Heel support device of a footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear comprising: a footwear upper defining at least a portion of a foot-receiving cavity and defining an ankle opening at the foot-receiving cavity; a sole structure attached to and underlying the footwear upper; a device configured to surround a portion of the foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of the article of footwear, the device having an inner side and an outer side, the inner side being closer to the foot-receiving cavity than the outer side, and the device comprising: an upper portion at least partially rearward of the ankle opening; and a lower portion adjacent the sole structure and disposed below the upper portion and at least partially rearward of the foot-receiving cavity;wherein, at a cross-section extending along a longitudinal centerline of the article of footwear, the upper portion has a convex curvature on the inner side and a concave curvature on the outer side, and the lower portion has a concave curvature on the inner side and a convex curvature on the outer side; wherein a surface of the upper portion on the inner side is at least partially upwardly directed and serves as a ramp for entry of the foot into the foot-receiving cavity; and wherein, at the cross-section, a lower extent of the upper portion of the device is thinner than at the ramp and thinner than at an upper region of the lower portion.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62 / 805,037, filed February 13, 2019, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to an article of footwear having a heel support device configured for easy foot insertion. BACKGROUND

[0003] Conventionally, placing footwear on a foot often requires the use of one or both hands to stretch the ankle opening of a footwear upper and to hold the rear portion during insertion of the foot, particularly in the case of a relatively soft upper and / or an upper that does not have a heel counter attached to a flexible fabric rearward of the ankle opening. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only, are schematic and are intended to be exemplary and not limit the scope of the disclosure. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a heel support device. Fig. 2 is a front view of the heel support device of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a medial side view of the heel support device of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a lateral side view of the heel support device of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a rear view of the heel support device of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the heel support device of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a view of the heel support device of Fig. 1 from the bottom. Fig. Figure 8 is a lateral side view of an article of footwear having the heel support device of Fig. 1 in a use position. Fig. 9 is a lateral side view of the footwear article of Fig. 8 with the heel support device in an access position. Fig. 10 is a perspective view of another heel support device. Fig. 11 is a rear view of the heel support device of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a lateral side view of the heel support device of Fig. 10. Fig. 13 is a medial side view of the heel support device of Fig. 10. Fig. 14 is a lateral side view of an article of footwear having the heel support device of Fig. 10 in an access position. Fig. 15 is a lateral side view of the footwear article of Fig. 14 with the heel support device in a use position. Fig. 16 is a rear view of another heel support device. Fig. 17 is a rear view of another heel support device. Fig. 18 is a perspective view of another heel support device. Fig. 19 is a rear view of the heel support device of Fig. 18. Fig. 20 is a medial side view of the heel support device of Fig. 18. Fig. 21 is a lateral side view of the heel support device of Fig. 18. Fig. 22 is a perspective view of another heel support device. Fig. 23 is a lateral side view of an article of footwear having the heel support device of Fig. 18 in an access position. Fig. 24 is a lateral side view of the footwear article of Fig. 23 with the heel support device in a use position. Fig. 25 is a partial cross-sectional view of the footwear article of Fig. 24 on lines 25-25 in the Fig. 24. Fig. 26 is a rear view of another heel support device. Fig. 27 is a rear view of another heel support device. Fig. 28 is a rear view of another heel support device. DESCRIPTION

[0005] Disclosed herein are various heel support devices and articles of footwear incorporating the heel support devices, which allow for relatively easy, hands-free insertion and removal of the foot. In one example, an article of footwear may include an upper and a heel support device. The upper may define a foot-receiving cavity having a heel region. The heel support device may be disposed at a rear portion of the upper and may extend around the back of the heel region. For example, the heel support device may be disposed within the rear portion of the upper, secured in position to the rear portion of the upper, or both. The heel support device may include a plurality of fins and a base. Each fin may have a central segment and an arm extending downwardly and forwardly from the central segment to the base.Each slat may be resiliently flexible between an unloaded position and a loaded position when compressed in the direction of the base from the unloaded position to the loaded position. The central segment may be spaced farther from the base in the unloaded position than in the loaded position. The plurality of slats may include a topmost slat, a bottommost slat closer to the base than the topmost slat, and at least one intermediate slat disposed between the topmost slat and the bottommost slat. The plurality of slats may have a progressive gradient of widths from the bottommost slat to the topmost slat. Additionally, in some example heel support devices, the plurality of slats may include a progressive gradient of lengths from the bottommost slat to the topmost slat.For example, the bottom lamella may be shorter and thinner than the at least one intermediate lamella, and the at least one intermediate lamella may be shorter and thinner than the top lamella. Each lamella can be considered to act similarly to a beam fixed at one end and free at the central segment when a downward load is applied to the central segment. For a given downward load applied to the central segment of such a lamella, the downward deflection will be greater for a longer lamella than for a shorter lamella, and greater for a narrower lamella than for a wider lamella (e.g., when the length is measured along the longitudinal central axis of the lamella and the thickness is measured perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the lamella), and assuming that the cross-sectional area of ​​the narrower lamella is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the wider lamella.Accordingly, configuring the device with a plurality of slats having a progressive gradient of widths, a progressive gradient of lengths, or both may allow each slat to tend to deflect to a corresponding extent for a given load.

[0006] In one aspect of the disclosure, the heel support device may include a peg extending through an opening in the upper and attached to a surface of the upper. For example, a portion of the peg extending outward from the opening may be attached to an outer surface of the upper by radio frequency welding or otherwise. In some embodiments, the upper may include an inner layer and an outer layer. The opening may extend through the outer layer. The heel support device may be disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer. In one example, the peg extends outward from the central segment of the lowermost slat of the plurality of slats and may be the only peg extending outward from the plurality of slats.Since the lowest of the slats is the thinnest slat, to allow the tenon to have a larger diameter, the central segment of the lowest of the slats from which the tenon extends may have a thickened region from which the tenon extends. In further examples, the tenon may extend outward from the central segment of another of the slats, and / or one or more additional tenons may extend outward from the back of the base or from the sides of the base.

