Patent ID: 8850723

Claim:
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising: a unitary, one-piece polymer matrix element forming a major portion of at least a forefoot portion, a midfoot portion, and a heel portion, including a plurality of openings separated by polymer segments formed from a flat upper member that is symmetrical about an axis extending in a front-to-rear direction of the upper member, and wherein the upper member further includes: a lateral side element extending through at least a heel region of the footwear, the lateral side element defining a first edge in the heel region and a plurality of first apertures extending along the first edge, and a medial side element extending through at least the heel region of the footwear, the medial side element defining a second edge in the heel region and a plurality of second apertures extending along the second edge; a cord extending through the first apertures and the second apertures; and a fastener receiving a portion of the cord.