Patent ID: 7159339

Claim:
An article of footwear comprising: an upper; an outer bottom assembly, the outer bottom assembly comprising: an outsole; an elastically deformable element, the elastically deformable element having a substantially arch shape in a transverse direction of the outer bottom assembly, the elastically deformable element having an uppermost portion beneath a lower end of the upper, the elastically deformable element having an upper surface extending downward from the uppermost portion to medial and lateral edges, respectively, of the outsole, said upper surface of the elastically deformable element not extending upwardly at the medial and lateral edges of the outsole; the elastically deformable element being located in a heel zone and/or in a forefoot zone of the article of footwear; and a layer of shock-absorbing material positioned between the elastically deformable element and the outsole.