[0007] In another aspect of the disclosure, the central segment of a sipe of the plurality of sipes may include an elongated tip extending rearward. The elongated tip serves to increase the surface area upon which a foot may rest while applying a downward force and moving into the foot-receiving cavity of the upper. For example, the elongated tip may extend from the uppermost sipe of the plurality of sipes. In some implementations, the upper is configured to receive the elongated tip. For example, the upper may include a heel collar defining an opening into the foot-receiving cavity. The upper may include a conical extension extending rearward from the heel collar. The conical extension of the heel collar may overlie the elongated tip.The conical extension of the heel collar may form an internal cavity, and the elongated tip may be disposed within the internal cavity of the conical extension of the heel collar. An upper surface of the elongated tip may slope downwardly and inwardly toward the foot-receiving cavity. In some embodiments, an inclination of the upper surface of the elongated tip may increase in a forward direction along a longitudinal centerline of the article of footwear, providing a ramp. This may assist in easy insertion of the foot into the foot-receiving cavity. In some embodiments, an outer perimeter of the central segment may include a breakpoint at the elongated tip. In other words, the outer perimeter is angled outwardly at the elongated tip. For example, a breakpoint may be present on either side of the elongated tip.The position of the elongated tip is more easily determined from above due to the point of interruption or points of interruption compared to a central segment without interruption on the outer periphery, which improves the ease with which the heel of the foot is aligned with and can rest on the elongated tip during compression of the heel support device and insertion of the foot into the foot-receiving cavity.

[0008] In another aspect, the heel support device can be configured to enable easy and precise attachment of the upper material to the heel support device during manufacturing. For example, the base of the heel support device can include a relatively thick portion adjacent to an uppermost extent of the base and a relatively thin portion adjacent to a lowermost extent of the base. The upper material can be sewn or glued to the relatively thin portion of the base. Due to its relative thinness, a sewing needle can more easily penetrate the relatively thin portion during sewing of the upper material to the heel support device. Additionally, the boundaries of the relatively thin portion can be easily discernible due to the contrast with the thicker portion of the base, facilitating accurate alignment and placement of the upper material against the relatively thin portion during sewing or gluing operations.

[0009] In one construction, an article of footwear may comprise an upper and a heel support device. The upper may define a foot-receiving cavity having a heel region, the upper may have a heel collar defining an opening into the foot-receiving cavity, and the upper may have a conical extension extending rearward from the heel collar. The heel support device may extend around a rear side of a heel region and may include an adjustment rod and a base. The adjustment rod may have a central segment and an arm extending downwardly and forwardly from the central segment to the base. The adjustment rod may be resiliently flexible between an unloaded position and a loaded position and may be compressed in the direction of the base from the unloaded position to the loaded position.The central segment may be further away from the base in the unloaded position than in the loaded position. The central segment may include an elongated tip extending rearward. The conical extension of the heel collar may overlie the elongated tip. The conical extension of the heel collar may form an internal cavity, and the elongated tip may be disposed within the internal cavity of the conical extension of the heel collar. For example, the conical extension may be designed, shaped, and sized such that the internal cavity closely matches the shape and dimensions of the elongated tip, with the conical extension serving as a pocket to assist the upper in fitting closely around the elongated tip of the heel support device.

[0010] In one construction, an article of footwear may comprise an upper and a heel support device. The upper may define a foot-receiving cavity having a heel region, and the upper may have a heel collar defining an opening into the foot-receiving cavity. The heel support device may extend around a rear side of a heel region and may include an adjustment rod and a base. The adjustment rod may have a central segment and an arm extending downward and forward from the central segment to the base. The adjustment rod may be resiliently flexible between an unloaded position and a loaded position and may be compressed in the direction of the base from the unloaded position to the loaded position. The central segment may be farther from the base in the unloaded position than in the loaded position.The central segment may include an elongated tip extending rearward. The upper may overlie at least one of the arm and the elongated tip. In some implementations, the upper may overlie either of the arm and the elongated tip.

[0011] Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like components throughout the views, there is illustrated embodiments of heel support devices having various features that are advantageous for promoting insertion of the foot into an article of footwear in a potentially hands-free manner. Fig. 1 shows a heel support device 10 that includes a plurality of blades 12 and a base 14. The blades 12 may collectively be referred to herein as an adjustment rod. In some embodiments of heel support devices disclosed herein, only a single blade may be present, which may be referred to as an adjustment rod. The device 10 is shown as an integrated, unitary, one-piece component, with each blade of the plurality of blades 12, as well as the base 14, formed as a continuous arc extending from a medial side 16 to a lateral side 18 around a back surface 20 of the device 10.

[0012] The material of the device 10 is designed to provide the ability to elastically deform by elastic bending to a loaded or access position, as described, and to store potential energy, such as elastic energy, which returns the device 10 to an unloaded position (referred to as the unloaded position, untensioned position, or use position). Example materials for the device 10 include plastics (such as thermoplastics), composites, and nylon. One example material for the device 10 is a polyether block amide, such as PEBAX®, available from Arkema, Inc., King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, USA. Another example material for the device 10 is a glass fiber reinforced polyamide. One example of a glass fiber reinforced polyamide is RISLAN® BZM 7 0 TL, available from Arkema, Inc., King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, USA. Such a glass fiber reinforced polyamide may have a density of 1.07 grams per cubic centimeter according to the ISO 1118 test method, an instantaneous hardness of 75 on a Shore D scale according to the ISO 868 test method, a tensile modulus of 1800 MPa according to the ISO 527 test method (with samples conditioned for 15 days at 23 degrees Celsius with 50% relative humidity), and a flexural modulus of 1500 MPa according to the ISO 178 test method (with samples conditioned for 15 days at 23 degrees Celsius with 50% relative humidity). Another exemplary material for the device 10 is nylon 12 (with or without glass fibers), such as RTP 200F or RTP 201F, available from RTP Company, Winona, Minnesota, USA. Another exemplary material for the device 10 is rigid thermoplastic polyurethane (with or without glass fibers), such asRTP 2300 or RTP 2301, available from RTP Company, Winona, Minnesota, USA. Another exemplary device material is acetal (polyoxymethylene (POM)) (with or without glass fibers), such as RTP 800 or RTP 801, available from RTP Company, Winona, Minnesota, USA. The materials specifically mentioned above are merely examples and not an exclusive list, and, when combined with the entirety of this description, will inform one of ordinary skill in the art of alternative materials having similar properties that may be suitable when formed in accordance with one or more of the structural embodiments disclosed herein.

