Patent Publication Number: US-11638452-B2

Title: Composite items of footwear and handwear

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to composite items of footwear and handwear, and specifically but not exclusively to composite waterproof socks and gloves. 
     BACKGROUND 
     There are many circumstances and environments in which waterproof socks and gloves find utility, including use in certain outdoor interests and activities like walking, running, trekking, hiking, cycling, fishing, camping and gardening, as well as use in commercial and industrial environments where it is important or desirable to keep the wearer&#39;s feet and/or hands dry. 
     The opening or cuff area of known socks and gloves offers the potential for water to seep between the sock/glove and the leg/arm of the wearer and through the cuff area itself, thus compromising the ability of known socks and gloves to keep the hands and feet of a wearer dry. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide items of footwear and handwear, in particular socks and gloves, that have a cuff arrangement that helps to seal the item against the wearer to help prevent the ingress of water between the item and the wearer, whilst providing a close-fitting and comfortable item of wear, and that has a construction that helps prevent the ingress of water through the cuff arrangement itself. 
     In the present specification the term ‘sock’ is used to refer to flexible and stretchable items of footwear, including such items to be worn between the foot and a boot or shoe, as well as other sock-like items of footwear such as over-shoes, flexible booties and the like. 
     In the present specification the term ‘glove’ is used to refer to flexible and stretchable items of handwear, in particular fingered gloves and mittens. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     According to the present invention there is provided a composite item of footwear/handwear having a main body defining a volume to accommodate the hand/foot of a wearer of the item, the main body comprising an outer layer, an inner layer and a waterproof and breathable intermediate layer between the outer and inner layers, the main body having an opening through which a foot/hand can be inserted to be accommodated in the volume, the opening defined by a cuff arrangement comprising a cuff region of the main body that comprises an end region of each of the inner and intermediate layers and a cuff inner portion of the outer layer that extends beyond the said end regions, the cuff arrangement further comprising a waterproof cuff band that is fixed to one or both of the cuff inner portion of the outer layer and end region of the inner layer to extend over the inside and around the open end of the cuff inner portion and back over the outside of the cuff inner portion to lie over and fixed to the outside of the outer layer, the location at which the waterproof cuff band is fixed to the outer layer is at a distance from the opening that is greater than the distance between the opening and the location at which the waterproof cuff band is fixed to the cuff inner portion or end region of the inner layer. 
     The part of the waterproof cuff band that extends over the inside of the cuff inner portion is provided to fit comfortably against the leg, typically the ankle or calf of the leg of the wearer of the item when the item is one of footwear, or the wrist or forearm of the wearer of the item when the item is one of handwear, to provide a comfortable seal to help prevent the ingress of water between the cuff arrangement and the wearer&#39;s body. 
     The extension of the waterproof cuff over the inside and around the open end of the cuff inner portion and back over the outer surface with the location at which the waterproof cuff band is fixed to the outer layer being at a distance from the opening that is greater than the distance between the opening and the location at which the waterproof cuff band is fixed to the cuff inner portion or end region of the inner layer provides a cuff arrangement that is resistant to the ingress of water through the cuff arrangement itself, to the inside of the item as will be explained in more detail hereinafter. 
     The location at which the waterproof cuff band is fixed to the outer layer is between 10 and 40 millimetres further from the opening than the distance between the opening and the location at which the waterproof cuff band is fixed to the cuff inner portion or end region of the inner layer, to provide an area of overlap. 
     This degree of overlap has been shown to provide the cuff arrangement with favourable resistance to water ingressing through the cuff arrangement into the volume. 
     Preferably, the location at which the waterproof cuff band is fixed to the outer layer is between 20 and 40 millimetres further from the opening than is the location at which the waterproof cuff band is fixed to the cuff inner portion or end region of the inner layer. 
     This has been shown to provide favourable water resistance characteristics balanced with favourable design and comfort characteristics. 
     Preferably, the waterproof cuff band is fixed to the inner surface of the cuff inner portion and/or the end region of the inner layer. 
     This helps ensure the waterproof cuff band remains securely positioned around the inside of the cuff region. 
     Preferably, the waterproof cuff band is fixed to the inner surface of the cuff inner portion and/or the end region of the inner layer in a continuous band around the waterproof cuff band. 
