Patent ID: 8065818

Claim:
An article of footwear, comprising: an upper including a lateral side extending through at least a heel region of the footwear and a medial side extending through at least the heel region of the footwear, wherein the upper defines, at least in part, a foot-receiving chamber for the article of footwear and a throat area extending along an instep portion of the upper, the throat area defining an opening that is changeable in size so as to allow a foot of a user to be inserted into the foot- receiving chamber, wherein the lateral side, the medial side, and the throat area of the upper are formed from a unitary, one-piece polymer matrix element including a plurality of apertures separated by polymer segments, wherein the upper includes a solid portion of polymeric material extending along a medial side and a lateral side of the opening in the throat area, wherein the solid portion provides a base for engaging a footwear securing system, and wherein the upper is constructed as the unitary, one-piece polymer matrix element from a flat upper member that is symmetrical about an axis extending in a front-to-rear direction of the upper member; a seam joining the lateral side and the medial side of the upper together at the heel region; and a sole structure engaged with the upper.