An article of footwear includes a sole and an upper. The upper includes a single fabric portion including a base layer having breathability. The single fabric portion includes: a strength portion including the base layer, a breathable layer, and a strength layer; and a breathable portion including only the base layer or only the base layer and the breathable layer. The base layer has a shape extending from a toe region located at a front end in a longitudinal direction of the article of footwear to reach a heel region located at a rear end thereof. The strength portion includes: a toe strength portion disposed in the toe region; and a heel strength portion disposed in the heel region. The breathable portion includes an intermediate breathable portion disposed in an intermediate region located between the toe region and the heel region.

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 relates to a high-heeled shoe comprising an insert (E) and a base body (G), wherein the base body (G) is produced as a single part via a 3D printing process. The insert (E) comprises a surface (EF) that has an upper side (EO) and a lower side (EU), wherein a heel (A) is formed on the lower side (EU). The base body (G) comprises a base surface (F) and an inner flap (I), wherein the base surface (F) has an upper side (FO), a lower side (FU) and a first cavity (H1), and the inner flap (I) has an upper side (IO) and a lower side (IU), wherein the lower side (IU) of the inner flap (I) is joined with the upper side (FO) of the base surface (F) of the base body (G) such that, between the lower side (IU), the upper side (FO) and the first cavity (H1), a second cavity (H2) is formed which forms an overall cavity (HG) with the first cavity (H1), wherein the overall cavity (HG) essentially corresponds to the shape of the insert (E). The insert (E) is positioned in the overall cavity (HG) such that the lower side (EU) of the surface (EF) of the insert (E) is completely contacted with the upper side (FO) of the base surface (F) of the base body (G), and the lower side (IU) of the inner flap (I) completely covers the upper side (EO) of the surface (EF) of the insert (E). The present invention furthermore relates to a process for producing the high-heeled shoe and to the use of an inner flap (I) for completely covering the upper side (EO) of the surface (EF) of an insert (E) in a high-heeled shoe.

An article of footwear includes a sole structure that has a front midsole component and a rear midsole component. A connecting member connects the front midsole component to the rear midsole component. The connecting member defines a groove at a lower side of the sole structure between the front midsole component and the rear midsole component. The front midsole component and the rear midsole component are pivotable relative to one another at the groove between a use position and an access position. Confronting surfaces of the connecting member at the groove are closer to one another in the access position than in the use position so that the groove is relatively open in the use position, and the groove is relatively closed in the access position.

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 may be arranged at various positions among the footwear article, such as above or below a strobel. The collar elevator may be coupled to the footwear article using various connectors. The footwear article may have other features, such as an ankle collar, that are configured in a manner to work together with the collar elevator.

In general, certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide an augmented heel cup protective insert device for shoes. The insert device includes a posterior segment corresponding to the curvature of a heel of a shoe. The device also includes a medial wing, a medial parabolic formation that extends in a direction from top to bottom of the device, an inferior segment, and an angulated segment to meet the beginning of the edge of the heel on the medial side 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.

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 rapid-entry and rebounding fit shoe having one or both of a rapid-entry heel element and a rapid-entry tongue element and both snap back for fit. The rapid-entry shoe directs a user's foot into or otherwise accommodates a user's foot with respect to, a shoe opening, and thereafter secures a rear portion of rapid-entry shoe about a user's heel as well as forefoot.

An adjustable heel support member includes a base portion and an extended portion. The extended portion comprises a lateral portion, a medial portion and a rearward portion. The heel support member further includes a fastening member that can be used to adjust the lateral portion, the medial portion and the rearward portion to resize the heel support member. In some cases, the fastening member may be an elastic ring.