Article of footwear with decoupled upper

An article of footwear, comprising:

• a longitudinal direction extending along a major axis of the article of footwear and a lateral direction extending along a minor axis of the article of footwear;
• an upper and a sole structure;
• a connecting member comprising a first continuous sheet of material forming an upper layer and a second continuous sheet of material forming a lower layer, the upper layer being attached to the lower layer at a central attachment portion that extends longitudinally along the connecting member;
• the upper layer being attached to the upper and the lower layer being attached to the sole structure;
• the connecting member including a decoupled portion extending from the central attachment portion to a first side of the connecting member and including a first free end portion of the upper layer and a first free end portion of the lower layer;
• a strap positioned adjacent an exterior surface of the upper, wherein the strap includes a first end portion attached to the first free end portion of the upper layer and a second end portion disposed adjacent to a lacing region of the upper, wherein the strap is a separate component from the upper layer, wherein the first end portion of the strap is disposed between the upper layer and the lower layer;
• wherein the strap is configured to adjust a width of the upper;
• a covering portion positioned adjacent an exterior surface of the strap, wherein the covering portion has an end portion disposed adjacent to an upper periphery of the sole structure;
• an opening disposed between the first free end portion of the upper layer and the first free end portion of the lower layer;
• wherein the covering portion covers the opening between the first free end portion of the upper layer and the first free end portion of the lower layer and covers at least a portion of the strap;
• and
• wherein the connecting member and a portion of the covering portion separate the upper from the sole structure, and wherein the connecting member extends from a medial edge of the sole structure to a lateral edge of the sole structure.

An article of footwear, comprising:

• an upper and a sole structure;
• a connecting member comprising a first continuous sheet of material forming a substantially planar upper layer and a second continuous sheet of material forming a substantially planar lower layer, the upper layer being attached to the lower layer at a central attachment portion that extends longitudinally along the connecting member;
• the upper layer being attached to the upper and the lower layer being attached to the sole structure;
• the connecting member including lateral decoupled portions extending laterally from the central attachment portion to a lateral side of the connecting member;
• the connecting member also including medial decoupled portions extending laterally from the central attachment portion to a medial side of the connecting member;
• the lateral decoupled portions including a first free end portion of the upper layer and a first free end portion of the lower layer configured to move substantially independent of one another;
• the medial decoupled portions including a second free end portion of the upper layer and a second free end portion of the lower layer configured to move substantially independently of one another;
• wherein the lateral decoupled portions and the medial decoupled portions have a lateral width that is substantially greater than a lateral width of the central attachment portion;
• wherein the central attachment portion is spaced substantially equidistant from a peripheral edge on the lateral side of the upper layer and a peripheral edge on the medial side of the upper layer, and the central attachment portion is also spaced substantially equidistant from a peripheral edge on the lateral side of the lower layer and a peripheral edge on the medial side of the lower layer;
• a strap positioned adjacent an exterior surface of the upper, wherein the strap includes a first end portion attached to the first free end portion of the upper layer and a second end portion disposed adjacent to a lacing region of the upper, wherein the strap is a separate component from the upper layer, wherein the first end portion of the strap is disposed between the upper layer and the lower layer;
• wherein the strap is configured to adjust a width of the upper;
• a covering portion extending along an exterior surface of the strap, wherein the covering portion has an end portion disposed adjacent to an upper periphery of the sole structure;
• an opening disposed between the first free end portion of the upper layer and the first free end portion of the lower layer;
• wherein the covering portion covers the opening between the first free end portion of the upper layer and the first free end portion of the lower layer and covers at least a portion of the strap;
• and
• wherein the connecting member and a portion of the covering portion separate the upper from the sole structure, and wherein the connecting member extends from a medial edge of the sole structure to a lateral edge of the sole structure.