EP0211900A1 - Tow guard for footwear and footwear so made - Google Patents

Tow guard for footwear and footwear so made

Info

Publication number
EP0211900A1
EP0211900A1 EP19860901274 EP86901274A EP0211900A1 EP 0211900 A1 EP0211900 A1 EP 0211900A1 EP 19860901274 EP19860901274 EP 19860901274 EP 86901274 A EP86901274 A EP 86901274A EP 0211900 A1 EP0211900 A1 EP 0211900A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
footwear
toe
composite material
toe guard
strands
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP19860901274
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Leland B.M. Siskind
William A. Samaha
Thayer S. Warshaw
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0211900A1 publication Critical patent/EP0211900A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B23/00—Uppers; Boot legs; Stiffeners; Other single parts of footwear
    • A43B23/08—Heel stiffeners; Toe stiffeners
    • A43B23/081—Toe stiffeners
    • A43B23/086—Toe stiffeners made of impregnated fabrics, plastics or the like
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B3/00—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
    • A43B3/0026—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use for use in minefields; protecting from landmine blast; preventing landmines from being triggered

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to safety footwear and, more particularly, to an improved non-metallic toe guard for footwear, and to footwear incorporating such an improved toe guard.
  • Toe guards also known as toe boxes, have been known and in use for a long; time.
  • safety footwear such as used by firemen, policemen, military men, sportsmen, outdoorsmen, construction workers, electrical workers, and steel workers, as opposed to conventional footwear worn in general, known toe guards typically are formed of a metal, such as steel, as by stamping and/or drawing, or the like. While for many applica ⁇ tions, such safety footwear, incorporating metallic toe guards, is satisfactory, it has its inherent drawbacks and limitations.
  • This toe guard possesses a chemical composition and a mechanical configuration that are characterized by a fortuitous combination of flex modulus, compression strength, and impact strength.
  • the non-metallic toe guard of the present invention is composed of a specific fiber-reinforced polymeric composite material, preferably a fiber reinforced composite material having the characteristics of light weight, corrosion resistance, low thermal conductivity and required high compression and impact resistance.
  • the composite toe guard of the invention is formed (1) with a bevel on its inside top edge for greater comfort and for preventing injury to the foot of the wearer when the footwear is flexed,
  • the fiber reinforced composite compound includes a matrix or external phase composed of a polymeric material and a filler or internal phase composed of high tensile strength fibers embedded therein.
  • the composite material in accordance with the present invention is a glass fiber filled linear polyamide.
  • Footwear incorporating the improved toe guard of the present invention includes boots and shoes made for and ⁇ sed by men, women, and children of any design and construction, including welted, cemented or injection molded.
  • the invention accordingly comprises the improved non-metallic toe guard for footwear, and the footwear so produced, of the present disclosure, its components, parts and their interrelationships, the scope of which will be indicated in the appended claims.
  • FIG. 1 is a partially cut away perspective view of a footwear incorporating an improved toe guard according to the present invention
  • FIG. 2 depicts a portion of the footwear shown in FIG. 1 cut along the line 2 - 2;
  • FIG. 3 is a cross section of the improved toe guard shown in FIG. 1 along the line 2 - 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational section of the footwear shown in FIG. 1 along the line 4 - 4;
  • FIG. 5 is a partially cut away perspective view of another footwear incorporating a different embodiment of an improved toe guard according to the present invention;
  • FIG. 6 is a cross section of the toe guard of FIG. 5 along the line 6 - 6;
  • FIG. 7 is a fragmentary portion of the footwear shown in FIG. 5;
  • FIG. 8 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 7, but showing a further embodiment of an improved footwear according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 9 is a cross section of still another footwear incorporating another embodiment of an improved toe guard according to the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 a footwear 10 made according to and incor ⁇ porating the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 as comprising an upper 12, a bottom 14 and a vamp 16, forming a toe 18.
  • the footwear 10 as illustrated is a military boot.
  • the invention equally is applicable to any and all types of safety footwear, including shoes and boots such as are used by firemen, policemen, sportsmen, hunters, surveyors, con ⁇ struction workers, electrical workers, steel workers, and the like.
  • the footwear according to the invention can be of any known design and construction, including welted, cemented or injection molded.
  • the footwear 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is of the welted construction.
  • An improved non-metallic toe guard 20 is shown as being incorporated in the toe 18 of the footwear 10.
  • the improved toe guard 20 endows the footwear 10 with dielectric and non-magnetic properties, significantly reducing exposure of its wearer to electrical shock and the like.
  • the toe guard 20 is formed of a glass fiber filled linear polyamide composite material. This compound is characterized by being light in weight, non-corrosive and having a low thermal conductivity.
