Articles of Footwear Having Modular, Replaceable, and/or Recyclable Parts

Abstract

Footwear includes upper, midsole, and exterior sole components. One side of the upper component includes a first plurality of openings. This first plurality of openings includes two openings separated by a strip of upper component material. The midsole component is received in the upper component and includes a plurality of protrusions extending through the openings of the upper component. The strip of upper component material covers a first portion of the midsole component located in a recess between the first and second protrusions. The exterior sole component is engaged with the midsole component and includes a second plurality of openings. The plurality of protrusions extend through corresponding openings of this second plurality of openings. A strip of exterior sole component material located between two of the second plurality of openings at least partially covers the strip of upper component material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper component including an instep region;   a midsole component having a plurality of protrusions including: (i) a first protrusion, (ii) a second protrusion separated from the first protrusion by a first recess, and (iii) a third protrusion separated from the second protrusion by a second recess; and   an exterior sole component engaged with the midsole component, the exterior sole component including: (i) a first hole through which the first protrusion extends, (ii) a second hole through which the third protrusion extends, and (iii) a first continuous sole portion extending through the first recess, beneath the second protrusion, and through the second recess, wherein the exterior sole component does not extend between the second protrusion and the instep region of the upper component.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the exterior sole component includes a first lace-engaging component located rearward of the second protrusion and a second lace-engaging component located forward of the second protrusion. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of protrusions of the midsole component further includes: (i) a fourth protrusion, (ii) a fifth protrusion separated from the fourth protrusion by a third recess, and (iii) a sixth protrusion separated from the fifth protrusion by a fourth recess, and
 wherein the exterior sole component further includes: (i) a third hole through which the fourth protrusion extends, (ii) a fourth hole through which the sixth protrusion extends, and (iii) a second continuous sole portion extending through the third recess, beneath the fifth protrusion, and through the fourth recess, and wherein the exterior sole component does not extend between the fifth protrusion and the instep region of the upper component.   
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein the first hole, the second hole, and the first continuous sole portion are located on a lateral side of the article of footwear, and the third hole, the fourth hole, and the second continuous sole portion are located on a medial side of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear according to  claim 4 , wherein the exterior sole component includes: (i) a first lace-engaging component located rearward of the second protrusion, (ii) a second lace-engaging component located forward of the second protrusion, (iii) a third lace-engaging component located rearward of the fifth protrusion, and (iv) a fourth lace-engaging component located forward of the fifth protrusion. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the first protrusion, the second protrusion, and the third protrusion extend outward in a sideways direction with respect to a longitudinal length direction of the article of footwear from a first side surface of the midsole component. 
     
     
         7 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper component including an instep region;   a midsole component having a plurality of protrusions including: (i) a first protrusion and (ii) a second protrusion separated from the first protrusion by a first recess; and   an exterior sole component engaged with the midsole component, the exterior sole component including a first continuous perimeter edge that includes: (i) a first top edge portion located above the first protrusion and along the instep region of the upper component, the first top edge portion including a first lace-engaging component, (ii) a first intermediate portion extending through the first recess, along a bottom surface of the second protrusion, and upward forward of a forward edge of the second protrusion, and (iii) a second top edge portion extending to a forward toe region of the upper component, the second top edge portion including a second lace-engaging component.   
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear according to  claim 7 , wherein the midsole component further includes: (i) a third protrusion and (ii) a fourth protrusion separated from the third protrusion by a second recess, and
 wherein the exterior sole component further includes a second continuous perimeter edge that includes: (i) a third top edge portion located above the third protrusion and along the instep region of the upper component, the third top edge portion including a third lace-engaging component, (ii) a second intermediate portion extending through the second recess, along a bottom surface of the fourth protrusion, and upward forward of a forward edge of the fourth protrusion, and (iii) a fourth top edge portion extending to the forward toe region of the upper component, the fourth top edge portion including a fourth lace-engaging component.   
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear according to  claim 8 , wherein the second top edge portion and the fourth top edge portion meet at the forward toe region of the upper component. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear according to  claim 8 , wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion extend outward in a first sideways direction with respect to a longitudinal length direction of the article of footwear from a lateral side surface of the midsole component, and wherein the third protrusion and the fourth protrusion extend outward in a second sideways direction with respect to the longitudinal length direction of the article of footwear from a medial side surface of the midsole component. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear according to  claim 7 , wherein the exterior sole component includes a first heel opening and a second heel opening defined therein, and wherein the article of footwear further comprises a pull tab engaged with the first heel opening and the second heel opening. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear according to  claim 11 , wherein the pull tab includes a first strap portion extending through the first heel opening, a second strap portion extending through the second heel opening, and a base portion from which the first strap portion and the second strap portion extend. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear according to  claim 12 , wherein the base portion forms a first loop. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear according to  claim 12 , wherein the base portion forms a first loop, the first strap portion forms a second loop that extends through the first heel opening, and the second strap portion forms a third loop that extends through the second heel opening. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear according to  claim 14 , wherein each of the second loop and the third loop is releasably engaged with the exterior sole component. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear according to  claim 11 , wherein the exterior sole component includes a third heel opening located between the first heel opening and the second heel opening, and wherein the pull tab is engaged with the third heel opening. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear according to  claim 16 , wherein the pull tab includes a first strap portion extending through the first heel opening, a second strap portion extending through the second heel opening, a third strap portion extending through the third heel opening, and a base portion from which the first strap portion, the second strap portion, and the third strap portion extend. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear according to  claim 17 , wherein the base portion forms a first loop. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear according to  claim 17 , wherein the base portion forms a first loop, the first strap portion forms a second loop that extends through the first heel opening, the second strap portion forms a third loop that extends through the second heel opening, and the third strap portion forms a fourth loop that extends through the third heel opening. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear according to  claim 19 , wherein each of the second loop, the third loop, and the fourth loop is releasably engaged with the exterior sole component.