WATER BARRIER FOR FOOTWEAR
A footwear construction including a barrier element that restricts the transfer of water into the footwear. The footwear can include an upper joined with a sole, with at least one of the upper and sole defining a channel that allows air to circulate to the upper. The barrier element can be located in the channel, and can include a phase change material that swells to close the channel when subjected to water. The barrier element can act as a valve to restrict the flow of water into the upper through the channel when subjected to water. The barrier element can be water absorbing polymer included in a non-woven sheet. When dry, the barrier element can allow air to pass through the channel and circulate to an interior of the upper. The barrier element can be wetted and dried repeatedly, yet still function to restrict water flow into the footwear.
1 . A footwear comprising:
an upper including an interior in which a wearer's foot is positioned;
a sole joined with the upper, the sole defining a channel that extends from an exterior of the footwear and that is in fluid communication with the interior of the upper, the channel adapted to allow air from the exterior of the footwear to travel to the interior of the upper; and
a barrier element at least partially positioned in the channel, the barrier element being a non-woven fabric including a water absorbent polymer that expands in size when exposed to water,
wherein the barrier element undergoes a phase change to at least partially close the channel when exposed to water, thereby restricting a flow of water from the exterior of the footwear to the interior of the upper.
2 . The footwear of claim 1 wherein the sole includes a midsole and an outsole, wherein the channel is defined at least partially in the midsole, but not in the outsole.
3 . The footwear of claim 2 wherein the midsole defines a chamber in fluid communication with the channel.
4 . The footwear of claim 3 wherein the midsole defines a hole above the chamber, the hole being in fluid communication with the interior of the upper, the hole and chamber forming a portion of the channel.
5 . The footwear of claim 4 wherein the upper includes a waterproofing membrane to restrict water from entering the interior of the upper, the waterproofing membrane terminating adjacent the hole so that air can circulate from the interior of the upper, through the hole.
6 . The footwear of claim 1 comprising a groove defined in the sole and transverse to the channel, wherein the barrier element is positioned in the groove, and is transverse to the channel.
7 . The footwear of claim 1 comprising a waterproofing membrane joined with the upper, the waterproofing membrane defining a first hole atop the upper and a second hole adjacent the sole, the second hole being in fluid communication with the channel so that air can flow through the channel and hole into the interior of the upper.
8 . The footwear of claim 1 wherein the barrier element is positioned adjacent a secondary element, the secondary element transverse to the channel, the secondary element and the barrier element defining a gap therebetween when the barrier element is dry, the barrier element adapted to swell into the gap when the barrier element is wetted with water so as to close at least a portion of the gap and to restrict water from entering the interior of the upper through the gap.
9 . The footwear of claim 1 comprising a sealing element joined with the barrier element, the sealing element positioned adjacent a hole defined by the sole, the hole wherein the barrier element pushes the sealing element, forming a portion of the channel, into engagement with the sole to restrict the flow of water through the hole.
10 . A footwear comprising:
an upper including an interior in which a wearer's foot is positioned;
a sole joined with the upper;
a channel defined by at least one of the upper and the sole, the channel extending from an exterior of the footwear and in fluid communication with the interior of the upper; and
a barrier element in fluid communication with the channel, the barrier element including a phase change material that swells to at least partially close the channel when exposed to water, thereby restricting a flow of water from the exterior of the footwear to the interior of the upper, whereby the interior of the upper remains relatively dry when the exterior of the footwear is subjected to water.
11 . The footwear of claim 10 wherein the sole includes a midsole and an outsole, wherein the channel is defined by the midsole and the outsole.
12 . The footwear of claim 10 comprising a mesh screen extending across the channel, wherein the barrier element is located between the mesh screen and the interior of the upper.
13 . The footwear of claim 12 wherein the mesh screen is included in a base, wherein the barrier element is located adjacent at least one of the base and the mesh screen with a gap formed at least partially between the barrier element and at least one of the base and the mesh screen, wherein the mesh screen allows water to pass through the mesh screen to contact the barrier element, wherein the barrier element swells when contacted with the water that passes through the mesh screen to at least partially close the gap.
14 . The footwear of claim 10 comprising a waterproofing membrane defining an opening adjacent the sole in fluid communication with the channel, through which air can flow from the exterior of the footwear.
15 . A footwear comprising an upper joined with a sole, at least one of the upper and sole defining a channel that allows air to circulate to the upper through the channel, the channel including a phase change material that swells when subjected to water disposed therein, wherein the phase change material acts as a valve to restrict the flow of water into the upper through the channel when the footwear is subjected to water.
16 . The footwear of claim 15 wherein the sole includes a plurality of the channels, wherein the phase change material is in the form of a strip of a water absorbing non-woven cloth including a water absorbing polymer, wherein the strip is positioned transversely across the plurality of channels.
17 . The footwear of claim 15 comprising a sealing element joined with the phase change material, wherein the sealing element is positioned adjacent a portion of the channel when the footwear is dry, wherein the barrier element moves the sealing element into engagement with at least one of the sole, the channel and the upper, to seal the channel and restrict the flow of water into the upper through the channel when the footwear is subjected to water.
18 . The footwear of claim 15 wherein the sole defines the channel, wherein the upper includes a waterproof membrane, wherein the waterproof membrane defines an opening in fluid communication with the channel, wherein the opening is adapted to allow air to enter the upper from the sole.
19 . The footwear of claim 18 wherein the sole defines a groove transverse to the channel, wherein the barrier element is in the form of a strip, wherein the strip is positioned in the groove with the barrier element being transverse to the channel.
20 . The footwear of claim 19 comprising a mesh screen located between the barrier element and the exterior of the footwear.
21 . The footwear of claim 15 wherein the sole includes a midsole having an exterior, visible side, wherein the channel is defined in the midsole and includes an opening defined in the exterior, visible side, wherein the barrier element is located distal from the opening in the channel.
22 . The footwear of claim 15 wherein the phase change material is a water absorbent polymer included in a non-woven sheet.