WO2021094898A1

WO2021094898A1 - Footwear toe cap and related footwear

Info

Publication number: WO2021094898A1
Application number: PCT/IB2020/060531
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marco SOLIANI; Giuseppe Grippo
Original assignee: Alustrategy S.R.L.
Priority date: 2019-11-11
Filing date: 2020-11-09
Publication date: 2021-05-20
Also published as: IT201900020742A1

Abstract

A metallic toe tip (100) for footwear items comprising a convex portion (110) which extends along the curved surface and is positionable at a tip portion of a footwear item, the convex portion (110) has a top area (112); and a "U" shaped flange (120), adjacent to the convex portion (110) and positionable at a sole of the footwear item; the toe tip (100) has a plurality of stress paths directed from the top area (112) to the flange (120), the stress paths are defined by respective paths followed by stresses in the toe tip (100) following a predefined impact against the top area (112) such to determine a plastic deformation of the convex portion (110), the convex portion (110) has at least a local variation in thickness with respect to the curved surface: the local variation in thickness is arranged radially around the top area (112); and the local variation in thickness follows one of said stress paths.

Description

FOOTWEAR TOE CAP AND RELATED FOOTWEAR

DESCRIPTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of protective clothing. In particular, the present invention relates to a footwear toe cap and a related footwear item comprising such toe cap, used to protect the wearer’s feet from the impact with blunt objects.

STATE OF THE ART

They are known footwear toe caps consisting of metal sheets moulded so as to fit the tip of a shoe. Such toe caps are thick enough as to bear the impact against a blunt body impacting the upper portion of the toe cap, directed downwards. “Bearing” means absorbing the impact with such a plastic deformation that the user’s foot is not involved in the impact.

Conventionally, the various toe cap models are named with a numeric code which refers to the shape of the outer surface of the toe cap. Each model has a standardised outer surface such to allow standardising footwear production and coupling more easily toe caps and shoes. Two presently traded models are respectively named "522" and "604". Disadvantageously, the known toe caps have areas subject to greater deformation and areas subject to lower deformation or not undergoing any stress at all. Their structure is thus inefficient and some parts are oversized and do not cooperate in absorbing impacts. This results in toe caps that are too heavy and provided with inadequate mechanical performances.

SUMMARY

The general object of the present invention is to improve the known art from one or more perspectives.

In particular, it is an object of the present invention to make available a footwear toe cap and a related footwear item that is lighter if compared to the prior art.

A further object of the present invention is to make available a footwear toe cap and a related footwear item capable of bearing more efficiently mechanical stresses.

A further object of the present invention is to make available a footwear toe cap that is mechanically more efficient.

A further object of the present invention is to make available a footwear toe cap and a related footwear item that are cheaper if compared to the prior art.

A further object of the present invention is to make available a footwear toe cap and a related footwear item provided with better ergonomics if compared to the prior art. Such objects are substantially reached thanks to what is expressed in the appended claims that form an integral part of the present disclosure.

According to a first aspect, the present invention relates to a footwear metallic toe cap, comprising: a convex portion extending along a curved surface and positionable at a tip portion of a footwear item so as to protect said footwear item, said convex portion being positionable at said tip portion of said footwear item, and a “U” shaped flange, adjacent to said convex portion and positionable at a sole of said footwear item; said convex portion comprising a band area adjacent to said flange, a top area that is remote with respect to said flange, and a curved area extending between said band area and said top area; said toe tip having a plurality of stress paths directed from said top area to said flange, said stress paths being defined by respective paths followed by stresses in said toe cap following a predefined impact against said top area such as to determine a plastic deformation of said convex portion, said convex portion having at least a local variation in thickness with respect to said curved surface; wherein said local variation in thickness is arranged radially around said top area (112), and said local variation in thickness follows one of said stress paths.

According to a second aspect, the present invention relates to a footwear item comprising a footwear metallic toe cap arranged at a tip portion of said footwear item.

