US2523494A - Foot shield - Google Patents

Description

W J. J. BOUGHEY FOOT SHIELD Filed June 1'7, 1946 I v hue/Z251" Patented Sept. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOOT SHIELD I Jeremiah Joseph Boughey, Chicago, 111., assignor V of one-third to J. Roy Abell, Evanston, and onethird to George E. Semple, Park Ridge, Ill.

Application June 17, 1946, Serial No. 677,127

13 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in foot shields and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims. The invention is especially concerned with a shield, adapted for use upon a workmans shoe to protect the instep part of his foot between the ankle and toes from injury due to objects which may fall or otherwise engage thereon.

One of the objects of the invention is to pro- -yide a shield for this purpose, which will allow a free natural use of the foot without hindrance .or interference to walking and will, at the same ;ti m e, protect the instep part of the foot against injury should heavy objects engage the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gshield for this purpose, which includes a shield [body that may be quickly applied to and removed from the remainder of the shield which is detachably applied to the heel of the shoe, in a ,,manner to be worn thereon between uses of the Also, it is an object of the invention to pro- 1vide in a shield of this kind means with which a :shoe in no way interferes with the walking the wvearermaybe required to do.

Furthermore, it is an object of the invention i120 provide a foot shield which is of a simple light weight construction for low cost production, and which is .strong and rigid for long wear use without warping, twisting out of shape, or breaking.

Again, it is an object of the invention to provide a shield for this purpose that includes a support for attachment to the heel of the shoe and with which the shield body may be detachably engaged in a manner permitting that relative movement between the support and shield body produced by the flexing of the foot when walking while wearing the shield.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as well as others, together with the advan- Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through a 2 part of the improved shield as taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a certain U- shaped clip or member embodied in the foot shield and which will be more fully mentioned.

Fig. 5 is a plan View of a certain member embodied in the shield for causing a pressure engagement with the front of the heel of a workmans shoe, to which the shield is applied and which will be more fully referred to later.

In general the improved shield includes a shield body formed to cover, from above, that part of the workmans shoe enclosing the instep of the foot and a means which may be detachably connected or secured to the heel of the shoe and with which the shield body may be detachably engaged for use without hindrance to walking. The shield includes a shell-like body formed of stiff rigid material, such as a pressed sheet metal, strong fibre-like material, plastic or the like. The means mentioned includes a bracket-like clip adapted to extend across the shoe sole in the shank space in front of the heel and connected to upright arms on said clip is a U-shaped rigid band that encompasses the sides and the back of the heel. In connection with said band the clip carries a resilient device for a pressure engagement against the front of the heel to coact with the band in holding the said means in operative position upon the shoe. The shield body and the arms above mentioned are formed with coacting stud and slot parts whereby the body may be quickly and easily applied and removed. The parts so function as to permit responsive movement of the shield body, without displaceerally U-shape cross section and includes a top central portion I2 and side portions l3-l3, the lower rear end part of each of which includes an inwardly extending relatively short stud IA. The shield body has the greatest depth at its rear end so as to cover that part of the instep forward of the ankle, and has the least depth at its front end and which is adapted to overlap and engage upon the hard so-called safety toe of the shoe, which includes a stiff box cap l5.

Associated with the shield body is means adapted for attachment to the shoe and worn therewith and to which the shield body may be detachably engaged without the use of tools or other devices. Said means includes a generally U-shape bracket or clip I6, which is best shown in perspective in Fig. 4. It is of a length approximating, but slightly greater than, the width of the sole I! of the associated shoe I I at the shank under the instep and just forward of the heel I8 of the shoe. This clip includes a fiat body I9 having an upstanding arm 20 at each end and in each arm is a slot-like recess 2| that opens through the upper top front end portion of the associated arm. This recess, which has a width approximating the diameter of an associated stud I4 of the body II], has a slight reverse curvature in its length.

