Patent ID: 7650705

Claim:
An article of footwear comprising: an external sole; an upper affixed to the sole, said upper comprising a medial quarter and a lateral quarter; a tightening mechanism for tightening the quarters on a wearer's foot; the upper comprising at least two elements assembled to one another at least partially along a gluing zone; the upper having an uppermost edge defining an opening for insertion and removal of the wearer's foot; at least one of said two elements comprising an outermost surface of the upper; said one of said two elements including an edge spaced above a lowermost extent of the upper and extending upwardly along said upper from said edge, said gluing zone extending to said edge; said one of said two elements having an uppermost extent not solely defining said uppermost edge of the upper; a second of said two elements comprising a vamp; said edge of said one of said two elements overlapping a second of said two elements at said gluing zone; said edge being an edge of said outermost surface of the upper, said outermost surface of the upper being adapted to be exposed to sources of abrasion and moisture during use of the article of footwear.