GB2550880A

GB2550880A - Footwear assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2550880A
Application number: GB1609325.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Sally Smith Rachel
Original assignee: C&J Clark International Ltd
Current assignee: C&J Clark International Ltd
Priority date: 2016-05-26
Filing date: 2016-05-26
Publication date: 2017-12-06
Also published as: GB201609325D0

Abstract

A footwear assembly comprising a flexible sole 14 comprising a base region and a segmented region, wherein flexibility is provided by division of the segmented region into segments 15-19, flexing of the shoe forming a gap between the segments; or an upper structure comprising at least one looped connector 12, 13 defining an opening such that one of the segments can be inserted therein for attaching the upper to the sole, where attachment is secured by insertion of at least one edge 30 of the looped connectors opening into a locking member 22. The item of footwear might be a sandal or a shoe. Also claimed are the upper and sole separately and a method for making an item of footwear.

Description

The present disclosure relates to a footwear assembly, and more particularly to a footwear assembly and components thereof that facilitate easy assembly and disassembly of sole and upper. Methods of assembling and disassembling articies of footwear are also disclosed.

An article of footwear can comprise e.g, a shoe, sandal, boot or the like or a component thereof. Main components of an article of footwear typically comprise an upper and a sole bound together during manufacture. An upper can be made from various materials such as leather, textiles and/or synthetic materials. A sole is typically made from more hardwearing materials, e.g. rubber or a hardwearing synthetic material. The upper and the sole can comprise layers of (different) materials.

The attachment between the upper and the sole can be based on various techniques, such as stitching, gluing, merging the materials under heat and/or pressure and so on. This can require special machinery and be labour intensive, and as a consequence, costly and time consuming. To be economically viable production of large volumes of a model of footwear in a large production unit may be required. Production of large volumes of footwear of a model no-one wants to buy at the end can result considerable wastage of resources. Thus there is a desire for flexibility in the size of production runs, and in variations possible. Also, it might be desirable to able to produce a right type of footwear as close to the place of sale as possible in volumes matching the demand.

Further, ecological aspect of footwear manufacture and lifecycle are becoming increasingly important considerations. For example, a desire is to use as little energy, materials and/or chemicals as possible. Further, easy recycling the footwear at the end of their useful life may be desired. This could be made easier to achieve if the disassembly of the footwear does not need special and/or expensive equipment.

The embodiments asm to address one or more of problematic issues in relation to footwear.

According to an aspect there is provided a footwear assembly comprising a flexible sole structure comprising a base region and a segmented region, wherein flexibility is provided by division of the segmented region into a plurality of segments protruding from the base region, wherein flexing of the sole structure opens a gap between adjacent segments, and an upper structure comprising at least one looped connector part defining an opening such that one of the segments can be inserted therein for attaching the upper structure to the flexible sole structure, wherein the attachment is secured by insertion of at least one edge of the opening into a locking member provided in at least one of the segments.

According to another aspect there is provided a sole component for an article of footwear, the sole component comprising a base region and a segmented region divided into a plurality of segments protruding from the base region for enhanced flexibility of the sole component, wherein flexing of the sole component opens a gap between adjacent segments and at least one of the segments is arranged to be inserted Into an opening of a looped connector part of an upper component for attaching the sole component to the upper component, and at least one of the segments comprises a locking member for securing the attachment of the at least one segment to at least one edge of said opening.

According to another aspect there is provided an upper component for an article of footwear comprising at least one looped connector part for attachment of the upper component to a flexible sole component divided into a plurality of segments for enhanced flexibility and arranged such that flexing of the sole component opens a gap between adjacent segments, wherein the looped connector part comprises an opening adapted for slotting around a segment of the flexible sole component and at least one edge of the opening is adapted for securing the attachment to at least one segment of the flexible sole component.

According to a more specific aspect at least one edge of an opining of a connector part is secured reieasably to at least one segment of a sole structure.

According to another aspect there Is provided a method for assembly of an article of footwear, comprising flexing a flexible sole structure divided into a plurality of segments protruding from a bale region thereof to open divisions between the segments, slotting an opening of a looped connector part of an upper structure around one of the segments for attaching the upper structure to the flexible sole structure, securing the attachment by inserting at least one edge of the opening into at least one locking member of said segment, and releasing the flexing to close the divisions.

