Abstract: The invention relates to a method of waterproofing an article of footwear, for example, a boot, and the article of footwear produced therefrom. To waterproof the article a solution of effective amounts of a polymeric material and solvent is applied to inner surface areas of the article sought to be waterproofed. The solution is then substantially dried to produce a layer of a waterproof polymeric material over the surface of selected areas of the inside of the article. Conveniently and efficiently the layer of solution may be applied to the inner surface of the article by transferring a quantity of the solution into the article until the article is filled to the desired level (e.g. upper ankle level) and therafter orienting the article appropriately to cause the solution to spread to all inner surface areas of the foot portion of the article. Following this the excess solution is removed from the article by tilting the article causing the excess solution to drain out of the article.

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.

Abstract: A wet suit boot having a foot portion attached to a tongue and an ankle portion in which the ankle portion includes two wrap-around flaps one of which is releasably connectable to the outside of the tongue and the other of which is releasably connectable to the outside of the first flap.

Abstract: The invention is a boot with a foot portion and a leg portion of flexible repellant material, said leg portion comprising an elongate V-shaped gusset in the flexible leg portion with its upper edge at the upper edge of the flexible leg portion, an elongated flap coextensive with one side of the gusset, a first elongated strip of adhesive material on the inner side of said flap, a second elongated strip of adhesive material at the other side of said gusset and coextensive therewith, said first and said second elongated strips of adhesive material being adapted to unite one to the other when pressed into contact with each other, said elongated strips of adhesive material having a width whereby they can be adhered together with variable overlap to fold said gusset varying amounts to vary the closed circumference of said leg portion to achieve a snug fit around the leg of a user in use and exclude snow and moisture.

Abstract: An isothermic protective boot designed particularly for patients with arterial disease. The boot has a complete inner lining and outer cover of a soft, non-allergenic material, a double layer of a soft, flexible, compressible isothermic protective material between the outer cover and inner lining, and a body of flexible, compressible weight-bearing material at the back of the boot in a position to extend along the heel cord and lower aspect of the calf of the patient's leg.

Abstract: A safety waterproof boot of molded plastics material is provided having an integral sole and upper, the upper including a toe portion and a metatarsal portion, a metallic plate provided in the sole portion and extending the width and length thereof and allowing for longitudinal flexing of the sole, a box-shaped rigid toe guard provided in the toe portion, a rigid arched metatarsal guard member extending laterally and having side portions connected to the sole plate, the trailing edge of the toe guard being spaced inwardly relative to the leading edge of the metatarsal guard and the molded plastics material extending between the metatarsal guard and the toe guard having a flexible hinge portion in the form of a reverse fold such that the trailing edge of the toe guard will pivot inwardly of the leading edge of the metatarsal guard when the toe portion of the boot is being pivoted relative to the boot.

Abstract: Methods are provided for producing protective and useful wearing apparel, such as work gloves, work boots and aprons, and wearing apparel so produced by such methods. The methods include joining a non-woven fibrous web, such as needled felt to a knitted web, such as a knitted jersey, and utilizing a needled staple fiber preferably from the non-woven web to join the two webs together into a formed laminate. The joining procedure is such that the finished laminate includes the needled staple fiber extending from one surface of the web to form a base surface for a subsequent application of an elastomeric coating. The resulting coated surface is textured to provide a gripping surface, for example, for use in gloves to handle smooth surfaced items with sharp edges, such as glass. The remaining exposed non-woven fibrous web surface forms a soft protective internal surface for the weaving apparel such as gloves or boots.

Abstract: An overboot arranged to be worn over a shoe or other footwear and formed as an integral unit. The overboot includes an upper portion, a sole portion and a heel portion. The sole portion includes plural elongated cleats extending across the full width of the sole and comprising raised members having grooves therein. Plural undulating ridges project up slightly from the grooves. The space between adjacent cleats is in the form of grooves. Each of the cleats is disposed at a predetermined angle to the longitudinal axis of the sole. The angle is approximately the angle made with the axis by a line extending from the second to the fifth metatarsal head of the wearer's foot to facilitate the flexure of the sole as the wearer walks in the boot, while providing for good traction and the releasement of soft adhering materials, such as mud, slush, snow, etc., from the boot sole.

Abstract: A boot suitable for after skiing is described which comprises a sole portion, an exterior vamp portion connected to the sole portion, the exterior vamp portion being turned at the top to form a turned over portion, an interior layer continuous with the turned over vamp portion, a chamber between the exterior portion and the interior layer, the chamber being closed and being inaccessible to the exterior environment. The ski boot may be of knee-high type or ankle-high type. The interior layer may be manufactured separate from the vamp portion and may be joined to the vamp portion by a seam. The interior layer may consist of a stocking which is joined to the top edge of the vamp portion, the stocking having the shape of a foot opposite to the foot portion of the boot, with the stocking being turned in the interior of the boot.

Abstract: This invention relates to boots for divers, used in association with a wet suit, dry suit, other diving gears or for other aquatic activities. Each boot comprises a sock, made of elastomeric material, preferably covered by nylon fabric on one or two sides, and an outsole, together with a back stay, a toe-cap and a foxing, made of non-cellular rubber and directly vulcanized as a unit on the sock. The resulting boot is long-lasting because the outsole does not become detached from the sock. Vulcanization is carried out in such a way that it does not affect the cellular elastomeric material.

