Separable and recyclabe footwear

Abstract

A separable footwear article may comprise an outsole oriented at the bottom of the footwear and configured for ground contact, the outsole comprising a first material; an upper portion releasably coupled to the outsole with thread using chain stitching, the upper portion comprising a second material different from the first material; and an insole removeably disposed adjacent the upper portion and the outsole, the insole comprising a third material different from the first material and the second material; wherein the outsole, the upper portion, and insole are capable of being separated by releasing the thread and hand pulling the thread from the footwear article.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A separable footwear article comprising:
 an outsole oriented to define a bottom of a footwear article and configured for ground contact, the outsole comprising a first material;   an upper portion releasably coupled to the outsole with thread using chain stitching, the upper portion comprising a second material different from the first material;   a removable midsole releasably disposed between the outsole and the upper portion, the removable midsole comprising a third material; and   an insole removeably disposed adjacent the upper portion and the outsole, the insole comprising a fourth material different from the first material and the second material,   wherein the outsole, the removable midsole, and the upper portion are configured to be separated upon receipt of a pulling force upon the thread sufficient to remove the thread from the footwear article.   
     
     
         2 . The separable footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the first material comprises recyclable rubber. 
     
     
         3 . The separable footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the first material comprises recyclable polymer. 
     
     
         4 . The separable footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the second material comprises leather. 
     
     
         5 . The separable footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the third material comprises recyclable foam. 
     
     
         6 . The separable footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the fourth material comprises wool. 
     
     
         7 . The separable footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the insole comprises a heel portion and a base portion. 
     
     
         8 . The separable footwear article of  claim 7 , wherein the base portion comprises an inner cushion and an outer support. 
     
     
         9 . The separable footwear article of  claim 1 , further comprising a welt disposed between the outsole and the upper portion and releasably coupled to the outsole and the upper portion. 
     
     
         10 . The separable footwear article of  claim 9 , wherein the welt is releasably coupled with thread using chain stitching. 
     
     
         11 . The separable footwear article of  claim 9 , wherein the outsole. the welt, and the upper portion are coupled using a temporary adhesive and chain stitching. 
     
     
         12 . The separable footwear article of  claim 9 , wherein the welt, the outsole, and the upper portion are configured to be separated upon receipt of a pulling force upon the thread sufficient to remove the thread from the footwear article. 
     
     
         13 . A method of making a separable footwear article comprising:
 providing an outsole oriented to define a bottom of a footwear article and configured for ground contact, the outsole comprising a first material;   providing an upper portion, the upper portion comprising a second material different from the first material;   releasably coupling to the outsole and the upper portion with thread using chain stitching;   providing a removable midsole releasably disposed between the outsole and the upper portion, the removable midsole comprising a third material different from the first material and the second material; and   temporarily coupling to the outsole and the upper portion via a temporary adhesive to hold a stitching position prior to coupling the outsole and the upper portion,   wherein the outsole, the removable midsole, and the upper portion are configured to be separated upon receipt of a pulling force upon the thread sufficient to remove the thread from the footwear article.   
     
     
         14 . A separable footwear article comprising:
 an outsole configured to be oriented at a bottom of a footwear and configured for ground contact, the outsole comprising a first material;   an upper portion releasably coupled to the outsole via a coupling mechanism, the upper portion comprising a second material different from the first material;   a removable midsole releasably disposed between the outsole and the upper portion, the removable midsole comprising a third material different from the first material and the second material; and   a welt configured to releasably join the outsole and the upper portion, wherein the welt is releasably coupled to the outsole, and wherein the outsole, the upper portion, the removable midsole and the welt are capable of being separated by releasing the coupling mechanism.   
     
     
         15 . The separable footwear article of  claim 14 , wherein the coupling mechanism is configured to be removed from the separable footwear upon receipt of a pulling force upon the coupling mechanism sufficient to separate the coupling mechanism from the separable footwear. 
     
     
         16 . The separable footwear article of  claim 14 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a chain stitch or snaps. 
     
     
         17 . The separable footwear article of  claim 14 , wherein the first material comprises recyclable rubber or recyclable polymer. 
     
     
         18 . The separable footwear article of  claim 14 , wherein the second material comprises leather. 
     
     
         19 . The separable footwear article of  claim 14 , wherein the third material comprises recyclable foam. 
     
     
         20 . The separable footwear article of  claim 14 , wherein the welt is adhered to the outsole using a temporary adhesive.