US2814888A

US2814888A - Insulating box toe for safety shoes

Info

Publication number: US2814888A
Application number: US583446A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lawson T Hill
Original assignee: HILL BROS CO
Current assignee: HILL BROS CO
Priority date: 1955-03-11
Filing date: 1956-05-08
Publication date: 1957-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 1974-12-03

Description

Dec. 3, 1957 1.. 'r. HILL 2,814,888

INSULATING BOX TOE FOR SAFETY SHOES Original Filed March 11, 1955 United rates Patent INSULATING BOX TOE FOR SAFETY SHOES Lawson T. Hill, Weston, Mass, assignor to Hill Bros. Co., Hudson, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Original application March 11, 1955, Serial No. 493,753,

new Patent No. 2,756,519, dated July 31, 1956. Divided and this application May 8, 1956, Serial No. 583,446

2 Claims. (CI. 36-77) This invention relates to safety shoes of the type having a steel reinforcing box in the toe, and pertains more particularly to a pad construction for enclosing, and cushioning the edge of, a steel toe box. This application is a division of my copending application Serial No. 493,753, filed March 11, 1955, which has matured into Patent No. 2,756,519, granted July 31, 1956.

Safety shoes of the general type to which this invention pertains have heretofore presented a rather awkward appearance due to the ridge created in the upper by the rear edge of the steel box. This edge also has a tendency to cut through the upper when the shoe is worn. Furthermore, the metal edge is likely to hurt the wearers foot and cause blisters. Another complaint frequently encountered is that the steel box transmits cold too rapidly and tends to chill the wearers toes. Another difiiculty encountered in the use of a metal box toe in a shoe is that the lower edge of the box tends to cut the inseam stitchmg.

The general object of this invention is to overcome these difficulties by providing a toe box assembly in which the metal box is effectively insulated from the wearers foot, the rear edge of the metal box is cushioned on the inside, the usual depression immediately behind this edge is filled in so as to achieve a smoother appearance of the upper, and the lower edge of the metal box is enclosed so that it is not in contact with the inseam. Other advantages and novel features of the device here disclosed will be apparent from the following description.

In the drawings illustrating the invention:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal cross-section of the toe of a shoe having a box assembly constructed according to the invention; and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view, partly broken away, of the pad assembly before it is installed in the shoe.

The assembly is shown in Fig. 1 as installed in a shoe of the Goodyear welt type having the usual upper and upper lining 11 secured to the insole 12 by inseam stitching 13. A steel toe box 14 is enclosed in the toe. Between the upper lining and the steel box is inserted a pad of the type shown in Fig. 2. The pad consists of two pieces of

pyroxylin

15 and 16 of a shape and size generally corresponding to box 14, having rear margins 17 and 18, respectively. A layer 19, of cork sheeting or similar material, having good heat insulating properties, is disposed between the two pyroxylin pads. A strip of foam rubber, or similar material, is secured to the rear margins 17 and 18 of the pads, for example by a line of stitching 21, which passes also through layer 19. The pyroxylin pads are made somewhat larger than the steel box so as to overlap the lower edge of the latter when the parts are assembled together. The

pads

15 and 16, insulating layer 19, and strip 20 are inserted between box 14 and the lining 11, preferably with the rear edges of

pads

15 and 16 approximately even with the rear edge of the box 14, and with the strip overlapping the rear edge of the box 14. A cover 22 of thin pyroxylin, slightly larger all around than the box 14, is placed between the box 14 and the upper 10. It is understood that the pads and cover are softened with suitable solvent and all the parts are formed over a last which may be of the usual type, but is preferably of the type described in my copeuding application Serial No. 493,651, filed March 11, 1955 now issued as Patent No. 2,737,671, which last has a groove across the forepart to relieve pressure on the foam rubber strip. In lasting, the cork layer 19 becomes bonded to the two pyroxylin pads, pad 15 becomes bonded to the metal toe box, and pad 16 becomes bonded to the lining 11. The overlapping margins of the cover are bonded to the lower margins of pad 15 so that the steel box is completely encased around its lower edge. This feature serves to prevent breaking of the needle by contact with the box, during the inseaming operation and also protects the inseam stitching 13 against cutting by the edge of the box in subsequent wear. The rear margin of cover 22 is bonded to strip 17. The cover, being bonded to the upper, keeps the upper from creeping, thus preserving the smooth appearance of the toe, and also prevents the rear edge of the box from cutting through the upper. The pad 15, being bonded to the lining 11, prevents wrinkling of the lining, and the sponge rubber strip 17 cushions the rear edge of the steel box and also that of the

pyroxylin pads

15 and 16 which become stiff when formed. The wearers foot is thus protected against irritation by the stiff rear margin of the toe metal box assembly. It will be noted also that the sponge material tends to fill in the gap behind the rear edge of the box and smooths out the ridge which ordinarily appears in the upper at this point. The whole assembly thus produces a comfortable and smooth appearing forepart. The layer 19 provides extra heat insulation between the metal box and the wearers foot and thus makes the shoe more comfortable for cold weather.

What is claimed is:

1. A toe box assembly--adapted to be disposed in the vamp of a shoe having a sole, an upper, and an upper liner-comprising: a metal toe box, having a lower edge adapted to be disposed adjacent said sole, and a rear edge adapted to be disposed across said vamp; a first layer of pyroxylin underlying said box and bonded thereto, a layer of heat-insulating material underlying said first layer, a second layer of pyroxylin underlying said heatinsulating layer, all said layers having rear edges, and a strip of foam rubber attached under the rear edges of said layers and extending behind the rear edges of said layers and of said metal box, said strip adapted to substantially fill in any space between the upper and the liner behind said rear edges.

2. A toe box assembly as described in claim 1, having a cover overlying the metal box, the cover and said first and second pyroxylin layers having lower margins extending below the lower edge of the metal box and bonded together to enclose said lower edge.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 710,239 Beckwith Sept. 30, 1902 1,826,645 Bergquist Oct. 6, 1931 2,160,590 Guhman May 30, 1939 2,328,601 Baird Sept. 7, 1943 2,457,664 Harrison Dec. 28, 1948 2,537,891 Greenan Jan. 9, 1951 2,706,351 Greenan Apr. 19, 1955