CA1195494A - Metatarsal guards - Google Patents
Metatarsal guardsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1195494A CA1195494A CA000411624A CA411624A CA1195494A CA 1195494 A CA1195494 A CA 1195494A CA 000411624 A CA000411624 A CA 000411624A CA 411624 A CA411624 A CA 411624A CA 1195494 A CA1195494 A CA 1195494A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- boot
- stirrup
- shield
- sole
- protective boot
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
- A43B7/32—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with shock-absorbing means
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A protective boot comprises a sole and an upper of flexible material allowing flexing of the boot, particularly when the wearer is in a crouched position. A rigid shield is hinged to the toe of the boot and in the normal position extends over the metatarsal region. A stirrup member has an integral base portion anchored to the sole extending under the foot of the wearer and an arch portion extending over the upper in spaced relationship thereto. The stirrup transfers shocks re-ceived by the shield to the ground via the base portion and allows flexing of the upper under the arch portion. The wearer can assume a crouched position in comfort without being aware of the metatarsal shield.
A protective boot comprises a sole and an upper of flexible material allowing flexing of the boot, particularly when the wearer is in a crouched position. A rigid shield is hinged to the toe of the boot and in the normal position extends over the metatarsal region. A stirrup member has an integral base portion anchored to the sole extending under the foot of the wearer and an arch portion extending over the upper in spaced relationship thereto. The stirrup transfers shocks re-ceived by the shield to the ground via the base portion and allows flexing of the upper under the arch portion. The wearer can assume a crouched position in comfort without being aware of the metatarsal shield.
Description
This invention relates to protective boots for use, for example, in the construction industry.
Various types of protective boots are known. One type has a steel toe to which is hinged a metatarsal shield protecting the me~atarsal region of the foot. The free edge of the shield is not supported, and a blow to the metatar-sal shield may be transmitted to the foot. In order to take up some of the shock, this type of boot is rnade of a relatively stiff material which le~ds to considerable weax discomfort, particularly in the crouched or s~uat position. In another type of boot, the ~^7hole of the upper above the metatarsus is riqid. This protects the foot, but a hard edge i5 formed at the boundary between the rigid and soft port~ons of the upper, which comes up against the instep when the wearer flexes his foot, particularly when in a crouched- or salta-t-position.
This can be auite painful over a period of time.
Canadian Datent No. 607,95~, issued November 1, 1960, discloses the use of a brace ~or the metatarsal guard, provided across the instep of the boot. The brace, however, is supported directly on the upDer and thus suffers from the same disadvan-tage as the boot having the rigid upper. In the crouched Dosi-tion, the brace forms a hard edge acting on the instep/ leading to considerable wearer discomfort. Also, the brace terminates at the sides of the boot, and the free ends are only joined by the rubber sole. Repeated shocks weaken the sole and, in the case of a severe blow, the sides of ~race may have a tendency to spring apart, possibly causing injury to the foot. The se paration of the shield from the u~per alone is insufficient to allow adequate flexibility for the wearer to ensure a crouched position in comfort owing to the presence of the brace, -~hich remains in a fixed position relative to the upper.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a protec~
/ `!, s~
tive boot comprising a sole and an upper of flexible material allowing flexing of the boot, particularlv when the wearer is in a ~rouched position, a rigid shield hinged to the toe of the boot and extending over the metatarsal region, and a stirrup member having an arch portion and a base portion integral there-with, said arch portion extendins over the upper in spaced re-lationship therewith and supporting said shield, and said hase ~ortion being anchored to the sole and extending across the boot under the foot of the wearer, whereby said stirrup trans-fers shocks received by the shield to the ground via said baseportion, and said upper can flex freely under said arch portion.
The resence of a stirrup with an integral base portion ensures that shocks are satisfactorily transmitted to the ground without the risk of collapse and without weakening the sole, which does not have to take up any transverse forces. The shock is also distributed over the whole of the integral base portion. In addition, the spacing of the arch portion of the stirrup abo~e the upper allows complete freedom of movement of the instep under the arch portion. As a result, the wearer can comfortably assume a crouched position without the discom-fort of his insteps coming up against a hard edge. The upper can flex under the arch as if the stirrup were not present. The boot is effectivelv as comfortable as an ordinary unprotected, soft boot, and the wearer may remain in a crouched position for longer periods of time without discomfort.
