U.S. patent application number 12/859960 was filed with the patent office on 2011-08-04 for toe protection cap and footgear comprising toe protection cap.
This patent application is currently assigned to MASCOT INTERNATIONAL A/S. Invention is credited to Michael GROSBOEL, Karl Peter KURTH.
Application Number | 20110185602 12/859960 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41718455 |
Filed Date | 2011-08-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110185602 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KURTH; Karl Peter ; et
al. |
August 4, 2011 |
TOE PROTECTION CAP AND FOOTGEAR COMPRISING TOE PROTECTION CAP
Abstract
A toe cap for shoes comprises an arcuate peripheral wall capable
of covering a front part and two side parts of the toe cap, a top
wall and a bottom wall capable of covering top and bottom parts,
respectively, of the toe cap and being connected to the arcuate
peripheral wall. The wall defines a rear opening for a user's toes
to be accommodated in a space defined by said walls, and the top
wall comprises a rearside edge having the shape of a letter "S".
This abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed
in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the
invention in any way.
Inventors: |
KURTH; Karl Peter;
(Hueckelhoven, DE) ; GROSBOEL; Michael;
(Silkeborg, DK) |
Assignee: |
MASCOT INTERNATIONAL A/S
Silkeborg
DK
|
Family ID: |
41718455 |
Appl. No.: |
12/859960 |
Filed: |
August 20, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/77R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 23/086 20130101;
A43B 1/0009 20130101; A43B 3/0057 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/77.R |
International
Class: |
A43C 13/14 20060101
A43C013/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 21, 2009 |
EP |
09 168 387.0 |
Oct 30, 2009 |
EP |
09 174 685.9 |
Claims
1. A toe cap for shoes, wherein the toe cap comprises an arcuate
peripheral wall capable of covering a front part and two side parts
of the toe cap, a top wall and a bottom wall capable of covering
top and bottom parts, respectively, of the toe cap and being
connected to the arcuate peripheral wall, said walls defining a
rear opening for a user's toes to be accommodated in a space
defined by said walls, and wherein the top wall comprises a
rearside edge having the shape of a letter "S".
2. The toe cap of claim 1, wherein said top wall comprises holes
regularly or irregularly distributed throughout its surface.
3. The toe cap of claim 2, wherein at least some holes in the
surface of the top wall are surrounded by a fillets to strengthen
the toe cap.
4. The toe cap of claim 3, wherein the fillets form hexagons around
the holes, said hexagons forming a honeycomb structure at the top
wall surface of the toe cap.
5. The toe cap of claim 3, wherein the top wall surface comprises
additional fillets extending from one point or hole radially over
the entire surface of the top wall, thereby additionally
strengthening the toe cap structure.
6. The toe cap of claim 1, wherein the peripheral wall comprises
strengthening fillets on its side directed to an inner space.
7. The toe cap of claim 1, wherein the bottom wall is formed of a
first fillet extending along a connection of the bottom wall to the
peripheral wall, continuing at a rearside edge into a second fillet
having a shape of a letter "S" and extending in parallel to a
corresponding edge of the top wall, said first and second filets
being bridged by at least one further strengthening fillet.
8. The toe cap of claim 7, wherein said bottom wall fillets are
provided with strengthening fillets over their entire surface.
9. The toe cap of claim 8, wherein said bottom wall fillets are
provided with honeycomb structure fillets.
10. The toe cap of claim 1, wherein the toe cap is made of at least
one material selected from plastics, reinforced plastics, metals
and metals alloys.
11. The toe cap of claim 10, wherein the toe cap is made of at
least one of steel and fiber-reinforced polyamide.
12. The toe cap of claim 1, wherein the toe cap is made as one
upper half cap and one lower half cap and connected to the toe cap
before further use.
13. A toe cap for shoes, wherein the toe cap comprises an arcuate
peripheral wall capable of making up a front part and two side
parts of the toe cap, a top wall and a bottom wall capable of
making up top and bottom parts, respectively, of the toe cap and
being connected to the arcuate peripheral wall, rear edges of said
walls defining a rear opening for a user's toes to be accommodated
in a space defined by said walls, wherein at least the top wall
comprises holes regularly or irregularly distributed throughout its
surface, each hole being surrounded by fillets strengthening the
toe cap, and wherein said fillets at least in said top wall are
present as a closed network structure comprising said holes as void
spaces between the fillets.
14. The toe cap of claim 13, wherein at least the top wall
comprises holes regularly distributed throughout its surface, said
holes representing void spaces between a closed network structure
of fillets formed at least at the top wall of the toe cap.
15. The toe cap of claim 13, wherein the top wall comprises holes
regularly distributed throughout its surface, said holes
representing void spaces between a closed network structure of
fillets formed at the top wall of the toe cap; or wherein the top
wall and the arcuate peripheral wall capable of making up a front
part and two side parts of the toe cap comprise holes regularly
distributed throughout their surfaces, said holes representing void
spaces between a closed network structure of fillets formed at the
top wall and at the arcuate peripheral wall of the toe cap.
16. The toe cap of claim 13, wherein a closed network structure of
fillets forms hexagons around each void space.
17. The toe cap of claim 13, wherein the top wall comprise a
rearside edge having a shape of a letter "S".
18. The toe cap of claim 13, wherein at least the top wall surface
has additional fillets extending from one point at a rearside edge
radially across the entire surface of at least the top wall,
thereby additionally strengthening the toe cap structure.
19. The toe cap of claim 13, wherein the toe cap further comprises
additional fillets along upper and lower peripheral edges
connecting the top and bottom walls to the arcuate peripheral
wall.
20. The toe cap of claim 19, wherein the additional fillets
comprise grooves running within, and in parallel to, the additional
fillets.
21. The toe cap of claim 13, wherein the bottom wall comprises a
rim extending from, and being connected to, the arcuate peripheral
wall along its front and two side parts in a substantially
perpendicular arrangement.
22. The toe cap of claim 13, wherein the toe cap is made of at
least one material selected from plastics, reinforced plastics,
metals and alloys of metals.
23. The toe cap of claim 13, wherein the toe cap is made as one
upper half cap and one lower half cap and connected to the toe cap
before further use.
24. A toe cap (1) for shoes or boots or footgear, wherein the toe
cap comprises an arcuate peripheral wall capable of making up a
front part and two side parts of the toe cap, a top wall and a
optionally a bottom wall capable of making up top and (optionally)
bottom parts, respectively, of the toe cap and being connected to
the arcuate peripheral wall, rear edges of said walls defining a
rear opening for a user's toes to be accommodated in a space
defined by said walls, wherein at least the top wall comprises at
least three longitudinal fillets extending from a tip of the toe
cap radially to its rear edge, and at least one transverse fillet
extending substantially in a form of a segment of a circle around
the tip of the toe cap, and/or the arcuate peripheral wall
comprises at its side parts alternating vertical and inclined
fillets connecting upper and lower edges of the arcuate peripheral
wall, said fillets leaving between them regular or irregular holes
or voids distributed at least throughout toe cap top wall and
arcuate peripheral side wall surfaces, and wherein the fillets
strengthen the toe cap along its lines of stabilizing force.
25. The toe cap of claim 24, wherein the top wall comprises a
rearside edge having a shape of a letter "S".
26. The toe cap of claim 24, wherein only the top wall is made of
at least three longitudinal fillets extending from the tip of the
toe cap radially to its rear edge.
27. The toe cap of claim 24, wherein the toe cap is made of at
least one material selected from plastics, reinforced plastics,
metals and alloys of metals.
28. A footgear or shoe comprising the toe cap of claim 1.
29. The footgear or shoe of claim 28, wherein the footgear or shoe
is a safety shoe, a protective shoe, an occupation shoe, or a
sports shoe.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119 of European Patent Application No. 09 168 387.0, filed on
Aug. 21, 2009, and of European Patent Application No. 09 174 685.9,
filed on Oct. 30, 2009, the entire disclosures of which are
expressly incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a toe protection cap. In
particular, the invention relates to a toe protection cap for
providing improved ventilation to the toes of the wearer without a
necessity of taking a significant loss of the toe protection cap in
mechanical resistance to impacts or pushes. In another aspect, the
invention relates to a toe protection cap for providing improved
ventilation to the forefoot including the toes of the wearer
without a necessity of taking a significant loss of the toe
protection cap in mechanical resistance to impacts or pushes. The
invention also relates to footgear, e. g. safety shoes, protective
shoes, occupation shoes, sports shoes, to name only a few without
wanting to restrict the term, comprising such a toe protection cap
as a means for substantially preventing the toes of a wearer, or as
a means for preventing the forefoot of a wearer including the toes
of said wearer, from being hit by impacts or pushes by tools,
constructional materials, debris, pieces of sports equipment
etc.
[0004] 2. Discussion of Background Information
[0005] The human foot, due to its adaptation to the erect movement
of a human, is an anatomically and functionally highly complex part
of the body. Even minor mechanical influences to the muscles or
bones of the feet result into major discomfort or even pain, and a
physical injury to the feet may even have the consequence that a
person has to refrain from walking, and thereby loose the
possibility of movement, for the time of completely healing the
injury. Having these facts in view, the working environment always
emphasized protecting the feet of workers reliably, for example by
suitable shoes. Wearing safety shoes or safety boots is, hence, an
obligatory requirement in many areas where a risk exists that the
feet may be harmed, for example in the steel industry, building
industry, in the gardening and landscaping fields, for firefighters
and rescue service people as well as for soldiers.
