A process for manufacturing a waterproof and vapor-permeable shoe is provided. In the process, an adhesive layer is provided on a knitted fabric to form a laminate, and a shoe upper unit is formed from the laminate, and has an adhesive component defining an inner space of the shoe upper unit. A shoe lining member, which is worn on a last, is placed into the shoe upper unit to permit a knitted component of the shoe upper unit to be bonded to the shoe lining member through the adhesive component under a heating treatment.

The present invention relates to a fiber-containing structure comprising an interwoven and welded base material and a welded elastomer layer, and at least one part of the base material and the welded elastomer layer are welded to each other. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the fiber-containing structure and a shoe structure containing the fiber-containing structure.

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 waterproof and vapor-permeable sole for shoes, including: a first contoured element including at least one hollow lower portion in the plantar region, delimited by a border and including at least one through opening, at least one second contoured and flat element, which is joined in a lower region with respect to the first element; at least one functional element substantially in sheet form, which is waterproof and vapor-permeable and is joined in an upper region to provide a seal to the first element. The second element has a shorter extension than the respective hollow lower portion to define with the border a surrounding slot.

A method of manufacturing a waterproof bootie comprises cutting a membrane to result in at least a first bootie portion and a second bootie portion; coupling the first bootie portion to the second bootie portion to form a bootie; arranging a knit upper adjacent the bootie; and activating the heat-activated adhesive to couple the knit upper to the bootie.

A breathable shoe, including an outsole arranged below a structural insert that is at least partially breathable, and below an upper. The outsole is at least partially breathable, including at least one sheet-like breathable element defined by a plurality of granules made of expanded material and having a uniform size, arranged in a substantially ordered manner and between which there are voids that form one or more channels through the breathable element that are permeable to air and/or vapor.

A moisture-permeable waterproof shoe includes an upper defining an interior space, an inner sleeve inserted into the interior space and having a sleeve body made from a cut piece, and a sole fixed to a bottom portion of the upper. The cut piece includes an upright velvet layer having a plurality of pile yarns woven between a lining layer and an outer fabric layer of the cut piece, and has a main body with a front convex portion, and two wing portions each including a wing lateral edge connected to the wing lateral edge of the other wing portion, a front curved edge connected to a periphery of the front convex portion, and a rear mating edge connected to the rear mating edge of the other wing 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).

The soft boot and liner include a moisture transfer system that includes an inner fabric layer carefully selected from technically advanced fabrics. A series of layers are provided outside the inner liner including foam material layers, spacer fabrics and breathable membranes, in various orders. Encapsulation technology and waterproofing are used as well. The outer fabric layer is also capable of working with the other layers to promote the transfer of moisture. Frothed foams and flocking with fibers are further characteristics of the present invention. The moisture transfer system is incorporated into a soft boot or skate or as a removable liner for a shell boot. Numerous other modifications and applications are disclosed.

A shoe is provided and includes a ventilated outsole that includes a recessed portion formed along an upper face of the outsole and has one or more openings formed along a ground contacting bottom face of the outsole. The shoe includes a ventilation insert disposed within the recessed portion. The ventilation insert includes a base layer that has through holes formed therein and a membrane that is coupled to the base layer. The base layer represents a bottom layer of the ventilation insert, while the membrane represents a top layer of the ventilation insert that are exposed over and cover the through holes formed in the base layer. The openings formed within the outsole are in communication with the recessed portion such that the ventilation insert is visible through the openings formed in the outsole.