Performance outdoor footwear

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to footwear articles and a method for fabricating a footwear article. The footwear article comprises an upper and a sole that is comprised of a graphene-containing polymer composition and having one or more layers affixed to the upper. The method for fabricating the footwear article comprises forming a sole on an upper. The sole comprises a graphene-containing polymer composition and one or more layers affixed to the upper.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A footwear article comprising:
 an upper; and   a sole comprised of a graphene-containing polymer composition and having one or more layers affixed to the upper.   
     
     
         2 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the graphene-containing polymer composition includes graphene sheets. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear article of  claim 2 , wherein the graphene sheets have a surface area of at least 100 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the upper includes a graphene-containing polymer composition. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the upper and a layer included in the one or more layers comprise a single continuous unit. 
     
     
         6 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the graphene-containing polymer composition has one or more of the following characteristics:
 a tensile strength of 50 lbs. or greater;   a thermal insulation value of at least 0.12 clo;   a coefficient of friction of at least 0.75 when dry; and   a coefficient of friction of at least 0.5 when wet.   
     
     
         7 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the sole further comprises a formation of one or more cleat protrusions included on a surface of the sole. 
     
     
         8 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the upper includes a graphene-containing polymer composition. 
     
     
         9 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein the upper includes a toe cap comprised of a second graphene-containing polymer composition; and
 wherein the first and second graphene-containing polymer composition include the same or different graphenic material.   
     
     
         10 . The footwear article of  claim 7 , wherein the one or more cleat protrusions are removable and/or include the graphene-containing polymer composition. 
     
     
         11 . A method for fabricating a footwear article, the method comprising:
 forming a sole on an upper, wherein the sole comprises a graphene-containing polymer composition and one or more layers affixed to the upper.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the graphene-containing polymer composition includes graphene sheets. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the graphene sheets have a surface area of at least 100 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the upper includes a graphene-containing polymer composition. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the upper and a layer included in the one or more layers are formed as a single continuous unit. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the graphene-containing polymer composition has one or more of the following characteristics:
 a tensile strength of 50 lbs per square inch. or greater;   a thermal insulation value of at least 0.12 clo;   a coefficient of friction of at least 0.75 when dry; and   a coefficient of friction of at least 0.5 when wet.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sole further comprises a formation of one or more cleat protrusions formed on a surface of the sole. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the upper includes a graphene-containing polymer composition, and wherein the upper and/or the sole exhibit an improved temperature resistance compared to a similar elastomer of similar weight and/or dimension. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the upper includes a toe cap comprised of a second graphene-containing polymer composition having an improved impact resistance compared to a similar polymer composition of similar weight and/or dimensions having no graphene; and
 wherein the first and second graphene-containing elastomers include the same or different graphenic material.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more cleat protrusions are removable and/or include the graphene-containing polymer composition.