Patent ID: 8122616

Claim:
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, at least a portion of the upper comprising: a textile layer with a first surface and an opposite second surface, the textile layer stretching at least thirty percent prior to tensile failure; a thermoplastic polymer material separate from the textile layer and extending into and infiltrating the textile layer, the polymer material being at least partially located at the first surface of the textile layer; a thread having a section lying adjacent to the first surface of the textile layer and substantially parallel to the first surface of the textile layer throughout a distance of at least five centimeters, the thread being bonded to the textile layer with the polymer material; and a cover layer forming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the upper, the cover layer being located adjacent to the first surface of the textile layer and bonded to the textile layer with the polymer material, the section of the thread being located between the cover layer and the textile layer.