Patent ID: 9681706
Date: 2017-06-20
CPC Classifications: A43B,A43C

Claim:
1. An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, at least a portion of the upper comprising: a plurality of lace-receiving elements, the plurality of lace-receiving elements including a first lace-receiving element located on one of a medial side or a lateral side of the upper; a base layer extending from the plurality of lace-receiving elements to the sole structure, the base layer having a surface; a plurality of first strands having a first orientation and extending from the first lace-receiving element to an area proximal to the sole structure, the first strands laying substantially parallel to the surface of the base layer in a region between the first lace-receiving element and the sole structure; and a plurality of second strands having a second orientation and extending from said first lace-receiving element to the area proximal to the sole structure, the second strands laying substantially parallel to the surface of the base layer in the region between the first lace-receiving element and the sole structure, the second orientation being different than the first orientation; wherein the plurality of first strands and the plurality of second strands are both exposed on an exterior of the upper of the article of footwear; and wherein at least one strand of the plurality of first strands and at least one strand of the plurality of second strands intersect each other when the article of footwear is in a relaxed, un-flexed configuration.