Patent ID: 9474330
Filing Date: 2016-10-25
CPC Classification: A43B,A43C

Claim Text:
1. An article of footwear, comprising: a longitudinal direction extending from a forefoot portion to a heel portion of the article of footwear; a lateral direction extending from a lateral side to a medial side of the article of footwear; a vertical direction that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction; a base portion for supporting a sole of a foot, the base portion further including a central portion and an outer peripheral portion; a forward covering portion attached to the base portion, wherein the forward covering portion is configured to associate with a forefoot of the foot; a rearward covering portion attached to the base portion, wherein the rearward covering portion is configured to associate with a heel of the foot; the rearward covering portion further including a first peripheral portion and a second peripheral portion, the first peripheral portion being associated with the outer peripheral portion of the base portion; the rearward covering portion having an open configuration for receiving the foot and a closed configuration for covering the foot; the rearward covering portion having a rear portion associated with the heel portion of the article of footwear; the rearward covering portion having a first side portion and a first preconfigured folding portion associated with the lateral side of the article of footwear; wherein the first preconfigured folding portion is positioned between the rear portion and the first side portion; the rearward covering portion having a second side portion and a second preconfigured folding portion associated with the medial side of the article of footwear; wherein the second preconfigured folding portion is positioned between the rear portion and the second side portion; wherein the first preconfigured folding portion is formed from a first set of permanent ridges; wherein the second preconfigured folding portion is formed from a second set of permanent ridges; a tensioning member associated with the rearward covering portion and the forward covering portion, wherein the tensioning member can be used to adjust the rearward covering portion between the open configuration and the closed configuration; wherein a first end of the tensioning member extends through the first side portion, the first preconfigured folding portion, the rear portion and again through the first side portion, and a second end of the tensioning member extends through the second side portion, the second preconfigured folding portion, the rear portion and again through the second side portion; wherein during the dosed configuration, the first side portion, the first preconfigured folding portion and the rear portion overlap on the lateral side, and the second side portion, the second preconfigured folding portion and the rear portion overlap on the medial side to accommodate excess material that is formed in the dosed configuration; wherein the first peripheral portion has a vertical position that is substantially unchanged between the open configuration and the dosed configuration; and wherein the vertical position of the second peripheral portion changes substantially between the open configuration and the dosed configuration.