Article of footwear

Abstract

A shoe article includes an upper (16) and a sole (14), the upper (16) including an opening for receiving a foot. The shoe article further includes a heel cup (52) attached to the upper (16) and extending from the sole (14) to at least a portion of a heel collar (74) behind the upper (16). The heel cup (52) is uniformly molded from an upper portion (64), a middle portion (58), and a lower portion (54), the upper portion (64) having a shorter mid-lateral length than the middle portion (58), and the middle portion (58) and the lower portion (54) forming a concave structure configured to receive a heel. The upper portion (64) has a first configuration and is deformable into a second configuration under the load of the user's foot when the user wears the shoe. In the second configuration, at least a portion of the upper portion (64) is lowered relative to the first configuration, and the upper portion (64) is able to return to the first configuration after the load on 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.

Claims

1. A shoe article comprising: an upper and a sole; the upper defining an opening for receiving a foot; a heel cup attached to the upper and extending from the sole to at least a portion of a rear ankle collar of the upper; the heel cup being uniformly molded and without holes, comprising an upper portion, a middle portion, and a lower portion, a first length extending from an inner edge to an outer edge of the upper portion and a second length extending from an inner edge to an outer edge of the middle portion; the second length being greater than the first length; the middle portion and the lower portion forming a concave structure configured to receive and support a heel; the upper portion and the middle portion forming a downwardly sloping convex structure capable of receiving a heel and allowing the heel to slide downwardly into the opening; the heel cup having a first configuration; The heel cup is deformable into a second configuration under load on the user's foot when the user wears the shoe; wherein in the second configuration, at least a portion of the upper portion is lowered relative to the first configuration, causing a bend at or near the interface of the middle portion; and the upper portion is able to return to its position in the first configuration after the load on the user's foot is removed; the middle portion defines a peripheral portion and a central portion; the central portion has a uniform surface finish; the peripheral portion has a first thickness measured from the rear wall of the heel cup to the front wall of the heel cup; the central portion has a second thickness measured from the rear wall of the heel cup to the front wall of the heel cup; the first thickness is greater than the second thickness, wherein the bend occurs at the second thickness; and the shoe article has one or more of the following characteristics: the heel cup is at least attached to an internal foam assembly comprising at least one of EVA and polyurethane; the peripheral portion of the heel cup has a thickness of 2 mm to 3 mm; The minimum thickness of the central portion of the middle portion of the heel cup is 0.5 mm to 1 mm; the upper further includes an eyelet; and / or the upper further includes a tongue and at least one of the following: inner and outer elastic bands extending between an upper portion of the tongue and an inner lining of the upper; and a tongue support having a stiffness greater than that of the tongue and configured to reduce the compression of the tongue during the user's foot insertion.

2. The footwear article of claim 1, wherein the first thickness gradually decreases to the second thickness in one direction extending from the peripheral portion to the central portion.

3. The footwear product of claim 1, wherein in the second configuration, the upper region of one of the central portions of the middle portion is closer to the front of the footwear product than in the first configuration, and the uppermost segment of one of the upper portions is moved further away from the front of the footwear product.

4. The footwear article of claim 1, wherein the central portion bends between the upper portion and the middle portion, the upper portion including an uppermost section that lowers to be equal to or below the bending area, and the uppermost section extends rearward as it lowers.

5. The shoe product of claim 1, wherein the upper portion in the first configuration is inclined downward at a first angle relative to a vertical line orthogonal to a horizontal surface of the floor, and the upper portion in the second configuration is inclined at a second angle, wherein the second angle is greater than the first angle.

6. The footwear product of claim 1, wherein in the second configuration, the peripheral portion of the middle portion extends outward along the middle width of the footwear product to a greater extent than in the first configuration.

7. The footwear article of claim 1, wherein an elastic member is located between the heel cup and a front portion of the shoe opening that accommodates the foot.

8. The footwear article of claim 1, further comprising a tongue, wherein a support member is attached to the tongue and the support member prevents the tongue from deforming when the user wears the shoe.

9. The footwear article of claim 8, wherein the support member is a connector that connects a portion of the tongue to a connector on the upper.

10. The footwear article of claim 1, wherein the foam component is located at least on the inner surface of one of the upper portion and the middle portion of the heel cup; the foam component is compressed by the user's heel during foot insertion; and once the foot is inserted, the foam component can secure the user's ankle because it protrudes into the shoe opening and is located above the heel bone area.

11. The footwear article of claim 10, wherein the foam component further extends from both sides of the upper portion of the heel cup along at least a portion of the inner surface of the upper to form a side section of the foam component that covers the ankle over the heel region.

12. The shoe article of claim 11, wherein the rear portion of the foam component bends inward along a concave structure of the heel cup and gradually narrows vertically downward.

13. The footwear product of claim 1, wherein the vertical cross-section of the upper portion, the middle portion and the lower portion is in the shape of an "S" waveform.

14. The footwear product of claim 13, wherein the central portion is at least partially located at one of the inflection points of the "S" waveform.

