Rapid-entry footwear having a rotating rear portion and a fulcrum

Abstract

A rapid-entry shoe having a rotating rear portion configured to be rotated around an axis of rotation and deflected at a fulcrum to create a stress in the rotating rear portion when the shoe is in a collapsed configuration to bias the shoe toward an uncollapsed configuration.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A rapid-entry shoe comprising:
 a sole portion;   an upper coupled to the sole portion;   a rear strap coupled to opposing sides of the upper;   a fulcrum coupled to the upper or the rear strap; and   wherein the rapid-entry shoe has an uncollapsed configuration;   wherein the rapid-entry shoe has a collapsed configuration to facilitate donning and doffing of the rapid-entry shoe;   wherein, in the collapsed configuration, the rear strap is moved toward the sole portion and deflected at the fulcrum to create a stress in the rear strap;   wherein the stress results from contact between the fulcrum and the rear strap or the upper; and   wherein the rapid-entry shoe is biased by the stress toward the uncollapsed configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the rapid-entry shoe is a sandal. 
     
     
         3 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the fulcrum comprises one of a slot and a lateral flange to prevent the rear strap from rotating beyond the fulcrum. 
     
     
         4 . The rapid-entry shoe of claim  4 , wherein the lateral flange comprises an edge that is tapered to direct movement of an edge of the rear strap. 
     
     
         5 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 1 , further comprising a u-shaped rear stabilizer coupled to the rear strap, the rear stabilizer configured to prevent inward deflection of the rear strap when the rapid-entry shoe is in the collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         6 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 1 , wherein a perimeter of the rear strap is greater than a perimeter of a rear portion of the upper. 
     
     
         7 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 6 , wherein the perimeter of the rear strap is greater than a perimeter of a rear portion of the sole portion. 
     
     
         8 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 1 , wherein the fulcrum comprises a curved, rounded or elongated upper edge to evenly distribute the stress along a portion of the rear strap. 
     
     
         9 . A rapid-entry shoe comprising:
 a sole portion;   an upper coupled to the sole portion;   a rear strap coupled at a coupling to opposing sides of the upper;   a plurality of fulcrums coupled to opposing sides of the upper or the rear strap; and   wherein the rapid-entry shoe has an uncollapsed configuration;   wherein the rapid-entry shoe has a collapsed configuration to facilitate donning and doffing of the rapid-entry shoe;   wherein, in the collapsed configuration, the rear strap is moved toward the sole portion and deflected by at least one fulcrum of the plurality of fulcrums to create a stress in the rear strap;   wherein the stress results from contact between the at least one fulcrum of the plurality of fulcrums and the rear strap or the upper; and   wherein the rapid-entry shoe is biased by the stress toward the uncollapsed configuration.   
     
     
         10 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 9 , wherein the coupling permits rotational relative movement between the rear strap and the upper. 
     
     
         11 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 9 , wherein at least one fulcrum of the plurality of fulcrums comprises one of a slot and a lateral flange to prevent the rear strap from rotating beyond the at least one fulcrum of the plurality of fulcrums. 
     
     
         12 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 11 , wherein the lateral flange comprises an edge that is tapered to direct movement of an edge of the rear strap. 
     
     
         13 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 9 , further comprising a u-shaped rear stabilizer coupled to the rear strap, the rear stabilizer configured to prevent inward deflection of the rear strap when the rapid-entry shoe is in the collapsed configuration. 
     
     
         14 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 13 , wherein the rear stabilizer comprises a mechanical property different from that of an adjacent portion of the rear strap, the mechanical property being one or more of material, cross-section, thickness, geometry, twisting and density. 
     
     
         15 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 9 , wherein a perimeter of the rear strap is greater than a perimeter of a rear portion of the upper. 
     
     
         16 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 15 , wherein the perimeter of the rear strap is greater than a perimeter of a rear portion of the sole portion. 
     
     
         17 . The rapid-entry shoe of  claim 9 , wherein at least one fulcrum of the plurality of fulcrums comprises a curved, rounded or elongated upper edge to evenly distribute the stress along a portion of the rear strap.