides of the stopper 52. In addition, the contact parts 94, 126 of the second links 90, 122 of each of the wheel assemblies 72, 104 is in contact with the fixing pieces 68, 70 with protrusions formed on the both sides of the stopper 52, and maintains its fixing state. In this state, the stopper 52 is fixed at the center of the stopper 52. The button 58 to control the stopper 52 is provided inside the opening 38 on the back side of the housing 22.
If a user tries to play skating or blading, each of [0061] wheel assemblies 72, 104 should be driven, and each of rollers 84, 96, 116, 128 provided in the wheel assemblies 72, 104 should be protruded out of the receiving groove 16 of the sole 14 to be in contact with the ground and rollable. To realize this, if a user pushes the button 58 integrally formed with the back end of the stopper 52 in the A1 direction as shown in FIG. 17, the stopper 52 can move forward in the A2 direction. Therefore, each of fixing plates 54, 56 of the stopper 52 is removed from the first contact parts 80, 112 of the first links 74, 106 of the wheel assemblies 72, 104, and the contact parts 94, 126 of the second links 90, 122 of each of the wheel assemblies 72, 104 is removed from the fixing pieces 68, 70 protruded from the both sides of the stopper 52 respectively.
As described above, if the stopper is moved and removed from each of the links, each of the fixing [0062] rods 76, 108 to support each of the first links 74, 106 is rotated by the elastic force of the coil springs 78, 110, and each of the first links 74, 106 fixed to the fixing rod is driven in the A3 and A4 directions. Also, second links 90, 122 are connected to the first links 74, 106 by guides 102, 134 and can be driven in the same direction. Each of the second links 90, 122 is rotated in the manner of the mutual crossing of the first wire 148 and the second wire 150 forming a mutual driving device 146 or by a seesaw type so that the rotation force is symmetrically and uniformly applied to be exactly and easily driven.
As such, if each of the [0063] wheel assemblies 72, 104 is driven and each roller 84, 96, 116, 128 is completely protruded as shown in FIG. 12, the stopper 52 moves backwardly, that is, in the A5 direction by the elastic spring 66. If the stopper 52 moves backwardly completely, each of the fixing plates 54, 56 provided on the front and back side of the stopper 52 is contacted to the second contact parts 82, 114 of the first links 74, 106 of each of the wheel assemblies 72, 104. In this case, the button 58 moves in the A8 direction driven along with the movement of the stopper 52. In case that the elastic force of the elastic spring 66 is decreased selectively or abnormally, and the stopper 52 cannot move backwardly easily and completely, the stopper 52 can be forced to move by using the button 58. As such, a user can play skating or blading as shown in FIG. 19.
To enjoy the more stable skating, the [0064] brake 152 can be installed on the back side of the sole 14 as described above.
After finishing skating, a user can use the shoes as ordinary shoes. If a user pushes the [0065] button 58 in the A1 direction as shown in FIG. 17, the stopper 52 moves forwardly in the A2 direction. As such, if the stopper 52 moves forwardly, each of the fixing plates 54, 56 of the stopper 52 is removed from the second contact parts 82, 114 of the first links 74, 106 of the wheel assemblies 72, 104. In the state that the first links 74, 106 are removed from the stopper 52, and if each of the wheels 84, 96, 116, 128 is suppressed, each of the first links 74, 106 and the second links 90, 122 connected to the first links 74, 106 by the guides 102, 134 move in the A6 and A7 directions to go back to the original location. In this case, each of the second links 90, 122 is easily and exactly driven by the symmetrically and uniformly applied rotation force by the first wire 148 and the second wire 150 of the driving device 146.
After that, if a user pushes [0066] button 58, the stopper 52 moves back to the original location by the elastic spring 66. If the stopper 52 moves back to the original location, each of the wheel assemblies 72, 104 is completely inserted into the receiving groove 16 so that the first contact parts 80, 112 of each of the first links 74, 106 are in contact with the fixing plates 54, 56 provided under the both side ends of the stopper 52. The contact parts 94, 126 of the second links 90, 122 of each of the wheel assemblies 72, 104 are in contact with the fixing pieces 68, 70 protruded on both sides of the stopper 52 to maintain a stable fixing state with each link laid, so that the user can wear the shoe in this state. In case that the brake 152 is installed, it is better to use the shoe after the brake 152 is separated from the sole 14.
A user can control the roller device to make the wheel protruded or withdrawn back to the original location when necessary, and he or she can skate or roller blade, or can use as ordinary shoes. [0067]
According to the shoes with a roller device of the present invention, the shoes can be used as ordinary shoes while walking, and used as stable in-line skates while skating so that the convenience and the amusement can be increased. [0068]
In addition, as the wheel of the wheel assembly can be protruded or withdrawn back to the original location stably and with balance, the functions of the shoe and the in-line skate can be quickly and easily exchanged each other to improve its commercial value. [0069]
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. [0070]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A shoe with a roller device comprising:

a main body including a body part to receive a foot of a user and a sole integrally formed with a bottom of the body part and having a receiving groove in a vertical direction;

the roller device including a housing, with a front and a back, placed inside the sole, a stopper provided in the housing to movably reciprocate back and forth, a first wheel assembly movably fixed to the front of the housing and fixed to maintain a state for use in an ordinary shoe or for use in an in-line skate by the stopper, and a second wheel assembly provided on the back of the housing, movably fixed in a direction confronting with a moving direction of the first wheel assembly, and fixed to maintain the state for use in the ordinary shoe or for use in the in-line skate by the stopper; and

a manipulating means for controlling movement of the stopper of the roller device.

2. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the housing of the roller device is formed as a three dimensional rectangular shape with an open bottom, and has a plurality of installation holes that penetrate both sides of the housing mutually symmetrically to movably fix each wheel assembly, and has an installation hole on one side of the housing on which manipulating means is installed with connected.

3. The shoe of claim 2, wherein the housing has a reinforcing member, both ends of which are integrally fixed to inner both sides of the housing.

4. The shoe of claim 1, wherein a fixing plate is integrally formed on a lower side of both ends of the stopper of the roller device with selective contact with the wheel assembly.

5. The shoe of claim 1, wherein a folding part having a plurality of grooves is provided at a center of the stopper with the grooves uniformly distanced away from each other to be driven along with the manipulating means.

6. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the housing and the stopper are elastically connected to each other by an elastic spring.

7. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the first wheel assembly of the roller device comprises: a first link having a rotatably fixed wheel; a fixing rod for movably fixing the first link to the housing; a second link having a rotatably fixed wheel and movably fixed to the housing; and a guide for connecting the first link and the second link to operate in combination with each other.

8. The shoe of claim 7, wherein a coil spring is installed on an end of the fixing rod so that the fixing rod is elastically fixed to the housing.

9. The shoe of claim 7, wherein an upper side of the first link comprises a first contact part contacted with a fixing plate provided on a front end of the stopper when used as the ordinary shoe, and a second contact part contacted with the fixing plate of the stopper when the wheel assembly is protruded to be used as the in-line skate.

10. The shoe of claim 7, wherein one upper side of the second link comprises a contact part contacted with one fixing piece provided on the front end of the stopper when used as the ordinary shoe.

11. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the second wheel assembly of the roller device comprises a first link having a rotatably fixed wheel, a fixing rod to movably fix the first link to the housing, a second link having a rotatably fixed wheel and movably fixed to the housing, and a guide to connect the first link and the second link to be mutually driven by a linkage basis.

12. The shoe of claim 11, wherein an end of the fixing rod has a coil spring installed so that the fixing rod is elastically fixed to the housing.

13. The shoe of claim 11, wherein an upper side of the first link comprises a first contact part contacted with a fixing plate provided on a front end of the stopper when used as ordinary shoe, and a second contact part in contact with the fixing plate of the stopper when the first and second wheel assemblies protrude to be used as the in-line skate.

14. The shoe of claim 11, wherein one upper side of the second link comprises a contact part contacted with one fixing piece provided on a front side of the stopper when used as ordinary shoe.

15. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the manipulating means comprises a switch comprised of a handle to be held and turned by a user, and a load inserted into an installation hole provided on one side of the housing, one end of which is fixed to the handle by a bolt, and another end of which has a gear fit to each groove provided on a folding part of the stopper.

16. The shoe of claim 1, further comprising a linkage device to drive to move a second link of the first wheel assembly and a second link of the second wheel assembly on a simultaneous and corresponding basis.

17. The shoe of claim 16, wherein the linkage device comprises a first wire, one end of which is fixed generally at a center of the second link of the first wheel assembly, and another end of which is fixed to an upper side of the second link of the second wheel assembly; and a second wire, one end of which is fixed to an upper side of the second link of the first wheel assembly, and another end of which is fixed generally at a center of the second link of the second wheel assembly.

18. The shoe of claim 1, further comprising a brake detachably installed in the body part to reduce speed or to stop when used as the in-line skate.

19. The shoe of claim 18, wherein the brake comprises a body having a support groove in contact with a back end of the sole of the main body, a fixing member provided on front of the support groove of the body and inserted between the back of the housing and a second link of the second wheel assembly connectively contacted, a protrusion piece provided on front of both sides of the fixing member to prevent a right and left shake, and a stopper detachably provided on the body and generating a stopping force by abrasion from ground contact.

20. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the manipulating means comprises a button integrally formed on back of the stopper with protrusion, and being able to reciprocate through an opening of the back of the housing.