Patent ID: 7168187

Claim:
A footwear construction including a forefoot region and a heel region comprising: an upper including a peripheral allowance; a one-piece, unitary, substantially rigid shell including a heel cup, a forefoot portion and a periphery, the heel cup including a base plate extending toward the forefoot portion, the forefoot portion including a wall extending generally upwardly in relation to the base plate, the wall further extending around the periphery in at least the forefoot portion so that the wall and heel cup cooperate to form an upwardly opening recess, the shell defining a hole in the forefoot portion, the hole terminating short of the heel portion; a cushioning material positioned in the upwardly opening recess of the shell, the cushioning material extending at least partially into the hole; and an outsole secured to the shell, wherein the peripheral allowance is joined with stitching to the shell in the forefoot region, the stitching terminating short of the heel region; wherein the upper is adhered to at least one of the shell and the cushioning material in the heel region.