Rear entering, rear fastening, improved athletic shoe

Abstract

An improved running shoe in which the laces, rather than lacing over the tongue of the shoe, are laced and tied in the rear, over the heel structured and arranged to thereby provide a snug-fit upon a wearer's foot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . In improved running shoe comprising:
 an upper portion;
 wherein said upper portion is formed from a contiguous, one-piece member; 
   an outsole;   an insole;   a midsole;
 wherein said midsole is located in between said outsole and said insole and is connected to said upper portion; 
   a toe cap;
 wherein said toe cap is attached to an edge of said upper portion and a distal end of said outsole; 
   a heel portion including:
 edge portions defining a vertically extending opening;
 wherein said edge portions are adapted to retain an adjustable connector member therebetween; 
 
 wherein said heel portion is attached to a proximal end of said outsole; 
   wherein said improved running shoe is adapted to allow a wearer to place their foot inside said improved running shoe and adjust the width thereof via said adjustable connector member, to thereby provide a snug-fit upon said wearer's foot.   
     
     
         2 . The improved running shoe of  claim 1 , wherein said edge portions include a plurality of eyelets therein adapted to allow a show lace to be threaded therethrough and used to adjust the width of said improved running shoe. 
     
     
         3 . The improved running shoe of  claim 2 , further comprising a shoe lace, wherein said shoe lace is adapted to be threaded through said plurality of eyelets and used to allow said wearer to adjust the width of said improved running shoe. 
     
     
         4 . The improved running shoe of  claim 2 , wherein said adjustable connector member includes a cable member adapted to be connected between said edge portions of said heel portion; and a dial member connected to said cable member and adapted to adjust the tension of said cable member between said edge portions, to thereby allow said wearer to adjust the width of said improved running shoe. 
     
     
         5 . The improved running shoe of  claim 1 , wherein said heel portion is formed from a semi-rigid and semi-flexible material. 
     
     
         6 . The improved running shoe of  claim 5 , wherein said semi-rigid and semi-flexible material includes materials chosen from a list of materials consisting of rubber, plastic, and nylon. 
     
     
         7 . The improved running shoe of  claim 5 , wherein said semi-rigid and semi-flexible material includes materials formed as a gel material. 
     
     
         8 . The improved running shoe of  claim 5 , wherein said semi-rigid and semi-flexible material includes materials formed as a foam material. 
     
     
         9 . The improved running shoe of  claim 3 , wherein said shoe lace is formed from a material chosen from a list of materials consisting of cotton, plastic, and nylon. 
     
     
         10 . The improved running shoe of  claim 4 , wherein said cable member is formed from a material chosen from a list of materials consisting of metal, plastic, and nylon. 
     
     
         11 . The improved running shoe of  claim 4 , wherein said adjustable connector member further includes a panel member adapted to rotatably attach with said dial member and adapted to selectively hold said dial member in a plurality of positions correlating to various widths of said improved running shoe. 
     
     
         12 . The improved running shoe of  claim 11 , wherein said panel member includes at least one cable channel member attached thereto and adapted to slidably receive portions of said cable member therein and therethrough, to thereby direct said cable member in desired directions. 
     
     
         13 . The improved running shoe of  claim 12 , wherein there are at least two cable channel members spaced from one another upon said panel member. 
     
     
         14 . The improved running shoe of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of eyelets are formed from a material chosen from a list of materials consisting of metal, plastic, and ceramic.