According to yet another aspect there Is provided a method for disassembly of an article of footwear comprising a flexible sole structure divided from at least one part thereof into a plurality of segments protruding from a base region of the sole structure and an upper structure comprising a looped connector part providing an opening slotted around one of the segments for attachment of the flexible sole structure to the upper structure, the method comprising flexing the flexible sole structure to open the divisions between the segments, removing securing of the attachment by removing at least one edge of the opening from a locking member provided by at least one of the segments, and disassembling the upper structure from the flexible sole structure by pulling the looped connector part off from the downward segment

According to a more specific aspect an upper structure comprises at least two upper components each comprising a looped connector part for attachment to a respective segment of the sole structure, A sole structure may comprise four slits extending transversely from one side of the sole structure to the other side of the sole structure to provide said segments there between.

The sole structure may comprise slits dividing the sole structure into segments. The Socking member may comprise an indentation at the inner end of at least one of the silts for locking an edge of an opening of a connector part to the segment. The sole structure may further comprise two layers of material, the indentation being provided into, or dose to, the boundary between the layers.

An opening of a connector part may be defined by two straps ciosing the loop between lower ends of an upper structure. The upper structure may comprise at least one saddle attached to the upper part, the at least one saddle comprising said opening for receiving a segment of the sole structure.

At least one segment of the flexible sole structure can protrude away from the upper structure. At least one segment of the flexible sole structure may protrude towards the upper structure,

At least one connecter part may comprise a plurality of openings configured for receiving respective segments of a sole structure,

At least one segment of a sole structure and at least one connector part of an upper structure may be arranged to facilitate assembly and disassembly of the upper structure to the sole structure without tools by hand. A stitching may be provided at a heel section and/or a toe section such that it extends only within said heel section and/or toe section. A saddle part extending substantially along the entire circumference of the sole structure may be provided for attaching the sole structure to the upper structure, wherein said stitching at the heel section and/or toe section is to secure the heel section and/or toe section to the saddle and the saddle part is attached to the upper structure along the entire circumference thereof, A sole structure may comprise a stitch flange at the heel section and/or toe section.

An indentation extending through a sole may have a curved shape that substantially follows the shape of the upper side of the sole.

Various exemplifying embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the attached drawings. Steps and elements explained herein may be reordered, omitted, and combined to form different embodiments and any step indicated as performed may be caused to be performed in another order, in the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of an example of footwear;

Figure 2 shows a sole component for the footwear of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a bottom view of the soie component of Figure 2;

Figures 4A, 4B and 4C shows an example of attaching sole and upper components to form a footwear assembly according to an embodiment;

Figure 5 illustrates how flexibility of a sole structure can be provided and how an upper structure can be pulled into its place;

Figure 8 shows another example for securing an upper to a sole;

Figures 7 and BA ~ 8C show examples of attaching components of other styles of footwear together;

Figures 9A and 9B show an example for configuration of a sole structure of a footwear assembly;

Figure 10 shows a cross-sectional view of a possible shape of an Indentation for securing an upper to a sole;

Figures 11A and 11B show further examples; and

Figures 12 and 13 are flowcharts for assembling and disassembling articles of footwear in accordance with certain embodiments.

In the following certain detailed examples of articles of footwear embodying the invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

An example of footwear styles are sandals. A feature of a sandal is that the upper does not entirely cover the foot. Instead, the upper may comprise just straps or bars extending over the foot and/or have an orthodox upper with large cut-outs, punch holes or the like open areas leaving part(s) of the foot visible, in a typical sandal style footwear at least the toes and often the heel are left visible.

Figure 1 shows an exemplifying side view of a sandal 10, The upper structure of the sandal of this example comprises two straps 12 and 13 extending over a foot bed / inlaid sock provided on a sole structure 14, A foot can be received within the space between the straps and the sole in a known manner. Strap 13 at the front of the sandal 10 is called herein as a front strap or front part of the upper, Strap 12 at the rear of the sandal is called herein as a heel strap or back part of the upper. Such straps are also sometimes called bars or bands.

It is noted that instead of two separate straps a unitary piece or bar extending over the foot bed on the sole may also be provided. Also, more than two straps may be provided. In general, the appearance of an upper may vary considerably from that shown.

Figure 1 shows further an example of an ankle strap 11 extending rearward from the heel strap 12. The ankle strap is often, but not necessarily, provided in a sandal style footwear, or other styles where the heel section is left open. One of more straps or ties extending between the straps 12 and 13 are also possible.

