Waterproof footwear
AssigneeW. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
InventorsKathleen R. Driskill, Robert L. Henn, Jean Norvell
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Abstract
An article of waterproof footwear and its method of manufacture are disclosed. The article of waterproof footwear has an upper containing a water-impermeable layer. The distal edge of the upper has a polymeric binding covering the distal edge and the inside and outside surfaces of the upper adjacent to the distal edge. The polymeric binding seals to a waterproof insole thereby effectively waterproofing the upper of the footwear. An outer sole is attached to the upper thereby forming the waterproof footwear. The method of manufacture allows production of a waterproof upper and the attachment to the upper of an outer sole, thereby forming the waterproof footwear of the invention.
Claims39
An article of waterproof footwear which comprises:
- (a) an upper comprised of a water-permeable layer and having a proximal opening for receiving a wearer's foot, a proximal edge surrounding the proximal opening, a distal opening, a distal edge surrounding the distal opening, and inside and outside surfaces;
- (b) a polymeric binding adhered to and encapsulating the distal edge of the upper and covering a portion of the inside and outside surfaces of the upper adjacent to the distal edge, wherein an inner surface of the polymeric binding is formed;
- (c) a separate waterproof insole having a top surface for supporting the wearer's foot and a bottom surface adhesively bonded without stitching to the inner surface of the polymeric binding;
- and
- (d) an outer sole attached to the bottom surface of the waterproof insole and polymeric binding of the upper.
An article of waterproof footwear as defined in claim I wherein the polymeric binding is polyurethane.
A method for producing an article of waterproof footwear which comprises the steps of:
- (a) forming an upper having a proximal opening for receiving a wearer's foot, a proximal edge surrounding the proximal opening, a distal opening, a distal edge surrounding the distal opening, and inside and outside surfaces;
- (b) adhering a polymeric binding to encapsulate the distal edge of the upper and covering a portion to the inside and outside surfaces of the upper adjacent to the distal edge, forming an inner surface of the polymeric binding;
- (c) adhesively bonding without stitching a waterproof insole at its bottom surface to the inner surface of the polymeric binding;
- and
- (d) attaching an outer sole to the waterproof insole board and polymeric binding of the upper.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.