Rapid-entry footwear comprised of a unified material
A rapid-entry shoe having a sole portion and a rebounding portion being comprised of the same material and being a unified structure. The rapid-entry shoe has a collapsed configuration in which a perimeter of the topline is expanded and an uncollapsed configuration in which the perimeter of the topline is unexpanded, and the rapid-entry shoe is biased by the rebounding portion toward the uncollapsed configuration.
1. A rapid-entry shoe comprising:
a sole portion;
an upper coupled to the sole portion, the upper defining a topline;
a rebounding portion, the rebounding portion extending in an upward and rearward direction toward a rear portion of the upper; and
a rear stabilizer configured to prevent inward deflection of the rebounding portion;
wherein the sole portion and the rebounding portion are a unified structure and are comprised of a common material;
wherein the rear stabilizer is more rigid than the rebounding portion;
wherein the rapid-entry shoe has a collapsed configuration in which a perimeter of the topline is expanded;
wherein the rapid-entry shoe has an uncollapsed configuration in which the perimeter of the topline is unexpanded; and
wherein the rapid-entry shoe is biased by the rebounding portion toward the uncollapsed configuration.
2. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 1 , wherein the rebounding portion is positioned on an outer surface of the upper.
3. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 1 , wherein the sole portion is coupled to the rebounding portion.
4. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 1 , wherein the rear stabilizer comprises a reinforced section of the rebounding portion.
5. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 1 , wherein the rear stabilizer comprises a thicker section of the rebounding portion.
6. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 1 , wherein the rebounding portion defines a window that permits resilient deformation of the rebounding portion toward the sole portion.
7. A rapid-entry shoe comprising:
a sole portion;
an upper coupled to the sole portion, the upper defining an opening;
a rebounding portion; and
a rear stabilizer;
wherein the sole portion and the rebounding portion are comprised of a common material and are a unified structure;
wherein the rapid-entry shoe has a collapsed configuration in which a perimeter of the opening is expanded;
wherein the rapid-entry shoe has an uncollapsed configuration in which the perimeter of the opening is unexpanded;
wherein the rapid-entry shoe is biased by the rebounding portion toward the uncollapsed configuration;
wherein the rear stabilizer is more rigid than the rebounding portion;
wherein the rear stabilizer extends around a rear portion of the upper; and
wherein the rear stabilizer is configured to prevent inward deflection of the rebounding portion when the rapid entry shoe is deformed to the collapsed configuration.
8. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 7 , wherein the rebounding portion is positioned on an outer surface of the upper.
9. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 7 , wherein the rear stabilizer comprises a reinforced section of the rebounding portion.
10. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 7 , wherein the rear stabilizer comprises a thicker section of the rebounding portion.
11. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 7 , wherein the rebounding portion defines a window that permits resilient deformation of the rebounding portion toward the sole portion.
12. A rapid-entry shoe comprising:
a sole portion;
an upper coupled to the sole portion, the upper defining an opening;
a rebounding portion; and
a rear stabilizer configured to prevent inward deflection of the rebounding portion;
wherein the sole portion and the rebounding portion are comprised of a common material and are a unified structure;
wherein the rear stabilizer is more rigid than the rebounding portion;
wherein the rapid-entry shoe has a collapsed configuration in which a perimeter of the opening is expanded;
wherein the rapid-entry shoe has an uncollapsed configuration in which the perimeter of the opening is unexpanded; and
wherein the rapid-entry shoe is biased by the rebounding portion toward the uncollapsed configuration.
13. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 12 , wherein the rebounding portion is positioned on an outer surface of the upper.
14. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 12 , wherein the rear stabilizer comprises a reinforced section of the rebounding portion.
15. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 12 , wherein the rear stabilizer comprises a thicker section of the rebounding portion.
16. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 12 , wherein the rebounding portion defines a window that permits resilient deformation of the rebounding portion toward the sole portion.
17. A rapid-entry shoe comprising:
a sole portion;
a rebounding portion, the rebounding portion extending in an upward and rearward direction toward a rear portion of rapid-entry shoe; and
a rear stabilizer configured to prevent inward deflection of the rebounding portion;
wherein the sole portion and the rebounding portion are a unified structure and are comprised of a common material;
wherein the rear stabilizer is more rigid than the rebounding portion;
wherein the rapid-entry shoe has a collapsed configuration for easy donning of the rapid-entry shoe;
wherein the rapid-entry shoe has an uncollapsed configuration; and
wherein the rapid-entry shoe is biased by the rebounding portion toward the uncollapsed configuration.
18. The rapid-entry shoe of claim 17 , wherein the sole portion is coupled to the rebounding portion.