Preferably, the stirrup is arranged to incline for-wards as the foot is flexed to move it farther from the instep of the foot.
Conveniently, the stirrup is made of steel and the boot of rubber, although other convenient materials may be em-~loyed.
The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference ~o the acco~anving drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a side view of a protective boot accord-ing to the invention;
Figure 2 is a view, si.~ilar to Figure 1, showing part of the boot in a flexed position; and Figure 3 is a cross section along the lines A-A of gure 1.
The protective boot has a rubber sole 1 molded to a soft rubber up~er 2 lined with fabric. mh~ boot has a leg portion 3, although this is not necessary. A conventional steel protective toe portion ~ is incorporated in the boot~
A saddle-shaped, rigid metatarsal shield 5 extends over the metatarsal and instep regions of the bsot. The front portion of the shield 5 is flexible and molded onto the toe portion so as to provide a hinge for the shield 5, which thus acts in the r;lanner of a rigid flap placed over the uppPr oE the boot. I'he front portion of the shield is also resilient so as to hias the shield 5 into position over the upper 2.
~3 The shield 5 consists of an outer laver 6 of Eabric-lined soft rubber, knurled on the outside. Beneath the soft layer 6is areinforcinq Iaver 7 of hard rubber, thickened at the sides and also lined inside with cloth. IE desiredl a Eurther steel reinforcing layer 8 may be added. The shield 5 is then quite rigid and well able -to withstand blows Erom falling objects and the like.
A steel stirrup 9 has an integral base portion 10 molded into the rubber sole 1 so as toextend under the wearer's foot an~ an arch portion 11, coated with rubber or plastic, extending over the upper 2 and separated fro~ it by a yap 1~.
The base portion 10 distributes forces applied to the arch 11 Erom the shield 5 to the ground.
~ 3 --4~'~
In the normal position, shown in Figure 1, the arch portion 1 is inclined forwards and supports the free end of th~
hinged shield 5. The base portion 10 of the stirrup 9 is lo-cated in the instep region of the boot so that, as the sole is flexed, as show in in Figure 2, it inclines forwards still fur-ther, thus increasing the amount o room available for the instep of the foot. The arch portion 11 slides under the shield 5, keeping the shield well clear of the upper 2. mhe boot can thus flex as effectively as if the shield 5 were not present, and the wearer is not aware of the presence of the shield 5, even when adoptin~ a crouched or squat position.
The shield 5 can be made of any suitable material, such as steel, plastic, or hard rubber.
The stirrup 9 need not be mo]ded into the sole, provided the base portion 10 extends under the foot. For exam-ple, it ma~ be located between the rubber sole 1 and an insole of the boot. It ~iill still ensure that blows to the metatarsal shield are transmitted to the ground and distributed over the length of the base portion 10/ without danger to the wearex's foot.
This embodiment oE the invention has been described with reference to a rubber boot, although the invention is of course applicable to boots made of other materials, such as leather. The boot can be of the lace~up kind, and the shield may be a separate member fastened to a hinge flap on the toe portion by means of studs. Suitable boots of this type are, fox example, Model Nos. 229, 209, 431 and 282~ made by Kaufman Footwear Inc.
Various types of protective boots are known. One type has a steel toe to which is hinged a metatarsal shield protecting the me~atarsal region of the foot. The free edge of the shield is not supported, and a blow to the metatar-sal shield may be transmitted to the foot. In order to take up some of the shock, this type of boot is rnade of a relatively stiff material which le~ds to considerable weax discomfort, particularly in the crouched or s~uat position. In another type of boot, the ~^7hole of the upper above the metatarsus is riqid. This protects the foot, but a hard edge i5 formed at the boundary between the rigid and soft port~ons of the upper, which comes up against the instep when the wearer flexes his foot, particularly when in a crouched- or salta-t-position.
This can be auite painful over a period of time.
