Locking mechanism for coupling an upper and sole structure of footwear

Abstract

A footwear article may comprise an upper portion, the upper portion further comprising a sleeve configured to receive a locking member. The footwear article further comprises a sole structure oriented at a bottom of the footwear. The sole structure may comprise a midsole further comprising a peripheral channel configured to receive the sleeve and the locking member and an outsole configured for ground contact. The locking member disposed within the peripheral channel operates to secure the upper portion to the sole structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A footwear article comprising:
 an upper portion, the upper portion further comprising a sleeve  110  configured to receive a locking member  113 ; and   a sole structure  104  oriented at a bottom of the footwear, the sole structure  104  further comprising:
 a midsole  106  comprising a peripheral channel configured to receive the sleeve  110  and the locking member  113 ; and 
 an outsole  108  configured for ground contact, wherein the locking member is configured to be disposed in the sleeve while the sleeve is at least partially disposed in the peripheral channel, and wherein the locking member within the sleeve and peripheral channel operates to secure the upper portion to the sole structure. 
   
     
     
         2 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve comprises at least one open end configured to receive the locking member. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is configured to lay substantially flat and expand into an elongate tube. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is shaped to be attached to a peripheral edge of the midsole. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the locking member is a flexible rod. 
     
     
         6 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the locking member includes first and second ends having corresponding positive and negative shapes. 
     
     
         7 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the locking member is formed from extruded, molded or 3D printed from a thermoplastic polymer material, a composite polymer material, or a silicon material. 
     
     
         8 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the midsole further comprises a peripheral groove configured to receive the peripheral channel. 
     
     
         9 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the channel terminates at a heel portion of the midsole. 
     
     
         10 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the channel includes endpoints spaced apart at the heel portion of midsole. 
     
     
         11 . The footwear article of  claim 10 , wherein the endpoints are entry points for inserting the locking member and sleeve into the channel. 
     
     
         12 . The footwear article of  claim 11 , wherein an inside diameter of the channel at the entry points is greater than an inside diameter of a remaining length of the channel. 
     
     
         13 . The footwear article of  claim 12 , wherein an outside diameter of the channel at the entry points is greater than an outside diameter of a remaining length of the channel. 
     
     
         14 . A method of making the separable footwear article of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         15 . A footwear article comprising:
 an upper portion comprising a locking assembly; and   a sole structure comprising a peripheral channel configured to receive the locking assembly, wherein the locking assembly is configured to be at least partially disposed in the peripheral channel, and wherein the locking assembly within the peripheral channel operates to secure the upper portion to the sole structure.   
     
     
         16 . The footwear article of  claim 15 , wherein the locking assembly comprises an upper sleeve and a locking member. 
     
     
         17 . The footwear article of  claim 15 , wherein the upper sleeve is shaped to be attached to a peripheral edge of the sole structure. 
     
     
         18 . The footwear article of  claim 15 , wherein the locking member is a flexible rod. 
     
     
         19 . The footwear article of  claim 17 , wherein the upper sleeve comprises at least one open end configured to receive the locking member. 
     
     
         20 . The footwear article of  claim 15 , wherein the peripheral channel includes endpoints spaced apart at the heel portion of sole structure, and wherein the endpoints are entry points for inserting the locking assembly into the peripheral channel.