Hinged footwear sole structure for foot entry and method of manufacturing
A sole structure for an article of footwear comprises a unitary midsole having a first portion and a second portion rearward of the first portion. A bottom surface of the unitary midsole defines a groove extending from a medial side to a lateral side of the unitary midsole, and a top surface of the unitary midsole defines a slit disposed over the groove and extending from the medial side to the lateral side. The unitary midsole forms a living hinge at the groove and the slit, with the living hinge connecting the first portion to the second portion so that the first portion and the second portion are selectively pivotable relative to one another at the living hinge between a first orientation and a second orientation. The groove is wider in the first orientation than in the second orientation, and the slit is wider in the second orientation.
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.
2. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein the rear upper portion includes a compliant protrusion that protrudes forward into the foot-receiving cavity above the heel footbed when the front sole portion and the rear sole portion are in the use position.
3. The article of footwear of claim 1 , wherein:
the front sole portion, the rear sole portion, and the living hinge are coplanar in the use position; and
the sole structure is lifted at the living hinge in the access position relative to the use position so that the rear sole portion inclines from a rear end of the rear sole portion to the living hinge, and the front sole portion inclines from a forward end of the front sole portion to the living hinge.
4. An article of footwear comprising:
a midsole having a front midsole portion and a rear midsole portion;
an outsole configured as a living hinge extending transversely across the midsole from a medial side of the midsole to a lateral side of the midsole and connecting the front midsole portion to the rear midsole 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 midsole portion and 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 midsole portion and defines a heel region of the footwear upper; wherein the front midsole portion and the rear midsole portion are selectively pivotable relative to one another at the living hinge between a use position and an access position;
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 the midsole is lifted at the living hinge in the access position relative to the use position so that the rear midsole portion inclines from a rear end of the rear midsole portion to the living hinge, and the front midsole portion inclines from a forward end of the front midsole portion to the living hinge;
wherein a bottom surface of the midsole in the heel region has a main portion and a rearmost portion extending from and disposed at an obtuse angle to the main portion so that the main portion of the bottom surface rests on a horizontal ground surface in the use position, and the rearmost portion of the bottom surface rests on the horizontal ground surface in the access 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 with the heel footbed overlaying the rear midsole portion.
5. The article of footwear of claim 4 , wherein a top surface of the rear midsole portion has a main portion and a rearmost portion extending from and disposed at an obtuse angle to the main portion so that the rear midsole portion has a ridge between the rearmost portion of the bottom surface and the rearmost portion of the top surface.
6. An article of footwear comprising:
a midsole having a front midsole portion and a rear midsole portion;
an outsole configured as a living hinge extending transversely across the midsole from a medial side of the midsole to a lateral side of the midsole and connecting the front midsole portion to the rear midsole 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 midsole portion and 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 midsole portion and defines a heel region of the footwear upper; wherein the front midsole portion and the rear midsole portion are selectively pivotable relative to one another at the living hinge between a use position and an access 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 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 with the heel footbed overlaying the rear midsole portion.
7. The article of footwear of claim 6 , wherein:
a rear periphery of the heel footbed is surrounded by the rear upper portion and overlays the rear midsole portion in the use position; and
the heel footbed is disposed further away from the rear upper portion when the front midsole portion and the rear midsole portion are in the access position than when in the use position.