Patent ID: 8181364

Claim:
An article of footwear, comprising: a sole including a forefoot portion, an arch portion and a heel portion; the heel portion including a lower concave surface; a curved plate configured for deflection when a force is applied to an upper surface of the sole; the curved plate including a central portion that confronts the lower concave surface of the sole and the curved plate including a peripheral portion disposed outward from the central portion; the curved plate further including at least one leg portion, the at least one leg portion extending from the central portion to the peripheral portion; wherein the central portion is configured to deform under a predetermined force applied by a heel; wherein the peripheral portion of the curved plate includes a lateral peripheral portion associated with a lateral portion of the sole, a medial peripheral portion associated with a medial portion of the sole, and a rear peripheral portion associated with the heel portion of the sole; and wherein the lateral peripheral portion, the rear peripheral portion, and the medial peripheral portion form a continuous ring along a periphery of the lateral portion, the medial portion, and the heel portion of the sole.