Footwear strap and footwear having the same

Abstract

Embodiments of the present application provide a footwear strap and a footwear having the same. An article of footwear may have a heel element located at a heel region of the footwear. A heel structural element may include an upper rear portion with an inwardly oriented convex cross-sectional curvature arranged to easily allow receiving a user's heel when donning the shoe. A portion of the convex cross-sectional curvature facing a sole structure of the footwear.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a heel structural element positioned at a heel region of the footwear, configured to maintain structural shape and integrity during foot insertion;
 the heel structural element comprising an upper rear portion with an inwardly oriented convex cross-sectional curvature configured to facilitate easily receiving a user's heel when donning the shoe; and 
 at least of portion of the convex cross-sectional curvature facing a sole structure of the footwear. 
   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the heel structural element further comprises lateral and medial side arms extending forwardly and downwardly from the upper rear portion, each arm having a termination adjacent to the sole structure. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein each of the lateral and medial side arms has a continuous curvature from the upper rear portion to its termination near the sole structure and does not include an angled segment having a portion that extends in a direction generally parallel to the plane of the sole structure. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the lateral and medial side arms bend outward to widen an opening of the footwear. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the heel structural element is integrally molded from a polymeric material having sufficient stiffness to at least partially limit deformation of the upper rear portion when donning the shoe. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the convex cross-sectional curvature is a continuously arced inner surface, and the inner surface and a corresponding outer surface meet at a tapered upper edge and a tapered lower edge of the upper rear portion. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the heel structural element further comprises lateral and medial side arms extending forwardly and downwardly from the upper rear portion, wherein the arms extend downwardly from the upper rear portion substantially parallel to each other until terminating near a sole structure. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein the lateral and medial side arms terminate adjacent the sole structure without direct attachment to the sole structure. 
     
     
         9 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a heel structural element configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of the footwear;
 the heel structural element comprising a medial side arm, a lateral side arm, and a rear portion extending between the medial and lateral side arms, wherein each of the side arms is configured to extend forwardly and downwardly toward a sole structure; 
 the rear portion having a cross-sectional configuration, comprising a convex inner surface and a concave outer surface, each defining a vertically arced profile; and
 each of the convex inner surface and the concave outer surface is continuous. 
 
   
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the heel structural element further includes a base integrally formed at lower ends of the medial and lateral side arms, the base configured for fixed attachment directly to the sole structure of the footwear. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the heel structural element is integrally molded from a polymeric material having sufficient stiffness to at least partially limit deformation of the upper rear portion when donning the shoe. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the rear portion has a gradually reduced cross-sectional thickness as it approaches a lower edge. 
     
     
         13 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a heel structural element configured to surround a portion of a foot-receiving cavity at a heel region of the footwear;
 the heel structural element comprising a medial side arm, a lateral side arm, and a rear portion integrally connecting the medial and lateral side arms; 
 each of the lateral and medial side arms has a continuous curvature from the upper rear portion to its termination near a sole structure 
 the rear portion having a cross-sectional configuration, comprising a continuous convex inner surface and a concave outer surface, each defining a vertically arced profile; 
 the medial and lateral side arms extend from the rear portion downwardly and forwardly; 
 the heel structural element comprising a thermoplastic polymer. 
   
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein the rear portion has a gradually reduced cross-sectional thickness as it approaches a lower edge of the rear portion. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein the lateral and medial side arms are not directly attached to the sole structure. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein each of the lateral and medial side arms does not include an angled segment having a portion that extends in a direction generally parallel to the plane of the sole structure. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein a front edge and a rear edge of each of the lateral and medial side arms are parallel as the side arm approaches the sole structure.