Patent ID: 8621891

Claim:
An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising: a knit element defining a portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper, the interior surface defining a void for receiving a foot; and a tongue formed of unitary knit construction with the knit element such that the tongue and the knit element comprise a one piece element, and wherein the tongue extends through a throat area of the upper; wherein the tongue comprises a lateral edge and a medial edge, the lateral edge and the medial edge of the tongue being unsecured to the knit element along a medial side and a lateral side of the throat area of the upper; and wherein the tongue is secured to the knit element in a forward portion of the throat area such that the tongue is joined along at least one common course with the knit element to form the one-piece element.