Article of Footwear with Adjustable Heel

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. provisional patent application No. 63/646,199, filed May 13, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

This document relates to the field of footwear, and particularly to adjustable heel members for footwear.

BACKGROUND

Articles of performance footwear, such as training shoes, are designed to assist the wearer in achieving a high level of athletic performance while also offering both comfort and durability. However, achieving a proper fit for such footwear can be a challenge. Traditional tightening systems for performance footwear, including conventional lacing systems may be difficult to manage, and often result in one portion of the footwear that is too tight and another portion that is too loose. For example, the lace tie at the top of the throat may be too tight initially, but then too loose during a workout. Alternative tightening systems have been proposed that attempt to provide a secure, comfortable, and consistent fit for the wearer. While some of these alternative tightening systems offer convenient mechanisms that secure the foot within the article of footwear, they tend to lack adaptability of fit across the entire foot as may be desired by the user for various different uses of the footwear

In view of the foregoing, it would be advantageous to provide an article of footwear with a tightening system that is adaptable for multiple uses. It would also be advantageous for the tightening system to offer a secure fit for the entire foot of the wearer in a quick and easy manner. It would be of further advantage for the footwear to provide both comfort and performance features for the user, such as improved stability, cushioning, and reduced weight. It would also be advantageous if the footwear could be manufactured at a reasonable cost.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one or more embodiments of the disclosure, an article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper connected to the sole structure. The upper includes at least one midfoot strap at least one heel strap. A first closure is mounted on the upper and is configured to tighten a first lace engaging the at least one midfoot strap. A second closure is mounted on the upper and is configured to tighten a second lace engaging the at least one heel strap.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the disclosure an article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper connected to the sole structure, wherein a foot cavity is formed by the upper and the sole structure. The upper includes a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion connected to the forefoot portion, and a heel portion connected to the midfoot portion. The heel portion includes a sidewall on a first side of the heel portion, a rear wall, and a heel gate on a second side of the heel portion. The heel gate is configured to move between an open position wherein the heel gate is further removed from the midfoot portion and a closed position wherein the heel gate is closer to the midfoot portion. A closure is also provided on the upper. Rotation of the closure draws the lateral gate of the heel portion toward the midfoot portion.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the disclosure, an article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper coupled to the sole structure, wherein the upper and the sole structure form a foot cavity. The upper includes a vamp region, a quarter region, a throat, and a heel portion. The vamp region is configured to extend across toes of the foot of the wearer. The quarter region is coupled to the vamp region and includes a first quarter wall on a first side of the article of footwear and a second quarter wall on a second side of the article of footwear opposite the first side. The throat is arranged on a dorsal side of the article of footwear and extends along the quarter region. A heel portion is coupled to the quarter region. A collar defines an opening to the foot cavity and extends along the throat, the first quarter wall, the heel portion, and the second quarter wall. The collar forms a U-shaped edge extending between the throat and the heel portion above the first quarter wall, and a J-shaped edge extending between the throat and the heel portion rearward of the second quarter wall. The edges of the collar result in the foot cavity being enclosed in the quarter region along the first side of the article of footwear and open in the quarter region along the second side of the article of footwear.

The above-described features and advantages, as well as others, will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings. While it would be desirable to provide an article of footwear that provides one or more of these or other advantageous features, the teachings disclosed herein extend to those embodiments which fall within the scope of the appended claims, regardless of whether they accomplish one or more of the above-mentioned advantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a lateral side view of an article of footwear with an adjustable heel member;

FIG. 2 shows a front-lateral perspective view of the article of footwear of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a medial side view of the article of footwear of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a rear-medial perspective view of the article of footwear of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a top view of the article of footwear of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 shows an isolated view of a heel gate of the article of footwear of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 shows a method of donning a shoe and subsequently removing the shoe from a foot of a wearer.

DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying figures which form a part hereof wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Aspects of the disclosure are disclosed in the accompanying description. Alternate embodiments of the present disclosure and their equivalents may be devised without parting from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. It should be noted that any discussion herein regarding “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an exemplary embodiment”, and the like indicate that the embodiment described may include a particular feature, structure, or characteristic, and that such particular feature, structure, or characteristic may not necessarily be included in every embodiment. In addition, references to the foregoing do not necessarily comprise a reference to the same embodiment. Finally, irrespective of whether it is explicitly described, one of ordinary skill in the art would readily appreciate that each of the particular features, structures, or characteristics of the given embodiments may be utilized in connection or combination with those of any other embodiment discussed herein.

