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Hinged footwear sole structure for foot entry and method of manufacturing

  • US 10,602,802 B2
  • Filed: 10/24/2017
  • Issued: 03/31/2020
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2016
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An article of footwear comprising:

  • a sole structure having a front sole portion, a rear sole portion, and a living hinge extending transversely across the sole structure from a medial side to a lateral side of the sole structure and connecting the front sole portion to the rear sole portion;

    a divided footwear upper including a front upper portion and a separate rear upper portion;

    wherein the front upper portion is fixed to the front sole portion, defines at least a forefoot region of the footwear upper, and includes a heel footbed, and the rear upper portion is fixed to the rear sole portion and defines a heel region of the footwear upper;

    wherein the front sole portion and the rear sole portion are selectively pivotable relative to one another at the living hinge between a use position and an access position, the heel footbed is disposed further away from the rear upper portion when the front sole portion and the rear sole portion are in the access position than when in the use position and a rear periphery of the heel footbed is surrounded by the rear upper portion and overlays the rear sole portion in the use position; and

    a strap having a fixed end secured to the heel footbed and a free end extending through an aperture in the rear upper portion;

    wherein, in the use position, the front upper portion and the rear upper portion together define a foot-receiving cavity and an ankle opening, and the rear upper portion overlaps the front upper portion at the medial side of the sole structure and at the lateral side of the sole structure;

    wherein, in the access position, the front upper portion and the rear upper portion are spaced apart from one another so that the ankle opening is larger than in the use position; and

    wherein the strap has a length configured so that the strap is slack when the sole structure is in the access position, and the front upper portion pivots toward the use position when the strap is pulled taut by the free end, and the free end is disposed at the aperture in the use position.

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