[0006] Safety shoes usually are midheight footwear made of leather
and/or rubber or other polymers as, for example, polyurethane or
thermoplastic polyurethane. Safety boots reach a height sufficient
for protecting the foot including a part of the lower leg; they are
made, in most of the cases, either of leather or of rubber (where
protection against water is needed). The sole of safety shoes/boots
usually has an exposed profile for preventing the wearer from
slipping and is often made of a high strength material in order to
give the person wearing the shoe/boot a safe stand. In many cases,
additional strengthening and puncture-preventing materials as, for
example, steel plates or hard polymer parts made of, for example,
Kevlar.sup.R of ParaAmide.sup.R are incorporated into the soles of
safety shoes or safety boots.
[0007] From the safety point of view, the toes, and also the
forefoot including the toes, usually are the best protected part of
the foot: Safety shoes or safety boots are usually provided with a
protective cap made of steel, aluminum or high-strength plastics at
their forepart in order to protect the toes against injuries
resulting from heavy objects falling down.
[0008] US-2005/0144809 A1 discloses a composite-reinforced toe cap
for a shoe, which includes multiple composite fiber reinforcement
layers and a larger fiber layer laminated between and extending out
from the composite fiber reinforcement layers. The fiber layer is
made of continuous strands. The composite fiber reinforcement
layers are made of fiber-reinforced plastic composite materials,
are laminated on the fiber layer to form a pre-product toe cap. A
bonding coating is applied to the fiber layer that extends beyond
the composite fiber reinforcement layer to form a binding. The
pre-product is cured and has a binding that can be sewn to the
sole, upper or tongue of a shoe.
[0009] US 2006/0213086 A1 discloses a metal toe cap for safety
shoes which includes an arcuate peripheral wall that tapers
forward, a top wall, and a bottom wall defining a rear opening for
receiving the toes of a user. The peripheral wall and the top wall
are connected by an upper arcuate transition section having a
thickness that increases toward the top wall such that the top wall
has a thickness greater than that of the peripheral wall. The
impact-resisting property of the top wall is thus improved.
[0010] As many other known toe caps, these toe caps of the prior
art have no ventilation in the front part of the toe cap, and
hence, sweat or humidity cannot escape. This not only results into
discomfort to the wearer of the shoe, but also creates ideal
conditions for diseases and micro-organisms to develop.
[0011] Hence, it would be advantageous to be able to provide a toe
cap for a shoe which allows sweat and humidity to escape from the
inner space of the toe cap, without giving up stability and safety
features of the toe cap.
[0012] It further would be advantageous to be able to provide a toe
cap for a shoe allowing a reliable protection for the whole toe
area of the foot of a user. Moreover, it would be desirable to
provide a toe cap for a shoe allowing a greater comfort to the
wearer than with conventional toe caps for shoes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The present invention provides a toe cap (1) for shoes. The
toe cap comprises an arcuate peripheral wall (3) capable of
covering the front part (3a) and the two side parts (3b, 3c) of the
toe cap (1), a top wall (5) and a bottom wall (7) capable of
covering the top and bottom parts (5a, 7a), respectively, of the
toe cap (1) and being connected to said arcuate peripheral wall
(3), said walls (3, 5 and 7) defining a rear opening (8) for a
user's toes to be accommodated in the space defined by said walls
(3, 5, 7). The top wall (5) comprises a rearside edge (5b) having
the shape of the letter "S", thereby allowing a protection of all
toes of a user.
[0014] In one aspect of the toe cap of the present invention, the
top wall (5) may be provided with a number of holes (5c) regularly
or irregularly, preferably regularly, distributed throughout its
surface.
[0015] In another aspect, some holes (5c), preferably the majority
of the holes (5c), more preferably each hole (5c) in the surface of
the top wall (5) may be surrounded by a system of fillets (5d)
strengthening the toe cap (1). Further, the fillets (5d) may form a
hexagon around the hole (5c), preferably around each hole (5c),
said hexagons forming a honeycomb structure at the top wall surface
of the toe cap (1).
[0016] In yet another aspect of the toe cap, the top wall surface
may comprise additional fillets (5e) extending from one point or
hole radially over the whole surface of the top wall (5), thereby
additionally strengthening the toe cap structure.
[0017] In a still further aspect of the toe cap, the peripheral
wall (3) may comprise strengthening fillets (3d) on its side
directed to the inner space.
[0018] In another aspect of the toe cap of the present invention,
the bottom wall (7) may be formed of a fillet (7b) extending along
the connection of the bottom wall (7) to the peripheral wall (3),
continuing at the rearside edge into a fillet (7c) having the shape
of a letter "S" and extending in parallel to the corresponding edge
of the top wall (5), said filets (7b, 7c) being bridged by at least
one further strengthening fillet (7d). Further, the bottom wall
fillets (7b, 7c, 7d) may be provided with strengthening fillets
(7e) over their whole surface. For example, the bottom wall fillets
(7b, 7c, 7d) may be provided with honeycomb structure fillets
(7e).
[0019] In another aspect, the toe cap may be made of at least one
material selected from plastics, reinforced plastics, metals and
alloys of metals, for example, from steel and/or fiber-reinforced
polyamide.
[0020] In yet another aspect, the toe cap of the present invention
may be made as one upper half cap (1a) and one lower half cap (1b)
and connected to the toe cap (1) before further use.
[0021] The present invention also provides a toe cap (1) for shoes
that comprises an arcuate peripheral wall (3) capable of making up
the front part (3a) and the two side parts (3b, 3c) of the toe cap
(1), a top wall (5) and a bottom wall (7) capable of making up the
top and bottom parts (5a, 7a), respectively, of the toe cap (1) and
being connected to said arcuate peripheral wall (3). The rear edges
of said walls (3, 5 and 7) define a rear opening (8) for a user's
toes to be accommodated in the space defined by said walls (3, 5,
7), and at least the top wall (5) comprises holes (5c) regularly or
irregularly distributed throughout its surface, and each hole (5c)
is surrounded by a system of fillets (5d) strengthening the toe cap
(1). The system of fillets (5d) at least in said top wall (5) is
present as a closed network structure having said holes as void
spaces (5c) between said fillets (5d).
[0022] In one aspect of the toe cap, at least the top wall (5) may
comprise holes (5c) regularly distributed throughout its surface,
said holes (5c) being void spaces between said closed network
structure of fillets (5d) formed at least at the top wall (5) of
said toe cap (1).
[0023] In another aspect, the top wall (5) may comprise holes (5c)
regularly distributed throughout its surface, said holes (5c) being
void spaces between said closed network structure of fillets (5d)
formed at the top wall (5) of said toe cap (1); or the top wall (5)
and said arcuate peripheral wall (3) capable of making up the front
part (3a) and the two side parts (3b, 3c) of the toe cap (1) may
comprise holes (5c) regularly distributed throughout their surface,
said holes (5c) being void spaces between said closed network
structure of fillets (5d) formed at the top wall (5) and at the
arcuate peripheral wall (3) of said toe cap (1).
[0024] In yet another aspect, the closed network structure of
fillets (5d) may form hexagons around each of the void spaces (5c).
For example, said hexagons may form a honeycomb-type closed network
structure at least at the top wall surface of the toe cap (1),
preferably at the top wall and/or arcuate peripheral wall surfaces,
more preferably at the top wall surface and at the arcuate
peripheral wall surface of the toe cap (1).
[0025] In a still further aspect of the toe cap, the top wall (5)
may comprise a rearside edge (5b) having the shape of a letter "S",
thereby allowing a protection of all toes of a user.
[0026] In another aspect, at least the top wall surface may
comprise additional fillets (5e) extending from one point at said
rearside edge (5b) radially across the whole surface at least of
the top wall (5), thereby additionally strengthening the toe cap
structure. For example, it may comprise additional fillets (5e)
extending from one point at said rearside edge (5b) radially across
the whole surface of the top wall (5) and of the arcuate peripheral
wall (3), thereby additionally strengthening the toe cap structure.
Preferably it may comprise additional fillets (5e) extending from
one point located substantially in the middle, relative to said
side parts (3b, 3c) of the arcuate peripheral wall (3), at said
rearside edge (5b) radially across the whole surface of the top
wall (5) and of the arcuate peripheral wall (3), thereby
additionally strengthening the toe cap structure. Further, the
number of such additional fillets (5e) extending across the whole
surface of the top wall (5) and of the arcuate peripheral wall (3)
may be from about three and about five.
[0027] In another aspect of the toe cap, the toe cap may comprise
additional fillets (50 along the upper and lower peripheral edges
connecting the top and bottom walls (5, 7) to the arcuate
peripheral wall (3). For example, the additional fillets (5e, 5f)
may comprise grooves (5g) running within, and in parallel to, the
additional fillets (5e, 5f).
[0028] In yet another aspect, the bottom wall (7) of the toe cap
may comprise or consist of a rim (7b) extending from, and being
connected to, the arcuate peripheral wall (3) along its front and
two side parts (3a, 3b, 3c) in a substantially perpendicular
arrangement, said rim preferably being of a width allowing a
convenient placement of the forefoot sole and underside of the toes
on it, more preferably being of a width within a range of from
about 0.5 to about 5 centimeters (cm).
[0029] In another aspect, the toe cap may be made of at least one
material selected from plastics, reinforced plastics, metals and
alloys of metals. For example, it may be made of steel and/or
fiber-reinforced polyamide.
[0030] In yet another aspect, the toe cap may be made as one upper
half cap (1a) and one lower half cap (1b) and connected to the toe
cap (1) before further use.
[0031] The present invention also provides a toe cap (1) for shoes
or boots or footgear that comprises an arcuate peripheral wall (3)
capable of making up the front part (3a) and the two side parts
(3b, 3c) of the toe cap (1), a top wall (5) and a optionally a
bottom wall (7) capable of making up the top (5a) and (optionally)
bottom (7a) parts, respectively, of the toe cap (1) and being
connected to said arcuate peripheral wall (3). The rear edges of
said walls (3, 5, 7) define a rear opening (8) for a user's toes to
be accommodated in the space defined by said walls (3, 5, 7).
