Article of Footwear with Elastic Heel Support

Abstract

An article of footwear includes a sole and an upper connected to the sole. The upper and the sole form a foot cavity with an insole positioned within the foot cavity. The upper further includes a heel cup defining a posterior heel wall and an elastic heel strap that extends around an exterior surface of the posterior heel wall. The heel cup is configured to be moved between an upright position and a folded position, wherein the posterior heel wall is adjacent to the elastic heel strap when the heel cup is in the upright position, and the posterior heel wall is removed from the elastic heel strap and is laid against the insole when the heel cup is in the folded position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear including a heel region, a midfoot region and a forefoot region, the article of footwear comprising:
 a sole;   an upper connected to the sole, the upper and the sole forming a foot cavity, the upper comprising a heel cup defining a posterior heel wall and a heel strap that extends around an exterior surface of the posterior heel wall; and   an insole positioned within the foot cavity;   wherein the heel cup is configured to be moved between an upright position and a folded position, wherein the exterior surface of the posterior heel wall is adjacent to the heel strap when the heel cup is in the upright position, and wherein the posterior heel wall is removed from the heel strap and is laid against the insole when the heel cup is in the folded position.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  wherein the heel strap includes a strap crest that is higher than a lateral end and a medial end of the heel strap. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2  wherein the heel strap is moveable between a first position wherein the strap crest is higher than the lateral end and the medial end of the heel strap on the article of footwear and a second position wherein the strap crest is below the lateral end and the medial end of the heel strap on the article of footwear. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  wherein the heel strap is and elastic heel strap defined by at least 50% elasticity. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  wherein a medial seam separates a midfoot portion of the upper from the heel cup on a medial side of the article of footwear, and wherein a lateral seam separates the midfoot portion of the upper from the heel cup on a lateral side. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 5  wherein a reinforced cord structure extends along the medial seam and the lateral seam. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 5  wherein the sole includes a midsole, wherein a lower perimeter of the heel cup is non-removably connected to the article of footwear along an upper rim of the midsole, wherein a lateral side of the heel cup is non-removably connected to the lateral seam, and wherein a medial side of the heel cup is non-removably connected to the medial seam. 
     
     
         8 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a sole;   a midfoot portion connected to the sole, the midfoot portion including a medial side and a lateral side;   a heel cup connected to the sole and the midfoot portion, the heel cup moveable between an upright position and a folded position; and   at least one strap extending around an exterior surface of the heel cup.   
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 8  wherein a medial seam is provided between the medial side of the midfoot portion and the heel cup, wherein a lateral seam is provided between the lateral side of the midfoot portion and the heel cup, and wherein ends of the at least one strap are connected to the medial seam and the lateral seam. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 9  wherein a reinforced cord structure extends along the medial seam and the lateral seam. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 10  wherein the reinforced cord structure further extends across a dorsum of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 9  wherein the heel strap includes a medial end connected to the medial seam and a lateral end connected to the lateral seam. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 12  wherein the heel strap defines a strap crest that is higher than the lateral end and the medial end of the heel strap on the article of footwear. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 13  wherein the heel strap is moveable between a first position wherein the strap crest is higher than the lateral end and the medial end of the heel strap and a second position wherein the strap crest is below the lateral end and the medial end of the heel strap. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 14  wherein the heel strap is and elastic heel strap defined by at least 50% elasticity. 
     
     
         16 . A method of donning an article of footwear comprising:
 inserting a foot of a wearer into a foot cavity of the article of footwear with a foldable heel cup in an upright configuration and a heel strap extending around an exterior surface of the foldable heel cup;   removing the foot from the foot cavity;   moving the foldable heel cup to a folded position; and   inserting the foot of the wearer into the foot cavity of the article of footwear with the foldable heel cup in a folded position and a heel of the foot of the wearer on top of the exterior surface of the foldable heel cup.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein inserting the foot into the foot cavity with the foldable heel cup in the folded position comprises inserting the foot into an opening between the heel strap and a dorsum of the article of footwear such that the heel of the foot is on top of the heel strap. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising pulling the heel strap from under the heel and positioning a strap crest of the heel strap around an Achilles tendon of the wearer. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the heel strap is an elastic heel strap. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  wherein inserting the foot into the foot cavity with the foldable heel cup in the folded position comprises inserting the foot into an opening between the heel strap and a sole of the article of footwear such that the heel strap is positioned above a dorsum of the foot of the wearer.