[0013] As it is in the Fig. 1, the plurality of slats 12 includes a total of four slats, including a topmost slat 12A, a first intermediate slat 12B, a second intermediate slat 12C, and a bottommost slat 12D. The first intermediate slat 12B is disposed between the topmost slat 12A and the second intermediate slat 12C. The second intermediate slat 12C is disposed between the first intermediate slat 12B and the bottommost slat 12D. Within the scope of the disclosure, the plurality of slats 12 could include only one of the intermediate slats 12B or 12C for a total of three slats, or could include more than two intermediate slats for a total of more than four slats.

[0014] Each slat 12A-12D includes a central segment 22, a medial arm 24 extending downwardly and forwardly from the central segment 22 to the base 14, and a lateral arm 26 extending downwardly and forwardly from the central segment 22 to the base 14. In some embodiments disclosed herein with only a single slat or a plurality of slats, each slat may include only a medial arm or only a lateral arm extending from the central segment to the base. Lower ends of the medial and lateral arms 24, 26 are integrally formed with the base 14 so that the arms 24, 26 act as resiliently flexible connections near their connection to the base 14, as described herein. In the unloaded position, which is shown in the Fig. 1 (also referred to as the use position), adjacent slats are separated from each other by slots 21 (e.g. air gaps).

[0015] The central segment 22D of the lowermost slat 12D is disposed closer to the base 14 than the central segment 22A of the uppermost slat 12A and also closer to the base 14 than the central segments 22B and 22C of the first and second intermediate slats 12B and 12C, respectively. As will be further discussed herein, when the plurality of slats 12 are compressed downwardly in the direction of the base 14 by a force, such as the force of a foot being inserted into an article of footwear, each of the slats will elastically bend in the direction of the base 14, and adjacent slats 12 may come into contact with each other at the central segments 22. In the loaded position, which is shown in the Fig. 9, the slots 21 close and adjacent slats 12 contact each other at the central segments 22.

[0016] The plurality of slats 12 comprise a progressive gradient of widths and lengths from the lowest slat 12D to the uppermost slat 12A. In other words, and with reference to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the thicknesses and lengths of the slats 12 increase in the sequence of the slats 12 from the lowest slat 12D to the uppermost slat 12A. The lowest slat 12D has the smallest thickness T4 and the smallest length L4. The second intermediate slat 12C has a thickness T3 that is greater than the thickness T4 and a length L3 that is greater than the length L4. The first intermediate slat 12B has a thickness T2 that is greater than the thickness T3 and a length L2 that is greater than the length L3. The uppermost slat 12A has a thickness T1 that is greater than the thickness T2 and a length L1 that is greater than the length L2. In a non-limiting example, the thickness T1 may be 5 mm, the thickness T2 may be 4.5 mm, the thickness T3 may be 4 mm, and the thickness T4 may be 2.5 mm.In non-limiting examples, ranges of widths of the slats in the discussed order of sequence may be between 1.5 mm to 6.5 mm. Since the bending moment of a beam-like article (such as any of the slats 12A, 12B, 12C, and 12D) is proportional to its thickness and its length (e.g., when the thickness is measured perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the slat and the length is measured along the longitudinal axis of the slat), configuring the device 10 with a plurality of slats 12 enables bending at a lower force than if a single, thicker slat were used, having a thickness extending from the top of the uppermost slat 12A to the bottom of the lowermost slat 12D. Each slat 12A, 12B, 12C, and 12D bends under an applied load (e.g., the force F in the . Fig. 9), being deflected in proportion to their individual thickness and length (with thicker slats deflecting less for a given load than a thinner slat of the same length, and longer slats deflecting more for a given load than a shorter slat of the same thickness). Accordingly, each slat will deflect a given amount with a smaller force than would be the case for the individual slat with a greater overall thickness. The slats 12A, 12B, 12C, and 12D contact each other at the central segments 22 when a downward load is applied to the uppermost slat 12A. However, the slats 12A, 12B, 12C and 12D slide against each other where they are in contact, so that bending force requirements for a desired deflection amount do not increase relative to those of the single wide slat example (e.g., they each act as a separate beam rather than one large beam).

[0017] As it is in the Fig. 2, the length of the lamellae 12A, 12B, 12C, and 12D increases from the lowest lamella 12D to the highest lamella 12A, the length being measured from the end of the respective medial arm 24 at the base 14 to the end of the respective lateral arm 26 at the base 14. The lowest lamella 12D is shorter than the adjacent intermediate lamella 12C because the lowest lamella 12D is closer to the base 14 and its ends are rearward of the ends of the adjacent intermediate lamella 12C, but the central segments 22 are stacked relatively vertically. Accordingly, the second intermediate lamella 12C is shorter than the intermediate lamella 12B, and the first intermediate lamella 12B is shorter than the highest lamella 12A. Accordingly, the lowermost lamella 12D is shorter and thinner than the intermediate lamella 12C, which is shorter and thinner than the intermediate lamella 12B, which is shorter and thinner than the uppermost lamella 12A.

[0018] How best to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, each lamella is attached to one end of its respective medial arm 24 ( Fig. 3) and at one end of its respective lateral arm 26 ( Fig. 4) (e.g., near the base 14) than at the central segment 22. In other words, the thickness of each lamella varies along its length, with a minimum thickness at the central segment 22 and a maximum thickness at the ends of the medial arm 24 and the lateral arm 26. In addition, the cross-sectional area of ​​each of the medial arm 24 and the lateral arm 26 is greater at the ends than the cross-sectional area of ​​the central segment 22, with each cross-section being taken perpendicular to the length (e.g., to the longitudinal central axis) of the respective lamella 12A, 12B, 12C, or 12D. The uppermost lamella 12A has a thickness T1A at its ends that is greater than the thickness T1. For example, the thickness T1A may be 1 mm greater than the thickness T1. The intermediate lamella 12B has a thickness T2A at its ends that is greater than the thickness T2. For example, the thickness T2A can be 1 mm larger than the thickness T2.The intermediate lamella 12C has a thickness T3A at its ends that is greater than the thickness T3. For example, the thickness T3A may be 1 mm greater than the thickness T3. The lowermost lamella 12D has a thickness T4A at its ends that is greater than the thickness T4. For example, the thickness T4A may be 1 mm greater than T4. Additionally, the thicknesses at the ends increase in the order T4A, T3A, T2A, T1A, with T4A being the thinnest and T1A being the thickest. Since portions of the medial arms 24 and the lateral arms 26 closest to the base 14 are subject to the greatest bending when the central segments 22 are compressed to the access position (in the . Fig. 9), by making these sections thicker than the central segment 22 (and with a correspondingly larger cross-sectional area than the central segment), the stress in these sections is reduced compared to a thinner arm.

