Running shoes, hiking shoes and boots, snowboard boots, alpine boots, hiking boots, and the like, having waterproof/breathable moisture transfer characteristics

Abstract

The waterproof/breathable moisture transfer liner for a running and hiking shoe includes an inner liner selected from technically advanced fabrics which are carefully selected. A series of layers are provided outside the inner liner including foam material layers, breathable membranes, a supportive mesh or a moldable foam, and an outer shell fabric. The applicability of the liner to alpine, snowboard boots, cross country, hiking boots, protective gear and helmets, along with appropriate variations for each application.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe or boot comprising:
 an inner moisture transfer material;   a thermal nonwoven composite formed from a nonwoven to which open cell foam material is added;   a thermal insulating layer; and   an outer moisture transfer material waterproofed by a waterproof film.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe or boot according to  claim 1 , wherein the open cell foam is hydrophilic and breathable. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe or boot according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the four layers defined therein are attached to each other by lamination. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe or boot according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two of the four layers defined therein are attached to each other by mechanical bonding. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe or boot according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer moisture transfer material includes a fabric that is structurally knitted or woven to repel water. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe or boot according to  claim 1 , wherein the open cell foam has reversible thermal enhanced properties. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe or boot according to  claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven has reversible thermal enhanced properties. 
     
     
         8 . A shoe or boot comprising:
 an inner moisture transfer material; and   a thermal nonwoven composite formed from a combination of synthetic fibers and an open-cell foam material.   
     
     
         9 . The shoe or boot according to  claim 8 , wherein the thermal nonwoven composite has reversible enhanced thermal properties; 
     
     
         10 . The shoe or boot according to  claim 8 , further comprising an outer layer attached to the thermal nonwoven composite, the outer layer comprising encapsulated synthetic fibers. 
     
     
         11 . A shoe or boot comprising:
 an inner moisture transfer material;   a thermal nonwoven composite which includes an open-cell foam material and has reversible enhanced thermal properties;   
     
     
         12 . The shoe or boot according to  claim 11 , wherein the nonwoven has been combined with an open cell foam that has reversible enhanced thermal properties.