Patent ID: 8196320
Filing Date: 2012-06-12
Classification: A43B,A43C,A43D

Abstract:
1. An article of footwear, comprising: a bootie; a shell configured to receive the bootie, wherein the shell includes a shell sole and a shell upper; a shoelace received by the shell upper; a ball control element provided on a tongue of the bootie, so that the ball control element is positioned proximate the shoelace when the bootie is received in the shell, wherein the ball control element includes a ball control surface which is configured to interact with a surface in a predetermined manner; and a lace area opening defined in the shell upper, wherein, when the bootie is received in the shell, the shoelace extends along a perimeter of the ball control element in order to avoid the ball control element, and the ball control element is aligned with and protrudes through the lace area opening and the shoelace so that the ball control element extends outward from the lace area opening and the shoelace when the bootie is received in the shell.