Footwear including a support cage

An article of footwear comprising:

• an upper having an exterior;
• a support cage constructed from a semi-rigid but flexible polymer, the support cage being disposed over at least a portion of the exterior of the upper and being free floating relative to the at least a portion of the exterior of the upper, the support cage including a sole bridge that extends transverse to a longitudinal axis of the footwear, from a medial side of the footwear to a lateral side of the footwear;
• a midsole joined with the support cage, the midsole being disposed above the sole bridge;
• an outsole joined with the midsole, the outsole being disposed below the sole bridge;
• a heel band that is integrally formed as a unitary piece with the support cage, the heel band adapted to extend rearward and around a heel the footwear;
• and
• a lower heel support having a forward portion that is joined with the sole bridge,
• wherein the midsole includes a midsole exterior lateral side and a midsole exterior medial side,
• wherein the support cage extends downward beside the midsole exterior lateral side and downward beside the midsole exterior medial side on the respective lateral and medial sides,
• wherein the lower heel support extends rearwardly from the sole bridge, and is adapted to extend under a heel of the wearer to a rearward portion,
• wherein the lower heel support is in the form of an elongated strip, disposed substantially inward from the lateral and medial sides of the footwear,
• wherein the rearward portion transitions to an upward portion that extends upwardly to the heel band,
• wherein the upward portion is integrally joined with the heel band and is adapted to extend rearward of the heel of the wearer.

An article of footwear comprising:

• an upper having an exterior;
• a support cage constructed from a semi-rigid but flexible polymer, the support cage being disposed over at least a portion of the exterior of the upper and being free floating relative to the at least a portion of the exterior of the upper, the support cage including a sole bridge that extends transverse to a longitudinal axis of the footwear, from a medial side of the footwear to a lateral side of the footwear;
• a midsole joined with the support cage, the midsole being disposed above the sole bridge;
• an outsole joined with the midsole, the outsole being disposed below the sole bridge;
• a heel band that is integral with the support cage, the heel band adapted to extend rearward and around a heel the footwear;
• and
• a lower heel support joined with the sole bridge and adapted to extend rearward from the sole bridge, under a heel of the wearer,
• wherein the midsole includes a midsole exterior lateral side and a midsole exterior medial side,
• wherein the support cage extends downward beside the midsole exterior lateral side and downward beside the midsole exterior medial side on the respective lateral and medial sides,
• wherein the heel support transitions upwardly to and is integrally joined with the heel band and adapted to extend adjacent the heel of the wearer,
• wherein at least one of the midsole and the outsole define a recess that extends transverse to the longitudinal axis from the medial side of the footwear to the lateral side of the footwear,
• wherein the sole bridge is disposed in the recess.

An article of footwear comprising:

• a longitudinal axis;
• a lateral side disposed opposite a medial side across a longitudinal axis;
• a sole assembly including a heel region, an arch region and a forefoot region, the sole assembly defining an recess extending across a width of the sole assembly from the medial side to the lateral side;
• an upper joined with the sole assembly, the upper including an exterior;
• a support cage constructed from a semi-rigid but flexible polymeric material, the support cage extending on the medial side and the lateral side, the support cage being disposed over the exterior of the upper and being free floating relative to the exterior of the upper so that an interior of the support cage can engage but move relative to the exterior of the upper, the support cage including a sole bridge that extends transverse to a longitudinal axis of the footwear, from the medial side to the lateral side of the footwear, and through the recess defined by the sole assembly;
• a heel band that is integrally formed as a unitary piece with the support cage, the heel band adapted to extend rearward and around a heel the footwear;
• and
• a lower heel support having a forward portion that is joined with the sole bridge,
• wherein the lower heel support extends rearwardly from the sole bridge, and is adapted to extend under a heel of the wearer to a rearward portion,
• wherein the lower heel support is in the form of an elongated strip, disposed substantially inward from the lateral and medial sides of the footwear,
• wherein the rearward portion transitions to an upward portion that extends upwardly to the heel band,
• wherein the upward portion is integrally joined with the heel band and is adapted to extend rearward of the heel of the wearer,
• whereby the footwear can adaptively fit a plurality of foot shapes therein and is adapted to provide stability to the foot of the wearer.