Article of footwear with hinged upper for use by person with constrained physical movement

Abstract

An article of footwear that offers an easy opening upper to allow the footwear to be easily placed on or off a wearer's foot is disclosed. The upper includes a flap that is positionable between open and closed positions. The entire foot receiving portion of the footwear is exposed with the flap portion in the open position. The wearer placed his or her foot within the foot receiving portion, without obstruction, and then moves the flap portion in the closed position, preferably with a slide fastener, thereby securing the wearer's foot within the article of footwear.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper having
 a rigid wall that substantially encircles an outer edge of the sole structure to define an unobstructed foot receiving portion therein, and   a flap portion positionable over a forefoot portion of the article of footwear, the flap being pivotally secured to the rigid wall of the upper at a first edge and detachably securable to the rigid wall of the upper along a portion of the remaining edge, thereby defining an open position when the flap portion is pivoted out of the way to reveal a sufficient portion of the foot receiving portion to enable a user to directly place their foot into the article of footwear without encountering an obstruction requiring a sliding or similar motion, and a closed positon wherein the flap portion extends over the foot receiving portion.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the flap is detachably securable to the wall with at least one of fastener, button, and/or Velcro®. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the fastener is a slide fastener. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the slide fastener is a zipper. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a zipper pull being attached to the zipper and shaped as loop.   
     
     
         6 . An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
 a lower upper having a rigid rim substantially encircling an outer edge of the sole structure and extending upwardly from the outer edge of the sole structure to a topline of the upper thereby defining an unobstructed and firm chamber therein surrounded by the rim for receiving a foot of a wearer, the lower upper having four sides comprising a medial side, lateral side, forefoot side, and heel side, and a topline; and   a flap roofing the chamber having medial side, lateral side, and forefoot side, the flap on the medial side being pivotally secured to the topline of the upper on the medial side, the lateral side and forefoot side of the flap being detachably secured on the topline of the upper on the lateral side and forefoot side, thereby defining an opening position by flipping up the flap on the lateral side toward the medial side and closing position by returning the flap on the lateral side toward the lateral side.   
     
     
         7 . The footwear of  claim 6 , wherein the flap is detachably secured to the lower upper with at least one of zipper, button, and Velcro®. 
     
     
         8 . The footwear of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 the zipper being attached on the topline of the upper running between the medial side and the lateral side thereby the flap is detachably secured to the lower upper when the zipper being closed.   
     
     
         9 . The footwear of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a pull attached to the zipper.   
     
     
         10 . The footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the pull is shaped as a loop. 
     
     
         11 . The footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the zipper at the end of the lateral side is curved upwardly. 
     
     
         12 . The footwear of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a toe puff enforcement for comfort attached inside of the wall at the forefoot side of the lower upper.   
     
     
         13 . The footwear of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a heel counter enforcement for firmness attached inside of the wall at the heel side of the lower upper.   
     
     
         14 . A shoe having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
 a lower upper having a rigid rim substantially encircling an outer edge of the sole structure and extending upwardly from the outer edge of the sole structure thereby defining an unobstructed and firm chamber for receiving a foot of a wearer; and   
       a flap attached to the lower upper by a securing means that enables the flap pivotally open and close by opening and closing the securing means. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe of  claim 14 , wherein the flap is attached to the lower upper with at least one of zipper, button, and Velcro®. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 the zipper being attached on the upper; and   a pull attached to the zipper.   
     
     
         17 . The shoe of  claim 16 , wherein the pull is shaped as a loop. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe of  claim 15 , wherein the zipper at the end of the lateral side is curved upwardly. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a toe puff enforcement for comfort attached inside of the wall.   
     
     
         20 . The shoe of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a heel counter enforcement for firmness attached inside of the wall.