Easy Access Articles of Footwear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018110289-A1
Application number	US-201715787745-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 19, 2017
Priority date	Oct 26, 2016
Publication date	Apr 26, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Foot support systems (and articles of footwear including them) include: (a) a medial side member having one or more medial side supports (e.g., ribs); (b) a lateral side member having one or more lateral side supports (e.g., ribs); and (c) structure (such as a hinge system) configured to move the foot support system (e.g., the medial side support(s) with respect to the lateral side support(s)) between: (a) a foot-insertion configuration and (b) a foot-containing configuration. In moving from the foot-insertion configuration to the foot-containing configuration, the foot support system can be changed between an open condition and a closed condition.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A foot support system, comprising:
a medial side member including a medial side foot support base and a first medial side support extending upward from the medial side foot support base; a lateral side member including a lateral side foot support base and a first lateral side support extending upward from the lateral side foot support base; a hinge system connecting the medial side foot support base and the lateral side foot support base in a relative rotational manner, wherein the hinge system is configured to move the foot support system between: (a) a foot-insertion configuration and (b) a foot-containing configuration, and wherein: (a) in moving from the foot-insertion configuration to the foot-containing configuration, interior surfaces of the medial side member and the lateral side member rotate about the hinge system with respect to one another in a direction toward one another, and (b) in moving from the foot-containing configuration to the foot-insertion configuration, interior surfaces of the medial side member and the lateral side member rotate about the hinge system with respect to one another in a direction away from one another.

2 . The foot support system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a locking system configured to releasably lock the hinge system to hold the foot support system in the foot-containing configuration.

3 . The foot support system according to claim 2 , further comprising:
a release mechanism configured to change the locking system from a locked state to an unlocked state.

4 . The foot support system according to claim 3 , wherein the release mechanism includes a cable that applies a force to unlock the locking system.

5 . The foot support system according to claim 3 , wherein the release mechanism includes a lever, wherein movement of the lever applies a force to unlock the locking system.

6 . The foot support system according to claim 3 , wherein the release mechanism includes:
a base support; a first lever; a first hinge rotatably connecting the base support and the first lever; and a cable engaged with the first lever, wherein rotation of the first lever with respect to the base support about the first hinge moves the cable such that the cable applies a force to unlock the locking mechanism.

7 . The foot support system according to claim 6 , wherein the first lever extends to a rear heel location of the foot support system.

8 . The foot support system according to claim 3 , wherein the release mechanism includes:
a base support including a first side member and a second side member; a first lever including a first end and a second end; a first hinge rotatably connecting the first side member of the base support and the first end of the first lever; a second hinge rotatably connecting the second side member of the base support and the second end of the first lever; and a cable engaged with the first lever, wherein rotation of the first lever with respect to the base support about the first hinge and the second hinge moves the cable such that the cable applies of force to unlock the locking mechanism.

9 . The foot support system according to claim 8 , wherein the base support and the first lever define a receptacle configured to receive a heel area of a user's foot.

10 . The foot support system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a biasing system configured to bias the foot support system to the foot-insertion configuration when no foot is present in the foot support system.

11 . The foot support system according to claim 10 , wherein the biasing system includes a resilient member having at least a portion located beneath one or more of the hinge system, the medial side foot support base, and the lateral side foot support base.

12 . The foot support system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a securing member configured to releasably secure the first medial side support with the first lateral side support.

13 . The foot support system according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a securing system releasably holding: (a) the first medial side support in place with respect to the medial side foot support base when the foot support system is in the foot-containing configuration and (b) the first lateral side support in place with respect to the lateral side foot support base when the foot support system is in the foot-containing configuration.

14 . The foot support system according to claim 1 , wherein, with the foot support system supported on a horizontal support surface, a horizontal plane exists above the horizontal support surface in which:
(a) in the foot-containing configuration, the entire hinge system is located below the horizontal plane, and (b) in the foot-insertion configuration, at least a portion of the hinge system is located above the horizontal plane.

15 . The foot support system according to claim 1 , wherein, with the foot support system supported on a horizontal support surface, a horizontal plane exists above the horizontal support surface in which:
(a) in the foot-containing configuration, the entire hinge system, the entire medial side foot support base, and the entire lateral side foot support base are located below the horizontal plane, and (b) in the foot-insertion configuration, at least a portion of the hinge system, at least a portion of the medial side foot support base, and at least a portion of the lateral side foot support base are located above the horizontal plane.

16 . A foot support system, comprising:
a medial side member including a plurality of medial side support ribs configured to extend along a medial side portion of the foot support system; and a lateral side member including a plurality of lateral side support ribs configured to extend along a lateral side portion of the foot support system; wherein the medial side member and the lateral side member are engaged together such that the plurality of medial side support ribs and the plurality of lateral side support ribs are movable with respect to one another between: (a) a foot-insertion configuration and (b) a foot-containing configuration, and wherein: (a) in moving from the foot-insertion configuration to the foot-containing configuration, interior surfaces of the plurality of medial side support ribs and interior surfaces of the plurality of lateral side support ribs rotate in a direction toward one another, and (b) in moving from the foot-containing configuration to the foot-insertion configuration, interior surfaces of the plurality of medial side support ribs and interior surfaces of the plurality of lateral side support ribs rotate in a direction away from one another.

17 . The foot support system according to claim 16 , further comprising:
a locking system configured to releasably lock the hinge system to hold the plurality of medial side support ribs with respect to the plurality of lateral side support ribs in the foot-containing configuration.

18 . The foot support system according to claim 17 , further comprising a release mechanism configured to releasably change the locking system from a lock state to an unlocked state, wherein the release mechanism includes:
a base support; a first lever; a first hinge rotatably connecting the base support and the first lever; and a cable engaged with the first lever, wherein rotation of the first lever with respect to the base support about the first hinge moves the cable such that the cable applies a force to unlock the locking mechanism.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Owings Andrew A
• Rucier Kevin J
• Meneau Phillip Anthony
• Smith Iii Wilson W

Classifications

• A43C11/1493

  Strap fastenings having hook and loop-type fastening elements · CPC title

• A43B13/141 Primary

  with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion · CPC title

• A43C11/165

  characterised by a spool, reel or pulley for winding up cables, laces or straps by rotation · CPC title

• A43B1/14

  made of plastics (A43B1/028 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A43B13/186

  Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot (resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32) · CPC title