Rapid-entry footwear having an energy set zone

Abstract

A collapsible rear portion of a rapid-entry shoe comprising an energy set zone having increased hardness or resiliency to bias the collapsible rear portion from an open configuration for easy donning and doffing toward a closed configuration. A method of making such a rapid-entry shoe having a collapsible rear portion is also disclosed.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A rapid-entry shoe comprising:
 a sole portion;   an upper coupled to the sole portion, the upper comprising a collapsible rear portion;   wherein the collapsible rear portion has an open configuration and a closed configuration;   wherein, in the open configuration, the collapsible rear portion is collapsed to facilitate donning and doffing of the rapid-entry shoe;   wherein, in the closed configuration, the collapsible rear portion is uncollapsed to facilitate retention of the rapid-entry shoe;   wherein the collapsible rear portion comprises an energy set zone; and   wherein the energy set zone biases the collapsible rear portion toward the closed configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the energy set zone comprises an energy activated material. 
     
     
         3 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the energy activated material comprises a material that, upon application of an external energy source, is characterized by an increased hardness or resiliency. 
     
     
         4 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the energy set zone further comprises an energy resistant carrier material. 
     
     
         5 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 4 , wherein the energy activated material and the energy resistant carrier material are woven, stitched, bonded or otherwise coupled or adjacent together. 
     
     
         6 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the energy set zone extends from a lateral or a medial side of the upper partially around the collapsible rear portion. 
     
     
         7 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the energy set zone extends from a medial side of the rapid-entry shoe to a lateral side of the rapid-entry shoe. 
     
     
         8 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 7 , wherein the energy set zone is horseshoe or arc shaped. 
     
     
         9 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the energy set zone is a portion of the upper harder or more resilient compared to a surrounding portion of the upper that is contiguous with the energy set zone. 
     
     
         10 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 9 , wherein the energy set zone is a portion of the upper selectively activated by heat. 
     
     
         11 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 9 , wherein the energy set zone is a portion of the upper selectively embroidered or laminated with the energy activated material. 
     
     
         12 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the energy set zone comprises at least one webbed area that further biases the collapsible rear portion toward the closed configuration. 
     
     
         13 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one webbed area comprises a single ridge or a plurality of adjacent ridges. 
     
     
         14 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 13 , wherein at least two of the plurality of adjacent ridges compress and/or fold closer to each other as the rapid-entry shoe transforms to the open configuration and stretch and/or fold apart from each other as the rapid-entry shoe transforms to the closed configuration. 
     
     
         15 . A method of making a rapid-entry shoe comprising:
 providing a sole portion;   providing an upper for coupling to the sole portion, the upper comprising a collapsible rear portion, the collapsible rear portion comprising an energy set zone, and the energy set zone comprising an energy activated material; and   energy setting the energy activated material such that the energy set zone exhibits an increased hardness or resiliency to bias the collapsible rear portion from a collapsed configuration toward an uncollapsed configuration.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of energy setting the energy activated material comprises targeted heating. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of energy setting the energy activated material comprises masking and untargeted heating. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the step of energy setting the energy activated material occurs before or during a step of lasting the rapid-entry shoe.