Footwear upper with lace-engaged zipper system

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/983,563, filed May 18, 2018, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/510,043 filed May 23, 2017, and both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present teachings relate to an upper for an article of footwear having a rear section securable to a front section with a zipper system.

Traditionally, placing footwear on a foot often requires the use of one or both hands to stretch the ankle opening of a footwear upper, and hold the rear portion during foot insertion. The fit of the upper is then adjusted following foot insertion, such as by tying laces.

FIG. 1 is a schematic lateral side view of an article of footwear with a rear section of an upper in a use position and with a lace untied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic medial side view of the article of footwear of FIG. 1 with the rear section of the upper in the use position and with the lace untied.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of the article of footwear of FIG. 1 with the rear section of the upper in the use position and with the lace untied.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the article of footwear of FIG. 1 with the rear section of the upper in the use position and with the lace untied.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective front view of the article of footwear of FIG. 1 with the rear section of the upper in the use position and with the lace untied.

FIG. 6 is a schematic lateral side view of the article of footwear of FIG. 1 with the rear section of an upper in an access position and with the lace untied.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective front view of the article of footwear of FIG. 1 with the rear section of the upper in the access position and with the lace untied.

FIG. 8 is a schematic plan view of the article of footwear of FIG. 1 with the rear section of the upper in the access position and with the lace untied.

FIG. 9 is a schematic fragmentary plan view of the article of footwear of FIG. 1 , showing a foot in phantom received in the foot-receiving cavity and hands in phantom applying outward forces on the lace.

FIG. 10 is a schematic fragmentary plan view of the article of footwear of FIG. 9 , showing the foot in phantom received in the foot-receiving cavity and zipper pulls moving forward to zip the rear section to the front section under continuing outward force on the lace.

FIG. 11 is a schematic fragmentary plan view of the article of footwear of FIG. 9 , showing the foot in phantom received in the foot-receiving cavity and zipper pulls moved to a forward-most position in which the rear section is zipped to the front section in the use position under continuing outward forces on the lace.

FIG. 12 is a schematic fragmentary plan view of the article of footwear of FIG. 9 , showing the foot in phantom received in the foot-receiving cavity and hands shown in phantom guiding the lace around lace hooks secured to the rear section in the use position.

FIG. 13 is a schematic fragmentary plan view of the article of footwear of FIG. 9 , showing the foot in phantom received in the foot-receiving cavity and the lace secured to the lace hooks and tied, with the rear section in the use position.

A footwear upper utilizes a lace-engaged zipper system to allow ease of foot entry and adjustment and securement of the upper on the foot. The footwear upper comprises a front section and a rear section. The front section is at least partially forward of the rear section and at least partially defines a foot-receiving cavity. In one or more embodiments, the front section is configured as a mule, as it partially establishes a heel region of the footwear upper, and the rear section is secured to the front section at the heel region between the medial edge and the lateral edge of the front section.

The front section has a medial edge and a lateral edge that together define a foot entry opening of the foot-receiving cavity. The footwear upper has a zipper system that includes a medial slider, a medial zipper pull, a lateral slider, and a lateral zipper pull. The medial slider is movable along the medial edge of the front section to selectively zip the rear section to the medial edge of the front section. The medial zipper pull is engaged with the medial slider. The lateral slider is movable along the lateral edge of the front section to selectively zip the rear section to the lateral edge of the front section. The lateral zipper pull is engaged with the lateral slider. The footwear upper also has a tightening system that includes a lace-receiving feature on the front section forward of the zipper system, and a lace extending through the lace-receiving feature, through the medial zipper pull, and through the lateral zipper pull.

In one or more embodiments, the medial zipper pull, the lateral zipper pull, and the lace-receiving feature are disposed such that a medially-outward force on the lace outward of the medial zipper pull, and a simultaneous laterally-outward force on the lace outward of the lateral zipper pull move the medial slider and the lateral slider forward along the medial edge and the lateral edge, respectively, moving the rear section from an access position to a use position. The rear section further defines the foot-receiving cavity in the use position.