22 indicates a rigid band of a generally U-shape that 'is intended to encompass the sides and the back of the heel I8 and the front end of the side arms 23 thereof engage and are fixed rigidly to the inner face of the arms '20 of the associated clip so that the bottom edge of said band'is spaced slightly above the top surface of the part I9 of the said clip, as is best shown in Fig. 3.

The central part of the body I9 of the clip is provided with an upstanding ear 24 preferably formed by a punched out upturned part of said body, as best shown in Fig. 4. Centrally in said "ear is an opening 25, through which is adapted topass the'threaded shank '26 of a resilient member 21 which best appears in Fig. 5. This member 21 is in the form of asubstantially U-shape leaf spring that includes a central portion 28 to which the stud 26 is fixed "at one end, and curved arm end parts'29 adapted for a pressure engagement withthe front face of the heel I8.

When the member 21 is assembled in place the threaded shank 26 extends through the hole 25 in'the ear 24 and nuts 30 are engaged on said shank on each side of said shoulder. At this time the bottom edge of the member 21 engages on the top surface of the member I9. By manipulation of the nuts 30, said shank '26 may be adjusted forwardly or rearwardly so as to provide such pressure engagement of'the member 21 with the front of the heel as'to retain the bracket or clip It as a whole in proper position on the'heel. 'When in proper position, the bottom surface of "the body I9 is preferably spaced slightly above the plane of the bottom of the heel I8 so as-to accommodate the wearing down of the heel and -so that no part of said body I9 will engage upon the surface walked upon.

After the member I6 has been attached to the shoe by the means described,and theishoe II is upon the 'wearers foot, the shield body, with its rear end directed somewhat downwardly, is so engaged over the instep of the shoe that the studs I4 enter the top end of the slots 2I and find their way to the bottom end thereof. Whenthe shield body is in place, its front end rests upon the safety toe of the shoe and its rear end is supported by the arms 20-40.

When the shoe flexes in walking, the shield body moves to accommodate the same by pivoting upon the studs I4 and by slightly sliding forwardly and rearwardly on the safety toe. If it is desired to remove the By'means' of the threaded shank 26, the member 21 may be adjusted to fit the heel of any size shoe and to so press against the front thereof as to hold the member IS in proper position thereon and against accidental displacement therefrom.

With the foot shield in position, the wearer can walk and use the foot in a normal or natural manner, without hindrance or interference.

Objects, material, equipment or other things which strike the shield body will primarily cause the shield body to transfer the force of the blow to the rear lugs I4 and thence to the arms 20 of the member I6. In the event of a blow of great magnitude there might be an actual displacement of the bracket or clip I6 downwardly until the bottom side of portion l9 thereof comes into actual contact with the floor, which then would act to limit further movement. There is sufficieht space between the inner surface of the shield body and the shoe to permit the described movement without causing engagement of the shield body with that part of the shoe with which it is normally not engaged.

The force of the blow on the shield body will be absorbed in part at the front by the bearing surface against the hard cap I5 of the safety shoe.

With the blow absorbed in the manner described, the remainder of the shield body will remain above and out of contact withthe shoe and foot which it covers, supporting or deflecting the object, materialequipment or other thing, thereby affording protection against injury to thatpart of the foot.

The facility with which the user may walk about, encourages the use by the workmen of the safety shield. Becauseof the ease with'which the shield body maybe removed and applied,ithe workman may, if he so desires, quickly remove the shield body in case he is to spend any considerable time in non-dangerous activity, such 'for example as walking a considerable distance during the lunch hour.