Canadian Datent No. 607,95~, issued November 1, 1960, discloses the use of a brace ~or the metatarsal guard, provided across the instep of the boot. The brace, however, is supported directly on the upDer and thus suffers from the same disadvan-tage as the boot having the rigid upper. In the crouched Dosi-tion, the brace forms a hard edge acting on the instep/ leading to considerable wearer discomfort. Also, the brace terminates at the sides of the boot, and the free ends are only joined by the rubber sole. Repeated shocks weaken the sole and, in the case of a severe blow, the sides of ~race may have a tendency to spring apart, possibly causing injury to the foot. The se paration of the shield from the u~per alone is insufficient to allow adequate flexibility for the wearer to ensure a crouched position in comfort owing to the presence of the brace, -~hich remains in a fixed position relative to the upper.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a protec~
/ `!, s~
tive boot comprising a sole and an upper of flexible material allowing flexing of the boot, particularlv when the wearer is in a ~rouched position, a rigid shield hinged to the toe of the boot and extending over the metatarsal region, and a stirrup member having an arch portion and a base portion integral there-with, said arch portion extendins over the upper in spaced re-lationship therewith and supporting said shield, and said hase ~ortion being anchored to the sole and extending across the boot under the foot of the wearer, whereby said stirrup trans-fers shocks received by the shield to the ground via said baseportion, and said upper can flex freely under said arch portion.
The resence of a stirrup with an integral base portion ensures that shocks are satisfactorily transmitted to the ground without the risk of collapse and without weakening the sole, which does not have to take up any transverse forces. The shock is also distributed over the whole of the integral base portion. In addition, the spacing of the arch portion of the stirrup abo~e the upper allows complete freedom of movement of the instep under the arch portion. As a result, the wearer can comfortably assume a crouched position without the discom-fort of his insteps coming up against a hard edge. The upper can flex under the arch as if the stirrup were not present. The boot is effectivelv as comfortable as an ordinary unprotected, soft boot, and the wearer may remain in a crouched position for longer periods of time without discomfort.
Preferably, the stirrup is arranged to incline for-wards as the foot is flexed to move it farther from the instep of the foot.
Conveniently, the stirrup is made of steel and the boot of rubber, although other convenient materials may be em-~loyed.
The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference ~o the acco~anving drawings, in which:-Figure 1 is a side view of a protective boot accord-ing to the invention;
Figure 2 is a view, si.~ilar to Figure 1, showing part of the boot in a flexed position; and Figure 3 is a cross section along the lines A-A of gure 1.
The protective boot has a rubber sole 1 molded to a soft rubber up~er 2 lined with fabric. mh~ boot has a leg portion 3, although this is not necessary. A conventional steel protective toe portion ~ is incorporated in the boot~
A saddle-shaped, rigid metatarsal shield 5 extends over the metatarsal and instep regions of the bsot. The front portion of the shield 5 is flexible and molded onto the toe portion so as to provide a hinge for the shield 5, which thus acts in the r;lanner of a rigid flap placed over the uppPr oE the boot. I'he front portion of the shield is also resilient so as to hias the shield 5 into position over the upper 2.
~3 The shield 5 consists of an outer laver 6 of Eabric-lined soft rubber, knurled on the outside. Beneath the soft layer 6is areinforcinq Iaver 7 of hard rubber, thickened at the sides and also lined inside with cloth. IE desiredl a Eurther steel reinforcing layer 8 may be added. The shield 5 is then quite rigid and well able -to withstand blows Erom falling objects and the like.
A steel stirrup 9 has an integral base portion 10 molded into the rubber sole 1 so as toextend under the wearer's foot an~ an arch portion 11, coated with rubber or plastic, extending over the upper 2 and separated fro~ it by a yap 1~.
The base portion 10 distributes forces applied to the arch 11 Erom the shield 5 to the ground.
~ 3 --4~'~
In the normal position, shown in Figure 1, the arch portion 1 is inclined forwards and supports the free end of th~
hinged shield 5. The base portion 10 of the stirrup 9 is lo-cated in the instep region of the boot so that, as the sole is flexed, as show in in Figure 2, it inclines forwards still fur-ther, thus increasing the amount o room available for the instep of the foot. The arch portion 11 slides under the shield 5, keeping the shield well clear of the upper 2. mhe boot can thus flex as effectively as if the shield 5 were not present, and the wearer is not aware of the presence of the shield 5, even when adoptin~ a crouched or squat position.