     This helps ensure the waterproof cuff band remains securely in place all the way around the cuff region. 
     Preferably, the waterproof cuff band is fixed to the inner surface of the cuff inner portion and/or the end region of the inner layer by a continuous band of stitching. 
     This helps ensure the waterproof cuff band remains securely in place all the way around the cuff region and opening of the item and provides for relative ease of manufacture and comfort for the wearer. 
     Preferably, the waterproof cuff band is fixed to the inner surface of the cuff inner portion and/or the end region of the inner layer by a continuous band of adhesive. 
     Preferably the adhesive penetrates through the inner layer to seal against the intermediate layer when the waterproof cuff band is fixed to the end region of the inner layer. 
     This inhibits any water that finds its way inside the waterproof cuff band from wicking along the inner layer, past the location at which the waterproof cuff band is fixed to the end region of the inner layer and into the inside of the item. 
     The continuous band of adhesive may be provided as adhesive tape. 
     This helps ensure the waterproof cuff band remains securely in place all the way around the cuff region and opening of the item and also does not run the risk of compromising the waterproof character of the waterproof cuff band. 
     Preferably, the waterproof cuff band is fixed to the inner surface of the cuff inner portion and/or the end region of the inner layer by a continuous band of waterproof adhesive. 
     This helps maintain the integrity of the fixing, even in the event the adhesive is exposed to water. 
     Preferably, the waterproof cuff band is fixed to the inner surface of the cuff inner portion and/or the end region of the inner layer by continuous bands of both stitching and adhesive. 
     This can provide a more secure fixing of the waterproof cuff band to the inner surface of the cuff inner portion. 
     The waterproof cuff band may be fixed to the end region of the inner layer by stitching that extends through the inner layer only, the inner layer and the intermediate layer only, or the inner layer, the intermediate layer and the outer layer. 
     Preferably, the waterproof cuff band is fixed to the outer layer, which ensures the waterproof cuff band is held in place around the cuff region. 
     Preferably, the waterproof cuff band is fixed to the outer layer to lie generally flat over the outer layer. 
     This can help with the functioning and aesthetics of the item. 
     Preferably, the waterproof cuff band is fixed to the outer layer in a continuous band around the outer layer. 
     This helps ensure the waterproof cuff band remains securely in place all the way around the opening of the item and over the cuff region and helps to seal the waterproof cuff band to the outer layer. 
     Preferably, the waterproof cuff band is fixed to the outer layer by a continuous band of adhesive around the outer layer. 
     This helps ensure the waterproof cuff band remains securely in place all the way around the opening and cuff region of the item. 
     Preferably the adhesive penetrates through the outer layer to seal against the intermediate layer. 
     This seals the outer layer to the waterproof intermediate layer, thereby inhibiting water from wicking along the outer layer, past the intermediate layer and into the inside of the waterproof cuff band to the inner layer. 
     The continuous band of adhesive may be provided as adhesive tape. 
     Preferably, the waterproof cuff band is fixed to the outer layer by a continuous band of waterproof adhesive around and through the outer layer. 
     This helps maintain the integrity of the fixing, and inhibits ingress of water to the inside volume as a result of wicking through the outer layer, when the adhesive is exposed to water. 
     Stitching may be used to fix the waterproof cuff band to the outer layer. 
     The stitching may be provided in a continuous band around the outer layer. 
     The waterproof cuff band may be fixed to the outer layer in continuous bands of both adhesive and stitching around the outer layer. 
     This can provide a particularly secure and water-tight fixing of the waterproof cuff band to the outer layer. 
     Preferably, the waterproof cuff band comprises a resiliently stretchable waterproof material, stretchable to enable the waterproof cuff band to expand and contract as the open end expands and contracts to accommodate a foot/hand as it is inserted and removed from the volume. 
     Preferably, the waterproof cuff band comprises a stretchable waterproof polyurethane material. 
     Preferably, the outer layer comprises main body yarns and twisted elastic yarns woven throughout the main body yarns. 
     Preferably, the main body yarns comprise one or more of polyamide, cotton, modal, polyester. 
     Preferably, the inner layer comprises inner layer main body yarns of one or more of cotton, wool, acrylic, rayon, polyamide, polyester. 
     Preferably, one or more adhesives are used to fix the outer layer and the inner layer to the waterproof and breathable intermediate layer. 
