Patent ID: 8875418

Claim:
An article of footwear comprising: an upper, the upper connected to a fastening region and wherein the upper includes an opening; a sole attached to the upper; a fastening system proximate the fastening region, wherein at least a portion of the opening is adjustable by the fastening system; and a tendon assembly secured to the upper between the sole and the fastening region, the tendon assembly having a longitudinal direction directed along the length of the tendon assembly and a lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein the tendon assembly comprises: a base layer secured to the upper, the base layer extending from a lasting margin to the fastening region; a separate top layer connected to the base layer, the top layer extending from the lasting margin to the fastening region; a tendon positioned between the base layer and the top layer such that the tendon moves freely between the base layer and the top layer in both the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction; wherein the base layer and the top layer each comprise a strip that extends parallel to the tendon along the length of the tendon assembly; and wherein the tendon is configured to move with the fastening system and shift with respect to the base layer and the top layer.