US20220225727A1

US20220225727A1 - Hands-free Step in Footwear and Method of Use

Info

Publication number: US20220225727A1
Application number: US17/575,725
Authority: US
Inventors: Chaun Michael Medeiros
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-01-15
Filing date: 2022-01-14
Publication date: 2022-07-21

Abstract

An article of footwear with an insole, an adaptable heel configured to adjust between at least an open and a closed configuration, a retainer connected to the heel configured to hold the heel in one configuration, the retainer having a locked state and an unlocked state, a releaser connected to said retainer configured to place the retainer into the unlocked state. In some cases, the insole is configured to have a raised configuration and a lowered configuration, the raised configuration being linked by a linker to the heel and its open configuration and the lowered configuration being linked by the linker to the heel and its closed configuration. In some cases, the article of footwear has a tightener having a secure state and a loose state, and the heel's closed configuration linked to the tightener's secure state.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE(S) TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/138,175 filed Jan. 15, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application relates to footwear. More specifically, this invention relates to an adaptable insole and heel of footwear and a method of use thereof; with some embodiments of the invention relating to hands-free footwear that require no use of the hands to place the foot into or out of the footwear.

BACKGROUND

Typically, placing a shoe or other article of footwear onto a person's foot requires the use of one or both hands, where the person stretches the footwear opening to allow the foot to enter. Without the use of one or both hands, the act of putting on one's footwear can result in the top of the heel being pushed down or overly loose laces. The heel top often gets damaged over time when pushed down and loose laces require additional time to fasten or a tightening mechanism before the footwear can be effectively used.
A desirable solution would be an article of footwear that increases its opening to allow easy entry of a foot while preventing damage to the footwear. Another desirable solution would be a solution that enables automatic tightening and loosing of the laces while the foot is placed in or removed from the footwear.
Here is described an article of footwear having an adjustable heel and insole, such that the entry of a foot causes the movement of the insole and heel into a closed configuration. Further, an easy to use mechanism is provided to enable the foot to be removed, using simple force to place the heel in an open configuration. In some cases, the footwear also has an automatic tightener that secures the foot when the insole and heel are in the closed configuration.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
One object of the present invention is an article of footwear having an insole, an adjustable heel, a retainer, and releaser. The heel being adjustable with at least an open and closed configuration, the retainer being able to hold the heel in one of those configurations. The retainer has at least two states, a locked state and an unlocked state; the releaser is connected to the retainer and it changes the retainer to the unlocked state. In some cases, the releaser switches between the locked and unlocked state. In some embodiments, the insole responds to force applied to it, and that applied force changes the heel's configuration. In some embodiments, the insole has a raised and a lowered configuration. In some embodiments, the footwear also has a linker connected to the insole and the heel. The linker transfers the force from the insole to the heel and enables the heel to change configurations. In some embodiments, the heel's configurations are mechanically linked by said linker.
In some embodiments, the mechanical linkage of the linker couples the insole's raised configuration to the heel's open configuration and the insole's lowered configuration to the heel's closed configuration. In some of these embodiments, the footwear also has an outsole that supports the heel and insole, and an upper connected to the outsole. Here, the upper and outsole form a first enclosure for a portion of a foot, and the heel in its closed configuration and the outsole form a second enclosure. The second enclosure is for a second portion of the foot and secures the foot into the footwear. In some of these cases, the heel's open configuration enables movement of a foot into the first enclosure and the heel's closed configuration prevents movement of the foot from the first enclosure.
Another object of the present invention is a way to secure a foot within the footwear having an outsole, an insole, an upper and a tightener. The insole has a raised configuration and a lowered configuration, the upper is connected to the outsole and the tightener is connected to the upper and the insole and has a secure state and a loose state. Furthermore, the insole's raised configuration places the tightener into the loose state and conversely, the insole's lowered configuration places the tightener into the secure state.
In some embodiments, the footwear disclosed herein has a second linker connected to the insole and the heel. In some embodiments, the releaser is located on the outward facing surface of the heel. In some embodiments, the releaser changes the retainer between its locked and unlocked state. In some cases, the insole is a single, unbroken piece. In some embodiments, the footwear has the outsole that supports the heel and insole, and the insole is prevented from having a configuration that moves or otherwise adjusts below the plane of the outsole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In what follows, preferred embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B are two side views of a footwear article according to one embodiment. FIG. 1A shows the footwear in the open configuration with loose tightener laces, and FIG. 1B shows the footwear in the closed configuration with tight tightener laces.

