Tensioning System for an Article of Footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear can include a tensioning system with a multilayered upper and a relatively narrow strobel. One layer of the upper can be attached to an outer periphery of the strobel. Another layer of the upper can be attached to a portion of the sole structure. In addition, a lacing region can be formed by folding a laminated structure including the second layer. A third layer of the upper can provide a bootie within the article of footwear configured to receive a foot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear having a forefoot region, a midfoot region, a heel region, a lateral side, and a medial side, the article of footwear comprising:
 an upper comprising: (a) an interior component and (b) an exterior component, wherein the exterior component includes a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer forms an exterior-facing surface of the article of footwear, and wherein the second layer is disposed between the interior component and the first layer;   a sole structure including a proximal sole surface facing toward an interior cavity of the article of footwear; and   a strobel attached to a central sole portion of the proximal sole surface, wherein a first bottom edge of the interior component of the upper is attached to the strobel at a peripheral edge of the strobel, wherein a second bottom edge of the second layer is attached to the strobel at the peripheral edge of the strobel, the second bottom edge of the second layer being disposed adjacent to the first bottom edge of the interior component, and wherein a peripheral border of the strobel at the peripheral edge of the strobel is spaced inward from an outer edge of the proximal sole surface around an entirety of the strobel.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein an inner edge of the first layer is attached to the peripheral border of the strobel. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2 , wherein an entirety of the peripheral border is attached to and bordered by the first bottom edge of the interior component of the upper. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer is attached to the outer edge of the proximal sole surface. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising a looped strand extending from the peripheral edge of the strobel and between the interior component and the exterior component of the upper, wherein the looped strand provides an eyelet for engaging a lacing element. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising a first looped strand extending from the peripheral edge of the strobel at the medial side of the article of footwear and between the interior component and the exterior component of the upper, wherein the first looped strand provides a first eyelet for engaging a lacing element; and
 a second looped strand extending from the peripheral edge of the strobel at the lateral side of the article of footwear and between the interior component and the exterior component of the upper, wherein the second looped strand provides a second eyelet for engaging a lacing element.   
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising a looped strand extending from the peripheral edge of the strobel at the heel region and between the interior component and the exterior component of the upper, wherein the looped strand provides an eyelet for engaging a lacing element. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising a first looped strand extending from the peripheral edge of the strobel at the medial side in the heel region of the article of footwear and between the interior component and the exterior component of the upper, wherein the first looped strand provides a first eyelet for engaging a lacing element; and
 a second looped strand extending from the peripheral edge of the strobel at the lateral side in the heel region of the article of footwear and between the interior component and the exterior component of the upper, wherein the second looped strand provides a second eyelet for engaging a lacing element.   
     
     
         9 . An article of footwear having a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region, the article of footwear comprising:
 an upper comprising: (i) an outer layer having a medial upper portion, a covering portion, and a lateral upper portion, (ii) an intermediate layer, and (iii) an inner layer, wherein a majority of the intermediate layer is disposed between the outer layer and the inner layer;   a sole structure including a proximal sole surface facing toward an interior cavity of the article of footwear, the proximal sole surface comprising: (i) a medial sole portion, (ii) a central sole portion, and (iii) a lateral sole portion, the central sole portion extending between the medial sole portion and the lateral sole portion, wherein the medial upper portion of the outer layer is attached to the medial sole portion of the proximal sole surface and the lateral upper portion of the outer layer is attached to the lateral sole portion of the proximal sole surface; and   a strobel attached to the central sole portion of the proximal sole surface, wherein the lateral upper portion is disposed adjacent to a lateral peripheral edge of the strobel, wherein the medial upper portion is disposed adjacent to a medial peripheral edge of the strobel, wherein the intermediate layer of the upper comprises a medial attachment portion and a lateral attachment portion, wherein the lateral attachment portion is attached adjacent to the lateral peripheral edge of the strobel, and wherein the medial attachment portion is attached adjacent to the medial peripheral edge of the strobel, and wherein a peripheral border of the strobel is spaced inward from an outer edge of the proximal sole surface around an entirety of the strobel.   
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the lateral upper portion is attached to the lateral peripheral edge of the strobel, and wherein the medial upper portion is attached to the medial peripheral edge of the strobel. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the inner layer of the upper is attached to the strobel at the lateral peripheral edge and at the medial peripheral edge of the strobel. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the inner layer of the upper is attached to the strobel at the lateral peripheral edge and at the medial peripheral edge of the strobel. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , further comprising a first looped strand extending from the lateral peripheral edge of the strobel between the inner layer and the intermediate layer of the upper, wherein the first looped strand provides a first eyelet for engaging a lacing element. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , further comprising a second looped strand extending from the medial peripheral edge of the strobel between the inner layer and the intermediate layer of the upper, wherein the second looped strand provides a second eyelet for engaging a lacing element. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , further comprising a first looped strand extending from the medial peripheral edge of the strobel between the inner layer and the intermediate layer of the upper, wherein the first looped strand provides a first eyelet for engaging a lacing element. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , further comprising a first looped strand extending from the lateral peripheral edge of the strobel at the heel region between the inner layer and the intermediate layer of the upper, wherein the first looped strand provides a first eyelet for engaging a lacing element. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 16 , further comprising a second looped strand extending from the medial peripheral edge of the strobel at the heel region between the inner layer and the intermediate layer of the upper, wherein the second looped strand provides a second eyelet for engaging a lacing element. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , further comprising a first looped strand extending from the medial peripheral edge of the strobel at the heel region between the inner layer and the intermediate layer of the upper, wherein the first looped strand provides a first eyelet for engaging a lacing element. 
     
     
         19 . An article of footwear having a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region, the article of footwear comprising:
 an upper comprising: (i) an interior component and (ii) an exterior component, the exterior component comprising a first layer and a second layer, wherein the first layer forms an exterior-facing surface of the article of footwear, wherein a first edge of the first layer is disposed adjacent to a second edge of the second layer, wherein the second layer is disposed between the interior component and the first layer, wherein the first layer extends through the forefoot region, the midfoot region, and the heel region, and wherein the second layer extends through the midfoot region and heel region;   a sole structure having a proximal sole surface facing toward an interior cavity of the article of footwear; and   a strobel attached to a central sole portion of the proximal sole surface, wherein a third edge of the interior component is attached to the strobel at a peripheral edge of the strobel, wherein the second edge of the second layer is attached to the strobel at the peripheral edge of the strobel, the second edge of the second layer being disposed adjacent to the third edge of the interior component, and wherein a peripheral border of the strobel at the peripheral edge of the strobel is spaced inward from an outer edge of the proximal sole surface around an entirety of the strobel.   
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 19 , further comprising a looped strand extending from the peripheral edge of the strobel and between the interior component and the exterior component of the upper, wherein the looped strand provides an eyelet for engaging a lacing element.