The shield 5 can be made of any suitable material, such as steel, plastic, or hard rubber.
The stirrup 9 need not be mo]ded into the sole, provided the base portion 10 extends under the foot. For exam-ple, it ma~ be located between the rubber sole 1 and an insole of the boot. It ~iill still ensure that blows to the metatarsal shield are transmitted to the ground and distributed over the length of the base portion 10/ without danger to the wearex's foot.
This embodiment oE the invention has been described with reference to a rubber boot, although the invention is of course applicable to boots made of other materials, such as leather. The boot can be of the lace~up kind, and the shield may be a separate member fastened to a hinge flap on the toe portion by means of studs. Suitable boots of this type are, fox example, Model Nos. 229, 209, 431 and 282~ made by Kaufman Footwear Inc.
Claims (9)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A protective boot comprising a sole and an upper of flexible material allowing flexing of the boot, particularly when the wearer is in a crouched position, a rigid shield hinged to the toe of the boot and extending over the metatarsal region, and a stirrup member having an arch portion and a base portion integral therewith, said arch portion extending over the upper in spaced relationship therewith and supporting said shield, and said base portion being anchored to the sole and extending across the boot under the foot of the wearer, whereby said stirrup transfers shocks received by the shield to the ground via said base portion, and said upper can flex freely under said arch portion.
2. A protective boot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stirrup is anchored to the sole in the instep region so that as the boot is flexed, the stirrup inclines forwardly over the upper.
3. A protective boot as claimed in claim 2, wherein the stirrup normally has a slight forward incline.
4. A protective boot as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the stirrup is made of steel.
5. A protective boot as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sole is made of rubber.
6. A protective boot as claimed in claim 5, wherein the stirrup is molded into the sole.
7. A protective boot as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the upper is made of soft rubber.
8. A protective boot as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, further comprising a steel toe to which the rigid shield is pivoted.
9. A protective boot as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the arch portion of the stirrup is coated with rubber.
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000411624A CA1195494A (en) | 1982-09-16 | 1982-09-16 | Metatarsal guards |
| GB08323839A GB2126872A (en) | 1982-09-16 | 1983-09-06 | Improvements in and relating to protective boots and metatarsal shields therefore |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000411624A CA1195494A (en) | 1982-09-16 | 1982-09-16 | Metatarsal guards |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1195494A true CA1195494A (en) | 1985-10-22 |
Family
ID=4123605
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000411624A Expired CA1195494A (en) | 1982-09-16 | 1982-09-16 | Metatarsal guards |
Country Status (2)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1195494A (en) |
| GB (1) | GB2126872A (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5457898A (en) * | 1994-03-24 | 1995-10-17 | Fortin; Gilles | Metatarsal guard for safety shoe |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUPP997699A0 (en) * | 1999-04-27 | 1999-05-20 | Macleod, Norman William | Protector for footwear |
| US6321470B2 (en) | 1999-07-01 | 2001-11-27 | Andrew J. Zazzi | Boot mounted snowboard support |
| US6131312A (en) * | 1999-07-13 | 2000-10-17 | Hung; Cheng-Che | Safety shoe with detachable steel toe box |
| US7165342B2 (en) | 2002-09-27 | 2007-01-23 | Sheen Randy T | Protective shoe cover |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR445552A (en) * | 1911-06-30 | 1912-11-14 | Karl Peters | Liquid transmission device |
| GB849062A (en) * | 1957-12-11 | 1960-09-21 | Us Rubber Co | Improvements in safety boot with metatarsal arch protection |
| US3271888A (en) * | 1965-06-18 | 1966-09-13 | James W Fair | Protective attachment for shoes |
-
1982
- 1982-09-16 CA CA000411624A patent/CA1195494A/en not_active Expired
-
1983
- 1983-09-06 GB GB08323839A patent/GB2126872A/en not_active Withdrawn
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5457898A (en) * | 1994-03-24 | 1995-10-17 | Fortin; Gilles | Metatarsal guard for safety shoe |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2126872A (en) | 1984-04-04 |
| GB8323839D0 (en) | 1983-10-05 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |