Waterproof shoe construction

• US 4,599,810 A
• Filed: 11/18/1983
• Issued: 07/15/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Original Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Inventors: Sacre, Guillaume
• Primary Examiner(s): Schroeder, Werner H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Meyers, Steven N.
• Application Number:
  US06/553,097
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 2/87, 2/82, 2/239, 36/4, 36/55, 36/93, 36/83, 264/127
• US Class Current: 36/55
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 15/00 Welts for footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0255 assembled by gluing or thermo bonding
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/07 Linings therefor lining laminated with upper A43B23/026
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/125 provided with a vapour permeable member, e.g. a membrane A43B23/022 takes precedence

Abstract

An inner liner is provided for a shoe that makes the shoe waterproof and at the same time allows the foot to breathe. To accomplish this purpose, such a liner is constructed of a material that is impervious to water but is pervious to perspiration vapors. The liner comprises a sock-like configuration shaped to fit within a shoe upper and attached to the top and bottom portions of the upper, such liner having fold portions similar to fold portions at the front of the shoe to allow expansion and contraction thereof when the shoe is placed on the foot and removed. The liner may also employ a novel seam in joined portions thereof, and its particular structure allows it to be combined with all conventional types of shoe constructions.

Claims

1. A shoe construction comprising:

(a) a sole;

(b) an integral upper having a bottom portion secured to said sole, panel portions extending upwardly from said bottom portion, a tongue and gussets connecting said tongue to said panel portions, said upper including a top opening arranged to receive a foot and defined by the edges remote from said sole of said panel portions, tongue and gussets; and

(c) a sock-like liner disposed in said upper, said liner being formed of material which is impervious of water, but pervious to perspiration vapor and being secured to said upper only proximate the top opening thereof.

2. The shoe construction of claim 1 wherein said liner includes toe, heel, side tongue, gussett and bottom portions and is open at the top, the bottom portion of said liner being adhesively fixed to said sole.

3. The shoe construction of claim 2 wherein said bottom portion has a longitudinal opening and is adhesively fixed to adjacent sides of said sole.

4. The shoe construction of claim 2 wherein said bottom portion is fully closed.

5. The shoe construction of claim 1 wherein said liner comprises a first layer of material which is impervious to water but pervious to perspiration vapors, and a second layer of porous protective material affixed to at least one side of said first layer.

6. The shoe construction of claim 5 wherein said second layer is disposed on the side of said first layer adjacent said upper and is formed of a thermoplastic resin material and wherein said liner includes a seam comprising overlapping portions thereof and stitching holding said overlapping portions together, a tape on said second layer over said stitching, and an adhesive backing on said tape of thermoplastic resin material, said seam being waterproofed at said stitching by heat melting thermoplastic portions of said liner and tape and forming a waterproof seal.

7. The shoe construction of claim 1 wherein said liner comprises a first layer of material which is impervious to water but pervious to perspiration vapors, and a second layer of porous protective material affixed to the side of said first layer adjacent the foot.

8. The shoe construction of claim 1 wherein said liner comprises a laminated structure including a first layer of material which is impervious to water but pervious to perspiration vapors disposed between second and third layers of porous protective material.

9. A shoe construction comprising:

(a) a sole;

(b) an integral upper having a bottom portion secured to said sole, panel portions extending upwardly from said bottom portion, a tongue and gussets connecting said tongue to said panel portions, said upper including a top opening arranged to receive a foot and defined by the edges remote from said sole of said panel portions, tongue and gussets;

(c) a sock-like liner open at the top and including toe, heel, side, tongue, gusset and bottom portions, said liner being disposed in said upper and being secured to said upper only proximate the top opening thereof and to said sole; and

(d) said liner comprising laminated first and second layers, said first layer being a material which is impervious to water but pervious to perspiration vapor and said second layer being a porous, protective material.