Patent classifications
A43B3/06
ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR WITH FLAP STRAP
An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper coupled to the sole structure. The upper includes a forefoot region, a heel region, and a midfoot region disposed between. The upper defines a throat opening sized to receive a foot. The upper includes a main upper body and a strap coupled to the main upper body, wherein the strap extends from the midfoot region of the upper at the throat opening, down toward the heel region of the upper, wherein the strap is configured to provide stability, and the strap is configured to keep a wearer's heel contained down and back in the article of footwear.
ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR WITH FLAP STRAP
An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper coupled to the sole structure. The upper includes a forefoot region, a heel region, and a midfoot region disposed between. The upper defines a throat opening sized to receive a foot. The upper includes a main upper body and a strap coupled to the main upper body, wherein the strap extends from the midfoot region of the upper at the throat opening, down toward the heel region of the upper, wherein the strap is configured to provide stability, and the strap is configured to keep a wearer's heel contained down and back in the article of footwear.
Foot motion control and/or stability systems for articles of footwear and other foot-receiving devices
Footwear includes structural features that may provide one or more of the following features or functions: (a) help “lock” the wearer to the ground under torsional forces induced in the leg/foot (e.g., by a golf swing or other activities); (b) help provide stable support, e.g., at the medial heel and/or lateral forefoot areas; (c) help support and prevent undesired distortion of the footwear upper, e.g., when torsional forces are applied; and/or (d) help provide a very stable and secure feel and fit by securing across the instep portion of the foot, e.g., in a forward lateral-to-rear medial direction (e.g., between medial heel and lateral forefoot sidewall supports).
Foot motion control and/or stability systems for articles of footwear and other foot-receiving devices
Footwear includes structural features that may provide one or more of the following features or functions: (a) help “lock” the wearer to the ground under torsional forces induced in the leg/foot (e.g., by a golf swing or other activities); (b) help provide stable support, e.g., at the medial heel and/or lateral forefoot areas; (c) help support and prevent undesired distortion of the footwear upper, e.g., when torsional forces are applied; and/or (d) help provide a very stable and secure feel and fit by securing across the instep portion of the foot, e.g., in a forward lateral-to-rear medial direction (e.g., between medial heel and lateral forefoot sidewall supports).
ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR WITH HANDS FREE DONNING AND REMOVAL
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.
ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR WITH HANDS FREE DONNING AND REMOVAL
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.
Footwear Article With Hinged Heel
A footwear article includes a hinged portion in a heel region that may be biased in various positions to increase or decrease a size of a foot-insertion opening. The hinged portion may be arranged in a first position, in which the hinged portion is more upright and is in position to cup a wearer's heel or Achilles region when the footwear article is worn. In addition, the hinged portion may be hingedly rotated downward or rearwardly (e.g., away from the foot-insertion opening) to a second position, which may increase a size of the foot-insertion opening and/or may change an angle along which a foot can pass through the foot-insertion opening when the footwear article is being donned or doffed. One or more elastic members may be attached to the hinged portion and to some other portion of the footwear article to bias the hinged portion.
EASY-ACCESS ARTICLE OF FOOTWEAR WITH CORD LOCK
An article of footwear includes a sole structure, a footwear upper, and a closure system. The sole structure may have a front sole portion and a rear sole portion pivotable relative to the front sole portion between a use position and an access position. The footwear upper may be fixed to the front sole portion and to the rear sole portion. The closure system may comprise an adjustment cord and a cord lock. The adjustment cord may be operatively secured to the footwear upper at an anchor location. The cord lock may be secured to the footwear upper and may be configured so that the adjustment cord slides through the cord lock when under tension to tighten the footwear upper in the use position, and the adjustment cord is repositionable relative to the cord lock to lock to the cord lock and retain tension in the adjustment cord.
FOOTWEAR FASTENING SYSTEM
An article of footwear facilitates relatively easy donning and removal, and secure adjustment. The article of footwear comprises a sole structure, an upper secured to the sole structure, and a plurality of tensioning cables having proximal ends fixed to at least one of the upper or the sole structure and extending out of the upper. A strap has a proximal end connected to distal ends of the plurality of tensioning cables, and has a distal end releasably securable to the upper to tighten the tensioning cables. A webbed spacer is secured to the plurality of tensioning cables. The webbed spacer extends between adjacent ones of the plurality of tensioning cables, and the adjacent ones of the plurality of tensioning cables spaced apart from one another by the webbed spacer.
FOOTWEAR FASTENING SYSTEM
An article of footwear facilitates relatively easy donning and removal, and secure adjustment. The article of footwear comprises a sole structure, an upper secured to the sole structure, and a plurality of tensioning cables having proximal ends fixed to at least one of the upper or the sole structure and extending out of the upper. A strap has a proximal end connected to distal ends of the plurality of tensioning cables, and has a distal end releasably securable to the upper to tighten the tensioning cables. A webbed spacer is secured to the plurality of tensioning cables. The webbed spacer extends between adjacent ones of the plurality of tensioning cables, and the adjacent ones of the plurality of tensioning cables spaced apart from one another by the webbed spacer.