FOOTWEAR WATERPROOFING AND METHOD OF APPLYING SAME

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments herein relate to footwear having a water-repellant barrier.

BACKGROUND

Various footwear materials have been used to keep the user's feet dry in wet environments. For example, a fully waterproof material such as rubber or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) can be used to form a rubber rain shoe or boot, but this material lacks flexibility and breathability. Another approach is to provide an innermost lining, followed by a waterproof membrane and an outermost fabric layer. One example of a waterproof membrane is a waterproof bootie. However, the outermost fabric layer may still absorb water, giving it a wetted-out appearance and increasing its weight, and the absorbed water may eventually reach the interior of the shoe. To address this concern, traditional waterproofing of footwear constructed of upper materials using textiles, foams, synthetics, and other non-water-resistant materials involves treating the material with a chemical which helps the materials resist absorbing and transporting water. For example, a durable water-repellant (DWR) coating or compound may be applied to the outward-facing surface of the outermost fabric layer to create a beading effect, but water may still eventually saturate the outermost fabric layer. Accordingly, even with a waterproof membrane such as a bootie, it is still necessary to treat the materials to prevent water from wicking up over the top of the membrane and entering the inside of the footwear.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 depicts a side view of an example shoe which includes a water-repellant barrier, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 2 depicts a side view of another example shoe which includes a water-repellant barrier, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 3A depicts a cross-sectional view of an example shoe, consistent with FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 3B depicts an enlarged view of the water-repellant barrier 106 of FIG. 3A, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 4A depicts another cross-sectional view of an example shoe, consistent with FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 4B depicts another cross-sectional view of an example shoe, consistent with FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 4C depicts another cross-sectional view of an example shoe, consistent with FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 4D depicts another cross-sectional view of an example shoe, consistent with FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 4E depicts another cross-sectional view of an example shoe, consistent with FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 5 depicts a side view of a shoe showing an example region in which a water-repellant barrier can be formed, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 6 depicts a front view of the shoe of FIG. 5, showing the example region 520 in which a water-repellant barrier can be formed, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 7A depicts a top view of an example gusseted tongue 700 of a shoe, consistent with FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, showing an example region in which a water-repellant barrier can be formed, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 7B depicts a top view of another example gusseted tongue 750 of a shoe, consistent with FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, where a bottom or lower portion 750L of the tongue comprises a water-repellant barrier 753, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 7C depicts a top view of another example gusseted tongue 780 of a shoe, similar to FIG. 7B, with the addition of water-repellant barriers 781 and 782, similar to the water-repellant barrier 714 of FIG. 7A, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 8 depicts a top view of an example gusseted tongue 800 which can include the water-repellant barrier of FIG. 7A, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 10 depicts a front perspective view of an example shoe that includes a water-repellant barrier that extends fully around the collar and the eyestay, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 11A depicts a perspective view of an example shoe that includes a water-repellant barrier on the collar and on the top portion of the tongue, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 11B depicts a close-up view of a portion of the example shoe of FIG. 11A, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 11C depicts a front view of the example shoe of FIG. 11A, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 12A depicts a side view of another example shoe 1200 which includes water-repellant barriers, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 12B depicts a view of a portion of the shoe of FIG. 12A in a deconstructed state, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 12C depicts another view of the shoe of FIG. 12A in a deconstructed state, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 12D depicts another view of the shoe of FIG. 12A in a deconstructed state, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 13 depicts an example bootie 1300 in a shoe 1310, in accordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations in turn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding embodiments; however, the order of description should not be construed to imply that these operations are order dependent.

The description may use perspective-based descriptions such as up/down, back/front, and top/bottom. Such descriptions are merely used to facilitate the discussion and are not intended to restrict the application of disclosed embodiments.

The terms “coupled” and “connected,” along with their derivatives, may be used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. Rather, in particular embodiments, “connected” may be used to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical contact with each other. “Coupled” may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical contact. However, “coupled” may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still cooperate or interact with each other.

