Heel dampening systems and footwear including the same

An article of footwear, comprising:

• an upper configured to receive a wearer's foot when the footwear is worn by the wearer;
• and
• a sole assembly coupled to the upper;
• wherein the sole assembly includes a midsole, an outsole, and a heel assembly positioned adjacent to a posterior region of the outsole;
• wherein the outsole has an outer surface configured to contact a ground surface on which the wearer is striding;
• wherein the heel assembly includes an anterior side, a posterior side, a lateral side, and a medial side;
• and wherein the heel assembly further includes an upper heel layer, a lower heel layer, and a heel dampening system;
• wherein the upper heel layer is located generally above the heel dampening system and extends from the medial side of the heel assembly to the lateral side of the heel assembly, and wherein the upper heel layer includes a cushion aperture that extends through the upper heel layer from an upper surface of the upper heel layer to a lower surface of the upper heel layer;
• wherein the lower heel layer is located generally below the heel dampening system and extends from the medial side of the heel assembly to the lateral side of the heel assembly;
• and
• wherein the heel dampening system includes a heel dampening layer that is configured to at least partially absorb an impact force when the heel assembly impacts the ground surface;
• wherein the heel dampening layer extends from the medial side of the heel assembly to the lateral side of the heel assembly and extends from the posterior side of the heel assembly toward, but not to, the anterior side of the heel assembly;
• wherein the heel dampening layer forms at least a portion of an exterior surface of the posterior side of the heel assembly, at least a portion of an exterior surface of the lateral side of the heel assembly, and at least a portion of an exterior surface of the medial side of the heel assembly;
• wherein at least one of the lower heel layer and the upper heel layer extends at least partially around the heel dampening layer such that the lower heel layer and the upper heel layer are in contact;
• and wherein the heel dampening system further includes a cushioning projection that extends from the heel dampening layer and that extends at least partially through the cushion aperture in the upper heel layer.