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: 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: 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 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: A supporting member in a sole for an article of footwear including at least a vertical sub-member extending in both a vertical direction and a longitudinal direction that extends along a toe region to a heel region of the sole. Located within or adjacent to a cushioning member, the vertical sub-member has a curvature along the longitudinal direction wherein the curvature is configured to reduce flexion of the cushioning element and/or improve the durability of the supporting member. The supporting member further includes a horizontal sub-member extending from a sidewall of the vertical sub-member in a latitudinal direction of the sole and being angled away from the vertical sub-member and at least a portion of the vertical sub-member being coextensive with the vertical sub-member.

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: A shoe has an upper with a foot receiving shoe opening. A heel counter is located at a rear portion of the upper and includes a rigid heel cup. The heel cup has a lower portion, a midportion, and an upper portion having a curvature extending from a top edge of the heel cup and that is curved downward towards the shoe opening. On a vertical cross-section, the heel cup has a S wave shape. A compressible layer is located along an inner wall of the heel cup and is configured to curve around a portion of a user's ankle above the user's heel once donned. The compressible layer may be compressed during donning of the shoe and may at least partially expand to secure the foot within the shoe once donned.

Abstract: An article of footwear includes a heel cup that is attached to the upper and extends from the sole structure to at least a portion of the rear heel collar of the upper. The heel cup may be 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 that receives the heel. The upper portion has a first configuration and is capable of distorting into a second configuration under a load of a user's foot when the user is donning the footwear. In the second configuration, at least part of the upper portion is lowered and is capable of returning to the first configuration after the load of the user's foot is removed. The midportion includes a peripheral portion that may be thicker than a central portion.

Abstract: A sole structure for articles of footwear and a method of manufacturing them comprising at least one polymeric foamed component expanded through supercritical fluid (SCF) expansion of a shaped pre-expanded polymeric material. The polymeric foamed component may include apertures situated and fashioned in the formation of the pre-expanded polymeric material to promote uniform expansion and optimal curing conditions during the SCF expansion process. At least one polymeric foamed component having one set of physical properties that may be bound to or assembled in conjunction with one or more sole components having the same or another set of physical properties.

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 cup that is attached to the upper and extends from the sole structure to at least a portion of the rear heel collar of the upper. The heel cup may be 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 that receives the heel. The upper portion has a first configuration and is capable of distorting into a second configuration under a load of a user's foot when the user is donning the footwear. In the second configuration, at least part of the upper portion is lowered and is capable of returning to the first configuration after the load of the user's foot is removed. The midportion includes a peripheral portion that may be thicker than a central portion.

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: A supporting member in a sole for an article of footwear comprising at least a vertical sub-member extending in both a vertical direction and a longitudinal direction that extends along a toe region to a heel region of the sole. Located within or adjacent to a cushioning member, the vertical sub-member has a curvature along the longitudinal direction wherein the curvature is configured to reduce flexion of the cushioning element and/or improve the durability of the supporting member. The supporting member further comprises a horizontal sub-member extending from a sidewall of the vertical sub-member in a latitudinal direction of the sole and being angled away from the vertical sub-member and at least a portion of the vertical sub-member being coextensive with the vertical sub-member.

Abstract: A sole structure for articles of footwear and a method of manufacturing them comprising at least one polymeric foamed component expanded through supercritical fluid (SCF) expansion of a shaped pre-expanded polymeric material. The polymeric foamed component may include apertures situated and fashioned in the formation of the pre-expanded polymeric material to promote uniform expansion and optimal curing conditions during the SCF expansion process. At least one polymeric foamed component having one set of physical properties that may be bound to or assembled in conjunction with one or more sole components having the same or another set of physical properties.

Abstract: An article of footwear with a marking system is disclosed. The marking system is configured to help locate one or more portions of a foot during training of an athlete. The marking system includes markings disposed on an upper of an article of footwear.

Abstract: A shoe having an upper with a tongue and an outer shell in which the tongue has a bulging extension on the medial side, in which the outer surface of the tongue has a connector that is aligned with a connector on the inner surface of the outer shell. When the connectors are aligned together, the tongue is secured to the outer shell.

Abstract: The invention is a shoe with an upper and a sole member. The sole member has multiple individual pieces connected to each other by connectors. The connectors are placed below the top surface of the sole member and above the bottom surface of the sole member. The connectors may connect the individual pieces of the sole member laterally and longitudinally.