For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “A/B” or in the form “A and/or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “at least one of A, B, and C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C). For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “(A)B” means (B) or (AB) that is, A is an optional element.

The description may use the terms “embodiment” or “embodiments,” which may each refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments. Furthermore, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments, are synonymous, and are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.).

With respect to the use of any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.

As mentioned at the outset, various challenges are presented in providing water-repellant footwear.

One approach is to chemically treat any material in the footwear upper which is outside an intermediate waterproof barrier or membrane to increase the material's hydrophobic properties in order to control the rate of water wicking through the material. For textiles and substrates, the materials are typically treated in a bath comprising a durable water-repellant (DWR) chemical. However, the cost of such treatments for the upper materials is significant and the process adds time and complexity to manufacturing.

The solutions provided herein address the above and other issues. The solutions provide water-repellant footwear, and methods for fabricating such footwear, which can eliminate the need for DWR treatments. The solutions can be implemented economically to allow for use in mass production footwear.

In various embodiments, the solutions provide water-repellant footwear with a water-repellant barrier incorporated into the upper of the footwear. 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), neoprene, or other material. In one possible approach, the water-repellant barrier, and the footwear as a whole, is free of DWR chemicals, such as perfluorochemicals (PFCs).

A water-repellant material is generally hydrophobic, e.g., having the ability to repel water and discourage water penetration. Water which impinges on a water-repellent material will typically bead into water droplets and run off the material rather than penetrate the material. A water-resistant material tends to resist but not entirely prevent the penetration of water. Nylon and polyester materials which have a tightly woven structure are examples of water-resistant materials. A waterproof material such as rubber or PVC tends to be impervious to water. In the examples herein, a water-resistant material or waterproof material may optionally be used in place of, or in addition to, a water-repellant material according to the degree of resistance to water penetration.

The water-repellant barrier may extend around a circumference of the footwear, in a continuous loop, in one possible approach. In another possible approach, the water-repellant barrier includes one or more portions on the collar and eyestay and another portion on the tongue. Other configurations are possible as well.

The water-repellant barrier may be fully or partially visible externally. The water-repellant barrier may include a portion which is incorporated into the gussets of the tongue of the footwear. The water-repellant barrier may be attached to an outermost fabric layer by stitching, gluing or other attachment techniques.

In one possible implementation, the water-repellant barrier and the outermost fabric layer are the outermost layers of the footwear, a waterproof membrane is an intermediate layer, and a fabric lining, also referred to as a collar lining, is an innermost layer.

The footwear provides a number of advantages, including preventing water from moving up the outside of the footwear and entering the interior of the footwear from the top, e.g., at the collar or top of the tongue. The water may wick up the outermost fabric layer until it reaches the water-repellant barrier, at which point its upward movement is stopped. This keeps the user's feet dry by preventing water from wicking over the top of the upper and wetting the inner fabric lining. Additionally, the water-repellant barrier may be formed from a material without using a DWR treatment. The footwear therefore achieves the goal of a water-resistance in an economical manner.

Optionally, the footwear may include a PFC-free DWR agent such as paraffin and silicon-based active ingredients, e.g., silicon and silicon dioxide based compounds including silicones.

The water-repellant barrier can be incorporated into footwear of various types including shoes and boots, generally, a shoe refers to footwear which does not cover the ankles, while a boot covers the ankles and sometimes the lower part of the leg.

The footwear can provide a cooling effect by allowing water to wick up and saturate a portion of the upper that is below the water-repellant barrier, while still preventing water ingress to the interior of the footwear.

The above and other features can be understood further in view of the following discussion.

FIG. 1 depicts a side view of an example shoe 100 (an example of an article of footwear) which includes a water-repellant barrier 106, in accordance with various embodiments. The shoe can be of various types including a jogging shoe or a trail running shoe. The shoe includes a sole 102, an upper 104 attached to the sole, a top line 110 of the upper, a collar 108, eyelets 124, an eyelet stay 114, a tongue 112, a heel cap 118, a toe cap 120 and shoe laces 122.

