WO2008146260A1

WO2008146260A1 - Safety footwear

Info

Publication number: WO2008146260A1
Application number: PCT/IB2008/052127
Authority: WO
Inventors: Timothy Joseph Killassy
Original assignee: Timothy Joseph Killassy
Priority date: 2007-06-01
Filing date: 2008-05-30
Publication date: 2008-12-04
Also published as: PE20090139A1; CL2008001587A1; AR066784A1

Abstract

The invention discloses safety footwear which comprised an extruded upper integral with a sole (2), both made from resilient lightweight material, an outer sole (3) of wear resistant material secured to the sole and a toecap (4) extending around the toe of the upper and into the outer sole.

Description

SAFETY FOOTWEAR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to safety footwear.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Safety footwear has been used in industry for a long time, in one way or another, to protect people's feet from the hazards associated with working environments. Some of the simpler types comprise closed leather shoes. Some of the more advanced types are made from materials and provide resistance to chemicals, falling objects, sharp objects and electricity.

Footwear used in the underground mining industry has to be particularly durable and strong due to the harsh conditions in which they are used. These conditions include high temperatures, chemicals, falling rocks, abrasive surfaces, and long distances which people have to walk in some underground mines.

To achieve the desired quality safety footwear for these underground mining operations is often very heavy, and could weigh as much as 1 kg per shoe/boot. This is heavy when it is taken in account that people work shifts of at least 8 hours wearing such footwear, and in some instances they have to walk several kilometres underground on uneven and inclined surfaces.

A further complicating factor is that in some countries, especially third world countries, the prevalence of illnesses such as tuberculoses and HIV/AIDS is becoming a significant factor in the work force. Although these diseases can be, and are, treated to some extent, people that suffer from these illnesses are often physically weakened. For mine workers, especially underground mine workers, who suffer from such illnesses the requirement to walk in and use heavy footwear presents a serious challenge.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide safety footwear which at least partly overcomes the abovementioned problem. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to this invention there is provided safety footwear comprising an extruded upper integral with a sole, both made from resilient lightweight material, an outer sole of wear resistant material secured to the sole and a toecap extending around the toe of the upper and into the outer sole.

Further features of the invention provide for the footwear to include an outer sole formed as two layers, an inner layer extruded to form a toe cap and an outer layer providing the wear resistant outer surface of the footwear and for the toe cap to be formed as two layers, an inner layer overlapping the outer layer in the outer sole and the outer layer overlapping the inner layer over the toe of the upper with the outer surface of the upper recessed to receive the toecap.

Still further features of the invention provide for the upper to be made of different thicknesses to define a zone of relatively easier flexibility set back from the toecap and for the footwear to include inner soles which have an upper wear resistant surface secured to a cushioning layer on a supporting base.

The invention also provides for the components of the footwear to be secured together by adhesive or by stitching with the latter effected through welts provided for this purpose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention is described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a boot according to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 shows detail of the joint between the upper, sole and reinforcing cap of the boot of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 3 shows a side elevation of a boot according to a second embodiment of the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings. A first embodiment of a boot (1 ) according to the invention is shown in Figures 1 and 2. The boot (1 ) comprises an upper having a sole (2), an outer sole (3), a reinforcing cap (4), and an inner sole (25).

The upper (2) is manufactured as a unit from ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) through an injection moulding process. The upper (2) extends the height of a conventional miners boot and is adapted to enclose a person's foot, ankle and lower leg when inserted into the upper (2).

The toe (6) of the upper (2) includes a recessed formation (5) on its operatively upper side. As shown in Figure 2 this formation (5) includes a first portion (6) which is complementarily shaped and configured to a toe cap (7) extending from of the outer sole (3). The second portion (8) of the formation (5) is complementarily shaped and configured to a reinforcing cap (4) which is located between the upper (2) and the toe cap (7).

A second embodiment of the invention comprises a boot (10) which includes a two-piece outer sole (1 1 ). The boot (10) also includes a single piece upper (12) made from EVA through an injection moulding process. An inner sole (13) is located within the upper (2).

The two-piece outer sole (1 1 ) comprises an inner layer (14) and a outer layer (15). The inner layer (14) of the outer sole (1 1 ) includes an integral toe cap (16) which extends around the toe of the upper (12). The inner layer (14) is manufactured from a resilient synthetic material such as a polycarbonate. The inner layer (14) is injection moulded or die-cut into this shape. The upper includes a single recess (17) at the junction of the toe cap (16) of the outer sole (1 1 ) and the upper (12).

