Rapid-entry shoe

Abstract

A rapid-entry shoe allows the shoe to be rapidly entered and readied for wearing by the user. The shoe may be any of a wide variety of shoe types, including shoes of a wide variety of styles and functions. The rapid entry features of the shoes utilize various movable elements that are attached to a sole portion or other portion of the shoe and allow movement of a portion of the shoe under pressure to allow rapid entry of the user's foot into the shoe. The moveable elements may include flexible elements, elements having constructed to have a memory of a native position, magnetic elements, and/or elastic elements

1 . A deformable element for a rapid-entry shoe comprising:
 a first side having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the first side extending from a first connection point for coupling the deformable element to the rapid-entry shoe;   a second side having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, the second side extending from a second connection point for coupling the deformable element to the rapid-entry shoe, the second connection point being opposite the first connection point; and   a loop portion extending between the first side and the second side, the loop portion having a first surface and a second surface, the first surface and the second surface of the loop portion being at least partially perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface of the first side and to the first surface and the second surface of the second side.   
     
     
         2 . The deformable element of  claim 1 , wherein at least a first portion of the loop portion is separable from a second portion of the loop portion. 
     
     
         3 . The deformable element of  claim 1 , wherein the deformable element moves from a first position to a second position in response to a force that is directly applied to the loop portion. 
     
     
         4 . The deformable element of  claim 1 , wherein the loop portion includes a rotatable portion. 
     
     
         5 . The deformable element of  claim 1 , wherein the first side extends upward and back from the first connection point to the loop portion and the second side extends upward and back from the second connection point to the loop portion. 
     
     
         6 . A rapid-entry shoe, comprising:
 a sole;   a rear portion;   a base; and   a deformable element coupled to the base and the rear portion, the deformable element comprising:
 a loop portion extending around the rear portion of the rapid-entry shoe, the loop portion having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface; 
 a first side extending from the loop portion to a first connection point associated with the base, the first side having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface and a first bendable portion; and 
 a second side opposite the first side and extending from the loop portion to a second connection point associated with the base, the second side having a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface and a second bendable portion; 
 wherein the first surface and the second surface of the first side and the first surface and the second surface of the second side are at least partially perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface of the loop portion. 
   
     
     
         7 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 6 , wherein the first bendable portion and the second bendable portion are positioned at least partially above the sole and cause the loop portion to move from a first position to a second position in response to a force applied on the first surface of the loop portion. 
     
     
         8 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 6 , further comprising an adjustment feature for adjusting a tightness of the rapid-entry shoe. 
     
     
         9 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 6 , further comprising a rear support member that at least partially surrounds the rear portion. 
     
     
         10 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 6 , further comprising a rear support member positioned between the base and the loop portion and at least partially conforms to a shape of the loop portion. 
     
     
         11 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 6 , wherein at least a first portion of the loop portion is separable from a second portion of the loop portion. 
     
     
         12 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 6 , wherein the deformable element moves from a first position to a second position in response to a force that is directly applied to the loop portion. 
     
     
         13 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 6 , wherein the loop portion includes a rotatable portion. 
     
     
         14 . A rapid-entry shoe, comprising:
 a rear portion comprising a rapid-entry feature, the rapid-entry feature being formed in the rear portion and comprising:
 a first portion extending from a first location on the rear portion of the rapid-entry shoe to a second location on the rear portion of the rapid-entry shoe; and 
 a second portion extending from a third location on the rear portion of the rapid-entry shoe to a fourth location on the rear portion of the rapid-entry shoe, the second portion being substantially parallel to the first portion, wherein:
 the first portion is split from the second portion to define an opening in the rear portion of the rapid-entry shoe when the rapid-entry feature is in a first state; and 
 the first portion is coupled to the second portion when the rapid-entry feature is in a second state. 
 
   
     
     
         15 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 14 , further comprising an adjustment feature for adjusting a tightness of the rapid-entry shoe.