Footwear sole assembly

A sole assembly for footwear, comprising:

• an upper layer comprised of a first resilient material having a center region having a first durometer and a perimeter region having a second durometer wherein the second durometer is higher than the first durometer,
• the firmer perimeter region defining a rocker foot frame extending along medial and lateral sides from a heel area of the footwear sole assembly to a forefoot area;
• a medial rolling element extending downward from the rocker foot frame on the medial side, the medial rolling element defining a first longitudinal curve with a first convex face directed downward;
• a lateral rolling element extending downward from the rocker foot frame on the lateral side, the lateral rolling element defining a second longitudinal curve with a second convex face directed downward,
• the rocker foot frame forming an upward continuous wall, defining an area configured to cradle a wearer's foot;
• a lower layer comprised of a resilient material disposed beneath the upper layer, the lower layer configured to compress upon heel strike and store energy for propulsion during toe-off;
• wherein, upon heel strike of a stride, the rocker foot frame promotes a rolling motion to guide the wearer's foot in a neutral alignment from heel strike through toe-off.

A sole assembly for footwear comprising:

• a footbed made of a first resilient material of a first durometer, the footbed providing a surface for the plantar area of a user's foot;
• a frame surrounding and extending above the footbed, the frame comprising a second resilient material of a second durometer, where the frame is capable of cradling a user's foot;
• where the second durometer is higher than the first durometer,
• where the frame extends around and from a heel area of the footwear, along medial and lateral sides of the footwear, toward a toe area of the footwear;
• a medial rolling element extending from a bottom of the frame on the medial side, the medial rolling element defining a first longitudinal curve with a first convex face directed downward;
• and
• a lateral rolling element extending from a bottom of the frame on the lateral side, the lateral rolling element defining a second longitudinal curve with a second convex face directed downward;
• where the first and second longitudinal curves extend along a length of the footwear, each with a rearmost end at the heel area, and a forward end at a midfoot area of the footwear;
• and
• wherein, during a walking or running stride, ground-contact first occurs on the rear-most ends of the medial and lateral rolling elements, followed by progressive anterior contact along said medial and lateral rolling elements transfer across the midfoot.