Patent ID: 7562470

Claim:
An article of footwear, comprising: a housing defining an enclosure for receiving a wearer's foot, the housing having medial and lateral sides and a base connecting the medial and lateral sides thereof, the base having a first surface providing a bottom of the enclosure and a second surface remote from the first surface thereof, the base including a plurality of lace channels extending generally transversely between the medial and lateral sides of the housing, the medial and lateral sides of the housing each including at least one lace channel recessed therein, the medial and lateral side lace channels being substantially open along the lengths thereof; and a lace wound in a spiral configuration through the medial and lateral side lace channels and through the plurality of base lace channels to generally surround and encircle the wearer's foot, a first end of the lace being secured to a first connection point on the housing and a second end of the lace being secured to a second connection point on the housing, the substantially open medial and lateral side lace channels exposing the lace therein.