Adjustable mid-foot strap on and through a footwear upper

Abstract

An article of footwear with an adjustable fastening system is disclosed. The article of footwear includes a strap that is incorporated into the lacing system. The strap freely spans the throat opening of a footwear upper, both entering and exiting the upper on each side of the shoe. The strap is made of a single non-stretch element and is configured to adjust and tighten around the mid-foot area of the wearer's foot using laces. The mid-foot being defined as the semi-rigid area of the foot between the ankle joint proper [talocrural joint] and the ball of the foot under the metatarsophalangeal joint.

1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper including a later side and a medial side, the upper configured to be adjustably tightened around a wearer's foot; a sole attached to the upper; the upper including an adjustable strap; wherein the strap is fixed to the upper on both the lateral and medial sides; and wherein the strap enters and exits the upper on the lateral and medial sides of the throat opening; and wherein the strap freely spans the throat opening; and   wherein the strap can be adjusted with laces.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the strap is disposed in the mid-foot area of the upper, along the lateral side of the upper, and extends circumferentially towards the medial side of the upper. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein the strap enters the upper on the lateral side of the upper through a slit-like opening or oblong eyelet. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein the strap freely spans the throat opening of the upper exiting through a slit-like opening or oblong eyelet on the medial side of the upper. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear according to  claim 4 , wherein the strap is fixed to the medial side of the upper below the sole unit top line. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear according to  claim 5 , wherein the strap is also fixed to the upper below the slit-like opening or oblong eyelet on each side of the upper, freely spanning the throat opening. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear according to  claim 6 , wherein the strap is pulled above the slit-like openings or eyelets on each side of the exterior of the upper, creating space for laces to be pulled through. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear according to  claim 7 , wherein the strap applies tension to the mid-foot area of the upper when the laces are tightened. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear according to  claim 8 , wherein the strap releases tension to the mid-foot area of the upper when the laces are loosened. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , further comprising; an outsole with a tread surface; and a midsole primarily comprised of one or more foam bodies. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein the foam body or bodies of the midsole include a reinforcing member along an arch at least on the medial side of the foot for preventing the foot from over pronating in an uncomfortable manner. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper is attached to a sole having a plurality of cleats. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper is attached to a rubber cupsole via stitching. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper is a single molded entity. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper is merely a single strap attached to a sole unit in the form of a sandal.