Patent ID: 8640363

Claim:
An article of footwear ( 1 ) comprising: a sole system ( 2 ) having a general outline of a foot and comprising: a midsole ( 3 ) having the same general outline of the foot, the midsole ( 3 ) in an unloaded state having a top surface having a natural contour of a bottom of a foot in a relaxed state, the midsole including a raised medial arch surface ( 31 ) providing an even contact and support to a medial arch area of the foot; a single piece integrated arch-flex device ( 4 ) residing under at least a portion of the midsole ( 3 ) and having a medial arch support surface ( 54 ) in contact with the midsole ( 3 ) and providing support to the raised medial arch surface ( 31 ) of the midsole ( 3 ) to maintain the shape of the raised medial arch surface ( 31 ) in the unloaded state until sufficient weight is placed on the sole system ( 2 ) to tend to flatten the medial arch support surface ( 54 ), and a lateral arch surface ( 55 ) supporting a lateral arch surface 32 of the midsole ( 3 ), the integrated arch-flex device ( 4 ) having at least twice the hardness of the midsole ( 3 ); and an upper ( 8 ) configured to position a foot on the sole system ( 2 ) of the footwear ( 1 ), wherein said midsole ( 3 ) includes a heel block ( 28 ) extending downward from the bottom of a heel region of the midsole ( 3 ) and through the arch-flex device ( 4 ) to provide cushioning in the heel region.