Importance

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Abstract

The invention is directed to a midsole assembly for footwear which includes medial and lateral unsymmetrical stabilizing pods disposed between shock absorbing upper and lower deflectable plates positioned at the heel portion of the midsole. The bottom surface of the heel portion of the midsole includes an axially aligned deflection platform defined by a concave surface. The upper shock absorption plate is disposed adjacent the bottom surface of the midsole and includes an aperture therethrough which is adapted to receive the deflection platform. The bottom plate includes a deflectable concave segment which is aligned with and adapted to engage the deflection platform of the midsole and be urged downwardly upon the imposition of force upon the midsole by the user's foot. The medial and lateral stabilizing pods are mounted between the upper and lower plates along the medial and lateral sides of the heel portion of the midsole and are respectively adapted to dynamically respond to the forces imposed on the medial and lateral sides of the heel. To control pronation and supination of the shoe and user's foot, the hardness of the medial stabilizing pod may be greater than that of the lateral stabilizing pod.

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First Claim