Patent ID: 8479416

Claim:
A footwear component for an article of footwear, comprising: a longitudinal direction extending along a length of the footwear component; a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being disposed rearwardly of the first portion in the longitudinal direction; the footwear component comprising a first material and a second material that is different from the first material; the first portion being constructed of the first material and being substantially monolithic; the second portion comprising an upper layer, an intermediate layer and a lower layer, the intermediate layer being disposed between the upper layer and the lower layer, the intermediate layer being distal to the upper layer and the lower layer being distal to the intermediate layer; the intermediate layer being constructed of the second material and the upper layer and the lower layer being constructed of the first material; wherein the first portion is substantially more flexible than the second portion; the second portion comprising a central cavity that extends through the upper layer, the intermediate layer, and the lower layer; an insert configured for insertion into the central cavity; and wherein the insert comprises a third material that is substantially different from the first material and the second material.