  • the improved non-metallic toe guard 20 provides the wearer of the footwear 10 incorporating it with as much, if not more, safety as heretofore exhibited by safety footwear featuring metallic, such as steel, toe guards.
  • the composite material of which the toe guard of the present invention is composed comprises an external phase consisting essentially of a linear polyamide such a 6-6 Nylon, and an internal phase consisting essentially of a refractory fiber such as fiberglass, the proportion of external phase polymer by total weight ranging from 40-70% and the proportion of internal phase filler by total weight ranging from 60-30Z, and the density of the composite ranging from 1.27 to 1.65.
  • a majority of the glass fibers are at least 1 centimeter long, are composed of E-glass or F-glass, and are oriented at random with respect to each other.
  • the external phase is 6-6 Nylon - 60% by total weight
  • the internal phase is E-glass fiberglass - 40% by total weight
  • the density of the 6-6 Nylon being approximately
  • the starting fiberglass, linear polyamide composite is formed by extruding the linear polyamide along lengths of the fiberglass filler in such a way as to produce lengths of the composite, then chopping the lengths to size, typically producing pieces of 1 centimeter square, mixing the resulting pieces and compacting in a mold under pressure and heat ranging from 1,000 to 6,000 pounds per square inch and from 400 to 600°F.
  • the fiberglass is distributed in small groups, each having -8- parallel fiberglass strands such that the strands in a given group are parallel, but the strands of different groups are at random angles with respect to other groups.
  • the improved non-metallic toe guard 20 is formed with a top portion 22, a front portion 24 and side portions 26 and 28.
  • the top portion 22 and the side portions 26 and 28 define a first or upper edge 30 distal from the front of the toe, the edge 30 being provided with a first bevel 32.
  • the front 24 and the side portions 26 and 28 also define a second or lower edge 34, with the edge 34 provided with a second bevel 36.
  • the inclination of the first bevel 32 with respect to the adjoining portions of the rearward edge of the toe guard is of a gentler slope and lesser angle than that of the second bevel 36 with respect to the lower edge of the toe guard.
  • first bevel 32 is formed on the inside, i.e., t p- side facing the foot of a wearer
  • second bevel 36 is formed on the bottom or outside, i.e., the side facing away from the foot of a wearer.
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-section of the non-metallic toe guard 20 according to the invention and formed with no flange at the bottom.
  • the footwear 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 - 4 is of a welt construction, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4.
  • the bottom 14 thereof is shown comprised of an outsole 38, a midsole 40, and a welt 42, all connected by a line of stitch ⁇ ing 44.
  • a filler 46 is disposed on the midsole 40, topped by a felt liner 48 and an inner sole 50, all as well known.
  • the footwear 10 also is provided with a lining 21.
  • FIGS. 5 - 7 a footwear 56 of cement construction is illustrated.
  • the illustrated footwear 56 is a cowboy boot and formed with an upper 58 and a bottom 60 forming a toe 62, with a non-metallic toe guard 64 incorporated in the toe 62.
  • FIG. 6 a cross-section of the non-metallic toe guard 64 according to the invention is shown being of the same composi ⁇ tion as toe guard 20 and as having a flange 76.
  • Flange 76 is shown as extending throughout the bottom of the toe guard and as presenting a reentrant portion extending forwardly from the rearward edge.
  • This particular cement construction includes a midsole 66 injection molded to the upper, and an outsole 68 cemented to the midsole 66 along a line 70 defining their interface. Further, the upper 58 preferably also is roughed and cemented as at 72, prior to its being injection molded with the midsole 66, observe FIG. 5 with the insole being omitted.
  • This embodiment of the non-metallic toe guard 64 also is provided with an inside top bevel edge 74 and differs essen ⁇ tially from the toe guard 20 merely in that it is provided with the flange 76 at the bottom thereof.
  • metallic toe guards it has not been possible to provide such a wide flange, or sometimes indeed any flange at all since one can only draw steel so far. Consequently, when the resultant footwear has been exposed to compression or severe impact from the top, as by a heavy object falling on the footwear, severe splay often developed. Such severe splay not only rendered the footwear unfit for further use, but more importantly presented a danger that the wearer's foot might become locked in the impatted footwear.
  • the non-metallic toe guard 64 of the invention in contrast, can be formed with as wide a flange 76 as desired. Generally, the wider the flange 76, the less the resultant splay.
  • FIG. 8 illustrates an injection molded footwear 80 having a bottom 82, injection formed in a suitable mold to an upper 84, preferably roughed and cemented, as at 86.
  • Footwear 80 is provided with a non-metallic toe guard 88 having a bottom flange 90 and it is like toe guard 20 in composition.
  • a non-metallic toe guard 102 is like that shown in FIG. 8 in composition and in configuration except as follows.
  • the toe guard 102 also is provided with a full bottom portion 104.
  • the upper 106 is this time injection formed with a rubber bottom 108, however.
  • Bottom 108 can be formed of natural or synthetic rubber, as contrasted with a preferred PVC bottom 82 for the footwear 80 illustrated in FIG. 8.
  • An insole 109 is shown overlying the bottom portion 104 of the toe guard 106.

