Article of footwear incorporating a forefoot toe wrap

Abstract

An article of footwear may include an upper having an extended portion. The extended portion extends from a first side of the upper. The extended portion may pass below the upper of the article of footwear to the second side. The extended portion may be secured in multiple positions to adjust the fit of an article of footwear. The extended portion may incorporate a tensile element.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear comprising an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
 a knitted component, comprising:   a base portion, comprising:
 a first side, and 
 a second side; and 
   a tensile element that extends from a first edge on the first side of the base portion, under the base portion, and to a second edge on the second side of the base portion, and extends from the second edge towards a throat of the upper, and wherein the tensile element extends around at least one lace aperture of a plurality of lace apertures proximate to the throat of the upper.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the tensile element extends around each lace aperture of the plurality of lace apertures. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the tensile element further extends through the at least one lace aperture of the plurality of lace apertures to thereby form a lace usable to secure and tighten the article of footwear. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the tensile element is inlaid within the base portion of the upper. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the tensile element extends through a knitted tubular structure of the knitted component. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the tensile element is flat or ribbon-shaped. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the tensile element comprises one of at least two tensile elements, wherein the at least two tensile elements are inlaid within the base portion of the upper, and wherein the at least two tensile elements are splayed relative to each other. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the tensile element comprises one of at least two tensile elements, wherein the base portion comprises one or more knitted tubular structures on each of the first side and the second side, and wherein at least one of the at least two tensile elements exits the base portion to extend through the one or more knitted tubular structures to form the at least one lace aperture of the plurality of lace apertures. 
     
     
         9 . An article of footwear comprising an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:
 a knitted component, comprising:
 a base portion, comprising: 
 a first side, and 
 a second side, wherein the first side is one of a medial side or a lateral side of the article of footwear; and 
   an extended portion comprising a tensile element, the extended portion extending from a first toe edge of the first side, below the base portion, and to a second toe edge of the second side.   
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 9 , wherein the tensile element is inlaid in the knitted component. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the tensile element is ribbon-shaped. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the tensile element is flat or flattened. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the tensile element extends at least partially through an underside of the upper. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein the tensile element extends through a knitted tubular structure in the knitted component. 
     
     
         15 . An upper for an article of footwear, the upper comprising a knitted component, the knitted component comprising:
 a base portion comprising a first side and a second side, the base portion having inlaid therein at least two tensile elements, wherein the at least two tensile elements splay relative to each other such that the at least two tensile elements extend through the base portion in a non-parallel orientation.   
     
     
         16 . The upper of  claim 15 , wherein the knitted component further comprises an extended portion comprising the at least two tensile elements, the extended portion extending from a first edge of the first side, passing below the upper from the first side to the second side, and extending beyond a second edge of the second side. 
     
     
         17 . The upper of  claim 16 , wherein the at least two tensile elements splay near a central area of a forefoot region to extend to the first edge of the first side in the non-parallel orientation. 
     
     
         18 . The upper of  claim 17 , wherein, at the first edge of the first side, the at least two tensile elements exit the base portion to form the extended portion, the extended portion passing below the upper from the first edge of the first side to the second edge of the second side. 
     
     
         19 . The upper of  claim 18 , wherein the base portion and the extended portion comprise a unitary knit construction. 
     
     
         20 . The upper of  claim 15 , wherein the at least two tensile elements extend within courses within the base portion, and wherein the at least two tensile elements splay in a direction away from a throat area of the knitted component.