[0019] The Fig. 5 is a rear view of the heel support device 10. From the views of the heel support device 10, it can be seen that the base 14 has a relatively thick portion 14A adjacent the uppermost extension 30 of the base 14 and a relatively thin portion 14B adjacent a lowermost extension 32 of the base 14. The relatively thin portion 14B is sufficiently thin that the device 10 can be attached to a footwear upper by sewing (e.g., stitching) a lower extension of the upper to the base 14 through the relatively thin portion 14B. Alternatively or additionally, the base 14 can be glued to the upper. In some configurations, the base 14 can be sewn and / or glued to a sole structure underlying the footwear upper, such as a midsole.Because the relatively thin portion 14B is outward from the sole of the foot and closer to the sole of the foot than the relatively thick portion 14A, when a heel support having the base 14 with the relatively thick portion 14A and the relatively thin portion 14B (such as the heel support device 110) is mounted in an upper 42 of an article of footwear 140, as shown in FIG. Fig. 14, greater comfort may be provided due to its greater flexibility than with the relatively thick portion. In various embodiments, the device may be disposed on or in a rear portion of the upper. In some embodiments, the device 10 may be attached to the upper on an outer surface of an outermost layer of the upper. For example, an inner side 34 (shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 6) of the device 10 may be disposed on an outer surface of an outer layer of the upper material. Alternatively, the device 10 may be disposed between layers of the upper material (e.g., within the upper material) such that it is largely or completely covered and not visible from outside the footwear, with the inner side 34 of the device 10 being attached to an outer surface of an inner layer of the upper material and an outer layer of the upper material outwardly from an outer side 36 of the device 10 (in the Fig. 1 and Fig. 5). The Fig. Figure 7 is a bottom view of the device 10.

[0020] The Fig. Figure 8 shows an article of footwear 40 with the heel support device 10 in an unloaded position, also referred to as the use position. The heel support device 10 is attached to a back surface 41 of an inner layer 54 of a footwear upper 42 and extends around the back surface 43 of a heel region 44 of the article of footwear 40 from the lateral side 18 (shown) to a medial side where the medial side 16 of the device 10 is disposed. The article of footwear 40 also includes a midfoot region 46 and a forefoot region 48. The device 10 and the upper 42 are attached to an underlying sole structure 45. The upper 42 extends into the heel region 44, the midfoot region 46, and the forefoot region 48, forming a foot-receiving cavity 50 above the sole structure 45.The upper material 42 has a heel collar 51 and an ankle opening 52 on the heel collar 51 which communicates with the foot-receiving cavity 50 and through which a foot 60 (see the . Fig. 9). The heel support device 10 is shown in hidden lines as being disposed between the inner layer 54 (shown in hidden lines) and the outer layer 56 of the upper 42. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the device 10 may be attached to an exterior side of the outer layer 56 such that it is visible on the footwear 40 (e.g., from the outside of the footwear).

[0021] As it is in the Fig. 9, the plurality of slats 12 can be moved by an applied force F from the unloaded position of Fig. 8 to a burdened position of Fig. 9, which is also referred to as the access position. The force F exerted by the foot 60 on the uppermost slat 12A on the central segment 22 (e.g., by the upper material 42) compresses the slats 12A-12D such that the central segments 22 are closer to the base 14 than in the unloaded position. The upper material 42 is pulled downward by the device 10 at the rear of the ankle opening 52 such that the ankle opening 52 opens to a greater extent (e.g., from above and from the rear) than in the use position, so that the foot 60 can more easily enter the foot-receiving cavity 50. For example, the use of hands or other aids to stretch or open the ankle opening 52 can be avoided. If the upper material 42 is formed of a stretchable material, the ankle opening 52 may be larger in the access position than in the use position.Each slat 12A-12D bends elastically between the unloaded position of . Fig. 8 and the loaded position of Fig. 9, when the plurality of slats 12 are compressed toward the base 14. When the foot 60 completes stepping in, the internal biasing forces of the slats 12A-12D will return the device 10 to the unloaded position, releasing the stored energy introduced by the foot 60 to flex the slats 12A-12D. The device 10 and the back of the upper 42 will slide upward over the back of the heel portion of the foot 60 upon returning to the unloaded position.

[0022] In some embodiments, the heel support device may comprise at least one stud extending through an opening in the upper and attached to a surface of the upper. For example, with reference to Fig. 10, a heel support device 110 is shown which corresponds in all aspects to the heel support device 10, except that the heel support device 110 comprises only a single pin 62 extending from the central segment 22 of the lowermost slat 12D. Fig. Figure 11 best shows the position of the single peg 62 on the lowermost slat 12D. A portion of the central segment 22 of the lowermost slat 12D has a thickened region 64 from which the peg 62 extends. The thickened region 64 allows the use of a peg 62 with a larger diameter than would be possible if the portion of the lowermost slat 12D from which the peg 62 extends were as thin as adjacent portions of the central segment 22 of the lowermost slat 12D. For example, while the adjacent portions may have a thickness T4 of about 2.5 mm, the thickened region 64 allows the peg 62 to have a diameter of 4 mm. Fig. 12 and Fig. 13 show lateral and medial side views of the device 110.

[0023] The Fig. 14 and Fig. 15 show the device 110 when inserted into the upper 42 of an article of footwear 140. The stud 62 extends through an opening 61 of the upper 42 and is welded (e.g., by high frequency welding) to the outer surface 63 of the upper 42. The construction of the stud 62, as well as the method of manufacturing the footwear 140 for welding the stud 62 to the upper 42, are as described in Applicant's co-pending U.S. Application No. 16 / 689,590, filed November 20, 2019, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety. The opening 61 extends through the outer layer 56 and is covered by an enlarged head of the pin 62, which is formed when the pin 62 partially melts for welding to the outer surface 63 of the upper material 42.Because the stud 62 extends from the lowermost slat 12D, it anchors the outer layer 56 of the upper 42 to the lowermost slat 12D when welded thereto. The outer layer 56 and the inner layer 54 are joined together at the ankle opening 52 via the fixture 110, such as with stitching on an inverted seam.