Further, at least the top wall (5) is made of at least three
longitudinal fillets (5p, 5q, 5r) extending from the tip (T) of the
toe cap (1) radially to its rear edge, and at least one transverse
fillet (5t) extending substantially in the form of a segment of a
circle around the tip (T) of said toe cap (1), and/or the arcuate
peripheral wall (3) comprises at its side parts alternating
vertical (3p) and inclined (3q) fillets connecting the upper and
lower edges of the arcuate peripheral wall. The fillets (5p, 5q,
5r, 5t, 3p, 3q) leave between them regular or irregular holes or
voids distributed at least throughout the toe cap top wall (5) and
arcuate peripheral side wall (3) surfaces. The fillets strengthen
the toe cap (1) along its lines of stabilizing force.
[0032] In one aspect of the toe cap, the top wall (5) may comprise
a rearside edge (5b) having the shape of a letter "S", thereby
allowing a protection of all toes of a user.
[0033] 100311 In another aspect, only the top wall (5) may be made
of at least three longitudinal fillets (5p, 5q, 5r) extending from
the tip (T) of the toe cap (1) radially to its rear edge. For
example, the top wall (5) may be made of three longitudinal fillets
(5p, 5q, 5r) extending from the tip (T) of the toe cap (1) radially
to its rear edge, and of at least one transverse fillet (5t)
extending substantially in the form of a segment of a circle around
the tip (T) of said toe cap (1), preferably one transverse fillet
(5t) extending substantially in the form of a segment of a circle
around the tip (T) of said toe cap (1).
[0034] In yet another aspect, the toe cap may be made of at least
one material selected from plastics, reinforced plastics, metals
and alloys of metals. For example, it may be made of steel and/or
fiber-reinforced polyamide, more preferably from plastics,
reinforced plastics, most preferably from fiber-reinforced
polyamide.
[0035] The present invention also provides a footgear or shoe that
comprises a toe cap (1) according to the present invention as set
forth above (including the various aspects thereof). For example,
the footgear or shoe may be a safety shoe, a protective shoe, an
occupation shoe, or a sports shoe.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0036] The present invention is further described in the detailed
description which follows, in reference to the drawings by way of
non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present
invention, and wherein:
[0037] FIG. 1 shows a toe cap of the invention having holes and
fillets surrounding the holes;
[0038] FIG. 2 shows a toe cap of the invention having no holes but
having fillets;
[0039] FIG. 3 shows a magnified view to a part of the top wall 5 of
the toe cap of the invention, from which the holes 5c, the fillets
5d and the additional fillets 5e may be seen;
[0040] FIG. 4 shows a magnified view to the inner space of the toe
cap of the invention defined by the peripheral, top and bottom
walls 3, 5 and 7, where the optional strengthening fillets 3d on
the inner side of the peripheral wall 3 directed to the inner space
may be seen;
[0041] FIG. 5a shows the bottom wall 7 of the toe cap of the
invention formed as claimed in claim 7;
[0042] FIG. 5b shows the toe cap of FIG. 2 (no holes) without the
bottom wall, but showing at the inner side of the peripheral wall 3
the optional strengthening fillets 3d;
[0043] FIG. 6 shows the toe cap (no holes on the top wall) of the
present invention divided along the peripheral wall 3 into an top
cap part and a bottom cap part so that the optional strengthening
fillets 3d may be seen;
[0044] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view to a toe cap of the second
aspect of the invention having, in the embodiment shown in the
Figure, fillets at its top surface and at the surface of the
arcuate peripheral wall capable of making up the front and side
parts of the toe cap, said fillets surrounding the holes, which
holes are void spaces between the fillets;
[0045] FIG. 8 shows the toe cap of the second aspect of the
invention as shown in FIG. 7, but viewed from another
perspective;
[0046] FIG. 9 shows a magnified view to the rear part opening of
the toe cap according to the second aspect of the invention, said
rear part being defined by the rear edges of the top wall and the
rear edges of the side parts of the arcuate peripheral wall of the
toe cap of the second aspect of the invention; in this rear side
view, also the rim embodiment of the bottom wall of the toe cap may
be seen;
[0047] FIG. 10 shows a magnified view, from the rear side, into the
inner space of the toe cap of the second aspect of the invention
defined by the rear edges of the peripheral and top walls; also in
this rear side view, the rim embodiment of the bottom wall of the
toe cap may be seen, too;
[0048] FIG. 11 shows a view to the toe cap of the second aspect of
the present invention from the front side; in the embodiment shown
in FIG. 11, the fillets surrounding the void spaces as well as the
additional fillets having included parallel grooves may be
seen;
[0049] FIG. 12 shows a perspective view to a right foot toe cap of
the third aspect of the invention having, in the embodiment shown
in the Figure, longitudinal and transverse fillets at its top
surface and having vertical and inclined fillets at the surface of
the arcuate peripheral wall capable of making up the front and side
parts of the toe cap, with the exception of the front part, said
fillets surrounding the holes, which holes are void spaces between
the fillets;
[0050] FIG. 13 shows a side perspective view of the toe cap of the
present invention according to FIG. 12;
[0051] FIG. 14 shows a top side view of the toe cap of the present
invention according to FIG. 12; and
[0052] FIG. 15 shows a view of the toe cap of the invention
according to FIG. 12 from the rear side.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0053] The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for
purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the
present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing
what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood
description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present
invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural
details of the present invention in more detail than is necessary
for the fundamental understanding of the present invention, the
description taken with the drawings making apparent to those
skilled in the art how the several forms of the present invention
may be embodied in practice.
[0054] As set forth above, the present invention provides, inter
alia, a toe cap for shoes that comprises an arcuate peripheral wall
capable of covering the front part and the two side parts of the
toe cap, a top wall and a bottom wall capable of covering the top
and bottom parts, respectively, of the toe cap and being connected
to said arcuate peripheral wall, said walls defining a rear opening
for a user's toes to be accommodated in the space defined by said
walls, said top wall having a rearside edge having the shape of a
letter "S", thereby allowing a protection of all toes of a
user.
[0055] Moreover, it was found in the present invention surprisingly
that, without giving up stability and safety features of the toe
protection cap, the holes may be made larger than in the toe
protection caps proposed earlier, if the structure and arrangement
of the fillets is maintained. Even the toe protection cap top wall
surface areas filing the space between the fillets may be omitted
by creating voids, thereby generating a very much improved
ventilation, without that the stability and strength of the toe
protection cap is diminished and with the effect that a safety of
the forefoot and toes against falling tools/matters can be
guaranteed. Even more surprisingly, it was found that also the
front and side parts of the toe protection cap may be provided with
a similar ventilation by a system of fillets and holes, or omitted
toe protection cap front and/or side wall surface areas, between
said fillets, without that a loss of the stability and strength of
the toe protection cap had to be observed.
[0056] Hence, the present invention also provides a toe cap for a
shoe or boot or footgear which allows sweat and humidity to escape
from the inner space of the toe cap, without giving up stability
and safety features of the toe cap.
[0057] Further, the present invention also provides a toe cap for a
shoe allowing a reliable protection for the whole toe and forefoot
area of the foot of a wearer or user. Moreover, it provides a toe
cap for a shoe allowing a greater comfort to the wearer or user
than with conventional toe caps for shoes.
[0058] Thus, the invention, in a second aspect, relates to a toe
cap for shoes or boots or footgear comprising an arcuate peripheral
wall capable of making up the front part and the two side parts of
the toe cap, a top wall and a bottom wall capable of making up the
top and bottom parts, respectively, of the toe cap and being
connected to said arcuate peripheral wall, the rear edges of said
walls defining a rear opening for a user's toes to be accommodated
in the space defined by said walls, wherein at least said top wall
is provided with a number of holes regularly or irregularly
distributed throughout its surface, and each hole is surrounded by
a system of fillets strengthening the toe cap, wherein said system
of fillets at least in said top wall is present as a closed network
structure having said holes as void spaces between said
fillets.
[0059] In addition, it was found in the present invention
surprisingly that, without giving up stability and safety features
of the toe protection cap, the holes may be made even larger than
in the toe protection caps proposed above, if a specific structure
and arrangement of the fillets is installed. Even the toe
protection cap top wall may comprise relatively large voids,
thereby generating a very much improved ventilation, without that
the stability and strength of the toe protection cap is diminished,
and nevertheless, the safety of the forefoot and toes against
falling tools/matters can be guaranteed. Even more surprisingly, it
was found that also the front and side parts of the toe protection
cap may be provided with a similar ventilation by a system of
strong fillets and large holes, without that a loss of the
stability and strength of the toe protection cap had to be
observed.
[0060] Hence, the present invention also provides a toe cap for a
shoe or boot or footgear which allows sweat and humidity to escape
from the inner space of the toe cap through large ventilation
holes, without giving up stability and safety features of the toe
cap.
[0061] Further, the present invention provides a toe cap for a shoe
allowing a reliable protection for the whole toe and forefoot area
of the foot of a wearer or user, despite larger holes between the
fillets. Moreover, the present invention provides a toe cap for a
shoe allowing a greater comfort to the wearer or user than with
conventional toe caps for shoes.
