Easy Access Footwear with Zipper Closure

Abstract

An article of footwear includes: a main body, a heel portion coupled to the main body using an attachment feature that allows the heel portion to move about an axis, and a zipper closure that secures the heel portion in a closed position relative to the main body. An easy access shoe includes: a main body, a heel portion coupled to the main body, where the heel portion is able to be selectively positioned to allow a size of an access opening formed between the main body and the heel portion to be selectively increased or decreased, and a zipper closure that secures the heel portion to the main body. A shoe includes: a main body, a first hinge section coupled to the main body, a second hinge section coupled to the first hinge section and a heel, and a zipper closure that couples the heel to the main body.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a main body;   a heel portion coupled to the main body using an attachment feature that allows the heel portion to move about an axis; and   a zipper closure that secures the heel portion in a closed position relative to the main body.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the axis is perpendicular to a sole of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the attachment feature comprises a hinge. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the zipper closure runs along a lip of the main body of the shoe and an associated surface of the heel portion. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the zipper closure comprises a manipulation feature that extends out from the zipper and includes a receptacle that is able to accept a reacher tool. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  further comprising a tongue that is coupled to the main body such that the tongue is held in a fixed position relative to the main body. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  further comprising a sole having an anti-slip texture. 
     
     
         8 . An easy access shoe comprising:
 a main body;   a heel portion coupled to the main body, wherein the heel portion is able to be selectively positioned to allow a size of an access opening formed between the main body and the heel portion to be selectively increased or decreased; and   a zipper closure that secures the heel portion to the main body in a closed position.   
     
     
         9 . The easy access shoe of  claim 8 , wherein the heel portion is coupled to the main body using a hinge. 
     
     
         10 . The easy access shoe of  claim 9 , wherein the hinge allows the heel portion to rotate about an axis that is perpendicular to a sole of the shoe. 
     
     
         11 . The easy access shoe of  claim 8 , wherein the main body comprises a lip extending from a sole and sides of the main body such that a heel cup is formed in the main body adjacent to a section of the heel portion. 
     
     
         12 . The easy access shoe of  claim 11 , wherein the zipper closure runs along the lip. 
     
     
         13 . The easy access shoe of  claim 12  further comprising a liner element that runs along the zipper closure at an interior surface of the easy access shoe. 
     
     
         14 . The easy access shoe of  claim 8 , wherein the easy access shoe is one of an athletic shoe, a dress shoe, a slip-on shoe, a sandal, and a boot. 
     
     
         15 . A shoe comprising:
 a main body;   a first hinge section coupled to the main body;   a second hinge section coupled to the first hinge section and a heel; and   a zipper closure that couples the heel to the main body in a closed position.   
     
     
         16 . The shoe of  claim 15 , wherein the first hinge section and second hinge section form an axis of rotation between the main body and the heel, and wherein the axis of rotation is perpendicular to a sole of the shoe. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe of  claim 15 , wherein the heel extends from an outside wall of the shoe to an inside wall of the shoe forming a symmetrical “U” shape about a center line of the shoe. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe of  claim 15  further comprising a liner that runs along the zipper closure at an interior surface of the shoe. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe of  claim 15  further comprising a wide outer sole that provides increased stability. 
     
     
         20 . The shoe of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of an inner sole and an outer sole includes a texture that provides increased somatosensory feedback.