A shoe including: an upper, wherein an upper edge of a topline is defined by a medial line and a lateral line; and a counter, wherein an upper edge is defined, at a position downward of the upper edge of the topline, by first counter line on a medial side and a second counter line, which protrude downward, wherein: a medial height difference is defined by a difference in a height direction between a first point at a lowermost point on the medial line and a second point at a lowermost point on the first counter line; a lateral height difference is defined by a difference in the height direction between a third point at a lowermost point on the lateral line and a fourth point at a lowermost point on the second counter line; and the lateral height difference is greater than the medial height difference.

A bimodal heel counter apt for a rapid entry and release footwear devices, that includes a flexible hollow hemisphere portion, a heel tab, a secondary heel tab, a back sole base, an anchor system, and dependent fastening elements. The bimodal heel counter and dependent fastening systems are biased to one of two stable positions, which elastically morphs by stored potential energy with applied force from one position to the other, configured to collectively snap a footwear device between an open and closed position, for donning and doffing, or securing the foot as to enable active footwear use.

An upper includes an upper main body that covers an instep of a foot. The upper main body includes: a first portion including a plurality of linear bodies and formed by one layer; and a bag-shaped second portion formed by two layers in which some of the plurality of linear bodies constituting the first portion serve as one layer and the rest of the plurality of linear bodies serves as another layer. Inside the second portion, a cushioning material is put. The second portion protrudes toward a foot of a wearer with respect to the first portion.

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 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 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 present invention comprises a footwear clip with a heel protector used to provide comfort to the wearer of the footwear clip. The heel protector may be integrated as part of the footwear clip or a separate piece that can be attached to the footwear clip to protect the heel of the wearer of the footwear. The heel protector conforms to the heel portion of the footwear, and may be made of cloth, rubber, flexible plastic, or any other material that may provide padding and protection to the heel of the wearer of the footwear. There are many applications which may want to be comfortably attached to footwear such as decorations like charms, jewelry, data collections devices for steps, gaits, medical devices, and energy collection systems.

A heel support is provided for an article of footwear that includes an upper defining a foot-receiving cavity having an ankle opening. The heel support includes a cradle configured to be operatively connected to a heel region of the upper. The cradle includes a base and a cradle arm extending outward from the base to a tip portion such that the cradle arm extends upward toward the ankle opening and toward a posterior wall of the heel region. The tip portion is moveable relative to the base between an expanded position and a collapsed position. The heel support includes a metallic spring operatively connected to the cradle such that the spring biases the tip portion of the cradle arm toward the expanded position of the tip portion. The tip portion of the cradle arm is resiliently deflectable toward the collapsed position against the bias of the spring.

An article of footwear with a medial contact portion disposed on the medial side of the article is described. The medial contact portion includes a plurality of raised elements that extend outwards from the surface of the upper on the medial side. The raised elements are configured to contact a ball during passing or trapping to absorb and dampen forces associated with the impact of the ball with the article to provide cushioning. The sizing and spacing arrangement of the raised elements on the medial contact portion provide sufficient surface area to allow a portion of the surface of the upper to contact a ball. In one embodiment, the upper is made from a synthetic leather material that has substantially the same coefficient of friction under dry conditions and wet conditions.

A method is provided for making a microcellular shoe stiffener has first and second adhesive layers coextruded on opposite first and second surfaces of a stiffener core. The stiffener core may include a recycled polymeric material. Nitrogen in a supercritical fluid state is introduced into the extruder for the stiffener core to produce a closed cell foam with a gaseous component. The gas reduces the weight and cost of the stiffener without significantly reducing stiffness and resiliency.