Various operations may be described as multiple discrete actions or operations in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the claimed subject matter. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations may not be performed in the order of presentation. Operations described may be performed in a different order than the described embodiment. Various additional operations may be performed and/or described operations may be omitted in additional embodiments.

For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A and/or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A, B, and/or C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C).

The terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments of the present disclosure, are synonymous.

As used herein, an “article of footwear” refers to an article of apparel designed and configured to be worn on a user's foot. Examples of articles of footwear include, but are not limited to: athletic shoes such as basketball shoes, running shoes, walking shoes, and tennis shoes; athletic cleated or spiked shoes such as golf shoes, football cleats, soccer cleats, baseball cleats, lacrosse cleats, and track spikes; and boots such as hiking boots. The illustrated embodiments depict athletic shoes, though the reader should appreciate that the embodiments described herein may be used with any desired article of footwear.

It will be recognized that although the article of footwear may be placed in any number of orientations during times of use and non-use by a wearer, terms of position used herein in association with the article of footwear are defined with reference to a bottom of the sole of the article of footwear being positioned on level ground of the earth. Accordingly, “vertical” references a direction that is generally perpendicular to the sole, and “horizontal” references a direction that his generally parallel to the sole. Similarly, the term “above” references a relative position where one component is vertically higher than another component, and “below” references a relative position where one component is vertically lower than another component.

General Arrangement of Article of Footwear With Adjustable Heel

As shown in the figures, an article of footwear is disclosed herein in the form of an athletic shoe 10, and particularly a running shoe. The shoe includes an upper 30 connected to a sole structure 12. The sole structure 12 and the upper 30 together form a foot cavity 28 that is configured to receive the foot of a human wearer. The upper 30 includes a forefoot portion 32, a midfoot portion 34, a plurality of throat straps 38 coupled to a forward closure provided by a forward reel 80, and a heel portion 50 with an adjustable heel gate 60 coupled to a rearward closure provided by a rearward reel 82. Fit of the shoe is controlled by rotation of the reels 80, 82. Rotation of the forward reel 80 pulls the throat straps 38 across a throat 44 in the midfoot portion 34 of the article of footwear and tightens the upper 30 on the midfoot of the wearer. Rotation of the rearward reel 82 draws the heel gate 60 forward and inwardly in order to tighten the heel portion 50 on the heel of the wearer.

Sole Structure

With reference to FIGS. 1-6, the sole structure 12 of the shoe 10 is a durable, wear-resistant component. The sole structure 12 is configured to attenuate forces under load by cushioning and stabilizing the foot during use and by providing cushioning to the body of the user as the article of footwear 10 impacts the ground. The sole structure 12 of the shoe 10 (which may also be referred to as simply the “sole”) may be similar to any of various conventional sole structures known to those of skill in the art. In at least one embodiment, the sole structure 12 includes an outsole 14, a midsole 16, and an insole 18.

As best shown in FIG. 4, the outsole 14 is provided on a bottom, ground-facing side of the sole structure 12. The outsole 14 is comprised of a durable wear-resistant material, such as any of a plurality of materials that are commonly known for use in outsoles. By way of example, the outsole 14 may be formed from ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, a poly-vinyl chloride (PVC) material, thermos-plastic rubber (TPR), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), or any of various other materials that are commonly used in association with outsoles. The bottom exterior surface of the outsole 14 may be textured to provide a friction-enhancing surface to the sole. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom side of the outsole 14 includes a plurality of friction-generating ridges, channels and/or protrusions disposed along the sole in a predetermined pattern.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-6, the midsole 16 is positioned above the outsole 14 on the shoe 10. In the disclosed embodiment, the midsole 16 comprises the bulk of material that makes up the sole structure 12. The midsole is also comprised of any of various materials that are commonly used in association with midsoles. For example, the midsole 16 of the sole structure 12 may be formed of TPU beads that are fused together into a foam material, EVA foam, or any of various other materials.