     Preferably, the waterproof and breathable intermediate layer extends between the inner and outer layers with a corrugated structure in both weft X and warp Y directions. 
     Preferably, the waterproof and breathable intermediate layer is configured to be stretchable circumferentially and longitudinally. 
     Preferably, the adhesive(s) is/are provided on both inner and outer layers as discrete spots or islands of adhesive to fix the waterproof and breathable intermediate layer to each of and in between the inner and outer layers at discrete locations. 
     Preferably, in at least one region of the main body the discrete spots or islands of adhesive are spaced further apart from each other in one or both of the weft X and warp Y directions than elsewhere in the main body, thus giving that at least one region differential stretch characteristics in one or both of the weft X and warp Y directions than elsewhere in the main body. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       Specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG.  1    is a diagrammatic perspective view of a composite item of footwear according to the present invention; 
         FIG.  2    is a diagrammatic cross-section of the composite item of footwear of  FIG.  1    in the plane II-II; 
         FIG.  3    is an enlarged view of the region III of the composite item of footwear of  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  4    is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the region IV of the composite item of footwear of  FIG.  2   ; 
         FIG.  5    is a view equivalent to the view of  FIG.  3   , but of a composite item of footwear of an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG.  6    is a diagrammatic perspective view of a composite item of handwear according to a further embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG.  7    is a diagrammatic view equivalent to that of  FIG.  5   , but of a composite item of handwear according to a still further embodiment of the present invention 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS 
     With reference to  FIGS.  1  to  4   , the present invention provides a composite item of footwear in the form of a sock  10  having a main body  12  defining a volume  14  to accommodate the foot of a wearer of the item  10 , the main body  12  comprising an outer layer  16 , an inner layer  18  and a waterproof and breathable intermediate layer  20  between the outer and inner layers  16 ,  18 , the main body  12  having an opening  22  through which a foot/hand can be inserted to be accommodated in the volume  14 . The opening  22  is defined by a cuff arrangement  24  comprising a cuff region  25  of the main body  12  that comprises an end region  28 ,  30  of each of the inner  18  and intermediate 20 layers and a cuff inner portion  32  of the outer layer  16  that extends beyond the said end regions  28 ,  30 . The cuff arrangement  24  further comprises a waterproof cuff band  34  that is fixed to the cuff inner portion  32  of the outer layer  16  to extend over the inside  36  and around the open end  38  of the cuff inner portion  32  and back over the outside  40  of the outer layer  16 , with the location L 1  at which the waterproof cuff band  34  is fixed to the outer layer  16  being at a distance d 1  from the opening  22  that is greater than the distance d 2  between the opening  22  and the location L 2  at which the waterproof cuff band  34  is fixed to the cuff inner portion  32 . 
     In more detail, the present invention provides composite waterproof socks  10  that have a laminate structure in which the inner layer  18  comprises inner layer main body yarns of one or more of cotton, wool, acrylic, rayon, polyamide, polyester and/or any other suitable materials or blends of materials, particularly selected for comfort of the wearer and according to the intended use or purpose of the sock. 
     The outer layer  16  comprises main body yarns and twisted elastic yarns woven throughout or substantially throughout the main body yarns. 
     The main body yarns comprise one or more of polyamide, cotton, modal, polyester and/or any other suitable materials or blends of materials, particularly selected according to the intended purpose or use of the sock. 
     The twisted elastic yarns comprise spandex yarns or other suitable elastic yarns, and are typically incorporated at approximately 350 twists per metre. 
     The inner and outer layers  18 ,  16  are typically knitted, such as on a 13 gauges toe sock knitting machine. The outer layer  16  is typically knitted with a heel portion. The inner layer  18  can be knitted with or without a heel portion, depending upon the desired design and/or application of the sock  10 . 
     The waterproof and breathable intermediate layer  20  comprises a polyurethane or other suitable waterproof breathable material and one or more adhesives  44  are used to fix the outer layer  16  to the outer surface of the waterproof intermediate layer  20  and to fix the inner layer  18  to the inner surface of the waterproof intermediate layer  20 . 
     Suitable adhesives are heat-activated thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) materials. 
