EP2815667A1

EP2815667A1 - Shoe skeleton for metatarsal protection

Info

Publication number: EP2815667A1
Application number: EP13172570.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Romain JOANNY
Original assignee: Honeywell International Inc
Current assignee: Honeywell International Inc
Priority date: 2013-06-18
Filing date: 2013-06-18
Publication date: 2014-12-24
Anticipated expiration: 2033-06-18
Also published as: EP2815667B1

Abstract

Apparatus and associated system relate to an article of footwear with armor for protecting a wearer's foot from injury. A shoe or boot (120) has a rigid or semi-rigid toe-cap (130) enclosing the toes of the wearer. An arch of armor (135) encircles the wearer's foot above his/her toe-joints. This arch (135) attaches to the outsole (145) of the shoe or boot (120) on both sides of the wearer's foot at approximately his/her toe-joints and extends up and over the foot, approximately covering the toe-joints of the wearer. In various embodiments, a longitudinal beam (140) may slidably ride on top of both the armored arch (135) and the toe-cap (130), providing metatarsal coverage. In other embodiments, the beam (140) may be attached to the armored arch (135), but be slidable above or on top of the toe-cap (130). This slidable coupling of armor enhances the flexibility of the footwear.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various embodiments relate generally to foot protection or more specifically to protective footwear.

BACKGROUND

Footwear safety products for protecting the foot are widely used. Workers who risk dropping objects on their feet routinely wear armored boots. People who work with heavy equipment or in industrial settings often wear boots with steel toes. Many occupations involve working in environments where heavy objects may fall or be dropped. Employers who employ people to work in such dangerous conditions often require their employees to wear protective safety equipment. Such safety equipment may include hard hats, gloves, and protective footwear. Even when such equipment is not required by an employer, many employees assume the personal responsibility of wearing such safety equipment.
But armored boots can be uncomfortable and inflexible. The armor can make a boot hard, heavy, and/or stiff. If safety boots are too uncomfortable, such discomfort may dissuade a person from wearing them. And if safety boots are too inflexible, their use may inhibit an employee's ability to perform his/her duties. Thus, good safety protection is often attained at the expense of comfort and flexibility.

SUMMARY

Apparatus and associated methods may relate to an article of footwear with armor for protecting a wearer's foot from injury. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a shoe or boot may have a rigid or semi-rigid toe-cap enclosing the toes of the wearer. In some embodiments, an arc of armor may encircle the wearer's foot above his/her toe joints. This arc may attach to the outsole of the shoe or boot on both sides of the wearer's foot at approximately his/her toe-joints and extend up and over the foot, approximately covering the toe-joints of the wearer. In various embodiments, a beam may slidably ride on top of both the armored arc and the toe-cap, providing metatarsal coverage. In other embodiments, the beam may be attached to the armored arc, but be slidable above or on top of the toe-cap. This slidable coupling of armor may enhance the flexibility of the footwear.
Various embodiments may achieve one or more advantages. For example, some embodiments may have more than one arc of armor encircling the foot. In some embodiments, the beam may be hinged which may permit the flexion of the foot. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a two member beam may have a hinge located immediately above an armored arc, which may permit the arc to support both members of the hinged beam. In some embodiments, the armored arc may have a strengthening feature such as a crimp or embossment. In various embodiments, the beam may have such a strengthening feature. In some embodiments, the armored arc and beam may be part of a unitary body. In other embodiments, the beam may slide in a channel manufactured in the armored arc or in the toe-cap. In some embodiments, the beam may slidably connect to the arc or toe-cap via a connector in a channel, which may limit the slidable travel of the beam relative to the arc or toe-cap.
The details of various embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGs. 1A-1B depict an exemplary field application of a Shoe Skeleton for Metatarsal Protection (SSMP).
FIGs. 2A-2B depict a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a SSMP.
FIG. 3 depicts a side perspective view of an exemplary SSMP.
FIG. 4 depicts a side perspective view of an exemplary SSMP demonstrating exemplary behavior during foot flexion.
FIGs. 5A-5D depict a projection of an exemplary SSMP as connected to a exemplary tongue piece.
FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary SSMP having with lateral arch and longitudinal beam being part of a unified body.
FIG. 7 depicts exemplary skeletal members of an example SSMP in relation to their anatomical position relative to a wearer's foot.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

To aid understanding, this document is organized as follows. First, an exemplary embodiment of an SSMP is briefly introduced in the context of an exemplary field application in FIGs. 1A-1B. Second, with reference to FIGs. 2-3, the discussion turns to exemplary embodiments that illustrate some examples of SSMPs which permit flexion. Third, the flexion behavior of an SSMP is discussed with reference to FIG. 4. Fourth, an article of footwear's exemplary tongue assembly which is equipped with elements of an SSMP is discussed and depicted in FIG. 5. Fifth, with reference to FIG. 6, additional embodiments are detailed and discussed. Finally, the skeletal members of an exemplary SSMP are shown in relation to their anatomical positions relative to a wearer's foot in FIG. 7.
FIGs. 1A-1B depict an exemplary field application of a Shoe Skeleton for Metatarsal Protection (SSMP). In FIG. 1A, two workmen 100, 105 are depicted carrying a heavy load 110. The heavy load 110 may be so heavy that should it be dropped on one of the workmen's feet, serious injury might result. The workman 105 is wearing boots 115, 120. In FIG. 1B, one of the workman's boot 120 is shown schematically. The boot has a protective skeleton 125 that may guard the workman's foot. The skeletal structure 125 has a rigid or semi-rigid toe-piece enclosure 130, which may protect the toes from falling loads. The skeletal structure also has a lateral arch 135 and a longitudinal beam 140. The longitudinal beam 140 may ride upon both the lateral arch 135 and the toe-piece enclosure 130 in a slidable fashion, in this example. This slidable movement of the longitudinal beam 140 may permit the boot to flex as the workman's feet flex according to the workman's movements. This flexion of the boot 120 may permit comfort and may improve the worker's ability to move, while simultaneously providing a measure of protection. The lateral arch 135 is attached to an outsole 145 at a flexion location 150. The flexion point 150 is approximately at the outsole location that is immediately proximate to the toe joint of the workman's foot. Thus, when the workman moves in a manner requiring foot flexing, such as walking, the lateral arch 135 may not hinder the foot.
FIGs. 2A-2B depict a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a SSMP. In FIG. 2A, an exemplary SSMP 120 is shown. In FIG. 2B, the cross-sectional view cutting through the SSMP of FIG. 2A in the middle of the lateral arch 135 is shown. In this cross-sectional view, the curvature of the lateral arch 135 may be visualized. The longitudinal beam 140 is shown riding upon the lateral beam 135. Directly beneath the curved lateral arch 135 is a comfort material 200 such as foam, for example. The exterior layer 210 may be made of a boot material, such as leather, suede, or woven fabrics, for example. In various embodiments, such woven fabrics may include ploy fibers such as polyamide, polyester, and aramid. These fabrics may be uncoated or coated with polyurethane, nitrile, or silicon, for example. The interior layer 215 may be made of a comfortable material, such as leather, suede, or coated or uncoated woven fabrics, for example.
FIG. 3 depicts a side perspective view of an exemplary SSMP. In FIG. 3, an exemplary embodiment of a shoe 300 with an exemplary SSMP 305 is depicted. The SSMP 305 is shown schematically in this FIG., as the skeleton normally is hidden by the shoe's exterior materials. A dotted line 310 is shown to indicate the edge of a toe-piece enclosure 315. The toe joint of a wearer's foot would be located in an indicated range 320 of flexion locations, a toe-side location 325 of this flexion range and a metatarsal-side location 330 of this flexion range may provide between fifteen and twenty-five millimeters of variation in this example. A lateral arch 335 is attached to an outsole 340 on the metatarsal-side 330 of this flexion range 320. The lateral arch 335 is shown schematically outside the exterior layer of the shoe 300 to aide in understanding. But the lateral arch 335 may actually be located between an exterior layer and an interior layer of the shoe. A longitudinal beam 345 is similarly depicted outside of the shoe for visual purposes only. A toe-piece sliding portion 350 of the longitudinal beam 345 may ride on or above the top outer surface of the toe-piece enclosure 315.
FIG. 4 depicts a side perspective view of an exemplary SSMP demonstrating exemplary behavior during foot flexion. In this FIG., the same exemplary embodiment of an SSMP 305 that was depicted in FIG. 3 is again depicted. But in FIG. 4, additional lines are drawn indicating the shoe both flexed and not flexed. An exemplary outsole 400 is shown as is an exemplary top-shoe 405. An un-flexed outsole/top-shoe interface line 410 delineates the location where the outsole 400 is attached to the top-shoe 405. A flexed outsole/top-shoe interface line 415 is also depicted showing the location of the location of the outsole/top-shoe interface when flexed in a manner such as walking. An un-flexed tongue line 420 indicated the location of the top of the shoe's tongue when the shoe is not flexed. A corresponding flexed tongue line 425 indicates the location of the shoe's tongue when the shoe is flexed. Similarly, an un-flexed lateral arch 430 and a flexed lateral arch 435 are both indicated in the drawing. An un-flexed longitudinal beam 440 and a flexed longitudinal beam 445 are likewise depicted. In this example, as the toe-joint is flexed, a heel 450 rises and the longitudinal beam 440, 445 moves in the forward direction. The lateral beam 430, 435 roughly pivots about the line of toe-joints in the wearer's foot. Because the lateral arch is located at or near this line of toe-joints, the arch may not bind or interfere with the wearer's foot. And because the longitudinal beam 440, 445 slidably rides above or on a toe-piece enclosure 450, the front of the wearer's foot may be able to move forward during this flexion event.
FIGs. 5A-5D depict a projection of an exemplary SSMP as connected to a exemplary tongue piece. In these FIGs., a flat projection of a curved tongue piece is shown as are two cross-sections of the tongue piece. In FIG. 5A, a top projection 500 of the tongue piece is depicted. In this projection, an exemplary lateral arch 505 and an exemplary a longitudinal beam 510 are depicted. The lateral arch 505 lies beneath the longitudinal beam 510 in this top projection. A location 515 indicates the location of a cross-section along the middle of the lateral arch 505 where the FIG. 5B cross-section is depicted. In FIG. 5B, the cross-section of the longitudinal beam 520 is shown riding in a slot 525 in a lateral arch 530. In FIG. 5B, the lateral arch 530 is depicted before being bent into an arcuate shape. The slot 525 may guide the longitudinal beam during movement that occurs while the wearer's foot flexes. A comfort material 535 is depicted with a diagonal line fill pattern. No exterior layer of material is depicted in this FIG., nor is any interior layer of material. In FIG. 5C, a bottom projection 540 of this tongue piece is depicted. In this exemplary embodiment, raised features 545 of the comfort material are shown. These raised features 545 may permit the ease of flexing this exemplary tongue piece. A location 550 indicates the line of cross-section that FIG. 5D depicts. In FIG. 5D, the comfort material 535 is shown in diagonal fill pattern.
