Patent ID: 8677654

Claim:
An article of footwear, comprising: an upper, the upper including an opening and a fastening region associated with the opening; and a tongue, the tongue including a first portion, a second portion and a third portion; the first portion having a first thickness, the second portion having a second thickness and the third portion having a third thickness; wherein the first portion is a medial side of the tongue, the second portion is a lateral side of the tongue, and the third portion is a central area of the tongue disposed between and adjacent to the medial side and the lateral side; wherein the first portion extends substantially the entire length of the medial side of the tongue; wherein the first portion further is associated with a top portion of the tongue that extends substantially from a medial edge of the tongue to a lateral edge of the tongue, the top portion being disposed closest to an ankle when a foot is inserted into the article of footwear; wherein the first portion has a substantially consistent thickness; and wherein the first thickness is substantially greater than the second thickness and the second thickness is substantially greater than the third thickness.