Patent ID: 7320190

Claim:
An article of footwear comprising a sole and a shell of a composite structure at least in selected locations other than the sole, the composite structure being formed of a first layer and a second layer laid over and inseparably coupled with said first layer at respective interfacing surfaces, said first and second layers being made of materials having different mechanical properties wherein the layer made of materials with higher mechanical properties is provided with protruding elements that remain inseparably adhering to the interfacing surface of the other layer, which covers the protruding elements and entirely fills their interspace, at least a part of said protruding elements are ribs integral with the layer for stiffening selected locations of lateral and upper portions of the footwear, other than the sole of the footwear, said ribs extending radially and intersecting each other at points to form knots and thus form a truss-like pattern comprising a plurality of knots over a plate, while the outermost and innermost surfaces of the shell are uniform and substantially smooth, and wherein at least the layer arranged on the outward facing side of the shell is made of a clear material.