Rapid-Entry Shoe

Abstract

A rapid-entry shoe allows the shoe to be rapidly entered and readied for wearing by the user. The shoe may be any of a wide variety of shoe types, including shoes of a wide variety of styles and functions. The rapid entry features of the shoes utilize various movable elements that are attached to a sole portion or other portion of the shoe and allow movement of a portion of the shoe under pressure to allow rapid entry of the user's foot into the shoe. The moveable elements may include flexible elements, elements having constructed to have a memory of a native position, magnetic elements, and/or elastic elements

1 . A rapid-entry shoe comprising:
 a sole portion and an upper;   a flexible element disposed at a side portion of the rapid-entry shoe, the flexible element extending to and forming a portion of a topline of the rapid-entry shoe;   a rapid-entry structure disposed at a rear portion of the rapid-entry shoe and extending from within the sole portion, the rapid-entry structure comprising a base portion extending from the sole portion and an elevated portion;   wherein expansion or deformation of the flexible element enlarges a foot opening of the rapid-entry shoe, and wherein contraction of the flexible element reduces the foot opening of the rapid-entry shoe;   wherein the rapid-entry structure is configured to provide resistance against the rear portion of the rapid-entry shoe from one or more of collapsing downward, flexing rearward and pivoting rearward; and   wherein the flexible element is configured to enable a portion of the upper of the rapid-entry shoe to flex and/or pivot relative to the sole portion.   
     
     
         2 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the rapid-entry structure comprises heel loop, wherein the base portion of the rapid-entry structure comprises body having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to or extending from a medial side of the sole portion of the rapid-entry shoe and the second end coupled to or extending from a lateral side of the sole portion of the rapid-entry shoe, wherein a window is defined by the heel loop and the body of the rapid-entry structure. 
     
     
         3 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the rapid-entry structure defines a lattice structure defined at the window. 
     
     
         4 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 2 , wherein the rapid-entry structure defines an expansion zone positioned within the window. 
     
     
         5 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 2 , further comprising a deflectable element positioned within the window. 
     
     
         6 . A rapid-entry shoe comprising:
 a sole portion and an upper;   a flexible element disposed at a side portion of the rapid-entry shoe, the flexible element extending to and forming a portion of a topline of the rapid-entry shoe;   a rapid-entry structure disposed at a rear portion of the rapid-entry shoe and extending from the sole portion, the rapid-entry structure comprising a body portion at least partially within the sole portion and an elevated portion;   wherein the rapid-entry structure comprises a heel loop, wherein the body portion of the rapid-entry structure comprises a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to or extending from a medial side of the sole portion of the rapid-entry shoe and the second end coupled to or extending from a lateral side of the sole portion of the rapid-entry shoe, wherein a window is defined between the heel loop and the body portion of the rapid-entry structure;   wherein expansion or deformation of the flexible element enlarges a foot opening of the rapid-entry shoe, and wherein contraction of the flexible element reduces the foot opening of the rapid-entry shoe.   
     
     
         7 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 6 , further comprising a resiliently deformable element positioned within the window, the resiliently deformable element coupled to the heel loop of the rapid-entry structure. 
     
     
         8 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 6 , wherein the rapid-entry structure defines a lattice structure defined at the window. 
     
     
         9 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 6 , wherein the rapid-entry structure defines an expansion zone positioned within the window. 
     
     
         10 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 6 , further comprising a deflectable element positioned within the window.