Patent ID: 7263788

Claim:
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure including a stabilizing element comprising: a pair of lateral stabilizing members located in a lateral side of the sole structure and extending in a direction of a longitudinal length of the footwear; a lateral connecting member joining forward ends of the lateral stabilizing members, the lateral connecting member being located in a forefoot region of the sole structure and positioned under the joints that connect the third metatarsal to the third phalanges, the fourth metatarsal to the fourth phalanges, and the fifth metatarsal to the fifth phalanges; a pair of medial stabilizing members located in a medial side of the sole structure and extending in the direction of the longitudinal length of the footwear; a medial connecting member joining forward ends of the medial stabilizing members, the medial connecting member being located in the forefoot region of the sole structure and positioned to underlie a proximal hallux and the joint between the first metatarsal and the proximal hallux; and an aft connecting member located in a heel region of the sole structure and joining aft ends of the lateral stabilizing members and the medial stabilizing members.