Landscapes

  • Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)

Abstract

Le protège-orteils n'est pas métallique, ce qui réduit les risques relatifs aux chocs électriques et aux explosions de mines terrestres. Le protège-orteils est constitué d'une matière composite, de préférence du polyamide linéaire renforcé de fibre vitreuse, dont les caractéristiques sont les suivantes: son poids est léger, elle est non corrosive, et sa conductivité thermique est faible. De préférence, le protége-orteil (20) a un chanfrein (32) sur l'arête intérieure supérieure, pour un meilleur confort. De préférence, le protège-orteils est pourvu d'une partie supérieure (22) longue pour offrir une protection qui dépasse les orteils. Le protège-orteils peut ne pas avoir de rabat intérieur, ou avoir un rabat intérieur (76) dont la largeur peut varier, ou avoir une partie inférieure complète (104). Dans tous les cas, le protège-orteils amélioré permet d'utiliser des chaussures plus confortables tout en maintenant et même en améliorant leurs caractéristiques de sécurité de la protection incorporé. Les chaussures équipées d'un tel protège-orteils amélioré peuvent être de n'importe quelle conception et constitution, y compris les chaussures à trépointe, les chaussures collées ou moulées par injection.The toe cap is not metallic, which reduces the risk of electric shock and landmine explosion. The toe guard is made of a composite material, preferably linear polyamide reinforced with glassy fiber, the characteristics of which are as follows: its weight is light, it is non-corrosive, and its thermal conductivity is low. Preferably, the toe protector (20) has a chamfer (32) on the upper inner edge, for better comfort. Preferably, the toe protector is provided with a long upper portion (22) to provide protection which extends beyond the toes. The toe protector may not have an inner flap, or may have an inner flap (76) whose width may vary, or have a complete bottom portion (104). In all cases, the improved toe cap allows the use of more comfortable shoes while maintaining and even improving their safety characteristics of the incorporated protection. Shoes fitted with such an improved toe protector can be of any design and constitution, including welt shoes, glued or injection molded shoes.