FIGS. 2A-2C are three bottom views of three embodiments according to the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate the adjustable heel according to two embodiments of the present invention, with the open configuration in solid lines and the closed configuration in broken, dashed lines.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are two possible heels according to the present invention with anchor points and linker structure illustrated.

DEFINITIONS

The term “anchor” as used herein refers to a point or area on a footwear component, typically the heel or insole, that connects to another component (e.g., the linker).
As used herein, the term “major axis” refers to the axis that runs the length of the footwear from the heel to the toe. The term “minor axis” refers to the axis perpendicular to the major axis, running from one lateral side of the footwear to the other.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Overview

The present disclosure describes an article of footwear 100 with an adjustable heel 109 to easily allow entry and exit of a user's foot and is shown in FIGS. 1A-4B. Generally, the footwear 100 has an upper 101, a sole 102, and a heel 109; the sole 102 having an insole 103 and at least an outsole 119. The heel 109 is adjustable and has at least two configurations, open and closed. The heels' open configuration 109 a enables the entry and exit of a user's foot into the footwear, and the heel's closed configuration 109 b enables the user's foot to be securely fixed within the footwear 100. A retaining mechanism 107 attached to or located within the heel 109 provides a means for maintaining the heel 109 in a configuration. A release mechanism 108 enables the disengagement of the retaining mechanism 107, thus enabling the heel 109 to change between configurations.
In the currently preferred embodiment, the insole has at least two configurations, raised 103 a and lowered 103 b, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, respectively. Typically, the configurations of the insole 103 are physically linked to the configurations of the heel 109, for example, the heel's open configuration 109 a is physically linked to the insole's raised configuration 103 a. Pressure, often downward, on the insole's raised configuration 103 a drives the insole 103 to change to the lowered configuration and the linked heel to change to the closed configuration 109 b. The linkage between insole and heel is provided by a linker 106.
Further embodiments of the present disclosure provide articles of footwear 100 with a tightener 110 that automatically loosens and tightens as the footwear 100 is placed into the open and closed configurations, respectively, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B. The insole raised configuration 103 a enables the connected tightener 110 to loosen the upper 101, allowing easy exit and entry of a user's foot into the footwear 100. When the insole 103 in placed into the lowered configuration 103 b, most often by closure of the heel 109, the insole 103 typically moves physically lower, pulling, and therefore tightening the tightener 110. Because this single motion causes both heel closure and upper tightening, no additional tightening of the footwear is required, simplifying use, and aiding in persons with limitations.

Upper

The present disclosure provides for a footwear upper 101 section that restrains a foot in place in the footwear 100, the upper 101 section is referred herein as the upper and the footwear sole 102 section referred herein as the sole. The upper 101 and heel 109 are connected to or otherwise mounted onto the sole 102. The heel 109 and upper 101 may be physical attached to one another or may be physically separate pieces. When attached, they are preferably linked with a flexible or stretchable connection, e.g., an elastic fabric. The upper 101 secures or encloses a forward portion of a user's foot, while the heel 109 secures or encloses the user's heel. The upper 101 comprises a tightening system (e.g., laces) to hold the foot properly within the footwear.

