Footwear with dual rear closure arrangement

Abstract

An item of footwear includes an upper and a pair of closure mechanisms. The upper includes a shaft and a backstay spaced apart from the shaft to define a pair of gaps. The pair of closure mechanisms selectively couple the backstay to the shaft, and each include at least one coupler and at least one receiver. The coupler is coupled to one of the shaft and the backstay, and the receiver is coupled to the other of the shaft and the backstay. When the receiver is coupled to the coupler, the backstay is coupled to the shaft to restrict movement of the backstay relative to the shaft, and when the receiver is decoupled from the coupler, the pair of closure mechanisms permit movement of the backstay relative to the shaft.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An item of footwear comprising:
 an upper comprising:
 a shaft; and 
 a backstay spaced apart from the shaft to define a pair of gaps; 
   a pair of closure mechanisms that selectively couple the backstay to the shaft, the pair of closure mechanisms each comprise at least one coupler and at least one receiver for selectively coupling to the coupler, the coupler is coupled to one of the shaft and the backstay, and the receiver is coupled to the other of the shaft and the backstay,   when the receiver is coupled to the coupler, the backstay is coupled to the shaft to restrict movement of the backstay relative to the shaft, and when the receiver is decoupled from the coupler, the pair of closure mechanisms permit movement of the backstay relative to the shaft.   
     
     
         2 . The item of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising a lower defining a midline extending along a length of the lower between a toe and a heel, the midline intersects the backstay such that the pair of closure mechanisms are positioned on opposing sides of the midline. 
     
     
         3 . The item of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the upper defines an opening at a collar of the upper to permit a foot to be inserted into the item of footwear, and the pair of gaps extend from the opening toward the lower. 
     
     
         4 . The item of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein each of the shaft and the backstay are coupled to the lower, and the pair of gaps extend from the opening to the lower. 
     
     
         5 . The item of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one coupler of each of the pair of closure mechanisms comprises a first plurality of zipper teeth, and the at least one receiver of each of the pair of closure mechanisms comprises a second plurality of zipper teeth for coupling to the first plurality of zipper teeth. 
     
     
         6 . The item of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of closure mechanisms further comprise a pair of gussets coupled between the shaft and the backstay to extend across the pair of gaps. 
     
     
         7 . The item of footwear of  claim 6 , wherein the shaft comprises a first portion and a second portion spaced apart from the first portion, and the pair of gussets comprise a first gusset coupling the first portion of the shaft to a first side of the backstay, and a second gusset coupling the second portion of the shaft to a second side of the backstay opposite the first side. 
     
     
         8 . The item of footwear of  claim 6 , wherein the pair of gussets extend a width between the backstay and the shaft that is larger than a width of the pair of gaps to permit the backstay to move away from the shaft. 
     
     
         9 . The item of footwear of  claim 2 , further comprising a tongue coupled to the lower, and a lacing system, the shaft comprises a first portion and a second portion spaced apart from the first portion, the tongue is positioned between the first portion and the second portion of the shaft, and the lacing system extends from the first portion to the second portion. 
     
     
         10 . The item of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the lacing system comprises a plurality of eyelets positioned along each of the first portion and the second portion of the shaft, and a lace extending through each of the eyelets. 
     
     
         11 . The item of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the first portion and the second portion of the shaft are positioned between the tongue and the backstay. 
     
     
         12 . An item of footwear comprising:
 an upper comprising:
 a shaft; and 
 a backstay comprising a first side and an opposite second side, the backstay is spaced apart from the shaft at the first side to define a gap; 
   a closure mechanism that selectively couples the first side of the backstay to the shaft, the closure mechanism comprises at least one coupler, at least one receiver for selectively coupling to the coupler, and a gusset coupled between the shaft and the backstay to extend across the gap, the coupler is coupled to one of the shaft and the backstay, and the receiver is coupled to the other of the shaft and the backstay,   when the receiver is coupled to the coupler, the backstay is coupled to the shaft to restrict movement of the backstay relative to the shaft, and when the receiver is decoupled from the coupler, the closure mechanism permits movement of the backstay relative to the shaft.   
     
     
         13 . The item of footwear of  claim 12 , further comprising a sole and a lower coupled to the sole, the lower comprising a toe and a heel,
 wherein the upper defines an opening at a collar of the upper to permit a foot to be inserted into the item of footwear, and the gap extends from the opening toward the lower.   
     
     
         14 . The item of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein each of the shaft and the backstay are coupled to the lower, and the gap extends from the opening to the lower. 
     
     
         15 . The item of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein the item of footwear defines a midline extending along a length of the lower between the toe and the heel, the midline intersects the backstay with the closure mechanism being spaced apart from the midline. 
     
     
         16 . The item of footwear of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a tongue coupled to the lower; and   a lacing system,   wherein the shaft comprises a first portion and a second portion spaced apart from the first portion, the tongue is positioned between the first portion and the second portion of the shaft, the first portion and the second portion of the shaft are positioned between the tongue and the backstay, and the lacing system extends from the first portion to the second portion.   
     
     
         17 . The item of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein the lacing system comprises a plurality of eyelets positioned along each of the first portion and the second portion of the shaft, and a lace extending through each of the eyelets. 
     
     
         18 . The item of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one coupler of the closure mechanism comprises a first plurality of zipper teeth, and the at least one receiver of the closure mechanism comprises a second plurality of zipper teeth for coupling to the first plurality of zipper teeth. 
     
     
         19 . The item of footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the shaft comprises a first portion and a second portion spaced apart from the first portion, and the gusset couples the first portion of the shaft to a first side of the backstay, the gusset extends a width between the backstay and the shaft that is larger than a width of the gap to permit the backstay to move away from the shaft. 
     
     
         20 . An item of footwear comprising:
 an upper including a primary closure for fastening the item of footwear to a foot;   a rear central flap;   a pair of secondary releasable closures connecting the rear central flap to a remainder of the item of footwear; and   gussets connecting the rear central flap to the remainder of the item of footwear.