Footwear article capable of hands-free donning
A footwear article includes a collar elevator that is conducive to hands-free donning to secure the wearer's foot during wear. A footwear article capable of hands-free donning includes a sole and an upper having a heel region. The upper includes an inner material layer and an outer material layer. The footwear article also includes a collar elevator positioned between the inner material layer and the outer material layer in the heel region. The collar elevator, in an example, comprises a strand-receiving aperture through which a stitch extends attaching the collar elevator to the upper.
1 . A footwear article capable of hands-free donning, comprising:
a sole;
an upper having a heel region, the upper comprising an inner material layer and an outer material layer; and
a collar elevator positioned between the inner material layer and the outer material layer in the heel region, wherein the collar elevator comprises:
a first half on a medial side of a longitudinal midline reference plane of the footwear article;
a second half on a lateral side of the longitudinal midline reference plane;
an outer face oriented towards the outer material layer and an inner face oriented towards the inner material layer;
a central portion aligned with the longitudinal midline reference plane, the central portion comprising a first recess in the outer face and a second recess in the inner face; and
a strand-receiving aperture through which a stitch extends attaching the collar elevator to at least the inner material layer of the upper, the strand-receiving aperture extending through the first recess and the second recess.
2 . The footwear article of claim 1 , wherein the sole comprises a recessed portion that comprises a recess profile, wherein the collar elevator comprises a portion that is nested into the recessed portion of the sole and that comprises a profile that corresponds with the recess profile of the recessed portion, wherein the inner face comprises a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the first portion is positioned higher than the second portion and more anterior than the second portion, wherein engagement between the portion of the collar elevator with the recessed portion of the sole at least partially impedes movement of the portion.
3 . The footwear article of claim 1 , wherein the sole comprises a polymer foam composition.
4 . The footwear article of claim 3 , wherein the polymer foam composition comprises at least a polyurethane composition or an ethylene vinyl acetate composition.
5 . The footwear article of claim 1 , wherein the sole is a unisole.
6 . The footwear article of claim 1 , wherein the upper continuously extends from a medial side to a lateral side across a forefoot portion of the upper.
7 . The footwear article of claim 1 , wherein the upper omits a forefoot opening.
8 . The footwear article of claim 1 , wherein the upper comprises a knit textile.
9 . The footwear article of claim 8 , wherein the knit textile comprises a synthetic composition.
10 . The footwear article of claim 1 , wherein the stitch further extends through the outer material layer.
11 . The footwear article of claim 1 , wherein the first recess and the second recess comprise opposing sides of a thinned wall portion of the central portion.
12 . The footwear article of claim 11 , wherein a top edge portion of the collar elevator is positioned superior to the thinned wall portion of the central portion.
13 . The footwear article of claim 12 wherein the thinned wall portion of the central portion is positioned, as compared to the top edge portion, closer to a footbed.
14 . The footwear article of claim 11 , wherein the strand-receiving aperture extends through the thinned wall portion of the central portion.
15 . The footwear article of claim 1 , wherein the collar elevator extends from a base to an ankle collar.
16 . The footwear article of claim 1 , wherein the collar elevator comprises a deformable element encased in a cover.
17 . The footwear article of claim 1 , wherein the collar elevator is further coupled to the upper with an adhesive.
18 . The footwear article of claim 1 , wherein the collar elevator comprises a rigid material.
19 . The footwear article of claim 18 , wherein the rigid material is a thermoplastic polyurethane material.
20 . A footwear article capable of hands-free donning, the footwear article comprising:
a sole;
an upper having a heel region, the upper comprising an inner material layer and an outer material layer, and the upper comprising an ankle collar; and
an intermediate element that is positioned between the inner material layer and the outer material layer in the heel region and that is configured to prevent the ankle collar from collapsing inward during donning,
wherein the intermediate element comprises a top portion that extends in an arc around a back side of the heel region from a first position on a medial side of the heel region to a second position on a lateral side of the heel region;
wherein the first position is below a strobel of the footwear article and the second position is below the strobel;
wherein the intermediate element comprises an outer face oriented towards the outer material layer and an inner face oriented towards the inner material layer;
wherein the outer face comprises a first recessed portion aligned with a longitudinal midline reference plane of the footwear article and the inner face comprises a second recessed portion aligned with the longitudinal midline reference plane; and
wherein the intermediate element comprises a strand-receiving aperture through which a stitch extends attaching the intermediate element to the inner material layer of the upper, wherein the strand-receiving aperture extends through the first recessed portion and the second recessed portion.
21 . The footwear article of claim 20 , wherein the first recessed portion and the second recessed portion comprise opposing sides of a thinned wall portion, wherein the thinned wall portion is positioned, closer to a footbed as compared to a top edge portion of the intermediate element.
22 . The footwear article of claim 20 , wherein the intermediate element comprises a deformable element encased in a cover.
23 . The footwear article of claim 20 , wherein the strand-receiving aperture further extends through the outer material layer of the upper.
24 . The footwear article of claim 20 , wherein at least one of the inner material layer or the outer material layer of the upper comprises a textile and the intermediate element compositionally comprises a polymer that is molded to shape.
25 . The footwear article of claim 20 , wherein the intermediate element comprises a rigid material.
26 . The footwear article of claim 25 , wherein the rigid material is a thermoplastic polyurethane material.