Description

TOE GUARD FOR FOOTWEAR
AND FOOTWEAR SO MA5E
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to safety footwear and, more particularly, to an improved non-metallic toe guard for footwear, and to footwear incorporating such an improved toe guard.
2. The Prior Art
Toe guards, also known as toe boxes, have been known and in use for a long; time. In safety footwear, such as used by firemen, policemen, military men, sportsmen, outdoorsmen, construction workers, electrical workers, and steel workers, as opposed to conventional footwear worn in general, known toe guards typically are formed of a metal, such as steel, as by stamping and/or drawing, or the like. While for many applica¬ tions, such safety footwear, incorporating metallic toe guards, is satisfactory, it has its inherent drawbacks and limitations. Such drawbacks and limitations include excessive weight causing undue fatigue, high thermal conductivity causing the feet to become too hot or too cold, improper shape causing discomfort, corrosion causing premature aging of the footwear, electrical conduction risks such as are associated with electrical shocks, the detonation of land mines, the distortion or erasure of magnetic representations in data processing memories, and high tooling costs which inhibit custom design. On the other hand, heretofore known non- metallic toe boxes as used in conventional safety footwear simply have lacked the required properties, particularly those involving strength as regards compression and impact resis¬ tance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is a principal object of the present invention to overcome the above disadvantages by providing an improved non-metallic toe guard for safety footwear and safety footwear incorporating such a toe guard. This toe guard possesses a chemical composition and a mechanical configuration that are characterized by a fortuitous combination of flex modulus, compression strength, and impact strength.
More specifically, it is an object of the present in¬ vention to provide an improved non-metallic toe guard for safety footwear and the safety footwear so made, which do not suffer from the drawbacks and the limitations of present day safety toe guards and safety footwear incorporating such safety toe guards. The non-metallic toe guard of the present invention is composed of a specific fiber-reinforced polymeric composite material, preferably a fiber reinforced composite material having the characteristics of light weight, corrosion resistance, low thermal conductivity and required high compression and impact resistance. Preferably, the composite toe guard of the invention is formed (1) with a bevel on its inside top edge for greater comfort and for preventing injury to the foot of the wearer when the footwear is flexed,
(2) optionally increased front to back length providing increased protection for the foot of the wearer and extending rearwardly behind the toes, and, (3) optionally, no bottom flange, a bottom flange of selected width, or a full bottom flange extending all the way across the bottom of the footwear. Such a bottom flange, which characterizes the preferred embodiment, if made sufficiently wide, reduces or even eliminates any splay in the footwear that would otherwise be caused by compression or severe impact and establishes an integral floor which prevents the sole from "domeing" up when pressure or impact is applied to the top of the shoe. Unlike steel, which dents and/or deforms permanently when struck, the toe guard of the present invention, because of its "memory," returns substantially to its original shape. The flange or floor prevents the foot of the wearer from being locked in the impacted footwear so that it remains useable even after being exposed to repeated severe impacts or pressures. Preferably, the fiber reinforced composite compound includes a matrix or external phase composed of a polymeric material and a filler or internal phase composed of high tensile strength fibers embedded therein. The composite material in accordance with the present invention is a glass fiber filled linear polyamide. Footwear incorporating the improved toe guard of the present invention includes boots and shoes made for and μsed by men, women, and children of any design and construction, including welted, cemented or injection molded.
Other objects of the present invention will in part be obvious and will in part appear hereinafter.
The invention accordingly comprises the improved non-metallic toe guard for footwear, and the footwear so produced, of the present disclosure, its components, parts and their interrelationships, the scope of which will be indicated in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the present invention, reference is to be made to the follow¬ ing detailed description, which is to be taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
FIG. 1 is a partially cut away perspective view of a footwear incorporating an improved toe guard according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 depicts a portion of the footwear shown in FIG. 1 cut along the line 2 - 2;
