Disclosed is a waterproof shoe with an improved ventilation mechanism, designed to circulate air from the outside environment through the shoe in order to provide convective cooling to a wearer's foot. In a desired embodiment, the shoe may incorporate a pump-ventilation mechanism which, coupled with airflow channels incorporated in the upper, acts to establish continuous substantially one-way airflow through the shoe in a heel-to-toe direction while a user walks.

A footwear construction is provided including a waterproof gasket formed between components of the footwear. The footwear can include an upper including a first layer and a waterproof functional second layer adjacent the first layer. A waterproof functional insole includes a perimeter that is disposed adjacent the first layer and/or the second layer. A thread extends through the first layer, sewn through it, and is located between the insole and the second layer, and adjacent the perimeter. The thread is melted to form a waterproof gasket between the second layer and the insole, along the perimeter. Alternatively, the first layer is surrounded with a hot melt flange stitched to an insole. A waterproof functional second layer seals the first layer and flange. A gasket panel can be disposed over the hot melt flange and insole, which can include insole stitching joining the same. Related methods also are provided.

A knitted component may form at least a portion of an article of footwear. For example, a first knit layer may be located on an inner side of an article of footwear such that the first layer is adjacent to a void, and a second layer may at least partially surround the first layer and form an outer surface of the article of footwear. An interstitial space may be formed between the first layer and the second layer. At least one pocket may be located within the interstitial space.

A method for manufacturing a waterproof and vapor-permeable shoe comprising the steps of providing an upper and a lining comprising at least one functional layer of vapor-permeable and waterproof material, providing an insole comprising a functional support sheet of vapor-permeable and waterproof material, coupling the peripheral edge of the functional layer of the lining to the peripheral edge of the functional sheet of the insole by way of a sealing waterproof adhesive so as to shape a sock of vapor-permeable and waterproof material, couple the upper to the outer surface of the lining by way of a vapor-permeable adhesive; and couple a sole to the upper and/or to the lining and/or to the insole.

A footwear article (15) comprises an upper assembly (1) and a sole assembly, wherein the upper assembly (1) comprises a monofilament layer (3), a functional layer (4, 8, 12) and a polymer grid (2), wherein the monofilament layer has a textile weight of less than 80 g/m2 and a thickness of less than 1 mm, wherein one surface of the monofilament layer (3) is laminated to the functional layer (4, 8, 12), wherein the polymer grid (2) is located on the surface of the monofilament layer (3) that is facing away from the functional layer (4, 8, 12).

Disclosed is a waterproof shoe with an improved ventilation mechanism, designed to circulate air from the outside environment through the shoe in order to provide convective cooling to a wearer's foot. In a desired embodiment, the shoe may incorporate a pump-ventilation mechanism which, coupled with airflow channels incorporated in the upper, acts to establish continuous substantially one-way airflow through the shoe in a heel-to-toe direction while a user walks.

A method of forming and shaping a waterproof and moisture permeable shoe upper includes disposing a shoe upper and a waterproof and moisture permeable film on a shoe last, wherein at least one of the shoe upper and the waterproof and moisture permeable film includes microwave treatable material, and heating the shoe last with the shoe upper and the waterproof and moisture permeable film thereon by microwave, so that the shoe upper and the waterproof and moisture permeable film are combined by the microwave treatable material and shaped to form the waterproof and moisture permeable shoe upper after cooling.

A method for waterproofing footwear (2), the footwear (2) including an upper assembly (4) having an outer construction (6) and a sole (8), includes providing a waterproof, breathable bootie (10) having a waterproof, breathable laminate construction, the waterproof, breathable laminate construction comprising a functional layer (54) and at least one textile layer (56, 58); inserting the waterproof, breathable bootie (10) into an inner space (12) of the outer construction (6) and the sole (8), when the outer construction (6) and the sole (8) are in an assembled state; and fixing the waterproof, breathable bootie (10) in position in the inner space (12) of the outer construction (6) and the sole (8).

A multi-style moisture-permeable waterproof shoe includes an outer shoe body unit defining an insertion space, and a plurality of sock-like inner shoe body units inserted removably and selectively into the insertion space. Each sock-like inner shoe body unit includes a moisture-permeable waterproof shoe-like inner sleeve and an outer sock body. The shoe-like inner sleeve defines a foot space and is made from at least one cut piece. The outer sock body has a sock body portion sleeved on the shoe-like inner sleeve. An inner adhesive layer is adhered between an outer surface of the shoe-like inner sleeve and an inner surface of the sock body portion.

The invention is an article of footwear comprising a waterproof upper (30) material having a breathability of less than 3 mg/cm<2>/h according to ISO (11092, 14268) 14268 (2012). The upper (30) material comprising at least one vent having a vent assembly (31) disposed within the at least one vent. The vent assembly (31) further comprises a waterproof, water vapor permeable functional layer (38) and a plurality of slats (32) disposed adjacent to the functional layer (38) and spaced apart from each other and from the functional layer (38) to provide for water-vapor flow through the vent assembly (31).