Abstract: The article of footwear further includes a heel cup attached to the upper and extending from the sole structure to at least a portion of the rear heel collar of upper. Additionally, the heel cup is uniformly molded with an upper portion, midportion, and lower portion and the upper portion has a smaller mediolateral length than the midportion, and the midportion and lower portion form a concave structure configured to receive the heel. The midportion includes a peripheral portion having a first thickness and a central portion having a second thickness, and the second thickness is less than the first thickness.

Abstract: The shoe includes a sole and a layer of elastic material positioned to stretch and create tension that enhances securement of a foot inserted into the shoe. A polymer heel cup is coupled to the sole and upper and has an S-wave in a vertical cross-section of a rearmost portion. The heel cup has diagonal beams separated by apertures, and the diagonal beams include beams of at least two different widths. A compressible interior foam layer is near a forward-facing surface of the upper portion of the heel cup and extends into the shoe opening, providing securement of the foot once inserted.

Abstract: The shoe includes a sole and an upper having an ankle collar extending around a portion of a shoe opening. The shoe includes a heel cup in a heel region of the upper, the heel cup having a central region and peripheral portions and forms a vertical cross-sectional “S” wave shape through the central region, the “S” wave shape having an upper arc and a lower arc that intersect at an inflection point. The heel cup has a top, middle, and bottom portion, each extending horizontally through the central region. The shoe includes a compressible material layer along regions of an inner wall of the heel cup facing an interior of the upper. The compressible material layer protrudes into the shoe opening along the central region corresponding to the top portion and tapers towards the portion of the central region corresponding to the bottom portion.

Abstract: An article of footwear has an upper having an elastic material and a heel cup. The heel cup is constructed of a uniformly molded flexible polymer material and an aperture at a rear, and the elastic material of the upper at the aperture facilitates securement of a user's foot upon stretching. An upper portion of the heel cup is concave relative to the front portion of the article of footwear and flexes downward and temporarily widens when donning the article of footwear. After foot insertion, the upper portion returns upward to surround a rear portion of a heel of the user's foot. A foam layer is positioned near a topmost region of the foot-receiving opening and extending into the opening and is compressed by the user's heel during foot insertion, and to facilitate the securement after donning.

Abstract: The shoe includes a sole and an upper wherein the upper has an elastic material and a compressible component. The compressible component has a heat-activated material and is attached to an outer surface of the upper and curving from medial to lateral sides of the sole. The elastic material that is below the compressible component is configured, upon stretching, to facilitate securement of a user's foot within the shoe. The compressible component flexes downward upon an applied downward force by the user's foot when donning the shoe, and temporarily widens the foot-receiving shoe opening. The compressible component returning upward to surround and secure the rear portion of a heel of the user's foot within the shoe after donning.

Abstract: The shoe includes a sole and an upper having a foot-receiving shoe opening. The shoe includes a heel cup in a heel region, the heel cup having a central region, peripheral portions, and a top portion, mid-portion, and lower portion extending through the central region and the peripheral portions. The top portion, mid-portion, and lower portion form a vertical cross-sectional “S” wave shape through the central region of the heel cup. The shoe includes a compressible material layer positioned along regions of an inner wall of the heel cup facing an interior of the shoe upper corresponding to a portion of the central region of the heel cup. The compressible material layer protrudes into the shoe opening along the central region corresponding to the top portion and tapers towards the portion of the central region corresponding to the lower portion.

Abstract: The article of footwear further includes a heel cup attached to the upper and extending from the sole structure to at least a portion of the rear heel collar of upper. Additionally, the heel cup is uniformly molded with an upper portion, midportion, and lower portion and the upper portion has a smaller mediolateral length than the midportion, and the midportion and lower portion form a concave structure configured to receive the heel. The midportion includes a peripheral portion having a first thickness and a central portion having a second thickness, and the second thickness is less than the first thickness.