FIG. 3 is a cross section of the improved toe guard shown in FIG. 1 along the line 2 - 2;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational section of the footwear shown in FIG. 1 along the line 4 - 4; FIG. 5 is a partially cut away perspective view of another footwear incorporating a different embodiment of an improved toe guard according to the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a cross section of the toe guard of FIG. 5 along the line 6 - 6;
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary portion of the footwear shown in FIG. 5;
FIG. 8 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 7, but showing a further embodiment of an improved footwear according to the present invention; and
FIG. 9 is a cross section of still another footwear incorporating another embodiment of an improved toe guard according to the present invention;
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
In general, a footwear 10 made according to and incor¬ porating the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 as comprising an upper 12, a bottom 14 and a vamp 16, forming a toe 18. The footwear 10 as illustrated is a military boot. The invention equally is applicable to any and all types of safety footwear, including shoes and boots such as are used by firemen, policemen, sportsmen, hunters, surveyors, con¬ struction workers, electrical workers, steel workers, and the like. Further, and as will become more apparent from below, the footwear according to the invention can be of any known design and construction, including welted, cemented or injection molded. The footwear 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is of the welted construction. An improved non-metallic toe guard 20 is shown as being incorporated in the toe 18 of the footwear 10. By being non-metallic, the improved toe guard 20 endows the footwear 10 with dielectric and non-magnetic properties, significantly reducing exposure of its wearer to electrical shock and the like.
The toe guard 20 is formed of a glass fiber filled linear polyamide composite material. This compound is characterized by being light in weight, non-corrosive and having a low thermal conductivity. The footwear 10 incorporating the improved non-metallic toe guard 20, therefore, occasions less wearer fatigue, resists the damaging effects_of salty envi¬ rons, and provides for better wearer comfort by better in¬ sulating the boot from outside temperature, be it hot or cold. Nevertheless, the improved non-metallic toe guard 20 provides the wearer of the footwear 10 incorporating it with as much, if not more, safety as heretofore exhibited by safety footwear featuring metallic, such as steel, toe guards. More specif¬ ically, the composite material of which the toe guard of the present invention is composed comprises an external phase consisting essentially of a linear polyamide such a 6-6 Nylon, and an internal phase consisting essentially of a refractory fiber such as fiberglass, the proportion of external phase polymer by total weight ranging from 40-70% and the proportion of internal phase filler by total weight ranging from 60-30Z, and the density of the composite ranging from 1.27 to 1.65.
Preferably a majority of the glass fibers are at least 1 centimeter long, are composed of E-glass or F-glass, and are oriented at random with respect to each other.
EXAMPLE I
In one preferred example of the toe guard of the present invention, the external phase is 6-6 Nylon - 60% by total weight, the internal phase is E-glass fiberglass - 40% by total weight, the density of the 6-6 Nylon being approximately
1.14 grams per cubic centimeter, the density of the fiberglass being 2.54 grams per centimeter, and the density of the composite product being 1.50 grams per cubic centimeter.
Further details of such composite materials are disclosed in a
U.S. Patent 4,312,917 granted to Ronald C. Hawley on January
26, 1982, the disclosure of which is herewith incorporated by reference. Preferably, the starting fiberglass, linear polyamide composite is formed by extruding the linear polyamide along lengths of the fiberglass filler in such a way as to produce lengths of the composite, then chopping the lengths to size, typically producing pieces of 1 centimeter square, mixing the resulting pieces and compacting in a mold under pressure and heat ranging from 1,000 to 6,000 pounds per square inch and from 400 to 600°F. As a practical matter, the fiberglass is distributed in small groups, each having -8- parallel fiberglass strands such that the strands in a given group are parallel, but the strands of different groups are at random angles with respect to other groups.