15. A footwear article comprising: an upper and a sole; the upper defining an opening for receiving a foot; a heel cup attached to the upper and extending from the sole to at least a portion of the heel collar of the upper; the heel cup being uniformly molded and without holes, comprising an upper portion, a middle portion, and a lower portion, a first length extending from an inner edge to an outer edge of the upper portion and a second length extending from an inner edge to an outer edge of the middle portion; the second length being greater than the first length; the middle portion and the lower portion forming a concave structure configured to support the heel; the upper portion having a first configuration; the upper portion being deformable into a second configuration under a load on the user's foot when a user wears the shoe; the upper portion being capable of returning to the first configuration after the load on the user's foot is removed; the upper portion in the first configuration having a downward inclination at a first angle relative to a vertical line orthogonal to a horizontal surface of the floor; In the second configuration, the upper portion is inclined at a second angle relative to a vertical line orthogonal to a horizontal surface of the floor; and the second angle is greater than the first angle; in the second configuration, at least a portion of the middle portion extends outward in a direction away from the shoe opening to a greater extent than in the first configuration; and has one or more of the following characteristics: the heel cup is at least attached to an internal foam assembly comprising at least one of EVA and polyurethane; a peripheral portion of the heel cup has a thickness of 2 mm to 3 mm; a minimum thickness of 0.5 mm to 1 mm in the central portion of the middle portion of the heel cup; the upper further includes an eyelet; and / or the upper further includes a tongue and at least one of the following: inner and outer elastic bands extending between an upper portion of the tongue and an inner lining of the upper; and a tongue support having a stiffness greater than that of the tongue and configured to reduce the compression of the tongue during insertion of the user's foot.

16. The shoe article of claim 15, wherein the intermediate portion defines a peripheral portion and a central portion, the peripheral portion having a first thickness measured from the rear wall of the heel cup to the front wall of the heel cup, and a second thickness less than the first thickness.

17. The footwear article of claim 16, wherein the vertical cross-section of the upper portion, the middle portion and the lower portion is integrally formed in an "S" shape, wherein the central portion is at least partially located at one inflection point of the "S" shape and is partially folded under the load.

18. The footwear article of claim 16, wherein the second thickness under the load causes the center portion to widen, thereby widening the shoe opening in the middle lateral direction.

19. The footwear article of claim 1, wherein a foam component is located at least on the inner surface of one of the upper portion and the middle portion of the heel cup; the foam component is compressed by the user's heel during foot insertion; and once the foot is inserted, the foam component can apply pressure to the user's ankle; and the heel cup is made of a material that is harder than the ankle collar.

20. A footwear article comprising: an upper and a sole; the upper defining an opening for receiving a foot; a heel cup attached to the upper and extending from the sole to at least a portion of a rear ankle collar of the upper; the heel cup being uniformly molded and without perforations, comprising an upper portion, a middle portion, and a lower portion, wherein the upper portion has a shorter mid-lateral length than the middle portion, and the middle portion and the lower portion form a concave structure configured to receive a heel; the upper portion having a first configuration; the upper portion being deformable into a second configuration under a load on the user's foot when a user wears the shoe; wherein in the second configuration, at least a portion of the upper portion is lowered relative to the first configuration due to a bending; the upper portion being capable of returning to the first configuration after the load on the user's foot is removed; the middle portion defining a peripheral portion and a central portion; The peripheral portion has a first thickness measured from the rear wall of the heel cup to the front wall of the heel cup; the central portion has a second thickness measured from the rear wall of the heel cup to the front wall of the heel cup; the first thickness is greater than the second thickness; and the vertical cross-section of the upper portion, the middle portion, and the lower portion is generally in the shape of an "S" waveform, wherein the central portion is at least partially located at a point of inflection of the "S" waveform; the central portion is located directly below the point of inflection; the bending occurs in the central portion; the heel cup has a foam assembly positioned along the front wall of the heel cup and at least a portion of the central portion; the foam assembly protrudes into the shoe opening along the central portion; the foam assembly is configured to be compressed during foot insertion; the foam assembly is at least partially uncompressed after the foot is inserted, wherein the foam assembly secures the foot above the calcaneal region of the foot; and has one or more of the following characteristics: the foam assembly comprises at least one of EVA and polyurethane; The peripheral portion of the heel cup has a thickness of 2 mm to 3 mm; a minimum thickness of the central portion of the middle portion of the heel cup is 0.5 mm to 1 mm; the upper further includes an eyelet; and / or the upper further includes a tongue and at least one of the following: inner and outer elastic bands extending between an upper portion of the tongue and an inner lining of the upper; and a tongue support having a stiffness greater than that of the tongue and configured to reduce the compression of the tongue during the user's foot insertion.

21. The footwear article of claim 20, wherein an elastic member is located between the heel cup and a front portion of the shoe opening that accommodates the foot.

22. The footwear article of claim 20, wherein the thickness of the foam component at the protruding portion of the forward wall of the heel cup is greater than the amplitude of the lower arc of the "S" waveform.

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