[0062] Thus, the invention, in a third aspect, relates to a toe cap
for shoes or boots or footgear comprising an arcuate peripheral
wall capable of making up the front part and the two side parts of
the toe cap, a top wall and a optionally a bottom wall capable of
making up the top and (optionally) bottom parts, respectively, of
the toe cap and being connected to said arcuate peripheral wall,
the rear edges of said walls defining a rear opening for a user's
toes to be accommodated in the space defined by said walls, wherein
at least said top wall is made of at least three longitudinal
fillets extending from the tip of the toe cap radially to its rear
edge and at least one transverse fillet extending substantially in
the form of a segment of a circle around the tip of said toe cap,
and the arcuate peripheral wall has at its side parts alternating
vertical and inclined fillets connecting the upper and lower edges
of said arcuate peripheral wall, said fillets leaving between them
a number of regular or irregular holes/voids distributed at least
throughout the toe cap top wall and arcuate peripheral side wall
surfaces, wherein the fillets strengthen the toe cap along its
lines of stabilizing force.
[0063] The invention also relates to shoes comprising a toe cap of
the invention as described below in detail. Such shoes may be
safety shoes, protective shoes, occupation shoes, sports shoes, to
name only a few of shoes wherein the toe cap of the invention may
be used, without, however, restricting the invention to those
shoes.
[0064] The term "front", when used in the present specification and
claims, is understood to mean a point or side or edge or arcuate
wall of the toe cap of the present invention, in its form as used
in a shoe or boot, which is at the side of the toe cap housing the
tiptoes and, hence, is adjacent to (and housed by) the front part
of a shoe. On the other hand, the term "rear", when used in the
present specification and claims, is understood to mean a point or
side or edge of the toe cap of the present invention, in its form
as used in a shoe or boot, which is at the side of the toe cap
opposite to the tiptoe side and, hence, is close to the proximal
parts of the toes or even the ball of the foot.
[0065] In the same way, the "lower" or "bottom" wall of the toe cap
is the wall on which, when in use, the foot of the user is
positioned, while the "upper" or "top" wall of the toe cap is the
wall opposite to the bottom wall of the toe cap; the upper side of
the wearer's foot is adjacent to the toe cap's top wall. In
embodiments of the toe cap of the present invention, the bottom
wall of the toe cap may be absent or may be "reduced" to a small
thin line of stabilizing toe cap material on the bottom side along,
and adjacent to, the lower edges or the peripheral side wall.
[0066] Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a toe cap 1 for
shoes. Toe caps are usually made of plastics or of a metal or metal
alloy and are mounted in a front end of a shoe, for example of a
safety shoe, to withstand external impact and thereby protect
particularly the forefeet, i.e., the toes of a foot of a user of
the shoe.
[0067] As shown in FIG. 1, the toe cap 1 of the invention comprises
a peripheral wall 3 which is formed arcuate and which is capable of
covering the front part 3a and the two side parts (left hand and
right hand side parts) 3b, 3c of the toe cap 1. The toe cap further
comprises a top wall 5 and a bottom wall 7 which are capable of
covering the top part 5a and the bottom part 7a of the toe cap 1.
The top and bottom walls 5, 7 are connected to the arcuate
peripheral wall 3 integrally so as to form the toe cap 1.
[0068] The arcuate peripheral wall 3, the top wall 5 and the bottom
wall 7 together define a rear opening 8 of the toe cap 1, which
rear opening 8 is for the accommodation of all the toes of one foot
of the user, i.e. the toes of one foot of a user are accommodated
in the inner space defined by said peripheral wall 3, top wall 5
and bottom wall 7.
[0069] In accordance with the invention, the rearside edge 5b of
the top wall 5, and preferably also the rearside edge of the bottom
wall, has the shape of a letter "S", which shape may be easily seen
from FIGS. 1 and 2. The major advantage of such a shape similar to
the letter "S" is the complete accommodation of all toes of one
foot of the user wearing the shoe with the toe cap 1 of the
invention within the toe cap in a convenient and non-restricted
manner, in contrast to the prior art, where mainly the large toes
were sufficiently protected, while the small toes were not.
[0070] In accordance with the invention, the toe cap 1 may be
constructed not to have any holes at the top wall 5, as can be
seen, for example, from FIG. 2. However, in a preferred embodiment
of the invention, the toe cap 1 is provided with a top wall 5
having at least one hole 5c, preferably having a number of holes
5c, even more preferably having a number of holes 5c distributed
throughout the whole surface of the top wall 5 either regularly or
irregularly. The term "regularly", as used in the description and
claims is intended to mean that the holes have a substantially
identical distance to the next-neighboring hole(s) throughout the
top wall 5 of the toe cap 1. In contrast, a (partly or completely)
irregular distribution of the holes means that the distances of one
hole to the next-neighboring hole(s) may be more or less (or at
least partly) different. A regular distribution of the holes 5c is
preferred. Such hole or holes 5c may serve a ventilation of the toe
area of the foot of the user wearing the shoe including the toe cap
1. Such a ventilation not only improves the convenience of wearing
such a shoe with a toe protection cap 1, but also prevents an
accumulation of sweat and/or humidity in the inner space of the toe
cap 1. The latter may prevent the generation of bad smells due to a
growth of smell-generating bacteria and the occurrence of diseases
at the foot or, specifically, at the toes.
[0071] In order not to loose strength of the toe cap 1 against
impact, some of the holes 5c at the toe cap top wall 5, preferably
the majority of the holes 5c at the toe cap top wall 5, even more
preferably each hole 5c in the surface of the top wall 5 of the toe
cap 1 are/is surrounded by a system of fillets 5d. By providing the
fillets 5d around the hole(s) 5c, the toe cap material loss, by the
holes 5c, is compensated, and a strengthening effect is obtained.
Hence, the impact strength of the toe cap 1 is not deteriorated by
providing the ventilation holes 5c.
[0072] In an even more preferred embodiment of the invention, said
fillets 5d around the holes 5c in the toe cap top wall surface form
a hexagon around the hole 5c or around each hole 5c. More
preferably, the hole is located in the middle of the fillet
hexagon, which position provides a particular strength to the top
wall 5. In such a preferred embodiment of the invention, said
hexagons form a honeycomb structure at the top wall surface of the
toe cap 1. Such a honeycomb structure is capable of strengthening
the toe cap against impacts despite the provision of ventilation
holes in the top wall surface of the toe cap 1. Thus, the same
strength as in conventional toe caps can be obtained by providing
the honeycomb structure of fillets 5d around each ventilation
hole(s) 5c.
[0073] Furthermore, it is preferred in accordance with the present
invention that said top wall surface has additional fillets 5e
extending from one point, especially from one hole, radially over
the surface of the top wall 5. Such additional fillets 5e may
extend over the whole surface of the top wall 5 of the toe cap 1,
and they extend preferably in a straight manner from one hole over
the top wall surface, as can best be seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. By
such straight fillets 5e, the toe cap structure may be strengthened
additionally.
[0074] In an attempt to provide a toe cap 1 having less weight,
material may be omitted at certain parts of the toe cap walls 3, 5,
and 7. In order not to loose impact strength by omitting material,
additional strengthening measures may be taken: In one optional
(i.e. not necessary) embodiment of the invention, the arcuate
peripheral wall 3 may be provided with strengthening fillets 3d on
its inside, i.e., on the side directed to the inner space of the
toe cap 1 directed to the toes of the wearer. When providing such
additional fillets (which may extend in the direction between the
top and bottom walls 5, 7, of the toe cap 1), the strength of the
toe cap 1 may be improved. A toe cap 1 without such fillets 3d is
preferred.
[0075] Omitting material, and thereby making the toe cap of the
invention loose weight (which weight loss may be preferred for
reasons of convenience of wearing the low weight toe cap 1), can be
achieved, in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the
invention, by an embodiment wherein said bottom wall 7 is formed of
a fillet 7b extending along the connection of the bottom wall 7 to
the peripheral wall 3, and continuing at the rear side edge into a
fillet 7c having the shape of a letter "S" and extending in
parallel to the corresponding edge of the top wall 5, said filets
7b, 7c being bridged by at least one further strengthening fillet
7d. There may be provided two or even more further strengthening
fillets 7d, but one additional strengthening fillet is particularly
preferred. By such a structure which is shown in FIG. 5a
specifically, the overall weight of the toe cap 1 may be reduced,
without taking a loss of impact strength.
[0076] Even more preferred, in accordance with the invention, due
to a further improvement of the impact strength, is another
embodiment wherein said bottom wall fillets 7b, 7c, 7d are provided
with strengthening fillets 7e over their whole surface. Such
strengthening fillets 7e may be of any conceivable type, but
preferably said bottom wall fillets 7b, 7c, 7d are provided with
honeycomb structure fillets 7e, even more preferred over their
whole surface. Advantageously, the impact strength of the toe cap 1
is improved further.
[0077] The material for toe caps 1 of the present invention may be
selected by a skilled person in accordance with material selections
made in the prior art, and the material may be adapted to the
specific requirements in each single case. In accordance with the
skill, a material may be used for manufacturing the toe caps 1 of
the present invention which is selected from the group consisting
of plastics, for example hard polymer materials like those used in
the prior art, e. g. Kevlar.sup.R or ParaAmide.sup.R (if a
particular elasticity is required or desired, without giving up
impact resistance/impact strength), reinforced plastics (e.g.
fiber-reinforced plastics (glass fiber-reinforced or carbon
fiber-reinforced or metal or metal oxide or metal boride or metal
carbide or metal nitride whiskers-reinforced), metal
powder-reinforced plastics), metal(s) or metal alloys. Particularly
preferred are metals or metal alloys, e. g. aluminum or steel, or
fiber-reinforced plastics. As reinforcing fibers for polymers of
the plastics material, such fibers known from the prior art to
achieve a plastics reinforcement may be used without restriction.
Glass fibers, carbon fibers or whiskers made of metals, metal
oxides, metal borides, metal carbides or metal nitrides or their
mixtures are preferably used, and glass fibers and carbon fibers
are particularly preferred. Even more preferably, in one exemplary
and preferred embodiment of the invention, PA-6 (polyamide-6) may
be used as the plastics material. Alternatively, steel (e. g.
