Footwear with magnetic closures

Abstract

Footwear with magnetic closures are disclosed. Footwear include a shell with a heel section and a front section defining a lateral slit and a medial slit between the heel section and the front section. Footwear have a lateral magnetic closure associated with the lateral slit and a medial magnetic closure associated with the medial slit. The heel section is configured to support a user's heel when the lateral magnetic closure and the medial magnetic closure are closed. Further, the heel section is configured to flex rearward to expose a rear foot passage when the lateral magnetic closure and medial magnetic closure are open.

1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 a shell including a heel section and a front section defining a lateral slit and a medial slit between the heel section and the front section;   a lateral magnetic closure associated with the lateral slit; and   a medial magnetic closure associated with the medial slit;   wherein the heel section is configured to support a heel of a user's foot when the lateral magnetic closure and the medial magnetic closure are closed, and wherein the heel section is configured to flex rearward to expose a rear foot passage when the lateral magnetic closure and the medial magnetic closure are open.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the article of footwear has a closed configuration in which the heel section is upright, the lateral magnetic closure is closed, and the medial magnetic closure is closed, and wherein the article of footwear has an open configuration in which the heel section is flexed rearward, the lateral magnetic closure is open, and the medial magnetic closure is open. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral magnetic closure includes at least two magnetic assemblies, wherein the medial magnetic closure includes at least two magnetic assemblies, wherein at least one of the magnetic assemblies of the lateral magnetic closure is at a lateral forward edge of the heel section, wherein at least one of the magnetic assemblies of the lateral magnetic closure is at a lateral rearward edge of the front section, wherein at least one of the magnetic assemblies of the medial magnetic closure is at a medial forward edge of the heel section, and wherein at least one of the magnetic assemblies of the medial magnetic closure is at a medial rearward edge of the front section. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral magnetic closure includes at least two magnetic assemblies, wherein the medial magnetic closure includes at least two magnetic assemblies, wherein at least one of the magnetic assemblies of the lateral magnetic closure and at least one of the magnetic assemblies of the medial magnetic closure are enclosed by the heel section and wherein at least one of the magnetic assemblies of the lateral magnetic closure and at least one of the magnetic assemblies of the medial magnetic closure are enclosed by the front section. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral magnetic closure is hidden when the lateral magnetic closure is closed, and wherein the medial magnetic closure is hidden when the medial magnetic closure is closed. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the article of footwear has a sole and an upper with a collar, wherein the lateral slit extends from the collar towards the sole, and wherein the medial slit extends from the collar towards the sole. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral magnetic closure is configured to secure the lateral slit closed, and wherein the medial magnetic closure is configured to secure the medial slit closed, wherein the lateral slit is closed and the medial slit is closed when the heel section is upright and in contact with the front section at a lateral side and at a medial side. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral magnetic closure includes a series of magnets spaced apart along the lateral slit, and wherein the medial magnetic closure includes a series of magnets spaced apart along the medial slit. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral magnetic closure includes a correlated magnet, and wherein the medial magnetic closure includes a correlated magnet. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral magnetic closure includes at least two magnetic assemblies, wherein the medial magnetic closure includes at least two magnetic assemblies, wherein each of the at least two magnetic assemblies of the lateral magnetic closure independently includes at least one of a magnet and a ferromagnetic component, provided that at least one of the at least two magnetic assemblies of the lateral magnetic closure includes a magnet, and wherein each of the at least two magnetic assemblies of the medial magnetic closure independently includes at least one of a magnet and a ferromagnetic component, provided that at least one of the at least two magnetic assemblies of the medial magnetic closure includes a magnet. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein each of the magnetic assemblies of the lateral magnetic closure includes a correlated magnet configured to align and to mate with the correlated magnet of another of the at least two magnetic assemblies of the lateral magnetic closure, and wherein each of the magnetic assemblies of the medial magnetic closure includes a correlated magnet configured to align and to mate with the correlated magnet of another of the at least two magnetic assemblies of the medial magnetic closure. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the magnetic assemblies of the lateral magnetic closure is enclosed by the heel section, wherein at least one of the magnetic assemblies of the lateral magnetic closure is enclosed by the front section, wherein at least one of the magnetic assemblies of the medial magnetic closure is enclosed by the heel section, and wherein at least one of the magnetic assemblies of the medial magnetic closure is enclosed by the front section. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral magnetic closure is configured to open by peeling the lateral magnetic closure apart from the top of the lateral magnetic closure, and wherein the medial magnetic closure is configured to open by peeling the medial magnetic closure apart from the top of the medial magnetic closure. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the shell includes a lateral side retainer assembly that includes a lateral side retainer strap configured to selectively span the lateral slit when the lateral magnetic closure is closed, and wherein the shell includes a medial side retainer assembly that includes a medial side retainer strap configured to selectively span the medial slit when the medial magnetic closure is closed. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising a bistable element, wherein the bistable element is configured to bias the heel section towards a closed position of the heel section, and wherein in the closed position, the heel section is upright, the lateral magnetic closure is closed, and the medial magnetic closure is closed. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising a bistable element, wherein the bistable element is configured to bias the heel section towards an open position of the heel section, and wherein in the open position, the heel section is flexed rearward and the rear foot passage is exposed. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising a biasing mechanism configured to close the article of footwear after a user has inserted the user's foot into the article of footwear. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 17 , wherein the biasing mechanism includes a bistable element at least partially in the heel section. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 17 , wherein the article of footwear includes an insole, and wherein the biasing mechanism is raised above the insole in tension when the heel is flexed rearward and the rear foot passage is exposed. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the article of footwear is configured for opening without requiring use of hands and for closing without requiring use of hands.