The water-repellant barrier 106 may extend around a circumference of the shoe, in one approach, in a continuous closed loop. This approach ensures that the water which wicks ups the outer layer of the upper does not enter the inside of the shoe. However, it is also possible for the water-repellant barrier to extend only partially around the shoe. In this example, the water-repellant barrier 106 includes a portion 106x which extends along the collar 108, a portion 106y which extends along the eyelet stay 114, and a portion 106z which extends along a bottom of the tongue at a vamp 104v of the upper 104. The vamp is a portion of the upper that covers the front of the foot. The opposite side of the shoe is not shown but may have a similar construction.

Additionally, the water-repellant barrier can have a uniform or varying height and width. The water-repellant barrier can be located adjacent to, or otherwise proximate to the top line of the upper in one approach, as shown. In another approach, the water-repellant barrier is located mid-way between the bottom of the upper, at the sole, and the top line of the upper. Potentially, multiple water-repellant barriers can be located at different heights along the upper.

The upper 104 comprises a fabric upper material. For example, the upper 104 can comprise a wettable, e.g., a water-absorbing, non-hydrophobic material, which provides flexibility and breathability, as opposed to fully waterproof structures such as rubber and PVC or as opposed to a water-repellant material. Example materials include synthetic materials such as nylon, polyester, polypropylene and spandex, and natural materials such as plant-based fibers and wool, often combined with synthetic fibers. Other example fabric upper materials include a textile or foam.

FIG. 2 depicts a side view of another example shoe 200 which includes a water-repellant barrier 206, in accordance with various embodiments. In this example, the water-repellant barrier extends around the collar 108 of the shoe. A separate water-repellant barrier may further extend in the gussets of the tongue 112, such as depicted in FIG. 7A. Or, the water-repellant barrier in the gussets, which is not visible externally, and the water-repellant barrier 206, which is visible externally, may be connected in a continuous loop which extends around a circumference of the shoe.

FIG. 3A depicts a cross-sectional view of an example shoe, consistent with FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, in accordance with various embodiments. The water-repellant barrier 106 may be made of polymer such as EVA, polyurethane, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or neoprene or another barrier material which is hydrophobic or otherwise water-repellant (W/R) or waterproof (W/P) and has a slick surface. The water-repellant barrier can have a cross-section as shown which is thicker in the middle and has a stepped down thickness at the top and bottom, forming flanges. See also FIG. 3B. The water-repellant barrier includes a top portion 380 and a bottom portion 381. The bottom portion 381 of the water-repellant barrier attaches to the external upper 104.

For example, a surface 106b of the water-repellant barrier may be attached to a portion 104a of the external upper 104 by stitching 352 (represented by a dashed line), laminating, gluing or other approach. A top portion of the water-repellant barrier attaches to a collar lining 310. In one possible approach, the collar lining also does not include a DWR treatment. For example, a surface 106a at the top portion 380 of the water-repellant barrier may be attached to a portion 310b of the collar lining using stitching 350, laminating, gluing or other approach. In this example, portions 310a and 310b of the collar lining are folded over the top line 390 of the upper. The top line 390 can represent a boundary between the interior and the exterior of the shoe. One option is to add an anti-wicking, polyurethane seam tape to cover the stiches, to prevent ingress of water at the seams.

The shoe further includes an intermediate membrane 320, which can be a breathable, waterproof material which is attached to the inner side 104i of the outer layer of fabric of the upper 104, to form a dual layer structure. The intermediate membrane 320 can include a lower or bottom portion 320L between the upper 104 and the collar lining 310 and an upper or top portion 320U between the water-repellant barrier 106 and the collar lining 310. One example of such a membrane is the Columbia® OutDry™ technology. Such membranes can be used in combination with a collar and tongue water barrier construction to create a dam that prevents water from entering the shoe, even with the no treatment of the upper materials. The intermediate membrane 320 may be non-porous or microporous, and may include a plastic polymer, polyurethane, polyethylene, polyester, and/or polytetrafluoroethylene. The intermediate membrane can be coated on the external upper 104 or laminated or heat-bonded to the external upper 104, for example.

