Rubber footwear with neoprene layer

Abstract

A waterproof footwear includes a neoprene sock having a floor region and a side wall extending upward therefrom terminating in an upper edge. An outer rubber layer is bonded to and covers the entire outer surface of the neoprene sock side wall. A rubber floor portion covers the floor region of the neoprene sock and an outsole is attached to the rubber layer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A footwear comprising: 
 an upper including a neoprene layer having an inner surface, an outer surface, a lower edge, and an upper edge;    an outer rubber layer bonded to and covering substantially the entire outer surface of the neoprene layer; and    an outsole attached to the outer rubber layer.    
     
     
         2 . The footwear of  claim 1 , further including a neoprene floor portion including a neoprene portion attached to the neoprene layer.  
     
     
         3 . The footwear of  claim 1 , further including a rubber floor portion covering the neoprene floor portion and bonded to the outer rubber layer.  
     
     
         4 . The footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the outer rubber layer includes an upper edge coterminous with the upper edge of the neoprene sock.  
     
     
         5 . The footwear of  claim 1 , further including a layer of material attached to the inner surface of the neoprene layer.  
     
     
         6 . The footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the rubber floor portion is bonded directly to the neoprene floor portion.  
     
     
         7 . The footwear of  claim 6 , further including a midsole formed from ethyl vinyl acetate.  
     
     
         8 . The footwear of  claim 6 , further including an insole located between the neoprene floor portion and the rubber floor portion.  
     
     
         9 . The footwear of  claim 5 , wherein the neoprene floor region is stitched to the inner layer of neoprene.  
     
     
         10 . The footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the outer rubber layer does not hold a human scent.  
     
     
         11 . A waterproof footwear comprising: 
 an upper including an outer layer of rubber and an inner layer of neoprene, the rubber covered neoprene extending to a top edge of the upper;    a floor including a neoprene portion attached to the neoprene layer of the upper, and a rubber portion bonded to the neoprene portion and the rubber layer of the upper;    a rubber outsole being attached to the upper forming a waterproof barrier.    
     
     
         12 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 11 , including a layer of material secured to the neoprene layer distal the rubber layer.  
     
     
         13 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 12 , wherein the layer of material is fleece.  
     
     
         14 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 13 , including a midsole located between the outsole and floor and being formed of ethyl vinyl acetate.  
     
     
         15 . The waterproof footwear of  claim 14 , further including an insole located between the floor portion and the midsole.  
     
     
         16 . A method of manufacturing a waterproof footwear comprising: 
 covering an upper region of a last with a layer of neoprene having an outer surface;    covering substantially all of the layer of neoprene with a layer of rubber; and    vulcanizing the rubber layer and neoprene layer.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further including covering a bottom portion of the last with a layer of neoprene defining a floor region.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further including adhering a rubber layer of material to the neoprene floor region.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , including forming the neoprene sock by stitching a floor portion to at least one other neoprene piece of material.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further including securing a rubber outsole to the rubber covered neoprene layer.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further including securing a midsole formed from ethyl vinyl acetate to the outsole.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , further including placing an insole between the floor portion of the neoprene material and floor portion and the rubber layer prior to the vulcanizing step.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further including attaching a material to the inner surface of the neoprene layer.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the material is fleece.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the layer of neoprene is completely covered by the layer of rubber.