[0024] When the device 110 is compressed by the force F of the foot 60, as shown in the Fig. 14 (e.g., by the applied load of the foot 60), the foot 60 provides a downward pull on the inner layer 54 when the foot 60 contacts and slides against the inner layer 54 during foot insertion. Since the peg 62 acts as an anchor point of the outer layer 56 in the center of the lowermost slat 12D, and since the inner layer 54 is attached to the outer layer 56, the inward pull of the sliding foot 60 on the inner layer 54 is transferred to the peg 62, and the portion of the outer layer 56 extending between the peg 62 and the inner layer 54 is pulled in a direction over the top of the uppermost slat 12A and downward with the inner layer 54, as shown in the Fig. 14 is indicated by the arrow F1. Since the slats 12A-12D slide against each other in the front-to-back direction during compression of the device 10 by the force F once the slots 21 close, the pull of the face material 42 from the lowermost pin 62 upward and over the inner layer 54 assists in keeping all of the slats 12A-12D moving as a unit with little or no side-to-side rocking relative to each other. By comparison, if the pin 62 were still the only pin on the device 110, but extended from the intermediate slat 12C (or any of the slats 12A or 12B) rather than from the bottommost slat 12D, the bottommost slat 12D might not be subjected to the tensile forces of the upper material 42 created by the foot 60 because it would be below the anchoring point of the upper material 42 to the pin 62.As a result, the slat 12D in such an embodiment would be more sensitive to side-to-side movement relative to the other slats 12A, 12B and 12C during compression and entry of the foot.

[0025] In further embodiments, there may be two or more pegs 62 extending from the heel support device. Providing at least two spaced pegs 62 extending from a heel support device such as those shown and described herein allows for accurate positioning of the heel support device relative to a footwear upper during manufacture, wherein the footwear upper is formed with the same number of openings arranged at the same relative spacing as the plurality of pegs 62. For example, Fig. 16 illustrates an embodiment of a heel support device 210 that corresponds in all aspects to the heel support device 110, except that an additional peg 62 extends outwardly from the rear of the base 14. When this lower peg 62 extends through a corresponding opening in the upper 42 and is welded to the outer surface 63 of the outer layer 56, it assists in attaching the outer layer 56 of the upper 42 to the base 14 in addition to any stitching or gluing of the upper to the base 14. Fig. Figure 17 shows an embodiment of a heel support device 310 that corresponds in all aspects to the heel support device 110, except that three additional pins are added for a total of four pins 62. In addition to the peg 62 extending from the lowermost lamina 12D and the peg 62 extending from the rear of the base 14, a peg 62 extends from the base 14 on the medial side 16 and a peg 62 extends from the base 14 on the lateral side 18. By providing four pegs 62 with a peg 62 on the lowermost lamina 12D, a peg 62 on the rear of the base 14, a peg 62 on the medial side of the base 14 and a peg 62 on the lateral side 18 of the base 14, the four pegs 62 are spaced in a first arrangement of four spaced positions, not all of which are coplanar.This may allow the device 310 to be more accurately positioned relative to a facestock having four openings spaced in the same first array, or to be more accurately positioned relative to such a facestock during manufacture, in a shorter period of time than would be possible with a device having only two or three pins.

[0026] Some heel support devices may include an elongated tip extending rearward from the central segment of the topmost slat to further enhance the ease of foot insertion. Fig. 18 shows a heel support device 410 corresponding in all aspects to the heel support device 10, except that the central segment 22 of the uppermost slat 12A includes an elongated tip 70 extending rearwardly from the central segment 22. An upper surface 72 of the elongated tip 70 slopes downwardly and inwardly in a direction toward the foot-receiving cavity 50 when the heel support device 410 is disposed and secured in position on the rear side of the upper 42 in an article of footwear 440, as shown in FIG. Fig. 24. This downward and inward inclination provides a ramp for the foot 60, which guides the foot 60 into the foot-receiving cavity 50 of Fig. 23. In the Fig. 18, the upper surface 72 may have a break point P1 at which the slope of the upper surface 72 increases in a forward direction (e.g., in a direction from the back 20 to the front 74 of the device 10) and along a longitudinal centerline LM of the article of footwear 440 in which the device 410 is mounted (cf. Fig. 23 and Fig. 25). For example, the slope of surface 72 rearward of point P1 is constant (e.g., the portion of surface 72 rearward of break point P1 is flat), whereas the slope of portion 72A of surface 72 forward of break point P1 is non-linear. This change in the slope of surface 72 will further increase the ramping effect of elongated tip 70. Alternatively, upper surface 72 may extend without a break point, the break point may be further rearward on upper surface 72, or there may be more than one break point on upper surface 72 at which the slope changes. As shown, upper surface 72 extends rearward from break point P1 generally at the same angle with respect to a horizontal plane as is the case with medial arms 24 ( Fig. 20) and the lateral arms 26 ( Fig. 21) is the case when the heel support device 410 is in the unloaded position of Fig. 18. Furthermore, the elongated tip 70 can be designed to be more forward or more rearward oriented than in the Fig. 20 and Fig. 21, which may result in a greater change in curvature at a break point along surface 72.

[0027] The Fig. Figure 18 also shows that the outer periphery 76 of the central segment 22 of the uppermost lamella 12A has break points P2 and P3 on either side of the elongated tip 70, at which the elongated tip 70 diverges from the rest of the lamella 12A. The break points P2 and P3 are also visible in the rear view of Fig. 19 and in the medial and lateral views. By providing the breakpoints P2 and P3, the position of the elongated tip 70 can be easily visually located by a person prior to foot insertion, as it extends more clearly and distinctly from the uppermost lamella 12A than would be the case with an elongated tip following the same curvature as the uppermost lamella 12A without a breakpoint. For example, an alternative elongated tip 70A without breakpoints is shown on the outer periphery 76 of the uppermost lamella 12A in the Fig. 22 as extending rearwardly from the uppermost slat 12A of the heel support device 510. The heel support device 510 is configured identically to the heel support device 410, except for the alternative elongated tip 70A. The alternative elongated tip 70A, characterized by the absence of any point of discontinuity at the outer periphery 76 of the uppermost slat 12A, provides the benefit of a wider surface (e.g., a wider elongated tip 70A) upon which the foot is seated during compression of the device 510 to the loaded position.