(without restriction) steel 8620 (e. g. of BASF AG) or steel 1050
SAE) may be used.
[0078] The process for manufacturing such embodiments of toe caps 1
as described above is not restricted, and a skilled person may
select manufacturing processes in accordance with the requirements
of each single case.
[0079] In an exemplary embodiment, a sheet of a metal or of a metal
alloy, for example a steel sheet, may be punched from a larger
piece of steel, and such a punched steel sheet is then deep-drawn
or deep-pressed to obtain an integral body of the toe cap 1 of the
invention. Such an integral body may then be subjected to further
process steps, as for example polishing steps and steps of applying
a surface coating, so as to obtain the final toe cap body.
[0080] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the so-called
MIM (metal injection molding) process is used for manufacturing the
toe caps 1 of the invention. In the MIM process, a powder of the
metal used as the material for the toe cap 1 is comminuted to a
stage as fine as necessary (e. g. to metal particles having a size
in the range of between 0.1 and 10 .mu.m) and is admixed with
suitable binders (e.g. waxes and/or polymers and/or cracking
catalysts and/or solvents). In a preferred embodiment, a mixture
containing 60 to 80% by weight of metal (e. g. the above-mentioned
steels, but this does not restrict the invention; also other metal
or metal alloy powders may be used) and 20 to 40% by weight of
binder(s) is used. Such a mixture may be processed on conventional
injection molding machines. A green body of the mixture used for
injection molding is prepared. In a subsequent step, the green body
is heated stepwise to temperatures in the range of, for example,
100 to 600.degree. C., so as to thermally crack the binders
(wax(es), polymer(s), catalyst(s), solvent(s)). As a result, a body
of metal powder is obtained (so-called "brown body"). The brown
body thus obtained is now sintered under controlled temperature/gas
conditions (e. g. 600 to 1,400.degree. C.; exemplary suitable
gases: H.sub.2, N.sub.2, and/or Ar). A body now having, for
example, >96% of the final density is obtained by such a
sintering step. The surface of such a sintered body may be
subjected to further processing steps as, for example, polishing
steps and steps of applying a surface coating, so as to obtain the
final toe cap body.
[0081] Toe caps of plastics materials, plastics materials
comprising one type or several types of fibers (as defined above)
may, for example, be manufactures by a usual injection molding
process, as is well known to a person skilled in this technical
field. Hence, the detailed description of the steps of such an
injection molding process, its components and its conditions may be
omitted here since they are known to a person in this technical
field.
[0082] Of course, any other step conceivable to a skilled person
for manufacturing such a toe cap body of the invention may be
used.
[0083] In accordance with the invention, a toe cap 1 is inserted
into a shoe in order to protect the shoe wearer's toes against
impacts. Such impacts may be impacts due to the work of a tool used
by the wearer or by anybody else in his/her environment, may be
impacts by heavy things falling down, may be constructional
materials, debris, pieces of sports equipment etc.
[0084] Hence, the invention also relates to shoes comprising a toe
cap 1 as described above in detail. Such shoes may be safety shoes,
protective shoes, occupation shoes, sports shoes, to name only a
few of shoes wherein the toe cap of the invention may be used,
without, however, restricting the invention to those shoes. In the
European Union, such shoes are standardized, with respect to
requirements they have to fulfill, in the industrial standards ISO
EN 20345 (safety shoes), ISO EN 20346 (protective shoes) and ISO EN
20347 (occupation shoes).
[0085] Shoes provided with the toe caps 1 of the invention were
tested first with respect to their strength to withstand to impacts
by a heavy test object falling down on the shoe provided with the
toe cap or to impacts by a tool swinging to the side of the toe
cap, and were tested secondly with respect to the "foot climate" in
the toe region due to a better ventilation of said region. The
tests were conducted in accordance with standardized test
methods.
[0086] It was found that the toe region, due to the presence of the
toe cap 1 of the present invention, could be protected in an
identically reliable manner as in cases of using conventional toe
caps, so that the shoes passed the standardized tests.
[0087] On the other hand, the "foot climate" was found to be much
better than in shoes having conventional toe caps, due to the fact
that sweat and humidity could escape from the toe region and could
not accumulate in that area. Hence, bad smells and diseases due to
the action of microorganisms in the toe area could be prevented
from occurring.
[0088] The above description of the invention by its exemplary and
preferred embodiments does not restrict the invention to these
embodiments described. The scope of the invention is defined by the
claims found below.
[0089] Another second aspect of the toe cap of the present
invention is now described in detail by referring to FIGS. 7 to 11,
without, however, restricting the toe cap of the present invention,
in its second aspect, to the embodiments shown in the FIGS. 7 to 11
and exemplarily explained while referring to the FIGS. 7 to 11.
[0090] Referring now to FIG. 7, there is shown a toe cap 1 for
shoes. Toe caps are usually made of plastics or of a metal or metal
alloy and are mounted in a front end of a shoe, for example of a
safety shoe, to withstand external impact and thereby protect
particularly the forefoot, i.e., the toes of a foot of a user of
the shoe and the consecutive part of the foot adjacent to the
toes.
[0091] When addressing the position of, and the views to, the toe
cap of the present invention according to the second aspect, all
indications of the position are defined, in the present
specification and in the claims, in the position of use of the toe
cap in the shoe. In accordance with such a definition, the "front"
side of the toe cap is that part of the cap which is positioned at
the front side of the shoe, or close to the toe tips of the user
wearing the shoe with the toe cap. The rear side of the toe cap is
the side positioned, during use of the toe cap, opposite to the
front side and "showing" to the middle part of the foot; the user
enters into the toe cap (when the toe cap is entered into, or fixed
within, the shoe) from the toe cap's rear side. In the same way,
the "lower" or "bottom" wall of the toe cap is the wall on which,
when in use, the foot of the user is positioned, while the "upper"
or "top" wall of the toe cap is the wall opposite to the bottom
wall of the toe cap; the upper side of the wearer's foot is
adjacent to the toe cap's top wall. In embodiments of the toe cap
of the present invention, the bottom wall of the toe cap may be
absent or may be "reduced" to a small thin line of stabilizing toe
cap material on the bottom side along, and adjacent to, the lower
edges or the peripheral side wall, which is positioned immediately
above the sole of the shoe or boot when the toe cap is placed in
the shoe/boot.
[0092] As shown in FIG. 7, the toe cap 1 of the invention comprises
a peripheral wall 3 which is formed arcuate and which is capable of
making up the front part 3a and the two side parts (left hand and
right hand side parts) 3b, 3c of the toe cap 1. The toe cap further
comprises a top wall 5 and a bottom wall 7 which are capable of
making up the top part 5a and the bottom part 7a of the toe cap 1.
The top and bottom walls 5, 7 are extending to, and are connected
to, the arcuate peripheral wall 3 integrally along the front side
and the left and right side of the toe cap 1 so as to form the toe
cap 1.
[0093] The rear edges of the arcuate peripheral wall 3, of the top
wall 5 and of the bottom wall 7 together define a rear opening 8 of
the toe cap 1. This rear opening 8 opens a space for the
accommodation of all the toes of one foot of the user, i.e. the
toes of one foot of a user are accommodated in the inner space
defined by said peripheral wall 3, top wall 5 and bottom wall 7 (if
any). The user's or wearer's foot enters the inner space defined by
said peripheral wall 3 and the top and bottom walls (5, 7) by
passing the rear opening 8.
[0094] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rearside
edge 5b of the top wall 5, and preferably also the rearside edge of
the bottom wall, if a bottom wall is present, has the shape of a
letter "S", which shape may be easily seen from FIGS. 7 and 8. The
major advantage of such a shape similar to the letter "S" is the
complete accommodation of all toes of one foot, and at least a part
of the forefoot of the foot, of the user wearing the shoe with the
toe cap 1 of the invention within the toe cap in a convenient and
non-restricted manner. This is in contrast to the prior art, where
mainly the large toes were sufficiently protected, while the small
toes were not.
[0095] In accordance with the invention, the toe cap 1 is
constructed as having a number of holes 5c distributed at least
throughout the whole surface of the top wall 5 either regularly or
irregularly. The term "regularly", as used in the description and
claims is intended to mean that the holes have a substantially
identical distance to the next-neighboring hole(s) throughout the
top wall 5 of the toe cap 1. In contrast, a (partly or completely)
irregular distribution of the holes means that the distances of one
hole to the next-neighboring hole(s) may be more or less (or at
least partly) different. A regular distribution of the holes 5c is
preferred. Such hole or holes 5c may serve a ventilation of the toe
and forefoot area of the foot of the user wearing the shoe
including the toe cap 1. Such a ventilation not only improves the
convenience of wearing such a shoe with a toe protection cap 1, but
also prevents an accumulation of sweat and/or humidity in the inner
space of the toe cap 1.The latter may prevent the generation of bad
smells due to a growth of smell-generating bacteria and the
occurrence of diseases at the foot or, specifically, at the
toes.
[0096] In order not to loose strength of the toe cap 1 against
impact, each hole 5c at least in the surface of the top wall 5 of
the toe cap 1 is surrounded by a system of fillets 5d. By providing
the fillets 5d around the hole(s) 5c, the toe cap material loss, by
the holes 5c, is compensated, and a strengthening effect is
obtained. Hence, the impact strength of the toe cap 1 is not
deteriorated by providing the ventilation holes 5c.
[0097] In accordance with the invention, said system of fillets 5d
at least in said top wall 5 is existing as a closed network
structure having said holes as void spaces between said fillets 5d.
