The shoe includes a sole and an upper including at least one layer of elastic material positioned to stretch and create tension that enhances securement of a foot inserted into the shoe. The shoe includes a heel cup with thermoplastic elastomer material. The heel cup is affixed to the sole and upper and includes an upper portion, a midportion, and a lower portion. The heel cup includes enhanced flexibility regions oriented vertically along its rearmost portion. The shoe includes an interior foam layer with EVA and/or polyurethane foam and that is bonded to an interior wall of the upper portion of the heel cup. The interior foam layer is compressible and extends into the shoe opening, providing securement of the foot once inserted. The interior foam layer is covered by an elastic textile having wicking properties, the elastic textile form fitted to the shape of the interior foam layer.

A shoe has an outer sock layer structure and an inner sock layer structure. An ankle cuff is formed at the interconnection between the outer sock layer structure and the inner sock layer structure and completely surrounds the shoe opening. The inner sock layer structure has a pocket in the heel region and a heel cup or heel counter insert in the heel region is partially located between the first interior surface and the second interior surface and an upper portion of the heel cup or heel counter insert is situated within the pocket. The ankle cuff contacts a rearward facing surface of the pocket. The heel counter insert may also be attached to multilayer insole which are then collectively inserted into the upper.

A shoe has an outer sock layer structure and an inner sock layer structure. An ankle cuff is formed at the interconnection between the outer sock layer structure and the inner sock layer structure and completely surrounds the shoe opening. The inner sock layer structure has a pocket in the heel region and a heel cup or heel counter insert in the heel region is partially located between the first interior surface and the second interior surface and an upper portion of the heel cup or heel counter insert is situated within the pocket. The ankle cuff contacts a rearward facing surface of the pocket. The heel counter insert may also be attached to multilayer insole which are then collectively inserted into the upper.

A footwear article includes a footwear upper defining a foot-receiving cavity with a heel region and defining an ankle opening, the footwear upper including an ankle collar at the ankle opening. The footwear article has a sole structure secured to the footwear upper and underlying the foot-receiving cavity, the sole structure including a strobel and a midsole. The footwear article including a collar support disposed inward of an exterior layer of the footwear upper at the heel region, and extending from the sole structure to the ankle opening. The ankle collar is movable from a raised state positioned farther from the sole to a lowered state positioned closer to the sole during donning, and wherein the collar support has a shoehorn structure operable to move a portion of the ankle collar rearward in a longitudinal direction as the ankle collar moves from the raised state to the lowered state.

A rapid-entry shoe having an elastic element to enlarge a foot opening of the rapid-entry shoe and also having a stabilizer to prevent a rear portion of the rapid-entry shoe from collapsing downward.

A footwear has a heel, a protruding portion with a core protruding above a topline of the heel, and the protruding portion has first and second mountain portions on both sides and a valley portion between the first mountain portion and the second mountain portion, respectively. The footwear has a first guiding portion formed on the inside of the footwear of the first mountain to guide a heel of the foot into the footwear, and a second guiding portion formed on the inside of the footwear of the second mountain to guide the heel of the foot into the footwear.

A footwear has a heel, a protruding portion with a core protruding above a topline of the heel, and the protruding portion has first and second mountain portions on both sides and a valley portion between the first mountain portion and the second mountain portion, respectively. The footwear has a first guiding portion formed on the inside of the footwear of the first mountain to guide a heel of the foot into the footwear, and a second guiding portion formed on the inside of the footwear of the second mountain to guide the heel of the foot into the footwear.

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.

The shoe includes a sole and an upper wherein the upper has an elastic material and a compressible component. The compressible component has a heat-activated material and is attached to an outer surface of the upper and curving from medial to lateral sides of the sole. The elastic material that is below the compressible component is configured, upon stretching, to facilitate securement of a user's foot within the shoe. The compressible component flexes downward upon an applied downward force by the user's foot when donning the shoe, and temporarily widens the foot-receiving shoe opening. The compressible component returning upward to surround and secure the rear portion of a heel of the user's foot within the shoe after donning.