Patent ID: 6389715
Filing Date: 2002-05-21
Classification: A43B

Abstract:
A toe box protector for safety footwear that comprise an upper and a sole joined to one another, the upper and sole each having respective outer and inner surfaces and having respective registering toe regions; wherein the toe box protector comprises a body molded from plastics material to have a generally U-shaped transverse cross section, the body having a top portion constituting a base of the U and two side portions constituting respective sides of the U;wherein the toe box protector when incorporated into safety footwear is interposed between the upper and sole toe regions, and when so interposed has an outer surface convex toward the inner surface of the upper and an inner surface concave toward the inner surface of the sole; wherein the toe box protector also comprises a force receiving part having respective upper and lower surfaces and overlying the central part of the top portion outer surface with its lower surface spaced from the central part, the force receiving part joining at two transversely spaced junctions with the remainder of the body, and being of concave shape toward the central part so as to provide an arcuate space of predetermined height between the force receiving part lower surface and the top portion central part outer surface; whereby compression and impact forces applied to the force receiving part urge the force receiving part toward the central part of the top portion with corresponding reduction in the height of the arcuate space and conversion of such compression and impact forces to corresponding longitudinal forces distributed along the transversely spaced junctions; wherein the thicknesses of the two body side portions, of the body top portion, and of the force receiving part, together with the height of the arcuate space, are such that the protector maintains a minimum internal clearance in the foot receiving cavity of 12.7 mm ({fraction (16/32)} in) for men's footwear and 11.9 mm ({fraction (15/32)} in) for women's footwear when subjected to a compression force of at least 455 Kg (1,000 lbs; 4,448 Newtons) or to an impact force of at least 40.7 joules (30 foot pounds); wherein the toe box protector further comprises a crush or impact indicating means in the arcuate space that is irreversibly ruptured upon the reduction in height of the arcuate space resulting from the application of a compression force of more than 455 Kg (1,000 lbs; 4,448 Newtons) or the application of an impact force of more than 40.7 joules (30 foot pounds); and wherein the crush or impact indicating means comprise a capsule of ink or dye that is irreversibly ruptured by a crush or impact force of the specified value to discharge its contents into the footwear.