Sole

The present disclosure provides for a footwear sole 102 that supports the bottom of the foot and connects the upper 101. The sole 102 comprises an insole 103, an outsole 119, and optionally, a midsole 124. In the currently preferred embodiment, the outsole 119 is a single piece, typically flexible, but not hinged or substantially separatable from itself. The insole 103 is adaptable and may adopt multiple configurations to enable foot entry and exit. The footwear may be thought of as having two axes; a major axis 118 of the footwear runs from the heel to the toe box and a minor axis 123 perpendicular to the major axis, as illustrated in FIG. 2C.
The outsole 119 physically supports the remainder of the footwear 100. The outsole 119 supports the heel 109, the insole 102, and the upper 101 and is most often permanently attached to the heel 109 and upper 101. Together the upper 101, heel 109, and outsole 119 can be thought of as forming an enclosure for the foot. Because the heel 109 is adaptable, the foot enclosure is broken into a first, forward enclosure and a second, rearward enclosure. The forward enclosure is formed by the outsole 119 and upper 101 and encloses the forward portion of a user's foot. The rearward enclosure is formed by the outsole 119 and the heel 109 and encloses the rearward portion of a user's foot (i.e., the heel and, in some cases, the ankle).
In the currently preferred embodiment, the outsole 119 (and midsole 124, if present) are one physical piece that does not open in any manner, for example hinged or otherwise articulated as two sections. Known in the art are shoes with increased ease of access that have two articulating outsole sections. These shoes have structural deficiencies due to the broken outsole and midsole sections, which are responsible for receiving the majority of the foot's pressure onto the shoe. The present disclosure presents an increased ease of access footwear 100 without sacrificing midsole 124 and outsole 119 durability. In some embodiments, the heel 109 is prevented from adopting a configuration that puts the heel 109 below the plane of the outsole 119. The plane of the outsole 119 may be described as the midpoint or midline between the top and bottom of the outsole, as illustrated by dash-dotted line 121 in FIG. 4B.

Insole

The present disclosure provides for an insole 103 that supports the foot. The insole 103 is within the footwear's sole section 102 and most often rests on top of the outsole 119 and midsole 124, if present. The insole 103 is connected to a linker 106. In the currently preferred embodiment, the insole 103 has at least two configurations, a raised configuration 103 a, and a lowered configuration 103 b. When in its raised configuration 103 a, the insole 103 is partially raised above its supporting structure (e.g., the outsole 119); typically, only the rearward portion (towards the heel) is raised, and the forward portion (towards the toe box) is resting on the supporting structure. The insole 103 rests fully, or rests substantially, on its supporting structure when in its lowered configuration 103 b. An applied force, often downward pressure, onto the insole's raised configuration 103 a causes the insole 103 to adjust into its lowered configuration 103 b; the connected linker 106 then translates that force to the heel 109, causing an adjustment from the heel's open configuration 109 a to the closed configuration 109 b. In some embodiments, the insole 103 moves in relation to the outsole 119 when changed from the open to the closed configuration. Most often the insole 103 movement is forward (towards the toe box), further enabling the linker's adjustment of the heel from the open 109 a to the closed configuration 109 b.
In the currently preferred embodiment, the insole 103 spans the entire length of the outsole 119 or substantially the length of the outsole 119. In most embodiments, the insole 103 is a single physical piece that spans, or physically runs substantially the length of the footwear 100 in at least one configuration. In some embodiments, the insole 103 spans 75% of the length of the sole 102 (or outsole 119). In other embodiments, the insole 103 spans 90% of the length of the sole 102 (or outsole 119).

