Breathable Shoe with Barrier for Protection from Wind and Water

Abstract

Shoes have an upper which is highly breathable and made of air-permeable materials. A barrier is attached to the sole with a water-tight bond and circumscribes the shoes. The barrier is impermeable to wind and water. Optionally, the barrier is present only in a front section of the shoes, in which case the barrier terminal ends are bonded to to an outer surface of the shoe. The barrier extends upwardly from the sole about 0.5-6 inches. The barrier may be curved such that it extends over a front section of the shoe, optionally following the shape of the upper. The barrier provides significant protection from wind and water, but does not greatly impair breathability of the upper.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A breathable shoe with wind and water protection, comprising:
 a) a sole;   b) a shoe upper attached to the sole, wherein at least 20% of a surface area of the upper has an air permeability of at least 40 SCFM/SF;   b) a barrier attached to the sole along a perimeter of the sole, wherein the barrier is impermeable to wind and water, wherein the barrier-sole attachment is water-tight, wherein the barrier circumscribes the shoe and wherein the barrier is at least 0.5 inches tall everywhere.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the barrier has an inward curve such that it covers some of the upper in a front section in a top view. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe of  claim 2  further comprising an uncovered area in the front section, wherein the uncovered area is not covered by the barrier in a top view. 
     
     
         4 . The shoe of  claim 3  wherein the barrier has an upward curve next to the uncovered area. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe of  claim 3  further comprising an edge coupler for bringing together edges of the barrier adjacent to the uncovered area. 
     
     
         6 . The shoe of  claim 30  further comprising a gap between the barrier and the upper, and at least two spacers disposed in the gap. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe of  claim 5  wherein the spacers are attached to the upper or are attached to the barrier, and wherein no spacers are attached to both the upper and the barrier 
     
     
         7 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein at least 40% of the surface area of the upper in a toe box has an air permeability of at least 40 SCFM/SF. 
     
     
         8 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein at least 40% of the surface area of the upper in a front section has an air permeability of at least 70 SCFM/SF. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein at least 40% of the surface area of the upper in a front section has an air permeability of at least 120 SCFM/SF. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the barrier has a height in the range of 1-6 inches tall everywhere around the shoe. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe of  claim 1  wherein the upper in a toe box has an average air permeability in the range of 40-400 SCFM/SF. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe of  claim 1  further comprising a cover that is removably attachable over an uncovered area of the upper in a front section, and wherein the cover is impermeable to water. 
     
     
         15 . A breathable shoe with wind and water protection, comprising:
 a) a sole;   b) a shoe upper attached to the sole, wherein the upper in a front section has an average air permeability of at least 40 SCFM/SF;   b) a barrier attached to the sole, wherein the barrier is impermeable to wind and water, wherein the barrier-sole attachment is water-tight, wherein the barrier circumscribes the shoe and wherein the barrier is at least 0.5 inches tall everywhere around the perimeter of the shoe.   
     
     
         16 . The shoe of  claim 15  wherein the upper in the front section has an average air permeability of at least 80 SCFM/SF. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe of  claim 15  wherein the upper in the front section has an average air permeability of at least 120 SCFM/SF. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe of  claim 15  wherein the barrier has an inward curve such that it covers some of the upper in a front section in a top view. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe of  claim 18  further comprising an uncovered area in the front section, wherein the uncovered area is not covered by the barrier in a top view. 
     
     
         20 . The shoe of  claim 19  wherein the barrier has an upward curve next to the uncovered area. 
     
     
         21 . The shoe of  claim 19  further comprising an edge coupler for bringing together edges of the barrier adjacent to the uncovered area. 
     
     
         22 . The shoe of  claim 18  further comprising a gap between the barrier and the upper, and at least two spacers disposed in the gap. 
     
     
         23 . The shoe of  claim 22  wherein the spacers are attached to the upper or are attached to the barrier, and wherein no spacers are attached to both the upper and the barrier. 
     
     
         24 . The shoe of  claim 15  wherein the barrier has a height in the range of 1-6 inches tall everywhere around the shoe. 
     
     
         25 . The shoe of  claim 15  wherein the upper in a toe box has an average air permeability in the range of 40-400 SCFM/SF. 
     
     
         26 . The shoe of  claim 15  further comprising a cover that is removably attachable over an uncovered area of the upper in a front section, and wherein the cover is impermeable to water. 
     
     
         27 . A breathable shoe with wind and water protection, comprising:
 a) a sole;   b) a shoe upper attached to the sole, wherein the upper in a front section has an average air permeability of at least 40 SCFM/SF;   c) a barrier attached to the sole in the front section of the shoe, wherein the barrier is impermeable to wind and water, wherein the barrier-sole attachment is water-tight, wherein a barrier height is at least 0.5 inches everywhere, and wherein the barrier does not extend around a heel of the shoe; and   d) terminal ends of the barrier attached to the upper in a middle section or rear section with a water-tight bond, and wherein portions of the shoe unprotected by the barrier are water resistant or waterproof.   
     
     
         28 . The shoe of  claim 30  wherein a heel of the shoe is unprotected by the barrier, and wherein the heel is waterproof. 
     
     
         29 . The shoe of  claim 27  wherein the upper in the front section has an average air permeability of at least 80 SCFM/SF. 
     
     
         30 . The shoe of  claim 27  wherein the upper in the front section has an average air permeability of at least 120 SCFM/SF. 
     
     
         31 . The shoe of  claim 27  wherein the barrier has an inward curve such that it covers some of the upper in a front section in a top view. 
     
     
         32 . The shoe of  claim 31  further comprising an uncovered area in the front section, wherein the uncovered area is not covered by the barrier in a top view. 
     
     
         33 . The shoe of  claim 32  wherein the barrier has an upward curve next to the uncovered area. 
     
     
         34 . The shoe of  claim 32  further comprising an edge coupler for bringing together edges of the barrier adjacent to the uncovered area. 
     
     
         35 . The shoe of  claim 31  further comprising a gap between the barrier and the upper, and at least two spacers disposed in the gap. 
     
     
         36 . The shoe of  claim 35  wherein the spacers are attached to the upper or are attached to the barrier, and wherein no spacers are attached to both the upper and the barrier. 
     
     
         37 . The shoe of  claim 27  wherein the barrier has a height in the range of 1-6 inches tall everywhere around the shoe. 
     
     
         38 . The shoe of  claim 27  further comprising a cover that is removably attachable over an uncovered area of the upper in a front section, and wherein the cover is impermeable to water.