Rapid-entry footwear with rebounding fit system

Abstract

A rapid-entry and rebounding fit shoe having one or both of a rapid-entry heel element and a rapid-entry tongue element and both snap back for fit. The rapid-entry shoe directs a user's foot into or otherwise accommodates a user's foot with respect to, a shoe opening, and thereafter secures a rear portion of rapid-entry shoe about a user's heel as well as forefoot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rapid-entry shoe comprising:
 a base;   an upper coupled to the base;   a deformable element coupled to the upper; and   a heel piece configured to direct a user's foot into the rapid-entry shoe;   wherein the deformable element comprises a first anchor at a first end and a second anchor at a second end;   wherein the deformable element extends continuously about a heel portion of the upper between the first anchor and the second anchor;   wherein the first anchor and the second anchor are coupled to opposing sides of the base;   wherein the deformable element has a deformable element cross section at a rearmost portion between the first anchor and the second anchor;   wherein at least one of the first anchor and the second anchor has an anchor cross section that is larger than the deformable element cross section;   wherein the deformable element is configured to have an uncollapsed configuration in which the deformable element holds the heel portion of the upper in a closed position to secure the user's foot in the rapid-entry shoe; and   wherein the deformable element may be deformed downward by an opening force to a collapsed configuration to permit rapid entry of the user's foot into the rapid-entry shoe.   
     
     
         2 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 1  wherein the heel piece is coupled to the deformable element. 
     
     
         3 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 1  wherein the heel piece is coupled to the upper. 
     
     
         4 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the deformable element is disposed on an outer surface of the upper. 
     
     
         5 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 1  wherein the deformable element comprises a material stiffener. 
     
     
         6 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 5  wherein the material stiffener is shaped to flare when the deformable element is in the collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 5  wherein the material stiffener comprises a concavity along a rear edge when the deformable element is in the collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 5  wherein at least a portion of the material stiffener is disposed on an outer surface of the upper. 
     
     
         9 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 1  wherein the deformable element further comprises a base structure coupled to the base that extends substantially horizontally around a periphery of the heel portion of the upper below the deformable element to form a closed perimeter with the deformable element. 
     
     
         10 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 1  wherein the deformable element is comprised of a polymer. 
     
     
         11 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 1  wherein the deformable element is preloaded in the uncollapsed configuration. 
     
     
         12 . A rapid-entry shoe comprising:
 a base;   an upper coupled to the base;   a deformable element coupled to the upper; and   a heel piece configured to direct a user's foot into the rapid-entry shoe;   wherein the deformable element comprises a first anchor at a first end and a second anchor at a second end;   wherein the deformable element extends continuously about a heel portion of the upper between the first anchor and the second anchor;   wherein the first anchor and the second anchor are coupled to opposing sides of the base;   wherein the deformable element is configured to have an uncollapsed configuration in which the deformable element holds the heel portion of the upper in a closed position to secure the user's foot in the rapid-entry shoe;   wherein the deformable element may be deformed downward by an opening force to a collapsed configuration to permit rapid entry of the user's foot into the rapid-entry shoe; and   wherein at least one of the first anchor and the second anchor extends rearwardly from the deformable element and is contoured to receive at least a portion of the heel portion of the upper when the deformable element is in the collapsed configuration.   
     
     
         13 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 12  wherein at least one of the first anchor and the second anchor is comprised of a portion of a heel counter of the rapid-entry shoe. 
     
     
         14 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 12  wherein the deformable element has a variable cross section along its length. 
     
     
         15 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 14  wherein the deformable element comprises a tapering shape. 
     
     
         16 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 12  wherein the deformable element extends outward and rearward from the first anchor and outward and rearward from the second anchor such that a distance measured between opposing arms of the deformable element is greater at a location away from the base than the distance is at the base.