US20060213086A1

US20060213086A1 - Metal toecap for safety shoes

Info

Publication number: US20060213086A1
Application number: US10/907,214
Authority: US
Inventors: Chen-Jen Ching
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-03-24
Filing date: 2005-03-24
Publication date: 2006-09-28

Abstract

A metal toecap for safety shoes includes an arcuate peripheral wall that tapers forward, a top wall, and a bottom wall, defining a rear opening for receiving toes of a user. The peripheral wall and the top wall are connected by an upper arcuate transition section with a thickness that increases toward the top wall such that the top wall has a thickness greater than that of the peripheral wall. The impact-resisting property of the top wall is thus improved.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a metal toecap. In particular, the present invention relates to a metal toecap for safety shoes.
2. Description of the Related Art
Workers in some factories or building sites must wear safety shoes to protect the toes from being injured by a heavy object falling from above. A steel or plastic toecap is mounted in a front end of a safety shoe to withstand external impact. A toecap made of steel is relatively heavy though it is more effective in resisting impact. A toecap made of plastic is light yet could not withstand strong impact.
FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings illustrate a conventional steel toecap 10 for safety shoes. The steel toecap 10 comprises a substantially U-shaped arcuate peripheral wall 11 that tapers forward. The steel toecap 10 further includes a top wall 12, a bottom wall 13, and a rear opening 14 for receiving the toes of a user. The steel toecap 10 is formed by pressing a steel plate, with the peripheral wall 11, the top wall 12, and the bottom wall 13 having the same thickness. The top wall 12 must have a thickness sufficient to withstand external impact such that the thickness of the whole steel toecap 10 could not be reduced, resulting in a relatively heavy structure that adversely affects walking. Further, when a heavy object falling onto the safety shoe, the top wall 12 withstands the impact that is then transmitted through the peripheral wall 11 and the bottom wall 13 to the sole of the safety shoe. The impact-resisting effect is not satisfactory, as there is no reinforcing structure for the top wall 12 and the peripheral wall 13 that are liable to collapse or deform during the impact.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a metal toecap with improved impact-resisting effect without changing the width and shape of the metal toecap.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a metal toecap that can be made of aluminum or aluminum alloy to reduce the overall weight.
A metal toecap for safety shoes in accordance with the present invention comprises an arcuate peripheral wall that tapers forward, a top wall, and a bottom wall, defining a rear opening for receiving toes of a user. The peripheral wall and the top wall are connected by an upper arcuate transition section with a thickness that increases toward the top wall such that the top wall has a thickness greater than that of the peripheral wall. The impact-resisting property of the top wall is thus improved.
Preferably, the metal toecap is made of aluminum or aluminum alloy to provide a light structure.
Preferably, the top wall includes an inclined inner face in a rear portion thereof such that the thickness of the top wall reduces toward the rear portion thereof.
Preferably, the top wall includes a plurality of ribs on at least one of an outer face of the top wall and an inner face of the top wall to improve the impact-resisting property and heat-dissipating effect.
Preferably, the peripheral wall and the bottom wall are connected by a lower arcuate transition section with a thickness that increases toward the bottom wall. The impact-resisting property of the bottom wall is thus improved.
Preferably, the thickness of the top wall is greater than that of the bottom wall.
Preferably, the peripheral wall includes a plurality of ribs on an inner face thereof to improve the impact-resisting property and heat-dissipating effect.
Other objectives, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front, top perspective view of a conventional toecap for safety shoes.
FIG. 2 is a rear view of the conventional toecap.
FIG. 3 is a front, top perspective view of a metal toecap for safety shoes in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a rear, top perspective view of the metal toecap in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a rear view of the metal toecap in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the metal toecap in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of a portion of the metal toecap in FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, illustrating use of a rubber protective strip.
FIG. 9 is a front, top perspective view of a modified embodiment of the metal toecap in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 10 is a sectional view of another modified embodiment of the metal toecap in accordance with the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a further modified embodiment of the metal toecap in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a metal toecap 20 for safety shoes in accordance with the present invention comprises a substantially U-shaped arcuate peripheral wall 21 that tapers forward. The steel toecap 10 further includes a top wall 22 and a bottom wall 23. A rear opening 24 for receiving the toes of a user is thus defined by a rear end of the peripheral wall 21, the top wall 22, and the bottom wall 23.
Still referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 and further to FIGS. 5 through 7, the top wall 22 has a thickness greater than that of the peripheral wall 21. In the illustrated embodiment, the peripheral wall 21 and the top wall 22 are connected by an upper arcuate transition section 25 with a thickness that increases toward the top wall 22, thereby improving the impact-resisting property for the top wall 22.
The metal toecap 20 can be made of aluminum or aluminum alloy by forging or pressing. The thickness of the top wall 22 can be increased to improve the impact resisting property while providing a light structure.
The peripheral wall 21 and the bottom wall 23 are connected by a lower arcuate transition section 26 with a thickness that increases toward the bottom wall 23, thereby improving the impact-resisting property for the bottom wall 23. In the illustrated embodiment, the thickness of the top wall 22 is greater than that of the bottom wall 23.
Since the width and thickness of the peripheral wall 21 of the toecap 20 does not have to be increased, the appearance of the toecap 20 is not changed, although the thicknesses of the top wall 22 and the bottom wall 23 are increased.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the top wall 22 includes an inclined inner face 27 in a rear portion thereof such that the thickness of the top wall 22 reduces toward the rear portion thereof. When the rear portion of the top wall 22 is subjected to an external downward impact force, the inclined inner face 27 provides an additional room for downward deformation of the rear portion of the top wall 22 to protect the toes of the user.
As illustrated in FIG. 8, a rubber protective strip 30 may be bonded to the rear end of the top wall 22 and covers the inclined inner face 27 for providing a streamlined outline when the metal toecap 20 is covered with a vamp (not shown) of the safety shoe (not shown).
FIG. 9 shows a modified embodiment of the invention, wherein the top wall 22 includes a plurality of ribs 28 on an outer face thereof. The ribs may be formed on an inner face of the top wall 22. FIG. 10 shows another modified embodiment of the invention, wherein the peripheral wall 21 includes a plurality of ribs 29 on an inner face thereof. The strength (or impact-resisting property) and heat-dissipating effect are improved.
FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a further modified embodiment of the invention. In this embodiment, the angle between the bottom wall 230 and the lower arcuate transition section 26 is different from that in the previous embodiments.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the essence of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A metal toecap for safety shoes, comprising: an arcuate peripheral wall that tapers forward, a top wall, and a bottom wall, defining a rear opening for receiving toes of a user; the peripheral wall and the top wall being connected by an upper arcuate transition section with a thickness that increases toward the top wall such that the top wall has a thickness greater than that of the peripheral wall.

2. The metal toecap for safety shoes as claimed in claim 1, wherein the metal toecap is made of one of aluminum and aluminum alloy.

3. The metal toecap for safety shoes as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top wall includes an inclined inner face in a rear portion thereof such that the thickness of the top wall reduces toward the rear portion thereof.

4. The metal toecap for safety shoes as claimed in claim 1, wherein the top wall includes a plurality of ribs on at least one of an outer face of the top wall and an inner face of the top wall.

5. The metal toecap for safety shoes as claimed in claim 1, wherein the peripheral wall and the bottom wall are connected by a lower arcuate transition section with a thickness that increases toward the bottom wall.

6. The metal toecap for safety shoes as claimed in claim 5, wherein the thickness of the top wall is greater than that of the bottom wall.

7. The metal toecap for safety shoes as claimed in claim 1, wherein the peripheral wall includes a plurality of ribs on an inner face thereof.