Patent ID: 7980010

Claim:
A boot, comprising: a boot shell configured to receive and extend around a wearer's foot when the boot is worn by the wearer, the shell including a toe region that receives a toe portion of the wearer's foot when the boot is worn by the wearer, a heel region that receives a heel portion of the wearer's foot when the boot is worn by the wearer, and an outsole having a projecting heel portion that extends away from the heel region of the boot shell; and a boot shaft connected to and extending above the boot shell to define a passage through which the wearer's foot is passed when the wearer's foot is inserted into and removed from the boot shell and within which at least an Achilles and lower calf region of the wearer's leg is positioned when the boot is worn by the wearer, the boot shaft including at least a front shaft section, a rear shaft section, and an expandable portion secured to the rear shaft section, wherein the expandable portion is spaced above the heel region of the boot shell and includes a stretchable material positioned along at least a portion of the rear shaft section, wherein the stretchable material has a higher resilience than the rear shaft section, and wherein the expandable portion is adapted to expand resiliently away from the front section of the boot shaft to facilitate ease of entry of a heel of the wearer's foot through the passage and into the boot shell; wherein the boot is a cowboy boot.