     As illustrated particularly in  FIG.  4   , the waterproof and breathable intermediate layer  20  is fixed between the inner and outer layers  18 ,  16  so that when the sock  10  is in a relaxed state, the waterproof and breathable intermediate layer  20  has a corrugated structure in both weft X and warp Y directions. This enables the waterproof and breathable intermediate layer  20  to extend both circumferentially and longitudinally as the inner and outer layers  18 ,  16  are stretched, enabling the sock  10  to stretch and contract as the sock  10  is fitted, worn and removed by a wearer. 
     The adhesive(s)  44  is/are provided on both the inner and outer layers  18 ,  16  as discrete spots or islands  44  of adhesive to fix the waterproof and breathable intermediate layer  20  to each of and in between the inner and outer layers  18 ,  16  such that when the inner and outer layers  18 ,  16  are in relaxed condition the waterproof and breathable intermediate layer  20  adopts the three-dimensional corrugated structure. 
     In certain embodiments, in at least one region of the main body  12  the discrete spots or islands  44  of adhesive are spaced further apart from each other in one or both of the weft X and warp Y directions than elsewhere in the main body  12 , thus giving that at least one region a differential corrugated profile and thus differing stretch characteristics in one or both of the weft X and the warp Y directions than elsewhere in the main body  12 . This enables the main body  12  to stretch circumferentially and longitudinally and to stretch to different extents in different regions, being more resistant to further stretch in the region where the spacings between the discrete dots or islands  44  of adhesive are smaller than elsewhere. 
     Such differential stretch characteristics can be designed or engineered into the overall composition of the socks  10  to provide improved comfort for wearers of the socks  10  of the present invention. 
     The cuff arrangement  24  provides for sealing of the opening or cuff of the sock  10  against the leg of the wearer. The precise part of the leg against which the sock  10  is designed to seal will in large part be determined by the intended utility or style of the sock  10 , but socks  10  of the present invention would typically extend from the ankle to partway up the calf and shin of the wearer of the sock  10 . 
     The cuff arrangement  24  also provides for resistance to water permeating through the structure of the cuff arrangement  24  and thus ingressing into the inside of the sock  10 . 
     In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS.  2  and  3   , the waterproof cuff band  34  extends from the open ends  28   a ,  30   a  of the end regions  28 ,  30  of the inner and intermediate layers  18 ,  20 , where it generally abuts or is in close proximity to these open ends  28   a ,  30   a  and from there extends closely over the inside  36  of the cuff inner portion  32 , around the open end  38  and back over the outside  40  of the cuff inner portion  32  to lie closely over, adjacent to the outside  40  of the outer layer  16 . 
     The part of the waterproof cuff band  34  that extends over the inside of the cuff inner portion  32  is provided to fit comfortably against the leg, typically the ankle or calf of the leg of the wearer of the item when the item is one of footwear, or the wrist or forearm of the wearer of the item when the item is one of handwear, to provide a comfortable seal to help prevent the ingress of water between the cuff arrangement and the wearer&#39;s body. 
     In this embodiment the waterproof cuff band  34  is fixed to the cuff inner portion  32  only, and the location L 2  at which it is fixed is at a shorter distance d 2  from the opening  22  than the distance d 1  of the location L 1  at which the waterproof cuff band  34  is fixed to the outer layer  16 . 
     This arrangement of fixing locations provides the cuff arrangement  24  with resistance to the ingress of water through the cuff arrangement  24  itself, to the inside of the sock  10  as will be explained in more detail hereinafter. 
     The location L 1  at which the waterproof cuff band  34  is fixed to the outer layer  16  is also at a greater distance from the opening  22  than the ends  28   a , 30   a  of the inner and intermediate layers  18 ,  20  are distanced from the opening  22 . This results in the ends  28   a , 30   a  being located between the location L 1  at which the waterproof cuff band  34  is fixed to the outer layer  16  and location L 2  whereat the waterproof cuff band  34  is fixed to the cuff inner portion  32 , which configuration further enhances the resistance of the cuff arrangement  24  from the ingress of water therethrough. 
     In certain embodiments, the location L 1  at which the waterproof cuff band  34  is fixed to the outer layer  16  is between 10 and 40 millimetres further from the opening  22  than the location L 2  at which the waterproof cuff band  34  is fixed to the cuff inner portion  32 . That is, d 1  is between 10 and 40 millimetres greater than d 2 . 