Heel

The present disclosure provides for an adaptable heel 109 enabling entry and exit of a user's foot as well as a secure and fixed structure around the rear of a user's foot when the foot is inside the footwear 100. The heel 109 moves, deforms, adjusts, or otherwise adapts between at least an open configuration 109 a and a closed configuration 109 b. Each configuration serves a function of the footwear. The open configuration 109 a enables movement of a user's foot into and out of the footwear 100 and the closed configuration 190 b prevents movement of a user's foot into or out of the footwear 100. Said another way, the open configuration 109 a allow access to the forward enclosure, while the closed configuration 190 b prevents access to the forward enclosure. Often, the heel 109 is connected to the linker 106 that connects the heel 109 to the insole 103. The linker 106 provides the physical link between insole 103 and heel 109 configurations, enabling the adjustment of the heel 109 when the insole 103 is adjusted by a user; as well as the opposite, the adjustment of the insole 103 when the heel 109 is adjusted by a user. Typically, the heel 109 is connected to the retainer 107 that prevents the heel 109 from adjusting between configurations.
Heel Configurations. The heel 109 has at least two configurations, an open configuration 109 a, and a closed configuration 109 b, illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Two additional views of open configurations 109 a are illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The open configuration 109 a enables easy access by a user to place their foot into the footwear 100. The closed configuration 109 b enables a secure fit of the footwear 100 around the user's foot when inside the footwear 100. In the currently preferred embodiment, opening the heel 109 physically (e.g., by a user's hand) places the insole 103 into its raised configuration 103 a. Pressure onto the insole's raised configuration 103 a drives the insole 103 into its lowered configuration 103 b and the heel into its closed configuration 109 b. The heel 109 may also be physically placed into its closed configuration 109 b by an external force (e.g., a user's hand closing the heel 109 in an empty footwear 100).
It is within the scope of the present invention for the heel 109 to have additional configurations, for example a storage configuration that adjusts the heel 109 to obscure or close the footwear's ankle opening substantially or partially. In other words, the storage configuration is substantially in contact with the lateral and top edges of the upper. Another possible configuration comprises a cleaning configuration, wherein the heel 109 is adjusted to a larger opening than the open configuration 109 a, enabling easy access to the footwear interior, often for the purpose of cleaning the footwear's interior. In some embodiments, the heel 109 is prevented from assuming a configuration that brings the heel substantially below the plane of the outsole.
The heel 109 may be either connected to or separate from the upper 101. When the heel 109 is connected to the upper 101, the connection is most often elastic or otherwise deformable, such that the fabric or other material joining the heel 109 and upper 101 stretches or deforms, allowing the heel 109 to change between configurations. When the heel 109 is not connected to the upper 101, the heel 109 touches or comes in close proximity to the upper 101 when in the closed configuration 109 b, forming a footwear 100 with substantially no openings on the lateral faces of the footwear 100. In other embodiments, for example sandal footwear 100, the heel in the closed configuration 109 b has opening on the lateral faces of the footwear 100, often substantial openings, between the heel 109 and any upper 101.