As shown in FIGS. 1 - 4, the improved non-metallic toe guard 20 is formed with a top portion 22, a front portion 24 and side portions 26 and 28. The top portion 22 and the side portions 26 and 28 define a first or upper edge 30 distal from the front of the toe, the edge 30 being provided with a first bevel 32. The front 24 and the side portions 26 and 28 also define a second or lower edge 34, with the edge 34 provided with a second bevel 36. As may be best observed in FIG. 4, the inclination of the first bevel 32 with respect to the adjoining portions of the rearward edge of the toe guard is of a gentler slope and lesser angle than that of the second bevel 36 with respect to the lower edge of the toe guard. Further, the first bevel 32 is formed on the inside, i.e., t p- side facing the foot of a wearer, while the second bevel 36 is formed on the bottom or outside, i.e., the side facing away from the foot of a wearer. Consequently, a potential source of discomfort, heretofore found to exist with some metallic toe guards, formed with a sharp steel edge on the inside top edge, has been eliminated. Such discomfort arose heretofore as a result of repeated flexing of the heavy leather upper along the length of this sharp steel edge. In metallic toe guards, an attempt was made to relieve this problem by shortening the longitudinal length of the toe guard, in essence restricting it to the size of a toe cap only. This of course effectively reduced the area of protection provided by that type of safety shoe. In accordance with the present invention, because of the built-in inside top bevel 32 of the non-metallic toe guard 20, a longer top portion 22 thereof is now possible than heretofore, extending into the vamp portion 16, note FIGS. 1 and 4. In fact, a safety protection coverage of about 20% more of the foot now can be achieved than has been usual with metallic toe guards.
FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-section of the non-metallic toe guard 20 according to the invention and formed with no flange at the bottom. The footwear 10 illustrated in FIGS. 1 - 4 is of a welt construction, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 4. The bottom 14 thereof is shown comprised of an outsole 38, a midsole 40, and a welt 42, all connected by a line of stitch¬ ing 44. Preferably, a filler 46 is disposed on the midsole 40, topped by a felt liner 48 and an inner sole 50, all as well known. Preferably, the footwear 10 also is provided with a lining 21.
In FIGS. 5 - 7, a footwear 56 of cement construction is illustrated. The illustrated footwear 56 is a cowboy boot and formed with an upper 58 and a bottom 60 forming a toe 62, with a non-metallic toe guard 64 incorporated in the toe 62. In FIG. 6, a cross-section of the non-metallic toe guard 64 according to the invention is shown being of the same composi¬ tion as toe guard 20 and as having a flange 76. Flange 76 is shown as extending throughout the bottom of the toe guard and as presenting a reentrant portion extending forwardly from the rearward edge. This particular cement construction includes a midsole 66 injection molded to the upper, and an outsole 68 cemented to the midsole 66 along a line 70 defining their interface. Further, the upper 58 preferably also is roughed and cemented as at 72, prior to its being injection molded with the midsole 66, observe FIG. 5 with the insole being omitted.
This embodiment of the non-metallic toe guard 64 also is provided with an inside top bevel edge 74 and differs essen¬ tially from the toe guard 20 merely in that it is provided with the flange 76 at the bottom thereof. In metallic toe guards, it has not been possible to provide such a wide flange, or sometimes indeed any flange at all since one can only draw steel so far. Consequently, when the resultant footwear has been exposed to compression or severe impact from the top, as by a heavy object falling on the footwear, severe splay often developed. Such severe splay not only rendered the footwear unfit for further use, but more importantly presented a danger that the wearer's foot might become locked in the impatted footwear. The non-metallic toe guard 64 of the invention, in contrast, can be formed with as wide a flange 76 as desired. Generally, the wider the flange 76, the less the resultant splay.
FIG. 8 illustrates an injection molded footwear 80 having a bottom 82, injection formed in a suitable mold to an upper 84, preferably roughed and cemented, as at 86. Footwear 80 is provided with a non-metallic toe guard 88 having a bottom flange 90 and it is like toe guard 20 in composition.
In the construction of a footwear 100 illustrated in FIG. 9, a non-metallic toe guard 102 is like that shown in FIG. 8 in composition and in configuration except as follows. The toe guard 102 also is provided with a full bottom portion 104. The upper 106 is this time injection formed with a rubber bottom 108, however. Bottom 108 can be formed of natural or synthetic rubber, as contrasted with a preferred PVC bottom 82 for the footwear 80 illustrated in FIG. 8. An insole 109, is shown overlying the bottom portion 104 of the toe guard 106.
Thus it has been shown and described an improved non-metallic toe guard and footwear incorporating the same, which toe guard and footwear satisfy the object and advantages set forth above. Since certain changes may be made in the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the present invention, it is intended that all matter described in the foregoing specification or shown in the accompanying drawings, be interpreted in an illustrative and not a limiting sense.