     This differential has been shown to provide the cuff arrangement  24  with favourable resistance to water ingressing through the cuff arrangement  24  into the volume. 
     In further embodiments the location L 1  at which the waterproof cuff band  34  is fixed to the outer layer  16  is between 20 and 40 millimetres further from the opening  22  than the location L 2  at which the waterproof cuff band  34  is fixed to the cuff inner portion  32 . That is, d 1  is between 20 and 40 millimetres greater than d 2 . 
     This has been shown to provide favourable water resistance characteristics balanced with favourable design and comfort characteristics. 
     The waterproof cuff band  34  comprises resiliently stretchable waterproof material, stretchable to enable the waterproof cuff band  34  to expand and contract as the opening  22  expands and contracts to receive and release the foot of a person when it is inserted into and removed from the volume. 
     Typically, the waterproof cuff band  34  comprises a stretchable waterproof polyurethane material, although other suitable waterproof materials can be used. 
     The waterproof cuff band  34  is fixed to the inner surface  36  of the cuff inner portion  32  in a continuous, circumferential band around the waterproof cuff band  34 . 
     In certain embodiments, like the one shown in  FIG.  3   , the waterproof cuff band  34  is fixed to the inner surface  36  of the cuff inner portion  32  by a continuous band of stitching  46  of thread. 
     In alternative embodiments, the waterproof cuff band  34  is fixed to the inner surface  36  of the cuff inner portion  32  by a continuous band of adhesive, and typically waterproof adhesive. 
     The adhesive can be provided as an adhesive tape. 
     In still further embodiments, the waterproof cuff band  34  is fixed to the inner surface  36  of the cuff inner portion  32  by a continuous band of both stitching  46  and adhesive. 
     The waterproof cuff band  34  is also fixed to the outer layer  16  and is fixed to lie generally flat on the outer surface  40  of the outer layer  16 . 
     The location L 1  at which the waterproof cuff band  34  is fixed to the outer layer  16  is at a greater distance from the opening  22  than are the ends  28   a , 30   a  of the inner and intermediate layers  18 ,  20 . The ends  28   a , 30   a  are located between the location L 1  at which the waterproof cuff band  34  is fixed to the outer layer  16  and location L 2  at which the waterproof cuff band  34  is fixed to the cuff inner portion  32 . 
     In preferred embodiments the waterproof cuff band  34  is fixed to the outer layer  16  by a continuous band of adhesive, most preferably waterproof adhesive  48  that penetrates the outer layer  16  to seal against the intermediate layer  20  This provides fixing and sealing of the waterproof cuff band  34  to, through and around the outer layer  16  in a continuous water-sealed manner that acts to prevent water from seeping in between the waterproof cuff band  34  and the waterproof intermediate layer  20  and from wicking from outside of the item along the outer layer  16 , past location L 1  to the end  30   a  of the intermediate layer  20  and beyond. This acts to prevent water from outside of the sock  10  wicking along the outer layer  16  to positions at which it could seep past the end  30   a  of the intermediate layer  20  and into the inside of the sock, such as the position at which the waterproof intermediate layer  20  ends  30   a  and the position at L 2  where the stitching  46  might compromise the waterproof barrier of the waterproof cuff band  34  as it passes therethrough. 
     This ensures the waterproof cuff band  34  is secured and sealed against the intermediate layer over the outside of the area at which the waterproof cuff band  34  extends from the open ends  28 ,  30  of the inner layer and the intermediate layer  18 ,  20 . In this area the intermediate layer  20  ends and so no longer provides a waterproof barrier through the main body in the cuff region  25 , so there would be risk of water ingress through that area of the cuff region  25 . This risk is addressed by fixing and sealing the waterproof cuff band  34  to the outer layer  16  at location L 1  as described, so that the waterproof cuff band  34  lies over this area to provide a sealed, waterproof covering which acts to prevent water from wicking from the outside of the sock  10 , along the outer layer  16 , past the end  30   a  of the intermediate layer  20  and thus through the cuff region  25  to the inside of the sock  10 . 
     In alternative embodiments, the waterproof cuff layer  34  may be fixed to the outer layer  16  with a continuous band of stitching of thread. In such embodiments, it is important that the stitching does not puncture the intermediate layer  20 , otherwise this could compromise the waterproof structure of the cuff arrangement  24 . 