Linker

The present disclosure provides a mechanism to connect and translate forces between insole 103 and heel 109, referred herein as the linker 106. Most often, the connection is mechanical. In some cases, the linker 106 connection may be magnetic or in rare cases electromagnetic. The linker 106 serves to link the insole's raised configuration 103 a with the heel's open configuration 109 a and to link the insole's lowered configuration 103 b with the heel's closed configuration 109 b. In some embodiments the linker 106 is a hinge, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 3A. In some embodiments the linker 106 comprises a track or rail means 115 that enables an articulating linker 116 arm or rod to adjust the configuration of the heel 109.
The linker 106 may be attached to the heel 109 and insole 103 by any suitable means known in the art. In one embodiment, the linker 106 is made of a durable plastic, and is fastened (e.g., glued) to a portion of the heel 109 at one end of the linker 106 and fastened (e.g., glued) to a portion of the insole 103 at the other end of the linker 106. The portion of the heel 109 to which the linker 106 is attached is referred herein as the heel anchor 113 and, similarly, the portion of the heel to which the linker is attached is referred herein as the insole anchor 112. In other embodiments the linker 106 is a metal strip, sometimes surrounded by a layer of fabric, that is fastened to the heel anchor 113 and the insole anchor 112. Suitable fasteners include glue, screws, bolts, welding, and the like. In some embodiments the linker 106 is one physical piece with another component, for example a one-piece heel 109 and linker 106. In some cases, the linker 106 is a single physical piece located underneath the insole 103, connecting to an insole anchor 112 that is located on the underside face of the insole 103. In these cases, the outsole 119, or midsole 124, if present, has a groove 114 that accepts the linker 106 such that the insole 103 rests evenly (i.e., substantially flat) on the component below it (e.g., outsole 119), as illustrated in FIG. 2A.
In some embodiments, the linker 106T has an approximately triangular shape, shown in FIG. 4A, connecting to the insole 103 at one insole anchor point A1, and to the heel 109 at two heel anchor points C1 and C2. In other embodiments, the linker 106R is approximately rectangular, connecting to the insole 103 at two or more insole anchor points, illustrated as points A3 and A4 in FIG. 4B and to the heel 109 at two or more heel anchor points C3 and C4. Of note, the plane of the insole is shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B as a dashed line 103 and is overlapping with the linker structure (solid black line). The groove 114 may further comprise structure that aids linker 106 movement, for example, runners, a low-friction surface, or miniature bearings. In other cases, the linker 106 is two physical pieces, disposed on either side of the insole 103, each linker piece connecting to separate insole anchors, and to separate heel anchors. One example of this is shown in FIG. 2C, where two linkers, linker 116 and 117, each separately connect to heel anchors B1 and B2, respectively. Typically, each insole anchor 112 would be equal distant along the minor axis 123 of the insole 103. In still other cases, the linker 106 is three physical pieces, having one linker 106 underneath the insole 103 and two on either side of the insole 103, as described above.

Retainer and Releaser

A mechanism for keeping the heel 109 in one configuration is provided, referred herein as the retainer 107. A mechanism for releasing the retainer is also provided, referred herein as the releaser 108. The retainer 107 has at least two states, an unlocked state, and a locked state. The unlocked state has no effect on the adjustment of the heel 109 between heel configurations, while the retainer's locked state holds, locks, or otherwise prevents a change in heel configuration. For example, and most typical, in its locked state, the retainer 107 prevents the heel 109 to adjust from the closed configuration 109 b to the open configuration 109 a. It is within the scope of this disclosure for the retainer's locked state to prevent the heel 109 to adjust between other configurations (e.g., locking the heel 109 in the storage configuration).
Releaser 108 is connected to at least the retainer 107 and is configured to change the retainer's state. Typically, the releaser 108 comprises a button or other activation mechanism (e.g., a switch) connected to a mechanism to interact with the retainer 107. Typically, the releaser 108 is activatable by a user, often by the user's other foot that is not in the article of footwear 100. The releaser 108 is most often on the heel's outward facing surfacep, away from the article of footwear 100, as illustrated in FIG. 3B. The retainer 107 and releaser 108 may be any suitable locking and releasing mechanisms as known in the art. Most often the retainer 107 and releaser 108 are mechanical mechanisms. In less preferred embodiments, one or both the retainer 107 and releaser 108 are magnetic mechanisms. In one embodiment, the retainer 107 comprises one or more stop members attached to a cam, as known in the art. The stop members are accepted into releaser slots and when so positioned in the releaser slots; changing of the heel configuration is prevented. Activation of the releaser ejects the stop members from the releaser slots, the cam moves (e.g., rotates) the stop members into a position that prevents the stop members from entering the releaser slots, and the retainer is changed into the unlocked state.
In other embodiments, the retainer 107 is released by the releaser 108 by pressing on the heel 109 farther forward, towards the heel 109, while the heel is in the closed configuration 109 b. This farther forward motion presses the user's foot into the forward section of the footwear 100, but also releases a stop from the retainer 107, allowing the heel 109 to adjust into the open configuration. Once in the open configuration 109 a the retainer stop is reset, allowing the retainer stop to again engage the retainer 107 when again placed into the closed configuration.

