Patent ID: 6854198

Claim:
Footwear comprising: a sole comprising a unitary outsole of a wear resistant material having a resistance to compression, said outsole having a bottom, an upper surface, a heel section having medial and lateral regions, an arch section having medial and lateral regions, and a forefoot section having a first region for supporting the first, second, third, fourth and fifth metatarsal heads of a foot, associated phalanges and metatarsal phalangeal joints of the foot, and the metatarsal neck associated with the fifth metatarsal head of the foot, and a second region for supporting at least one of the metatarsal necks associated with the second and third metatarsal heads of the foot; a cavity in the outsole; an insert in the cavity having a resistance to compression less than the resistance to compression of the outsole; said insert being sized and shaped to overlie the outsole in at least part of the lateral region of the heel section of the outsole, at least part of the lateral region of the arch section of the outsole, and the first region of the forefoot section for attenuating the shock of impact in these regions during running and walking, and said insert being sized and shaped not to overlie at least part of the medial region of the arch section of the outsole and the second region of the forefoot section of the outsole whereby the outsole provides firmer foot support in these regions during walking and running.