LIST OF FIGURES

The present invention shall become more readily apparent from the detailed description that follows to be considered together with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a footwear toe cap made according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a view from the bottom of the toe cap of Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 shows a front view of the toe cap of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows a section view along the line A - A of the toe cap of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a footwear toe cap made according to the present invention;

Fig. 6 shows a view from the bottom of the toe cap of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 shows a front view of the toe cap of Fig. 5; Fig. 8 shows a section view along the line B - B of the toe cap of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 shows a rear view of a footwear toe cap made according to the present invention;

Fig. 10 shows a rear view of a footwear toe cap made according to the present invention.

As can be easily understood, there are various ways of practically implementing the present invention which is defined in its main advantageous aspects in the appended claims and is not limited either to the following detailed description or to the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the enclosed drawings, a footwear toe cap, object of the present invention, is generally indicated by reference number 100 and will be hereinafter recalled by notation “toe cap 100”.

Figures 1 to 4 show a model of a toe cap 100 according to the present invention and named “522S”, while figures 5 to 8 show an alternative model of a toe cap 100 according to the present invention and named “604R”. Figures 9 and 10 show variant embodiments according to the present invention, applicable both to the embodiment of figure 1-4 and to the embodiment of figure 5-8.

The toe cap 100 consists of a product made of metal, in particular of aluminium, which can be positioned at the tip portion of a footwear item so as to protect it.

It is further an object of the present invention a footwear item provided with the toe cap 100, for example of a shoe or work boot. The toe cap 100 may be integrated in the structure of the footwear item, or fitted or fittable thereon, so as to protect the user’s foot. Indications such as “front” and “side”, “upper” and “lower” (in absence of other indications) are to be intended with reference to the assembly conditions of the toe tip in the footwear item (or operative) and referring to the normal terminology being used in everyday language, where “upper” and “lower” refer to the greater or lower distance with respect to the ground and “front” and “side” indicate direction with respect to the footwear item on which the toe tip 100 is adapted to be inserted or integrated.

The toe tip 100 has a convex portion 110 and a flange 120; more precisely, the flange 120 is arranged at a lower portion of the toe tip 100 and adjacent to the convex portion 110. In particular, the convex portion 110 extends along a curved surface, in particular along a surface extending continuously from a first side direction on a first side of the toe tip 100 until a second side direction on a second side of the toe tip 100 opposite to the first one, passing through a front direction, and is adjacent to the flange 120 which extends in a similar way.

With reference to Fig.l and Fig.4, the convex portion 110 comprises a band area 10 (adjacent to the flange 120), a “top area” 112 (remote with respect to the flange 120) and a curved area 11 extending between the band area 10 and the top area 112; the term “top area” is used to indicate that this is the area of the convex portion 110 furthest from the flange 120.

In particular, the band area 10 extends from the flange 120 to the curved area 11 and the curved area 11 extends from the band area 10 to the top area 112.

The top area 112 is substantially plane and/or parallel to the plane identified by the flange

120.

In particular, the top area 112 has smaller dimensions than the band area 10 and the curved area 11, for instance it can have an extension of 1-3 cm².

The flange 120 is configured to be arranged at the sole, in particular at an upper edge thereof. The flange 120 is “U” shaped and is adjacent to the convex portion 110.

More in particular, the flange 120 is adjacent to the band area 10.

The flange 120 is configured to increase the stiffness of the convex portion 110. Preferably, the convex portion 110 and the flange 120 are made in a single piece and have a junction 121 between them having an outer radius ranging from 1.5 and 2.5 mm. Advantageously, this radius optimises the transmission of stresses between the convex portion 110 and the flange 120, and allows to reduce the dimensions of the flange 120. The toe tip 100 is adapted to bear impacts against objects coming from above (with respect to the configuration of use) impacting against the top area 112 of the convex portion 110 operatively arranged at the upper back of the footwear item.

In such impact situation a plurality of stress paths form following such impact which are directed from the top area 112 to the flange 120. Such paths are followed by the stresses and/or deformations being transmitted from the top area 112 to the flange 120. For the purposes of the present disclosure reference will be made to the paths defined by a pre defined impact against the top area 112 such to determine a plastic deformation of the convex portion 110.