The sole part 14 of the sandal 10 is divided into segments 15, 18, 17. 18 and 19. The division is provided by slits 20 out into the sole material such that they extend in the lower region of the sole substantially vertically and transversaliy from one side of the sole to the other. This is shown by Figures 2 and 3 presenting views from the side and the bottom of the sole 14 of Figure 1, respectively. A function of the silts is to enhance flexibility of the sole. As the wearer of the sandal walks, the slits open and dose according to the flexing of the sole.

According to the example of Figures 1 - 3 four slits 20 are provided. Thus the lower part of the sole is divided into the five downwardly extending segments 15-19. Another number of divisions and segments is also possible. For example, two cuts would provide three segments. A mechanism for fastening the upper structure into the sole structure will be described next with a particular reference to the example of Figures 4A - 4C. Figure 4A is a partial view of a sandal illustrating how strap 12 of the upper can be in secured engagement with the sole 14. Figure 4B is a cross-sectional view of the assembly along line A~A of Figure 4A and Figure 4C is a cross-sectional view of the assembly along line B-B of Figure 4A.

The flexible sole structure comprises a base region 26 for holding the sole in one piece and a lower region 27 where a plurality of segments is provided. The regions are denoted by numerals 26 and 27 in Figures 4A and 4B, Flexibility of the sole structure can be provided by the division of at least a part of the lower region into segments that protrude downwards from the base region and by allowing the segments to move relative to each other when the slits 20 between the segments open and close as the wearer walks. Double ended arrows of Figure 5 Illustrate how the slits 20 can open and segments move while the wearer is taking a step. In use, the openness of the divisions between the segments depends on how much the sole structure flexes as the wearer walks. When standing, the divisions would typically be closed and when taking a step the divisions would open. Λ strap forming at least a part of the upper structure can be arranged to form a looped connector part 24. The looped connector part 24 defines an opening 29 (see e.g. Figure 4C) in the lower part of the loop such that a respective downwards protruding segment 18 can be received and accommodated within the opening. In accordance with an aspect the opening of the looped connector member is slotted into its place. As shown in Figure 5. the slotting can include inserting an appropriate segment into the opening 29 as indicated by arrow 32. At this stage the sole 14 can be flexed to open the slits 20 to enabie easy insertion of the segment into the opening of the connector part.

As shown by Figure 4C, the side edges 30 of the opening 29 can be defined by two straps 25 forming the lower part of the looped upper. The opening 29 between the straps 25 is dimensioned and shaped to co-operate with the relevant segment so that the looped upper can be slotted In and releasably secured to the sole. To secure the looped upper to the sole at least one edge 30 of the opening 29 can be arranged to lock with the sole when the opening of the looped member has been slotted through the slits and is located around the segment at the upper part thereof. The locking to a segment can be provided by an appropriate locking member provided in connection with the segment. in accordance with a possibility the looped connector member can be secured relatively to the sole by means of through slots or indentations 22 provided at the inner ends of the slits 20, as shown e.g. in Figures 4B and 4C. The slots 22 can extend substantially normal to the slits so as to provide a I-shaped formation transversally through the sole. When an edge strap 25 of the 29 opening is inserted into the indentation 22 and the division between segments is closed the strap becomes locked therein, thus securing the looped upper into the sole without use of any adhesive or other fixing arrangement that wouid be difficult to disassembie. Shouid there be a need to separate the upper and the sole this can be provided simply by removing the straps from the indentations and pulling the segment and the opening separate from each other. in the example of Figures 4A - C the straps 25 extend on both sides of the slits 20 (shown by the dashed line in Figure 4C) and are inserted into the indentations 22 in the segment 18 inserted into the opening 29 and also the indentations 22 in the sides of the neighbouring segments 17 and 19. However, it may not be necessary to secure all sides of the straps, and it may even be sufficient if a part of a strap is heid by one indentation or siot in one segment.

Figure 8 shows a cross-sectional view from top of an example of this where the size of the opening 29 of the looped connector 24 can be made substantially the same with the external segment 18 inserted therein. The securing is then provided by straps 25 extending oniy into indentations 22 of the neighbouring segments 17 and 19. An advantage If this arrangement is that insertion and/or removal of the segment 18 into and/or from the opening 29 can be made easier and quicker to perform. St is also possible to provide indentations on all sides of a segment and arrange the opening such that It is held from all four internal edges thereof.