     The stitching is such that it inhibits wicking of water from the outside of the sock  10 , along the outer layer  16 , past the end  30   a  of the intermediate layer  20  and thus through the cuff region  25  to the inside of the sock  10 . 
     In certain embodiments the stitching is of waterproof thread and the stitching pattern such that it presents a barrier that inhibits wicking as aforesaid. 
     In certain embodiments, the waterproof cuff band  34  may be fixed to the outer layer  16  by both stitching and adhesive, as described above. 
       FIG.  5    shows an equivalent view to the view of  FIG.  3   , but of an item of footwear according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment shares features of the embodiment shown in  FIG.  3    and those features that are visible in  FIG.  5    have been identified with the same reference numerals used in relation to the illustration in  FIG.  3   , but prefixed with the numeral  1 . 
     In this embodiment the waterproof cuff  134  is fixed to and through the end region  128  of the inner layer  118  to extend in similar manner as described above, over the inside and around the open end  138  of the cuff inner portion  132  and back over the outside  140  of the cuff inner portion  132  to lie over and fixed to the outside  140  of the outer layer  116 , with the location L 1  at which the waterproof cuff band  134  is fixed to the outer layer  116  at a distance d 1  from the opening that is greater than the distance d 2  between the opening  122  and the location L 2  at which the waterproof cuff band  134  is fixed to the end region  128  of the inner layer  118 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  5   , the waterproof cuff band  34  is fixed by stitching  146  that extends through the waterproof cuff band  134 , through the end region  128  of the inner layer  118 , through the end region  130  of the waterproof intermediate layer  120 , and through the outer layer  116 . 
     Although in this embodiment the stitching  146  may to some degree compromise the waterproof barrier provided by the waterproof intermediate layer  120 , the location L 2  of the stitching  146  being closer to the opening  122  than the location L 1  at which the waterproof cuff band  134  is fixed to the outer layer  116  by the continuous band of adhesive penetrating through the outer layer  116  to seal against the intermediate layer  120  and/or the stitching  148  as described above means that this does not compromise the water impermeable nature of the cuff arrangement  24 . 
     In other embodiments the stitching of the waterproof cuff band  134  at location L 2  could extend through the inner layer  118  only, or through the inner layer  118  and the waterproof intermediate layer  120  only. 
       FIG.  7    shows an equivalent view to the view of  FIG.  5   , but of an item of footwear according to a further alternative embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment shares features of the embodiment shown in  FIG.  5    and those features that are visible in  FIG.  7    have been identified with the same reference numerals used in relation to the illustration in  FIG.  5   , but prefixed with the numeral  3 . 
     In this embodiment adhesive  349  is used to fix the waterproof cuff band  334  to the inner layer  318  instead of or in addition to stitching. 
     The adhesive  349  is a continuous band, most preferably of waterproof adhesive, that extends continuously circumferentially around the end region penetrating the inner layer  318  to seal against the intermediate layer  320 . 
     This provides fixing and sealing of the waterproof cuff band  334  to and around the inner layer  318  in a continuous water-sealed manner that acts to prevent any water that&#39;s found its way inside the waterproof cuff band  334  (such as in the event the outer seal  348  has been compromised or damaged) from wicking from the inside of the waterproof cuff band  334 , through the end  328   a  and along the inner layer  318 , past location L 2 , and thus to the inside of the sock  310 . 
       FIG.  6    is a diagrammatic perspective view of an item of handwear  210 , in the form of a glove, which has the same structural features of the item of footwear (sock)  10  described above. Visible features have therefore been identified with the same reference numerals used in relation to the illustrations of the sock  10 , but prefixed with the numeral ‘2’. 
     It will be appreciated that the structure and configuration of the cuff arrangement  24  of the items of the present invention as described above in the context of footwear find the same utility in items of handwear, providing for a cuff arrangement  24  that resists the ingress of water between the open end of the glove and the wrist/arm of the wearer of the glove and the ingress of water through the cuff arrangement  24  itself. 
     Various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. The present document discloses specific embodiments of the present invention, but is not limiting on the scope of the invention. 
     A plurality of bands of one or both of adhesive and/or stitching can be provided to fix the waterproof cuff band to one or both of the cuff inner portion of the outer layer and end region of the inner layer and the outside of the outer layer. 
     Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance, it should be understood that the applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings, whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.