The midsole 16 includes a bottom surface 20, exterior sidewalls 22, and an upper surface (not shown). The bottom surface 20 of the midsole is downward facing and is connected to the outsole 14. In the disclosed embodiment, the outsole 14 does not cover the entire bottom of the shoe 10, and portions of the bottom surface 20 of the midsole 16 are exposed on the bottom of the shoe 10. The outsole 14 may be connected to the midsole 16 in any of various manners, such as with adhesives, welding, molding, or any of various other commonly recognized means for coupling an outsole to a midsole.

The exterior sidewalls 22 of the midsole 16 extend upward from the bottom surface 20 to an upper edge 24 where the midsole 16 terminates and meets the upper 30 (it will be recognized that the upper edge 24 may also be referred to herein as an “upper perimeter” of the midsole). The exterior sidewalls 22 extend completely around the bottom of the shoe, extending from a medial forefoot portion to a medial midfoot portion, around a heel portion, and from a lateral midfoot portion to a lateral forefoot portion and a toe of the shoe. The exterior sidewalls 22 are relatively wide in comparison to the width of the upper 30, and thus the exterior sidewalls 22 are arranged slightly laterally outward and medially outward from the upper 30 on opposite sides of the shoe 10. The surfaces of exterior sidewalls 22 are generally smooth and continuous with various surface features, including one or more logos and/or design features, such as circular impressions 25.

The surfaces of the exterior sidewalls 22 also include two include two crescent-shaped cavities 26, each associated with one of the two reels 80, 82, and each positioned in a region below the associated reel. The crescent-shaped cavities 26 are generally concave and extend downward and inward from the upper edge 24 of the midsole 16. Each cavity 26 defines a bottom inflection point 27 that is positioned in an upper central region of sidewall 22, and the cavity gradually tapers inward and upward from this bottom apex. Advantageously, the cavities 26 facilitate rotation of the dials of the reels 80, 82 by providing a small crescent-shaped cut-out on the midsole 16 for the user's fingers to engage when each dial is rotated. The cavities 26 particularly make rotation of the dials of the reels 80, 82 easier by providing extra clearance for the user's fingers and/or a gently curved surface along which the user may slide their fingers when rotating the dials of the reels 80, 82. Furthermore, the crescent-shaped cavities are operable to assist a user in locating the reels 80, 82 on the shoe 10 when the user is not looking at the shoe (e.g., when attempting to tighten the shoe by rotating the dials during gameplay) by simply sliding the user's fingers along the exterior sidewalls 22 until the crescent-shaped cavities 26 are perceived.

The upper surface of the midsole 16 (not shown) includes a generally smooth and planum surface that is surrounded by the curved perimeter edge 24 on the exterior sidewalls of the midsole 16. An insole 18 is configured to rest on the planum surface along the top side of the sole structure 12 and provides a footbed within a foot cavity 28 of the shoe 10. The insole may comprise a PU foam, gel, polyester and/or any of various other materials that are commonly used in association with insoles.

It will be recognized that one exemplary embodiment of a sole structure 12 is disclosed herein, and that any number of different sole structures 12 may be incorporated into the shoe 10. For example, in at least some embodiments, the sole structure 12 may be provided by an integrated midsole and outsole provided by a unitary/monolithic structure.

Forefoot and Midfoot of Upper

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-6 the upper 30 is coupled to the sole structure 12, and a foot cavity 28 is defined within the upper 30 generally above the sole structure 12. The upper 30 includes a forefoot portion 32 (which may also be referred to herein as a “vamp region”), a midfoot portion 34 (which may also be referred to herein as a “quarter region”), a plurality of throat straps 38, and a heel portion 50 (which may also be referred to as a “heel region”). An opening 70 to the foot cavity 28 is defined in a rearward portion of the upper 30. The opening 70 is defined by a collar 72 that extends along a perimeter of the midfoot portion 34 and the heel portion 50.

