Stretchable Insole

Abstract

Waterproof footwear having a liner material, stretchable insole, and strobel board are described herein. The stretchable insole exhibits a reduction of cushioning stiffness in the forefoot area of at least about 6% in comparison to a standard footwear construction when the waterproof footwear is subjected to the Mechanical Cushioning Test.

1 . Waterproof footwear comprising a forefoot area and a rearfoot area, the waterproof footwear further comprising:
 a liner material comprising at least a waterproof, water vapor permeable functional layer, the liner material further being secured to an upper material;   a stretchable insole attached to the liner material; and   a strobel board,   wherein said stretchable insole comprises a plurality of layers comprising at least one textile layer and at least one polymeric layer, further wherein said forefoot area of said waterproof footwear exhibits a reduction of stiffness in comparison to the forefoot area of a standard footwear construction when subjected to the Mechanical Cushioning Test.   
     
     
         2 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the stretchable insole comprises at least two polymeric layers. 
     
     
         3 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the at least two polymeric layers comprises an adhesive adapted to adhere the strobel board to the stretchable insole. 
     
     
         4 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one textile comprises a nonwoven material. 
     
     
         5 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the waterproof, water vapor permeable functional layer comprises a polymeric membrane material. 
     
     
         6 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 5 , wherein the polymeric membrane material is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyester, polyether, polyamide, polyacrylate, copolyether ester, and copolyether amide. 
     
     
         7 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 5 , wherein the polymeric membrane material comprises microporous, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         8 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 2 , wherein the at least two polymeric layers comprise polyurethane. 
     
     
         9 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the polymeric layer is a polyurethane. 
     
     
         10 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the liner material comprises at least one waterproof, water vapor permeable functional layer and at least one textile layer. 
     
     
         11 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 1 , wherein an outer sole is secured to the waterproof footwear. 
     
     
         12 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 1  wherein the strobel board comprises plastics, rubbers, elastomers, polyvinylchlorides, thermoplastics, polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene vinyl acetate, or thermoplastic polyurethane. 
     
     
         13 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 1  wherein the forefoot area of the waterproof footwear exhibits a reduction of cushioning stiffness of at least about 6% in comparison to a standard footwear construction. 
     
     
         14 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the waterproof footwear exhibits decreased bending stiffness in comparison to waterproof footwear having a non-stretchable insole, when subjected to Flexibility Testing. 
     
     
         15 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the stretchable insole exhibits cross-web elongation at break at least twice the length of down-web elongation at break when subjected to Tensile Test Method. 
     
     
         16 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the stretchable insole exhibits cross-web elongation at break at least three times the length of down-web elongation at break when subjected to Tensile Test Method. 
     
     
         17 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the stretchable insole exhibits cross-web elongation at break at least five times the length of down-web elongation at break when subjected to Tensile Test Method. 
     
     
         18 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the stretchable insole exhibits cross-web elongation at break at least 100% the down-web elongation at break when subjected to Tensile Test Method. 
     
     
         19 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the stretchable insole exhibits cross-web elongation at break at least 150% down-web elongation at break when subjected to Tensile Test Method. 
     
     
         20 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the stretchable insole exhibits cross-web elongation at break at least 200% down-web elongation at break when subjected to Tensile Test Method. 
     
     
         21 . Waterproof footwear comprising:
 a liner material comprising at least a waterproof, water vapor permeable functional layer, the liner material further being secured to an upper material;   a stretchable insole attached to the liner material; and   a strobel board.   
     
     
         22 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 21  wherein the forefoot area of the waterproof footwear exhibits a reduction of cushioning stiffness of at least about 6% in comparison to a standard footwear construction. 
     
     
         23 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 21 , wherein the waterproof footwear exhibits decreased bending stiffness in comparison to waterproof footwear having a non-stretchable insole, when subjected to Flexibility Testing. 
     
     
         24 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 21 , wherein the stretchable insole exhibits cross-web elongation at break at least twice the length of down-web elongation at break when subjected to Tensile Test Method. 
     
     
         25 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 21 , wherein the stretchable insole exhibits cross-web elongation at break at least three times the length of down-web elongation at break when subjected to Tensile Test Method. 
     
     
         26 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 21 , wherein the stretchable insole exhibits cross-web elongation at break at least five times the length of down-web elongation at break when subjected to Tensile Test Method. 
     
     
         27 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 21 , wherein the stretchable insole exhibits cross-web elongation at break at least 100% the down-web elongation at break when subjected to Tensile Test Method. 
     
     
         28 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 21 , wherein the stretchable insole exhibits cross-web elongation at break at least 150% down-web elongation at break when subjected to Tensile Test Method. 
     
     
         29 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 21 , wherein the stretchable insole exhibits cross-web elongation at break at least 200% down-web elongation at break when subjected to Tensile Test Method. 
     
     
         30 . A method for making waterproof footwear comprising:
 providing upper material;   providing a liner material comprising at least a waterproof, water vapor permeable functional layer and an open bottom portion;   securing a stretchable insole to the open bottom portion of the laminate liner material to form a bootie;   locating a strobel board beneath the stretchable insole and attaching the strobel board to the upper material;   locating a shoe last within the bootie;   and   attaching an outsole to a bottom surface of the strobel board to form waterproof footwear.