The dual layer structure can repel water from entering the inside of the shoe through the dual layer structure but does not prevent water from wicking up the side of the shoe and entering from the top line. The water-repellant barrier 106 serves this purpose. The intermediate layer may extend upwardly to a point 320a which is partway along the height of the water-repellant barrier 106, in one approach. Generally, the intermediate layer should extend somewhat above the bottom of the water-repellant barrier 106 so that water cannot enter in an opening at the bottom of the water-repellant barrier 106.

At the bottom of the shoe, tape 330 and a gasket 340 can be provided.

The upper does not contain an anti-wicking (AW) material such as a DWR material, in one approach. Although, potentially, the upper may contain an anti-wicking (AW) material such as a PFC-containing or PFC-free DWR chemical/material to provide additional water-resistance.

The collar lining 310 also does not include an anti-wicking (AW) material such as a DWR material, in one approach. Although, potentially, the collar lining may contain an anti-wicking (AW) material such as a PFC-containing or PFC-free DWR chemical/material to provide additional water-resistance.

In one approach, the top portion 320U of the intermediate membrane 320 is laminated directly to an external water-repellant barrier 106 or dam, which is incorporated into the collar, tongue top and gussets. Since the water cannot enter the shoe upper, typical materials that allow water wicking such as foams, reinforcements, threads, and upper materials (e.g., textile, synthetic, and leathers) can be used while preventing water intrusion into the interior of the shoe.

In the absence of the water-repellant barrier, with a bootie construction, water can penetrate the external upper and enter the upper. The foot may stay dry with a bootie (membrane sock), as long as the external materials, e.g., foams, reinforcements, threads, and upper materials (e.g., textile, synthetic, and leathers) are treated with DWR.

A strong adhesive bond should be maintained between the upper non-wicking material and the internal membrane.

The bootie construction in combination with the water-repellant barrier maintains an external and internal dam or gap, that prevents water from climbing up to the collar and/or tongue lining and down into the shoe. A clear gap should be maintained between the upper and the internal wicking materials around the area of internal membrane and the external non-wicking material. See also FIG. 4E.

FIG. 3B depicts an enlarged view of the water-repellant barrier 106 of FIG. 3A, in accordance with various embodiments. As mentioned, the water-repellant barrier can have a thicker middle section 106-3 and thinner bottom and top flanges 106-1 and 106-2 (or edges), respectively, at the bottom and top portions, respectively, of the water-repellant barrier. The water-repellant barrier is attached to the upper and the collar lining at the bottom and top flanges 106-1 and 106-2, respectively, in one possible approach. The thicker middle section of the water-repellant barrier provides a surface 106d at the bottom of the water-repellant barrier which can help block water from wicking up along the outside of the shoe. The blocking can be enhanced when the thicker middle section of the water-repellant barrier extends outward, past the adjacent upper material.

The middle section 106-3 has a width w while the bottom and top flanges 106-1 and 106-2, respectively, have a common thickness w2, respectively. In another approach, the flanges have different thicknesses. The middle section 106-3 includes a portion 106-3a which has a thickness w1. The water-repellant barrier has a height h which is a sum of the height h1 of the top flange 106-2, the height h2 of the middle section 106-3 and the height h3 of the bottom flange 106-1. The middle section 106-3 has a width w and a height h2, and includes an external face 106c and an opposing internal face 106i.

A raised region or strip could be formed on the external face 106c to provide further resistance to the upward movement of water and/or for aesthetic reasons.

FIG. 4A depicts another cross-sectional view of an example shoe, consistent with FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, in accordance with various embodiments. In this example, the membrane 320 extends to a top point 320b at the top 106e of the water-repellant barrier 106.

