Patent ID: 12232568

BEST MODE

Hereinafter the present invention is described in detail.

FIG.1is a perspective view showing a toecap according to the present invention,FIG.2is a top view showing the bottom plate according to the present invention.FIG.3is an exemplary drawing showing a process in which the toecap is coupled to the work shoe, andFIG.4is a side view ofFIG.3.

As shown inFIGS.1to4, the present invention relates to a toecap coupled to the front of a work shoe10to protect the top and toes of the foot, and comprises a top plate100formed to cover toes and a portion of top of a foot, a side plate200formed to extend downwards from the side of the top plate100and to surround the top plate100, a bottom plate300formed to be under the side plate200and to cover the bottom of the front of the work shoe10, and an anti-separation means400for preventing separation of the toecap from the work shoe10.

The upper plate100is configured to be rounded so as to surround the toes and a portion of the top of the foot.

The material for the top plate portion100is not limited, but may be a metal, a plastic, or a composite of metal and plastic. Among them, it is preferable to be a plastic or a composite that can be applied to light stabilization or the like. In the case the material of the top plate100is a plastic or a composite, it may be manufactured by injection molding, and in the case the material is a metal such as stainless steel, it may be manufactured by pressing a flat plate.

The side plate200extends downward from the side of the top plate100and surrounds the top plate100.

In other words, the side plate200serves as a wall that protects the side of the foot while surrounding the side of the toecap, and extends downward vertically from the outer rim of the top plate100. The side plate200may also be formed to have the same thickness as the top plate100and manufactured together with the top plate100by press molding.

The bottom plate300is formed at the lower portion of the side plate and covers the lower surface of the front of the work shoe10.

As shown inFIG.2, the structure of the bottom plate300comprises a bottom part and a curved surface at both sides of the bottom part so that it can be coupled to the front of the work shoe10. It means the bottom plate300has a shape in which the width becomes narrower toward the front.

The bottom plate300comprises a plurality of bottom lines so that the coupling grooves420of the toecap can be coupled with the coupling blocks410protruding from the sole of the work shoe10. The plurality of bottom lines include a first bottom line310, a second bottom line320, a third bottom line330and a fourth bottom line340.

The first bottom line310is formed to be inclined upward at a certain portion of the lower end of the bottom plate300. The first bottom line310may be formed to connect the point A at one side of the bottom plate300and the higher point B at the curved surface.

The second bottom line320is formed to be inclined upward at a neighboring position on the side of the first bottom line310apart from the first bottom line310by a predetermined distance. The starting point of the second bottom line320may be formed to connect the point C, which is spaced apart from the point A by a predetermined interval, and a point D, which is spaced apart from the point B formed on the curved surface by a predetermined distance.

The third bottom line330is formed to connect the first bottom line310and the second bottom line320. The third bottom line330divides the space between the first bottom line310and the second bottom line320by connecting a point on the first bottom line310and another point on the second bottom line320so as to form the second coupling groove422and the third coupling groove423.

The fourth bottom line340is formed to connect the second bottom line320and the end of the bottom plate300. The fourth bottom line340can be formed by connecting a line extending from a point of the second bottom line320to the third bottom line330and the point E at the other side of the curved surface.

The anti-separation means400comprises a plurality of coupling blocks410protruding from the bottom of the work shoe10and a plurality of coupling grooves420formed to have vertical perforations at the position corresponding to the coupling blocks410, so that the plurality of coupling blocks are snap-fitted to prevent the separation of the toecap from the work shoe10.

The coupling blocks410are formed to be divided by a plurality of concave lines recessed at the bottom of the work shoe10. The coupling blocks410comprises multiple blocks including a first coupling block411, a second coupling block412, a third coupling block413, and a fourth coupling block414.

Each of the first coupling block411, the second coupling block412, the third coupling block413, and the fourth coupling block414is formed to be divided by the groove line1, the second groove line2, the third groove line3, and the fourth groove line4and be protruded as shown inFIG.3.

The first coupling block411protrudes from a position corresponding to the first coupling groove421and is snap-fitted into the first coupling groove421. The second coupling block412protrudes from a position corresponding to the second coupling groove422and is snap-fitted into the second coupling groove422. The third coupling block413protrudes from a position corresponding to the third coupling groove423and is snap-fitted into the third coupling groove423. And the fourth coupling block414protrudes from a position corresponding to the fourth coupling groove424and is snap-fitted into the fourth coupling groove424.

The coupling grooves420are formed to be divided by a plurality of bottom lines formed on the bottom plate300. Similar to the coupling blocks410, the coupling grooves420also comprises a plurality of grooves including the first coupling groove421, the second coupling groove422, the third coupling groove423, and the fourth coupling groove424.

Each of the first coupling groove421, the second coupling groove422, the third coupling groove423, and the fourth coupling groove424is formed to be divided by the first bottom line310, the second bottom line320, the third bottom line330, and the fourth bottom line340formed at the bottom plate300of the toecap, as shown inFIG.3.

Hereinafter, the process of attaching or detaching the toecap to/from the work shoe10is described in detail.

As shown inFIGS.1and2, the toecap, which comprises the top plate100, the side plate200, and the bottom plate300, is prepared. At the bottom plate300, the first coupling groove421, the second coupling groove422, the third coupling groove423and the fourth coupling groove424of the anti-separation means400are formed by the first bottom line310, the second bottom line320, the third bottom line330, and the fourth bottom line340. And, as shown in Section (a) ofFIG.3and Section (a) ofFIG.4, the work shoe10is prepared, where the first coupling block411, the second coupling block412, the third coupling block413, and the fourth coupling block414are formed to protrude from the sole.

As shown in Section (b) ofFIG.3and Section (b) ofFIG.4, thereafter, each of the first coupling block411, the second coupling block412, the third coupling block413, and the fourth coupling block414is snap-fitted to the first coupling groove421, the second coupling groove422, the third coupling groove423, and the fourth coupling groove424formed ay the bottom plate300, and the attachment of the toecap to the work shoe is completed.

In the case that the toecap needs to be replaced, the first coupling block411, the second coupling block412, the third coupling block413, and the fourth coupling block414formed at the bottom of the work shoe10are decoupled from the first coupling groove421, the second coupling groove422, the third coupling groove423, and the fourth coupling groove424formed at the bottom plate300, and a new toecap is again attached to the front of the work shoe10.

According to the above description, the separation of the toecap and the work shoe10is prevented by snap-fitting the plurality of coupling blocks410to the plurality of coupling grooves420.

The work shoe and toecaps of the prior arts are usually bonded to each other by adhesives, it is impossible to replace an old toecap with a new toecap, which demands that people keep purchasing new work shoe.

To the contrary, the disclosed invention has the advantage in that the toecap is replaceable by detaching the old toecap and attaching the new one.

The above description is merely an example of the technical idea of the present invention, and various modifications and variations can be made to those skilled in the art without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments disclosed in the present invention are not intended to limit the technical idea of the present invention, but are intended to explain, and the scope of the technical idea of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. The protection scope of the present invention should be interpreted by the claims, and all the equivalent technical ideas should be interpreted as included within the scope of the present invention.