Additionally, the lace-receiving feature may be disposed such that the lace tightens the front section via the medially-outward force and the simultaneous laterally-outward force. In one or more embodiments, the lace-receiving feature is one of a first series of lace-receiving features on the medial side of the front section and a second series of lace-receiving features on the lateral side of the front section, and the lace extends through the first series of lace-receiving features and the second series of lace-receiving features and spans a gap therebetween.

In one or more embodiments, the medial edge and the lateral edge of the front section slope upwardly in a forward direction (i.e., from a heel region of the footwear upper to a midfoot region of the footwear upper). The upward slope helps enable the large, easy to access ankle opening, permitting foot entry from the rear. In one or more embodiments, the rear section has a collar portion that defines an ankle opening of the foot-receiving cavity when the rear section is zipped to the front section.

In one or more embodiments, the footwear upper may further comprise at least one lace hook secured to the rear section. Both the lateral side and the medial side of the rear section may have a lace hook. For example, the at least one lace hook may include a medial lace hook and a lateral lace hook. The medial lace hook may be secured to the rear section on the medial side and disposed above the medial zipper pull when the rear section zipped to the front section. The lateral lace hook may be secured to the rear section on the lateral side and disposed above the lateral zipper pull when the rear section is zipped to the front section. In such an embodiment, a medial portion of the lace may be engaged with the medial lace hook, a lateral portion of the lace may be engaged with the lateral lace hook, and the medial portion may be tied to the lateral portion between the medial lace hook and the lateral lace hook when the lace is in a tied state with the rear section zipped to the front section.

To prevent the lace from passing completely out of the zipper pulls, the footwear upper may further comprise a medial lace anchor and a lateral lace anchor. The medial lace anchor may be fixed to a medial portion of the lace outward of the medial zipper pull, and the medial zipper pull may define an aperture through which the lace extends. The medial lace anchor is larger than the aperture of the medial zipper pull so that it cannot pass through the aperture. The lateral lace anchor may be fixed to a lateral portion of the lace outward of the lateral zipper pull. The lateral zipper pull may define an aperture through which the lace extends, and the lateral lace anchor may be larger than the aperture of the lateral zipper pull.

In one or more embodiments, the rear section may be biased to the access position. For example, the footwear upper may further comprise a biasing member that is secured to the rear section and applies a biasing force urging the rear section to an unzipped position when the rear section is zipped to the front section. The rear portion of the front section may define a through-hole, and the biasing member may extend through the through-hole and be secured to at least one of the front section or a sole structure secured to the front section. The biasing member may lay against an exterior surface of the rear section when the rear section is zipped to the front section.

To return the footwear upper to the unzipped, access position, an outward force may be applied to a forward medial end of the rear section remote from the medial zipper pull to move the medial slider rearward along the medial edge, and an outward force may be applied to a forward lateral end of the rear section remote from the lateral zipper pull to move the lateral slider rearward along the lateral edge. The outward forces to unzip the rear section may or may not be simultaneously applied.

An article of footwear comprises a sole structure, and a footwear upper that has a mule section secured to the sole structure, and an ankle support section hinged to a heel region of the mule section. The mule section has a medial edge that slopes upwardly from the heel region in a forward direction of the sole structure, and a lateral edge that slopes upwardly from the heel region in the forward direction of the sole structure. The article of footwear includes a zipper system that has lower teeth extending along a medial edge and a lateral edge of the mule section, and upper teeth extending along a proximal edge of the ankle support section. The zipper system includes a medial slider engaged with the lower teeth and the upper teeth on the medial side, a medial zipper pull engaged with the medial slider, a lateral slider engaged with the lower teeth and the upper teeth on the lateral side, and a lateral zipper pull engaged with the lateral slider on the lateral side. The article of footwear includes a tightening system that has a lace-receiving feature on the mule section forward of the zipper system, and a lace that extends through the lace-receiving feature, through the medial zipper pull, and through the lateral zipper pull. Outward forces applied to segments of the lace outward of the medial zipper pull and the lateral zipper pull move the medial slider and the lateral slider forward along the lower teeth, zipping the ankle support section to the mule section.

In one or more embodiments, the ankle support section pivots at the heel region between an access position in which the ankle support section is rearward of the heel region and is unzipped from the mule section, and a use position in which the ankle support section is zipped to the mule section.

