Abstract: A rubber footwear product and method of making such products is provided. The rubber footwear product includes a molded rubber midsole having an integrally formed raised rubber welt portion around its periphery. By molding in a compression mold, injection mold, or the like, the midsole and welt may be formed in a variety of designs and will be accurately formed in the desired size and shape. The molded midsole is made of substantially cured rubber, and is secured to an uncured rubber upper by applying an uncured rubber coating onto the midsole and then vulcanizing to form a unitary rubber footwear subassembly. To this subassembly may separately be secured a variety of compositionally different outsoles made of various materials, and having various colors, designs, and specific utilities. The outsole may be attached to the subassembly by vulcanization, by conventional shoemaking cementing processes using adhesive compositions, or by injection molding directly onto the molded midsole.

Abstract: A footwear product, such as a rubber boot, has protective plates disposed to prevent the penetration of sharp objects into a wearer's foot. A first rigid protective plate is embedded in the sole, and a second rigid protective plate is disposed to cover an inside side portion of the instep. In combination, the plates prevent penetration of a sharp object into the wearer's foot when the wearer steps on the object.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rubber footwear product having superior heel support as compared with conventional rubber footwear products, and a method of manufacturing such a product. More particularly, the invention provides a rubber footwear product in which a heel counter is trapped or embedded within the vulcanizate to improve the support provided to the wearer's foot.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rubber footwear vulcanizate to which an outsole may be separately affixed. The vulcanizate may be suitably manufactured from an assembly of an uncured rubber upper insole, welt and a vulcanized midsole. The inner and outer surfaces of the midsole may be suitably roughened, and the surface thereof which interfaces the uncured assembly may be precoated with an uncured rubber. The assembled uncured rubber footwear components may be vulcanized into a footwear product of unitary construction. The outer midsole surface permits a wide variety of outer soles of different compositions to be separately secured thereto.

Abstract: A method for making a thermoplastic-rubber wader having a rubber footwear bottom and a thermoplastic upper, the method including the steps of treating an upper circumferential portion of the bottom, applying thermoplastic adhesive to the treated portion, applying a thermoplastic strip to the adhesive coating, applying a thermoplastic band to the upper to provide an interfacing annular seating surface with the thermoplastic strip, heat sealing the strip and band to provide a fluid tight unitary bond between the bottom and the upper and the wader formed by the above method.

Abstract: The present invention provides a rubber footwear vulcanizate to which there may be separately affixed an outsole. The vulcanizate may be suitably manufactured from an assembly of an uncured rubber upper, insole, welt and a vulcanized midsole base article. The inner and outer surfaces of the midsole base article may be suitably roughened and the surface interfacing the uncured assemblage precoated with an uncured rubber. The assembled uncured rubber footwear components may be vulcanized into a vulcanizate footwear product of a unitary construction. The outer surface midsole surface permits a wide variety of compositionally differing outer soles to be separately secured thereto.