Footwear including uppers with midfoot and/or forefoot supporting members

An upper for an article of footwear, comprising:

• a first upper member formed from one or more component parts, the first upper member including;
• a first lace-engaging opening having an elongated through hole opening with a length dimension extending in a top-to-bottom direction of the upper and a width dimension extending in a heel-to-toe direction of the upper, wherein the length dimension is at least two times larger than the width dimension;
• a midfoot supporting gusset located inside the first upper member the midfoot supporting gusset including a first lace-engaging through hole;
• a lace extending through the first lace-engaging opening and the first lace-engaging through hole such that when the lace is in a tightened condition, the first lace-engaging through hole at least partially aligns with a portion of the first lace-engaging opening;
• and
• a forefoot upper member located inside the first upper member and having a rear edge engaged with a forward edge of the midfoot supporting gusset.

An upper for an article of footwear, comprising:

• a first upper member formed from one or more component parts, the first upper member including:
• a first lace-engaging opening having an elongated through hole opening with a length dimension extending in a top-to-bottom direction of the upper and a width dimension extending in a heel-to-toe direction of the upper, wherein the length dimension is at least two times larger than the width dimension;
• a midfoot supporting gusset located inside the first upper member, the midfoot supporting gusset including a first lace-engaging through hole;
• a lace extending through the first lace-engaging opening and the first lace-engaging through hole such that when the lace is in a tightened condition, the first lace-engaging through hole at least partially aligns with a portion of the first lace-engaging opening;
• and
• a heel upper member located inside the first upper member and having a lateral forward edge engaged with a rearward edge of the midfoot supporting gusset.

An upper for an article of footwear, comprising:

• a first upper member formed from one or more component parts, the first upper member including:
• a first lateral lace-engaging opening and a first medial lace-engaging opening, wherein each of the first lateral lace-engaging opening and the first medial lace-engaging opening has an elongated through hole opening having a length dimension extending in a top-to-bottom direction of the upper and a width dimension extending in a heel-to-toe direction of the upper, and wherein the length dimension is at least two times larger than the width dimension;
• a lateral gusset located inside the first upper member, the lateral gusset including a first lateral lace-engaging through hole;
• a medial gusset located inside the first upper member, the medial gusset including a first medial lace-engaging through hole, wherein each of the first lateral lace-engaging through hole and the first medial lace-engaging through hole has a substantially round shape with a largest transverse dimension that is substantially equal to the width dimension;
• and
• a lace extending through the lace-engaging openings and the lace-engaging through holes such that when the lace is in a tightened condition:
• (i) the first lateral lace-engaging through hole at least partially aligns with a portion of the first lateral lace-engaging opening, and (ii) the first medial lace-engaging through hole at least partially aligns with a portion of the first medial lace-engaging opening.

An upper for an article of footwear, comprising:

• a first upper member formed from one or more component parts, the first upper member including:
• a first lateral lace-engaging opening,
• a second lateral lace-engaging opening located forward of the first lateral lace-engaging opening,
• a first medial lace-engaging opening, and
• a second medial lace-engaging opening located forward of the first medial lace-engaging opening,
• wherein each of the first lateral lace-engaging opening, the second lateral lace-engaging opening, the first medial lace-engaging opening, and the second medial lace-engaging opening has an elongated through hole opening having a length dimension extending in a top-to-bottom direction of the upper and a width dimension extending in a heel-to-toe direction of the upper, and wherein the length dimension is at least two times larger than the width dimension;
• a lateral gusset located inside the first upper member, the lateral gusset including:
• (i) a first lateral lace-engaging through hole and (ii) a second lateral lace-engaging through hole;
• a medial gusset located inside the first upper member, the medial gusset including:
• (i) a first medial lace-engaging through hole and (ii) a second medial lace-engaging through hole, wherein each of the first lateral lace-engaging through hole, the second lateral lace-engaging through hole, the first medial lace-engaging through hole, and the second medial lace-engaging through hole has a substantially round shape with a largest transverse dimension that is substantially equal to the width dimension;
• and
• a lace extending through the lace-engaging openings and the lace-engaging through holes such that when the lace is in a tightened condition:
• (i) the first lateral lace-engaging through hole at least partially aligns with a portion of the first lateral lace-engaging opening, (ii) the second lateral lace-engaging through hole at least partially aligns with a portion of the second lateral lace-engaging opening, (iii) the first medial lace-engaging through hole at least partially aligns with a portion of the first medial lace-engaging opening, and (iv) the second medial lace-engaging through hole at least partially aligns with a portion of the second medial lace-engaging opening.