Abstract:
An article of footwear for providing traction on a wet surface having a water-durable upper made from an elastic flexible material and configured to conform to a foot, a slip-resistant sole, a lacing system, and a heel support. The footwear has a stretchable foot entry opening which encircles and substantially conforms to an ankle of a wearer, keeping out water. The upper is made from an elastic flexible composite which is constructed from a neoprene foam, and fabric laminated to the foam. The foam may have perforations which may not extend through the fabric, allowing liquids and vapor to escape the footwear. The fabric may be coated or treated to provide functions, such as hydrophobicity or oleophobicity.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This patent application claims the benefit of, under Title 35, United States Code, Section 119(e), U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/523,004, filed Aug. 12, 2011, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates generally to footwear, and more specifically to an article of footwear configured for use in marine environments. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Articles of footwear for water sports have been previously proposed. Moore (U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,592) teaches a performance water boot. The Moore design includes a water boot having an adjustable strap that crosses an upper between the instep region and the collar region of the boot. Moore teaches a heel cup that is designed to cooperate with the adjustable strap in order to seal off the heel and ankle regions of the upper. Moore teaches this arrangement to prevent water from entering the instep region and causing the foot to move within the boot. 
         [0004]    Collins (U.S. patent number 2006/0143944) teaches an article of footwear designed for surfing. The Collins design includes a thin rubber outsole that wraps underneath the forefoot. Collins further teaches a tread disposed on the bottom of the outsole. However, the Collins design does not include a heel portion, but instead the heel and rear of the article of footwear is left open to expose the rear and heel of a foot. The Collins design lacks support for the rear of the foot and the heel. Additionally, while Collins teaches a strap for fastening the article of footwear, it is a single strap wrapping around the ankle and in particular no straps are provided for fastening the forefoot. 
         [0005]    Hergenroeder (U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,071) teaches a surfing sandal. The sandal includes an instep strap configured to extend across the instep at the top of the foot. According to Hergenroeder, the instep strap may function as an instep pad. Hergenroeder further teaches a traction surface with traction pads adapted to extend across the bottom of the foot between the heel and the ball of the foot. Hergenroeder teaches materials for the sandal including neoprene and materials for the traction pads including rubber. However, Hergenroeder does not teach a lacing system or a neoprene-fabric composite. 
         [0006]    Conolly (WO patent number 2006/050565) teaches a water sport hiking system. The Conolly design includes a device that provides support for sailors while hiking from a sailing vessel. Conolly teaches a water sport boot constructed primarily of neoprene and rubber. The water sport boot includes a top support panel made of rubber that extends from the top of the toe to the top of the boot. Conolly also teaches a toe support panel that is distinct from the top support panel and covers the toe. 
         [0007]    Clancy (U.S. Pat. No. 7,941,946) teaches an article of footwear configured for sailing. The article of footwear includes a water durable upper and slip resistant sole and a rigid support member extending from the toe portion of the upper to the front ankle portion of the upper. 
         [0008]    It is therefore desired to provide an article of footwear configured for use in marine environments that addresses these deficiencies. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an article of footwear configured for marine use. 
         [0010]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide an article of footwear configured to provide traction on a wet surface. 
         [0011]    It is still a further object of the invention to provide an article of footwear that allows water or moisture to drain and dry. 
         [0012]    It is yet a further object of the invention to provide an article of footwear which allows easy entry of the wearer&#39;s foot while also facilitating a tight fit. 
         [0013]    It is another object of the invention to provide an article of footwear which reduces the amount of water able to enter the shoe through the main opening. 
         [0014]    It is yet another object of the invention to provide an article of footwear configured to aid stability and allow for improved mobility and balance in wet and slippery conditions. 
         [0015]    These and other objectives are achieved by providing an article of footwear for providing traction on a wet surface, having a water-durable upper comprising an elastic flexible material and configured to conform to a foot; a slip-resistant sole; a lacing system; a heel support; and, wherein the elastic flexible material comprises a neoprene foam and a first fabric laminated to at least one surface of the neoprene foam. 
         [0016]    In some embodiments, the upper includes a single stretchable foot entry opening which encircles and substantially conforms to an ankle of a wearer. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, the elastic flexible material comprises perforations through the neoprene foam which do not extend through the fabric. The fabric may be coated or treated to provide a function. This function may include hydrophobicity or oleophobicity, and the fabric is coated or treated to provide more than one function. Furthermore, the fabric is coated or treated on more than one side. A second fabric may be laminated to a surface of the neoprene foam, and the second fabric may include a different material from the first fabric. 
