Amphibious footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear for providing traction on a wet surface having a water-durable upper made from an elastic flexible material and configured to conform to a foot, a slip-resistant sole, a lacing system, and a heel support. The footwear has a stretchable foot entry opening which encircles and substantially conforms to an ankle of a wearer, keeping out water. The upper is made from an elastic flexible composite which is constructed from a neoprene foam, and fabric laminated to the foam. The foam may have perforations which may not extend through the fabric, allowing liquids and vapor to escape the footwear. The fabric may be coated or treated to provide functions, such as hydrophobicity or oleophobicity.

1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a composite having a first layer and a second layer and forming an upper;   the first layer including an upper material that is elastic in a planar direction and made from a synthetic rubber foam containing polychloroprene;   the second layer including a first fabric that is elastic in a planar direction and bonded to at least one surface of the upper material;   perforations through the first layer which form cavities in the upper material.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , further comprising a single stretchable foot entry opening constructed without a tongue such that the opening encircles and substantially conforms to an ankle of a wearer. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , further comprising a heel support made from a material selected from the group consisting of natural rubber, synthetic rubber, a mixture of natural rubber and synthetic rubber, leather, or synthetic leather. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein a reinforcement member is positioned between the upper and the heel support. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear according to  claim 4 , wherein the reinforcement member comprises a reinforcement material selected from the group consisting of plastic, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, or polyurethane. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear according to  claim 4 , wherein the reinforcement member comprises a heel cup. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , further comprising a lacing system having at least two rows of holes, loops, eyelets, or hooks in which a lace can be looped. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear according to  claim 7 , wherein the rows are disposed in an anchor material selected from the group consisting of natural textile, synthetic textile, leather, or synthetic leather; and, the anchor material is stitched or bonded to the upper. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein a second fabric is bonded to a surface of the upper material. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear according to  claim 9 , wherein the second fabric comprises a different material from the first fabric. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the first fabric is limited in elasticity in a direction which opposes forces applied to a lacing system. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the first fabric is limited in elasticity in a direction which opposes forces applied to a foot-entry opening in the upper. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sole made from molded rubber and attached to a lower portion of the upper by an adhesive and by a foxing material that is adhered to an outer edge of the sole and to the upper. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sole having a pattern of channels disposed such that water can be channeled toward an edge of the sole. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear according to  claim 13 , further comprising drainage holes in the sole or foxing. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , further comprising a functional treatment applied to the first fabric which provides a function. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear according to  claim 16 , wherein the function is selected from the group consisting of hydrophobicity or oleophobicity. 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear according to  claim 16 , wherein the functional treatment is antibacterial. 
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear according to  claim 16 , wherein the first fabric is treated to provide more than one function. 
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear according to  claim 16 , wherein the first fabric is treated on more than one surface. 
     
     
         21 . The article of footwear according to  claim 9 , wherein a functional treatment is applied to the second fabric which provides a function. 
     
     
         22 . The article of footwear according to  claim 21 , wherein the function is selected from the group consisting of hydrophobicity or oleophobicity. 
     
     
         23 . The article of footwear according to  claim 21 , wherein the functional treatment is antibacterial. 
     
     
         24 . The article of footwear according to  claim 21 , wherein the second fabric is treated to provide more than one function. 
     
     
         25 . The article of footwear according to  claim 21 , wherein the second fabric is treated on more than one surface. 
     
     
         26 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , further comprising a metallization applied to the first fabric. 
     
     
         27 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , further comprising an infrared-reflective metallic layer bonded to the first fabric. 
     
     
         28 . The article of footwear according to  claim 9 , further comprising a metallization applied to the second fabric. 
     
     
         29 . The article of footwear according to  claim 9 , further comprising an infrared-reflective metallic layer bonded to the second fabric. 
     
     
         30 . The article of footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the synthetic rubber foam comprises neoprene. 
     
     
         31 . An article of footwear comprising:
 a composite having a first layer and a second layer and forming an upper;   the first layer including an upper material that is elastic in a planar direction and made from a synthetic rubber foam containing polychloroprene;   the second layer including a first fabric that is elastic in a planar direction and bonded to at least one surface of the upper material;   a functional treatment applied to the first fabric which provides a function; and,   perforations through the first layer which form cavities in the upper material and which do not extend through the second layer.