Abstract: Waterproof upper components of shoes, and methods of making waterproof shoes and waterproof upper components thereof are described.

Abstract: Described herein are devices and techniques for solving the problems associated with the assembly of standard waterproof footwear such as the increased labor and cost of purchasing a taping machine and individually taping each seam of a waterproof article of footwear. Waterproof footwear described herein is made by laminating a waterproof membrane over substantially the entire exterior surface, including the seams, of a footwear liner, thereby producing a tapeless waterproof footwear article.

Abstract: Described herein are devices and techniques for solving the problems, such as high costs and intensive labor, associated with individual cutting and lamination of each component of a multilayered article of manufacture, particularly a footwear article. The combined midsole/insole described herein is cut from a layered composition having a Strobel (or insole board) layer, a cushioning layer, and a textile layer. The Strobel layer, the cushioning layer, and the textile layer are needle-punched or laminated together to form the layered composition. The layered composition may be produced as a sheet of material or be produced as a roll of material without delamination or separation of the layers.