Patent ID: 7870682

Claim:
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising: a base layer having a first surface and an opposite second surface, the base layer defining a first point and a second point spaced apart by a distance of at least five centimeters; and a thread extending from the first point to the second point, the thread having a section that is located between the first point and the second point, the section lying adjacent to the first surface and substantially parallel to the first surface throughout the distance of at least five centimeters, the thread incorporating a plurality of strands formed of a material with a tensile strength greater than 0.60 gigapascals and a tensile modulus greater than 50 gigapascals, the material of the strands being selected from a group consisting of carbon fiber, aramid fiber, ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, and liquid crystal polymer.