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 composite comprising:
 an inner moisture transfer, breathable, antimicrobial material or fabric;   an anti-microbial thermal nonwoven composite layer comprised of silver, deep-grooved and shaped fibers combined with a flexible, germicidal, open-cell foam material;   a thermal insulating nonwoven or open-cell foam layer; and   an outer moisture transfer material waterproofed by a waterproof film, wherein at least one of the layers has reversible enhanced thermal properties, and wherein the deep-grooved fibers have at least four deep grooves.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe or boot composite according to  claim 1 , wherein the open-cell foam material is hydrophilic and breathable. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe or boot composite 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 composite 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 composite according to  claim 1 , wherein the outer moisture transfer material includes a water repellant knitted or woven fabric. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe or boot composite 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 composite according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermal nonwoven composite layer is coated with a polymer dot matrix including a phase change material. 
     
     
         8 . A shoe or boot inner lining or liner composite comprising:
 an inner moisture transfer, anti-microbial, breathable material or fabric; and   an anti-microbial thermal nonwoven composite comprised of a nonwoven material containing silver, shaped and deep-grooved fibers affixed to an open-cell foam material,   wherein the thermal nonwoven composite is affixed to the inner moisture transfer, breathable material or fabric and moisture vapor is transferable from the inner moisture transfer material or fabric through the thermal nonwoven composite,   wherein at least one of the inner moisture transfer material or fabric and thermal nonwoven composite has reversible enhanced thermal properties, and   wherein the deep-grooved fibers have at least four deep grooves.   
     
     
         9 . The shoe or boot inner lining or liner composite 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 inner lining or liner composite 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 lining or liner composite comprising:
 an inner moisture transfer, breathable anti-microbial material or fabric; and
 an anti-microbial thermal nonwoven composite which includes a breathable germicidal, open-cell foam material affixed to a nonwoven material containing silver, shaped and deep-grooved fibers, 
 wherein the anti-microbial thermal nonwoven composite is affixed to the inner moisture transfer breathable material or fabric, and 
 wherein the deep-grooved fibers have at least four deep grooves. 
   
     
     
         12 . The shoe or boot lining or liner composite according to  claim 11 , wherein the thermal nonwoven composite is coated with a polymer dot matrix including a phase change material.