RAPID-ENTRY FOOTWEAR HAVING A ROTATING REAR PORTION AND A FULCRUM

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.