In one or more embodiments, the article of footwear further comprises a medial lace hook secured to the ankle support section on the medial side and disposed above the medial zipper pull when the ankle support section is zipped to the mule section, and a lateral lace hook secured to the ankle support section on the lateral side and disposed above the lateral zipper pull when the ankle support section is zipped to the mule section. The lace hooks enable the ankle support section to be further secured to the mule section in the zipped position when the lace is engaged with the lace hooks and tied.

In one or more embodiments, in order to remove the article of footwear, an outward force applied to a forward medial end of the ankle support section and remote from the medial zipper pull moves the medial slider rearward along the medial edge, and an outward force applied to a forward lateral end of the ankle support section and remote from the lateral zipper pull moves the lateral slider rearward along the lateral edge.

In one or more embodiments, the article of footwear further comprises an elastic biasing member secured to a rear portion of the ankle support section and anchored to one of the sole structure or the mule section. The elastic biasing member is tensioned when the ankle support section is zipped to the mule section, and applies a biasing force urging the ankle support section to an unzipped position. The elastic biasing member thus enables the return of the ankle support section to the unzipped position when removal of the article of footwear is desired.

The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present teachings are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the modes for carrying out the present teachings when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components throughout the views, FIGS. 1-13 show an embodiment of an article of footwear 10 . An article of footwear may also be referred to as footwear or as a footwear article of manufacture. An “article of footwear”, a “footwear article of manufacture”, and “footwear” have an identical meaning, and as used herein, may refer to one or more components configured to be assembled as part of a multi-component article of footwear, or may refer to an assembled, multi-component article of footwear. Stated differently, an “article of footwear” may refer to a discrete footwear component (such as a midsole, or an upper component), or a partially or entirely assembled article of footwear (for example, including both the midsole and the upper component assembled to one another). An article of footwear, a footwear article of manufacture, and footwear may be considered to be both a machine and a manufacture.

The article of footwear 10 includes a sole structure 12 and a footwear upper 16 that includes a front section 16 A and a rear section 16 B. The front section 16 A is also referred to as a mule section, and the rear section 16 B is also referred to as an ankle support section. As best shown in FIGS. 6-8 , the rear section 16 B (i.e. the ankle support section) is hinged to a heel region 24 of the front section 16 A (i.e., the mule section). The sections 16 A, 16 B are configured to cooperate so that the rear section 16 B moves from an access position ( FIGS. 6-8 , also referred to as a zipped position) to a use position ( FIGS. 1-2 , also referred to as an unzipped position), by zipping to the front section 16 A when outward forces are applied to a lace 206 . Stated differently, the rear section 16 B pivots at the heel region 24 between an access position in which the rear section 16 B is rearward of the heel region 24 and is unzipped from the front section 16 A, and a use position in which the rear section 16 B is zipped to the front section 16 A. As used herein, movable “between” the access position and the use position means that the rear section 16 B may be moved from one of the positions to the other of the positions. The use position is maintained via a zipper system 100 and a tightening system 200 , as discussed herein, and is further secured manually following establishment of the use position.

As discussed herein, these and other features of the upper 16 and the article of footwear 10 enable the access position to afford easy foot entry into the article of footwear 10 , for example, without requiring manually pulling the sides of the upper 16 apart to provide sufficient space for foot entry. Instead, the access position provides a large foot entry opening 48 (see FIG. 7 ) that angles upward from back to front (see FIG. 6 ) as described herein, allowing access from the rear. The foot entry opening 48 may be especially helpful for easing foot entry for those with relatively inflexible feet and/or ankles. For example, due to the sloped medial and lateral edges 34 , 36 and the access position described herein, a foot held generally perpendicular to the lower leg (as positioned when standing) can enter the foot entry opening 48 with minimal need for dorsiflexion or plantar flexion during entry. The footwear 10 herein is depicted as a leisure shoe or an athletic shoe, but the present teachings also include an article of footwear that is a dress shoe, a work shoe, a sandal, a slipper, a boot, or any other category of footwear.

