Article of footwear having an upper incorporating a tensile strand with a cover layer

An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:

• a foundation element having an interior surface and an opposite exterior surface, the interior surface defining at least a portion of a void within the upper for receiving a foot of a wearer;
• a first strand positioned adjacent to the exterior surface and substantially parallel to the exterior surface for a first distance of at least five centimeters;
• a first cover layer extending along the first strand and secured to the first strand and the foundation element for the first distance of at least five centimeters, the first strand being positioned between an inner surface of the first cover layer and the exterior surface of the foundation element;
• a second strand positioned adjacent to the exterior surface and substantially parallel to the exterior surface for a second distance of at least five centimeters, the second strand crossing the first strand such that the first strand is positioned between the exterior surface of the foundation element and the second strand;
• and
• a second cover layer extending along the second strand and secured to the second strand and the foundation element for the second distance of at least five centimeters, the second strand being positioned between an inner surface of the second cover layer and the exterior surface of the foundation element;
• and
• wherein the second strand is positioned between an outer surface of the first cover layer and the inner surface of the second cover layer where the second strand crosses the first strand.

An article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the upper comprising:

• a foundation element having an interior surface and an opposite exterior surface, the interior surface defining at least a portion of a void within the upper for receiving a foot of a wearer;
• a strand positioned adjacent to and substantially parallel to the exterior surface of the foundation element for a distance of at least five centimeters;
• and
• a cover layer formed from an at least partially transparent polymer material, the cover layer extending along the strand for the distance of at least five centimeters, the strand being positioned between an inner surface of the cover layer and the exterior surface of the foundation element, the cover layer having a pair of edges on opposite sides of the strand, the strand being substantially centered between the edges of the cover layer for the distance of at least five centimeters, and areas of the exterior surface of the foundation element being exposed beyond the edges of the cover layer;
• and
• wherein the pair of edges of the of the cover layer are directly bonded to the exterior surface of the foundation element to secure the strand between the inner surface of the cover layer and the exterior surface of the foundation element.