Cycling shoe with rear entry

Abstract

A shoe comprising a sole and an upper secured to the sole. The upper includes a heel portion movable relative to a mid portion from an open position to a closed position. A securing mechanism (e.g., a lace and a dial for tightening the lace) is coupled between the heel portion and the mid portion. Preferably, the dial is secured near an edge of the mid portion near an instep opening, and the lace is positioned in a passageway in the mid portion. The heel portion can comprise a flexible fabric that acts as a living hinge to facilitate pivotal movement of the heel portion relative to the mid portion at a pivot point positioned above the sole and rearward of the mid portion. Preferably, the heel portion includes a wide portion and a narrow portion (e.g., defining the pivot point) below the wide portion.

1 . A shoe comprising:
 a sole;   an upper secured to the sole, the upper including:
 a mid portion; and 
 a heel portion movable relative to the mid portion from an open position, which allows insertion of a user's foot into the shoe, to a closed position, which secures the user's foot in the shoe; and 
   a securing mechanism coupled between the heel portion and the mid portion, the securing mechanism including a lace extending from the heel portion to the mid portion.   
     
     
         2 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the securing mechanism further includes a rotary dial coupled to the lace such that rotation of the dial tightens the lace. 
     
     
         3 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the dial is secured to the mid portion. 
     
     
         4 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the mid portion includes an instep opening in an instep region, wherein the upper further includes a tongue positioned in the instep opening, and wherein the dial is secured near an edge of the mid portion near the instep opening. 
     
     
         5 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mid portion includes a passageway, and wherein the lace is positioned in the passageway. 
     
     
         6 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mid portion includes opposing left and right passageways on opposing left and right sides of the mid portion, and wherein the lace is positioned in the left and right passageways. 
     
     
         7 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the mid portion includes an instep region, and wherein the lace passes over the instep region. 
     
     
         8 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the heel portion includes left and right arms extending toward left and right sides of the mid portion, respectively, and wherein the lace extends from at least one of the left and right arms. 
     
     
         9 . A shoe comprising:
 a sole;   an upper secured to the sole, the upper including:
 a mid portion; and 
 a heel portion movable relative to the mid portion from an open position, which allows insertion of a user's foot into the shoe, to a closed position, which secures the user's foot in the shoe, wherein the heel portion comprises a flexible fabric that acts as a living hinge to facilitate pivotal movement of the heel portion relative to the mid portion. 
   
     
     
         10 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the flexible fabric extends toward and forms part of the mid portion. 
     
     
         11 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the living hinge pivots at a location above the sole. 
     
     
         12 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the living hinge pivots at a location rearward of the mid portion. 
     
     
         13 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the heel portion includes a wide portion and a narrow portion below the wide portion, and wherein the living hinge substantially corresponds with the narrow portion. 
     
     
         14 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the heel portion includes left and right arms extending toward left and right sides of the mid portion, respectively. 
     
     
         15 . A shoe comprising:
 a sole;   an upper secured to the sole, the upper including:
 a mid portion; and 
 a heel portion movable relative to the mid portion from an open position, which allows insertion of a user's foot into the shoe, to a closed position, which secures the user's foot in the shoe, wherein the heel portion pivots relative to the mid portion at a pivot point positioned above the sole and rearward of the mid portion. 
   
     
     
         16 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the heel portion includes a wide portion and a narrow portion below the wide portion, and wherein the pivot point substantially corresponds with the narrow portion. 
     
     
         17 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein the wide portion includes left and right arms extending toward left and right sides of the mid portion, respectively. 
     
     
         18 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 13 , further comprising a closure-assist member secured to the heel portion. 
     
     
         19 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the closure-assist member comprises a loop of flexible fabric.