Article of footwear with 360.degree. wrap fit closure system

A closure element for use with an article of footwear having a shoe sole including a ground engaging surface, a shoe upper attached to the shoe sole for surrounding a foot of a wearer, and including an instep area, a medial side and a lateral side, the closure element being removably disposed over the shoe upper;

• said closure element comprising:
• a base component, a medial component and a lateral component for overlapping the shoe upper such that said closure element extends substantially along the medial side of the shoe upper, beneath the shoe sole, and substantially along the lateral side of the shoe upper;
• a plurality of separated fastening members for extending upwards from the lateral component to the instep area of the shoe upper on the lateral side of the shoe upper and a plurality of separated fastening members for extending upwards from the medial component to the instep area of the shoe upper on the medial side of the shoe upper, each said fastening member having a distal end located distal from the base component and proximate the instep area of said shoe upper, said fastening members each having a lace engaging element located at or immediately adjacent its distal end;
• wherein said fastening members on opposing sides of the shoe upper are connected together by a cooperating fastening device coupled to each said lace engaging element for securing the shoe upper and the closure element around the foot of the wearer.

An article of footwear comprising:

• a shoe sole including a ground engaging surface;
• a shoe upper attached to said shoe sole for surrounding a foot of a wearer, and including an instep area, a medial side and a lateral side;
• a closure element having a base component, and a medial component and a lateral component overlapping said shoe upper such that said closure element extends substantially along said medial side of said shoe upper, beneath said shoe sole, and substantially along said lateral side of said shoe upper, said closure element including a plurality of separated fastening members extending upwards from the lateral component to the instep area of the shoe upper on the lateral side of the shoe upper and a plurality of separated fastening members extending upwards from the medial component to the instep area of the shoe upper on the medial side of the shoe upper;
• each said fastening member having a distal end located distal from said base component and proximate the instep area of said shoe upper, said fastening members each having a fastener engaging element located at or immediately adjacent its distal end;
• wherein said fastening members on opposing sides of said shoe upper are connected together by a cooperating fastening device coupled to each fastener engaging element to thereby secure said closure element and said shoe upper around the foot of the wearer.