Shoe construction utilizing a bootie with an impervious sole and method of production

Abstract

A shoe construction that includes a sole and an upper, wherein the sole and the upper together define a volume for receiving and protecting a wearer”s foot against external elements. There is a liquid impermeable bootie that includes an inner, upper liner that is attached to a sole liner. The inner, upper liner is preferably air permeable, moisture vapor transmissive and liquid impermeable and is located inside the upper. The sole liner is air impermeable, moisture vapor impermeable and liquid impermeable and is located above the sole. The sole liner is preferably, but not necessarily, inelastic. Materials that may be utilized for the inner, upper liner can include microporous membranes. Some of the types of materials that may be used for the sole liner can include inelastic, thermoplastic materials, fiber reinforced polymeric materials and nonthermoplastic materials. An alternative embodiment of the inner, upper liner is air impermeable, moisture vapor transmissive and liquid impermeable.

1 . A liquid impermeable bootie adapted to be incorporated into footwear which comprises: 
 an inner, upper liner that is moisture vapor transmissive and liquid impermeable; and    a sole liner that is air impermeable, moisture vapor impermeable and liquid impermeable, wherein the inner, upper liner is attached to the sole liner.    
     
     
         2 . The liquid impermeable bootie according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner, upper liner is air impermeable.  
     
     
         3 . The liquid impermeable bootie according to  claim 2 , wherein the inner, upper liner includes a nonporous, bicomponent membrane.  
     
     
         4 . The liquid impermeable bootie according to  claim 3 , wherein the nonporous, bicomponent membrane includes expanded polytetrafluoroethylene and a layer of polyurethane.  
     
     
         5 . The liquid impermeable bootie according to  claim 3 , wherein the nonporous, bicomponent membrane includes a layer of coagulated polyurethane and a seal coating.  
     
     
         6 . The liquid impermeable bootie according to  claim 2 , wherein the inner, upper liner includes a nonporous, monolithic membrane.  
     
     
         7 . The liquid impermeable bootie according to  claim 6 , wherein the nonporous, monolithic membrane includes polyurethane.  
     
     
         8 . The liquid impermeable bootie according to  claim 2 , wherein the inner, upper liner allows for air flow of less than 0.03 cubic centimeter per minute per square centimeter at a pressure of a 1.27 centimeter water column (0.05 cubic feet per minute per square foot at a pressure of a 0.5 inch water column) and the inner, upper liner allows for moisture vapor transmission of at least 500 grams per square meter (14.85 ounces per square yard) of water (H 2 O) vapor in a twenty-four (24) hour period.  
     
     
         9 . The liquid impermeable bootie according to  claim 2 , wherein the sole liner allows for air flow of less than 0.03 cubic centimeter per minute per square centimeter at a pressure of a 1.27 centimeter water column (0.05 cubic feet per minute per square foot at a pressure of a 0.5 inch water column) and the sole liner allows for moisture vapor transmission of less than 500 grams per square meter (14.85 ounces per square yard) of water (H 2 O) vapor in a twenty-four (24) hour period.  
     
     
         10 . A liquid impermeable bootie adapted to be incorporated into footwear which comprises: 
 an inner, upper liner that is air permeable, moisture vapor transmissive and liquid impermeable; and    a sole liner that is air impermeable, moisture vapor impermeable and liquid impermeable, wherein the inner, upper liner is attached to the sole liner.    
     
     
         11 . The liquid impermeable bootie according to  claim 10 , wherein the liquid impermeable bootie does not leak as indicated by detectable water on the liquid impermeable bootie's exterior when applied with water having a maximum pressure of 36 milibar (0.5 p.s.i.g.) for one (1) minute.  
     
     
         12 . The liquid impermeable bootie according to  claim 10 , wherein the inner, upper liner allows for air flow of at least 0.03 cubic centimeter per minute per square centimeter at a pressure of a 1.27 centimeter water column (0.05 cubic feet per minute per square foot at a pressure of a 0.5 inch water column) and the inner, upper liner allows for moisture vapor transmission of at least 500 grams per square meter (14.85 ounces per square yard) or more of water (H 2 O) vapor in a twenty-four (24) hour period.  
     
     
         13 . The liquid impermeable bootie according to  claim 10 , wherein the inner, upper liner allows for air flow of at least 0.05 cubic centimeter per minute per square centimeter at a pressure of a 1.27 centimeter water column (0.1 cubic feet per minute per square foot at a pressure of a 0.5 inch water column) and the inner, upper liner allows for moisture vapor transmission of at least 9,000 grams per square meter (267.20 ounces per square yard) or more of water (H 2 O) vapor in a twenty-four (24) hour period.  
     
     
         14 . The liquid impermeable bootie according to  claim 10 , wherein the inner, upper liner allows for air flow of at least 0.15 cubic centimeter per minute per square centimeter at a pressure of a 1.27 centimeter water column (0.3 cubic feet per minute per square foot at a pressure of a 0.5 inch water column) and the inner, upper liner allows for moisture vapor transmission of at least 15,000 grams per square meter (445.33 ounces per square yard) or more of water (H 2 O) vapor in a twenty-four (24) hour period.  
     
     
         15 . The liquid impermeable bootie according to  claim 10 , wherein the inner, upper liner allows for air flow of at least 0.51 cubic centimeter per minute per square centimeter at a pressure of a 1.27 centimeter water column (1.0 cubic feet per minute per square foot at a pressure of a 0.5 inch water column) and the inner, upper liner allows for moisture vapor transmission of at least 17,000 grams per square meter (504.71 ounces per square yard) or more of water (H 2 O) vapor in a twenty-four (24) hour period.  
     
     
         16 . The liquid impermeable bootie according to  claim 10 , wherein the sole liner allows for air flow of less than 0.03 cubic centimeter per minute per square centimeter at a pressure of a 1.27 centimeter water column (0.05 cubic feet per minute per square foot at a pressure of a 0.5 inch water column) and the sole liner allows for moisture vapor transmission of less than 500 grams per square meter (14.85 ounces per square yard) of water (H 2 O) vapor in a twenty-four (24) hour period.  
     
     
         17 . The liquid impermeable bootie according to  claim 10 , wherein the inner, upper liner includes a microporous membrane.  
     
     
         18 . The liquid impermeable bootie according to  claim 17 , wherein the microporous membrane is selected from the group consisting of an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, a polysulfone membrane, a coagulated polyurethane membrane and a polyvinyl chloride membrane.  
     
     
         19 . The liquid impermeable bootie according to  claim 10 , wherein the sole liner is inelastic.  
     
     
         20 . The liquid impermeable bootie according to  claim 19 , wherein the sole liner will not fully recover when deflected more than ten percent (10 %) from a point of yield.  
     
     
         21 . The liquid impermeable bootie according to  claim 10 , wherein the sole liner includes material selected from the group consisting of an inelastic, thermoplastic material, a fiber reinforced polymeric material and a nonthermoplastic material.  
     
     
         22 . The liquid impermeable bootie according to  claim 19 , wherein the inelastic, thermoplastic material is selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester, inelastic polyurethane, nylons and vinyl and the fiber reinforced polymeric material is selected from the group consisting of fibers of polyester, nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, rayon, and cotton and the nonthermoplastic material is selected from the group consisting of reactive polyurethane, epoxy, styrene, butadiene, acrylics and vulcanized rubber.  
     
     
         23 . A liquid impermeable bootie adapted to be incorporated into footwear which comprises: 
 an inner, upper liner that is air permeable, moisture vapor transmissive and liquid impermeable and includes a microporous membrane; and    a sole liner that is air impermeable, moisture vapor impermeable and liquid impermeable and the sole liner is selected from the group consisting of inelastic, thermoplastic material, fiber reinforced polymeric material and nonthermoplastic material, wherein the inner, upper liner is attached to the sole liner.    
     
