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The present invention is directed to an athletic shoe including a heel strap for securing the foot in the shoe. The shoe includes an upper and a sole. The upper includes a quarter and a relatively stiff counter disposed at the periphery of the shoe. The quarter includes a lacing eyestay having a plu

The present invention is directed to an athletic shoe including a heel strap for securing the foot in the shoe. The shoe includes an upper and a sole. The upper includes a quarter and a relatively stiff counter disposed at the periphery of the shoe. The quarter includes a lacing eyestay having a plurality of lacing eyelets. The counter has an opening formed through each side thereof and located such that when the shoe is worn on a foot, the openings are disposed below the malleolus. The upper also includes a relatively thin, flexible inner sleeve disposed interiorly of the quarter and counter. The shoe includes a heel strap having a heel tab fixed to the rear of the inner sleeve, and side straps extending laterally forwardly on both sides of the shoe. Side tabs including one or more eyelets are disposed on the forward end of each of the side straps. The side straps are disposed through the openings formed in the counter and are bent upwardly exterior of the counter, with the side tabs disposed adjacent the uppermost lacing eyelet. In securing the shoe, the shoe lace may be disposed through both the eyelets of the side tabs, and the corresponding eyelet of the upper on each side so as to adjustably secure the heel strap against the foot.

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1. A shoe comprising: a sole; an upper extending from said sole, said upper having an opening on each side, said openings located so as to be positioned below the malleoli when the shoe is worn, said upper including a relatively thin, flexible inner sleeve, said sleeve receiving a wearer's foot;

1. A shoe comprising: a sole; an upper extending from said sole, said upper having an opening on each side, said openings located so as to be positioned below the malleoli when the shoe is worn, said upper including a relatively thin, flexible inner sleeve, said sleeve receiving a wearer's foot; a heel strap extending about a wearer's heel, said heel strap having forward ends, said heel strap disposed downwardly forwardly on both sides of the shoe towards and through said openings, and upwardly forwardly from the locations of said openings, said heel strap fixed to said inner sleeve at the heel and secured at its forward ends adjacent to said upper, said upper openings disposed at a lower height above the lower most surface of the shoe than the height at which said heel strap is fixed to said inner sleeve, at least a portion of said heel strap disposed substantially directly adjacent said sleeve and freely conforming to the shape of the wearer's heel through said sleeve. 2. The shoe recited in claim 1, said shoe comprising a shoe lace, said upper comprising a plurality of lacing eyelets, said heel strap having at least one eyelet disposed through each forward end, said eyelets of said heel strap disposed adjacent a corresponding lacing eyelet on each side of said shoe such that each end of the lace of said shoe may be disposed through one of said heel strap eyelets and a corresponding lacing eyelet. 3. The shoe recited in claim 1, said heel strap comprising a heel tab and two side portions, said heel tab fixed to said said inner sleeve at the heel, said side portions fixed to opposite sides of said heel tab. 4. The shoe recited in claim 1, said heel strap extending downwardly towards said upper openings so as to make an inner angle of approximately 30° with a horizontal plane extending through said upper above said heel strap. 5. The shoe recited in claim 1, said heel strap disposed to avoid interfering with dorsi flexion and plantar flexion of the foot. 6. A shoe comprising: a sole; an upper fixed to and disposed above said sole, said upper comprising a relatively flexible inner sleeve and an outer portion, said outer portion including a counter disposed about the rear of said shoe and extending forwardly on either side of said shoe, said counter having an opening disposed therethrough on each side, said outer portion comprising a plurality of lacing eyelets; a heel strap disposed about a rear portion of said inner sleeve and extending laterally forwardly on both sides of said inner sleeve and terminating at a forward location on each side proximate one of said lacing eyelets, said heel strap having at least one eyelet at each forward location disposed adjacent a corresponding eyelet of said upper, said heel strap disposed through said opening through each side of said counter; wherein, on each side of said shoe, said shoe may be laced through one of said heel strap eyelets and a corresponding lacing eyelet. 7. The shoe recited in claim 6, said counter openings located so as to be positioned below the malleolus when the shoe is worn. 8. The shoe recited in claim 6, said heel strap disposed to avoid interfering with dorsi flexion and plantar flexion of the foot. 9. The shoe recited in claim 6, said heel strap fixedly attached to said rear portion of said inner sleeve. 10. The shoe recited in claim 6, said heel strap comprising a heel tab, said heel tab fixedly attached to said inner sleeve at a location adjacent the upper border of said heel tab. 11. The shoe recited in claim 10, said heel tab fixedly attached to said counter at a location adjacent the lower border of said heel tab. 12. A shoe comprising: a sole; an upper extending from said sole, said upper having an opening on each side, said openings located so as to be positioned below the malleoli when the shoe is worn, said upper including a relatively thin, flexible inner sleeve and a relatively stiff counter, said inner sleeve disposed interiorly of said counter and extending above said counter, said inner sleeve receiving a wearer's foot; a heel strap extending about a wearer's heel, said heel strap having forward ends, said heel strap disposed downwardly forwardly on both sides of the shoe towards and through said openings, and upwardly forwardly from the locations of said openings, said heel strap secured at its forward ends adjacent to said upper, at least a portion of said heel strap disposed substantially directly adjacent said sleeve and freely conforming to the shape of the wearer's heel through said sleeve, said heel strap further comprising a heel tab disposed adjacent said inner sleeve above said counter. 13. The shoe recited in claim 12, said heel tab free standing from both said inner sleeve and said counter. 14. The shoe recited in claim 12, said heel tab secured to said inner sleeve and free-standing from said counter. 15. The shoe recited in claim 12, said heel tab secured adjacent an upper end thereof to said inner sleeve, said heel tab secured adjacent a lower end thereof to said counter, said heel tab substantially free of both said counter and said sleeve therebetween. 16. The shoe recited in claim 12, said counter disposed about the periphery of the rear of said shoe.