Patent ID: 8418380

Claim:
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising: a foundation element having an interior surface and an opposite exterior surface, the interior surface defining at least a portion of a void within the upper for receiving a foot of a wearer; a strand positioned adjacent to and substantially parallel to the exterior surface of the foundation element for a distance of at least five centimeters; and a cover layer extending along the strand and secured to the strand for the distance of at least five centimeters, the strand being positioned between an inner surface of the cover layer and the exterior surface of the foundation element, the cover layer having a pair of edges on opposite sides of the strand, the strand being substantially centered between the edges of the cover layer for the distance of at least five centimeters, and areas of the exterior surface of the foundation element being exposed beyond the edges of the cover layer; and wherein the pair of edges of the cover layer are directly bonded to the exterior surface of the foundation element to secure the strand between the inner surface of the cover layer and the exterior surface of the foundation element.