The looped upper can be manufactured from one piece of material or from several pieces, in the example of Figure 1 the upper parts 12 and 13 comprise each an upper band stitched (or otherwise attached) to a saddle 23. The saddle is then arranged to provide the iower part of the looped structure with the opening for receiving a segment of the sole and for securing thereto.

The sole part can be manufactured from one piece of material. The slits and indentations, or other Socking members, can be produced by cutting smd/or moulding. For example, through slots can be provided by moulding to produce the indentations. Appropriate cuts are then provided into the bottom and/or top of the sole article which meet up with the through slots. According to a possibility, after the through slots are moulded in and once the sole article is released from the mould and through slot pins are removed, the sole article can be placed in a jig, and the jig is slid into a machine which holds a set of dies, The dies can have heated knives in a set position, and once the jig is in place the machine moves the bed which the jig sits on relative to the knives and therefore the sole article is pressed up into the knives to a set depth which creates the cuts through to the through slots. However, this Is just an example and the desired shapes can be produced with any appropriate tool, e.g. by a laser cutting tool.

Figure 7 shows an example of a shoe 70 provided with a flexible sole structure 74 comprising a plurality of segments 75 - 79 as described above, in this example the upper 72 is attached from the central part thereof to the sole structure by means of looped connectors 84. The looped connectors can be attached to the upper material e.g. by stitching, riveting, gluing and so on, or be made from the same material with the upper. Inserting of the respective segments 78 and 78 into openings provided by transverse straps of the looped connector elements 84 slotted into the slits 82 can be as described above. Further, the looped connector elements can be secured to the sole via locking members such as indentations 82 in the same manner as above. A difference to the above is that the heel part and toe part of the upper may be attached by stitching 71 and 73 or otherwise to the sole structure. The stitching, or other attachment, can be kept relatively short so that it is only provided at such section(s) which cannot be reasonably bound by the looped connector elements. The stitching can be the most demanding part of the shoemaking, and is generally considered difficult to remove should the shoes need to be dismantled. The embodiment may assist in addressing these shortcomings as the stitching and removal thereof at the back and front of the shoe is considered less time consuming and demanding as it would be from the entire length of the boundary between the upper and the sole.

Figures 8A to 8C show another example of a shoe where only the toe and/or heel sections are stitched to the sole. More particularly, Figure 8A shows a shoe 90 comprising an upper part 92 and a sole part 84. The sole part is divided into segments 99 by slits 97 as described above. A saddle part 95 extending substantial along the entire boundary or circumference of the upper and sole is also shown. The saddle part 95 is attached to the upper by-stitching 96 extending substantially the entire circumference of the saddie part. In the mid-section of the saddle part the upper is attached to the sole by means of straps 98 providing three openings that slot around the corresponding segments 99. The straps 98 are secured by locking them into the through slots 92. Only a short stitching 91 and 93 is provided between the saddle and the sole at the heel section and the toe section to secure the heel and the toe parts of the upper to the sole.

Figure 8B shows a lengthwise cross section of a sole according to a possible further embodiment, in this example recesses 101 and 102 are provided at the heel and toe sections. The recesses each provide a coring and stitch flanges 103 and 104, respectively, for the stitching at these sections only, A foot-bed, for example an appropriately moulded foot-bed 100, can be inserted into the shoe to cover at least one of the coring formations 101 and 102.

Figure 8C shows a partial sectioned view of the heel section from behind. The upper material 92 can be secured by stitching 98 to the saddle 95, The saddle 95 in turn is attached by stitching 91 to the stitch flange 103 provided at the heel section of the sole 94, Such short stitching is easier to make and disassemble than one extending around the entire lower edge of the upper.

Figures 9A and B show another example where one of the segments is provided on the upper side of the sole structure. The front part 113 of the upper can be slotted through saddie 123 around segment 118 provided by slits 120 as described above. The attachment of the saddle 123 to the sole part 114 can be secured by the through slots 122, The ankle strap part of 112 of the upper, however, slots into a segment 129 that protrudes at the upper side of the sole part towards the upper. As shown by figure 98, slits 125 and 126 extend downwards towards the center of the sole and the through slots 128 providing a locking member.

The doited line 115 denotes a possible foot-bed or sock which can be attached to the sole to ensure that the connector part stays in place when attached around the segment 129, Furthermore, the foot-bed can also function to improve comfortability of the heel section.

