Waterproof footwear and methods for making the same

1. Waterproof footwear comprising:

a laminate liner material including at least a waterproof, water vapor permeable functional layer with an open top portion secured to a collar portion of an upper material, and a bottom perimeter edge portion stitched to a first insole material;

a waterproof gasket material having a top surface and a bottom surface with the top surface adhered to and covering the first insole material and at least a portion of the bottom edge portion of the laminate liner material;

a second insole material stitched to a perimeter edge portion of the upper material, forming a closed upper; and

wherein the bottom surface of the waterproof gasket material contacts at least a portion of the second insole material.

2. The footwear of claim 1 , wherein the waterproof, water vapor permeable functional layer comprises a polymeric membrane material.

3. The footwear of claim 2 , wherein the polymeric membrane material is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyester, polyether, polyamide, polyacrylate, copolyether ester, and copolyether amide.

4. The footwear of claim 2 , wherein the laminate liner comprises at least one layer of microporous, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene and at least one layer of textile material.

5. The footwear of claim 2 , wherein the polymeric membrane material comprises microporous, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.

6. The footwear of claim 1 , wherein the first insole material comprises a material selected from woven and nonwoven textile materials.

7. The footwear of claim 6 , wherein the first insole material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyester, nylon, polyacrylic, polyolefin, polyurethane, polyvinyl, cotton, acetate, rayon, olefin, acrylic, wool, spandex, metallic, and combinations thereof.

8. The footwear of claim 1 , wherein the waterproof gasket comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polymeric materials, waterproof fabrics, and fabrics coated with polymer.

9. The footwear of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the top surface and the bottom surface of the waterproof gasket material has thereon a polyurethane adhesive material.

10. The footwear of claim 9 , wherein the polyurethane adhesive material is located on the top surface and the bottom surface of the waterproof gasket material.

11. The footwear of claim 1 , wherein adhesive is located between the bottom surface of the waterproof gasket material and the at least a portion of the second insole material.

12. The footwear of claim 1 , wherein an outer sole is secured to the footwear.