Patent ID: 8176659

Claim:
Protective footwear for providing protection against toxic chemical agents, said protective footwear comprising: a.) an outer layer, distal from a foot of a person wearing said protective footwear, said outer layer being rendered oleophobic and hydrophobic for one of preventing and retarding penetration of toxic chemical agents; b.) an inner layer, proximal to a foot of a person wearing said protective footwear; c.) an adsorption layer, between said outer layer and said inner layer, and comprising an adsorption surface filter containing an adsorbent material for adsorbing toxic chemical agents, said adsorbent material of said adsorption layer being fixed to a textile substrate and comprising activated carbon in a form selected from the group consisting of particles and fibers; d.) at least one membrane that is substantially impermeable to toxic chemical agents, wherein said at least one membrane is arranged between said outer layer and said adsorption layer and wherein said membrane is substantially impermeable to liquids, liquid water, air, and aerosols, and is substantially permeable to water vapor; e.) a spacing layer configured to reduce the mechanical stress on the adsorption layer, wherein said spacing layer is arranged between said inner layer and said adsorption layer and wherein said spacing layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a nonwoven fabric, a cellular plastic, and a textile cloth; wherein said adsorbent material of said adsorption layer is applied to a side of said textile substrate facing away from a foot of a wearer when said protective footware is being worn.