As indicated in FIG. 1 , the footwear 10 may be divided into three general regions: a forefoot region 20 , a midfoot region 22 , and a heel region 24 which are also the forefoot region, the midfoot region, and the heel region, respectively, of the sole structure 12 and of the upper 16 . The forefoot region 20 generally includes portions of the article of footwear 10 corresponding with the toes and the joints connecting the metatarsals with the phalanges. The midfoot region 22 generally includes portions of the article of footwear 10 corresponding with the arch area of the foot, and the heel region 24 corresponds with rear portions of the foot, including the calcaneus bone.

The sole structure 12 includes a midsole 26 and an outsole 28 secured to the midsole 26 . The midsole 26 may be formed from a compressible polymer foam element (e.g., a polyurethane or ethylvinylacetate foam) that attenuates ground reaction forces (i.e., provides cushioning) when compressed between the foot and the ground during walking, running, or other ambulatory activities. In further configurations, the midsole 26 may incorporate fluid-filled chambers, plates, moderators, or other elements that further attenuate forces, enhance stability, or influence the motions of the foot. The midsole 26 is depicted as a single, one-piece midsole, but in other embodiments could be multiple components integrated as a unit. In some embodiments, the midsole 26 may be integrated with the outsole 28 as a unisole. The outsole 28 may be several discrete outsole components or may be one-piece, and may be formed from a wear-resistant rubber material that may be textured to impart traction and/or may include traction elements such as cleats secured to a bottom surface of the midsole 26 .

The sole structure 12 may include an insole (not shown) that would be positioned within a foot-receiving cavity 33 of the footwear 10 , above a foot-facing surface 29 of the midsole 26 shown in FIG. 3 , so that it is supported on the foot-facing surface 29 . The foot-facing surface 29 of the midsole 26 may be covered by a strobel secured to the front section 16 A, in which case the insole rests on the strobel in the use position, rather than directly on the foot-facing surface 29 . In either case, the insole is supported on the midsole 26 .

The footwear 10 has a lateral side 30 ( FIG. 1 ) and a medial side 32 ( FIG. 2 ) opposite from the lateral side 30 . The lateral side 30 and the medial side 32 extend through each of forefoot region 20 , the midfoot region 22 , and the heel region 24 and correspond with opposite sides of the article of footwear 10 . The forefoot region 20 , the midfoot region 22 , the heel region 24 , the lateral side 30 and the medial side 32 are not intended to demarcate precise areas of footwear 10 , but are instead intended to represent general areas of footwear 10 to aid in the discussion.

The footwear upper 16 may be a variety of materials, such as leather, textiles, polymers, cotton, foam, composites, etc. In one example, the footwear upper 16 may be a polymeric material capable of providing elasticity to the upper 16 , and may be of braided construction, a knitted (e.g., warp-knitted) construction or a woven construction.

The front section 16 A is fixed at least to the forefoot region 20 of the sole structure 12 , and more specifically to the midsole 26 to partially define the foot-receiving cavity 33 . In the embodiment shown, the front section 16 A is configured as a mule and may be referred to as a mule section, as it extends from and is secured to the midsole 26 from the forefoot region 20 to the heel region 24 , with a rear portion 35 extending around the heel region 24 from the lateral side 30 to the medial side 32 . The foot-receiving cavity 33 receiving the forefoot region and midfoot region of a foot, and because the front section 16 A is a mule configuration, it also establishes a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at the heel region 24 .

The rear section 16 B is movable relative to the front section 16 A between the access position of FIGS. 6-8 and the use position of FIGS. 1-5 . The rear section 16 B is at least partially rearward of the front section 16 A both in the access position and in the use position. In the use position, the rear section 16 B rests on the heel region 24 of the front section 16 A as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 , but is still at least partially rearward of the forefoot and midfoot regions 20 , 22 of the front section 16 A. As indicated in FIGS. 5 and 7 , the rear section 16 B has a central portion 16 C secured to the front section 16 A at the heel region 24 and extending between the medial edge 34 and the lateral edge 36 of the front section 16 A. The rear section 16 B pivots in the heel region 24 at the central portion 16 C between the access position in which the rear section 16 B is unzipped from the front section 16 A, and a use position in which the rear section 16 B is zipped to the front section 16 A.

