Footwear with jointed sole structure for ease of access

Abstract

An article of footwear includes a sole structure that has a front midsole component and a rear midsole component. A hinge connects the front midsole component to the rear midsole component and is disposed in a groove defined between the front and rear midsole components at a lower. The front midsole component and the rear midsole component are pivotable relative to one another at the groove between a use position and an access position, with the groove relatively open in the use position, and the groove relatively closed in the access position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole structure including:
 a front midsole component and a rear midsole component, the front midsole component and the rear midsole component together defining a groove at a lower side of the sole structure between the front midsole component and the rear midsole component; and 
 a divided footwear upper secured to the sole structure to define a foot-receiving cavity; 
   wherein:
 the divided footwear upper includes a front upper portion secured to the front midsole component, and a rear upper portion secured to the rear midsole component; 
 the front midsole component and the rear midsole component are pivotable relative to one another at the groove between a use position and an access position with the groove relatively open in the use position and relatively closed in the access position; 
 the front midsole component includes a heel footbed that extends over the groove and overlays the rear midsole component in the use position, and is spaced apart from the rear midsole component in the access position; 
 the heel footbed and the rear midsole component include complementary interlocking features that secure the heel footbed in the use position; and 
 the sole structure is characterized by an absence of a biasing member extending between and connecting the front upper portion and the rear upper portion, and the absence of a biasing member extending between and connecting the front midsole component and the rear midsole component, and the absence of a biasing member extending between and connecting the front upper portion and the rear midsole component, and the absence of a biasing member extending between and connecting the rear upper portion and the front midsole component. 
   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the sole structure further comprises a stiffening layer secured at a periphery of the heel footbed; and   the stiffening layer is stiffer than the heel footbed.   
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a peripheral support secured to the rear midsole component; and   wherein the peripheral support is stiffer than the rear midsole component.   
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein:
 a clip projects forward from an inner surface of the rear midsole component;   the clip overlays a rear extent of the heel footbed when the sole structure is in the use position; and   the clip flexibly interfaces with the peripheral support when the sole structure moves from the access position to the use position and from the use position to the access position.   
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein:
 a clip projects forward from an inner surface of the rear midsole component; and   the clip overlays a rear extent of the heel footbed when the sole structure is in the use position.   
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 5 , wherein a rear extent of the rear midsole component defines an external ledge positioned rearward of the clip such that depressing the external ledge moves the clip away from the rear extent of the heel footbed. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a cover disposed on the external ledge; and   wherein the cover is integral with the clip.   
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , the sole structure further comprising:
 a first plate disposed on or in the heel footbed and extending over the groove in the use position; and   a second plate disposed on or in the heel footbed, the second plate disposed nearer to a bottom surface of the heel footbed than the first plate, and the first plate disposed nearer to a top surface of the heel footbed than the second plate.   
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein a rear extent of the first plate is disposed rearward of a front extent of the second plate along a length of the heel footbed such that the first plate and the second plate partially overlap. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the first plate is disposed at the top surface of the heel footbed and the second plate is disposed at the bottom surface of the heel footbed. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the front extent of the second plate is disposed partially over the groove in the use position. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein both the first plate and the second plate at least partially overlay the rear midsole component in the use position. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a resilient band suspended over and extending transversely across the rear midsole component;   wherein, in the access position, the heel footbed rests on the resilient band; and   wherein, in the use position, the resilient band stretches under load and the heel footbed rests on the rear midsole component.   
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the front midsole component includes a first wall defining a front of the groove; and   the rear midsole component includes a second wall defining a rear of the groove.   
     
     
         15 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole structure including:
 a front midsole component and a rear midsole component, the front midsole component and the rear midsole component together defining a groove at a lower side of the sole structure between the front midsole component and the rear midsole component; and 
 a resilient band suspended over and extending transversely across the rear midsole component; 
   wherein:
 the front midsole component and the rear midsole component are pivotable relative to one another at the groove between a use position and an access position with the groove relatively open in the use position and relatively closed in the access position; 
 the front midsole component includes a heel footbed that extends over the groove and overlays the rear midsole component in the use position, and is spaced apart from the rear midsole component in the access position; 
 in the access position, the heel footbed rests on the resilient band; and 
 in the use position, the resilient band stretches under load and the heel footbed rests on the rear midsole component.