Footwear heel counter for easier foot entry or removal

An article of footwear comprising:

• an upper and sole structure
• the upper defining a foot receiving shoe opening;
• a rigid heel counter support situated on the upper and above the sole structure;
• the heel counter support having a first hollow receptacle with a first rearward incline and a second hollow receptacle with a second rearward incline, the first rearward incline being parallel to the second rearward incline;
• a compressible component having two ends;
• the compressible component not being substantially stretchable;
• wherein each one of the two hollow receptacles receive one end of the compressible component;
• the compressible component having a first configuration;
• the compressible component aligning on a plane defined by the first rearward incline and the second rearward incline while in the first configuration;
• the compressible component capable of distorting into a second configuration wherein at least a portion of the compressible component is located closer to the sole under a load of a user's foot when the user is donning the footwear;
• and
• the compressible component being capable of automatically returning to the first configuration after the user's foot in fully inserted into the footwear.

An article of footwear comprising:

• an upper and sole structure
• the upper defining a foot receiving shoe opening;
• a rigid heel counter support situated on the upper and above the sole structure;
• the rigid heel counter support comprising a medial portion, a heel portion, and a lateral portion;
• the rigid heel counter continuously extending from the medial portion, around the heel portion, to the lateral portion;
• the medial portion, heel portion, and lateral portion affixed to the sole;
• the rigid heel counter support having a first hollow receptacle with a first rearward incline on the medial portion and a second hollow receptacle with a second rearward incline on the lateral portion;
• the first rearward incline being parallel to the second rearward incline;
• a compressible component having a first end and a second end;
• the compressible component not being substantially stretchable;
• the compressible component extending from a medial quarter, above the foot receiving shoe opening, to a lateral quarter;
• the first end received by the first hollow receptable and the second end received by the second hollow receptacle;
• the compressible component having a first configuration;
• the compressible component aligning on a plane defined by the first rearward incline and the second rearward incline while in the first configuration;
• the compressible component capable of distorting into a second configuration under a load of a user's foot when the user is donning the footwear;
• and
• the compressible component being capable of automatically returning to the first configuration after the user's foot in fully inserted into the footwear.