The convex portion 110 has at least a local variation in thickness which follows one of the stress paths described, for instance a local thickening or thinning, and extends preferably from the top area 112 to the flange 120. Such local variation in thickness is measured perpendicularly to the aforesaid curved surface. Local variation in thickness means an increase or reduction in thickness with respect to the average local thickness of the convex portion 110 in the concerned area.

In one possible embodiment, the local variation in thickness is a localised thickening of the convex portion 110 which follows stress paths with a higher concentration of mechanical stresses and/or plastic deformations following the described impact. Preferably, such thickening is gradual and is more emphasised where the concentration of observed stresses and/or the extent of deformation is greater. Furthermore, the thickening is preferably greater at the areas of greater curvature of the convex portion 110, as it can be observed in Fig. 4. In one further possible embodiment, the local variation in thickness is a thinning of the convex portion 110 which follows stress paths with a lower concentration of mechanical stresses and/or plastic deformations following the described impact.

Preferably, the local variation in thickness is conformed as to prevent and/or reduce a torsion of the flange 120 following the described impact. The local variation in thickness may be adjusted in size by an iterative process providing to test the possible geometries of the toe tip 100 by numerical and/or experimental models, change thickenings and/or thinnings of the convex portion 110 depending on the extent of stresses and/or deformations along the stress paths, and repeat the cycle on the modified geometry. Preferably, the local variation in thickness has an elongated shape oriented in the direction of the respective stress path. The width of the local variation in thickness as measured transversally to the respective stress path is preferably between 10 mm and 15 mm.

The flange 120 has a front apex 122, that is positioned in use at the tip of the footwear item, and it is subdivided in two side portions 124 arranged on sides adjacent and opposite with respect to the front apex 122, corresponding to the two wings of the aforesaid “U” shape of the flange 120. Preferably, the toe tip 100 has a thickening extended between the top area 112 and the front apex 122. Furthermore, the convex portion 110 may have thinnings arranged between the top area 112 and the side portions 124. Advantageously, these expedients concentrate stresses between the top area 112 and the front apex 122 during the impact and reduce the stresses on the side portions 124, so as to prevent or reduce the possible torsion of the flange 120.

The toe tip 100 has a sagittal plane which subdivides it into an inner portion 115, arranged in use on the inner side of the footwear item, i.e. the one directed towards the median sagittal plane of the human body and in an outer portion 117, arranged in use on the outer side of the footwear item i.e. the one directed in the opposite direction. The sagittal plane passes through the top area 112 and the front apex 122. Due to the foot morphology, the outer portion 117 is more extended than the inner portion 115. Preferably, the inner portion 115 has a thinning which is more extended and/or more emphasised than the outer portion 117. Advantageously, this allows to reduce stresses transmitted through the inner portion 115, with respect to those transmitted through the outer portion 117, balancing the stress asymmetry of the flange 120 due to the geometrical asymmetry of the toe tip 100, so as to prevent and/or reduce torsions of the flange 120 itself.

In one possible variant embodiment, the convex portion 110 has a plurality of local variations in thickness arranged radially around the top area 112, for instance in a sunbursts way.

Fig. 9 shows an embodiment according to the present invention wherein the convex portion 110 has local thickenings 113 arranged radially with respect to the top area 112 and extended from the top area 112 to the flange 120. Furthermore, the embodiment of Fig. 9 has a plurality of local thinnings 114, interposed between local radial thickenings 113 and in particular slice- shaped between each other.

Fig. 10 shows a further embodiment wherein the convex portion 110 has a local thickening 118 extended from the top area 112 in the direction of the flange 120, oriented along the sagittal plane of the toe tip 100 and interrupted before the flange 120 itself. Furthermore, a local thinning 119 is present that is conformed as a band oriented parallel to the flange 120. Such local thinning 119 is adjacent to the flange 120 and perpendicular to the aforesaid local thickening 118. Furthermore, such embodiment has two local thinnings 114 slice-shaped and arranged laterally with respect to the local thickening 118 on the sagittal plane. The disclosed embodiments overcome the limitations of the prior art.

Advantageously, optimising the transmission of stresses as determined by the disclosed variations in thickness allows to improve the mechanical performances of the toe tip and reduce the weight thereof, increasing the efficiency, safety and ergonomics of the footwear item. Furthermore, the disclosed expedients allow to reduce the amount of material used, consequently reducing the cost of the toe tip.

Claims

1. Metallic toe cap (100) for footwear items, in particular in aluminium, comprising: a convex portion (110) extending along a curved surface and positionable at a tip portion of a footwear item so as to protect said footwear item, said convex portion (110) being positionable at the back of said tip portion, and a “U” shaped flange (120), adjacent to said convex portion (110) and positionable at a sole of said footwear item; said convex portion (110) comprising a band area (10) adjacent to said flange (120), a top area (112) that is remote with respect to said flange (120), and a curved area (11) extending between said band area (10) and said top area (112); said toe tip (100) having a plurality of stress paths directed from said top area (112) to said flange (120), said stress paths being defined by respective paths followed by mechanical stresses in said toe cap (100) after a predefined impact against said top area (112) such to determine a plastic deformation of said convex portion (110); said convex portion (110) having at least a local variation in thickness with respect to said curved surface; characterized in that said local variation in thickness is arranged radially around said top area (112), and said local variation in thickness follows one of said stress paths.

2. Toe cap (100) according to claim 1, wherein said local variation in thickness is shaped so as to prevent and/or reduce a torsion of said flange (120) following said predefined impact.

3. Toe cap (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said convex portion (110) and said flange (120) are integral in one piece and have a junction (121) having external radius of between 1.5 mm and 2.5 mm.

4. Toe cap (100) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the said local variation in thickness is a thickening of the convex portion (110) which follows stress paths with a higher concentration of mechanical stresses and/or plastic deformations as a result of said predefined impact.

5. Toe cap (100) according to claim 4, wherein said thickening is greater at areas of greater curvature of said convex portion (110).

6. Toe cap (100) according to one or more of claims from 1 to 3, wherein said local variation in thickness is a thinning of said convex portion (110) which follows stress paths with lower concentration of mechanical stresses and/or plastic deformations following said predefined impact.

7. Toe cap (100) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said local variation in thickness has an elongated shape oriented in the direction of a respective stress path.

8. Toe cap (100) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the said flange (120) has a front apex (122) arranged to be positioned at a tip of the said footwear item, said at least one local variation in thickness being a thickening of said convex portion (110) extended between said top area (112) and said front apex (122).

9. Toe cap (100) according to claim 8, wherein said flange (120) is subdivided into two side portions (124) located at adjacent and opposite sides with respect to said front apex (122), said convex portion (110) presenting further local variations in thickness, said further local variations in thickness being thinnings located between said top area

(112) and said side portions (124).

10. Toe cap (100) according to claim 9, wherein said toe cap (100) has a sagittal plane passing through said top area (112) and through said front apex (122), said sagittal plane subdividing said toe cap (100) into an inner portion (115), configured to be placed in use on a side of a footwear item facing a median sagittal plane of a user's body and in an outer portion (117), larger than the inner portion (115) and configured to be placed in use on a side of a footwear item facing in an opposite direction to a median sagittal plane of the user's body, and wherein said inner portion (115) has a more extensive and/or more pronounced thinning with respect to a thinning of said outer portion (117).

11. Toe cap (100) according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said convex portion (110) has a plurality of local variations in thickness arranged radially around said top area (112).

12. Toe cap (100) according to claim 11, wherein each of said local variations in thickness extends from said top area (112) to said flange (120).

13. Toe cap (100) according to claim 12, wherein each of said local variations in thickness are local thickenings (113) of said convex portion (110), said convex portion (110) having respective local thinnings (114) slice-shaped and interposed between respective local thickenings (113).

14. Toe cap (100) according to one or more of claims 1 to 10, wherein said convex portion (110) further has a further local thinning (119) shaped as a band oriented parallel to said flange (120).

15. Footwear item comprising a metallic toe cap (100) according to one or more of the preceding claims arranged at a tip portion of said footwear item.