Figure 10 is a cross-sectional view of a possible shape of a through slot or indentation 123 for securing a strap of a connector part. Compared to figure 48, a difference is that the indentation 123 of the sole structure 130 is curved according to the curvature of the upper side of the sole structure. The curved shape makes it possible to optimise the location of the indentations and making of thinner soles than would be the case with a straight through slot,

According to an embodiment connector part straps are provided with appropriate reinforcement. For example harder reinforcement material may be attached underneath or above strap to ease assembly and/or disassembly and/or to prevent the strap edge from slipping out of the indentation.

Figures 11A and B show further examples of footwear assemblies according to the invention. In figure 11A the upper part 143 provides two openings for receiving segments 144 and 145 provided by slits 140. The three straps closing the loop between the sides of the upper part 143 are locked by the indentations 142,

Figure 11A shows further an ankle strap 147 which comprises only one strap 148 forming a loop between the sides of the ankle strap. The strap 149 is slotted into and locked into slit 148. This Is considered to provide sufficient attachment for the ankle strap.

Figure 11B shows an example of a sandal where the saddle pad 153 is configured to provide three openings for receiving the corresponding three segments 155, 156 and 157 of the sole structure 154. Each of the four straps 151 is locked into the indentations as described before

Figure 12 is a flowchart showing a method for assembly of a footwear. At 200 a flexible sole structure divided at least from a part thereof into a plurality of segments is flexed to open divisions between the segments. An opening of a looped connector part of an upper structure is then slotted at 202 around one of the segments for attaching the upper structure to the flexible sole structure. The attachment is secured at 204 by inserting at least one edge of the opening into a locking member of at least one of the segments. The process is finished at 208 by releasing the flexing to close the divisions. This also locks the at least one edge to at least one of the segments.

In accordance with a more detailed example step 202 comprises further inserting looped upper structure around the flexible sole structure, inserting straps forming side edges of an opening of the looped upper structure into corresponding opened silts of the sole structure, and pulling the straps towards the center of the flexible sole structure until the straps reach the ends of the slits. Step 204 may comprise placing at least a part of the straps into at least one indentation provided in at least one of the segments for providing locking of the looped connector part into the sole structure.

Figure 13 in turn shows an example of disassembly of a footwear comprising a flexible sole structure divided into a plurality of segments and an upper structure comprising a looped connector part providing an opening slotted around one of the segments for attachment of the flexible sole structure to the upper structure. In the method the flexible sole structure is flexed at 210 to open the divisions between the segments. Securing of the attachment is then removed at 212 by removing at least one edge of the opening from a locking member provided by at least one of the segments. For example, a strap extending transversally in an indentation at the end of a slit between segments can be removed from the indentation. The upper structure can then be removed at 214 from the flexible sole structure by pulling the looped connector part off from the segment.

The foregoing description provides by way of exemplary and non-limiting examples a full and informative description of exemplary embodiments of the invention. However, various modifications and adaptations may become apparent to those skilled in the reievant arts in view of the foregoing description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. All such and similar modifications of the teachings of this invention will still fall within the spirit and scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A footwear assembly comprising a flexible sole structure comprising a base region and a segmented region, wherein flexibility is provided by division of the segmented region into a plurality of segments protruding from the base region, wherein flexing of the sole structure opens a gap between adjacent segments, and an upper structure comprising at least one looped connector par. defining an opening such that one of the segments can be inserted therein for attaching the upper structure to the flexible sole structure, wherein the attachment is secured by insertion of at least one edge of the opening into a locking member provided in at least one of the segments.

2. A footwear assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one edge of the opening is secured releasably to the at least one segment.

3. A footwear assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the upper structure comprises at least two upper components each comprising a looped connector part for attachment to a respective segment of the sole structure.

4. A footwear assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the sole structure comprises four slits extending transversely from one side of the sole structure to the other side of the sole structure to provide said segments there between.

5. A footwear assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the sole structure comprises slits dividing the sole structure into said segments and the locking member comprises an indentation at the inner end of at least one of the slits for locking an edge of an opening of a connector part to the segment.

8. A footwear assembly according to claim 5, wherein the sole structure comprises two layers of material, and at least one indentation is provided into, or close to the boundary between the layers.

7. A footwear assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the opening is defined by two straps closing the loop between lower ends of the upper structure.

8. A footwear assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the upper structure comprises at least one saddle attached to the feel engaging upper part, the at least one saddle comprising said opening for receiving a segment of the sole structure.

9. A footwear assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one segment of the flexible sole structure protrudes away from the upper structure.

