A footwear article includes a heel structure that is conducive to hands-free donning to secure the wearer's foot during wear. A footwear article capable of hands-free donning comprises a sole, an upper having an ankle region and a heel region, and a heel structure. The heel structure is a coupled with the upper in the ankle region and the heel region between an exterior layer of the upper and an inner lining of the upper. The heel structure is formed from a material having a greater stiffness than the upper in at least the heel region and the heel structure has a curved profile in a medial to lateral direction of the footwear article in the heel region.

A footwear article includes a collar elevator that returns an ankle collar from a lowered state that is conducive to donning up to a raised state that secures the wearer's foot during wear. The collar elevator includes a lever arm. The lever arm may be deformable and biased towards the raised state. The lever arm may be articulated with a biasing force urging the lever arm to the raised state. The lever arm may have a variety of cross sections as well. The lever arm extends from a base, which may a sole portion of the footwear article. The lever arm and the base may be monolithic, permanently joined, removably joined, or otherwise connected.

This application is generally directed to articles including cage structures and related systems and methods. The cage structures have utility in footwear and apparel (e.g., articles of clothing, braces, accessories). In some cases, the article is a footwear article. In some cases, the article is an article of apparel. In some embodiments, the article includes a textile. In some embodiments, the article includes a cage structure (e.g., comprising a polymer) attached to a substrate (e.g., a textile). In some embodiments, the interface of attachment between the substrate and the cage structure is substantially free of an adhesive.

A reinforcement device reinforcing an upper includes: a rear first portion placed between a sole and a top line in a rear end portion of the upper; a rear second portion placed in a boundary portion between the upper and the sole in the rear end portion of the upper; a lateral first portion being continuous with the rear first portion and extending toward the sole on the lateral side; a medial first portion being continuous with the rear first portion and extending toward the sole on the medial side, the medial first portion being less flexurally deformable than the lateral first portion; and a medial second portion being continuous with the rear second portion and extending toward an anterior direction from the rear second portion along the medial side boundary portion so that the medial side boundary portion is less flexurally deformable than the lateral side boundary portion.

A reinforcement device reinforcing an upper includes: a rear first portion placed between a sole and a top line in a rear end portion of the upper; a rear second portion placed in a boundary portion between the upper and the sole in the rear end portion of the upper; a lateral first portion being continuous with the rear first portion and extending toward the sole on the lateral side; a medial first portion being continuous with the rear first portion and extending toward the sole on the medial side, the medial first portion being less flexurally deformable than the lateral first portion; and a medial second portion being continuous with the rear second portion and extending toward an anterior direction from the rear second portion along the medial side boundary portion so that the medial side boundary portion is less flexurally deformable than the lateral side boundary portion.

A method of forming an upper for an article of footwear includes providing a first material layer over a shoe last, providing a second material layer over the first material layer such that the first and second material layers adhere to each other at an interface between the first and second material layers, where one or both of the first material layer and second material layer is provided by spray forming a polymer material onto the last. The material layers are removed from the last and turned inside out such that the first material layer includes an exposed surface that forms an exterior surface of the upper.

A lace guide for an article of footwear comprises a base, a body protruding from the base, and an enlarged head at a distal end of the body. The body, the base, and the enlarged head define an external channel that extends at least partially around the body to receive and retain a lace. The base may be a heel counter, and the lace guide and the heel counter may be an integral, one-piece component. Alternatively, the base of the lace guide may be a wing extending along a side of the upper, or may be secured to a footwear upper.

A lace guide for an article of footwear comprises a base, a body protruding from the base, and an enlarged head at a distal end of the body. The body, the base, and the enlarged head define an external channel that extends at least partially around the body to receive and retain a lace. The base may be a heel counter, and the lace guide and the heel counter may be an integral, one-piece component. Alternatively, the base of the lace guide may be a wing extending along a side of the upper, or may be secured to a footwear upper.

A method of forming an upper for an article of footwear includes providing a first material layer over a shoe last, providing a second material layer over the first material layer such that the first and second material layers adhere to each other at an interface between the first and second material layers, where one or both of the first material layer and second material layer is provided by spray forming a polymer material onto the last. The material layers are removed from the last and turned inside out such that the first material layer includes an exposed surface that forms an exterior surface of the upper.

A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a forefoot region disposed adjacent an anterior end, a heel region disposed adjacent a posterior end, and a mid-foot region disposed intermediate the forefoot region and the heel region. The sole structure further includes fluid-filled bladder having a first segment extending along a medial side in the heel region, a second segment extending along a lateral side in the heel region, and a web area disposed between the first segment and the second segment. Additionally, the sole structure includes an outer sole member having an upper portion extending from a first end in the forefoot region to a second end in the heel region. The second end of the outer sole member is received on a first side of the web area. The outer sole member also includes a rib extending downwardly from the upper portion and defining a cavity.