Softboots and waterproof/breathable moisture transfer composite and liner for in-line skates, ice-skates, hockey skates, snowboard boots, alpine boots, hiking boots and the like

Abstract

The soft boot and liner includes moisture transfer system that includes an inner fabric layer carefully selected from technically advanced fabrics. A series of layers are provided outside the inner liner including foam material layers, spacer fabrics and breathable membranes, in various orders. Encapsulation technology and waterproofing are used as well. The outer fabric layer is also capable of working with the other layers to promote the transfer of moisture. Frothed foams and flocking with fibers are further characteristics of the present invention. The moisture transfer system is incorporated into a soft boot or skate or as a removable liner for a shell boot. Numerous other modifications and applications are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A composite soft-shell, removable alpine or snowboard boot liner product comprising:
 a first layer comprised of breathable, moisture transferring, lining material including shaped, multi-grooved, channeled and wool fibers;   a second layer comprised of a breathable, moisture transferring and absorbent, open-cell, anti-microbial, punctured or perforated foam material backed by a breathable, moisture transferring, nonwoven material containing shaped, multi-grooved and channeled fibers;   a third layer comprised of a breathable, moldable spacer material;   a fourth layer comprised of a water resistant, exterior, synthetic, stretchable, soft-shell material.   
     
     
         2 . A composite soft-shell, removable alpine or snowboard boot liner product according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one or more of the layers or seams thereof are attached by adhesive bonding. 
     
     
         3 . A composite soft-shell, removable alpine or snowboard boot liner product according to  claim 1 , wherein the spacer material is a moldable three-dimensional knitted construction. 
     
     
         4 . A composite soft-shell, removable alpine or snowboard boot liner product according to  claim 1 , wherein the moldable spacer fabric is an anti-microbial, punctured or perforated, open-cell foam layer. 
     
     
         5 . A composite soft-shell, removable alpine or snowboard boot liner product according to  claim 4 , is attached to a water resistant, exterior, synthetic, elastomeric, soft-shell material. 
     
     
         6 . A composite soft-shell, removable alpine or snowboard boot liner according to  claim 1 , wherein the third layer is backed by a breathable, absorbent, moisture transferring nonwoven material. 
     
     
         7 . A composite soft-shell, removable alpine or snowboard boot liner according to  claim 1 , wherein the moisture transfer mechanically bonded nonwoven is material is comprised of shaped, and channeled fiber, and silver fibers. 
     
     
         8 . A composite soft-shell, removable alpine or snowboard boot liner product according to  claim 6 , wherein the third layer is a punctured foam. 
     
     
         9 . A composite soft-shell, removable alpine or snowboard boot liner product according to  claim 1 , wherein the first layer is a breathable spacer material. 
     
     
         10 . A composite soft-shell, removable alpine or snowboard boot liner according to  claim 1 , wherein the first layer is comprised of two materials, the breathable spacer material placed an the upper portion of an inside of the liner closest to an individual and attached to a moisture transfer fabric located in a lower portion of the inside of the liner. 
     
     
         11 . A composite soft-shell, removable alpine or snowboard boot liner product according to  claim 10 , wherein the breathable, spacer material in the first layer closest to the individual in the tongue portion of the liner is backed by a moisture transfer nonwoven and a punctured or perforated, breathable, anti-microbial foam and a stretchable, exterior soft-shell material. 
     
     
         12 . A composite soft-shell, removable alpine or snowboard boot liner product according to  claim 11 , wherein the open cell, punctured or perforated, breathable, anti-microbial foam is backed by a spacer material and the exterior soft-shell stretchable material. 
     
     
         13 . A composite soft-shell, removable, alpine or snowboard boot liner product according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one layer is treated or contains phase change technology or nanotechnology. 
     
     
         14 . A composite soft-shell, removable alpine or snowboard boot liner product according to  claim 1 , wherein the breathable, moisture transferring, lining material or water resistant, exterior, synthetic, stretchable, soft-shell material layer contains shaped, hollow, channeled, multi-grooved, and wool fibers.