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.

1 . A shoe or boot comprising:
 an inner moisture transfer material;   a thermal nonwoven composite layer having a nonwoven top sheet to which a flexible, germicidal, open-cell foam material is attached;   a thermal insulating layer; and   an outer moisture transfer material waterproofed by a waterproof film,   wherein at least one of the layers has reversible enhanced thermal properties.   
     
     
         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 water repellant knitted or woven fabric. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe or boot according to  claim 1 , wherein the open-cell foam is coated with a polymer dot matrix including a phase change material. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe or boot according to  claim 1 , wherein the nonwoven top sheet is coated with a polymer dot matrix including a phase change material. 
     
     
         8 . A shoe or boot comprising:
 an inner moisture transfer material; and   a thermal nonwoven composite having a nonwoven topsheet of synthetic fibers affixed to an open-cell foam material,   wherein the thermal nonwoven composite is affixed to the inner moisture transfer material and moisture vapor is transferable from the inner moisture transfer material through the thermal nonwoven composite, and   wherein at least one of the inner moisture transfer material and thermal nonwoven composite have reversible enhanced thermal properties.   
     
     
         9 . The shoe or boot according to  claim 8 , wherein the thermal nonwoven composite is coated with a polymer dot matrix including a phase change material. 
     
     
         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; and   a thermal nonwoven composite which includes an open-cell foam material affixed to a nonwoven topsheet, the thermal nonwoven composite being affixed to the inner moisture transfer material,   wherein the thermal nonwoven composite has reversible enhanced thermal properties.   
     
     
         12 . The shoe or boot according to  claim 11 , wherein the thermal nonwoven composite is coated with a polymer dot matrix including a phase change material.