     
         24 . A liquid impermeable bootie adapted to be incorporated into footwear which comprises: 
 an inner, upper liner that is air permeable, moisture vapor transmissive and liquid impermeable and the inner, upper liner allows for air flow of at least 0.03 cubic centimeter per minute per square centimeter at a pressure of a 1.27 centimeter water column (0.05 cubic feet per minute per square foot at a pressure of a 0.5 inch water column) and the inner, upper liner allows for moisture vapor transmission of at least 500 grams per square meter (14.85 ounces per square yard) or more of water (H 2 O) vapor in a twenty-four (24) hour period and includes a microporous membrane; and    a sole liner that is inelastic, air impermeable, moisture vapor impermeable and liquid impermeable and the sole liner allows for air flow of less than 0.03 cubic centimeter per minute per square centimeter at a pressure of a 1.27 centimeter water column (0.05 cubic feet per minute per square foot at a pressure of a 0.5 inch water column) and the sole liner allows for moisture vapor transmission of less than 500 grams per square meter (14.85 ounces per square yard) of water (H 2 O) vapor in a twenty-four (24) hour period and the sole liner is selected from the group consisting of inelastic, thermoplastic material, fiber reinforced polymeric material and nonthermoplastic material, wherein the inner, upper liner is attached to the sole liner.    
     
     
         25 . A process for producing a shoe construction comprising: 
 providing a sole;    providing an upper that together with the sole define a volume for receiving and protecting a wearer”s foot against external elements; and    securing a liquid impermeable bootie, having an inner, upper liner that is attached to a sole liner, within the shoe so that the inner, upper liner that is located underneath the upper and the sole liner is located inside the upper, wherein the inner, upper liner is moisture vapor transmissive and liquid impermeable and the sole liner is air impermeable, moisture vapor impermeable and liquid impermeable.    
     
     
         26 . A process for producing a shoe construction comprising: 
 providing a sole;    providing an upper that together with the sole define a volume for receiving and protecting a wearer”s foot against external elements; and    securing a liquid impermeable bootie, having an inner, upper liner that is attached to a sole liner, within the shoe so that the inner, upper liner that is located underneath the upper and the sole liner is located inside the upper, wherein the inner, upper liner is air permeable, moisture vapor transmissive and liquid impermeable and the sole liner is air impermeable, moisture vapor impermeable and liquid impermeable.    
     
     
         27 . The process for producing a shoe construction according to  claim 26 , further comprising: 
 securing at least one layer of textile material either outside or inside the inner, upper liner; and    securing at least one layer of textile material either outside or inside the sole liner.    
     
     
         28 . The process for producing a shoe construction according to  claim 26 , wherein the inner, upper liner is a microporous membrane and the sole is inelastic.  
     
     
         29 . The process for producing a shoe construction according to  claim 26 , wherein the sole liner is selected from the group consisting of an inelastic, thermoplastic material, a fiber reinforced polymeric material and a nonthermoplastic material.  
     
     
         30 . The process for producing a shoe construction according to  claim 26 , wherein the inner, upper liner allows for air flow of at least 0.03 cubic centimeter per minute per square centimeter at a pressure of a 1.27 centimeter water column (0.05 cubic feet per minute per square foot at a pressure of a 0.5 inch water column) and the inner, upper liner allows for moisture vapor transmission of at least 500 grams per square meter (14.85 ounces per square yard) or more of water (H 2 O) vapor in a twenty-four (24) hour period and the sole liner allows for air flow of less than 0.03 cubic centimeter per minute per square centimeter at a pressure of a 1.27 centimeter water column (0.05 cubic feet per minute per square foot at a pressure of a 0.5 inch water column) and the sole liner allows for moisture vapor transmission of less than 500 grams per square meter (14.85 ounces per square yard) of water (H 2 O) vapor in a twenty-four (24) hour period.  
     
     
         31 . The process for producing a shoe construction according to  claim 25 , wherein the inner, upper liner is air impermeable and selected from the group consisting of a nonporous, bicomponent membrane and a nonporous, monolithic membrane.