GB2050144A - Reinforced toe caps - Google Patents

Abstract

A safety boot for use in industrial situations and which can meet the requirements of BSS 1870/1970 without using a steel toe cap has a toe cap is reinforcement 32 of layers of glass fibre fabric reinforced with epoxy resin. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to safety footwear This invention relates to safety footwear. British Standards Specification No. 1870 of 1 970 provides a specification for safety footwear, for example for use in industrial situations, and this implicitly requires the use of steel toe caps.

In the manufacture of steel toe caps, effectively, a separate set of drawing or stamping dies (possibly even comprising several pairs in each set) is needed for each different size of toe cap, and hence for each size of shoe or boot. Because of the cost of the dies, such safety footwear is in practice offerred only in a restricted range of sizes. A person with narrow or wide feet, or with particularly small or large feet may be perfectly able to obtain ordinary shoes or boots but completely unable to obtain safety footwear. Further, anyone needing so called orthopaedic footwear is similarly unable to obtain safety footwear. In view of the Health and Safety Act which came into force in January 1976, the inability to obtain safety footwear may lead to an employee losing his/her job.

There is therefore a need for a safety footwear which is not dependent upon expensive dies, and the object of the invention is to meet this need.

In accordance with the invention, safety footwear comprises a toe cap reinforcement made of resin reinforced fabric.

Preferably the resin is an epoxy, and the fabric includes a plurality of layers.

In a preferred embodiment an open-weave glass-fibre fabric is used for a plurality of layers, and a different synthetic fibre fabric is used for other layers.

One presently preferred embodiment of the invention is now more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an orthopaedic boot; and Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

First, the construction of the toe cap will be described. This is built up upon a conventional wooden last which (in the case of an orthopaedic shoe or boot) is made to meet the patient's specification, and then any cork elevation or cork cradle which is to go inside the boot is made and placed in appropriate position on the last. The lining material e.g.

leather 10 is then applied and temporaily tacked into position.

In the illustrated embodiment, the two cap comprises first, fifth and ninth layers, identified by the reference numerals 12, 14, 1 6 in Fig. 2, of a material sold under the Trade Name KEVLAR and described as Aramid Fibre woven fabric DT08. This is laminated with three layers of glass fibre fabric between each of the layers 1 2 and 14, and similarly 14 and 16, this glass fibre fabric having an open weave and a density of 330 gm per square metre. The layers of glass fibre are indicated by the reference numerals 18 to 28. A final outer layer of a close weave glass fibre fabric to give smooth finish is indicated by the reference numeral 30.

These layers are built up by the wet-lay process using an epoxy resin, and the preferred one which has been used experimentally is the one sold under the Registered Trade Nark ARALDITE by Ciba-Geigy and identified as CY219 resin system. After the application of each wet layer, the laminate has been rolled with a ribbed roller to express air bubbles. The final thickness of the cap is about 5mm, and materials forming the cap are wrapped around the underside of the last at least to a degree.

After the toe cap (which is shown on Fig. 1 by the reference numeral 32) has cured, it is removed from the last and trimmed to the necessary length and shape, and the bottom surface which went beneath the last is secured to produce a flat surface.

The complete article of footwear is then lasted, the lining being lasted separately to the upper. After that, the toe cap is put into position and the upper is lasted over the toe cap as at 34. The heel and waist are tack lasted and the four parts cement lasted to secure the lining and the upper to the insole.

Subsequently a leather through middle sole is riveted into position with screws at the toe end to secure this to the toe cap. The middle sole is extended to act as a welt to the out sole and is machine sewn. The boot is finished in the normal way.

An experimental boot made substantially as shown and described has been tested and been found to meet the drop test requirements of BS.1870 involving the test energy of two hundred joules.

1. A safety footwear comprising a toe cap reinforcement made of resin reinforced fabric.

; 2. An article of safety footwear as ciaimed in Claim 1 wherein the resin is an epoxy, and the fabric includes a plurality of layers.

