Patent ID: 8887410

Claim:
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured together, the upper comprising: a lace region including a plurality of lace-receiving elements; a lower region proximal to an area where the sole structure is secured to the upper; and a plurality of strand segments extending from the lace region to the lower region, the strand segments being secured to the upper in the lace region and the lower region, and the strand segments being unsecured for a distance of at least four centimeters in an area between the lace region and the lower region, the strand segments forming both an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper in an area between the lace region and the lower region; and wherein a first material layer and a second material layer are located in the lace region, and the strand segments are located and secured between the first material layer and the second material layer in the lace region.