Patent ID: 9545128
Date: 2017-01-17
CPC Classifications: A43B,A43C,D04B,D10B

Claim:
1. An upper for an article of footwear that is configured to be connected to a sole structure, the upper comprising: a knitted component having a medial portion, a lateral portion, and a baseportion, the base portion being configured to be disposed adjacent the sole structure, the medial and lateral portions disposed on opposite sides of the base portion, the knitted component including an interior surface and an exterior surface, the knitted component defining a plurality of side passages between the interior surface and the exterior surface of each of the medial and lateral portions; and a continuous tensile strand that extends through the side passages of the medial and lateral portions and along the base portion, the tensile strand alternating between and extending repeatedly between the medial portion and the lateral portion along the base portion in zigzag fashion; wherein the tensile strand includes a turn configured to receive a closure element that selectively secures the upper to the foot and the turn is embedded within the knitted component; and wherein the knitted component includes a heel portion and a forefoot portion, the heel and forefoot portions being disposed on opposite ends of the base portion, the tensile strand includes a first terminal end disposed nearer to the heel portion and a second terminal end disposed nearer to the forefoot portion, and the tensile strand, from the first terminal end to the second terminal end, extends repeatedly between the medial and lateral portions of the knitted component.