W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

W. L. Gore & Associati, S.r.l.

Russell Brill

Marc Peikert

Andrea Giupponi

A footwear () comprises an upper arrangement () and a sole (), in which the upper arrangement () comprises an upper material () comprising in a lower peripheral area at least one air permeable portion (), an air-permeable layer () arranged in a lower area of the upper arrangement () on the sole side above the sole (), wherein the air-permeable layer () is water vapor permeable and has a three-dimensional structure that permits passage of air at least in the horizontal direction; and at least one water vapor permeable functional layer () arranged on an inner side of the upper material () and above the air-permeable layer (). The at least one air permeable portion () enables the air permeable layer () to communicate with the outer surroundings such that air is exchanged between the outer surroundings and the air permeable layer (), said air permeable portion () further enables the water vapor permeable functional layer () to communicate with the outer surroundings such that water vapor is transported from an inner side of the functional layer () to the outer surroundings. A water vapor permeable first protective layer () is arranged between the air permeable portion () and the functional layer () in at least an area of the air permeable portion () above the air-permeable layer (), wherein the first protective layer () is adapted for protecting the functional layer () against particles penetrating through the air permeable portion ().

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Grafing, Germany

Russell Brill