The term "closed network structure", as used in the present
specification and claims, is defined to mean that the filets 5d, at
least in the top wall 5 of the toe cap of the invention, and
preferably in the top wall 5 and in the arcuate peripheral wall 3
as well, are connected to each other in a structure-stabilizing
manner and combined with each other so that, by establishing said
"closed network structure", a continuous system of fillets around
said holes, or even around void spaces, is established the
stability and strength of which is at least not substantially
deteriorated, preferably is not deteriorated, compared to a
structure having no holes surrounded by fillets formed at the top
wall and/or the peripheral front and/or side walls.
[0098] In accordance with the invention, such a closed network
structure has said holes 5c as void spaces 5c between said fillets
5d. The term "void spaces", as used throughout the present
specification and claims, is defined to mean that the surface area
or surface areas between the fillets 5d, for example the surface
area of the top wall 5 and/or the surface area of the arcuate
peripheral wall 3 making up the front part 3a and/or the right and
left side parts 3b, 3c of the toe cap 1, is/are a void space or
void spaces, i.e. have the material of the top wall 5 and/or of the
arcuate peripheral wall 3 omitted between the fillets 5d. This can
best be seen from the present FIGS. 7, 8, 10 and 11. It is one
particularly surprising result of the present invention that,
despite the fact that the top wall material and/or arcuate
peripheral wall material was omitted between the system of fillets
making up the closed network structure of fillets 5d of the toe cap
1 of the present invention according to the second aspect, no loss
of strength of the overall toe cap 1 was observed, with the result
that the toes and fore foot of a user wearing shoes with the
included toe cap of the invention are not only ventilated in an
excellent manner, but also are protected perfectly against impact
by tools or falling debris.
[0099] In preferred embodiments of the invention, at least said top
wall 5 of the toe cap 1 of the invention is provided with a number
of holes 5c regularly distributed throughout its surface. In such
preferred embodiments, said holes 5c are void spaces between said
closed network structure of fillets 5d formed at least at the top
wall 5 of said toe cap 1.
[0100] In accordance with the present invention, it is even more
preferred that said top wall 5, i.e. the top wall 5 only, is
provided with a number of holes 5c regularly distributed throughout
its surface, said holes 5c being void spaces between said closed
network structure of fillets 5d formed at the top wall 5 of said
toe cap 1. Already with such an embodiment, a substantially
improved ventilation of the user's toes and fore foot may be
achieved, without decreasing the overall strength of the toe cap 1
against mechanical impact.
[0101] It is another preferred embodiment of the invention that
said arcuate peripheral wall 3, i.e. the arcuate peripheral wall 3
only, is provided with a number of holes 5c regularly distributed
throughout its surface, said holes 5c being void spaces between
said closed network structure of fillets 5d formed at the arcuate
peripheral wall 5 of said toe cap 1. Already with such an
embodiment, a substantially improved ventilation of the user's toes
and fore foot may be achieved, without decreasing the overall
strength of the toe cap 1 against mechanical impact.
[0102] In an alternative, albeit also preferred embodiment of the
invention according to the second aspect, said top wall 5, and said
arcuate peripheral wall 3 capable of making up the front part 3a
and the two side parts 3b, 3c of the toe cap 1 as well, are
provided with a number of holes 5c regularly distributed throughout
their surface, said holes 5c being void spaces between said closed
network structure of fillets 5d formed at the top wall 5 and at the
arcuate peripheral wall 3 of said toe cap 1. In such an embodiment,
the ventilation is even more improved. Surprisingly, the additional
holes/void spaces 5c in the arcuate peripheral wall 3 do not
deteriorate the stability and strength features of the overall toe
cap 1 at all.
[0103] In an even more preferred embodiment of the invention, said
fillets 5d around the holes or void spaces 5c in the toe cap's top
wall surface and/or in the toe cap's arcuate peripheral wall
surface form a hexagon around each of the holes/void spaces 5c. By
arranging a larger number of hexagon arrangements of fillets 5d
adjacent to each other, the abovementioned closed network structure
of fillets 5d formed at the top wall 5 and/or at the arcuate
peripheral wall 3 of said toe cap 1 is achieved, whereby each of
such hexagons surrounds a void space formed at the respective
surface of the toe cap 1. In other words: The hexagon type system
of fillets 5d surrounds areas of the top wall surface and/or
arcuate peripheral wall surface, which areas are void spaces. In
even more preferred embodiment of the invention, a larger number of
adjacent hexagons of fillets 5d form a honeycomb structure at the
top wall surface and/or at the arcuate peripheral wall surface of
the toe cap 1. Such a honeycomb structure is capable of
strengthening the toe cap against impacts despite the provision of
ventilation holes 5c or void spaces 5d in the top wall surface
and/or in the arcuate peripheral wall surface of the toe cap 1.
Thus, the same strength as in conventional toe caps can be obtained
by providing the honeycomb structure of fillets 5d around each
ventilation hole(s) 5c/void spaces 5c for ventilation.
[0104] Furthermore, it is preferred in accordance with the present
invention according to its second embodiment that said top wall
surface and/or said arcuate peripheral wall surface has additional
fillets 5e extending from one point at said rear side edge 5b of
the top wall 5 and radially across the whole surface at least of
the top wall 5.The term "radially extending", as used in the
present specification and claims, is defined to mean that said
point, at the rear side edge 5b of the top wall 5 of the toe cap 1,
may be considered as being the center of a (theoretical) circle,
and said additional fillets 5e have the origin in said circle
center and extend from said center throughout the top wall surface
radially towards the rim of said (theoretical) circle. This can
easily be seen from FIGS. 7, 8 and 11. By such additional fillets
5e, the toe cap structure may be additionally strengthened.
[0105] In a further preferred embodiment of the invention having
additional benefits, there are additional fillets 5e extending from
one point at said rearside edge 5b of the top wall surface radially
across the whole surface of the top wall 5 and of the arcuate
peripheral wall 3, thereby forming continuous additional fillets 5e
extending from their "origin" at the rearside edge of the top wall
5 of the toe cap 1. By such a structure, a further strengthening
the toe cap structure can be achieved.
[0106] In accordance with the invention according to its second
aspect, it is particularly preferred that the toe cap 1 has
additional fillets 5e extending from one point located
substantially in the middle, relative to said side parts 3b, 3c of
the arcuate peripheral wall 3, at said rearside edge 5b radially
across the whole surface of the top wall 5 and of the arcuate
peripheral wall 3. By positioning the "origin" of the additional
fillets 5e in the middle of the rearside edge 5b, relative to the
side parts 3b, 3c of the arcuate peripheral wall 3, and allowing
the additional fillets 5e to extend from said origin point, the toe
cap structure can be additionally strengthened.
[0107] The number of such additionally strengthening fillets 5e is
not particularly restricted, and a skilled person may select such
number in accordance with the needs. It may be noted that an
increasing number of such additional fillets 5e may contribute to
an improvement of the strength, but may also adversely influence
the ventilation properties, since the space available for voids for
ventilation decreases. However, in further preferred embodiments of
the invention, the number of such additional fillets 5e extending
across the whole surface of the top wall 5 and of the arcuate
peripheral wall 3, and particularly preferably extending in equal
angular distances to each other, is between three and five, as can
best be seen in FIGS. 7, 8 and 11. By such additional fillets 5e
arranged in equal angular distances to each other, the toe cap
structure may be strengthened even further, and a good ventilation
of the inner space of the toe cap according to the invention is
nevertheless possible.
[0108] In an attempt to provide a toe cap 1 having less weight,
material may be omitted at certain parts of the toe cap walls 3, 5,
and 7. In order not to loose impact strength by omitting material,
additional strengthening measures may be taken: In one optional
(i.e. not necessary) embodiment of the invention, the arcuate
peripheral wall 3 may be provided with strengthening fillets 3d on
its inside, i.e., on the side directed to the inner space of the
toe cap 1 directed to the toes of the wearer, in case that no
hexagon fillet--void structure is provided at the arcuate
peripheral wall 3 of the toe cap 1 of the invention, although this
is not a preferred embodiment. When providing such additional
fillets (which may extend in the direction between the top and
bottom walls 5, 7, of the toe cap 1), the strength of the toe cap 1
may be improved. A toe cap 1 without such fillets 3d is
preferred.
[0109] Omitting material, and thereby making the toe cap of the
invention loose weight (which weight loss may be preferred for
reasons of convenience of wearing the low weight toe cap 1), can be
achieved, in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the
invention, by an embodiment wherein said bottom wall 7 consists of
a rim 7b extending from, and being connected to, the arcuate
peripheral wall 3 along its front and two side parts 3a, 3b, 3c in
a substantially perpendicular arrangement. Such an embodiment may
best be seen in FIGS. 9 and 10, which clearly show that the "bottom
wall" 7 is no longer a full area bottom wall 7 but is only a rim
along the lower end of the arcuate peripheral wall 3 extending from
said arcuate peripheral wall 3, along its front and side parts
3a,3b, 3c, in an angle of more or less 90.degree., allowing a
convenient placement of the front parts of the toes of the user and
of the respective side parts of the outer (left and right) toes and
of the fore foot on said rim 7b.
[0110] In a further preferred embodiment, said rim 7b is of a width
allowing a convenient placement of the forefoot sole and underside
of the toes on it, and in an even more preferred embodiment, the
rim 7b is of a width within a range of from 0.5 to 5 centimeters
(cm), without restricting the invention to such a value or to any
value in the above range. No loss of impact strength of the overall
toe protection cap has to be taken by such an embodiment of the
invention.