Claims

What is claimed is:
1. Footwear provided with a toe guard comprising:
(a) an upper and a bottom, said upper and bottom forming a toe;
(b) a protective member incorporated in said toe, said member consisting essentially of a composite material having an external phase composed of a linear polyamide and an internal phase composed of fiberglass strands,
(c) said protective member having a top portion and front and side portions, said top and side portions defining a first edge distal from said toe, said edge provided with a first bevel, said front and side portions defining a second edge opposed to said top portion, said second edge provided with a second bevel;
(d) the inclination of said first bevel being less than that of said second bevel.
2. The footwear of claim 1 wherein said footwear is one of a group including boots and shoes made for and used by men, women, and children.
3. The footwear of claim 1 wherein said footwear is one of a footwear design and construction of a group including welted, cemented and injection molded footwear.
4. The footwear of claim 1 wherein said composite material consists essentially of an external phase composed of a 6 - 6 nylon and an internal phase composed of glass fibers.
5. The footwear of claim 4 wherein said plurality of glass fibers are formed of at least two groups of parallel fibers, said two groups of parallel fibers being disposed at an angle to each other.
6. The footwear of claim 4 wherein generally said plurality of glass fibers are randomly disposed within said matrix.
7. The footwear of claim 1 wherein said top portion of said protective member is flat, said protective member with its said first edge extending into the vamp of said footwear and beyond the cap thereof.
8. The footwear of claim 1 wherein said front and side portions define a flange portion spaced from said top portion and overlying said footwear bottom.
9. The footwear of claim 8 wherein said flange portion is of a size from about one third to about one half the space between said top portion and said footwear bottom.
10. The footwear of claim 8 wherein said flange portion constitutes a bottom portion extending across said footwear bottom.
11. The footwear of claim 1 wherein said composite material consists essentially of a linear polyamide external phase and a vitreous fiber internal phase.
12. The footwear of claim 1 wherein said internal phase and said external phase range respectively, in total weight, between 40 and 70% and between 60 and 30%.
13. The footwear of claim 12 wherein the density of said composite material ranges from 1.27 to 1.65.
14. A toe guard for footwear, said toe guard comprising: (a) an integral composite material consisting essentially of an external phase composed of a linear polyamide and an internal phase composed of fiberglass strands; (b) said toe guard having a top portion and front and side portions, said top and side portions defining a first edge distal from said toe, said edge provided with a first bevel, said front and side portions defining a second edge opposed to said top portion, said second edge provided with a second bevel;
(c) the inclination of said first bevel being less than that of said second bevel.
15. The toe guard of claim 14, wherein the proportion of external phase polymer by total weight ranges from 40-70%, the proportion of internal phase filler by total weight ranges from 60-30%, and the density of said composite material ranging from 1.27 to 1.65.
16.• The toe guard of claim 15, wherein the external phase is 6-6 Nylon - 60% by total weight, the internal phase is fiberglass - 40% by total weight, the density of the 6-6 Nylon being approximately 1.14 grams per cubic centimeter, the density of the fiberglass being 2.54 grams per centimeter, the density of the composite product being 1.50 grams per cubic centimeter. AMENDED CLAIMS
[received by the International Bureau on 13 May 1986 (13.05.86); original claims 1—16 replaced by new claims 1-15 (5 pages)]
1. Footwear provided with a toe guard comprising:
(a) an upper and a bottom, said upper and bottom forming a toe;
(b) a protective member incorporated in said toe, said member consisting essentially of a composite material having an external phase containing a polymer and an internal phase composed of strands j
(c) said protective member having a top portion and front and side portions, said top and side portions defining a first edge distal from said toe;
(d) said strands of said internal phase being distributed in groups such that strands of each group are aligned with increments thereof being substantially in parallel and strands of different groups being at random angles with respect to eachother. \ 7
2. The footwear of claim 1 wherein said footwear is one of a group including boots and shoes made for and used by men, women, and children.
3. The footwear of claim 1 wherein said footwear is one of a footwear design and construction of a group including welted, cemented and injection molded footwear.
4. The footwear of claim 1 wherein said composite material consists essentially of an external phase containing a polymer composed of nylon, and an internal phase containing fiberglass.
5. The footwear of claim 1 wherein said top portion of said protective member is flat, said protective member with its said first edge extending into the vamp of said footwear and beyond the cap thereof.
6. The footwear of claim 1 wherein said front and side portions define a flange portion spaced from said top portion and overlying said footwear bottom.
7. The footwear of claim 6 wherein said flange portion is of a size from about one third to about one half the space between said top portion and said footwear bottom. 8. The footwear of claim 6 wherein said flange portion constitutes a bottom portion extending across said footwear bottom.
9. The footwear of claim 1 wherein said composite material consists essentially of a linear polyamide external phase and a vitreous fiber internal phase.
10. The footwear of claim 1 wherein said internal phase and said external phase range respectively, in total weight, between 40 and 70% and between 60 and 30%.
11. The footwear of claim 10 wherein the density of said composite material ranges from 1.27 to 1.65.
12. A toe guard for safety footwear, said toe guard comprising:
(a) a composite material having an external phase containing a polymer and an internal phase composed of strands;
(c) said toe guard having a top portion and front and side portions, said top and side portions defining a rear edge distal from said toe; (d) said strands of said internal phase being distributed in groups such that strands of each group are aligned with increments thereof being substantially in parallel and strands of different groups being at random angles with respect to eachother.
13. The toe guard of claim 12 wherein said composite material consists essentially of an external phase containing a polymer composed of nylon, and an internal phase containing fiberglass.
14. A process for fabricating a toe guard for safety footwear, said process comprising:
(a) extruding an intermediate composite material while molten in strips from a die at the same time as advancing fibers through the die, together with and enveloped by the extruded strips;
(b) cutting said strips into predetermined lengths to provide sections;
(c) mixing said sections their molten state to provide the final composite;
(d) and molding said final composite to form said toe guard; (e) said final composite and said toe guard being such that the fiber is distributed in groups, adjacent increments of the strands of a given group being substantially parallel, but the strands of different groups being at random angles with respect to eachother. 15. The toe guard of claim 14 wherein said composite material consists essentially of an external phase containing a polymer composed of nylon, and an internal phase containing fiberglass.
EP19860901274 1985-02-08 1986-02-06 Tow guard for footwear and footwear so made Withdrawn EP0211900A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US69985485A 1985-02-08 1985-02-08
US699854 1991-05-14

