Patent ID: 8745892

Claim:
A waterproof and breathable sole for shoes, comprising: a lower layer comprising a tread, said lower layer including at least one large opening formed in the tread such that the tread substantially forms an outer contour of said large opening, wherein the at least one large opening passes through the lower layer and is transversely extensive across said lower layer; a mesh, arranged above said lower layer, substantially so as to cover a top region of said at least one large opening; a membrane made of a material that is impermeable to water and permeable to water vapor and is associated above said mesh at least at said at least one large opening, said membrane being joined hermetically at least perimetrically to at least one component of said sole in such a manner as to avoid the rise of liquids through a perimeter of said at least one large opening; and a perforated upper layer, arranged above said membrane, wherein said lower layer is overmolded on and partially incorporates said mesh at least at a peripheral region of the at least one large opening, wherein said lower layer includes transverse elements separate from the mesh and within said at least one large opening, and said transverse elements are rigidly coupled to said mesh, wherein said transverse elements form a grid and said transverse elements are rigidly coupled to the tread, and wherein the grid is formed within the at least one large opening.