Abstract: An article of footwear includes a heel counter support situated on the upper and above the sole structure. The heel counter support may have at least two hollow receptacles with backward angles, a compressible component having two ends, and each one of the two hollow receptacles receives one end of the compressible component. The compressible component may have a first configuration and may be capable of distorting into a second configuration under a load of a user's foot when the user is donning the footwear. The compressible component may be capable of automatically returning to the first configuration after the user's foot in fully inserted into the footwear.

Abstract: The shoe includes a sole and an upper including at least one layer of elastic material positioned to stretch and create tension that enhances securement of a foot inserted into the shoe. The shoe includes a heel cup with thermoplastic elastomer material. The heel cup is affixed to the sole and upper and includes an upper portion, a midportion, and a lower portion. The heel cup includes enhanced flexibility regions oriented vertically along its rearmost portion. The shoe includes an interior foam layer with EVA and/or polyurethane foam and that is bonded to an interior wall of the upper portion of the heel cup. The interior foam layer is compressible and extends into the shoe opening, providing securement of the foot once inserted. The interior foam layer is covered by an elastic textile having wicking properties, the elastic textile form fitted to the shape of the interior foam layer.

Abstract: The shoe includes a sole and an upper including a layer of elastic material positioned to stretch and create tension that enhances securement of a foot inserted into the shoe. The shoe includes a heel cup having polymer material, affixed to the sole and upper, and having an upper portion, a midportion, and a lower portion. In a first configuration, the upper portion has a downward incline with a first angle relative to a vertical line, and the upper portion is capable of distorting into a second configuration under a load of the foot when donning the shoe. In the second configuration, the upper portion has a downward incline with a second angle relative to the vertical line, the second angle being greater than the first angle. An interior foam layer is adjacent to an interior wall of the upper portion, is compressible, and extends into the shoe opening.

Abstract: The shoe includes a sole and an upper including at least one layer of elastic material positioned to stretch and create tension that enhances securement of a foot inserted into the shoe. The shoe includes a heel cup with polymer material, the heel cup affixed to the sole and upper, and the heel cup includes an upper portion, a midportion, and a lower portion. The shoe includes an interior foam layer adjacent to at least an interior wall of the upper portion of the heel cup, the interior foam layer being compressible, and the interior foam layer extends into the shoe opening, providing securement of the foot once inserted.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes an upper and a U-shaped foamed ankle collar. The ankle collar may form the topmost region of the foot receiving shoe opening and the foamed ankle collar may extend at least partially around and over a foot receiving shoe opening. The ankle collar is capable of being compressed by the user's heel during foot insertion and the ankle collar may exert pressure on the user's ankle once the foot is inserted. The ankle collar may have a flattened region along its length forming a downward angle from the topmost region toward the front of the article of footwear. The ankle collar may be located along at least a portion of an inner surface of a heel cup and the heel cup may have a shoe-horn like configuration. The ankle collar may reduce the dimensions of the shoe opening when not compressed.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a heel counter support situated on the upper and above the sole structure. The heel counter support may have at least two hollow receptacles with backward angles, a compressible component having two ends, and each one of the two hollow receptacles receives one end of the compressible component. The compressible component may have a first configuration and may be capable of distorting into a second configuration under a load of a user's foot when the user is donning the footwear. The compressible component may be capable of automatically returning to the first configuration after the user's foot in fully inserted into the footwear.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods to provide energy control via power-requirement analysis and power-source enablement. Both demand-side and supply-side techniques are used alone or in conjunction to determine an optimal number of power sources to supply power to one or more loads. When fluctuations in power requirements are present, measures such as decoupling less-critical loads in order to continue delivering power to critical systems and turning on and off power sources as needed to meet the current power demands of a system are implemented. Power sources are periodically deactivated by the system on a rotational basis such that all power sources wear evenly, prolonging the life of the equipment. A scalable architecture that allows the virtualization of power from the underlying hardware form factor is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods to provide energy control via power-requirement analysis and power-source enablement. Both demand-side and supply-side techniques are used alone or in conjunction to determine an optimal number of power sources to supply power to one or more loads. When fluctuations in power requirements are present, measures such as decoupling less-critical loads in order to continue delivering power to critical systems and turning on and off power sources as needed to meet the current power demands of a system are implemented. Power sources are periodically deactivated by the system on a rotational basis such that all power sources wear evenly, prolonging the life of the equipment. A scalable architecture that allows the virtualization of power from the underlying hardware form factor is also provided.

Abstract: A midsole of a shoe with multiple layers in which at least one of the layers is wrapped in film in order to protect it from the elements, provide stability and also to provide some visual features.