Breathable-waterproof footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear including an outer sole on which an outer upper is mounted, the upper including several pieces assembled together by stitching. The pieces of the upper are made of breathable-waterproof material, at least the visible assembly seams of the upper being covered by a waterproofing strip arranged on the outside of the upper. The upper includes a three-layered laminated material including a breathable-waterproof membrane, sandwiched between an inner lining fabric and an outer envelope fabric.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of French Patent Application No. 06.06705, filed on Jul. 21, 2006, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The invention relates to the field of footwear, and more particularly to sports shoes, particularly for walking, running, that are breathable and waterproof.[0004]2. Description of Background and Other Information[0005]In the context of the invention, the term waterproof refers to a shoe which is waterproof or water-resistant, meaning a shoe in which at least one functional layer of the upper acts at least as a barrier to water or other liquid penetration. The term breathable-waterproof, in this context, means that the shoe allows water vapor to escape through the upper, i.e., from the foot out (perspiration), while being impervious to water coming in from the outside.[0006]A...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023]With this construction, the boot is waterproofed from the outside and therefore has low or no risk of water penetration. In other words, the outer upper gets its primary function back, which is to constitute a waterproof barrier to outside elements, including water and moisture. In addition, optional comfort elements provided inside the waterproof outer upper do not risk becoming wet an...

Problems solved by technology

This construction is complicated and costly because it requires an additional layer (liner) to be made, because the breathable-waterproof material used for the liner is very expensive, and because all the stitches must be waterproofed.

The material used for the liner is generally inextensible, which makes it even more complicated and expensive to manufacture.

In addition, the material used for making the liner and the sealing strip is relatively fragile, and it is important to not damage it in order to have a truly waterproof construction.

In addition, the waterproof liner is in direct contact with the foot, which can be uncomfortable as the material is generally inextensible and causes a “dry touch” for the wearer, i.e., in contrast to a soft or cozy sensation, contrary to traditional shoes having foam liners that are softer or cozier to the touch.

In addition, such comfort foams are not protected from moisture and can become wet by water penetrating through the non-waterproof outer-upper.

If such foams become wet, the ...

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