The article of footwear 10 includes a zipper system 100 utilized to selectively move the rear section 16 B between the access position and the use position. Additionally, as discussed herein, the tightening system 200 , and most specifically the lace 206 , is engaged with the zipper system 100 to enable simultaneous tightening of the front section 16 A and movement of the rear section 16 B to the use position. The zipper system 100 may be referred to as a lace-engaged zipper system.

As further discussed herein, medial and lateral zippers 40 , 42 extend along the medial and lateral edges 34 , 36 of the front section 16 A and along proximal edges 114 A, 114 B of the rear section 16 B, with the central portion 16 C between the zippers 40 , 42 acting as a hinge at which the rear section 16 B pivots between the access position and the use position. The zippers 40 , 42 may be configured as separate zippers, as shown, with a central section 16 C formed by the rear section 16 B between the zippers 40 , 42 , or the zippers 40 , 42 could be a single, continuous zipper (i.e., upper and lower teeth on the lateral and medial sides are continuous, with the sliders 102 A, 102 B abutting each other in the access position. The medial edge 34 and the lateral edge 36 of the front section 16 A partially define a foot entry opening 48 (indicated in FIG. 7 ) of the foot-receiving cavity 33 . The rear section 16 B has a collar portion 50 that defines the foot entry opening of the foot-receiving cavity 33 when the rear section 16 B is in the use position.

As best shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6 , the medial edge 34 slopes upwardly from the heel region 24 in a forward direction of the sole structure 12 , and the lateral edge 36 slopes upwardly from the heel region 24 in the forward direction of the sole structure 12 . The upward slope of the edges 34 , 36 enables the rear portion 35 of the front section 16 A to be relatively low, providing a wide foot entry opening 48 permitting foot entry from the rear, with the foot moving in a forward direction into the portion of the foot-receiving cavity 33 formed by the front section 16 A with little or no plantar flexion or dorsiflexion of the foot required.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 7 , the medial zipper 40 of the zipper system 100 includes a medial slider 102 A movable along the medial edge 34 of the front section 16 A to selectively zip the rear section 16 B to the medial edge 34 of the front section 16 A. A medial zipper pull 104 A is engaged with the medial slider 102 A such that a force on the medial zipper pull 104 A can cause the medial slider 102 A to move along the medial edge 34 , zipping or unzipping the front section 16 A to the rear section 16 B.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 7 , the lateral zipper 42 of the zipper system 100 includes a lateral slider 102 B movable along the lateral edge 36 of the front section 16 A to selectively zip the rear section 16 B to the lateral edge 36 of the front section 16 A. A lateral zipper pull 104 B is engaged with the lateral slider 102 B such that a force on the lateral zipper pull 104 B can cause the lateral slider 102 B to move along the lateral edge 34 , zipping or unzipping the front section 16 A to the rear section 16 B.

With reference to FIGS. 6-8 , each of the zippers 40 , 42 has lower teeth 110 and upper teeth 112 configured to meshingly engage the lower teeth. The lower teeth 110 extend along both the medial edge 34 and the lateral edge 36 of the front section 16 A, and the upper teeth 112 extend along both a medial proximal edge 114 A and a lateral proximal edge 114 B of the rear section 16 B. The medial slider 102 A is engaged with the lower teeth 110 and the upper teeth 112 on the medial side 32 , and the lateral slider 102 B is engaged with the lower teeth 110 and the upper teeth 112 on the lateral side 30 .

As best shown in FIG. 3 , the zipper system 100 interfaces with the tightening system 200 . In addition to the lace 206 , the tightening system 200 also includes lace-receiving features 202 , 204 on the front section 16 A forward of the zipper system 100 . The lace-receiving features 202 , 204 may be eyelets 202 and/or loops 204 or other features configured to retain the lace 206 . In the embodiment shown, the lace-receiving features of the front section 16 A include both eyelets 202 and loops 204 . The lace-receiving features 202 , 204 include a first series 202 A of lace-receiving features 202 , 204 on the medial side 32 of the front section 16 A, and a second series 202 B of lace-receiving features 202 , 204 on the lateral side 30 of the front section 16 A.

