SHOE HEEL COUNTER

Abstract

A footwear article includes an upper (16) and a sole structure (14), and the upper (16) includes a shoe opening that receives the foot. The footwear article further includes a heel counter (52) attached to the upper (16) and extending from the sole structure (14) to at least a portion of the rear heel collar (74) of the upper (16). The heel counter (52) is uniformly molded with an upper portion (64), a middle portion (58), and a lower portion (54), and the upper portion (64) has a shorter mediolateral length than the middle portion (58). The middle portion (58) and the lower portion (54) form a concave structure configured to receive the heel. The upper portion (64) has a first configuration and is able to deform into a second configuration under the load of a user's foot when the user is putting on the shoe.In the second configuration, at least part of the upper portion (64) is lowered compared to the first configuration, and the upper portion (64) is able to return to the first configuration after the user's foot is removed. The middle portion (58) includes a peripheral portion (70) having a first thickness and a central portion (50) having a second thickness, the second thickness being less than the first thickness.