Patent ID: 7082698

Claim:
An article of footwear having an upper for receiving a foot of a wearer and a sole structure attached to said upper, said sole structure comprising: a vertically-projecting, columnar element positioned between upper and lower surfaces of a cavity formed within said sole structure and having a substantially vertical void located on an interior of said columnar element, said cavity having an upper surface and an opposite lower surface, and said cavity extending through a lateral side and a medial side of said footwear to form a horizontal opening in said sole structure, said columnar element being positioned to extend between said upper surface and lower surface; and at least one insert dimensioned to be received by said void, said at least one insert including a first securing portion of a securing mechanism and said sole structure including a corresponding second securing portion of said securing mechanism, said first securing portion joining with said second securing portion to secure said at least one insert within said void.