Patent ID: 7013583

Claim:
An article of athletic footwear comprising: an upper for covering at least a portion of a foot of a wearer; a foot-supporting member that is removably-received by the upper, the foot-supporting member having a lower surface located opposite a foot-engaging surface, the lower surface being at a first elevation in a forefoot region of the foot-supporting member and the lower surface being at a second elevation in a heel region of the foot-supporting member, the second elevation being greater than the first elevation to define a recess below the heel region, the foot-supporting member also having a first thickness in the forefoot region and a second thickness in the heel region, the first thickness being greater than the second thickness throughout a substantial portion of the forefoot region; and a sole structure attached to the upper, the sole structure including a polymer foam material located under at least the heel region of the foot-supporting member, the foam having greater thickness under the heel region than under the forefoot region.