Conformable Booties, Shoe Inserts, and Waterproof Breathable Socks Containing An Integrally Joined Interface
First Claim
1. A footwear article comprising:
- an upper portion;
a shoe insert adjacent to said upper portion; and
a sole portion adjacent to said upper portion and said shoe insert, said shoe insert comprising;
a shaped expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane having at least one integrally joined interface attaching said shaped ePTFE membrane to itself, said ePTFE membrane having a first side and a second side; and
a textile affixed to said first side,wherein said ePTFE membrane and said textile form a laminate.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Waterproof, breathable socks, booties, shoe inserts, and footwear assemblies containing the shoe inserts are provided. The booties and shoe inserts include a laminate of a seamless ePTFE membrane and at least one textile. The bootie is conformable over a range of sizes and shoe shapes, and may be shaped to fit numerous sizes and shapes of asymmetrical shoe lasts. The bootie may shrink to fit, or, alternatively, be stretched to fit, an asymmetrical last having a desired size to form a shoe insert. Such a conformable bootie eliminates the need to have multiple sizes of shoe inserts correlating to particular shoe sizes. In embodiments where the ePTFE is seamless and continuous, the shoe insert eliminates the need for a waterproof seam tape, which is conventionally used to make shoe inserts waterproof. Methods of forming the socks, booties, and shoe inserts are also provided.
33 Citations
36 Claims
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1. A footwear article comprising:
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an upper portion; a shoe insert adjacent to said upper portion; and a sole portion adjacent to said upper portion and said shoe insert, said shoe insert comprising; a shaped expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane having at least one integrally joined interface attaching said shaped ePTFE membrane to itself, said ePTFE membrane having a first side and a second side; and a textile affixed to said first side, wherein said ePTFE membrane and said textile form a laminate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A footwear article comprising:
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an upper portion; a shoe insert adjacent to said upper portion; and a sole portion adjacent to said upper portion and said shoe insert, said shoe insert comprising; a shaped expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane having at least one integrally joined interface attaching said shaped ePTFE membrane to itself, said ePTFE membrane having a first side and a second side; a first textile forming an interior portion of a shoe insert; and a second textile forming an exterior portion of said shoe insert, wherein said second textile is positioned adjacent said ePTFE membrane opposing said first textile, and wherein said ePTFE membrane, said first textile, and said second textile form a laminate. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification