US3006086A

US3006086A - Shoe guard

Info

Publication number: US3006086A
Application number: US18985A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jr Frank E Bird
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-03-31
Filing date: 1960-03-31
Publication date: 1961-10-31
Anticipated expiration: 1978-10-31

Description

F. E. BIRD, .JR

Oct. 31, 1961 SHOE GUARD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 3l, 1960 FIGB.

FIGS.

lNVENTORI FRANK E. BIRD, JR, Y //vwwrf/ ATTYS.

Cet. 31, 1961 F. E. BIRD, JR 3,006,086

SHOE GUARD I Filed March 3l, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 7.

INVENTOR: FRANK E. B|RD,JR.

ATTYS.

States The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in protective attachments for footwear and more specifically to a novel protective device adapted to be adjustably and detachably mounted on a shoe to protect the metatarsal area of the foot.

This application is a continuation-impart of .my copendinv application Serial No. 782,715, tiled December 24, 1958, now abandoned.

The risk of injury to the metatarsal area of the foot has been recognized in many phases of industry. The solution of the problem has prompted development of numerous protective devices that have had varying degrees of success. However, the devices have generally fallen short of satisfactory solution of the problem for a variety of reasons. Some, because of their complicated and cumbersome construction are uncomfortable and do not permit sucient freedom of the foot when the wearer is engaged in normal movements required by the job, as for example stooping or climbing and consequently have been rejected or shunned by the Worker. Others, because of their bulky and awkward assembly present tripping and catch point hazards.

The present invention overcomes the objectionable features enumerated above by providing a protective device that may be readily and easily applied to and removed from any type of laced shoe and one wherein the optimum features of maximum protection and free mobility are assured.

With the foregoing in mind the principal object of the present invention is to provide a protective foot guard that may be detachably and adjustably secured to any type of laced shoe or the like.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel detachable foot guard which may -be readily adjusted with respect to the shoe to which it is attached to insure complete coverage of the desired area of the foot.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective guard that may be attached and detached with a minimum of effort and whose use does not interfere with the normal lacing of the shoe.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a protective guard for shoes that may be detached without requiring the shoe to be unlaced and which may be used repeatedly long after the life of a particular pair of shoes.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a relatively simple, economic and comfortable protective guard for shoes comprising an outer shell having shock absorbing qualities and a cushion-like inner portion that conforms generally to the contour of the foot.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel shoe guard of the above type which is held securely against the shoe but which has suicien-t freedom of movement to permit free flexing and use of the shoe.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a novel shoe guard having the features and charcteristics set -forth above which may be manufactured easily and cheaply, is of relatively simplied construction, and is entirely efiicient and effective.

These and other objects of the present invention and the various features and details of the operation and construction thereof are hereinafter more fully set forth and described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view showing a protective guard made in accordance with the present invention applied to a Work shoe;

FlG. 2 is a perspective View showing the guard in a position partially removed from a shoe;

FIG. 3 is a top plan View of the protective guard of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along line 4-4, FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5 5, FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective View of the protective plate remo-ved from its covering;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a modified form of a shoe guard of the present invention applied to a work shoe;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 7 illustrating the guard in a position partially removed from the shoe;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of the guard of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the guard of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 1l is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 11-11, FIG. l0.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 10 designates generally a protector or guard in accordance with the present invention detachably secured to a shoe 11. The guard 10 comprises generally a rigid plate 12 and a cushion member or pad 13 housed or contained within a flexible envelope 14.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the plate may have curved side edge portions extending downwardly away from the central axis of the plate and may be convexly curved along its lengt-h to conform generally to the contour of the metatarsal area of the foot. The plate 12 is constructed preferably of a lightweight tough resilient material with sufficient rigidity to resist severe deformation but resilient enough to allow for a slight deformation to thereby preclude fracturing when subjected to a reasonably severe shock stress from a falling weight. The plate 12 may be formed, if desired, of a plastic material such as a phenolic resin or of any other material having the characteristics enumerated above such as certain metals or certain plastic materials.