The forefoot portion 32 of the upper 30 extends completely across a toe region of the shoe 10 and is configured to cover the toes of the foot of the wearer. Accordingly, the forefoot portion 32 forms a toe cage that extends from a medial side of the shoe 10, across an upper stretch on the forward dorsal side of the shoe, and then to a lateral side of the shoe. In the embodiment disclosed herein, the forefoot portion 32 is comprised of a pliable, dual-layer mesh panel including an outer mesh layer and an inner mesh layer. Both of the inner mesh layer and the outer mesh layer may be comprised of a generally inelastic sheet of polyester fabric. The fabric of the inner mesh layer includes a greater number of smaller holes than the holes included on the fabric of the outer mesh layer. The holes on the outer mesh layer are larger than the holes of the inner mesh layer, but both layers are breathable and air-permeable. The smaller size of the holes on the inner mesh lining is such that the holes do not readily pass drops of water, and this allows the upper 30 to offer some amount of water resistance.

The midfoot portion 34 of the outer shell 30 is integral with the forefoot portion 32 and further extends rearwardly to the heel portion 50. The midfoot portion 34 includes a medial sidewall 40 (which may also be referred to herein as a medial “quarter wall”), a lateral sidewall 42 (which may also be referred to herein as a lateral “quarter wall”), and a throat 44 that separates the medial sidewall 40 from the lateral sidewall 42. The medial sidewall 40 extends upward from the upper perimeter 24 of the midsole 16 on the medial side of the shoe 10, and the lateral sidewall 42 extends upward from the upper perimeter 24 of the midsole 16 on the lateral side of the shoe. The medial sidewall 40 and the lateral sidewall 42 of the midfoot portion 30 are also comprised of the same dual-layer mesh panel as that of the forefoot portion 32.

The throat 44 of the midfoot portion 34 extends between the medial sidewall 40 and the lateral sidewall 42 and is arranged as a dorsum portion of the article of footwear (i.e., a portion configured to cover the dorsum of the foot of the wearer). The throat 44 (which may also be referred to herein as a “throat region”) also extends from the forefoot portion 32 to the opening 70 to the foot cavity 28 at the rear of the shoe. In at least one embodiment, the throat 44 is provided by a gusseted tongue 46 that is connected to the medial sidewall 40, the forefoot portion 32, and the lateral sidewall 42. The tongue 46 is provided U-shaped panel of relatively elastic four-way stretch material such as a spandex or other material comprised of elastane fibers. Accordingly, the throat 44 is configured to stretch to a much greater extent than the dual layer mesh panel. For example, in at least one embodiment, the throat 44 is configured to stretch 50% or more, while the dual-layer mesh panel of the midfoot portion 34 is configured to stretch less than 5% (e.g., between 1% and 4%). The elastic material of the throat 44 allows the medial sidewall 40 to move away from the lateral sidewall 42 when a foot of the wearer is inserted into the foot cavity, and thereby conform the upper 30 to the foot of the wearer.

As disclosed in the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, three throat straps 38 extend at least partially across the throat 44 of the upper. The three throat straps include a forward strap 45, a center strap 47 and a rearward strap 49. Each of the throat straps 38 is comprised of a generally inelastic material, such as a leather or synthetic leather material. The forward strap 45 and the center strap 47 both extend from a lower position on a medial side of the upper 30, and particularly from a position adjacent to the medial-side upper edge 24 of the midsole 16, to a position extending partially across the throat 44 on the dorsal side of the midfoot portion 34. The ends of the straps 45 and 47 each include lace channels 94 (which may also be referred to herein as “lace guides”) that engage a lace 90. As explained in further detail below, the lace 90 is configured to tighten the midfoot portion on the foot of the wearer.

In the embodiment disclosed herein, the rearward strap 49 is arranged differently on the shoe 10 from the forward strap 45 and the center strap 47. For example, while the forward strap 45 and center strap may be considered generally “I-shaped” trapezoidal structures, the rearward strap 49 is more of a “V-shaped” structure with an elongated leg. Accordingly, as best illustrated in FIG. 5, the rearward strap may be considered to include a first end 49a, a central apex 49b, and a second end 49c. The first end 49a does not extend to the bottom of the upper 30 that meets the upper edge 24 of the midsole 16. Instead, the first end 49a of the rearward strap 49 is connected to a middle position on the midfoot portion 34 behind the center strap 47 on the medial side of the upper 30. The rearward strap 49 then extends to the central apex 49b that is positioned on the throat 44. Similar to the forward strap 45 and the center strap 47, the central apex 49b also includes a lace channel that engages the lace 90. From the central apex 49b, the rearward strap 49 extends rearward below the collar 72 on the medial side of the opening 70 to the foot cavity 28 and around the back of the heel portion 50 (i.e., around the Achilles of the wearer). The rearward strap 49 terminates at the second end 49c on the lateral side of the heel portion 50. As best shown in FIG. 6, the rearward strap 49 may be considered to extend substantially around the heel of the wearer because it extends around the Achilles of the wearer from the medial side to the lateral side of the collar 72, but does not extend to the midfoot portion 34 in front of the ankle of the wearer on the lateral side of the shoe 10.