Tightener

The present disclosure provides for a mechanism to tighten and loosen the upper 101 to secure a user's foot in the footwear 100, referred herein as the tightener 110. The tightener 110 may be any suitable mechanism as known in the art. The tightener 110 has at least two states, a loose state 110 a, and a secure state 110 b. The loose state 110 a enables entry or exit of the foot into the footwear 100 and the secure state 110 b prevents movement of the foot while in the footwear 100. In one embodiment, the footwear 100 has a crisscrossing lace secured to lace eyelets 122 sewn, fastened, or otherwise incorporated into the upper 101. The tightener 110 comprises multiple connections between each lace eyelet 122 and to the insole 103. The insole's lowered configuration 103 b stretches the tightener, pulling down the lace eyelets 122 and the upper 101 structure down around the foot, tightening the footwear 100. In another embodiment the tightener 110 comprises one or more pieces of fabric fastened to either side of the sole 103 running the length of the minor axis 123 and over a user's foot in the upper 101, and typically secured to the insole 103. The fabric tightener 110 typically has at least some elasticity, stretching to allow entry of the foot, but when relaxed, resuming a tight configuration to secure the foot within the footwear 100.

Automatic Tightening

It is within the scope of the present disclosure for some embodiments to have a mechanism for automatically tightening and loosen the tightener 110. Automatic tightening further enables a quick and hands-free entry and exit of a user's foot into and out of the footwear 100. The automatic tightening may be any suitable system as known in the art. Generally, the tightener's tight state 110 b secures a user's foot inside the footwear 100 and the loose state 110 a allows a user's foot to enter or exit the footwear 100. It is possible for the tightener 110 to have additional states. Typically, the tightener 110 state is linked to the insole 103 configuration. Typically, the insole's raised configuration 103 a places the tightener into its loose state 110 a and the insole's lowered configuration 103 b places the tightener into its secure state 110 b.
In one embodiment, the tightener 110 comprises a fabric tightener attached to two sides of the insole 103, such that when the insole is in the raised configuration 103 a the tightener 110 is loosened away from the upper 101 and a user's foot, enabling entry and exit of the foot. When the insole is placed into the lowered configuration 103 b (often by a user placing their foot into the footwear 100), the tightener 110 is pulled down along with the insole 103 and tightened against the upper 101 and the user's foot. In more embodiments, the tightener 110 is comprises a spring coil (fabric or metal) that connects to the insole 103. The coil is affected by the configuration of the insole 103, adjusting as the insole adjusts. Often this adjustment comprises increasing or decreasing in length. In one embodiment, the coil is held coiled when the insole is in the lowered configuration 103 b, decreasing its length and automatically tightening the tightener 110. In this embodiment, when the insole is in the raised configuration 103 a, the coil is released and increases in length, automatically loosening the upper 101. These tighteners 110 may be held in place by a suitable mechanism or structure on the outsole 119 or midsole, if present.

Example

One exemplary embodiment will be presently described. An article of footwear 100 comprising an upper 101 made of a woven fabric of polyester backing adhered to a leather outer layer is glued to an outsole 119 made up of polyurethane. The linker 106 extends through a shallow groove 114 shaped into the top surface of the outsole 119 and is connected to the heel 109 at the heel anchor 113. The heel 109 is attached to the outsole 119 such that the heel pivots away from the upper 101, with the heel anchor 113 serving as the pivot point. Heel 109 and upper 101 are made of the same material and are connected to each other by an elastic woven polyester fiber, preferably the same color or color scheme as the upper 101 and heel 109.
The heel 109 further comprises a releaser 108 button situated in the middle of the back face of the heel 109. The releaser 108 button is made of a circular soft plastic pushbutton switch surrounded by a hard plastic rim around the switch's circumference. Pressure on the pushbutton switch releases the retainer 107 and places the footwear 100 into the open configuration. Pressure on the heel 109 itself moves the heel into contact with the upper 101, moves the insole 103 down, and locks the heel 109 into its closed configuration 109 b and insole 103 into the lowered configuration 103 b.
The footwear 100 further has a tightener 110 made of a synthetic fiber, e.g., spun polyester laces. The tightener 110 laces are attached to the insole 103 and threaded either through openings in the upper 101 or attached to a lace eyelet 122. The tightener 110 is put into its loose state 110 a when the heel 109 is in its open configuration 109 a and the insole 103 is in its raised configuration 103 a. When the insole 103 is pressed down and placed into its lowered configuration 103 b, the tightener 110 is physically pulled lower and automatically placed into its secure state 110 b.
Although specific features of the present invention are shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only, as each feature may be combined with any or all of the other features in accordance with the invention. While there have been shown, described, and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or steps that perform substantially the same function, in substantially the same way, to achieve the same results be within the scope of the invention. Substitutions of elements from one described embodiment to another are also fully intended and contemplated. It is also to be understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, but that they are merely conceptual in nature.
It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto. Other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art and are within the following claims.

