Articles of footwear with adjustable dimensions

Abstract

An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper. The upper is coupled to the sole structure so as to form a foot-receiving cavity therebetween. The upper comprises a first portion, a second portion, and an expandable panel disposed between the first portion and the second portion. The upper is movable between a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration. In the compressed configuration, the first portion and the second portion are coupled together at a location adjacent to the expandable panel and the expandable panel is collapsed. In the expanded configuration, the first portion and the second portion are spaced apart from each other at the location adjacent to the expandable panel and the expandable panel is exposed. One or more dimensions of the foot-receiving cavity are larger when the upper is in the expanded configuration than when the upper is in the compressed configuration.

1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole structure; and   an upper coupled to the sole structure so as to form a foot-receiving cavity therebetween, wherein the upper comprises a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion disposed between and coupling the first portion and the second portion, wherein the upper is movable between a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein in the compressed configuration, the first portion and the second portion are proximate to each other, wherein in the expanded configuration, the first portion and the second portion are spaced apart from each other by the third portion, and wherein one or more dimensions of the foot-receiving cavity are larger when the upper is in the expanded configuration than when the upper is in the compressed configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising a closure mechanism configured for selectively securing the upper in the compressed configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises a zipper. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the third portion extends from a lateral side portion of the upper to a medial side portion of the upper. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the third portion extends from a heel portion of the upper to a forefoot portion of the upper. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the third portion extends completely around the upper. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the third portion extends from an upper-most edge of the upper toward the sole structure. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the third portion is disposed on only a medial side of the upper. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the third portion is disposed on only a lateral side of the upper. 
     
     
         10 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole structure including a first portion and a second portion; and   an expandable panel including a first segment and a second segment, wherein the first segment of the expandable panel is coupled to the first portion of the sole structure, wherein the second segment of the expandable panel is coupled to the second portion of the sole structure, wherein the expandable panel is movable between a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein one or more dimensions of the sole structure are smaller when the expandable panel is in the compressed configuration than when the expandable panel is in the expanded configuration.   
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the expandable panel extends from a toe portion of the sole structure to a heel portion of the sole structure. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the expandable panel extends from a lateral side portion of the sole structure to a medial side portion of the sole structure. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , further comprising a closure mechanism configured for selectively securing the expandable panel in the compressed configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein the closure mechanism comprises a zipper. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein the closure mechanism conceals the expandable panel when the expandable panel is in the compressed configuration. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more biasing members coupled to the expandable panel and configured to bias the expandable panel to the expanded configuration. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , further comprising one or more biasing members coupled to the expandable panel and configured to bias the expandable panel to the compressed configuration. 
     
     
         18 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole structure including a first portion and a second portion;   an upper coupled to the sole structure and comprising a first section and a second section, wherein the upper and the sole structure form a foot-receiving cavity therebetween; and   an expandable panel including a first segment and a second segment, wherein the first segment of the expandable panel is coupled to the first portion of the sole structure and the first section of the upper, wherein the second segment of the expandable panel is coupled to the second portion of the sole structure and the second section of the upper, wherein the expandable panel is movable between a compressed configuration and an expanded configuration, wherein one or more dimensions of the sole structure and the upper are smaller when the expandable panel is in the compressed configuration than when the expandable panel is in the expanded configuration.   
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , further comprising a zipper movably coupled to the first and second portions of the sole structure and the first and second sections of the upper, wherein the zipper is movable between a first position, which retains the expandable panel in the compressed configuration, and a second position, which allow the expandable panel to move from the compressed configuration to the expanded configuration. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , wherein the sole structure comprises a recessed channel configured for receiving the zipper.