10. A footwear assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one segment of the flexible sole structure protrudes towards the upper structure.

11. A footwear assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one connector part comprises a plurality of openings configured for receiving respective segments of the sole structure.

12. A footwear assembly according to any preceding claim, wherein the at least one segment of the sole structure and the at least one connector part of the upper structure are arranged to facilitate assembly and disassembly of tne upper structure to the sole structure without tools by hand.

13. A footwear assembly according to any preceding claim, comprising a sandal style footwear.

14. A footwear assembly according to any of claims 1 to 12, comprising a shoe.

15. A footwear assembly according to claim 14, comprising a stitching at a heel section and/or a toe section of the shoe that extends only within said heel section and/or toe section.

16. A footwear assembly according to claim 14. comprising a saddle part extending substantially along the entire circumference of the sole structure for attaching the sole structure to the upper structure, wherein said stitching at the heel section and/or toe section is to secure the heel section and/or toe section to the saddle and the saddle part is attached to the upper structure along the entire circumference thereof.

17. A footwear assembly according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the sole structure comprises a stitch flange at the heel section and/or toe section.

18. A sole component for an article of footwear, comprising a base region and a segmented region, wherein the segmented region is divided into a plurality of segments protruding from the base region for enhanced flexibility of the sole component, wherein flexing of the sole component opens a gap between adjacent segments, at least one of the segments is arranged to he inserted into an opening of a looped connector part of an upper component for attaching the sole component to the upper component, and at least one of the segments comprises a locking member for securing the attachment of the at least one segment to at least one edge of said opening.

19. A sole component according to claim 18, comprising four slits extending transversely from one side of the sole component to the other side of the sole component to provide said segments for insertion into respective connector part openings there between.

20. A sole component according to claim 18 or 19, wherein the locking member is configured for releasable securing of said at least one edge of the opening to the at least one segment.

21 A sole component according to any of claims 18 to 20, comprising slits dividing at ieast a region of the sole component Into said segments and wherein the locking member comprises an indentation at the inner end of at least one of the slits for locking an edge of an opening of a connector part to the segment.

22. A sole component according to claim 21, wherein the indentation has a curved shape that substantially follows the shape of the upper side of the sole component.

23. A sole component according to any of claims 18 to 22, wherein at least one of the segments protrudes away from the upper side of the sole component and at least one segment protrudes towards the upper side of the upper component

24. An upper component for an article of footwear comprising at least one looped connector part for attachment of the upper component to a flexible sole component divided into a plurality of segments for enhanced flexibility and arranged such that flexing of the sole component opens a gap between adjacent segments, wherein the looped connector part comprises an opening adapted for slotting around a segment of the flexible sole component and at least one edge of the opening is adapted for securing the attachment to at least one segment of the flexible sole component.

25. An upper component according to claim 24, comprising two straps dosing the loop between lower ends of upper material and defining the edges of the opening.

28. An upper component according to claim £4 or 25, comprising a saddle, wherein the saddle provides at least one opening for receiving s respective segment of the sole structure.

27. A method for assembly of an article of footwear, comprising flexing a flexible sole structure divided Into a plurality of segments protruding from a base region thereof to open divisions between the segments, slotting an opening of a looped connector part of an upper structure around one of the segments for attaching the upper structure to the flexible sole structure, securing the attachment by inserting at least one edge of the opening into at least one locking member of said segment, and releasing the flexing to close the divisions,

28. A method according to claim 20, comprising: inserting looped upper structure around the flexible sole structure, inserting straps forming side edges of an opening of the looped upper structure into corresponding opened slits of the sole structure, pulling the straps towards the center of the flexible sole structure until the straps reach the ends of the slits, and placing at least a part of the straps into at least one indentation provided in at least one of the segments.

29. A method for disassembly of an article of footwear comprising a flexible sole structure divided from at least one part thereof into a plurality of segments protruding from a base region of the sole structure and an upper structure comprising a looped connector part providing an opening slotted around one of the segments for attachment of the flexible sole structure to the upper structure, the method comprising flexing the flexible sole structure to open the divisions between the a <°j m >·*> «fc; removing securing of the attachment by removing at ieast one edge of the opening from a locking member provided by at least one of the segments, and disassembling the upper structure from the flexible sole structure by pulling the looped connector part off from the downward segment.

30. An article of footwear or a component for an article of footwear, constructed and arranged substantially as described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.