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An aspect of the present invention includes a footwear assembly comprising: an upper and a sole assembly connected to the upper. The sole assembly has a footwear assembly comprising a sole assembly connected to an upper. The sole assembly has 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. A stiffener is connected to the midsole. The stiffener is made of a second material stiffer than the first material. The st...
An aspect of the present invention includes a footwear assembly comprising: an upper and a sole assembly connected to the upper. The sole assembly has a footwear assembly comprising a sole assembly connected to an upper. The sole assembly has 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. A stiffener is connected to the midsole. The stiffener is made of a second material stiffer than the first material. The stiffener has 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 has a side stabilizer and a heel wrap coupled to the base portion. The side stabilizer is adjacent to the sidewall in at least one of the arch portion and forefoot portion. The heel wrap is adjacent to the heel side and at least one of the lateral side and medial side of the midsole's sidewall.
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We claim: 1. 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 th...
We claim: 1. 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. 2. The footwear assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one side stabilizer includes a lateral stabilizer adjacent to the lateral side of the midsole at the forefoot portion and a medial stabilizer adjacent to the medial side of the midsole at the forefoot portion of the midsole. 3. The footwear assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one side stabilizer is integrally connected to the base portion. 4. The footwear assembly of claim 1 wherein the heel wrap has a lateral side portion coupled to the base portion and adjacent to the sidewall's lateral side, medial side portion coupled to the base portion and adjacent to the sidewall's medial side, and a heel side extending between the medial side portion and the lateral side portion. 5. The footwear assembly of claim 1 wherein the heel wrap has a lateral side portion adjacent to the sidewall's lateral side, a medial side portion coupled to the base portion, and a heel side extending between the medial side portion and the lateral side portion. 6. The footwear assembly of claim 1 wherein the sidewall comprises lateral and medial sidewalls, and the at least one stabilizer comprises has a first lateral side stabilizer adjacent to the arch portion of the midsole and a first medial side stabilizer adjacent to the medial side of the arch portion of the midsole, the stiffener having a second lateral side stabilizer adjacent to the forefoot portion of the midsole and a second medial side stabilizer adjacent to the medial side of the forefoot portion of the midsole. 7. The footwear assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one stabilizer comprises first and second stabilizers and the sidewall of the midsole has recessed portions in the lateral and medial sides of the midsole's sidewall, and the first and second stabilizers are positioned in the recessed portions. 8. The footwear assembly of claim 1 wherein the outsole has a forefoot portion adjacent to the midsole's forefoot portion and a heel portion adjacent to the midsole's heel portion. 9. The footwear assembly of claim 1 wherein the outsole has a translucent portion and the stiffener is visible through the translucent portion. 10. The footwear assembly of claim 1 wherein the outsole has a forefoot portion adjacent to the midsole's forefoot portion and a heel portion adjacent to the midsole's heel portion and the base portion of the stabilizer adjacent to the arch portion has an external surface not covered by the outsole. 11. The footwear assembly of claim 1 wherein the midsole is made of a closed-cell foam material and the stiffener is made one of a plastic, polyurethane, and thermo plastic urethane material. 12. The footwear assembly of claim 1 wherein the stiffener is a substantially full length member extending between the forefoot portion and the heel portion of the midsole. 13. The footwear assembly of claim 1 wherein the base portion of the stiffener has a plurality of apertures, and the midsole has a plurality of lugs that extend through the plurality of apertures. 14. The footwear assembly of claim 1 wherein portions of the stiffener's base portion are visible and not covered by the outsole. 15. The footwear assembly of claim 1 wherein the stiffener is an external shank that provides longitudinal and lateral stability for the sole assembly. 16. The footwear assembly of claim 1 further comprising a longitudinal shank coupled to the midsole. 17. The footwear assembly of claim 1 wherein the stiffener is a unitary member. 18. 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; 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, 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; and wherein the stiffener is made of a substantially transparent or translucent material, and further comprising a pattern or image coupled to the midsole and being visible through the stiffener. 19. 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 sidewall, a forefoot portion, an arch portion, and a heel portion, 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, wherein a portion of the stiffener is positioned in the recessed portion, the stiffener having arch stabilizers adjacent to the midsole's sidewall at the arch portion, and the stiffener having a heel wrap adjacent to the heel portion, the heel wrap having medial and lateral portions adjacent to the midsole's sidewall, and a wrap portion adjacent to the sidewall and extending between the medial and lateral portions and being uncovered and visible from an exterior of the footwear assembly; and an outsole connected to at least one of the midsole and the stiffener. 20. The footwear assembly of claim 19 wherein the stiffener includes a lateral stabilizer adjacent to the lateral side of the midsole at the forefoot portion and a medial stabilizer adjacent to the medial side of the midsole at the forefoot portion of the midsole. 21. The footwear assembly of claim 19 wherein the stiffener includes forefoot side stabilizers connected to the base portion and positioned adjacent to the sidewalls at the forefoot portion of the midsole. 22. The footwear assembly of claim 19 wherein the stiffener has two side stabilizers and the sidewall of the midsole has two recessed portions and the two side stabilizers are positioned in the corresponding recessed portions. 