Patent ID: 8893405

Claim:
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising: a base layer forming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the upper; and a plurality of strands located adjacent to the base layer and forming another portion of the exterior surface of the upper, the strands being unsecured to the base layer for a distance of at least five centimeters, and the strands having an elongate cross-sectional shape; wherein the upper includes (a) a lace region defining a plurality of lace-receiving elements and (b) a lower region where the sole structure is secured to the upper, the strands extending from the lace region to the lower region, the strands being secured to the upper in a fixed position at the lace region and the lower region, and the strands being unsecured to the base layer for the distance of at least five centimeters in an area between the lace region and the lower region; wherein the plurality of strands is configured to lay against the base layer in the area between the lace region and the lower region when the plurality of strands is placed in tension; and wherein the plurality of strands is configured to be spaced away from the base layer in the area between the lace region and the lower region when the plurality of strands is compressed.