Patent ID: 8438756

Claim:
An article of footwear, comprising: (a) a flexible or rigid sole portion having the shape and size as to correspond to a foot of a wearer, the sole portion having: (i) a periphery; (ii) a toe region in the front area of the sole portion; (iii) a heel region in the back area of the sole portion; and (iv) an instep region between the toe and heel regions; (b) an upper portion connected to the sole portion to form a partially open enclosure for receiving and containing a part of the foot of the wearer; and (c) a flexible tubular sleeve spaced from the upper portion and attached to the instep region of the sole portion, wherein the flexible sleeve comprises: (i) an attachment portion for attaching the flexible sleeve to the instep region of the sole portion; (ii) an outwardly opened front portion; (iii) an outwardly opened heel portion; and (iv) an insertion portion extending above the upper portion for enveloping the ankle of the wearer.