Patent ID: 7392605

Claim:
An article of footwear, comprising: an upper, comprising: an exterior layer forming at least a portion of an exterior of the upper, the exterior layer including a plurality of incisions that extend through the exterior layer; and an interior layer located adjacent at least a portion of an inner surface of the exterior layer, the interior layer being exposed through at least a portion of the incisions, wherein a first portion of the incisions are oriented to extend in a direction substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the footwear, and a second portion of the incisions are oriented to extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis; and a sole structure including a plurality of sipes that extend upward into the sole structure, wherein the sipes define a plurality of sole elements that extend downward from a connecting portion and wherein the connecting portion has a first thickness in a forefoot region of the footwear, the connecting portion has a second thickness in a midfoot region of the footwear, and the connecting portion has a third thickness in a heel region of the footwear, the first and third thicknesses being less than the second thickness.