Patent ID: 8001704

Claim:
An article of footwear, comprising: a midsole; and a foot stabilizer, including a longitudinally extending spine portion and a plurality of ribs extending laterally from each opposing lateral and medial side of the spine portion, said plurality of ribs being positioned to partially underlie a foot of a user; and the ribs being contoured to partially enclose the foot of the user, wherein a first rib extending laterally from the lateral side of the spine portion includes a first eyelet opening configured to receive a lace, wherein the first eyelet opening is positioned at a distal end of the first rib, wherein a second rib extending laterally from the medial side of the spine portion includes a second eyelet opening configured to receive the lace, wherein the second eyelet opening is positioned at a distal end of the second rib, wherein the first rib is configured to be coupled to the second rib via the lace.