Stretchable Waterproof Liner

Abstract

Waterproof articles of footwear having an improved fit and waterproof stretchable liners are provided. The footwear and liners of the present technology may include various stretchable components configured to tightly secure and conform to a user's foot and adapted to provide a tighter and more versatile fit around the differently sized and shaped feet of various different users. In some aspects of the present technology, the waterproof liner may contain one or more stretchable panels and one or more non-stretchable or less stretchable panels. In other aspects, waterproof footwear may be provided with stretchable components such as straps or bands adapted to secure a user's foot.

1 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper defining a cavity adapted to receive a foot of a user, wherein the upper is attached to an outsole; and   a belt disposed within the cavity, said belt running from a medial to a lateral edge of the article of footwear, in an ankle region.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the upper of the article of footwear does not include a tongue and lacing mechanism, a zipper, a gore, or other adjustment mechanism. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , further comprising a liner comprising a fabric body defining a cavity adapted to receive the user's foot, the fabric body having a sole portion configured to underlie the user's foot and lie substantially parallel to the outsole, and an upper portion configured to overlie the user's foot and to fit beneath the upper, wherein the belt overlies the liner. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the article of footwear or the liner is waterproof. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 1 , wherein the belt comprises at least one stretchable strap. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one stretchable strap comprises at least one of PTFE, expanded PTFE, spandex, or polyester. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 3 , wherein the fabric body comprises a first material and a second stretchable material. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first material and the second stretchable material is waterproof. 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein the second stretchable material is provided in a region of the upper portion running from a midfoot region to a collar region and a remainder of the fabric body is formed of the first material. 
     
     
         10 . The article of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein the fabric body comprises a plurality of panels of fabric. 
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 10 , wherein at least one panel is a non-stretchable panel formed of the first material and at least one panel is a stretchable panel formed of the second stretchable material. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the stretchable panel is provided in a region of the upper portion running from a midfoot region to a collar region, and a remainder of the plurality of panels are non-stretchable panels. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 11 , wherein the stretchable panel is provided in an ankle region of the upper portion, and a remainder of the plurality of panels are non-stretchable panels. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 13 , wherein the stretchable panel is configured to be tighter than adjacent non-stretchable panels, when the stretchable panel is not in a stretched or expanded state. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein the first material is at least one selected from the group consisting of neoprene, polytetrafluoroethylene (“PTFE”), expanded PTFE, polyurethane, polyester, wool, cotton, nylon, polyester knit material, and TPU knit material. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein the second stretchable material is at least one selected from the group consisting of spandex, polyester, nylon, polyester knit material, and TPU knit material. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 7 , wherein the second stretchable material is capable of elastic expansion to at least 105% of an original length, width, or thickness of the second stretchable material. 
     
     
         18 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper defining a cavity adapted to receive a foot of a user, wherein the upper is attached to an outsole;   a liner comprising a fabric body defining a cavity adapted to receive the user's foot; and   a belt disposed within the cavity, said belt running from a medial to a lateral edge of the article of footwear, in an ankle region,   wherein the fabric body has a sole portion configured to underlie the user's foot and lie substantially parallel to the outsole, and an upper portion configured to overlie the user's foot and to fit beneath the upper.   
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 18 , wherein the fabric body comprises a first waterproof material and a second stretchable waterproof material. 
     
     
         20 . A liner for an article of footwear, comprising:
 a fabric body defining a cavity adapted to receive a user's foot,   the fabric body having a sole portion configured to underlie the user's foot and an upper portion configured to overlie the user's foot;   the fabric body comprising a first material and a second stretchable material.