The lower layer (15) of the outer sole (1 1 ) comprises a rubber or similar material which is resistant to chemicals and abrasion.

In the second embodiment of the boot (10) the lower (15) and upper (14) layers of the outer sole (1 1 ) are secured to each other by means of adhesive and/or stitches. In both embodiments (1 , 10) the outer soles (3, 1 1 ) are secured to the uppers (2, 12) by means of adhesive and/or stitches through a welt provided around the edge of the outer sole (3, 1 1 ).

Also in both embodiments the inner sole is made from a combination of a polypropylene (PP) base secured to a cushioning layer of EVA and which is covered partly by a wear resistant layer of polyurethane (PU). The wear resistant layer of PU covers the operatively upper surface of the innersole.

The boot (1 ) according the first embodiment is manufactured by securing a reinforcing cap (4) in the toe cap (7) of the outer sole (3). This can be done by means of suitable adhesive. The upper (2) is then attached to the outer sole (3) by adhesive between the two components (2, 3). This secures the outer sole (3) and the upper (2) to each other with the reinforcing cap (4) in place between them. The boot can also be manufactured by adhesively securing the reinforcing cap (4) to the upper and then attaching this combination into the outer sole (3) with adhesive between the components. The inner sole (5) is then secured into the boot (1 ).

The second embodiment of the boot (10) is manufactured by inserting and securing the upper (12) into the extended upper layer (14) of the outer sole (1 1 ) by means of adhesive. The lower layer (15) of the outer sole (1 1 ) is then adhesively secured to the upper layer (14). Stitches may also be used to secure the two layers of the outer sole (14, 15) and the upper (12) to each other through welts provided around these components. The upper layer (14) and lower layer (15) of the outer sole (1 1 ) may also be secured to each other before the upper is secured to the outer sole (1 1 ). The inner sole (13) is then placed into the boot (10).

In this way a lightweight yet strong boot is manufactured. The boot has its toe protection located outside the zone of the boot which interacts with the foot of the wearer. This makes it simpler to manufacture the boot and because lightweight material is used reduces its weight. Also, as shown in Figure 1 , the use of a thickened portion (20) to provide the recesses between the toe cap, reinforcing cap and upper shifts the flexing point of the boot away from this zone. This can be also be achieved by using a thinner portion (22) in the upper as shown, or by using a combination of such thicker (20) and thinner (22) portions.

It will be appreciated that the embodiments described above are given by way of explanation only, and other embodiments is possible within the scope of this invention. It is for example possible to manufacture the boot shown in Figures 1 and 2 without the reinforcing cap (4). In such a case, the upper (2) will be formed without the double stepped formation, but will instead feature a single step similar to that of the sock (10) shown in Figure 3. This may be suitable in cases where high drop protection for the toes is not required, and would reduce the weight of the boot further. It is also possible to include a reinforcing cap into the boot (10) shown in Figure 3. In such a case the boot will have extreme drop protection since it will already have a tough toe cap, typically from a polycarbonate material, and an additional reinforcing cap which can, for example, be made from steel or nylon.

Claims

1 . Safety footwear comprising an extruded upper integral with a sole, both made from resilient lightweight material, an outer sole of wear resistant material secured to the sole and a toecap extending around the toe of the upper and into the outer sole.

2. Safety footwear as claimed in claim 1 including an outer sole formed as two layers, an inner layer extruded to form a toe cap and an outer layer providing the wear resistant outer surface of the footwear.

3. Safety footwear as claimed in claim 1 in which the toe cap is formed as two layers, an inner layer overlapping the outer layer in the outer sole and the outer layer overlapping the inner layer over the toe of the upper.

4. Safety footwear as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the outer surface of the upper is recessed to receive the toecap.

5. Safety footwear as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims in which the upper is made of different thicknesses to define a zone of relatively easier flexibility set back from the toecap.

6. Safety footwear as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims including an inner sole.

7. Safety footwear as claimed in claim 6 in which the inner sole has an upper wear resistant surface secured to a cushioning layer on a supporting base.

8. Safety footwear as claimed in claim 7 in which the supporting base is polypropylene, the cushioning layer is EVA and the wear resistant surface provided by polyurethane.

9. Safety footwear as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims in which the inner sole, sole and outer sole are secured together by adhesive.

10. Safety footwear as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims in which the upper and outer sole are provided with welts stitched together. Safety footwear as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims in which the upper is moulded from EVA and the outer sole from rubber or synthetic resin material providing wear resistance.