[0028] The Fig. 25 is a cross-section through the footwear 440 at the longitudinal centerline LM. The upper 42 has a conical extension 42A extending rearward from the heel collar 51 and overlying the elongated tip 70. Because the device 410 is disposed within the upper 42, the upper 42 also overlies each of the medial arm 24 and the lateral arm 26 of the uppermost slat 12A. In further embodiments, the upper 42 may instead overlie only one arm of the device 410, such as a medial arm or a lateral arm, rather than the elongated tip. In further embodiments, the upper may overlie only the elongated tip and not the arm or arms of the device. The conical extension 42A forms an internal cavity 78, and the elongated tip 70 is disposed within the internal cavity 78.In particular, the inner layer 54 and the outer layer 56 are stitched together at an inverted seam 57, and the elongated tip 70 and the padding 80 are disposed within the internal cavity 78. In some embodiments, the mating of the elongated tip 70 with the extension 42A of the heel collar 51 is sufficient to attach the upper 42 with respect to the device 410 such that the upper 42 moves downward with the device 410 during compression to the access position and moves back upward to the use position after the compression force F (e.g., the load) is released, such that no pegs 62 or other attached portions of the slats 12 on the upper 42 are involved.

[0029] The Fig. Figure 26 shows a heel support device 610 which corresponds in all aspects to the heel support device 410, except that a pin 62 extends rearwardly from the lowermost slat 12D. The pin 62 can extend through an opening in the outer layer 56 of the upper material 42 and can be attached to the outer layer 56 of the upper material 42 in the same manner (e.g., by high frequency welding or otherwise) and provides the same advantages as those described with respect to the heel support device 110 in Figures Fig. 14 and Fig. 15. The Fig. Figure 27 shows an embodiment of a heel support device 710 that corresponds in all aspects to the heel support device 610, except that an additional peg 62 extends rearwardly from the back of the base 14. This lower peg 62 assists in attaching the outer layer 56 of the upper 42 to the base 14 when it extends through a corresponding opening in the outer layer 56 and is welded to the outer surface 63 of the outer layer 56. The Fig. 28 shows an embodiment of a heel support device 810 that corresponds in all aspects to the heel support device 610, except that three additional pegs are added for a total of four pegs 62. In addition to the peg 62 extending from the lowermost slat 12D and the peg 62 extending from the back of the base 14, one peg 62 extends from the base 14 on the medial side 16 and one peg 62 extends from the base 14 on the lateral side 18. The four pegs 62 can be attached to the upper 42 in a corresponding manner to the four pegs 62 on the heel support device 310 of Fig. 17 should be attached.

[0030] The features and advantages of the heel support devices described herein may be provided in combination or separately to enable the increased functionality and ease of entry into footwear described. In addition, the following co-pending applications of the applicant are incorporated by reference in their entirety: US Non-Provisional Application No. 15 / 793,008, filed October 25, 2017 (now published as US 2018 / 0110292); US Non-Provisional Application No. 16 / 008,797, filed June 14, 2018 (now published as US 2018 / 0289109); US Non-Provisional Application No. 16 / 689,590, filed November 20, 2019; and US Non-Provisional Application No. 16 / 689,665, filed on November 20, 2019.

[0031] The following items provide example configurations of an article of footwear disclosed herein.

[0032] Item 1. An article of footwear comprising: an upper defining a foot-receiving cavity having a heel region; a heel support device disposed on and / or in a rear portion of the upper and / or secured in position thereto, extending around the rear of a heel region, and comprising a plurality of slats and a base; each slat having a central segment and an arm extending downwardly and forwardly from the central segment to the base; each slat being resiliently flexible between an unloaded position and a loaded position when compressed from the unloaded position to the loaded position in the direction of the base, the central segment being farther from the base in the unloaded position than in the loaded position;wherein the plurality of slats comprises a topmost slat, a bottommost slat located closer to the base than the topmost slat, and at least one intermediate slat disposed between the topmost slat and the bottommost slat; and wherein the plurality of slats comprises a progressive gradient of lengths and / or widths from the bottommost slat to the topmost slat.

[0033] Item 2. The article of footwear of item 1, wherein the bottommost slat is shorter and thinner than the at least one intermediate slat; and the at least one intermediate slat is shorter and thinner than the topmost slat.

[0034] Item 3. The article of footwear of any of items 1-2, wherein the heel support device comprises at least one peg extending through an opening in the upper and attached to a surface of the upper.

[0035] Item 4. The article of footwear of item 3, wherein the upper comprises an inner layer and an outer layer; the opening extends through the outer layer; and the heel support device is disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer.

[0036] Item 5. The article of footwear of item 3, wherein the at least one peg extends from the central segment of a slat of the plurality of slats.

[0037] Item 6. The article of footwear of Item 5, wherein the at least one stud is a single stud.

[0038] Item 7. The article of footwear of item 6, wherein the single peg extends outwardly from the lowest slat of the plurality of slats.

[0039] Item 8. The article of footwear of any of items 1-7, wherein one of the central segments includes an elongated tip extending rearwardly.

[0040] Item 9. The article of footwear of item 8, wherein the elongated tip extends from a topmost slat of the plurality of slats.

[0041] Item 10. The article of footwear of item 8, wherein the upper comprises a heel collar defining an opening into the foot-receiving cavity; the upper has a conical extension extending rearwardly from the heel collar; and the conical extension of the heel collar overlies the elongated toe.

[0042] Item 11. The article of footwear of item 10, wherein the conical extension of the heel collar forms an internal cavity and the elongated tip is disposed within the internal cavity of the conical extension of the heel collar.

[0043] Item 12. The article of footwear of item 10, wherein an upper surface of the elongated toe slopes downwardly and inwardly in the direction of the foot-receiving cavity.

[0044] Item 13. The article of footwear of item 12, wherein a slope of the upper surface of the elongated tip increases in a forward direction along a longitudinal centerline of the article of footwear, providing a ramp.

[0045] Item 14. The article of footwear of item 12, wherein the upper surface of the elongated toe includes a point of discontinuity.

[0046] Item 15. The article of footwear of item 12, wherein an outer perimeter of the central segment has a point of discontinuity at the elongated tip.

[0047] Item 16. The article of footwear of item 12, wherein an outer perimeter of the central segment is characterized by the absence of a point of discontinuity at the elongated tip.

[0048] Item 17. The article of footwear of any one of items 1-16, wherein the base comprises a relatively thick portion adjacent a topmost extent of the base and a relatively thin portion adjacent a bottommost extent of the base.

[0049] Item 18. The article of footwear of item 17, wherein the upper is sewn or glued to the relatively thin portion of the base.