While in describing the invention I have referred in detail to the form and arrangement of the parts thereof, the same'is to be considered only in-the illustrative sense and therefore I 'do not wish to be limited thereto except as maybe specifically set forth in the appended claims;

'I claim as my invention:

1. 'A foot shield embodying thereinashell-like -b0dy adapted to fit over at least the'in'step of a shoe, means including-a member adapted to extend-transversely 0f the sole of the shoe at the front -of the heel thereof andhaving an arm at each end thereof extending upwardly to bev positioned at each side of the shoe, said arms and said body having coacting parts whereby .said

body may be detachablyconnected to said arms tend transversely of the 'sole of. the shoe .atiLthe front or the heel thereof and :having an .arm; at each end thereof extending .upwardlyxto be positioned at each sidesof the shoe, said :a'rms and '"said body'having coacting;- parts whereby said body may be detachably connected tosaidrarms in 1 bperative .pdsition; aupon i the shoe, a 1 J-rigid U-shaped band having ends fixed to said member and having parts for encompassing the sides and the back of said heel, and resilient means also carried by said member and adapted for pressure engagement with the front of said heel to coact with said band in holding said means in operative position upon th shoe. 7

3. A foot shield embodying therein a shell-like body adapted to fit over at least the instep of a shoe, means including a member adapted to extend transversel of the sole of the shoe-at the front of the heel thereof and having an arm at each end thereof extending upwardly to be positioned at each side of the shoe, said arms and said body having coacting parts whereby said body may be detachably connected to said arms in operative position upon the shoe, means carried by said first-mentioned means forencompassing the sides and the back of said heel, resilient means adapted for pressure engagement with the front of said heel to coact with said second-mentioned means in holding said first-mentioned means in operative position upon the shoe, and means for mounting said resilient means on said member for adjustment toward and away from the front of the heel.

- '4. A foot shield embodying therein a shell-like body adapted to fit over at least the instep of a shoe, means including a member adapted to extend transversely of the sole of the shoe to the front of the heel thereof and having an arm at each end thereof extending upwardly to be posi-. tioned at each side of the shoe, said arms and said body having coacting parts whereby said body may be detachably connected to said arms in operative position upon the shoe, means carried by said first-mentioned means for encompassing the sides and the back of said heel, and spring means mounted on said member and including laterally spaced arms for pressure engagement with the front of said heel to coact with said second-mentioned means in holding the first-mentioned means in operative position upon the shoe.

5. A foot shield embodying therein a shell-like body adapted to fit over at least the instep of a shoe, means including a member adapted to extend transversely of the sole of the shoe at the front of the heel thereof and having an arm at each end thereof extending upwardly to be positioned at each side of the shoe, said arms and said body having coacting parts whereby said body may be detachably connected to said arms in operative position upon the shoe, means carried by said first-mentioned means for encompassing the sides and the back of said heel, an ear on said member, spring means including laterally spaced arms for pressure engagement with the front of the heel to coact with said secondmentioned means in holding the first-mentioned means in operative position upon the shoe, and a supporting member for said spring means so engaged with said ear as to be operative for adjusting the position of said spring means with respect to the front of said heel.

6. A foot shield embodying therein a shell-like body adapted to fit over at least the instep of a shoe, means including a member adapted to extend transversely of the sole of the shoe at the front of the heel thereof and having an arm at each end thereof extending upwardly to be positioned at each side of the shoe, said arm and said body having coacting parts whereby said body may be detachably connected to said arms in operative position upon the shoe, means carried by said first-mentioned means for encompassing the sides and the back of said heel, an ear on said member, a leaf spring of substantially a U-shape having a central portion and end arm portions for engagement with the front of the heel to coact with the said second-mentionedmeans in holding the first-mentioned means in operative position upon the shoe, and a shank operatively attached to said central portion and extending through said ear for engagement therewith whereby said leaf spring ma be adjusted into a position toward or away from the front of the heel.

7. A foot shield embodying therein a shell-like body adapted to fit over at least a part of the instep of a shoe, means including a member adapted to extend transversely of the sole of the shoe at the front of the heel thereof and having an arm at each end thereof extending to be positioned upwardly at each side of the shoe, said arms and said body having coacting parts whereby said body may be detachably connected to said arms in operative position upon said shoe, a rigid U-shaped band having ends fixed each to one of said arms of said member and having parts for encompassing the sides and the back of said heel, and resilient means also carried by said member and adapted for pressure engagement with the front of said heel to coact with said band in holding said means in operative position upon the shoe.