3. An article of footwear as claimed in Claim 2 wherein an open weave glass fibre fabric is used for a plurality of layers, and a different synthetic fibre fabric is used for other layers.

4. An orthopaedic boot substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to safety footwear This invention relates to safety footwear. British Standards Specification No. 1870 of 1 970 provides a specification for safety footwear, for example for use in industrial situations, and this implicitly requires the use of steel toe caps. In the manufacture of steel toe caps, effectively, a separate set of drawing or stamping dies (possibly even comprising several pairs in each set) is needed for each different size of toe cap, and hence for each size of shoe or boot. Because of the cost of the dies, such safety footwear is in practice offerred only in a restricted range of sizes. A person with narrow or wide feet, or with particularly small or large feet may be perfectly able to obtain ordinary shoes or boots but completely unable to obtain safety footwear. Further, anyone needing so called orthopaedic footwear is similarly unable to obtain safety footwear. In view of the Health and Safety Act which came into force in January 1976, the inability to obtain safety footwear may lead to an employee losing his/her job. There is therefore a need for a safety footwear which is not dependent upon expensive dies, and the object of the invention is to meet this need. In accordance with the invention, safety footwear comprises a toe cap reinforcement made of resin reinforced fabric. Preferably the resin is an epoxy, and the fabric includes a plurality of layers. In a preferred embodiment an open-weave glass-fibre fabric is used for a plurality of layers, and a different synthetic fibre fabric is used for other layers. One presently preferred embodiment of the invention is now more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an orthopaedic boot; and Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. First, the construction of the toe cap will be described. This is built up upon a conventional wooden last which (in the case of an orthopaedic shoe or boot) is made to meet the patient's specification, and then any cork elevation or cork cradle which is to go inside the boot is made and placed in appropriate position on the last. The lining material e.g. leather 10 is then applied and temporaily tacked into position. In the illustrated embodiment, the two cap comprises first, fifth and ninth layers, identified by the reference numerals 12, 14, 1 6 in Fig. 2, of a material sold under the Trade Name KEVLAR and described as Aramid Fibre woven fabric DT08. This is laminated with three layers of glass fibre fabric between each of the layers 1 2 and 14, and similarly 14 and 16, this glass fibre fabric having an open weave and a density of 330 gm per square metre. The layers of glass fibre are indicated by the reference numerals 18 to 28. A final outer layer of a close weave glass fibre fabric to give smooth finish is indicated by the reference numeral 30. These layers are built up by the wet-lay process using an epoxy resin, and the preferred one which has been used experimentally is the one sold under the Registered Trade Nark ARALDITE by Ciba-Geigy and identified as CY219 resin system. After the application of each wet layer, the laminate has been rolled with a ribbed roller to express air bubbles. The final thickness of the cap is about 5mm, and materials forming the cap are wrapped around the underside of the last at least to a degree. After the toe cap (which is shown on Fig. 1 by the reference numeral 32) has cured, it is removed from the last and trimmed to the necessary length and shape, and the bottom surface which went beneath the last is secured to produce a flat surface. The complete article of footwear is then lasted, the lining being lasted separately to the upper. After that, the toe cap is put into position and the upper is lasted over the toe cap as at 34. The heel and waist are tack lasted and the four parts cement lasted to secure the lining and the upper to the insole. Subsequently a leather through middle sole is riveted into position with screws at the toe end to secure this to the toe cap. The middle sole is extended to act as a welt to the out sole and is machine sewn. The boot is finished in the normal way. An experimental boot made substantially as shown and described has been tested and been found to meet the drop test requirements of BS.1870 involving the test energy of two hundred joules. CLAIMS

1. A safety footwear comprising a toe cap reinforcement made of resin reinforced fabric.

;

2. An article of safety footwear as ciaimed in Claim 1 wherein the resin is an epoxy, and the fabric includes a plurality of layers.

3. An article of footwear as claimed in Claim 2 wherein an open weave glass fibre fabric is used for a plurality of layers, and a different synthetic fibre fabric is used for other layers.

4. An orthopaedic boot substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.