FIG. 4B depicts another cross-sectional view of an example shoe, consistent with FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, in accordance with various embodiments. In this example, the water-repellant barrier 406 has a top portion 406a which is attached, at a back side 406a1, to the portion 310b of the collar lining, which is folded over the top point 320b of the membrane at the top line of the upper.

FIG. 4C depicts another cross-sectional view of an example shoe, consistent with FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, in accordance with various embodiments. In this example, a portion 310c of the collar lining 310 is attached to the back side 406a1 of the top portion 406a of the water-repellant barrier 406. A capping layer 460 can be provided to hide the seam between the water-repellant barrier 406 and the portion 310c of the collar lining 310.

FIG. 4D depicts another cross-sectional view of an example shoe, consistent with FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, in accordance with various embodiments. In this example, the water-repellant barrier 476 has an H profile, where grooves or openings 476a and 476b are formed at the top and bottom, respectively, of the water-repellant barrier as attachment points for the portion 310a of the collar lining 310 and the portion 104a of the external upper 104, respectively.

FIG. 4E depicts another cross-sectional view of an example shoe, in accordance with various embodiments. In this example, the collar lining comprises a bootie 480 which includes a top portion 480t and a bottom portion 480b, where the top portion 480t is attached to the top portion 380 of the water-repellant barrier 106, e.g., at surfaces 106a1, 106a, 106a2 and 106a3 (denoted by straight dashed lines). The top portion 480t may also be attached to the bottom portion 480b such as by stitching. The bootie could be attached along a portion, or the full height of, the internal face 106i of the water-repellant barrier.

The top portion 480t extends from inside the shoe, adjacent to the internal face 106i of the water-repellant barrier 106 and over the top line 110 of the shoe or other footwear, to an exterior of the shoe.

In one approach, all or part of the top portion 480t of the bootie is attached to the water-repellant barrier 106 while the bottom portion 480b of the bootie 480 is left detached from the water-repellant barrier 106 and the upper 104. In some cases, the bootie is removable from the footwear. Other approaches are possible as well. The top portion can be a padded material such as foam where it contacts the user's heel, and the bottom portion can be another material such as a fabric.

This approach can be more economical than the approach of FIG. 3A, for example, if the intermediate membrane 320 is not used.

One example of a bootie uses the Columbia® Omni-Tech™ technology, which is a waterproof and breathable membrane. See also FIG. 13.

FIG. 5 depicts a side view of a shoe showing an example region 520 in which a water-repellant barrier can be formed, in accordance with various embodiments. A line 530 depicts a lower boundary of the region in which the water-repellant barrier can be formed. The upper 510 material would be attached to the water-repellant barrier at the line 530. In this example, the water-repellant barrier extends fully around a circumference of the shoe.

The shoe depicted is an athletic shoe, but the water-repellant barrier can be used with different types of shoes and boots.

FIG. 6 depicts a front view of the shoe of FIG. 5, showing the example region 520 in which a water-repellant barrier can be formed, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 7A depicts a top view of an example gusseted tongue 700 of a shoe, consistent with FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, showing an example region in which a water-repellant barrier 714 can be formed, in accordance with various embodiments. A tongue of a shoe can be connected to the upper by a gusset on opposing sides of the tongue. Here, the tongue 702 includes a top, free edge 704, a bottom edge 706 which is attached to the vamp of the shoe, a first side edge 702a which is connected to a first gusset 710 and a second side edge 702b which is connected to a second gusset 720. The first gusset is connected to the upper at an edge 710a, and the second gusset is connected to the upper at an edge 720a. Additionally, the water-repellant barrier 714 includes a portion 714a which extends along the first gusset 710, a portion 714b which extends along the bottom edge 706 of the tongue, and a portion 714c which extends along the second gusset 720. The water-repellant barrier can be attached to a top surface of the gussets, in one approach.

