Easy Access Articles of Footwear

Abstract

Foot support systems (and articles of footwear including them) include: (a) a medial side member having one or more medial side supports (e.g., ribs); (b) a lateral side member having one or more lateral side supports (e.g., ribs); and (c) structure (such as a hinge system) configured to move the foot support system (e.g., the medial side support(s) with respect to the lateral side support(s)) between: (a) a foot-insertion configuration and (b) a foot-containing configuration. In moving from the foot-insertion configuration to the foot-containing configuration, the foot support system can be changed between an open condition and a closed condition.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foot support system, comprising:
 an upper including a forefoot area and a heel area; and   a sole structure engaged with the upper, wherein the sole structure includes a forefoot support portion, a heel support portion, and a midfoot support portion located between the forefoot support portion and the heel support portion;   wherein the heel support portion and the heel area of the upper are rotatable with respect to the forefoot support portion on a transverse rotational axis located in the midfoot support portion and extending from a lateral side of the sole structure to a medial side of the sole structure, and   wherein rotation of the heel support portion and the heel area of the upper with respect to the forefoot support portion on the transverse rotational axis moves the foot support system between: (a) a foot-insertion configuration and (b) a foot-containing configuration   wherein the foot-insertion configuration opens the heel area of the upper to allow insertion of a wearer's foot into the foot support system from a rear side the forefoot area of the upper.   
     
     
         2 . The foot support system according to  claim 1 , wherein the sole structure includes a live hinge structure located along the transverse rotational axis. 
     
     
         3 . The foot support system according to  claim 2 , wherein a thickness of the sole structure along the transverse rotational axis is thinner than a thickness of the sole structure away from the transverse rotational axis. 
     
     
         4 . The foot support system according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper includes a structure to support rotation along the transverse rotational axis, wherein the structure to support rotation along the transverse rotational axis includes at least one of: a gap, a discontinuity, and a stretchable material to support rotation along the transverse rotation axis. 
     
     
         5 . The foot support system according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper further comprises a medial side component including a medial flap, and a lateral side component including a lateral flap, and
 wherein the medial flap includes a securing component configured to secure to a complementary securing component of the lateral flap to secure the wearer's foot into the foot support system when in the foot-containing configuration.   
     
     
         6 . The foot support system according to  claim 1 , wherein the medial side of the sole structure is rotatable with respect to the lateral side of the sole structure on a longitudinal rotational axis located in the midfoot support portion and wherein rotation along the longitudinal rotational axis opens a portion of the foot support system so as to provide additional access for the wearer's foot to an interior chamber in the foot support system. 
     
     
         7 . The foot support system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a medial side member including a plurality of medial side support ribs extending along a medial side portion of the foot support system; and   a lateral side member including a plurality of lateral side support ribs extending along a lateral side portion of the foot support system,   wherein:
 (a) in moving from the foot-insertion configuration to the foot-containing configuration, interior surfaces of the plurality of medial side support ribs and interior surfaces of the plurality of lateral side support ribs rotate in a direction toward one another, and 
 (b) in moving from the foot-containing configuration to the foot-insertion configuration, interior surfaces of the plurality of medial side support ribs and interior surfaces of the plurality of lateral side support ribs rotate in a direction away from one another. 
   
     
     
         8 . The foot support system according to  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of medial side support ribs and the plurality of lateral side support ribs are located rearward of the transverse rotational axis in a direction toward the heel area. 
     
     
         9 . The foot support system according to  claim 7 , wherein plurality of lateral side support ribs are contained either within or beneath a lateral side of a securing flap of the upper, and wherein the plurality of medial side support ribs are contained within or beneath a medial side of a securing flap of the upper. 
     
     
         10 . The foot support system according to  claim 1 , wherein the sole structure includes a plantar support surface located rearward of the transverse rotational axis in a direction toward the heel area. 
     
     
         11 . The foot support system according to  claim 1 , wherein a medial side of the upper includes a portion of a medial side securing system, wherein a lateral side of the upper includes a portion of a lateral side securing system, and wherein the medial side securing system and the lateral side securing system are configured to secure the upper to the wearer's foot. 
     
     
         12 . The foot support system according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a securing member configured to releasably secure the medial side securing system with the lateral side securing system.   
     
     
         13 . The foot support system according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a securing system releasably holding the heel support portion and the heel area of the upper are rotatable with respect to the forefoot support portion on the transverse rotational axis when the foot support system is in the foot-containing configuration.   
     
     
         14 . The foot support system according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper includes:
 a lateral flap including an engaging lateral side securing component;   a medial flap including an engaging medial side securing component; and   a vamp portion including a footwear tongue component, wherein the vamp portion is sized and shaped to be engaged by the engaging lateral side securing component and the engaging medial side securing component when the foot support system is in the foot-containing configuration.   
     
     
         15 . The foot support system according to  claim 1 , further comprising a securing system including a strap and a tensioning element, wherein the strap is configured to pass through the tensioning element and double back over itself such that a first end of the strap is positioned to secure to a portion of the upper or a portion of the strap and to tighten a medial flap of the upper and a lateral flap of the upper around the wearer's foot. 
     
     
         16 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper including a forefoot area, a heel area, a medial side component, and a lateral side component; and   a sole structure engaged with the upper, wherein the sole structure includes a forefoot support portion, a heel support portion, and a midfoot support portion located between the forefoot support portion and the heel support portion,   wherein the heel support portion and the heel area of the upper are rotatable with respect to the forefoot support portion on a transverse rotational axis located in the midfoot support portion and extending from a lateral side of the sole structure to a medial side of the sole structure, and   wherein rotation of the heel support portion and the heel area of the upper with respect to the forefoot support portion on the transverse rotational axis moves at least a portion of the upper to adjust between: (a) a foot-insertion configuration and (b) a foot-containing configuration.   
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear according to  claim 16 :
 wherein the medial side component includes a medial flap; and   wherein the lateral side component includes a lateral flap,   wherein the medial flap includes a securing component configured to secure to a complementary securing component of the lateral flap to secure a wearer's foot in the article of footwear when in the foot-containing configuration.   
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear according to  claim 17 , wherein the medial flap is engaged with or integrally formed with the lateral flap via a rear strap member that extends around the heel area of the upper and connect the medial side component to the lateral side component. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a securing system including a strap and a tensioning element,   wherein the strap is configured to pass through the tensioning element and double back over itself such that a first end of the strap is positioned to secure to a portion of the upper or a portion of the strap and to tighten the medial flap and the lateral flap around the wearer's foot.   
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear according to  claim 17 , wherein the upper includes:
 a lateral side securing component configured to secure to an engaging lateral side securing component of the lateral flap; and   a medial side securing component configured to secure to an engaging medial side securing component of the medial flap.