Pressure Distributing Side Entry Footwear

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed that include providing an article of footwear having a sole and an upper coupled to the sole, the upper comprising a toe portion, a heel portion, and an open inner portion. The open inner portion is disposed between the toe portion and the heel portion and is void of any material that forms a portion of the upper. The open inner portion provides an opening in the upper that allows sliding the toes of a user's foot inwardly at an angle into the toe portion, whereafter the footwear and/or the heel of a user's foot can be rotated to engage the heel of the user's foot with the heel portion. The footwear optionally includes an open outer portion and a fastening mechanism which articulates to provide even pressure distribution across a user's foot for maximum comfort and stability.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 a sole that forms a footbed along an interior of the article of footwear; and   an upper coupled to the sole, the upper comprising a toe portion, an open inner portion and a heel portion, wherein the open inner portion is disposed between the toe portion and the heel portion and configured to allow a user to slide a heel of the user through the open inner portion to put the article of footwear onto a foot of the user.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the toe portion is open toe portion configured to at least partially expose one or more toes of the foot of the user, and wherein the heel portion is configured to receive a heel of the foot of the user when the article of footwear is worn by the user. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the open inner portion is void of any material that forms a portion of the upper and connects the toe portion to the heel portion. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , further comprising: an open outer portion, wherein the open outer portion is void of any material that forms a portion of the upper and connects the toe portion to the heel portion. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the open inner portion is configured to expose an instep of the foot of the user when the article of footwear is worn by the user. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 4 , wherein the open outer portion is configured to expose a lateral border of the foot of the user when the article of footwear is worn by the user. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 6 , wherein the open inner portion, the open outer portion, or both provides an opening in the upper that allows ingress and egress of the foot of the user into and out of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the article of footwear comprises a fastening mechanism. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the fastening mechanism comprises a fastening band, a first fastening component disposed in proximity to a first distal end of the fastening band and a second fastening component disposed in proximity to a second distal end of the fastening band. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the fastening band comprises a stretchable elastic band, and wherein the first fastening component and the second fastening component comprise snap fasteners. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the first fastening component is configured to engage with a first upper fastening component disposed on the upper and in proximity to the open inner portion, wherein the second fastening component is configured to engage with a second upper fastening component disposed on the upper, and wherein the fastening band is configured to extend from the first upper fastening component, across the open inner portion, around the heel portion, to the second upper fastening component to secure the article of footwear to the foot of the user. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the second upper fastening component is disposed on the upper in proximity to an open outer portion of the upper, and wherein the fastening band is configured to extend from the first upper fastening component, across the open inner portion, around the heel portion, across the open outer portion, to the second upper fastening component to secure the article of footwear to the foot of the user. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the heel portion comprises a heel loop disposed on an outer portion of the heel portion, and wherein the fastening band is disposed through the heel loop, such that the heel loop captures the fastening band to allow the fastening band to articulate through the heel loop. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein articulation of the fastening band through the heel loop distributes pressure applied by the fastening band on the foot of the user to maximize comfort and stability of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         15 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 a sole that forms a footbed along an interior of the article of footwear;   an upper coupled to the sole, the upper comprising a toe portion, a heel portion, an open inner portion disposed between the toe portion and the heel portion, and an open outer portion disposed between the toe portion and the heel portion opposite from the open inner portion; and   a fastening mechanism comprising a flexible or stretchable fastening band, a first fastening component disposed in proximity to a first distal end of the fastening band, and a second fastening component disposed in proximity to a second distal end of the fastening band, wherein the first fastening component is configured to engage with a first upper fastening component disposed on the toe portion of the upper and in proximity to the open inner portion, wherein the second fastening component is configured to engage with a second upper fastening component disposed on the toe portion of the upper and in proximity to the open outer portion, and wherein the fastening band is configured to extend from the first upper fastening component, across the open inner portion, around the heel portion, across the open outer portion, and to the second upper fastening component to secure the article of footwear onto a foot of a user.   
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein the open inner portion and the open outer portion are void of any material that forms a portion of the upper and connects the toe portion to the heel portion. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , wherein the open inner portion, the open outer portion, or both provides an opening in the upper that allows ingress and egress of the foot of the user into and out of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 15 , wherein the heel portion comprises a heel loop disposed on an outer portion of the heel portion, and wherein the fastening band is disposed through the heel loop, such that the heel loop captures the fastening band to allow the fastening band to articulate through the heel loop. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein articulation of the fastening band through the heel loop distributes pressure applied by the fastening band on the foot of the user to maximize comfort and stability of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         20 . A method of putting on an article of footwear, comprising:
 providing an article of footwear comprising a sole that forms a footbed along an interior of the article footwear, an upper comprising a toe portion, a heel portion, an open inner portion disposed between the toe portion and the heel portion, and an open outer portion disposed between the toe portion and the heel portion opposite from the open inner portion, and a fastening mechanism comprising a flexible or stretchable fastening band, a first fastening component disposed in proximity to a first distal end of the fastening band, and a second fastening component disposed in proximity to a second distal end of the fastening band;   sliding toes of a user's foot inwardly at an angle into the toe portion through the open inner portion or the open outer portion; and   rotating the footwear, a heel of the user's foot, or a combination thereof to engage the heel of the user's foot with the heel portion.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising: fastening the first fastening component to a first upper fastening component disposed on the toe portion of the upper and in proximity to the open inner portion and the second fastening component to a second upper fastening component disposed on the toe portion of the upper and in proximity to the open outer portion, wherein the flexible or stretchable fastening band extends from first upper fastening component, across the open inner portion, around the heel portion, across the open outer portion, and to the second upper fastening component to secure the article of footwear onto the foot of the user and allow articulation of the fastening band to distribute pressure applied by the fastening band on the foot of the user to maximize comfort and stability of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising: repeating the method for a second article of footwear.