Easy access articles of footwear

An article of footwear, comprising:

• an upper including a top opening, a first side, a second side, a first side edge extending downward from the top opening at the first side, and a second side edge extending downward from the top opening at the second side, wherein the upper further includes a foot insertion opening extending from the first side edge and terminating at a closed end located at a side heel area of the upper on the second side of the upper;
• a closure system engaged with the upper for releasably closing the foot insertion opening, wherein the closure system extends between the closed end and the first side edge of the upper, wherein the closure system includes a track extending along the foot insertion opening and a closure element movable along track, wherein the closure element changes the foot insertion opening between an open condition and a closed condition;
• an ankle strap secured to the closure element, wherein the second side of the upper has a securing member, wherein in the closed condition:
• the closure element stops along the track at the first side edge of the upper;
• the ankle strap extends around a front instep or front ankle portion of the upper and is secured to the securing member at the second side of the upper;
• and
• with the sole structure supported on a horizontal support surface, the ankle strap extends to a location on the second side of the upper that is more rearward than a location of the closed end of the foot insertion opening;
• and
• a sole structure engaged with the upper.

An article of footwear, comprising:

• an upper including a top opening, a first side, a second side, a first side edge extending downward from the top opening at the first side, and a second side edge extending downward from the top opening at the second side, wherein the upper further includes a foot insertion opening extending from the first side edge and terminating at a closed end located at a side heel area of the upper on the second side of the upper;
• a closure system engaged with the upper for releasably closing the foot insertion opening, wherein the closure system extends between the closed end and the first side edge of the upper, wherein the closure system includes a track extending along the foot insertion opening and a closure element movable along track, wherein the closure element changes the foot insertion opening between an open condition and a closed condition;
• and
• a sole structure engaged with the upper, wherein with the sole structure supported on a horizontal support surface, the track includes a first side portion, a rear heel portion, and a second side portion, wherein a vertically lowest section of the track is located in the rear heel portion, wherein the track extends to the first side portion in an upward direction forward from the vertically lowest section, and wherein the track extends to the second side portion in an upward direction forward from the vertically lowest section.

An article of footwear, comprising:

• a sole structure;
• an upper engaged with the sole structure, wherein the upper, at least in part, defines a foot-receiving volume configured to receive a wearer's foot in use, the upper including:
• (a) an ankle containing portion including a first side, a rear heel area, and a second side,
• (b) a base portion including a first side and a second side, and
• (c) a connecting member connecting the second side of the ankle containing portion and the second side of the base portion,
• wherein, with the sole structure supported on a horizontal support surface, the upper is changeable by movement of the ankle containing portion with respect to the base portion at the connecting member between:
• (a) a foot engaging configuration in which the first side of the ankle containing portion of the upper is positioned over the first side of the base portion to close the upper and (b) a foot insertion configuration in which the first side of the ankle containing portion of the upper is positioned sideways outside of the second side of the base portion with respect to the foot-receiving volume of the upper to open a rear heel area of the upper;
• a closure system for releasably holding the upper in the foot engaging configuration wherein the closure system engages at least a section of a lower edge of the ankle containing portion with at least a section of an upper edge of the base portion, wherein the closure system includes:
• (a) a first track portion extending along the section of the lower edge of the ankle containing portion, (b) a second track portion extending along the section of the upper edge of the base portion, and (c) a closure element movable along the section of the first track portion and the section of the second track portion, wherein movement of the closure element changes the upper between the foot engaging configuration and the foot insertion configuration;
• and
• an ankle strap secured to the closure element, wherein the second side of the ankle containing portion of the upper has a securing member, and wherein in the foot engaging configuration:
• (a) the closure element stops at the first side of the base portion of the upper and (b) the ankle strap extends around a front instep or front ankle portion of the upper and is secured to the securing member.

An article of footwear, comprising:

• a sole structure;
• an upper engaged with the sole structure, wherein the upper, at least in part, defines a foot-receiving volume configured to receive a wearer's foot in use, the upper including:
• (a) an ankle containing portion including a first side, a rear heel area, and a second side,
• (b) a base portion including a first side and a second side, and
• (c) a connecting member connecting the second side of the ankle containing portion and the second side of the base portion,
• wherein, with the sole structure supported on a horizontal support surface, the upper is changeable by movement of the ankle containing portion with respect to the base portion at the connecting member between:
• (a) a foot engaging configuration in which the first side of the ankle containing portion of the upper is positioned over the first side of the base portion to close the upper and (b) a foot insertion configuration in which the first side of the ankle containing portion of the upper is positioned sideways outside of the second side of the base portion with respect to the foot-receiving volume of the upper to open a rear heel area of the upper;
• and
• a closure system for releasably holding the upper in the foot engaging configuration, wherein the closure system engages at least a section of a lower edge of the ankle containing portion with at least a section of an upper edge of the base portion, wherein the closure system includes a track having a first side portion, a rear heel portion, and a second side portion, wherein a vertically lowest section of the track is located in the rear heel portion, wherein the first side portion of the track extends toward the first side of the base portion of the upper in an upward direction forward from the vertically lowest section, and wherein the second side portion of the track extends toward the second side of the base portion of the upper in an upward direction forward from the vertically lowest section.