Water-resistant and floatable footwear and method of manufacture therefor

Abstract

A water-resistant and floatable footwear including an outsole and insole, and an upper member affixed to the sole, wherein the footwear is floatable in water. In particular, the insole of the footwear is constructed of the material “marine buoy;” that is, the insole has an inner structure and an outer coating, the inner structure being constructed of a thermoplastic resin and the outer coating being constructed of a vinyl polymer. The footwear is advantageously water-proof and provides buoyancy in water.

1 .- 25 . (canceled) 
   
   
       26 . A footwear comprising:
 a flexible sole including an outsole and an insole, the insole having:   a flexible inner compressible structure having a top surface, a bottom surface and a side surface extending around the outer perimeter of the inner structure between the top and bottom surfaces; and   a flexible outer coating forming a continuous layer that substantially covers the entire top, bottom and side surfaces of the compressible structure; and   a strap extending from the sole;   wherein the coating is a coating of vinyl polymer that forms a water barrier and the inner compressible structure is a different material than the outer coating; and,   wherein the vinyl polymer coating forms a continuous band that extends continuously and completely around at least a midportion of the compressible structure between a toe portion of the footwear and a heel portion of the footwear.   
   
   
       27 . A footwear of  claim 39  wherein the coating extends into the aperture. 
   
   
       28 . The footwear of  claim 39 , wherein the inner compressible structure is substantially wholly encapsulated in the outer coating to be substantially waterproof. 
   
   
       29 .- 38 . (canceled) 
   
   
       39 . A footwear of  claim 26  wherein the inner structure has at least one aperture for receiving the strap.