An article of footwear includes a footwear upper defining at least a portion of an ankle opening and including a flexible covering, a sole structure secured to and underlying the footwear upper, and a device including a control bar and a base. The control bar includes a center segment rearward of the ankle opening, a first side arm extending downwardly and forwardly from the center segment at a medial side of the footwear upper, and a second side arm extending downwardly and forwardly from the center segment at a lateral side of the footwear upper. The base is connected to both of the first side arm and the second side arm such that the center segment, the first side arm, the second side arm, and the base define a void therebetween. The flexible covering extends across the void.

An article of footwear includes a footwear upper defining at least a portion of an ankle opening and including a flexible covering, a sole structure secured to and underlying the footwear upper, and a device including a control bar and a base. The control bar includes a center segment rearward of the ankle opening, a first side arm extending downwardly and forwardly from the center segment at a medial side of the footwear upper, and a second side arm extending downwardly and forwardly from the center segment at a lateral side of the footwear upper. The base is connected to both of the first side arm and the second side arm such that the center segment, the first side arm, the second side arm, and the base define a void therebetween. The flexible covering extends across the void.

An auxiliary sock device includes a baseplate having first and second ends. Wherein the first end has one or more wings mounted at the side of the baseplate, curved outwardly, to retain the open end of a sock to receive the user's foot. The second end comprises of a handle to provide a grip for the user. The user may place a sock over the wings of the device, grip the handle, and use the device to aid in the application of the sock upon the user's foot. In an embodiment, the baseplate is adjustably attached to an extensible handset which contains the handle. In a preferred embodiment, the handle further comprises of a shoehorn and a protrusion to aid in the removal of a sock from the user's foot.

A device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of an article of footwear comprises a control bar having a center segment, a first side arm extending from the center segment, and a second side arm spaced from the first side arm and extending from the center segment. The control bar may include a series of slats. A base supports the control bar and is connected to the first side arm and the second side arm. The control bar is biased to an unstressed position with the center segment a first distance from the base, and elastically bends under an applied force to a loaded position with the center segment a second distance from the base less than the first distance. The device stores potential energy that returns the control bar to the unloaded position upon removal of the applied load.

A device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of an article of footwear comprises a control bar having a center segment, a first side arm extending from the center segment, and a second side arm spaced from the first side arm and extending from the center segment. The control bar may include a series of slats. A base supports the control bar and is connected to the first side arm and the second side arm. The control bar is biased to an unstressed position with the center segment a first distance from the base, and elastically bends under an applied force to a loaded position with the center segment a second distance from the base less than the first distance. The device stores potential energy that returns the control bar to the unloaded position upon removal of the applied load.

A device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of an article of footwear comprises a control bar having a center segment, a first side arm extending from the center segment, and a second side arm spaced from the first side arm and extending from the center segment. The control bar may include a series of slats. A base supports the control bar and is connected to the first side arm and the second side arm. The control bar is biased to an unstressed position with the center segment a first distance from the base, and elastically bends under an applied force to a loaded position with the center segment a second distance from the base less than the first distance. The device stores potential energy that returns the control bar to the unloaded position upon removal of the applied load.

A device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of an article of footwear comprises a control bar having a center segment, a first side arm extending from the center segment, and a second side arm spaced from the first side arm and extending from the center segment. The control bar may include a series of slats. A base supports the control bar and is connected to the first side arm and the second side arm. The control bar is biased to an unstressed position with the center segment a first distance from the base, and elastically bends under an applied force to a loaded position with the center segment a second distance from the base less than the first distance. The device stores potential energy that returns the control bar to the unloaded position upon removal of the applied load.

An article of footwear includes an upper defining a foot-receiving cavity with a heel region, and a heel support device extending around the rear of a heel region from a lateral side to a medial side. The heel support device may include a plurality of slats and a base, the plurality of slats providing a progressive gradient of lengths and/or widths, and/or one or more pegs extending from the device for attachment to a footwear upper, and/or an elongated tip that may be disposed in a cavity of an extension of a heel collar of the upper.

A device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of an article of footwear comprises a control bar having a center segment, a first side arm extending from the center segment, and a second side arm spaced from the first side arm and extending from the center segment. The control bar may include a series of slats. A base supports the control bar and is connected to the first side arm and the second side arm. The control bar is biased to an unstressed position with the center segment a first distance from the base, and elastically bends under an applied force to a loaded position with the center segment a second distance from the base less than the first distance. The device stores potential energy that returns the control bar to the unloaded position upon removal of the applied load.

A device configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of an article of footwear comprises a control bar having a center segment, a first side arm extending from the center segment, and a second side arm spaced from the first side arm and extending from the center segment. The control bar may include a series of slats. A base supports the control bar and is connected to the first side arm and the second side arm. The control bar is biased to an unstressed position with the center segment a first distance from the base, and elastically bends under an applied force to a loaded position with the center segment a second distance from the base less than the first distance. The device stores potential energy that returns the control bar to the unloaded position upon removal of the applied load.