Claims

1. An article of footwear, comprising:

an insole;

a heel configured to have an open configuration and a closed configuration;

a retainer configured to have a locked state and an unlocked state;

a releaser connected to said retainer; and

wherein said retainer is configured to hold said heel in one of said open configuration or said closed configuration when in said locked state, and wherein said releaser is configured to change said retainer to said unlocked state.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said insole is configured to respond to a force; wherein said force changes said heel to said closed configuration.

3. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein said insole is configured to have a raised configuration and a lowered configuration.

4. The article of footwear of claim 3 further comprising a linker connected to said insole and said heel.

5. The article of footwear of claim 4, wherein said insole's raised configuration and said heel's open configuration are mechanically linked by said linker; and said insole's lowered configuration and said heel's closed configuration are mechanically linked by said linker.

6. The article of footwear of claim 1 further comprising:

an outsole configured to support said heel and said insole; and

an upper connected to said outsole;

wherein said upper and said outsole form a first enclosure for a portion of a foot; and wherein said heel in said closed configuration and said outsole form a second enclosure for a second portion of a foot.

7. The article of footwear of claim 6, wherein said outsole is one physically unbroken piece.

8. The article of footwear of claim 6, wherein said heel's open configuration enables movement of a foot into said first enclosure and said heel's closed configuration prevents movement of said foot to said first enclosure.

9. The article of footwear of claim 6, wherein said heel is configured to have a storage configuration that is substantially in contact with the lateral and top edges of said upper.

10. The article of footwear of claim 6, further comprising a tightener connected to said upper and said insole; wherein said tightener is configured to have a secure state and a loose state.

11. The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein said insole has at least two configurations, a raised configuration, and a lowered configuration; wherein said insole's raised configuration places said tightener into said loose state and said insole's lowered configuration places said tightener into said secure state.

12. The article of footwear of claim 1, further comprising a tightener connected to said insole; wherein said tightener is configured to have a secure state and a loose state.

13. The article of footwear of claim 12, wherein said insole has at least two configurations, a raised configuration, and a lowered configuration; wherein said insole's raised configuration places said tightener into said loose state and said insole's lowered configuration places said tightener into said secure state.

14. The article of footwear of claim 1, further comprising a second linker connected to said insole and said heel.

15. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said releaser is located on the outward facing surface of said heel.

16. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said releaser is configured to change said retainer between said locked state and said unlocked state.

17. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said insole comprises a single, unbroken piece.

18. The article of footwear of claim 1, further comprising an outsole configured to support said heel and said insole, wherein said heel is prevented from having a configuration in which a portion of said heel is below the plane of said outsole.

19. An article of footwear, comprising:

an outsole;

an insole configured to have a raised configuration and a lowered configuration;

an upper connected to said outsole; and

a tightener connected to said upper and said insole; wherein said tightener is configured to have a secure state and a loose state; and

wherein said insole's raised configuration places said tightener into said loose state and said insole's lowered configuration places said tightener into said secure state.

20. The article of footwear of claim 18, wherein said insole is configured to respond to a force; wherein said force changes said insole to said lowered configuration.