[0111] Advantageously, the impact strength of the toe cap 1 is
improved further by a toe cap of the invention wherein additional
fillets 5f are provided along the upper and lower peripheral edges
connecting the top and bottom walls 5, 7 to the arcuate peripheral
wall 3. Such a preferred embodiment may best be seen in FIGS. 1, 2
and 5. Such additional fillets 5f may include fillets 5f along the
rear side edge of the top and bottom walls 5, 7 and/or along the
rear side edge of the two side parts 3b, 3c of the arcuate
peripheral wall 3, i.e. at the rear side edges forming the rear
opening 8 of the toe cap 1. Such additional fillets 5f
advantageously contribute to an improvement of the strength of the
toe cap 1 as a whole.
[0112] It is further preferred in accordance with the present
invention that the additional fillets 5e, 5f may comprise grooves
5g running within, and in parallel to, the additional fillets 5e,
5f. Such embodiments are shown in the FIGS. 7, 8 and 11. The
grooves take away material from the additional fillets 5e, 5f, i.e.
contribute to a reduction of the overall weight of the toe cap 1 of
the invention, and they do not harm stability and strength
properties of the toe cap 1.
[0113] The material for toe caps 1 of the present invention may be
selected by a skilled person in accordance with material selections
made in the prior art, and the material may be adapted to the
specific requirements in each single case. In accordance with the
skill, a material may be used for manufacturing the toe caps 1 of
the present invention which is selected from the group consisting
of plastics, for example hard polymer materials like those used in
the prior art, e. g. Kevlar.sup.R or ParaAmide.sup.R (if a
particular elasticity is required or desired, without giving up
impact resistance/impact strength), reinforced plastics (e.g.
fiber-reinforced plastics (glass fiber-reinforced or carbon
fiber-reinforced or metal or metal oxide or metal boride or metal
carbide or metal nitride whiskers-reinforced), metal
powder-reinforced plastics), metal(s) or metal alloys. Particularly
preferred are metals or metal alloys, e. g. aluminum or steel, or
fiber-reinforced plastics. As reinforcing fibers for polymers of
the plastics material, such fibers known from the prior art to
achieve a plastics reinforcement may be used without restriction.
Glass fibers, carbon fibers or whiskers made of metals, metal
oxides, metal borides, metal carbides or metal nitrides or their
mixtures are preferably used, and glass fibers and carbon fibers
are particularly preferred. Even more preferably, in one exemplary
and preferred embodiment of the invention, PA-6 (polyamide-6) may
be used as the plastics material. Alternatively, steel (e. g.
(without restriction) steel 8620 (e. g. of BASF AG) or steel 1050
SAE) may be used.
[0114] The process for manufacturing such embodiments of toe caps 1
as described above is not restricted, and a skilled person may
select manufacturing processes in accordance with the requirements
of each single case.
[0115] In an exemplary embodiment, a sheet of a metal or of a metal
alloy, for example a steel sheet, may be punched from a larger
piece of steel, and such a punched steel sheet is then deep-drawn
or deep-pressed to obtain an integral body of the toe cap 1 of the
invention. Such an integral body may then be subjected to further
process steps, as for example polishing steps and steps of applying
a surface coating, so as to obtain the final toe cap body.
[0116] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the so-called
MIM (metal injection molding) process is used for manufacturing the
toe caps 1 of the invention. In the MIM process, a powder of the
metal used as the material for the toe cap 1 is comminuted to a
stage as fine as necessary (e. g. to metal particles having a size
in the range of between 0.1 and 10 .mu.m) and is admixed with
suitable binders (e.g. waxes and/or polymers and/or cracking
catalysts and/or solvents). In a preferred embodiment, a mixture
containing 60 to 80% by weight of metal (e. g. the above-mentioned
steels, but this does not restrict the invention; also other metal
or metal alloy powders may be used) and 20 to 40% by weight of
binder(s) is used. Such a mixture may be processed on conventional
injection molding machines. A green body of the mixture used for
injection molding is prepared. In a subsequent step, the green body
is heated stepwise to temperatures in the range of, for example,
100 to 600.degree. C., so as to thermally crack the binders
(wax(es), polymer(s), catalyst(s), solvent(s)). As a result, a body
of metal powder is obtained (so-called "brown body"). The brown
body thus obtained is now sintered under controlled temperature/gas
conditions (e. g. 600 to 1,400.degree. C.; exemplary suitable
gases: H.sub.2, N.sub.2, and/or Ar). A body now having, for
example, >96% of the final density is obtained by such a
sintering step. The surface of such a sintered body may be
subjected to further processing steps as, for example, polishing
steps and steps of applying a surface coating, so as to obtain the
final toe cap body.
[0117] Toe caps of plastics materials, plastics materials
comprising one type or several types of fibers (as defined above)
may, for example, be manufactured by a usual injection molding
process, as is well known to a person skilled in this technical
field. Hence, the detailed description of the steps of such an
injection molding process, its components and its conditions may be
omitted here since they are known to a person in this technical
field.
[0118] Of course, any other step conceivable to a skilled person
for manufacturing such a toe cap body of the invention may be
used.
[0119] In accordance with the invention, a toe cap 1 is inserted
into a shoe in order to protect the shoe wearer's toes against
impacts. Such impacts may be impacts due to the work of a tool used
by the wearer or by anybody else in his/her environment, may be
impacts by heavy things falling down, may be constructional
materials, debris, pieces of sports equipment etc.
[0120] Hence, the invention also relates to shoes comprising a toe
cap 1 as described above in detail. Such shoes may be safety shoes,
protective shoes, occupation shoes, sports shoes, to name only a
few of shoes wherein the toe cap of the invention may be used,
without, however, restricting the invention to those shoes. In the
European Union, such shoes are standardized, with respect to
requirements they have to fulfill, in the industrial standards ISO
EN 20345 (safety shoes), ISO EN 20346 (protective shoes) and ISO EN
20347 (occupation shoes), for example.
[0121] Shoes provided with the toe caps 1 of the invention were
tested first with respect to their strength to withstand to impacts
by a heavy test object falling down on the shoe provided with the
toe cap or to impacts by a tool swinging to the side of the toe
cap, and were tested secondly with respect to the "foot climate" in
the toe region due to a better ventilation of said region. The
tests were conducted in accordance with standardized test
methods.
[0122] It was found that the toe region, due to the presence of the
toe cap 1 of the present invention, could be protected in an
identically reliable manner as in cases of using conventional toe
caps, so that the shoes passed the standardized tests.
[0123] On the other hand, the "foot climate" was found to be much
better than in shoes having conventional toe caps, due to the fact
that sweat and humidity could escape from the toe region and could
not accumulate in that area. The results were even better than the
results achieved with toe caps having holes mainly at the surface
of the top wall. Hence, bad smells and diseases due to the action
of microorganisms in the toe area could be prevented from
occurring.
[0124] The above description of the invention by its exemplary and
preferred embodiments does not restrict the invention to these
embodiments described. The scope of the invention is defined by the
claims found below.
[0125] Another (third) aspect of the toe cap of the present
invention is now described in detail by referring to FIGS. 12 to
15, without, however, restricting the toe cap of the present
invention, in its third aspect, to the embodiments shown in the
FIGS. 12 to 15 and exemplarily explained while referring to the
FIGS. 12 to 15.
[0126] Referring now to FIG. 12, there is shown a toe cap 1 for
shoes, boots or other footgear. Toe caps are usually made of
plastics or of a metal or metal alloy and are mounted in a front
end of a shoe or boot, for example of a safety shoe, to withstand
external impact and thereby protect particularly the forefoot,
i.e., the toes of a foot of a user of the shoe and the consecutive
part of the foot adjacent to the toes.
[0127] When addressing the position of, and the views to, the toe
cap 1 of the present invention according to the third aspect, all
indications of the position are defined, in the present
specification and in the claims, when addressing also the third
aspect of the invention, in the position of use of the toe cap 1 in
the shoe. In accordance with such a definition, the "front" side or
"front part" of the toe cap 1 is that part of the cap which is
positioned at the front side of the shoe, or close to the toe tips
of the user wearing the shoe with the toe cap. The rear side of the
toe cap is the side positioned, during use of the toe cap, opposite
to the front side and "showing" to the middle part of the foot. The
user enters into the toe cap (when the toe cap is entered into, or
fixed within, the shoe) from the toe cap's rear side.
[0128] In the same way, the "lower" or "bottom" wall of the toe cap
is the wall on which, when in use, the foot of the user is
positioned, while the "upper" or "top" wall of the toe cap is the
wall opposite to the bottom wall of the toe cap; the upper side of
the wearer's foot is adjacent to the toe cap's top wall. In
embodiments of the toe cap of the present invention, the bottom
wall of the toe cap may be absent or may be "reduced" to a small
thin line of stabilizing toe cap material on the bottom side along,
and adjacent to, the lower edges or the peripheral side wall, which
is positioned immediately above the sole of the shoe or boot when
the toe cap is placed in the shoe/boot.
[0129] As shown in FIG. 12, the toe cap 1 of the invention
comprises a peripheral wall 3 which is formed arcuate and which is
capable of making up the front part 3a and the two side parts (left
hand and right hand side parts) 3b, 3c of the toe cap 1. The toe
cap further comprises a top wall 5 and a bottom wall 7 which are
capable of making up the top part 5a and the bottom part 7a of the
toe cap 1. The top and bottom walls 5, 7 are extending to, and are
connected to, the arcuate peripheral wall 3 integrally along the
front side and the left and right side of the toe cap 1 so as to
form the toe cap 1.
[0130] The rear edges of the arcuate peripheral wall 3, of the top
wall 5 and of the bottom wall 7 together define a rear opening 8 of
the toe cap 1 which may best be seen in FIGS. 13 and 15. This rear
opening 8 opens a space for the accommodation of all the toes of
one foot of the user, i.e. the toes of one foot of a user are
accommodated in the inner space defined by said peripheral wall 3,
top wall 5 and bottom wall 7 (if any). The user's or wearer's foot
enters the inner space defined by said peripheral wall 3 and the
top and bottom walls (5, 7) by passing the rear opening 8.
[0131] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rearside
edge 5b of the top wall 5, and preferably also the rearside edge of
the bottom wall, if a bottom wall is present, has the shape of a
letter "S", which shape may be easily seen from FIGS. 13 and 14.
The major advantage of such a shape similar to the letter "S" is
the complete accommodation of all toes (including the small toes)
of one foot, and at least a part of the forefoot of the foot, of
the user wearing the shoe with the toe cap 1 of the invention
within the toe cap in a convenient and non-restricted manner. This
is in contrast to the prior art, where mainly the large toes were
sufficiently protected, while the small toes were not, due to the
rearside edge 5b of the top wall 5 being a straight line leaving
the major part of the small toes unprotected.
[0132] In accordance with the invention in its third aspect, the
arcuate peripheral wall 3 makes up (or forms) the front part 3a and
the two (left and right) side parts 3b and 3c and has upper edges
which are connected to, and merge into, the front, left and right
edges of the top wall 5. These connecting and merging parts of the
arcuate peripheral wall 3 and top wall 5 form stabilizing parts of
the toe cap of the invention and proceed along lines of stabilizing
force.
[0133] In the same way, if a bottom wall 7 is existing or if only
narrow parts of toe cap material of a bottom wall 7 along the lower
edges of the arcuate peripheral wall 3 are existing, the arcuate
peripheral wall 3 has lower edges which are connected to, and merge
into, the front, left and right edges of the bottom wall 7 or,
alternatively, to/into said narrow parts of material substituting
the bottom wall 7. These connecting and merging parts of the
arcuate peripheral wall 3 and bottom wall 7 form stabilizing parts
of the toe cap of the invention and proceed along lines of
stabilizing force.
[0134] In addition, the arcuate peripheral wall 3, at its left and
right edges merging to the rear edge 5b of the top wall 5, has rear
edges in the form of fillets connecting the top wall 5 and the
bottom wall 3, if any.
[0135] In accordance with the present invention, in its third
aspect, which can be seen from FIGS. 12, 13 and 14, at least the
top wall 5, and preferably only the top wall 5, is made of at least
three longitudinal fillets 5p, 5q, 5r, preferably exactly of three
longitudinal fillets 5p, 5q, 5r, extending from the tip T of the
toe cap 1 radially to its rear edge 5b, and at least one transverse
fillet 5t extending substantially in the form of a segment of a
circle around the tip T of said toe cap 1 as the center.
[0136] Alternatively or together with the feature described above,
in accordance with the invention in its third aspect, the arcuate
peripheral wall 3 has at its side parts alternating vertical 3p and
inclined 3q fillets connecting the upper and lower edges of the
arcuate peripheral wall 3. Similarly to this feature, the rear
edges of the arcuate peripheral side wall may be considered as
vertical fillets 3p. The inclination angle of the inclined fillets
3q may be selected by a skilled person according to the
requirements of best stabilization and may be for example, but
without restricting the invention to this angle, 45.degree.,
measured in relation to the horizontal plane on which the toe cap
rests.
[0137] In accordance with the invention, in its third aspect, the
fillets 5p, 5q, 5r, 5t, 3p, 3q leave between them a number of
regular or irregular holes or voids distributed at least throughout
the toe cap top wall 5 and arcuate peripheral side wall 3 surfaces.
Such holes or voids (not having any toe cap material and, thereby,
reducing the weight of the toe cap of the invention drastically,
without giving up the toe cap's protection properties for the toes
and forefoot of the user) may have any desirable shape, depending,
of course, upon the width and course of the fillets described
above. Triangular or rectangular/square shapes of the holes may be
provided, but also irregular shapes are possible. The FIGS. 12 to
15 show only a selection of the shapes of the holes/voids, which,
however, is not restricting.
[0138] By providing such fillets in the top 5 (and optionally
bottom 7) walls and in the arcuate peripheral side wall, the
fillets 5p, 5q, 5r, 3p and 3q provided are strengthening the toe
cap 1 along its lines of stabilizing force. In other words: If
external forces are acting on a shoe or boot comprising a toe cap 1
of the present invention, particularly (but not exclusively) in its
third aspect, the effect stabilizing the toe protection cap 1
within the shoe or boot, and thereby protecting the toes and
forefoot of the wearer of the shoe/boot, makes use of the
stabilizing forces existent exactly along the lines of the toe cap
1 which are formed by the edges and fillets existent in said area,
and by the stabilizing effects of those fillets connecting these
lines. By such stabilizing forces, a maximum special maintenance
can be obtained with a minimum of material, thereby reducing weight
of the toe cap 1 (which is favorable for the user) without giving
up protection properties (thereby meeting all requirements set up
by law, guidelines and rules governing the protection of the human
body during working, sports etc.
[0139] The material for toe caps 1 of the present invention may be
selected by a skilled person in accordance with material selections
made in the prior art, and the material may be adapted to the
specific requirements in each single case. In accordance with the
skill, a material may be used for manufacturing the toe caps 1 of
the present invention which is selected from the group consisting
of plastics, for example hard polymer materials like those used in
the prior art, e. g. Kevlar.sup.R or ParaAmide.sup.R (if a
particular elasticity is required or desired, without giving up
impact resistance/impact strength), reinforced plastics (e.g.
fiber-reinforced plastics (glass fiber-reinforced or carbon
fiber-reinforced or metal or metal oxide or metal boride or metal
carbide or metal nitride whiskers-reinforced), metal
powder-reinforced plastics), metal(s) or metal alloys. Particularly
preferred are metals or metal alloys, e. g. aluminum or steel, or
fiber-reinforced plastics. As reinforcing fibers for polymers of
the plastics material, such fibers known from the prior art to
achieve a plastics reinforcement may be used without restriction.
Glass fibers, carbon fibers or whiskers made of metals, metal
oxides, metal borides, metal carbides or metal nitrides or their
mixtures are preferably used, and glass fibers and carbon fibers
are particularly preferred. Even more preferably, in one exemplary
and preferred embodiment of the invention, PA-6 (polyamide-6) may
be used as the plastics material. Alternatively, steel (e. g.
(without restriction) steel 8620 (e. g. of BASF AG) or steel 1050
SAE) may be used.
[0140] The process for manufacturing such embodiments of toe caps 1
as described above is not restricted, and a skilled person may
select manufacturing processes in accordance with the requirements
of each single case.
[0141] In an exemplary embodiment, a sheet of a metal or of a metal
alloy, for example a steel sheet, may be punched from a larger
piece of steel, and such a punched steel sheet is then deep-drawn
or deep-pressed to obtain an integral body of the toe cap 1 of the
invention. Such an integral body may then be subjected to further
process steps, as for example polishing steps and steps of applying
a surface coating, so as to obtain the final toe cap body.
[0142] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the so-called
MIM (metal injection molding) process is used for manufacturing the
toe caps 1 of the invention. This was described above specifically
for the manufacture of the toe caps of the present invention in its
second aspect, and the MIM process may be applied also for the
manufacture of the toe caps of the invention in its third aspect in
the same way, so that another description of the same process is
obsolete here.
[0143] Toe caps of plastics materials, plastics materials
comprising one type or several types of fibers (as defined above)
may, for example, be manufactured by a usual injection molding
process, as is well known to a person skilled in this technical
field. Hence, the detailed description of the steps of such an
injection molding process, its components and its conditions may be
omitted here since they are known to a person in this technical
field. In the present invention in its third process, the
manufacture of the toe caps 1 made of any of the above plastics
materials by an injection molding process is particularly preferred
and advantageous due to its easy and convenient mass production
results.
[0144] Of course, any other step conceivable to a skilled person
for manufacturing such a toe cap body of the invention may be
used.
[0145] In accordance with the invention, a toe cap 1 is inserted
into a shoe in order to protect the shoe wearer's toes against
impacts. Such impacts may be impacts due to the work of a tool used
by the wearer or by anybody else in his/her environment, may be
impacts by heavy things falling down, may be constructional
materials, debris, pieces of sports equipment etc.
[0146] Hence, the invention also relates to shoes comprising a toe
cap 1 as described above in detail. Such shoes may be safety shoes,
protective shoes, occupation shoes, sports shoes, to name only a
few of shoes wherein the toe cap of the invention may be used,
without, however, restricting the invention to those shoes. In the
European Union, such shoes are standardized, with respect to
requirements they have to fulfill, in the industrial standards ISO
EN 20345 (safety shoes), ISO EN 20346 (protective shoes) and ISO EN
20347 (occupation shoes), for example.
[0147] Shoes provided with the toe caps 1 of the invention were
tested first with respect to their strength to withstand to impacts
by a heavy test object falling down on the shoe provided with the
toe cap or to impacts by a tool swinging to the side of the toe
cap, and were tested secondly with respect to the "foot climate" in
the toe region due to a better ventilation of said region. The
tests were conducted in accordance with standardized test
methods.
[0148] It was found that the toe region, due to the presence of the
toe cap 1 of the present invention, could be protected in an
indentically reliable manner as in cases of using conventional toe
caps, so that the shoes passed the standardized tests.
[0149] On the other hand, the "foot climate" was found to be much
better than in shoes having conventional toe caps, due to the fact
that sweat and humidity could escape from the toe region and could
not accumulate in that area. The results were even better than the
results achieved with toe caps having holes mainly at the surface
of the top wall. Hence, bad smells and diseases due to the action
of microorganisms in the toe area could be prevented from
occurring.
[0150] It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided
merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be
construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present
invention has been described with reference to an exemplary
embodiment, it is understood that the words which have been used
herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words
of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the
appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without
departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its
aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein
with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the
present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars
disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all
functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are
within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *