Patent 7997011 was granted and assigned to Nike, Inc. on August, 2011 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
An article of footwear includes an upper and a sole assembly secured to the upper and having a support assembly. The support assembly has an upper plate and a lower plate spaced from the upper plate. The lower plate has a peripheral edge and a plurality of spring arms, with each spring arm curving initially outwardly and then upwardly and inwardly from the peripheral edge to the upper plate.