Patent ID: 7647709

Claim:
A footwear assembly, comprising: an upper; and a sole assembly connected to the upper, the sole assembly comprising: a midsole made of a first material and having a forefoot portion, an arch portion, a heel portion, and a sidewall extending around a lateral side, a medial side, and a heel side of the midsole, wherein the sidewall of the midsole has a recessed portion therein; a stiffener connected to the midsole, the stiffener being made of a second material stiffer than the first material, the stiffener having a base portion adjacent to the arch portion and at least one of the forefoot portion and the heel portion of the midsole, the stiffener having at least one side stabilizer and a heel wrap coupled to the base portion, the side stabilizer being adjacent to the sidewall in at least one of the arch portion and forefoot portion, wherein the side stabilizer is positioned in the recessed portion, the heel wrap being adjacent to the heel side and at least one of the lateral side and medial side of the midsole's sidewall; and an outsole connected to at least one of the midsole and the stiffener.