Breathable workshoes and methods for manufacturing such

Abstract

Among other things, the present invention provides various footwear pieces, and methods for manufacturing such pieces. In various cases, the footwear pieces are molded from a lofting material. Further, in various cases, the footwear pieces include one or more ventilators formed in the footwear piece that are surrounded by liquid conductors capable of channeling liquid spilled on the surface of the footwear pieces away from a foot within the footwear pieces.

1 - 20 . (canceled)  
     
     
         21 . A breathable footwear piece comprising: 
 a base section including an upper and a sole formed as a single part manufactured from a moldable foam material; and    a strap section formed of a moldable foam material that is attached at opposite ends thereof to the upper of the base section at a pair of attachment points such that the strap section is in direct contact with the base section at the attachment points and pivots relative to the base section at the attachment points, and wherein frictional forces developed by the contact between the moldable foam material of the strap section and the moldable foam material of the base section at the attachment points are sufficient to maintain the strap section in place after pivoting; and    wherein the upper includes a substantially horizontal portion and a substantially vertical portion.    
     
     
         22 . The breathable footwear piece of  claim 21 , wherein liquid conductors are formed around a plurality of ventilators formed in the upper, each liquid conductor comprising a raised structure that can divert liquid falling from above the footwear piece from entering through the ventilator.  
     
     
         23 . The breathable footwear piece of  claim 22 , wherein the liquid conductors are attached to the upper.  
     
     
         24 . The breathable footwear piece of  claim 22 , wherein the liquid conductors are formed as part of the upper.  
     
     
         25 . The breathable footwear piece of  claim 22 , wherein the plurality of ventilators in the form of holes are formed in the upper as part of molding the base section.  
     
     
         26 . The breathable footwear piece of  claim 21 , wherein the sole comprises a bottom surface and a support base, and wherein the support base includes a raised pattern extending throughout the surface where a foot contacts the support base.  
     
     
         27 . The breathable footwear piece of  claim 21  wherein the upper includes an open rear region defined by an upper opening perimeter, and wherein a decorative pattern is molded or otherwise created in the upper near to and extending the length of the upper opening perimeter.  
     
     
         28 . The breathable footwear piece of  claim 27  wherein the upper opening perimeter extends between the points of attachment of the strap section to the base section and contacts an area of the foot in front of and below the ankle.  
     
     
         29 . The breathable footwear piece of  claim 21  wherein the sole includes a bottom surface having front and rear tread patterns longitudinally connected by a flat section without tread patterns bounded by raised side portions, and wherein each of the front and rear tread patterns comprises an inner longitudinal tread portion and outer rectangular tread portion.  
     
     
         30 . The breathable footwear piece of  claim 21  wherein the bottom surface of the sole includes a toe section and heel section, both of which are raised slightly from the generally flat plane of the sole.  
     
     
         31 . The breathable footwear piece of  claim 21  wherein the sole further includes a top surface having a support base including a raised pattern where a foot contacts the support base.  
     
     
         32 . The breathable footwear piece of  claim 21  wherein the substantially horizontal portion and a substantially vertical portion of the upper form a toe region that generally follows the contour of a human foot, wherein the toe region tapers from the inner area of the base section where the larger toes exist to the outer area of the base section where the smaller toes exist.  
     
     
         33 . A footwear piece comprising: 
 a base section including an upper and a sole formed as a single part manufactured from a moldable foam material; and    a strap section formed of a molded foam material attached at opposite ends thereof to the base section such that the strap section is in direct contact with the base section and pivots relative to the base section; and    wherein the upper includes an open rear region defined by an upper opening perimeter; and wherein the sole includes a rear perimeter; and wherein the strap section pivots between a first contact point on the upper opening perimeter and a second contact point on the rear perimeter, and wherein frictional forces developed by the contact between the strap section and the base section at the points of attachment are sufficient to maintain the strap section in place in an intermediary position after pivoting whereby the strap section lends support to the Achilles portion of a human foot inserted in the open rear region;    wherein the upper includes a substantially horizontal portion and a substantially vertical portion forming a toe region that generally follows the contour of a human foot, wherein the toe region tapers from the inner area of the base section where the larger toes exist to the outer area of the base section where the smaller toes exist;    wherein a plurality of ventilators are formed in both the substantially vertical portion or the substantially horizontal portion;    wherein the sole includes a bottom surface having front and rear tread patterns longitudinally connected by a flat section; and    wherein the sole further includes a top surface having a support base including a raised pattern where a foot contacts the support base.    
     
     
         34 . A footwear piece as in  claim 33 , wherein a decorative pattern of raised bumps is molded or otherwise created in the upper near to and extending the length of the upper opening perimeter.  
     
     
         35 . A footwear piece as in  claim 33 , wherein the vertical portion of the upper includes an upper strip, wherein the ventilators are formed in the upper strip, wherein the upper strip extends from the toe region to the points of attachment for the strap section, and wherein the sole includes a lower strip that parallels the upper strip and is separated by a line that extends from the toe region to a heel of the footwear piece, and wherein the lower strip vertically rises in a direction toward the heel.  
     
     
         36 . A footwear piece comprising: 
 a base section including an upper and a sole formed as a single part manufactured from a moldable foam material; and    a strap section formed of a moldable material that is attached at opposite ends thereof to the upper of the base section with plastic connectors such that the moldable foam material of the strap section is in direct contact with the moldable material of the base section and pivots relative to the base section at the connectors;    wherein the upper includes an open rear region defined by an upper opening perimeter, and wherein frictional forces developed by the contact between the strap section and the base section at the plastic connectors are sufficient to maintain the strap section in place in an intermediary position after pivoting, whereby the strap section lends support to the Achilles portion of the human foot inserted in the open rear region; and    wherein the upper includes a substantially horizontal portion and a substantially vertical portion forming a toe region that generally follows the contour of a human foot, wherein the toe region tapers from an inner area of the base section where the larger toes exist to an outer area of the base section where the smaller toes exist; and    wherein the sole includes a bottom surface having tread patterns.