US Patent 10512303 Hinged removable footwear tongue

An article of footwear includes a footwear component that is a tongue removably attachable to an upper. The tongue has a first set of lace guides extending outward of a perimeter of the tongue. The upper has a second set of lace guides. The first set of lace guides is interleaved with the second set of lace guides when the tongue is positioned adjacent the upper. The tongue is removably attached to the upper by a lace routed through the first set of lace guides and the second set of lace guides such that the tongue is hinged to the upper at the first set of lace guides and the second set of lace guides. The tongue may be reversibly, removably attached to the upper. A footwear system includes alternately removably attachable tongues.