The tightening system 200 also includes the lace 206 that extends through the lace-receiving features 202 , 204 , through an aperture 210 of the medial zipper pull 104 A, and through an aperture 210 of the lateral zipper pull 104 B as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 . The lace 206 extends through the first series 202 A of lace-receiving features and the second series 202 B of lace-receiving features and spans a gap G therebetween. The front section 16 A has a tongue 209 with a lace holder 208 on the tongue. The lace 206 extends through the lace holder 208 to further secure the lace 206 relative to the front section 16 A.

Outward forces applied to segments 206 A, 206 B of the lace 206 outward of the medial zipper pull 104 A and the lateral zipper pull 104 B, respectively, move the medial slider 102 A and the lateral slider 102 B forward along the lower teeth 110 , zipping the rear section 16 B to the front section 16 A. The rear section 16 B thus moves from the access position of FIGS. 6-9 to the use position of FIGS. 1-5 and 11-13 when the rear section 16 B is zipped to the lateral edge 36 and to the medial edge 34 . The rear section 16 B further defines the foot-receiving cavity 33 in the use position.

With reference to FIGS. 9-12 , the medial zipper pull 104 A, the lateral zipper pull 104 B, and the series of lace-receiving features 202 A, 202 B are disposed such that a medially-outward force FM 1 on the lace segment 206 A outward of the medial zipper pull 102 A, and a simultaneous laterally-outward force FL 1 on the lace segment 206 B outward of the lateral zipper pull 102 B move the medial slider 102 A and the lateral slider 102 B forward along the medial edge 34 and the lateral edge 36 , respectively. The lace 206 slides through the zipper pulls 104 A, 104 B, lengthening the segments 206 A, 206 B outward of the zipper pulls 104 A, 104 B, while simultaneously engaging the zipper pulls 104 A, 104 B by applying force on edges of the pulls 104 A, 104 B at the apertures 210 to move the zipper pulls 104 A, 104 B upward and forward along the sloped edges 34 , 36 . Manually pulling the lace segments 206 A, 206 B in this manner may be easier than gripping and pulling the smaller zipper pulls 104 A, 104 B. The medially-outward force FM 1 and the laterally-outward force FL 1 need only have a force component perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the footwear 10 (i.e., transversely outward), and need not be directed entirely in a transversely outward direction.

The lace 206 may have lace anchors 220 A, 220 B that prevent the ends of the lace 206 from passing through the apertures 210 during wear and use. A medial lace anchor 220 A is fixed to the medial lace segment 206 A of the lace 206 outward of the medial zipper pull 104 A. The medial zipper pull 104 A defines an aperture 210 through which the lace 206 extends, and the medial lace anchor 220 A is larger than the aperture 210 of the medial zipper pull 104 A. A lateral lace anchor 220 B is fixed to a lateral segment 206 B of the lace 206 outward of the lateral zipper pull 104 B. The lateral zipper pull 104 B defines an aperture 210 through which the lace 206 extends, and the lateral lace anchor 220 B is larger than the aperture 210 of the lateral zipper pull 104 B.

Once the rear section 16 B is in the use position, it can be further secured to the front section 16 A via the lace 206 and at least one lace hook 60 A, and/or 60 B that is secured to the rear section 16 B. The lace hooks 60 A, 60 B on the rear section 16 B are used in conjunction with the tightening system 200 on the front section 16 A to secure the rear section 16 B to the front section 16 A sufficiently to withstand the various forces exerted on the upper 16 during wear. For example, a medial lace hook 60 A is secured to the rear section 16 B on the medial side 32 and disposed above the medial zipper pull 104 A when the rear section 16 B is in the use position (i.e., zipped to the front section 16 A). Similarly, a lateral lace hook 60 B may be secured to the rear section 16 B on the lateral side 30 and disposed above the lateral zipper pull 104 B when the rear section 16 B is in the use position. The lace segments 206 A, 206 B are looped partially around the lace hooks 60 A, 60 B (e.g., guided below, around, and then forward relative to the lace hooks 60 A, 60 B), and then tied together between the lace hooks 60 A, 60 B. A medial portion of the lace 206 (i.e., lace segment 206 A) is engaged with the medial lace hook 60 A, a lateral portion of the lace 206 (i.e., lace segment 206 B) is engaged with the lateral lace hook 60 B, and the lace segment 206 A is tied to the lace segment 206 B between the medial lace hook 60 A and the lateral lace hook 60 B when the lace 206 is in a tied state with the rear section 16 B in the use position.