Abstract: The shoe includes a sole and an upper. A heel cup has an upper mid- and lower portion and the heel cup extends from the sole to at least a portion of a rear ankle collar of the upper. The heel cup has a polymer material. In a first configuration, the upper portion of the heel cup has a downward incline with a first angle, and the upper portion can distort into a second configuration under a load of a foot when donning the shoe. In the second configuration the upper portion has a downward incline with a second angle that is greater than the first angle. An compressible interior foam layer is adjacent to an interior wall of the upper portion of the heel cup, extends around portions of an ankle region of the foot and extends into the shoe opening, providing securement of the foot.

Abstract: A shoe has a flexible component that is distinct from the sole and attached to an exterior of the shoe upper. The flexible component extends around the heel region from a maximum height below the ankle collar and behind the shoe opening. The flexible component extends from the maximum height in a downward angled direction along a portion of each of the lateral and medial sides of the upper. A compressible material layer is disposed along regions of an inner wall of the upper facing the opening. The compressible material layer protrudes into the opening along at least the top portion of the heel region and tapers in a downward direction towards a base of the upper. The flexible component is depressed under a downward load during the donning of the shoe and automatically returns back to the elevated position when the shoe is donned.

Abstract: The shoe includes a sole and an upper and a heel cup that extends from adjacent to the sole to a rear portion of a collar of the upper. The heel cup is positioned in an interior portion of the upper, has a central portion thinner than an adjacent region, and has a smooth curvature, including an S-wave cross-section at its rearmost portion. The shoe includes an inner compressible layer having foam and which is covered by a form-fitting elastic textile. The inner compressible layer has a curved outer surface extending into a foot-receiving opening of the shoe, a first thickness adjacent to a portion of the heel cup above a central inflection point, tapering to lesser lateral thicknesses at each side of the foot-receiving, and tapering to a lesser lower thickness adjacent to a portion of the heel cup below the central inflection point.

Abstract: The shoe includes a sole and a layer of elastic material positioned to stretch and create tension that enhances securement of a foot inserted into the shoe. A polymer heel cup is coupled to the sole and upper and has an S-wave in a vertical cross-section of a rearmost portion. The heel cup has diagonal beams separated by apertures, and the diagonal beams include beams of at least two different widths. A compressible interior foam layer is near a forward-facing surface of the upper portion of the heel cup and extends into the shoe opening, providing securement of the foot once inserted.

Abstract: A shoe includes a sole and an upper having a heel counter with a heel cup. The upper includes a foot receiving shoe opening. The heel cup is uniformly molded with an upper portion, midportion, and lower portion. On a vertical cross-section, the heel cup has a S wave shape and a thickness of the heel cup decreases gradually from a peripheral portion of the heel cup toward a central region of the heel cup. The heel cup is attached to an interior compressible layer, and the compressible layer extends into the shoe opening. The compressible layer may be compressed by a user's foot during insertion or removal of the user's foot, and may at least partially expand to hold an ankle of the user's foot once the foot is 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: 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: 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: A shoe includes a heel counter with a heel cup. The heel cup may be uniformly molded with an upper portion, midportion, and a lower portion. The upper portion has a smaller mediolateral length than the midportion, and a thickness of the heel cup decreases from a peripheral portion of the heel cup toward a central region of the midportion. The central region of the midportion provides flexibility of the heel cup, and the rearmost portion of the heel cup has an overall vertical S wave cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: The shoe includes a sole and an upper. A heel cup has an upper mid- and lower portion and the heel cup extends from the sole to at least a portion of a rear ankle collar of the upper. The heel cup has a polymer material. In a first configuration, the upper portion of the heel cup has a downward incline with a first angle, and the upper portion can distort into a second configuration under a load of a foot when donning the shoe. In the second configuration the upper portion has a downward incline with a second angle that is greater than the first angle. An compressible interior foam layer is adjacent to an interior wall of the upper portion of the heel cup, extends around portions of an ankle region of the foot and extends into the shoe opening, providing securement of the foot.