Patent ID: 8381417

Claim:
An article of footwear comprising: a footwear upper; and a sole assembly secured to the footwear upper, the sole assembly having a heelward portion and a toeward portion, the sole assembly comprising: an outsole; a first midsole disposed on the outsole in at least the toeward portion of the sole assembly, the first midsole having a bottom surface that defines a contour; a heel insert disposed in an aperture of the first midsole to receive a heel of a user; and a deck assembly disposed on the outsole in at least the heelward portion of the sole assembly substantially between the outsole and the first midsole and being disposed at least partially within the contour on the bottom surface of the first midsole, the deck assembly comprising: an upper deck portion; a lower deck portion spaced from the upper deck portion; and right and left supports attached to respective right and left portions of the upper and lower deck portions substantially near respective right and left lateral edges of the upper and lower deck portions; wherein the deck assembly defines a cavity between the upper and lower deck portions, the deck assembly directing translation of ground contact forces incurred by the heelward portion of the sole assembly at least partially laterally outwardly.