A lightweight foot encompassing shoe which contains hidden connective material to provide a wide range of width and arch variations, and provides uniform ventilation but prevents rocks and pebbles from invading the foot cocoon, yet allows small unobtrusive elements such as sand and water to access and egress.

A lightweight foot encompassing shoe which contains hidden connective material to provide a wide range of width and arch variations, and provides uniform ventilation but prevents rocks and pebbles from invading the foot cocoon, yet allows small unobtrusive elements such as sand and water to access and egress.

Articles of footwear can include an adaptive-height sole structure that includes a variable height bladder system. The sole structure can include one or more bladder systems positioned between a midsole and a banking plate. The banking plate can change its relative orientation to the midsole based on an inflation level of the bladder systems.

Footwear, including athletic footwear, opens very wide, e.g., by moving an ankle containing portion of a footwear upper laterally/sideways with respect to the sole structure or a base portion of the upper (e.g., rotate it to the lateral side). In effect, the ankle containing portion may move/rotate sideways with respect to the sole structure/base portion via a connecting member (e.g., moving akin to rotation on a hinge type structure) to open in somewhat of a clamshell fashion. The rear of the upper base portion in this open condition may appear somewhat as an open backed slipper or slide type shoe. These actions and features open the rear heel area of the upper wide and low to enable easy insertion of a foot into the interior chamber, generally from the rear of the footwear structure. One or more straps can be used to secure the upper to the foot.

An article of footwear may include a heel region, a forefoot region, and a midfoot region, the midfoot region disposed adjacent to the forefoot region and the heel region, the article of footwear also including a medial side and a lateral side; an upper extending from the heel region to the forefoot region, wherein the upper includes a plurality of openings through which a fastener is configured to extend; a tongue extending from the forefoot region to the midfoot region; and a flap, the flap extending from the lateral side over a portion of the tongue, toward the medial side, wherein the flap includes a loop through which the fastener is configured to extend.

An article of footwear may include a heel region, a forefoot region, and a midfoot region, the midfoot region disposed adjacent to the forefoot region and the heel region, the article of footwear also including a medial side and a lateral side; an upper extending from the heel region to the forefoot region, wherein the upper includes a plurality of openings through which a fastener is configured to extend; a tongue extending from the forefoot region to the midfoot region; and a flap, the flap extending from the lateral side over a portion of the tongue, toward the medial side, wherein the flap includes a loop through which the fastener is configured to extend.

An article of footwear includes a door, positioned in a rear portion of an upper of the article of footwear. The door is movable between a first, closed position, and a second, open position. In the closed position, the door is releasably secured to an adjacent portion of the upper. In the open position, the door is releasably held in the open position, and a foot of the user may be inserted into or removed from the article. An actuator is in cooperative engagement with the door. The actuator is positioned in or on a rear portion of a heel and configured to be actuated only via striking a rear portion of the heel of the footwear on the back. Responsive to actuation of the actuator, the door moves between the closed position and the open position, thereby permitting hands-free donning and removal of the article of footwear.

An article of footwear includes a door, positioned in a rear portion of an upper of the article of footwear. The door is movable between a first, closed position, and a second, open position. In the closed position, the door is releasably secured to an adjacent portion of the upper. In the open position, the door is releasably held in the open position, and a foot of the user may be inserted into or removed from the article. An actuator is in cooperative engagement with the door. The actuator is positioned in or on a rear portion of a heel and configured to be actuated only via striking a rear portion of the heel of the footwear on the back. Responsive to actuation of the actuator, the door moves between the closed position and the open position, thereby permitting hands-free donning and removal of the article of footwear.

An article of footwear and method of manufacturing includes a midsole, an upper, secured with respect to the midsole, forming an opening to admit a foot of a wearer, the opening being adjustable between a first segment of the upper and a second segment of the upper to secure the article of footwear to the foot of the wearer, and a slidable securing device. The slidable securing device is coupled between the first segment and the second segment of the upper, configured to slide along a length of track and secure the first and second segments together. A motorized lacing system engages with a lace to increase and decrease tension on the lace. The lace is secured to the slidable securing device, and when tension is placed on the lace, the lace causes the slidable securing device to slide along the track and secure the first and second segments together.

An article of footwear includes a door, positioned in a rear portion of an upper of the article of footwear. The door is movable between a first, closed position, and a second, open position. In the closed position, the door is releasably secured to an adjacent portion of the upper. In the open position, the door is releasably held in the open position, and a foot of the user may be inserted into or removed from the article. An actuator is in cooperative engagement with the door. The actuator is positioned in or on a rear portion of a heel and configured to be actuated only via striking a rear portion of the heel of the footwear on the back. Responsive to actuation of the actuator, the door moves between the closed position and the open position, thereby permitting hands-free donning and removal of the article of footwear.