Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SAPETY FOOTWF~R
; . The present invention relates to safety footwear in which for
the protection of the wearer's foot a metal or other impact-resistant
toe-cap and, in some cases, other reinforccments are incorporated.
In existing safety footwear, whatever the method of construct-
ion used for ~olning the upper to the sole unit, it has always been
necessary to have a lining to protect the foot against the metallic
toe-cap and to fix the toe-cap safely ln position. If the toe-cap is
made of ~ome other material, for example a synthetic resin with
carbon-fibre reinforcement, the protecti~e li~ing may not be required
but the problem of fixing the toe-cap in position remains.
In accordance with the present invention there is provided
safety footwear having an impact resistant toe-cap coated on all sur-
faces with a synthetic plastics material characterized in that the
coating extends beyond the rear edge of the toe-cap to form a flexible
lip which is attached to the upper of the footwear. Not only does
this construction facilitate assembly of the footwear, it also enables
a strong structure to be obtaincd while nor dctracting from the com-
ort of the footwear. The covering layer protects the foot against
contact with the toe-cap and protects the toc-cap a~ainst the chemical
effects of contact with or proximity to the foot.
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~ le coatinq of synthetic plastics material may be applied,
for example, by dippinq, spraying or moulding. The lip can be taper-
ed towards the rear. ~n edge strip may be affixed to the metal toe-
cap before it is coated in orde~ to form a core for this flexible lip.
5 ~rhe edge strip may be tapered in sect~on and may either be applied to
the outer ~rgin of the metal toe-cap or e]se split along its front
edge to fit over the rear edge of the toe-cap.
It will be appreciated that by the use of the flexible lip
at the rear edge of the toe-cap it is possible to improve the external
appearance of the shoe by eliminating any hard line at the edge of
the toe-cap. Internally comfort is improved by preventing any hard
edge coming into contact with the foot.
The toe-cap with its covering layer can conveniently be
secured within the shoe by the use of adhesives appropriate to the
material of the covering layer.
A normal steel toe-cap has a tendency to shear through the
bottom reinforcing plate and the bottom or sole unit ~hen a severe
weight is applied to the toe-cap. It will be appreciated that the
presence of a covering layer bonded to the toe-cap reduces this risk
by blunting the lower edge of the toe-cap and interposing an addit-
ional layer of shock-absorbing material.
It will readily be appreciated that the invention is applic-
able to all types of safety ~ootwear whatever materials and methods
of assembly may be used in their construction. In particular it
applies equally to both externally fitted and internally fitted steel
toe-caps.
~oreover it is possible to use a plastic-coated metal toe-cap
not only without a lining but also without any outer in the t~e region.
m e invention wil' be d~scribed in more detail with the aid of r
examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which;-
Fig.l is a longitudinal section of a safety boot or shoe in
accordance with the invention,
Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the toe-cap unit used in the
footwear of Fig 1,
Figs. 3 and 4 are longitudinal and transverse sections of a
modifi~d toe-cap unit, and
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Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of a further form
of toe-cap unit for footwear in accordance with the invention.
The shoe shown in Fig, 1 has a moulded sole unit 8
and an upper 9. A steel toe-cap 10 and a bonded fibre
base-board 11 of conventional type are both coated with
synthetic plastics material 12 to form an integral unit. At
~i the rear edge of the toe-cap there is a tapered lip 13 which
masks the sharp edge of the toe-cap to improve comfort and
appearance. The upper 9 of the boot or shoe extends only to
the rear edge of the toe-cap 10, where it is secured to the
lip 13 by stitching, welding, stapling, or cementing or a
combination of these methods. The coating 12, which is formed
by moulding, serves as both the external and the internal
surface of the toe-cap so that not only is the upper cut
~ short at the junction with the toe-cap but also no separate
E~ lining of the toe-cap is required.
The structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is suitable for
footwear of cemented, injection-moulded, or vulcanized
,~ construction. Figs. 3 and 4 show a modification in which the
coating 12 forms an integral projecting flange 14 around
the base-board 11. The flange 14 can be incorporated in the
~, welt of the shoe and stitched in position. Whereas Figs. 1
to 4 show constructions in which the base-board is incorporated
as a single unit with the toe-cap, it is also possible to
have a conventional separate base-board and this separate
base-board can itself be plastic-coated to giye it greater
resistance to physical and chemical damage.
In Fig. 5 a solid drawn metal toe-cap 15 which has
base part 16 integral with the rest of the toe-cap is
incorporated in a synthetic plastics body 17 which has a
rear lip 18 and a peripheral flange 19. Such a construction
can again be used with or without an upper which coYers the
toe-cap.
As has been mentioned previously, other reinforcing
components of the footwear can with advantage be provided
with a covering layer or coating. For example the metal shank
inserted in the instep can be coated and preferabl~ it is
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embedded in a plastic part which is shaped to match the
shape of the sole so that it is located in the correct
position during assembly and thereby ensures correct location
of the shank.
; 5 As has been mentioned a variety of methods may be
:~ employed to form the coating which embeds or encapsulates
the metal toe-cap. These include spray c ating.
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The coating may comprise synthetlc resins, including those
reinforced with glass fibre and other fillers.
Toe-cap units in which the coating forms a peripheral
flange, such as those shown in Figs. 3 to 5, are suitable for
incorporation in a veldtschoen construction in which the upper
is turned outwards and stitched to form a welt,
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