Patent ID: 8918917

Claim:
An article of apparel, comprising: a garment structure for a human foot, wherein the garment structure includes one or more fabric elements, and wherein the garment structure includes an arch portion that is structured and arranged so as to provide a close fit to and extend across an arch area of a wearer's foot; and a foot position feedback system engaged with the garment structure at the arch portion, wherein the foot position feedback system includes: a first region extending across the arch portion and having a higher compressive force application capability than a compressive force application capability of the fabric element making up a largest proportion of the garment structure, a second region having a higher compressive force application capability than the compressive force application capability of the fabric element making up the largest proportion of the garment structure, wherein the second region extends along a medial ankle or heel portion of the garment structure, and a third region having a higher compressive force application capability than the compressive force application capability of the fabric element making up the largest proportion of the garment structure, wherein the third region extends along a lateral ankle or heel portion of the garment structure, wherein the foot position feedback system includes a first material layer providing the higher compressive force application capability, wherein the first material layer includes a first opening defined therein, and wherein the foot position feedback system further includes a second material layer engaged with the first material layer, wherein the second material layer has a lower compressive force application capability than the first material, and wherein the second material layer covers the first opening.