| CPC A43B 23/08 (2013.01) [A43B 11/00 (2013.01); A43B 21/24 (2013.01); A43B 23/088 (2013.01)] | 18 Claims |
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1. An article of footwear comprising:
an upper and sole structure;
the upper defining a foot receiving shoe opening;
a heel cup attached to the upper and extending from the sole structure to at least a portion of a rear ankle collar of the upper;
the heel cup uniformly molded with an upper portion, midportion, and lower portion where in 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 heel cup having a rearward facing upper concavity with a first amplitude;
the heel cup having a forward facing lower concavity with a second amplitude;
the second amplitude being greater than the first amplitude;
the upper portion having a first configuration;
the upper portion capable of distorting into a second configuration under a load of a user's foot when the user is donning the footwear;
wherein in the second configuration at least part of the upper portion is lowered relative to the first configuration;
the upper portion capable of returning to the first configuration after the load of user's foot is removed;
the heel cup having an upper central portion, a mid-central portion, and lower central portion;
the mid-central portion having a first thickness;
the upper central portion having a second thickness;
the lower central portion having a third thickness; and
the first thickness is less than the second thickness and the third thickness.
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