Footwear waterproofing and method of applying same

Abstract

Water-repellant footwear is provided with a water-repellant barrier incorporated into the upper of the footwear, where the upper may contain a water-absorbing material. The water-repellant barrier may be provided at or near the top edge of the upper, and may comprise a material such as ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), polyurethane, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or neoprene. The water-repellant barrier, and the footwear as a whole, may avoid the need for a durable water-repellant (DWR) treatment. The water-repellant barrier may extend around a circumference of the footwear, in a continuous loop, in one possible approach. The water-repellant barrier may include a portion which is incorporated into the gussets of the tongue of the footwear and into the tongue itself.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 a fabric upper material;   a collar lining; and   a water-repellant barrier, wherein the water-repellant barrier comprises a top portion which is attached to the collar lining and a bottom portion which is attached to the fabric upper material.   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the water-repellant barrier is free of a perfluorochemical (PFC). 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the water-repellant barrier is free of a durable water-repellant coating. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the water-repellant barrier comprises one or more of ethylene-vinyl acetate, polyurethane, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or neoprene. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the water-repellant barrier comprise a middle section;   the top portion comprises a top flange extending from the middle section;   the top flange is attached to the collar lining;   the bottom portion comprises a bottom flange extending from the middle section; and   the bottom flange is attached to the fabric upper material.   
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric upper material is a water-absorbing material. 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the fabric upper material comprises a textile, foam, synthetic or other non-hydrophobic material. 
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the water-repellant barrier comprises a portion which extends along a collar of the footwear. 
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the water-repellant barrier comprises a portion which extends along an eyelet stay of the footwear. 
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the water-repellant barrier comprises a portion which extends along a gusset of a tongue of the footwear. 
     
     
         11 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the water-repellant barrier extends in a continuous loop along a circumference of the footwear. 
     
     
         12 . The article of  claim 1 , further comprising a tongue, wherein a bottom portion of the tongue comprises a water-repellant barrier which extends an entire width of the tongue. 
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 1 , further comprising an intermediate membrane between the fabric upper material and the collar lining, wherein the intermediate membrane comprises a breathable, waterproof material which is attached to an inner side of the fabric upper material. 
     
     
         14 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper material;   a bootie; and   a water-repellant barrier, wherein the water-repellant barrier comprises a top portion which is attached to the bootie and a bottom portion which is attached to the upper material.   
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 14 , wherein the bootie comprises a top portion and a bottom portion, and the top portion of the bootie extends from inside the footwear, adjacent to an internal face of the water-repellant barrier and over a top line of the footwear. 
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 15 , wherein the top portion of the bootie comprises foam and the bottom portion of the bootie comprises fabric. 
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 15 , wherein the bottom portion of the bootie is detached from the water-repellant barrier and the upper material. 
     
     
         18 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper material;   a collar lining;   a first water-repellant barrier attached to the upper material and the collar lining, at an exterior of the footwear; and   a tongue attached to the upper material, wherein at least a portion of the tongue comprises a second water-repellant barrier.   
     
     
         19 . The article of  claim 18 , further comprising an intermediate membrane between the upper material and the collar lining. 
     
     
         20 . The article of  claim 18 , wherein the collar lining comprises a bootie.