FIG. 6 depicts an exemplary SSMP having with lateral arch and longitudinal beam being part of a unified body. In FIG. 6, a composite lateral arch and longitudinal beam 600 is depicted in perspective view. A lateral arch 605 is shown having embossed ribs 610, 615, which may provide increased strength to the lateral arch 605. A longitudinal beam 620 is shown with a toe-piece riding end 625. The toe-piece riding end 625 may ride in a slot in the toe-piece enclosure, or it may ride on or above a slot-less toe-piece enclosure. In this exemplary embodiment, the longitudinal beam has a rib 630 extending in both medial and lateral directions from a longitudinal centerline 635.
FIG. 7 depicts exemplary skeletal members of an example SSMP in relation to their anatomical position relative to a wearer's foot. In FIG. 7, the foot bones of a human being are shown. The metatarsal bones 700 are the long bones in the human foot. The toe bones 705 are sometimes called phalange bones. And the tarsal bones 710 are those bones in the lower ankle region. The skeletal members of an exemplary SSMP are drawn in their anatomical relation to the human foot bones. An exemplary toe-cap 715 is shown enclosing the ends of the human toes. An exemplary lateral arch 720 is shown arching over the toe-joint region where the phalange bones 705 connect with the metatarsal bones 700. An exemplary longitudinal beam 725 is shown to extend from above the human's tarsal bones 710 to above the phalange bones 705.
In various embodiments the wearer may be permitted to flex his/her foot while maintaining the rigid or semi-rigid spine above the wearer's metatarsal bones. In one embodiment this flexion may be permitted by the spine or longitudinal member being slidable above or on top of the toe-cap. In some embodiments, the longitudinal member may be slidably coupled to the rib or lateral arch as well. In various embodiments, the longitudinal member is hinged to provide increased flexion ability to the wearer. In some exemplary embodiments, the attachment locations of the lateral arch on both sides of the wearer's foot at similar relative locations to the adjacent toe-joint permit flexion. In various embodiments, the use of a flexible outsole may permit the wearer to flex his/her foot. In some exemplary embodiments, the use of slidable grooves or channels in one or more of the skeletal members may facilitate the ability of the shoe or boot to flex according to the wearer's needs. In various embodiments, the flexibility of the footwear may be permitted by skeletal connections which permit movement of one or more skeletal members relative to some other skeletal member.
In some embodiments, the slidable coupling of the spine or longitudinal beam and the rib or lateral arch may be performed by supporting an unconnected beam on top of an arch. In various embodiments, the arch may provide a channel or groove in which the beam is permitted to slide. In some embodiments, the arch and beam may be connected via a rivet, with hole in one member and a slidable channel in the other. In an exemplary embodiment, the slidable coupling of the longitudinal beam and the toe-cap enclosure may be performed by supporting an unconnected beam on top of the toe-cap.. In various embodiments, the toe-cap may provide a channel or groove in which the beam is permitted to slide. In some embodiments, the toe-cap and beam may be connected via a rivet, with hole in one member and a slidable channel in the other.
Although various embodiments have been described with reference to the FIGs., other embodiments are possible. For example, the longitudinal beam, in some embodiments, may have an embossed rib which may provide improved strength. In various embodiments, the longitudinal beam may be made of aluminum or steel. In other embodiments, the longitudinal beam may be made of plastic or carbon composite materials. In some embodiments the longitudinal beam may be rigid. In other embodiments, for example the longitudinal beam may be semi-rigid or somewhat flexible.
In an exemplary embodiment, a lateral arch may be made of a metallic element or alloy, such as aluminum, steel or titanium. In other embodiments, the arch may be made of a synthetic material such as a plastic or carbon composite material. In some embodiments the longitudinal beam may be slidable above or on the lateral arch. In other embodiments the longitudinal beam may be attached or coupled to the lateral arch. In still other embodiments, for example, the longitudinal beam and lateral arch may be one unitary body. In some exemplary embodiments the lateral arch may have one or more embossed ribs.
In accordance with another embodiment, the toe-piece enclosure may be made of a metallic element or alloy such as steel, aluminum, or titanium. In other exemplary embodiments, rigid or semi-rigid synthetic materials may be used for the toe-piece enclosure such as plastic or carbon composite materials. In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, the toe-piece enclosure may have a slot which may guide the slidable end to the longitudinal beam during shoe flexion.
In various embodiments, two or more lateral arches may be arrayed along the length of a boot or shoe. In some embodiments, the longitudinal beam may be hinged so as to promote flexibility. In some embodiments, in which the longitudinal beam is hinged, the hinge may be located immediately above a lateral arch, which may permit the arch to support both members of the hinged beam. In various embodiments, two or more longitudinal beams may be distributed above the toe-piece enclosure. In some embodiments, the longitudinal beam may slide in a machined track in a rib or in the toe-piece. In an exemplary embodiment, the longitudinal beam may have its slidable connection to the rib or toe-piece. In some such embodiments, this slidable connection may limit the travel of the beam relative to the rib or toe-piece, such as by a channel with a limited travel length.
A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modification may be made. For example, advantageous results may be achieved if the steps of the disclosed techniques were performed in a different sequence, or if components of the disclosed systems were combined in a different manner, or if the components were supplemented with other components. Accordingly, other implementations are contemplated or within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

A article of footwear configured to receive a wearer's foot, the article comprising:
an outsole having a flexion region near the toe-joint region of the wearer's foot;

a toe-cap of rigid or semi-rigid material enclosing the ends of the wearer's toes;

a rigid or semi-rigid skeleton comprising a lateral arch and a longitudinal beam, the lateral arch formed in an arc which together with the outsole surrounds the wearer's foot, and the lateral arch attaching to the outsole on both sides of the wearer's foot at approximately the flexion region of the outsole, and the longitudinal beam extending from above the wearer's tarsal bones to above the wearer's phalanges, and slidably supported by the toe-cap.
The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal beam is independent of the lateral arch and slidably intersecting the lateral arch.
The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal beam and lateral arch are both fashioned from a single piece of rigid or semi-rigid material.
The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the skeleton further comprises a second lateral arch attaching to the outsole on both sides of the wearer's foot.
The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the skeleton further comprises a second longitudinal beam extending from above the wearer's tarsal bones to above the wearer's phalanges, and slidably supported by the toe-cap.
The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal beam is comprised of two members, hinged at a location where the beam intersects the lateral arch.
The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the toe-piece has a channel in which the longitudinal beam is supported, the channel guiding the movement of the longitudinal beam.
The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the lateral arch has a channel in which the longitudinal beam is guided.
The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the longitudinal beam is slidably connected to the lateral arch via a channel which limits the slidable travel of the longitudinal beam relative to the lateral arch.
A system for providing foot protection in an article of footwear configured to receive a wearer's foot, the system comprising:
A flexible outsole; and

a flexible top-shoe comprising:
a rigid or semi-rigid toe-cap shield attached to the outsole and covering the ends of the wearer's toes;

a rigid or semi-rigid rib attached to the outsole on both sides of the wearer's foot approximately adjacent to the toe-joint, the rib extending up and over the wearer's foot approximately above the toe-joints; and

a rigid or semi-rigid spine supported by both the rib and the toe-cap shield, the spine located directly above the wearer's foot and extending from above the tarsal bones to above the phalange bones.
The system of claim 10 further comprising a second rigid or semi-rigid rib attached to the outsole on both sides of the wearer's foot.
The system of claim 10 further comprising a second rigid or semi-rigid spine supported by both the rib and the toe-cap shield, the spine located directly above the wearer's foot and extending from above the tarsal bones to above the phalange bones.
The system of claim 10 wherein the spine is slidably connected to the rib.
The system of claim 13 wherein the slidable connection permits the spine to slide a limited distance over the rib.
The system of claim 11 wherein the spine is comprised of two hinged members.