Publications (1)

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EP0211900A1 true EP0211900A1 (en) 1987-03-04

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19860901274 Withdrawn EP0211900A1 (en) 1985-02-08 1986-02-06 Tow guard for footwear and footwear so made

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EP (1) EP0211900A1 (en)
AU (1) AU5453386A (en)
WO (1) WO1986004490A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2640854A1 (en) * 1988-12-23 1990-06-29 Rey Dimitrio Riding boot with reinforced toe and method of manufacturing it
ES2084563B1 (en) * 1994-08-01 1996-11-16 Santa Pedro Ortuno IMPROVEMENTS INTRODUCED IN FOOTWEAR FOR FOOTWEAR.
CN105520260B (en) * 2016-01-19 2017-08-25 浙江海纳鞋业有限公司 A kind of high-risk chemical industry place corrosion-resistant high-temperature boots and preparation method thereof

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US1734531A (en) * 1923-12-27 1929-11-05 Albert J Ryan Box-toe piece
US1784276A (en) * 1927-01-18 1930-12-09 Arden Box Toe Company Soft box toe
US2151554A (en) * 1937-02-13 1939-03-21 Helmer G Josephson Armored shoe
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EP0021612B1 (en) * 1979-06-08 1983-11-09 Firth Cleveland Engineering Limited Protective toe cap
JPS5642282A (en) * 1979-09-17 1981-04-20 Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co Liquid crystal drive circuit
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Also Published As

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AU5453386A (en) 1986-08-26
WO1986004490A1 (en) 1986-08-14

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