As noted above, the ends of the straps 45, 47, 49 that are positioned at the throat 44 each include a lace guide 94 in the form of a channel formed by low friction material/cloth. For example, each lace guide 94 may be formed from a strip of Teflon® textile that is folded over itself to form a low-friction channel that extends axially along the fold. A lace 90 in the form of a low-friction cable/cord runs through each of the channels and is slidable therein. In at least some embodiments, the lace 90 may be a Boa® lace formed of a braided polyester material having a low-friction coating (e.g., a Teflon coating). The ends of the lace 90 are received within and connected to a closure provided by an adjustable reel 80, such as a BOA® reel sold under by Boa Technology Inc. of Denver Colorado.

Two closure systems provided by two adjustable reels are mounted on the lateral sidewall 42 of the quarter region 34, including a forward reel 80 and a rearward reel 82. The forward reel 80 serves as a midfoot closure device such that rotation of the forward reel 80 when in an effectively shortens the lace 90 and pulls the associated with the straps 45, 47, 49 across the throat 44 and toward the lateral side of the article of footwear. Similarly, the rearward reel 82 serves as a heel closure device, as explained in further detail herein.

The forward reel 80 includes a base 84 connected to the upper 30, an outer wheel 86 (which may also be referred to herein as a “dial”) that is rotatable relative to the base 84, a spool (not shown), and a ratchet mechanism (not shown) provided along an inner surface of the reel 80. The base 84 is mounted on the upper using any of various means known for securing the base to the upper, such as adhesives, stitching, or other means for securing the base to the upper. The base 84 defines laces entrances that face the throat 44 of the shoe. The ends of the lace 90 are connected to the spool of the reel 80. The dial 86 of the reel 80 is axially moveable between an inward/locked position (which may also be referred to herein as an “engaged position”) wherein the dial 86 is closer to the base 84 and an outward/unlocked position (which may also be referred to herein as a “disengaged position”) wherein the dial 86 is more removed from the base 84. When in the engaged position, the dial 86 and spool are locked such that rotation of the dial 86 in the clockwise direction moves the adjustable reel to subsequent incremental ratchet positions. This action draws the ends of the associated lace 90 into the reel 80 and winds the lace around the spool of the reel, thus effectively shortening the length of the lace 90 that extends out from the reel 80. As a result, the lace 90 pulls the straps 45, 47, 49 toward the reel 80 and toward the lateral side of the shoe as illustrated by the arrows 36 in FIG. 5, thus tightening the midfoot portion 34 of shoe 10 and assisting with securing and pinning down a midfoot of a wearer within the foot cavity 28.

When in the engaged position the ratchet mechanism hinders counter-clockwise movement of the dial 86 such that clockwise rotation of the dial 86 and associated spool is significantly easier than counter-clockwise rotation of the dial 86. Conversely, when in the disengaged position, the dial 86 is unlocked from the spool, the ratchet mechanism is disengaged, and the dial 86 and spool each are freely moveable with respect to the base 84. Because the dial 86 and spool are freely rotatable in this disengaged position, the lace 90 is freely moveable away from the spool of the adjustable reel 80. This action effectively lengthens the lace 90 up to a maximum length away from the reel 80. Accordingly, the lace 90 of the shoe may be easily loosened by simply moving the dial 86 of the reel 80 from the engaged position to the disengaged position. This action allows the straps 45, 47, 49 to move away from the reel 80 and toward the medial side of the shoe, thus loosening the midfoot portion 34 of shoe 10 on a foot of a wearer.

The rearward reel 82 is also mounted on the lateral sidewall 42 of the quarter region 34. The rearward reel 82 is identical to the forward reel 80, except for the lace entrances to the rearward reel 82 face the heel portion 50 instead of facing upward toward the throat 44 like those of the forward reel 80. As explained in further detail below, the rearward reel 82 serves as a heel closure device. Also, while the closure systems have been disclosed as being reels, it will be recognized that the closure systems may be differently configured in other embodiments. For example, in other embodiments, the closure systems may be provided by lacing arrangements, straps with hook and loop fasteners and/or buckles, as well as any other closure systems known to those of ordinary skill in the art.

Heel Portion with Adjustable Heel Gate

The heel portion 50 includes a closed medial side 52, a closed rear side 54 (which may also be referred to herein as a “rear heel wall”), and an open lateral side 56. In at least some embodiments, the sides 52, 54, 56 of the heel portion 50 are considered to form a “heel cup.” The closed medial side 52 is generally continuous with the medial quarter wall 40 and the rear heel wall 54. A heel tab 58 defines the top of the rear heel wall 54. A heel stabilizer 59 extends around the bottom perimeter of the heel just above the midsole 16. The heel stabilizer 59 extends from the closed medial side 52, around the rear heel wall 54, and along the open lateral side 56. The heel portion 50, including the heel stabilizer 59, does not necessarily include a plastic heel portion, and may instead be comprised of one or more layers of fabric, leather, or other material. The heel stabilizer 59 may be integrally formed with other components on the closed medial side 52 and the rear heel wall 54. However, on the open lateral side 56, the heel stabilizer 59 defines a perimeter edge of the collar 72, as explained in further detail below.

The open lateral side 56 of the heel portion 50 includes a heel gate 60 and the lateral side of the heel stabilizer 59. The heel gate 60 (which may also be referred to herein as a “heel strap”) is provided by a flap of material extending forward on the lateral side of the heel portion 50. In the embodiment disclosed herein, the heel gate 60 is formed from a four-ply section of material that includes the fabric lining to the foot cavity 28, a foam cushioning layer (not shown), a heel panel 62, and the second end 49c of the rearward strap 49. It will be recognized that the heel gate 60 may alternatively be formed of more layers or less layers. In addition to the one or more layers of material that form the heel gate 60, the heel gate also includes a lace guide 94 that is coupled to the heel gate. In the embodiment disclosed herein, the lace guide 94 is oriented in a substantially vertical position (i.e., a channel defined by the lace guide extends is oriented more vertical than horizontal) along the forward edge of the heel gate 60.

The heel gate 60 is generally arranged below the heel tab 58 and above the heel stabilizer 59. A bottom gap 64 separates a lower edge of the heel gate 60 from an upper edge of the heel stabilizer 59. A forward gap 66 separates a forward edge of the heel gate 60 from the lateral quarter wall 42. These gaps 64 and 66 allows the heel gate 60 to be moved inward and outward along a swing line that extends from a lateral edge of the heel tab 58 to a rear edge of the gap 64 (e.g., see dotted line 65 in FIG. 6). The gaps 64 and 66 also allows the heel gate 60 to pivot forwardly and downwardly such that the size of the gap 64 is reduced.

The gaps 64 and 66 are contiguous and form part of the opening 70 to the foot cavity 28, and particularly form a side opening 74 to the foot cavity 28 on the open lateral side 56 of the heel between the heel portion 50 and the lateral quarter wall 42. Together, the bottom gap 64 and the forward gap 66 result in a “J-shaped” side opening 74 (which may also be considered a “hockey-stick shape”) when viewed from the lateral side of the shoe 10. The forward gap 66 has a forward slash shape (e.g., similar to the shaft of a hockey stick) that slants downwardly and rearwardly from the throat 44 to the heel stabilizer 59. The bottom gap 64 has an underscore shape (e.g., similar to the blade of a hockey stick) that extends backward on the shoe along the heel stabilizer 59. The rear end of the bottom gap 64 defines a notch that facilitates bending of the heel gate 60. The width across the forward gap 66 is greater than the width across the bottom gap 64. For example, the width across the forward gap 66 may be between 2 cm and 8 cm, while the width across the bottom gap may be between 0.5 cm and 1.5 cm.

The J-shaped side opening 74 forms a unique collar shape for the shoe 10. The lateral side of the collar 72 has a J-shaped edge that follows the J-shaped side opening 74. The medial side of the collar 72 has a more conventional U-shaped edge than extends along an upper edge of the throat 44, the medial quarter wall 40, and the heel portion 50. The U-shaped edge of the collar 72 is removed from and is positioned above the heel stabilizer 59 on the medal side of the shoe 10, but the J-shaped edge extends down to the heel stabilizer 59 on the lateral side of the article of footwear. The entire collar 72 defines a unitary opening to the foot cavity 28, including a U-shaped top opening 76 (defined along the U-shaped edge) that is integral with the J-shaped side opening 74 (defined along the J-shaped edge).

A rearward lace 92 extends across the J-shaped side opening 74 between the heel gate 60 and the lateral sidewall 42. The middle of the lace 92 extends through the lace guide 94 on the heel gate 60. The ends of the lace 92 are received within the rearward reel 82 on the lateral sidewall 42 and are coupled to the associated spool. The rearward reel 82 is mounted on the lateral sidewall 42 in a position such that an angle of the lace 92 relative to the dial reel 82 pulls the heel gate 60 forward and slightly downward, as described in the paragraph below. While a number of different positions on the lateral sidewall 42 are desirable for the reel, it is generally advantageous to place the reel above the upper perimeter edge of the midsole.

The rearward reel 82 operates similar to that of rearward reel 82 such that the rearward lace 92 may be effectively shortened or lengthened by manipulation of the reel 82. As best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the dial 86 on the rearward reel 82 is in the engaged position and rotated, the lace 92 is effectively shortened, and the heel gate 60 is drawn inwardly, forward, and slightly downward toward the dial, as illustrated by arrows 96. When lace 92 is elongated and the heel gate 60 is relatively far away from the rearward reel 82 and the lateral sidewall 42 (i.e., backward and slightly outward from the lateral sidewall 42), the heel gate 60 may be considered to be in an open position. In contrast, when the lace 92 is shortened and the heel gate is drawn substantially closer to the rearward reel 82 and the lateral sidewall 42, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the heel gate 60 may be considered to be in a closed position. Movement of the heel gate 60 from the open position to the closed position assists with securing and tightening the heel portion 50 on the foot of a wearer within the foot cavity 28.

In association with the above, and with reference now to FIG. 7, it will be recognized that the embodiments disclosed herein also disclose a method 100 for donning an article of footwear. The method 100 begins at act 102 by placing the forward reel 80 and the rearward reel 82 in the disengaged position such that the laces 90 and 92 may be easily elongated. At act 104, a wearer inserts their foot into the foot cavity 28 of the shoe 10. Then, at act 106, the wearer (or other person) moves the forward reel to the engage position and rotates the dial in order to pull the throat straps 38 across the throat 44 (as illustrated by arrows 36 in FIG. 5), and thereby tighten the midfoot portion 34 of the shoe 10 on the wearer according to comfort and desired fit. Next, at act 108 the wearer (or other person) moves the rearward reel to the engage position and rotates the dial in order to pull the heel gate forward (as illustrated by arrows 96 in FIG. 6), and thereby tighten the heel portion 50 of the shoe 10 on the wearer according to comfort and desired fit. After wearing the shoe 10 for a desired length of time, the wearer may easily loosen the shoe on their foot by simply moving the forward reel 80 and rearward reel 82 to the disengaged position such that the laces 90, 92 are easily lengthened. With the laces lengthened, the throat straps 38 and heel gate 60 are loosened, and the foot is easily removed from the shoe 10 as shown in act 110.

In view of the foregoing, it will be recognized that the article of footwear disclosed herein includes multiple adjustment mechanisms, including a midfoot adjustment member and a heel adjustment member. Accordingly the article of footwear provides a system wherein a midfoot fit is separate and distinct from heel fit.

Although one or more embodiments of the article of footwear with an adjustable heel have been provided herein, it will be appreciated by those of skill in the art that other implementations and adaptations are possible. Furthermore, aspects of the various embodiments described herein may be combined or substituted with aspects from other features to arrive at different embodiments from those described herein. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that variants of the above-described shoe 10 and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems, applications or methods. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art that are also intended to be encompassed by the foregoing disclosure.