Footwear article with collar elevator

Abstract

A footwear article includes a collar elevator to raise an ankle collar from a lowered position to a raised position. For example, the ankle collar may be lowered when a wearer slides a foot into or out of the footwear article. The collar elevator may include a plurality of discrete elongated members.

Claimed is: 
     
         1 . A footwear article comprising:
 a sole;   an upper coupled to the sole and comprising an ankle collar that is movable between a lowered state positioned closer to the sole and a raised state positioned farther from the sole; and   a collar elevator operable to return the ankle collar from the lowered state to the raised state, the collar elevator having a medial lever arm, a lateral lever arm, and a center connecting band that couples the medial lever arm to the lateral lever arm and that is located near a rear portion of the ankle collar, wherein:
 the center connecting band comprises a plurality of discrete elongated members, and 
 each discrete elongated member comprises a round cross section. 
   
     
     
         2 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein each discrete elongated member extends from the medial lever arm to the lateral lever arm. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear article of  claim 1  further comprising: a medial side paddle coupled to the medial lever arm and a lateral side paddle coupled to the lateral lever arm, wherein each discrete elongated member extends from the medial side paddle to the lateral side paddle. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein each discrete elongated member comprises a circular cross section. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein each discrete elongated member comprises a wire. 
     
     
         6 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of discrete elongated members comprises three or more discrete elongated members. 
     
     
         7 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of discrete elongated members comprises a first discrete elongated member and a second discrete elongated member; and   the first discrete elongated member is superior and anterior relative to the second discrete elongated member.   
     
     
         8 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of discrete elongated members comprises a metal core encased in a cover.