The cushion member or pad -13 comprises a layer of sponge-like shock absorbing material such as cellular neoprene shaped to follow the contour of the metatarsal area of the foot. The outer periphery of the pad 13- extends beyond the periphery of lche plate member 12 and may be tapered completely about its periphery as indicated at 13a to facilitate insertion into the envelope and present a neat appearance to the envelope 14. The cushion member 13 is preferably secured to the concave or underside of the plate 12 by means of a glue or cement.

The envelope 14 -for housing or containing the plate 12 and pad 13 comprises upper and lower covers 15 and 16, respectively, made for example of flexible leather and stitched together at their outer periphery. The envelope 14 may be stitched along the bottom and side edges to form an open -top pocket so that the plate and cushion may be removed and used again when the envelope becomes damaged or Worn or conversely the plate and pad maybe replaced if damaged. The cushion member 13 is preferably secured to the lower cover 16 of the envelope for example, by cement or glue, to thereby minimize movement of the protector with respect to the shoe.

In accordance with the present invention means are provided to adjustably and detachably secure the pro- 1 secured to the outer surface of the envelope. The buckle 18 is secured to the upper cover of the envelope approximately on the center line thereof and faces toward the upper end of the protector. The strap 17 is secured to the lower cover of the envelope at about the mid-point thereof and extends longitudinally thereof beyond the upper edge. The strap is provided with a plurality of perforations 19 so that it may be placed under the laces of the shoe and be engaged in the buckle to thereby removably and adjustably mount the protector on a shoe. Thus when applied to a shoe, as shown in FlG. 2, it may be seen that the strap engages under the laces 20 of the shoe and secures the shoe portion from approximately the mid-point of the protector to the top edge thereof rather snugly to the shoe while the front half overlies the front portion of the shoe protecting the metatarsal portion ofthe foot and providing a measure of mobility when performing normal foot movements. Additionally, it is apparent that the protector may be adjustably positioned with respect to the shoe by engaging the strap under the appropifiate laces so lthat the protector covers'the desired porion of the foot regardless of the size of the shoe.

Although the illustrated embodiment shows the protective device applied to a laced high-top working shoe, it is to be understood that the device may be used as effectively lwith many other types of shoes. With reference to FIG. l, it may be seen that the guard can be positioned so that the front .portion lies adjacent the back edge of the `steel cap portion of a common work shoe while the top of the guard extends to a point nearest the highest eyelets of the shoe. The Width of the guard may be slightly broader at the bottom half so that it substantially covers the upper surface of the instep or metatarsal area of the foot. When used with shoes that do not have in their construction the steel toe, it is possible by repositioning the strap under the lower lace portion of the shoe to afford protection for the toes.

As illustrated in FIGS. l and 2, the protective device may be applied to the shoe in the following fashion. The strap is placed over the tongue of the shoe and beneath the desired portion of the lacing 20. After the shoe is laced as tightly as the wearer desires, the guard is secured in the position illustrated in FIG. 1 over the laces by means of the strap and 4buckle assembly so that the lowermost portion of the lacing engaged by the strap is at the junction between the strap and the lower cover 16. This attachment of the guard maybe comparatively loose since it is only desired to retain the protective guard over the instep without impairing walking ease.

A modified form of the shoe guard olf the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7 to il, inclusive, of the drawings. In this embodiment a shoe guard, designated generally as 25, is adapted `to be detachably secured to a shoe 26. The guard 25 comprises a rigid curved plate 27 formed of any desired rigid material such as stainless steel and the like, shaped as indicated in FIG. 7 to extend across the toe portion of the shoe from one side of the shoe to the other and terminating closely :adjacent to the sole of the shoe. Additionally, the guard extends upwardly along the shoe covering the upper end of the shoe. If desired, the upper and lower ends of the plate 27 may terminate in upwardly flared

end portions

28 and 29, respectively, to prevent the plate from digging into or marking the shoe upon `application of heavy pressures on the plate.

In accordance 'with the present invention a cushion or pad 31 is secured to the under side of the plate 27 and adapted to engage the shoe to cushion shock forces exerted on the plate. The cushion or pad 31 is secured to the underside of the plate, for example, by means of glue or cement and conforms generally to the contour of the plate.