[0050] Item 19. An article of footwear comprising: an upper defining a foot-receiving cavity having a heel region, the upper having a heel collar defining an opening into the foot-receiving cavity, and the upper having a conical extension extending rearward from the heel collar; a heel support device extending around a rear side of a heel region and comprising an adjustment rod and a base, the adjustment rod having a central segment and an arm extending downward and forward from the central segment to the base; the adjustment rod being resiliently flexible between an unloaded position and a loaded position and compressible in the direction of the base from the unloaded position to the loaded position, the central segment being farther from the base in the unloaded position than in the loaded position;wherein the central segment includes an elongated tip extending rearward; and the conical extension of the heel collar overlies the elongated tip.;

[0051] Item 20. The article of footwear of item 19, wherein the conical extension of the heel collar forms an internal cavity and the elongated tip is disposed within the internal cavity of the conical extension of the heel collar.

[0052] Item 21. An article of footwear comprising: an upper defining a foot-receiving cavity having a heel region, the upper having a heel collar defining an opening into the foot-receiving cavity; a heel support device extending around a rear side of a heel region and comprising an adjustment rod and a base, the adjustment rod having a central segment and an arm extending downwardly and forwardly from the central segment to the base; the adjustment rod being resiliently flexible between an unloaded position and a loaded position and compressible in the direction of the base from the unloaded position to the loaded position, the central segment being farther from the base in the unloaded position than in the loaded position; the central segment including an elongated tip extending rearwardly;and wherein the upper material overlies at least one of the arm and the elongated tip;

[0053] Item 22. The footwear article of item 21, wherein the upper overlies each of the arm and the elongated toe.

[0054] To assist and clarify the description of various embodiments, various terms and expressions are defined herein. Unless otherwise noted, the following definitions apply throughout the specification (including the claims). In addition, all referenced documents are incorporated herein in their entirety.

[0055] An "article of footwear," a "footwear article of manufacture," and a "piece of footwear" may be considered both a device and an article of manufacture. Assembled, ready-to-wear articles of footwear (e.g., shoes, sandals, boots, etc.), as well as individual components of articles of footwear (such as a midsole, an outsole, an upper component, etc.) prior to final assembly into ready-to-wear articles of footwear, are alternatively considered and referred to herein, either in the singular or plural, as "article or articles of footwear."

[0056] "A", "an", "the", "at least one", and "one or more" are used interchangeably to indicate that at least one of the items is present. There may be a plurality of such items unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. All numerical values ​​of parameters (e.g., quantities or conditions) in this specification are, unless expressly or clearly indicated otherwise, to be modified by the term "about", regardless of whether "about" precedes the numerical value or not. "About" indicates that the stated numerical value has a small degree of imprecision (with some approximation to the exact value; approximately or reasonably close to the value; nearly).If the imprecision provided by "about" is not otherwise understood in the art to have this ordinary meaning, then "about," as used herein, indicates at least variations that might result from ordinary methods of measuring and using such parameters. As used in the specification and the appended claims, a value is considered "approximately" identical to a stated value if it is neither more than 5 percent greater nor more than 5 percent less than the stated value. Furthermore, a disclosure of a range is to be understood to specifically include all values ​​and further subdivided ranges within the range.

[0057] The terms "comprising," "including," and "having" are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of the specified features, steps, operations, elements, or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more additional features, steps, operations, elements, or components. The orders of steps, processes, and operations may be changed, and additional or alternative steps may be employed. As used in this specification, the term "or" includes any and all combinations of the associated specified terms. The phrase "any of" or "one of" should be understood to include any possible combination of referenced items, including "any one" of the referenced items.The term "any of" shall be understood to include any possible combination of the referenced claims of the appended claims, including "any one" of the referenced claims.

[0058] For consistency and convenience, directional adjectives may be used in this detailed description that correspond to the embodiments shown. One skilled in the art will recognize that terms such as "above," "below," "upward," "downward," "top," "bottom," etc., may be used descriptively with respect to the figures without implying limitations on the scope of the invention as defined by the claims.

[0059] The term "longitudinal" refers to a direction that extends along the length of a component. For example, a longitudinal direction of a shoe extends between a forefoot region and a heel region of the shoe. The term "forward" or "anterior" is used to refer to the general direction from a heel region toward a forefoot region, and the term "rearward" or "backward" is used to refer to the opposite direction, that is, the direction from the forefoot region to the heel region. In some cases, a component can be identified with a longitudinal axis as well as a forward and backward longitudinal direction along that axis. The longitudinal direction or axis may also be referred to as a front-to-back direction or axis.

[0060] The term "transverse" refers to a direction that extends across a width of a component. For example, a transverse direction of a shoe extends between a lateral side and a medial side of the shoe. The transverse direction or axis may also be referred to as a lateral direction or axis or a mediolateral direction or axis.

[0061] The term "vertical" refers to a direction generally perpendicular to both the lateral and longitudinal directions. For example, in cases where a sole is placed flat on a ground surface, the vertical direction may extend upward from the ground surface. It should be noted that each of these directional adjectives can be applied to individual components of a sole. The term "upward" or "upward" refers to the vertical direction pointing toward a top surface of the component, which may include an instep, a lacing / closure area, and / or a main opening of an upper. The term "downward" or "downward" refers to the vertical direction opposite the upward direction in the direction of the bottom surface of a component and may generally point in the directions of the bottom surface of a sole structure of an article of footwear.

[0062] The "interior" of an article of footwear, such as a shoe, refers to portions of the space occupied by the wearer's foot when the shoe is worn. The "interior" of a component refers to the side or surface of the component that is (or will be) oriented toward the interior of the component or article of footwear in a composite article of footwear. The "exterior" or "exterior" of a component refers to the side or surface of the component that is (or will be) oriented away from the interior of the shoe in a composite shoe. In some cases, other components may be present between the interior of a component and the interior in the composite article of footwear. Similarly, other components may be present between an exterior of a component and the space exterior of the composite article of footwear.Furthermore, the terms "inward" and "inward" refer to the direction toward the interior of the component or article of footwear, such as a shoe, and the terms "outward" and "outward" refer to the direction toward the exterior of the component or article of footwear, such as the shoe. Furthermore, the term "proximal" refers to a direction that is closer to a center of a footwear component or closer to the direction of a foot when the foot is inserted into the article of footwear when worn by a user. Similarly, the term "distal" refers to a relative position that is farther from a center of the footwear component or farther from a foot when the foot is inserted into the article of footwear when worn by the user.Consequently, the terms proximal and distal can be understood to provide generally opposing terms for describing relative spatial positions.

[0063] While various embodiments have been described, the description is intended to be exemplary and not restrictive, and it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that many other embodiments and implementations are possible that are within the scope of the embodiments. Any feature of any embodiment may be present in combination with, or replaced by, any other feature or element in any other embodiment, unless specifically limited. Accordingly, the embodiments are not limited except in terms of the appended claims and their equivalents. Furthermore, various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

[0064] While various modes for carrying out the many aspects of the present teachings have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which these teachings belong will recognize various alternative aspects for carrying out the present teachings that are within the scope of the appended claims. Any matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings is intended to be illustrative and exemplary of the entire range of alternative embodiments that one of ordinary skill in the art would recognize as being implied by, structurally and / or functionally equivalent to, or otherwise obvious from the incorporated content, and not as limited merely to the embodiments explicitly shown and / or described. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 62 / 805,037

[0001] US 13"?>16 / 689,590

[0023] US 15 / 793,008

[0030] US 2018 / 0110292

[0030] US 16 / 008,797

[0030] US 2018 / 0289109

[0030] US 16 / 689,590

[0030] US 16 / 689,665

[0030]

Claims

[1] An article of footwear comprising: a footwear upper defining at least a portion of a foot-receiving cavity and defining an ankle opening at the foot-receiving cavity; a sole structure attached to and underlying the footwear upper; a device configured to surround a portion of the foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of the article of footwear, the device having an inner side and an outer side, the inner side being closer to the foot-receiving cavity than the outer side, and the device comprising: an upper portion at least partially rearward of the ankle opening; and a lower portion adjacent the sole structure and disposed below the upper portion and at least partially rearward of the foot-receiving cavity;wherein, at a cross-section extending along a longitudinal centerline of the article of footwear, the upper portion has a convex curvature on the inner side and a concave curvature on the outer side, and the lower portion has a concave curvature on the inner side and a convex curvature on the outer side; wherein a surface of the upper portion on the inner side is at least partially upwardly directed and serves as a ramp for entry of the foot into the foot-receiving cavity; and wherein, at the cross-section, a lower extent of the upper portion of the device is thinner than at the ramp and thinner than at an upper region of the lower portion. [2] The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the footwear upper comprises an inner layer and an outer layer; and the device is at least partially disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer. [3] The article of footwear of claim 2, further comprising: a foam cushion disposed at least partially over the surface of the upper portion on the inside between the device and the inner layer of the footwear upper. [4] The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the device comprises a tip at an upper end of the upper portion of the device; and the tip is disposed between the inner layer and the outer layer. [5] The article of footwear according to claim 4, wherein the surface of the upper portion on the inside from the toe is inclined forward and downward in the direction of the foot-receiving cavity at a back of the heel region. [6] The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the surface of the upper portion on the inside is formed as a ramp surface with a variable slope, a first slope being present at a rear portion of the surface and a second slope, steeper than the first slope, being present at a front portion of the surface lower than the rear portion. [7] The article of footwear of claim 6, further comprising: a foam padding at least partially overlying the variable slope ramp surface. [8] The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the device extends around a back of the heel region from a medial side to a lateral side of the foot-receiving cavity; and the lower portion of the device has a concave curvature on the inside in a direction from the medial side to the lateral side. [9] The article of footwear according to claim 1, wherein the device is configured to elastically deform upon a downward force exerted on the surface of the upper portion on the inside such that the upper portion of the device moves at least partially rearwardly from a first position to a second position due to the exerted downward force, wherein potential energy is stored which returns the device to the first position after the exerted downward force is removed. [10] An article of footwear comprising: a footwear upper defining a foot-receiving cavity having a heel region and defining an ankle opening; wherein the footwear upper comprises an inner layer and an outer layer; a sole structure attached to the footwear upper and underlying the foot-receiving cavity; a heel support device extending around a backside of the heel region; wherein the heel support device comprises an elongated tip forming an upper end of the heel support device; wherein the heel support device is at least partially disposed within a cavity formed at least partially by the inner layer and the outer layer, the inner layer and the outer layer at least partially enclosing the cavity;wherein, at the back of the heel region at a cross-section along a longitudinal centerline of the article of footwear, the heel support device and the outer layer form a concave curvature and then a convex curvature from the upper end of the heel support device in the direction of the sole structure on an outer side of the article of footwear, and the heel support device and the inner layer form a convex curvature and then a concave curvature at the foot-receiving cavity from the upper end of the heel support device in the direction of the sole structure;and wherein the heel support device is configured to elastically deform upon application of a downward force to the elongated tip, such that an upper portion of the heel support device moves at least partially rearwardly from a first position to a second position upon application of the downward force, thereby storing potential energy which returns the heel support device to the first position upon removal of the applied downward force.; [11] The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the inner layer and the outer layer are joined by an inverted seam adjacent a distal end of the elongated tip. [12] An article of footwear according to claim 10, wherein in cross-section the upper portion forms the concave curve with the outer layer and is at least partially rearward of the ankle opening; the heel support device comprises a lower portion forming the convex curve with the outer layer and adjacent to the sole structure and disposed below the upper portion and at least partially rearward of the foot-receiving cavity; and the upper portion of the heel support device is progressively thinner in a direction from the elongated tip to the sole structure. [13] The article of footwear of claim 10, further comprising: a foam cushioning disposed at least partially over a surface of an inner side of the heel support device between the heel support device and the inner layer of the footwear upper. [14] The article of footwear according to claim 13, wherein the surface of the inside of the heel support device is inclined forward and downward from the elongated tip in the direction of the foot-receiving cavity at the back of the heel region. [15] The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein an inner surface of the heel support device comprises a ramp surface having a variable slope, a first slope being present at a rear portion adjacent the elongated toe and a second slope, steeper than the first slope, being present at a front portion lower than the rear portion. [16] The article of footwear of claim 15, further comprising: a foam padding at least partially overlying the variable slope ramp surface. [17] The article of footwear of claim 10, wherein the heel support device extends around the back of the heel region from a medial side to a lateral side of the foot-receiving cavity; and the lower portion of the heel support device adjacent to the sole structure has a concave curvature at the foot-receiving cavity in a direction from the medial side to the lateral side.

Images