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 sole arrangement for an article of footwear with a gradient depth value is provided. In one aspect of the disclosure, the sole arrangement extending from an end of a posterior area of the sole arrangement to an end of an anterior area of the sole arrangement, wherein the posterior area of the sole arrangement being formed under a heel area and the anterior area of the sole arrangement being formed under a forefoot area of a foot. The sole arrangement having an upper facing surface and a ground engaging surface, wherein the upper facing surface being on an opposite side of the sole arrangement than the ground engaging surface. The sole arrangement having a maximum posterior depth value. The sole arrangement having a maximum anterior depth value. The maximum posterior depth value may be smaller than the maximum anterior depth value by a first margin.

A sole arrangement for an article of footwear with a gradient depth value is provided. In one aspect of the disclosure, the sole arrangement extending from an end of a posterior area of the sole arrangement to an end of an anterior area of the sole arrangement, wherein the posterior area of the sole arrangement being formed under a heel area and the anterior area of the sole arrangement being formed under a forefoot area of a foot. The sole arrangement having an upper facing surface and a ground engaging surface, wherein the upper facing surface being on an opposite side of the sole arrangement than the ground engaging surface. The sole arrangement having a maximum posterior depth value. The sole arrangement having a maximum anterior depth value. The maximum posterior depth value may be smaller than the maximum anterior depth value by a first margin.

A heel clamp, or posterior component, for an article of footwear is provided. The heel clamp may comprise a posterior component height value measuring a height value from a lowest point under the heel of the foot on an upper facing surface to a top of the posterior component. A lateral component and a medial component of the heel clamp may include a predetermined height value or an extension height value. The lateral component may be extending into or through an area in-between a lateral malleolus bone of the foot and an Achilles tendon of the foot, the medial component may be extending into or through an area in-between a medial malleolus bone of the foot and the Achilles tendon of the foot, and the intermediate component may be extending to an area of an end of a top of a calcaneus bone of the foot.

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.

A rapid-entry shoe having a heel counter to prevent inward deflection of a rear portion of the upper, but the heel counter having a vertical slit to permit downward deflection of the rear portion of the upper, so as to expand a perimeter of an opening of the shoe to receive a foot and thereby facilitate donning and doffing of the rapid-entry shoe.

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 heel pad for placement within a shoe and a method of use. The heel pad includes a pliable body, a filler element contained within the pliable body, and a malleable member fastened within the pliable body and extending along at least part of a length of the pliable body. In use, the heel pad is positioned in a heel section of the shoe. A longitudinal end of the heel pad is folded along an upper edge of the heel section of the shoe. The folded longitudinal end of the heel pad is affixed to an outer surface of the heel section of the shoe.

A women's ballet flat shoe includes: an upper, a midsole physically connected to the upper, and an insole physically connected to the midsole, the midsole comprising a heel cup, the heel cup thereby being integrated into the shoe, the heel cup configured to comfortably and securely grip a user's heel, wherein the heel cup comprises a first heel cup region having a lower hardness, the first heel cup region configured comfortably to hold the user's heel, wherein the heel cup further comprises a second heel cup region configured to contact the shoe's outsole, the heel cup further comprising a second heel cup region having a higher hardness.

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.