US20080072454A1

US20080072454A1 - Toe Of Protection For Accident-Preventing Shoes

Info

Publication number: US20080072454A1
Application number: US11/792,221
Authority: US
Inventors: Pier Uzzeni
Original assignee: PFU Group Srl
Current assignee: PFU Group Srl
Priority date: 2004-12-03
Filing date: 2005-08-12
Publication date: 2008-03-27
Also published as: WO2006058566A1; ITMI20042326A1; EP1833319A1; JP2008521525A

Abstract

Toe (1) of protection for accident-preventing shoes comprising a capsule substantially shaped as the front part of a shoe, having un upper portion (2) provided with aeration hollows (7). With said hollows (7) is associated a diaphragm which allows the flow of humidity only from the inside to the outside of the toe (1).

Description

The present invention relates to a toe of protection for accident-preventing shoes.
In particular, the invention refers to a toe for accident-preventing shoes realized with a metallic material, i.e. iron, alumina or alumina compounds or with a plastic material or with composite materials. Said toes must be realized in a way to withstand an impact test according to current policy in different countries.
To overcome said test, the toe must show characteristics of robustness and homogeneity which can be assigned only with a very accurate realizing process of the same.
Illustratively, the metal toes are realized through a moulding process, wherein the moulded material is dropped, in a way to reproduce a toe shape; the mould comes closed and the material forming the toe is solidified in the mould, for example by exerting a continue pressure.
Moreover, said toes can be forged or realized by means of die-casting.
Moreover, said toes must allow a plenty comfort for the operator that wears the accident-preventing shoes, in particular as regards the transpiration of the foot, all this without jeopardize the above mentioned characteristics of robustness.
For this reasons, hollows are provided and placed in pre-arranged positions on the toes, in a way to aerate the portion of the shoe containing the toe.
The applicant has realized a toe for accident-preventing shoes that improves the transpiration of the foot avoiding that possible humidity can flow from the outside to the inside of the shoe, by inserting a diaphragm on said hollows which allow the flow of humidity only from the inside to the outside of the shoe in the area wherein the toe is placed.
An aspect of the present invention relates to a toe of protection for accident-preventing shoes comprising a capsule substantially shaped as the front part of a shoe, having an upper portion provided with aeration hollows, characterized in that with said hollows is associated a diaphragm which allows the flow of humidity only from the inside to the outside of the toe.
Further characteristics and advantages of the toe according to the present invention will be better shown in the following illustrative and non-limiting description, of the embodiment related to the FIGURE enclosed, in which is shown a toe for accident-preventing shoes realized according to the present invention.
Referring to the above cited FIGURE, the toe, wholly identified in FIGURE with 1, un upper portion 2 which comprises a lateral portion 3, and a base portion 4 which combine each other in a way to substantially define a capsule shaped as the front part of a shoe. Said capsule presents a rear opening substantially vertical 5 and a bottom opening substantially horizontal 6, wherein the owner's foot of the accident-preventing shoe is inserted.
Advantageously, the toe presents different thicknesses in the different parts in which it is composed, so that to improve the resistance to compression along with the possibility to have both thicknesses and weights reduced.
An important manufacturing which can be made on toes, regards the realization of aeration hollows 7 in pre-arranged locations aiming at diminishing the quantity of alloy contained in the toe and with the scope to aerate the zone of the shoe which contains said toe. Obviously, the hollows will not be realized in the areas of the toe which require more resistance to compression.
In particular, said hollows are realized on the upper portion 2 of the toe and eventually on the lateral portion 3.
With said hollows is associated a diaphragm which allows the flow of humidity only from the inside to the outside of the toe.
Said diaphragm can be, for example, made of microfiber. Preferably, said diaphragm is associated with the outer surface of said upper portion.
Alternatively, said diaphragm is associated with the inner surface of said upper portion. Preferably, the diaphragm is composed of a sole sheet which is glued, or by using different means of linkage, to the portion that presents the hollows, or by means of different portions of sheet, each positioned of at least one hollow.
The toe is, for example, realized with a metallic material or with a plastic material, or with composite materials.
The type of alloy employed for producing said toes is by itself a compound, which allots characteristics suitable for overcoming the test of strength previously mentioned.
A suitable alloy for realize said metallic toes, beyond containing alumina, can also comprise, for example, copper, silica, magnesium, titanium and iron.

Claims

1. Toe of protection for accident-preventing shoes, composed of a capsule substantially shaped as the front part of a shoe, having and upper portion provided with aeration hollows, characterized in that with said hollows is associated a diaphragm which allows the flow of humidity only from the inside to the outside of the toe.

2. Toe, according to claim 1, wherein said capsule comprises also a lateral portion provided with said hollows in which said diaphragm is inserted.

3. Toe, according to claim 1, characterized in that it is realized with a metallic material or with a plastic material or with compound materials.

4. Toe, according to claim 1, wherein said diaphragm is associated with the outer surface of said upper portion.

5. Toe, according to claim 1, wherein, said diaphragm is associated with the inner surface of said upper portion.

6. Toe, according to claim 1, wherein said diaphragm is preferably composed of a sole sheet which is glued on the portion that presents the cited hollows.

7. Toe, according to claim 1, wherein said diaphragm is preferably composed of portions of sheet each one positioned on at least one hollow.