23. The footwear assembly of claim 19 wherein the outsole has a forefoot portion adjacent to the midsole's forefoot portion and a heel portion adjacent to the midsole's heel portion and the arch portion of the stiffener being uncovered and exposed. 24. The footwear assembly of claim 19 wherein the outsole has a translucent portion and the stiffener is visible through the translucent portion. 25. The footwear assembly of claim 19 wherein the stiffener is an external shank that provides longitudinal and lateral stability for the sole assembly. 26. 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 sidewall, a forefoot portion, an arch portion, and a heel portion; 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, the stiffener having arch stabilizers adjacent to the midsole's sidewall at the arch portion, and the stiffener having a heel wrap adjacent to the heel portion, the heel wrap having medial and lateral portions adjacent to the midsole's sidewall, and a wrap portion adjacent to the sidewall and extending between the medial and lateral portions and being uncovered and visible from an exterior of the footwear assembly; and an outsole connected to at least one of the midsole and the stiffener; and wherein the stiffener is made of a substantially translucent material, and further comprising a pattern or image coupled to the midsole and being visible through the stiffener. 27. 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 plurality of lugs projecting away from the upper and defining recessed areas, a stiffener connected to the midsole in at least some of the recessed areas, the stiffener having a plurality of apertures and the plurality of lugs project through the apertures, the stiffener being made of a second material stiffer than the first material, the midsole having a forefoot portion, an arch portion and a heel portion, the stiffener being positioned in the arch portion and in at least one of the forefoot portions and the heel portions, and the sole assembly having an outsole connected to the lugs. 28. The footwear assembly of claim 27 wherein the outsole is adhered to the lugs and is spaced apart from the recessed areas. 29. The footwear assembly of claim 27 wherein the stiffener is a substantially full length member extending between the forefoot portion and the heel portion. 30. The footwear assembly of claim 27 wherein the lugs extend through the stiffener in the heel portion and forefoot portion only. 31. The footwear assembly of claim 27 wherein the stiffener is an external shank that provides longitudinal and lateral stability for the sole assembly. 32. The footwear assembly of claim 27 wherein the stiffener includes a heel wrap portion connected to the heel portion of the midsole and positioned adjacent to a sidewall of the midsole at the heel portion. 33. The footwear assembly of claim 27 wherein the midsole has lateral and medial sidewalls, and the stiffener has a lateral stabilizer adjacent to the lateral sidewall of the forefoot portion of the midsole and a medial stabilizer adjacent to the medial sidewall of the forefoot portion of the midsole. 34. The footwear assembly of claim 27 wherein the midsole has lateral and medial sidewalls, the stiffener has a lateral stabilizer adjacent to the lateral sidewall of the heel portion of the midsole, a medial stabilizer adjacent to the medial sidewall of the heel portion of the midsole, and a heel wrap portion connected to the medial and lateral stabilizers. 35. The footwear assembly of claim 27 wherein the midsole has lateral and medial sidewalls, the stiffener has a first lateral stabilizer adjacent to the lateral sidewall of the arch portion of the midsole and a first medial stabilizer adjacent to the medial sidewall of the arch portion of the midsole, the stiffener having a second lateral stabilizer adjacent to the lateral sidewall of the forefoot portion of the midsole and a second medial stabilizer adjacent to the medial sidewall of the forefoot portion, the stiffener having a third lateral stabilizer adjacent to the lateral sidewall of the heel portion of the midsole and a third medial stabilizer adjacent to the medial sidewall of the heel portion. 36. The footwear assembly of claim 27 wherein the midsole has lateral and medial sidewalls, the stiffener has a first lateral stabilizer adjacent to the lateral sidewall of the arch portion of the midsole and a first medial stabilizer adjacent to the medial sidewall of the arch portion of the midsole, the stiffener having a second lateral stabilizer adjacent to the lateral sidewall of the forefoot portion of the midsole and a second medial stabilizer adjacent to the medial sidewall of the forefoot portion, the stiffener having a third lateral stabilizer adjacent to the lateral sidewall of the heel portion of the midsole and a third medial stabilizer adjacent to the medial sidewall of the heel portion, and a heel wrap portion integrally connected to the third lateral and medial stabilizers and extending along the midsole between the lateral and medial sidewalls of the heel portion. 37. 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 plurality of lugs projecting away from the upper and defining recessed areas, a stiffener connected to the midsole in at least some of the recessed areas, the stiffener having a plurality of apertures and the plurality of lugs project through the apertures, the stiffener being made of a second material stiffer than the first material, the midsole having a forefoot portion, an arch portion and a heel portion, the stiffener being positioned in the arch portion and in at least one of the forefoot portions and the heel portions, and the sole assembly having an outsole connected to the lugs; and wherein the stiffener is made of a substantially transparent or translucent material, and further comprising a pattern or image coupled to the midsole and being visible through the stiffener. 38. A method of making a footwear assembly, comprising: providing a midsole with a sidewall, a forefoot portion, an arch portion and a heel portion; positioning first portions of the stiffener in recessed portions formed in medial and lateral sidewall portions of the midsole's arch portion, and positioning second portions of the stiffener adjacent to medial and lateral sidewall portions of at least one of the midsole's forefoot portions and the heel portions; and adhering an outsole to at least one of the midsole and the stiffener. 39. The method of claim 38 wherein positioning the second portions of the stiffener includes positioning the second portions in recessed portions formed in the medial and lateral sidewall of the at least one of the midsole's forefoot and heel portions.
