Slip-on footwear system

Abstract

A slip-on footwear system including an upper that defines an elasticized gore in the heel portion of the footwear. In the heel portion of the footwear, one or more upper panels cooperate to define a recess, also referred to as a gore, which is bounded by a perimeter. An elastic panel is secured along the perimeter and cooperates with the one or more upper panels to further define an opening through which a foot is inserted into the upper. The elastic panel is stretchable and resilient so that when a user inserts their foot into the footwear, the gore opens-up, which in turn enlarges the opening. A heel flap may be secured to the upper panels in the heel region below the gore to conceal the gore and elastic panel, without inhibiting the stretch of the elastic panel. The heel flap may also add structural rigidity to the footwear.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . An upper for an article of footwear including a forefoot portion and a heel portion comprising: 
 a first panel terminating at a first end in the heel portion;    a second panel terminating at a second end in the heel portion; and    an elastic material joined with the first and the second end, located substantially entirely in the heel portion, wherein the first end and the second end are movable away from one another and retractable toward one another so that a foot is insertable into the upper.    
     
     
         2 . The upper of  claim 1  comprising a third panel secured to at least one of the first and second panels, the third panel concealing the elastic material.  
     
     
         3 . The upper of  claim 1  wherein the first end includes a first portion and a second portion, the second end includes a third portion and a fourth portion, wherein the first portion is joined with the third portion, and wherein the elastic material is joined with the second portion and the fourth portion.  
     
     
         4 . The upper of  claim 3  comprising a third panel secured to at least one of the first and second portions and covering the elastic material.  
     
     
         5 . The upper of  claim 4  wherein the third panel is secured to the first and third portions and adds structural rigidity to the heel portion.  
     
     
         6 . The upper of  claim 1  wherein the first panel and the second panel are integrally joined with one another in the forefoot portion.  
     
     
         7 . The upper of  claim 1  wherein the first panel, second panel and the elastic material cooperate to define at least a portion of an opening through which a foot is inserted, wherein the elastic material enables the opening to enlarge when a foot is inserted through the opening.  
     
     
         8 . A footwear construction comprising: 
 an upper including a heel portion, the upper defining an opening through which a foot is inserted into the footwear, the upper defining a gore in the heel portion, the gore bounded by an edge;    a stretchable member secured to the edge, wherein the opening enlarges when the stretchable member is stretched; and    an outsole secured to the upper.    
     
     
         9 . The footwear construction of  claim 8  comprising a heel flap, the heel flap disposed in the heel portion and concealing at least a portion of the stretchable member from view.  
     
     
         10 . The footwear construction of  claim 9  wherein the heel portion is of a depth including a first portion adjacent the opening and a second portion adjacent the outsole, and wherein the gore is defined within the first portion and wherein the heel flap is secured to the upper in the second portion.  
     
     
         11 . The footwear construction of  claim 7  wherein the upper includes an interior and an exterior.  
     
     
         12 . The footwear construction of  claim 11  comprising a cover panel secured to the interior and the exterior, the cover panel concealing the stretchable member without preventing the stretchable member from stretching.  
     
     
         13 . The footwear construction of  claim 7  comprising a cover secured to the upper and disposed over the gore.  
     
     
         14 . The footwear construction of  claim 13  wherein the gore is defined substantially only into the heel portion.  
     
     
         15 . A footwear construction comprising; 
 an outsole;    an upper joined with the outsole, the upper including a heel portion, the upper defining an opening through which a foot is inserted, the upper defining a recess in the heel portion; and    a flexible and resilient member secured to the upper in the recess, wherein the member stretches to enlarge the opening when a foot is inserted into the footwear construction.    
     
     
         16 . The footwear construction of  claim 15  comprising a heel panel that conceals the member without preventing the member from stretching.  
     
     
         17 . A method for manufacturing footwear comprising: 
 providing an upper defining an opening and including a forefoot portion and a heel portion, the upper defining a gore in the heel portion;    securing an elastic member to the upper within the gore; and    joining the upper with an outsole.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the opening is bounded by a perimeter and the elastic member forms a portion of the perimeter in the heel region.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the elastic member is stretchable so that the opening enlarges when a foot is inserted through the opening.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  comprising securing a heel flap to the upper to conceal at least one of the elastic member and the gore.  
     
     
         21 . A method for manufacturing a footwear upper including a heel region and a forefoot region comprising: 
 providing a first panel in the forefoot region;    joining a second panel and a third panel to one another in a first area in the heel region; and    joining each of the second panel and the third panel to an elastic member in a second area in the heel region, wherein the elastic member enables the second panel and third panel to move relative to one another in the heel region.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  comprising securing a heel flap to the first area, the heel flap concealing the elastic member.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  comprising covering at least a portion of the elastic member with a cover without restricting movement of the second panel and the third panel relative to one another.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the first, second and third panels are integrally joined with one another to form a unitary piece of material.