The water-repellant barrier 714 can potentially be connected to the water-repellant barrier 206 of FIG. 3, for example, to form an uninterrupted loop around the circumference of the shoe. In another approach, the water-repellant barrier 714 of the tongue and gussets is separate from the water-repellant barrier 206 of the upper. The water-repellant barrier 714 may be thinner or otherwise smaller in cross-section than the water-repellant barrier 206 to keep the area flexible and maintain room for the toe. The portion 714b of the water-repellant barrier 714 which extends along the bottom edge 706 of the tongue may be thinner or otherwise smaller in cross-section than portions 714a and 714c which extend along the gussets, in one possible approach.

FIG. 7B depicts a top view of another example gusseted tongue 750 of a shoe, consistent with FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, where a bottom portion 750L of the tongue comprises a water-repellant barrier 753, in accordance with various embodiments. In this example, a top or upper portion 750U of the tongue comprises another material 751 such as foam.

The top portion 750U includes a top, free edge 751t, a first side edge 751a which is connected to a first gusset 760 and a second side edge 751b which is connected to a second gusset 770. The first gusset is connected to the upper at an edge 760a, and the second gusset is connected to the upper at an edge 770a. The water-repellant barrier 753 or material of the bottom portion 750L of the tongue has a top edge 753t which is attached to the bottom edge 751b of the top portion 750U of the tongue and to the bottom edges 764d and 764e of the first and second gussets 760 and 770, respectively. The bottom portion 750L also includes a bottom edge 753b which is attached to the vamp of the shoe.

The tongue has a length L and a width W. In one approach, the water-repellant barrier 753 may extend from the bottom edge 753b to at least 30-50% of the length. In one approach, the water-repellant barrier 753 extends the entire length of the tongue. In one approach, the bottom portion but not the top portion of the tongue comprises a water-repellant barrier. In one approach, the water-repellant barrier extends the entire width of the tongue.

With this placement of the water-repellant barrier 753, as water works its way up the side of the upper, it does not have a contact point on the tongue that it could travel along. This second water-repellant barrier 753 works with the first water-repellant barrier 106 or 206, for example, to provide water-repellant footwear. FIG. 7C depicts a top view of another example gusseted tongue 780 of a shoe, similar to FIG. 7B, with the addition of water-repellant barriers 781 and 782, similar to the water-repellant barrier 714 of FIG. 7A, in accordance with various embodiments. The tongue 780 includes the same bottom portion 750L as FIG. 7B. The top portion 780U includes water-repellant barriers 781 and 782 in the first and second gussets 760 and 770, respectively. The additional water-repellant barriers can provide a further blockage to water which attempts to enter the interior of the shoe.

FIG. 8 depicts a top view of an example gusseted tongue 800 which can include the water-repellant barrier of FIG. 7A, in accordance with various embodiments. The tongue includes a central region 810, first and second gussets 811 and 812, respectively, and a flap 815.

FIG. 9 depicts a front perspective view of an example shoe that includes a water-repellant barrier on the collar, a top portion of the eyestay, and a top portion of the tongue, in accordance with various embodiments. In this example, a water-repellant barrier 910 extends fully around the collar and along a top portion of the eyestay. Another water-repellant barrier 920 comprises a top portion of the tongue. The material of the bottom portion 930 of the tongue can be different than the water-repellant barrier 920, in one possible approach.

This approach provides a water-repellant barrier over a majority of the areas of the shoe where water can enter.

FIG. 10 depicts a front perspective view of an example shoe that includes a water-repellant barrier that extends fully around the collar and the eyestay, in accordance with various embodiments. The water-repellant barrier is represented by a portion 1010 that extends fully around the collar and a portion 1020 that extends fully around the throat forming a water-repellant eyestay. The portions are stitched into the upper in this example.

FIG. 11A depicts a perspective view of an example shoe that includes a water-repellant barrier on the collar and on the top portion of the tongue, in accordance with various embodiments. In particular, a water-repellant barrier 1110 extends around the collar, while a remaining portion 1111 of the outside of the upper comprises another material. Another water-repellant barrier 1120 is provided at the top portion of the tongue, while a bottom portion 1121 of the tongue comprises another material. A gusset 1130 and a tape 1131 connect the tongue to the upper on opposite sides of the tongue. The gusset and tape provide a bridge from the collar to the tongue top.

