Shoe upper made of a light-weight waterproof laminate

Abstract

A shoe upper has at least one part thereof made of a waterproof laminate which includes an inner foamed layer made of a pliable semi-flexible foam material, an intermediate layer of woven fabric material bonded to the inner foamed layer, an outer film layer made of a material which is waterproof and which has high wear-resistance, and a layer of adhesive applied to the intermediate layer to bond the intermediate layer to the inner foamed layer and the outer film layer. The adhesive is flexible and penetrates through the intermediate layer to render the latter water-impervious. The laminate is light-weight and possesses excellent wear-resistance and tear strength. The margins of the laminate are provided with stitch seams.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A shoe comprising 
 an upper that includes a plurality of parts assembled and stitched together, at least one of said parts being made of a waterproof laminate which includes: 
 a light-weight inner foamed layer made of a pliable, semi-flexible foam material;  
 an intermediate layer of woven fabric material bonded to said inner foamed layer;  
 an outer film layer made of a material which is waterproof and which has high wear-resistance; and  
 a layer of adhesive applied to said intermediate layer to bond said intermediate layer to said inner foamed layer and said outer film layer, said adhesive being flexible and penetrating through said intermediate layer to render said intermediate layer water-impervious,  
   wherein said part made of said laminate has margins provided with stitch seams.    
     
     
         2 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said outer film layer is transparent.  
     
     
         3 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said pliable, semi-flexible foam material of said inner foamed layer is selected from the group consisting of ethylene vinyl acetate, expandable polyethylene, and neoprene.  
     
     
         4 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said material of said outer film layer is selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane film and a polyvinyl chloride film.  
     
     
         5 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said parts of said upper includes a toe cap section and a counter section, each of said toe cap section and said counter section being made of said laminate.  
     
     
         6 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said laminate is formed with stitch grooves at said margins, said stitch seams being disposed along said stitch grooves.  
     
     
         7 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said laminate is embossed to present an embossed pattern at said outer film layer.  
     
     
         8 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said inner foamed layer is made of ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, said outer film layer is a polyurethane film, and said adhesive is a polyurethane-based adhesive.