Footwear piece

Abstract

A footwear piece comprising an upper having a front portion configured to accommodate the toes of a human foot and a back portion configured to support the heel of a human foot a sole connected to the upper and an opening in at least one side of the upper in an area near the back portion and along a featherline.

1 . A footwear piece comprising:
 an upper having a front portion configured to accommodate the toes of a human foot and a back portion configured to support the heel of a human foot; and   a sole connected to the upper; and   an opening in at least one side of the upper in an area near the back portion and along a featherline.   
     
     
         2 . The footwear piece according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening is located in the back ⅓ of the footwear piece. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear piece according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening has a length of about 18 to 24% of the total horizontal distance of the footwear piece. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear piece according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening is located at a position that is a distance of about 8-10% the total horizontal distance of the footwear piece from the heel of the footwear piece. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear piece according to  claim 1 , including a first opening located on an inside of the heel in-between the upper and the sole and a second opening is located on the outside of heel in-between the upper and the sole. 
     
     
         6 . The footwear piece according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper is made from a material having memory characteristics. 
     
     
         7 . The footwear piece according to  claim 1 , wherein the opening is comprised of a plurality of smaller horizontal openings. 
     
     
         8 . The footwear piece according to  claim 1 , including a band extending across a top portion of the upper. 
     
     
         9 . The footwear piece according to  claim 1 , including a heel counter on the back portion of the footwear piece. 
     
     
         10 . The footwear piece according to  claim 9 , wherein the opening extends from the heel counter towards the front portion of the footwear piece. 
     
     
         11 . A method of manufacturing a footwear piece including the steps of:
 forming an upper portion;   forming an opening in the upper portion;   forming a sole;   adhering the upper portion to the sole.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the opening is located in the back ⅓ of the footwear piece. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the opening has a length of about 18 to 24% of the total horizontal distance of the footwear piece. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the opening is located at a position that is a distance of about 8-10% the total horizontal distance of the footwear piece from the heel of the footwear piece. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein a first opening is located on an inside of the heel in-between the upper portion and the sole and a second opening is located on the outside of heel in-between the upper and the sole. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the upper is made from a material having memory characteristics. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the opening is comprised of a plurality of smaller horizontal openings. 
     
     
         18 . The footwear piece according to  claim 11 , including the step of forming a band extending across a top portion of the upper. 
     
     
         19 . The footwear piece according to  claim 11 , including the step of forming a heel counter on the back portion of the footwear piece.