Footwear with Separable Upper and Sole Structure

Abstract

An article of footwear is disclosed that includes upper and a sole structure. The upper defines an interior void that is configured to receive the sole structure and a foot. A lower surface of the upper defines a plurality of apertures, and the sole structure includes a plurality of projections that extend through the apertures to form a ground-engaging surface. The projections are connected to a foot-supporting member that remains within the upper. A locking system is incorporated into the upper and sole structure to secure the sole structure to the upper.

1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper having an ankle opening and a connection element located opposite the ankle opening, the connection element forming at least a portion of a bottom portion of the upper, and the connection element defining an aperture; and   a sole structure that is securable to and separable from the upper, the sole structure having a foot-supporting element and a projection extending from the foot-supporting element, the sole structure being insertable through the ankle opening such that the foot-supporting element is positioned adjacent an upper surface of the connection element and such that the projection extends through the aperture to provide a ground-contacting surface, wherein at least a portion of the foot-supporting element and the projection are formed of a polymer foam material.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the connection element forms a first portion of a locking system and the sole structure forms a second portion of the locking system, the first portion being engagable with the second portion to secure the sole structure to the upper. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the locking system is a mechanical locking system. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the first portion is an edge of the aperture and the second portion is an indentation defined in the sole structure, the edge being receivable by the indentation. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein the indentation extends partially around the projection. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein the indentation extends partially around the projection and is located adjacent to the foot-supporting element. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein the edge and the indentation have corresponding shapes. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , when an upper surface of the foot-supporting element is contoured. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of a periphery of an upper surface of the foot-supporting element is raised in relation to a central area of the upper surface of the foot-supporting element. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein a heel portion of an upper surface of the foot-supporting element includes a depression for receiving a heel of a foot. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein a textile is secured to an upper surface of the foot-supporting element. 
     
     
         12 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper having an ankle opening and a connection element located opposite the ankle opening, the connection element forming at least a portion of a bottom portion of the upper, and the connection element defining a plurality of apertures; and   a sole structure having a foot-supporting element and a plurality of projections connected to the foot-supporting element, the sole structure being insertable through the ankle opening such that the foot-supporting element is positioned adjacent an upper surface of the connection element and the projections extend through the apertures to provide ground-contacting surfaces,   wherein edges of at least a portion of the apertures and indentations in at least a portion of the projections form a locking system, the edges being joinable with the indentations to secure the sole structure to the upper.   
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the indentations extend partially around the projections. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the indentations extend partially around the at least a portion of the projections and are located adjacent to the foot-supporting member. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the edges and the indentations have corresponding shapes. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , where an upper surface of the foot-supporting element is contoured. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of a periphery of an upper surface of the foot-supporting element is raised in relation to a central area of the upper surface of the foot-supporting element. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein a heel portion of an upper surface of the foot-supporting element includes a depression for receiving a heel of a foot. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein a textile is secured to an upper surface of the foot-supporting element. 
     
     
         20 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper having an ankle opening and a connection element located opposite the ankle opening, the connection element forming at least a portion of a bottom portion of the upper, and the connection element defining an aperture; and   a sole structure that is securable to and separable from the upper, the sole structure having a foot-supporting element and a projection extending from the foot-supporting element, the sole structure being insertable through the ankle opening such that the foot-supporting element is positioned adjacent an upper surface of the connection element and such that the projection extends through the aperture to provide a ground-contacting surface,   wherein the connection element forms a first portion of a locking system and the sole structure forms a second portion of the locking system, the first portion being engagable with the second portion to secure the sole structure to the upper, wherein the first portion is an indentation in an edge of the aperture and the second portion is a protrusion defined in the projection, the protrusion being receivable by the indentation.