Shoe donning system

Abstract

A shoe comprising an outsole; an upper coupled to the outsole; a back-pull coupled to a heel area of the shoe between the upper and the outsole; and a zipper closure on an inside quarter of the upper. The zipper closure can extend from an eyestay on the inside quarter, along the inside quarter between the outsole and a collar, and toward the heel area of the shoe. The zipper closure can terminate on the inside quarter and does not extend to a vertical line passing through a rearmost point of the upper. The back-pull can be selected from a group consisting of a ring and a tab.

1 . A shoe comprising:
 an outsole;   an upper coupled to the outsole, the upper comprising an inside quarter and a collar; and   a zipper closure on the inside quarter of the upper, the zipper closure extending from an eyestay on the inside quarter, along the inside quarter between the outsole and the collar, and toward a heel area of the shoe;   wherein the zipper closure terminates on the inside quarter and does not extend to a vertical line passing through a rearmost point of the upper.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe of  claim 1 , further comprising a back-pull coupled at the heel area of the shoe between the upper and the outsole, the back-pull selected from a group consisting of a ring and a tab. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the zipper closure extends from an upper portion of the eyestay, proximate the collar on the upper. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe of  claim 3 , wherein the back-pull is below the zipper closure. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe of  claim 4 , wherein a vertical distance from the back-pull to the zipper closure is about 1% to about 40% of a height from the back-pull to the collar. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe of  claim 5 , wherein the zipper closure further comprises a pull-tab mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the upper further comprises elastic laces. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the upper further comprises:
 a tongue; and   a loop coupled to an outer surface of the tongue.   
     
     
         9 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the back-pull further comprises reinforced stitching and an adhesive between the outsole and the upper. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the back-pull is coupled to the shoe with reinforced stitching and an adhesive between the outsole and the upper. 
     
     
         11 . A shoe comprising:
 an outsole;   an upper coupled to the outsole, the upper comprising an inside quarter and a collar; and   an opening on the inside quarter of the upper, the opening defined by a cutout extending from an eyestay on the inside quarter, along the inside quarter, and toward a heel area of the shoe;   wherein the cutout terminates on the inside quarter and does not extend to a vertical line passing through a rearmost point of the upper.   
     
     
         12 . The shoe of  claim 11 , further comprising a back-pull coupled at the heel area of the shoe between the upper and the outsole, the back-pull selected from a group consisting of a ring and a tab. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe of  claim 12 , wherein the cutout extends from an upper portion of the eyestay. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe of  claim 13 , wherein the back-pull is below the cutout. 
     
     
         15 . The shoe of  claim 14 , wherein a vertical distance from the back-pull to the cutout is about 1% to about 40% of a height from the back-pull to the collar. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe of  claim 11 , wherein the upper further comprises elastic laces. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe of  claim 11 , wherein the upper further comprises:
 a tongue; and   a loop coupled to an outer surface of the tongue.   
     
     
         18 . The shoe of  claim 11 , wherein the back-pull further comprises reinforced stitching and an adhesive between the outsole and the upper. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe of  claim 11 , wherein the back-pull is coupled to the shoe with reinforced stitching and an adhesive between the outsole and the upper.