Patent ID: 8839532

Claim:
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper including a knitted component comprising: a first yarn and a second yarn that are knitted together to form an area of the knitted component corresponding to at least one of a medial side and a lateral side of the upper, the first yarn being at least partially formed from a thermoplastic polymer material, and the second yarn being entirely formed from at least one of a thermoset polymer material and natural fibers; an inlaid strand extending continuously through at least two courses formed by the first yarn and the second yarn of said area of the knitted component on the at least one of the medial side and the lateral side of the upper; the at least one of the medial side and the lateral side of the upper including a plurality of apertures for receiving a lace, the plurality of apertures being disposed in a throat area of the upper, and the inlaid strand extending through said at least two courses further extending around at least two apertures of the plurality of apertures within the knitted component; and wherein the inlaid strand and the first yarn are fused to each other by the thermoplastic polymer material forming the first yarn.