         [0018]    In some embodiments, the heel support is made from natural rubber, synthetic rubber, a mixture of natural rubber and synthetic rubber, leather, or synthetic leather. A reinforcement member may be positioned between the upper and the heel support. The reinforcement member may be made from plastic, polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, or polyurethane, and may include a heel cup. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments, the lacing system has at least two rows of holes, loops, eyelets, or hooks in which a lace can be looped, and the rows may be disposed in an anchor material consisting of natural textile, synthetic textile, leather, or synthetic leather which may be stitched or bonded to the upper. 
         [0020]    In some embodiments, the fabric is stretchable; and can be limited in stretch in a direction which opposes forces applied to the lacing system or to a foot-entry opening in the upper. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, the sole is made from molded rubber and is attached to a lower portion of the upper by an adhesive and by a foxing material that is adhered to an outer edge of the sole and to the upper. A bottom portion of the sole may include a pattern having channels where water can be channeled toward an edge of the sole. 
         [0022]    Other objects of the invention and its particular features and advantages will become more apparent from consideration of the following drawings and accompanying detailed description. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]      FIG. 1  is an isometric front view of an article of footwear according to aspects of the invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is an isometric rear view of an article of footwear according to aspects of the invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a footwear material according to aspects of the invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 4   a  is an underside view of a sole of an article of footwear according to aspects of the invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4   b  is a cross-sectional view of a sole of an article of footwear according to aspects of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0028]      FIGS. 1 and 2  are isometric views of an article of footwear according to aspects of the invention. The footwear has a single main opening  17  and includes an upper  10 , outsole  21 , eyerow panels  11  and  11 ′, heel support member  16 , 
         [0029]    Upper  10  may be made from a water-durable composite including a neoprene foam material laminated to at least one textile fabric. The neoprene foam may be perforated, and the perforations may be formed prior to lamination. 
         [0030]    Upper  10  may be configured such that the opening  17 , through which the wearer&#39;s foot enters or exits the shoe, is constructed without a tongue or gusset by incorporating stretch into the material of upper  10 . 
         [0031]    This configuration can have the advantage of allowing easy entry of a wearer&#39;s foot while also facilitating a tight fit and reducing the volume of water able to enter the shoe through opening  17 . When worn, the opening  17  may encircle the wearer&#39;s ankle. 
         [0032]    Upper  10  may be configured such that it is form fitting to the wearer&#39;s foot. This can have the advantages of further reducing the amount of water able to enter the shoe through opening  17 , and reducing the volume of excess water that may remain in the shoe, facilitating faster drainage and drying. 
         [0033]    Eyerow panels  11  and  11 ′ are permanently attached to upper  10  and may be made from a non-stretch material such as a synthetic or natural leather. Eyerow panels  11  and  11 ′ include lace tensioning points  15 , and provide a rigid substrate for securing a lace (not shown), allowing the footwear to be fitted to the foot. Lace tensioning points  15  may be holes, metal or plastic eyelets, loops, other similar features, or combinations of these features. 
         [0034]    Heel support member  16  may be permanently attached to upper  10 . The heel support member  16  may be made from a non-stretch material such as synthetic or natural leather, and may be positioned to provide support to the heel of the wearer&#39;s foot. Optionally, a rigid heel support member  19  may also be attached to upper  10  between heel support member  16  and upper  10 . This can have the advantage of adding further lateral support to the heel of the footwear. Rigid support member  19  may be made from a polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyurethatne, other plastic, or a combination of these plastics, and may be molded into a heel cup or cut and shaped into a heel cup from a sheet of material. 
         [0035]    Optionally, a reinforcement strip  18  may be attached to the rear of the heel area of the footwear. Reinforcement strip  18  may be made from a non-stretch webbing or textile, and be configured to distribute loads applied to opening  17  by the user when the footwear is pulled over the foot. This can have the advantage of improving durability of the footwear. Reinforcement strip  18  may also be configured to include a loop in order to further assist the user in entering the shoe or to provide a means of hanging or carrying the shoe. 