8. A foot shield embodying therein a shell-like body adapted to fit over at least the instep of a shoe, means adapted for attachment to the heel of said shoe and including upwardly directed arms for arrangement with side parts of the shoe forwardly of the heel thereof, said shell-like body including side portions, rear end parts of which are disposed adjacent said arms, said arms and said end parts of said side portions of the shelllike body having an interengaging stud and slot arrangement whereby the shell-like body may be detachably connected to said arms.

9. A foot shield embodying therein a shell-like body adapted to fit over at least the instep of a. shoe, means adapted for attachment to the heel of said shoe and including upwardly directed arms for arrangement with side parts of the shoe. forwardly of the heel thereof, said arms havingupwardly and forwardly opening recesses there in, said shell-like body including side portions, rear end parts of which include lateral studs for engagement in said recess and whereby the shelllike body may be detachably connected to said arms.

10. A foot shield embodying therein an openbottomed shell-like body member adapted to fit over at least the instep of a shoe and to have a forward portion of its underside in supporting engagement with the cap of a safety shoe, means adapted for attachment to the heel of a shoe and having upstanding portions adapted for .positioning adjacent the forward part of the heel of the shoe to which the same is attached, said shell-like body member and said means having coacting parts whereby the shell-like body member may be connected to said means in a manner permitting movement of the shell-like body member in response to the flexing movement of the shoe to which it is applied, said coacting parts being formed and adapted to permit ready separation of the shell-like body member as a whole from said means, without disturbing the attachment of said means to the heel of the shoe.

11. A foot shield embodying therein an openbottomed shell-like body member adapted to fit 7 over at ie'ast the instep of a shee and to have 'a forward portion of its underside in supporting engagement with the cap of a safety shoe, means adapted for attachment to the rear part of the shoe below the upper portion, said means including a transverse portion adapted to be positioned under the shank of a shoe and having upstanding portions adapted to be positioned at opposite sides of the shoe, said shell-like body member and the upstanding portions of said means having coacting parts whereby the shell-like body member may be connected to said means in a manner permitting movement of the shell-like body member in response to the flexing movement of the shoe to which it is applied, said coacting .parts being formed and adapted to permit ready separation of the 'shell like body mem her as a whole from said means without disturbing the attachment of said means to the shoe.

12. In combination with a shoe having a safety cap at the toe, a member afiixed to the-shoe rearwardly of the toe, a shield member covering the instep of the shoe and having the inner surface of one end thereof disposed in direct but sliding bearing engagement upon the safety cap portion of the shoe and bearing atthe other end in said member affixed to the shoe rearwardly of the toe to hold said other end of the shield member spaced above that vpart of the shoe beneath the same.

13. In combination with a shoe having a safety toe, a shell-like body fitting over the instep of the shoe and having its front end portion in direct but sliding bearing engagement upon said safety toe, means extending transversely of the sole at the front of the heel of the shoe, coacting means on the rear end of the sides of the said body and on said transversely extending means providing a detachable connection therebetween and supporting the rear end of said body in a position spaced above the instep of the shoe, a member encompassing a part of the shoe rearwardly of said transversely extending means, and resilient means operatively engaged with said transversely extending means and operating therethrough for drawing said member encompassing said part of the shoe forwardly thereof, said resilient means being capable of yielding to permit a downward movement of said transversely extending means so that it may engage the supporting surface for the shoe under the impact of an imposed weight upon the shell-like body while preventing the rear end of said body from engaging said instep for the shoe.

JEREMIAH JOSEPH BOUGHEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record .in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,952,294 Strauss Mar. 27, 1934 Re. 22,614 Roberts Mar. 6, 1945

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