Abstract: A light weight insulated athletic shoe is disclosed. The athletic shoe comprises a sole of flexible rubber having a skid resistant tread; an outer layer of semi permeable material which allows the passage of air and excludes the passage of moisture; an intermediate layer of stretchable sponge rubber bonded to the outer layer; and an inner lining of fabric bonded to the intermediate layer. A plurality of metallic inserts are disposed between the sole and the outer layer, the inserts include a threaded aperture to receive a threaded upper end of a removable stud. The studs are employed when the wearer encounters icy surfaces. The inserts are recessed below the surface of the sole so that metallic contact with paved surfaces and the resulting loss in traction will not occur when the studs have been removed. Wrench flats are provided along the projecting portions of the studs for ease of insertion and removal of the studs.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a waterproof relief outlet in a chest wader. A waterproof folded funnel having a pair of inner flanges at one end is secured through a center seam of the chest wader. A funnel housing having an inner flap and an outer flap is attached to a back side of the center seam of the chest wader in conjunction with the inner flanges of the funnel. An interlocking tongue is also provided with the inner and outer flaps of the funnel housing. A wearer of the chest wader can relieve his pressure by unlocking the interlocking tongue and unfolding the inner and outer flaps of the housing through which the folded funnel is extended and unfolded.

Abstract: In the injection molding of plastic boots, a reinforced arch and heel construction is disclosed wherein a reinforced insole member, of comparatively rigid material formed in a single piece with a rigid heel portion, is incorporated into the two step process of molding the upper portion and then the sole portion of the boot. In one embodiment the reinforced member is molded to the boot upper during the first step of the molding process, and in an alternative embodiment the reinforcement member is incorporated into the boot during the second step of the molding process. A third simpler embodiment utilizes a conventional wood screw as the heel portion of the reinforcement member, and the member may be inserted after molding of the boot.

Abstract: A waterproof hip length boot and method of manufacture wherein the fabric lined upper leg portion is attached as a sheet around its lower edge to the upper edge of the lower boot portion by an adhesive such as urethane or another synthetic polymeric material having similar properties that provides circumferential and longitudinal bonded seams and also coats the fabric opposite the wearer's knee for internal abrasion protection.

Abstract: In the injection molding of plastic boots, a reinforced arch and heel construction is disclosed wherein a reinforced insole member, of comparatively rigid material formed in a single piece with a rigid heel portion, is incorporated into the two step process of molding the upper portion and then the sole portion of the boot. In one embodiment the reinforced member is molded to the boot upper during the first step of the molding process, and in an alternative embodiment the reinforcement member is incorporated into the boot during the second step of the molding process. A third simpler embodiment utilizes a conventional wood screw as the heel portion of the reinforcement member, and the member may be inserted after molding of the boot.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing boots of rubber or the like wherein the successive boot building operations are carried out on lasts carried by a movable conveyor indexed to and through stations spaced along a line. An elastic sock is mounted on each last at the first station, an adhesive or a chemical reactant such as a coagulant solution are applied to the sock, latex dip coatings are applied, and binding, foxing, toe caps, insulation and the like applied before vulcanization and final lacquer spraying and trimming at indexed stations.

Abstract: An improvement for waterproofing a prosthetic foot of the type having a foot body surrounding a keel includes a layer of water repellent resilient material cemented to a bottom surface and front, rear and side edges of a lower portion of the foot body extending from the toe to the heel and a coating of water repellent material covering the top portion of the foot body and the interface of the edges of the layer of water repellent resilient material with the lower portion of the foot body such that the prosthetic foot can be immersed in water while the water is prevented from reaching the keel.

Abstract: The disclosure is of an elastomer coated textile boot characterized by a textured or "wrinkle" finish. The disclosure is also of a method of manufacturing an elastomer coated textile boot with a "wrinkle" finish. In a preferred embodiment process, the method comprises forming a boot from a base fabric of a woven or knitted fabric having a fibrous, non-woven bat attached thereto and coating the boot with an elastomer in conventional manner.

Abstract: An article of orthopaedic footwear comprises an upper of thermosoftening plastics material, e.g. a vinyl polyer, having a lining of resilient expanded thermosoftening plastics material of closed cell construction, e.g. an expanded cross-linked polyethylene. The upper has an autogenously welded seam covered externally by a strip of thermosoftening plastics material, e.g. a vinyl polymer, autogenously welded to the upper on both sides of the seam, e.g. by longitudinal and/or transverse welds. The article can be shaped by forming and/or cutting the upper.

Abstract: A rip cord safety device providing an easy escape means from wading boots filled and drawing the wearer beneath the water. The rip cords are positioned so as to open the wading boots from toe to top with a single upward pulling motion.

Abstract: In a first overmolding operation, a starting element in the form of a high-cut sock lining of flexible material such as leather is coated with a composition which permits bonding and is then overmolded with a part forming an instep shank for the sole, a rear stiffening counter and a heel seat or heel body. In a second overmolding operation, the shoe is overmolded on both the upper and the body of the sole with an outer coating which consists of relatively flexible plastic material. Potential applications of the shoe include sports such as ice skating, skiing, mountaineering and fooball.

Abstract: A western-type boot pac with an insulated waterproof construction in the form of a laminated structure including an outer wall of waterproof material such as rubber, an inner layer of fabric-like material such as cotton duck and an intermediate layer of foam plastic insulating material. The boot pac includes a riding toe, riding heel and steel shank or arch in order to provide adequate support in the stirrup as well as adequate protection against sub-zero winter temperatures.