FIG. 11B depicts a close-up view of a portion of the example shoe of FIG. 11A, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 11C depicts a front view of the example shoe of FIG. 11A, in accordance with various embodiments. In addition to the gusset 1130 and tape 1131 at the left side of the tongue, a gusset 1130a and tape 1131a are provided at the right side of the tongue.

FIG. 12A depicts a side view of another example shoe 1200 which includes water-repellant barriers, in accordance with various embodiments. The shoe includes water-repellant barriers 1201 and 1202 as part of the upper and a water-repellant barrier 1203 as part of the tongue. A collar lining 1204 is also depicted. The barrier 1201 extends from the sole of the shoe to the collar lining and wraps around a heel of the shoe. The barrier 1201 further extends frontward to encompass a topmost eyelet. The barrier 1201 is stitched over the barrier 1202, which encompass a next eyelet of the shoe. The barrier 1203 can encompass the top of the tongue or the entire length of the tongue. The barriers represent external dams which repel water.

FIG. 12B depicts a view of a portion of the shoe of FIG. 12A in a deconstructed state, in accordance with various embodiments. The view depicts a portion of the barrier 1203 of the tongue, and a liner 1214 attached to a bottom side of the barrier 1203. Gussets 1212 and 1213 of the tongue are also depicted, in addition to portions 1210 and 1211 of the collar.

FIG. 12C depicts another view of the shoe of FIG. 12A in a deconstructed state, in accordance with various embodiments. The view depicts the sole 1220, the inside of a bootie 1221, a portion of the tongue barrier 1203, the tongue lining 1214, a top of the bootie 1215, and a foam layer 1216 which is between the tongue barrier 1203 and the tongue lining 1214. The arrow 1217 depicts a potential water path which can exist if the foam bridges from below the tongue barrier/dam 1203 to the tongue lining without DWR chemicals.

FIG. 12D depicts another view of the shoe of FIG. 12A in a deconstructed state, in accordance with various embodiments. The view depicts a portion of the tongue barrier 1203, the tongue lining 1214, an inner liner 1230 of the upper and a gap 1231. The foam can be a wicking foam. Since the water that enters the upper cannot move up the bootie and there is no bridge over the dam, water cannot move up and over the dam into the tongue and collar lining area.

FIG. 13 depicts an example bootie 1300 in a shoe 1310, in accordance with various embodiments. The bootie is shown by a solid line and the shoe is shown by dashed lines. As mentioned, one option is to provide a bootie or membrane sock inside the shoe. The bootie can be attached to portions of the upper such as the collar or fully removable. The bootie can be used with or without an intermediate membrane between the upper material and the bootie.

The footwear apparatus and techniques disclosed herein provide a number of advantages. For example, even when the footwear includes an intermediate or other internal waterproof membrane, water can wick up the fabric of the outer layer of the upper and enter the inner fabric liner via the collar or throat of the footwear. This can occur when the user is outside on a rainy day, for example, or when the user steps in a puddle. Once the upper becomes saturated, additional water will roll off it. The water-repellant barrier disclosed herein acts as a dam, gasket or barrier around the top part of the footwear to prevent this water intrusion into the inner fabric liner. The water-repellant barrier can be formed without a DWR treatment to avoid the associated manufacturing costs, although it is possible to use a DWR treatment on the upper and/or water-repellant barrier to provide additional water resistance.

Moreover, the water-repellant barrier works well with existing waterproof membranes such as Columbia® OutDry™.

The footwear can optionally include an overlay material on the upper.

Although certain embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent embodiments or implementations calculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for the embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope. Those with skill in the art will readily appreciate that embodiments may be implemented in a very wide variety of ways. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that embodiments be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

FOOTWEAR WATERPROOFING AND METHOD OF APPLYING SAME

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