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 upper plate is adapted to engage the bottom surface of the midsole and includes an axially aligned, concave segment which is resiliently deflected upon the imposition of force thereon by the user's foot. The bottom plate includes a deflectable concave segment which is adapted to engage the deflectable segment of the upper plate and be urged downwardly upon the imposition of force upon the upper plate 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.

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 upper plate is adapted to engage the bottom surface of the midsole and includes an axially aligned, concave segment which is resiliently deflected upon the imposition of force thereon by the user's foot. The bottom plate includes a deflectable concave segment which is adapted to engage the deflectable segment of the upper plate and be urged downwardly upon the imposition of force upon the upper plate 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.

Abstract: A shock absorbing cassette for the midsole of an article of footwear is described. The shock absorbing cassette has a cassette base, first and second sets of cushion elements, and a reduced height cushion element in between the first and second sets of cushion elements. The cushion elements are arranged to cushion the heel of the foot. The shock absorbing cassette may be part of a shoe sole shock absorbing system that also includes an insole board having forefoot slits to improve flexing, a thin midsole with a heel pocket for seating the cassette, and a durable outsole.