Patent ID: 7685741

Claim:
An article of footwear comprising: a foot retaining portion having a heel area and having an interior side, the interior side sized and shaped to hold a foot and including an upper portion, the upper portion optionally lined with a pliable material; a first exterior insole layer having therein a cut-out adjacent the heel area of the foot retaining portion, the first exterior insole layer having an interior surface forming the bottom of the foot retaining portion that is lined with a pliable material; a second exterior insole layer having a heel strike pad sized and shaped to fit within the cut-out of the first exterior insole layer, the heel strike pad comprised of a material that absorbs and disperses heel strike forces; a third exterior insole layer sized to fit the foot retaining portion and having therein a cut-out adjacent the heel area of the foot retaining portion in alignment with the cut-out of the first exterior insole layer, the third exterior insole layer comprised of a material that provides foot cushioning; a fourth exterior insole layer adjacent the third exterior insole layer comprised of a material that provides foot tactile stimulation when foot pressure is applied thereto; and an outsole layer adjacent the fourth exterior insole layer comprised of a material that provides outsole flexibility and skid resistance, the outsole layer having a heel with a depression therein.