Waterproof footwear

Abstract

Waterproof footwear and methods for making the same. The footwear includes a laminate upper having at least a waterproof, water vapor permeable functional layer and an outer layer stitched to a strobel board to form a closed upper. A waterproof gasket material is adhered to the inner surface of the bottom of the closed upper.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . Waterproof footwear comprising: 
 a laminate upper having at least a waterproof, water vapor permeable functional layer and an outer layer stitched to a strobel board, forming a closed upper having an inner surface, an outer surface, an open top, and a closed bottom; and    a waterproof gasket material adhered to the inner surface of the closed bottom of the closed upper.    
     
     
         2 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 1 , wherein an outer sole is attached to the outer surface of the closed bottom of the closed upper.  
     
     
         3 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the waterproof gasket material is adhered to the closed bottom of the closed upper utilizing an adhesive material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, natural latex rubber, nitrile rubber, silicone rubber, butyl rubber, fluorinated rubber, copolyether polyester, polyester, ethylene vinyl acetate, and polyamide.  
     
     
         4 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the inner surface of the closed upper is further provided with an inner liner material.  
     
     
         5 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 4 , wherein the inner liner material comprises at least a textile material selected from the group consisting of woven, knit, mesh, non-woven, and felt constructions.  
     
     
         6 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 5 , wherein the textile fabric comprises at least a material selected from the group consisting of cotton, polyesters, polyamides, polypropylenes, polyolefins, and blends thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the waterproof, water vapor permeable functional layer of the laminate upper comprises at least a polymeric membrane.  
     
     
         8 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 7 , wherein the polymeric membrane is selected from the group consisting of fluoropolymers, polyurethanes, polyesters, polyethers, polyamides, polyacrylates, copolyether esters, and copolyether amides.  
     
     
         9 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 8 , wherein the fluoropolymer is expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.  
     
     
         10 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer of the laminate upper comprises leather.  
     
     
         11 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer of the laminate upper comprises a textile fabric selected from the group consisting of woven, knit, mesh, non-woven, and felt constructions.  
     
     
         12 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the textile fabric comprises a material selected from the group consisting of cotton, polyesters, polyamides, polypropylenes, polyolefins, and blends thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the waterproof gasket material is a material selected from the group consisting of polymeric containing material, waterproof fabric, and textile material treated to make it waterproof.  
     
     
         14 . Method for making waterproof footwear comprising: 
 stitching to a strobel board a laminate upper having at least a waterproof, water vapor permeable functional layer and an outer layer to form a closed upper having an inner surface, an outer surface, an open top, and a closed bottom; and    adhereing a waterproof gasket material to the inner surface of the closed bottom of the closed upper.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein an outer sole is attached to the outer surface of the closed bottom of the closed upper.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the waterproof gasket material is adhered to the closed bottom of the closed upper utilizing an adhesive material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, natural latex rubber, nitrile rubber, silicone rubber, butyl rubber, fluorinated rubber, copolyether polyester, polyester, ethylene vinyl acetate, and polyamide.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein an inner liner material is is attached to the inner surface of the closed upper.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the inner liner material comprises at least a textile material selected from the group consisting of woven, knit, mesh, non-woven, and felt constructions.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the textile fabric comprises at least a material selected from the group consisting of cotton, polyesters, polyamides, polypropylenes, polyolefins, and blends thereof.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the waterproof, water vapor permeable functional layer of the laminate upper comprises at least a polymeric membrane.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the polymeric membrane is selected from the group consisting of fluoropolymers, polyurethanes, polyesters, polyethers, polyamides, polyacrylates, copolyether esters, and copolyether amides.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the fluoropolymer is expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the outer layer of the laminate upper comprises leather.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the outer layer of the laminate upper comprises a textile fabric selected from the group consisting of woven, knit, mesh, non-woven, and felt constructions.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the textile fabric comprises a material selected from the group consisting of cotton, polyesters, polyamides, polypropylenes, polyolefins, and blends thereof.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the waterproof gasket material is a material selected from the group consisting of polymeric containing material, waterproof fabric, and textile material treated to make it waterproof.