Enhanced Footwear Passage System and Method

Abstract

A footwear system includes an upper including a rear assembly including a portal member removably coupled to the footwear upper; and an electric motor coupled with the portal member to move the portal member between a first position that allows rear access to an interior of the footwear system and a second position that of disallows rear access to the interior of the footwear system. Other aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A footwear system comprising:
 (I) a footwear upper including a front portion,   (II) a rear assembly oppositely positioned from the front portion of the footwear upper, the rear assembly including a portal member removably coupled to the footwear upper; and   (III) a sole assembly,   wherein the footwear includes an interior and an exterior,   wherein the footwear upper, and the sole assembly bound in part the interior when the portal member is in the first position,   wherein the first position of the portal member bounds in part the interior, and   wherein the second position of the portal member allows access from the exterior to the interior.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1   wherein the rear assembly includes a hinge coupled with the portal member of the rear assembly and coupled with the sole assembly.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1   wherein the sole assembly includes an interior space,   wherein the portal member includes a plurality of flexibly linked members, and   wherein at least a portion of the flexibly linked members of the portal member are positioned within the interior space of the sole assembly when the portal member is in the second position.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1   wherein the sole assembly includes an interior space,   wherein the portal member includes a first rigid member and a second rigid member coupled thereto, and   wherein at least a portion of the horizontally oriented rigid member is positioned within the interior space of the sole assembly and the second rigid member bounds in part the interior of the footwear when the portal member is in the first position.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1   wherein the rear assembly includes a first hinge coupled with the first side of the footwear upper,   wherein the rear assembly includes a second hinge coupled with the second side of the footwear upper,   wherein the portal member includes a first portion coupled with the first hinge and a second portion with the second hinge, and   wherein the first portion and the second portion are uncoupled from one another when the portal member is in the second position.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1   wherein the rear assembly includes a hinge coupled with one of the following: the first side of the footwear upper and the second side of the footwear upper,   wherein the portal member is portion coupled with the hinge.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1   wherein the sole assembly includes an electronic controller electrically coupled with the electric motor.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1   wherein the sole assembly includes an electric battery electrically coupled with the electric motor.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8   wherein the sole assembly includes an electrical charging system electrically coupled with the electric battery.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9   wherein the sole assembly includes a heater electrically coupled with the electric battery.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9   wherein the sole assembly includes a vibrator electrically coupled with the electric battery.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1   wherein the sole assembly includes an electronic transceiver electrically coupled with the electric motor.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further including a wireless remote transceiver,
 wherein the wireless remote transceiver is wirelessly couplable with the electronic transceiver electrically coupled with the electric motor.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1   wherein the sole assembly includes a linkage mechanically coupled with the electric motor and the portal member of the rear assembly.   
     
     
         15 . A footwear system comprising:
 (I) a footwear upper;   (II) a rear assembly the rear assembly including a portal member; and   (III) a sole assembly,   wherein the footwear includes an interior and an exterior,   wherein the first position of the portal member bounds in part the interior, and   wherein the second position of the portal member allows access from the exterior to the interior.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 ,
 wherein the rear assembly includes a hinge coupled with the portal member of the rear assembly and coupled with the sole assembly.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15   wherein the sole assembly includes a linkage mechanically coupled with the electric motor and the portal member of the rear assembly.   
     
     
         18 . A footwear system comprising:
 (I) a portal member;   wherein the footwear includes an interior and an exterior,   wherein the first position of the portal member allows access from the exterior to the interior, and   wherein the second position of the portal member allows access from the exterior to the interior.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 ,
 wherein the rear assembly includes a hinge coupled with the portal member of the rear assembly and coupled with the sole assembly.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18   wherein the sole assembly includes a linkage mechanically coupled with the electric motor and the portal member.