An important feature of the present invention is the provision of means to adjustably and detachably secure the shoe guard to a shoe. To this end, fastening means, generally similar to that described in the embodiment of FIGS. l to 6, inclusive, is provided. This fastening means may comprise a strap 32 which is secured to the lower surface of the plate 27 adjacent the lower end of the shoe guard, for example, by means of a pair of rivets 33 with the lower end of the strap being positioned between the plate 27 and the cushion 31. A strap 32 extends outwardly through an opening 34 provided in the cushion 31 and then passes upwardly adjacent the underside of the cushion 31 as illustrated in FIG. l0.

In order to secure the shoe guard 25 to the shoe 26 the strap 32 is positioned beneath the laces 3B of the shoe as illustrated in FIG. 8 of the drawings and passed upwardly along the shoe beneath one or more cross bars of the laces. The end of the strap is then pulled upwardly away from the shoe and passed through the lowermost opening of a pair of openings 35, 35 provided centrally of the upper portion of the plate. Thereafter, the free end of the strap is passed downwardly through the upperymost opening of the pair of openings 35, and the strap is pulled tight thereby positioning the guard in the desired relation relative to the shoe and also securing the guard to the shoe. The position of the guard relative to the shoe may be adjustedby the user by varying the position at which the strap is passed beneath the laces kand by adjusting the position of the strap in the opening In this embodiment of the present invention, the fastening means is attached directly to the plate instead of to a separate envelope which contains the plate as in the embodiment of FIGS. l to 6, thereby eliminating the need for the envelope and decreasing the cost of the guard.

From the foregoing, it may 'be seen that the present invention provides an easily and readily detachable and adjustable protective guard for use primarily on Working shoes. The device is especially advantageous and useful in this respect in that unlike prior devices of this type it is readily accepted by wearers seeking protection of this area of the foot in that it affords him maximum protection while usinrr the device without impairing his movements during normal. routine actions on the job. Additionally, because of the ease with which it may be applied and removed the wearer is not restricted in his choice of shoes to one that may be used solely at work. For example, it may be readily seen that shoes may be worn to work without the guard and the guard quickly 'attached to and removed from the shoes.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have `been illustrated and described herein, it is not intended to limit the invention to sucn a disclosure and changes and modiiications may be incorporated and embodied therein within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. A guard adapted to be adjustably and detachably secured to a shoe to protect the metatarsal area of the foot comprising a rigid plate member shaped to conform generally to the rnetatarsal area of the foot, a shock absorbent pad secured to the underside of said plate member and conforming to the shape of said plate member, said plate and pad adapted to overlie and cover the shoe at the metatarsal area of the foot, and adjustable fastening means comprising a flexible member secured to the underside of said plate and adapted to engage said shoe in the portion of said shoe covered by said plate and pad to detachably secure said plate and pad to said shoe with the pad in engagement with said shoe.

2. A guard adapted to be adjustably and detachably secured to a shoe to protect the metatarsal area of the foot comprising a rigid plate member shaped to conform generally to the metatarsal area of the foot, a shock absorbent pad secured to the underside of said plate member and conforming to the shape of said plate member, said plate and pad adapted. to overlie and cover the shoe at the metatarsal area of the foot, and adjustable fastening means comprising a flexible member interconnected with said plate and adapted to overlie said shoe and engage said shoe at the portion of said shoe covered 5 by said plate and pad to detachably secure said plate and pad to said shoe.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said adjustable fastening means is secured to the underside of said plate at substantially the mid-point thereof and is adapted to be detachably secured beneath laces on said shoe to detachably secure said plate and pad to said shoe.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said adjustable fastening means comprises a exible strap having one end thereof secured to the underside of said plate at substantially the mid-point of said plate, and wherein means are provided at the upper side of said plate within which the other end of said strap may be engaged and secured.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said adjustable fastening means includes a flexible envelope completely enclosing said plate and pad and a flexible strap having one end thereof secured to the underside of said envelope and adapted to engage said shoe at the portion of said shoe covered by said plate and pad to detachably secure said plate and pad to said shoe.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,712,185 Corrigan July 5, 1955 2,829,449l Edwards et al. Apr. 8, 1958 2,842,872 Shultz July 15, 1958