         [0036]    Outsole  21  is attached to upper  10 . Outsole  21  may be attached to upper  10  using an adhesive, and may also be attached to upper  10  using an additional foxing  12  adhered to outsole  21  and upper  10 . Foxing  12  may optionally include cut or molded drainage holes  20  that allow water or moisture to drain from the inside of the footwear. Outsole  21  and foxing  12  may be made from a natural or synthetic rubber, or another suitable material. 
         [0037]    Optionally, toe cap  14  and/or reinforcement panel  13  may also be attached to upper  10  and/or foxing  12 . Toe cap  14  and reinforcement panel  13  may be made from natural or synthetic rubber, or other suitable materials, and the shape and rigidity of foxing  12 , toe reinforcement panel  13 , and toe cap  14  may be configured to provide protection to the user during an impact with the toe area and/or to provide lateral support to the foot when forces are applied by the user. This configuration can have the advantage of allowing for improved mobility and balance in wet and slippery conditions. 
         [0038]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of upper  10 , illustrating a composite material  300  according to aspects of the invention. 
         [0039]    In this illustrative embodiment, composite  300  includes a neoprene foam  305  laminated to textiles  302  and  303 . 
         [0040]    Neoprene foam  305  is a water-durable rubber foam which can have elastic and thermally insulative properties, and can have the advantage of providing warmth to the wearer in cold and/or wet conditions. The term water-durable as used herein refers to a material which is resistant to the deleterious effects of extended exposure to water. 
         [0041]    Neoprene foam  305  may include perforations  301 . Perforations  301  may be holes punched or formed into the neoprene foam  305  before lamination to fabrics  302  and  303 . The resulting perforated structure can have the advantage of allowing water, air and moisture vapor to flow through upper  10 . Preferably, perforations  301  are between 1 mm-8 mm in diameter, and are spaced in a regular or irregular pattern, having between 5 mm-50 mm between centers. 
         [0042]    Textiles  302  and  304  can be made from appropriate fabric or textile material, and may include elastic yarns or fibers, or be knitted or woven in a way that provides stretch such that upper  10  can conform to a wearer&#39;s foot. Textiles  302  and  304  may also be configured to have limited stretch in one or more directions. This can have the advantage of allowing upper  10  to conform to a wearer&#39;s foot while providing adequate support and structure to the upper  10  and other components attached to upper  10 . Textiles  302  and  304  may be configured to provide properties such as high abrasion resistance through the use of a high denier fabric, or warmth and/or comfort through the use of a soft fleece fabric. Textiles  302  and  304  may also optionally be selected from a group of materials, or may be treated to provide one or more specific functions such as hydrophobicity (water resistance) or oleophobicity (oil resistance). 
         [0043]      FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  are an underside view and an cross-sectional view of outsole  21  according to aspects of the invention. Outsole  21  may be made from a flexible natural or synthetic rubber, or similar material. Examples of suitable materials include natural rubber, synthetic rubbers, a combination of both natural and synthetic rubbers, silicon, and rubberized foams. In an example configuration, outsole  21  consists of a semi-durable rubber which does not substantially deform when compressed. 
         [0044]    Outsole  21  may include a combination of material and grip pattern configured to provide extra traction and grip in wet and slippery conditions. Preferably, outsole  21  is configured to provide good flexibility and softness. This can have the advantage of increasing sensitivity and feedback to the user. 
         [0045]    Preferably, the outsole  21  has abrasive resistant qualities which do not inhibit the flexibility or softness of outsole  21 . Outsole  21  may have a tread pattern which includes substantially flat sections  401  that provide contact with a surface and channels  402  which allow water to be channeled to the edge  403  of outsole  21  when outsole  21  is placed on a wet surface. By channeling water in this way, flat sections  401  and channels  402  can help to prevent slipping due to loss of friction caused by water disposed between outsole. 
         [0046]    Flat sections  401  are preferably constructed such that they can distort and deform a small amount over a surface (not shown) such that the contact area between flat sections  401  and the surface is increased. This can have the advantage of increasing the friction between flat sections  401  and the surface. 
         [0047]    Channels  402  are preferably between 0.1 mm-5 mm. deep, and 0.1 mm-5 mm. in width, and may be molded into outsole  21  or cut into outsole  21  using a material separation process. 
         [0048]    Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular arrangement of parts, features and the like, these are not intended to exhaust all possible arrangements or features, and indeed many modifications and variations will be ascertainable to those of skill in the art.