Footwear heel counter for easier foot entry or removal

A shoe comprising:

• a sole structure;
• a shoe upper having a foot receiving shoe opening;
• an ankle collar extending around at least a portion of the shoe opening,
• a heel cup disposed at least in a heel region of the upper, wherein the heel cup comprises:
• a central region extending vertically from the ankle collar to a base of the upper,
• peripheral portions extending from respective sides of the central region, and
• wherein the heel cup forms a vertical cross-sectional “S” wave shape through at least the central region of the heel cup,
• wherein the vertical cross-sectional “S” wave shape comprises an upper arc and a lower arc, wherein the upper arc and lower arc intersect at an inflection point of the “S” wave shape, and
• wherein the heel cup comprises a top portion, middle portion and bottom portion, each extending horizontally through at least the central region, wherein the top portion is adjacent to the ankle collar and includes at least a portion of the upper arc, the bottom portion is adjacent to a base of the upper and includes at least a portion of the lower arc, and the middle portion is between the top portion and the bottom portion and includes the inflection point;
• and
• wherein, at a rearmost portion of the heel cup, at least one reduced-thickness region is disposed between vertically oriented, adjacent thicker regions;
• a compressible material layer disposed along regions of an inner wall of the heel cup facing an interior of the shoe upper, said regions of the inner wall corresponding to at least a portion of the central region of the heel cup, wherein the compressible material layer (i) protrudes into the shoe opening along at least the portion of the central region corresponding to the upper portion, and (ii) tapers in a direction towards the portion of the central region corresponding to the bottom portion of the heel cup.