Patent ID: 8499474

Claim:
A fastening device configured for use with an article of footwear comprising: a pivotally movable heel enclosure comprising a heel cup which is configured to surround a heel and secure behind an Achilles tendon of a foot, and a heel base which is coupled to the heel cup and is engageable by a part of a foot so as to cause the heel enclosure to move from an open position to a closed position when engaged by the part of the foot; a guide having a pair of uprights; and a pair of connectors, each of which is coupled to one of the uprights and to a side of the heel cup and are each configured to guide the heel enclosure between the open position and the closed position, wherein each connector is coupled to the respective upright such that during movement of the heel enclosure between the open and closed positions, the connector is driven along a predetermined path, while the coupling between the connectors and the respective uprights and the coupling between the connectors and the heel cup are maintained.