To remove the article of footwear 10 , the rear section 16 B is returned to the access position. First, the lace 206 is untied, and then the lace segments 206 A, 206 B are disengaged from (i.e., unlooped from around) the respective lace hooks 60 A, 60 B. An outward force FM 2 (see FIG. 3 ) applied to a forward medial end 80 A of the rear section 16 B remote from the medial zipper pull 104 A moves the medial slider 102 A rearward along the medial edge 34 , and an outward force FL 2 applied to a forward lateral end 80 B of the rear section 16 B remote from the lateral zipper pull 104 B moves the lateral slider 102 B rearward along the lateral edge 36 , until the zipper pulls 104 A, 104 B are at the positions shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 . The rear section 16 B can then be easily moved back to the access position such as by the force of the foot being withdrawn from the foot-receiving cavity 33 , or, in the embodiment shown, automatically moved back to the access position when the zippers 40 , 42 are unzipped due to the biasing force of a biasing member 300 . For example, the article of footwear 10 comprises an elastic biasing member 300 secured to the rear portion of the rear section 16 B and anchored to the sole structure 12 (e.g., to midsole 26 ) or to the front section 16 A.

The rear portion 35 of the front section 16 A defines a through-hole 302 . Stated differently, a through-hole 302 extends entirely through the front section 16 A from an exterior surface 27 to an interior surface. The biasing member 300 extends through the through-hole 302 and is secured to the sole structure 12 inward of the rear section 16 B. The biasing member 300 lays against the exterior surface 27 of the rear section 16 B when the rear section 16 B is in the use position. The length of the biasing member 300 is selected so that the biasing member 300 is tensioned (i.e., elastically stretched) when the rear section 16 B is zipped to the front section 16 A in the use position, and has more slack when the rear section 16 B is in the access position. Accordingly, the biasing member 300 applies a biasing force BF urging the rear section 16 B to the unzipped, access position.

Accordingly, a large ankle opening 48 is provided, and simply pulling laterally outward on the lace 206 zips the rear section 16 B to the front section 16 A while simultaneously tightening the front section 16 A. Lace anchors 220 A, 220 B prevent the lace 206 from coming out of the zipper pulls 104 A, 104 B, and the biasing member 300 aids in returning the rear section 16 B to the access position.

To assist and clarify the description of various embodiments, various terms are defined herein. Unless otherwise indicated, the following definitions apply throughout this specification (including the claims). Additionally, all references referred to are incorporated herein in their entirety.

An “article of footwear”, a “footwear article of manufacture”, and “footwear” may be considered to be both a machine and a manufacture. Assembled, ready to wear footwear articles (e.g., shoes, sandals, boots, etc.), as well as discrete components of footwear articles (such as a midsole, an outsole, an upper component, etc.) prior to final assembly into ready to wear footwear articles, are considered and alternatively referred to herein in either the singular or plural as “article(s) of footwear” or “footwear”.

“A”, “an”, “the”, “at least one”, and “one or more” are used interchangeably to indicate that at least one of the items is present. A plurality of such items may be present unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. All numerical values of parameters (e.g., of quantities or conditions) in this specification, unless otherwise indicated expressly or clearly in view of the context, including the appended claims, are to be understood as being modified in all instances by the term “about” whether or not “about” actually appears before the numerical value. “About” indicates that the stated numerical value allows some slight imprecision (with some approach to exactness in the value; approximately or reasonably close to the value; nearly). If the imprecision provided by “about” is not otherwise understood in the art with this ordinary meaning, then “about” as used herein indicates at least variations that may arise from ordinary methods of measuring and using such parameters. As used in the description and the accompanying claims, unless stated otherwise, a value is considered to be “approximately” equal to a stated value if it is neither more than 5 percent greater than nor more than 5 percent less than the stated value. In addition, a disclosure of a range is to be understood as specifically disclosing all values and further divided ranges within the range.

The terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, or components. Orders of steps, processes, and operations may be altered when possible, and additional or alternative steps may be employed. As used in this specification, the term “or” includes any one and all combinations of the associated listed items. The term “any of” is understood to include any possible combination of referenced items, including “any one of” the referenced items. The term “any of” is understood to include any possible combination of referenced claims of the appended claims, including “any one of” the referenced claims.

For consistency and convenience, directional adjectives may be employed throughout this detailed description corresponding to the illustrated embodiments. Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that terms such as “above”, “below”, “upward”, “downward”, “top”, “bottom”, etc., may be used descriptively relative to the figures, without representing limitations on the scope of the invention, as defined by the claims.

The term “longitudinal” refers to a direction extending a length of a component. For example, a longitudinal direction of an article of footwear extends between a forefoot region and a heel region of the article of footwear. The term “forward” or “anterior” is used to refer to the general direction from a heel region toward a forefoot region, and the term “rearward” or “posterior” is used to refer to the opposite direction, i.e., the direction from the forefoot region toward the heel region. In some cases, a component may be identified with a longitudinal axis as well as a forward and rearward longitudinal direction along that axis. The longitudinal direction or axis may also be referred to as an anterior-posterior direction or axis.

The term “transverse” refers to a direction extending a width of a component. For example, a transverse direction of an article of footwear extends between a lateral side and a medial side of the article of footwear. The transverse direction or axis may also be referred to as a lateral direction or axis or a mediolateral direction or axis.

The term “vertical” refers to a direction generally perpendicular to both the lateral and longitudinal directions. For example, in cases where a sole structure is planted flat on a ground surface, the vertical direction may extend from the ground surface upward. It will be understood that each of these directional adjectives may be applied to individual components of a sole structure. The term “upward” or “upwards” refers to the vertical direction pointing towards a top of the component, which may include an instep, a fastening region and/or a throat of an upper. The term “downward” or “downwards” refers to the vertical direction pointing opposite the upwards direction, toward the bottom of a component and may generally point towards the bottom of a sole structure of an article of footwear.

The “interior” of an article of footwear, such as a shoe, refers to portions at the space that is occupied by a wearer's foot when the article of footwear is worn. The “inner side” of a component refers to the side or surface of the component that is (or will be) oriented toward the interior of the component or article of footwear in an assembled article of footwear. The “outer side” or “exterior” of a component refers to the side or surface of the component that is (or will be) oriented away from the interior of the article of footwear in an assembled article of footwear. In some cases, other components may be between the inner side of a component and the interior in the assembled article of footwear. Similarly, other components may be between an outer side of a component and the space external to the assembled article of footwear. Further, the terms “inward” and “inwardly” refer to the direction toward the interior of the component or article of footwear, such as a shoe, and the terms “outward” and “outwardly” refer to the direction toward the exterior of the component or article of footwear, such as the shoe. In addition, the term “proximal” refers to a direction that is nearer a center of a footwear component, or is closer toward a foot when the foot is inserted in the article of footwear as it is worn by a user. Likewise, the term “distal” refers to a relative position that is further away from a center of the footwear component or is further from a foot when the foot is inserted in the article of footwear as it is worn by a user. Thus, the terms proximal and distal may be understood to provide generally opposing terms to describe relative spatial positions.

While various embodiments have been described, the description is intended to be exemplary, rather than limiting and it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of the embodiments. Any feature of any embodiment may be used in combination with or substituted for any other feature or element in any other embodiment unless specifically restricted. Accordingly, the embodiments are not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents. Also, various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of the attached claims.

While several modes for carrying out the many aspects of the present teachings have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which these teachings relate will recognize various alternative aspects for practicing the present teachings that are within the scope of the appended claims. It is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and exemplary of the entire range of alternative embodiments that an ordinarily skilled artisan would recognize as implied by, structurally and/or functionally equivalent to, or otherwise rendered obvious based upon the included content, and not as limited solely to those explicitly depicted and/or described embodiments.