Patent ID: 7272897

Claim:
An article of footwear comprising: a first layer shaped to match the bottom of a wearer's foot, the first layer having side-to-side widths larger than corresponding widths of the foot; a lacing portion attached to the first layer to form an edge of the first layer, the lacing portion having a plurality of bores disposed spaced apart and substantially equal distance from each other around the entire lacing portion including the frontmost portion, the side portions and the backmost heel portion of the first layer; a second layer attached to the first layer; and at least one lace which extends through at least two bores to connect to itself or to another lace to thereby secure the first layer to the wearer's foot, wherein the lacing portion and the bores are positioned to be accessible to facilitate reconfiguration of the footwear by restringing the at least one lace through the same bores previously strung or through different bores without removal of the first layer.