Patent ID: 8898932

Claim:
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising: a foot region for covering at least a portion of a foot of a wearer, the foot region including a foot part of a knitted component, the foot region having a first degree of stretch, wherein the foot part of the knitted component defines a plurality of protruding areas that extend outward and away from a void within the upper for receiving the foot of the wearer, wherein the protruding areas include a first tubular structure and a second tubular structure; an ankle region for covering at least a portion of an ankle of the wearer, the ankle region including an ankle part of the knitted component, and the ankle region having a second degree of stretch; an inlaid strand extending through the first tubular structure; a plurality of yarn sections extending across the second tubular structure; a skin layer that covers the first tubular structure and the second tubular structure of the foot part of the knitted component; the foot part of the knitted component and the ankle part of the knitted component being formed from unitary knit construction, and the first degree of stretch being less than the second degree of stretch.