GB2176690A - Safety boot - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides equestrian footwear including a reinforced toe portion 1, which is preferably in the form of a steel toecap, enclosed within the boot, and extended, as shown at 3, at the outside of the foot to cover the whole of the little toe. The reinforcing toecap 1 may be embedded between two layers of leather or flexible plastics material so as to protect the foot and also preserve the required stylish appearance of the boot. In addition to protection against being trodden on by a horse, the reinforcement 1 also effects some protection against the boot being pierced by a pitchfork or the like. In order to allow for thin soles for riding boots, the toecap 1 may be anchored to the upper surface of the sole by means of a narrow flange 4. In work boots, which normally have thicker soles and where appearance is less critical, the flange 4 may be received between two layers of sole material. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Safetyfootwear This invention relates to equestrian footwear.

The term "equestiran footwear" includes riding boots, jodhpur boots and the snug fitting work boots which are normally worn in and around-stables. Boots for riding have thin and smooth soles for ease of entry to and egress from stirrups. They may be malta of leather or suitable plastics material. A normal riding boot hasa close fitting leg portion terminating above the calf, and is flexible at the ankle for easeof entry and exit and for the wearer's comfort and eontrol.A jodhpur boot is of ankle length and is provided with elasticated gussets to ensure a snug fit. The form of such boots for riding is controlled by competition regulations. Jodhpur boots are normally required for Children's events.

Awork boot differs from a conventional Wellington boot in being somewhat longer so asto terminate above the calL and also in being tighter fitting in the leg. In orcierto achieve this, work boots are normally provided with tightening straps at the top of the leg portion. Thetightness is designed to prevent the entry of foreign matter during such operations as mucking out.

When working with horses, accident sometime occur when the horsetreads on a handler's foot. The weights involved are considerable and the pressure may be quite concentrated in the case of a shod hoof.

Broken toes, and worse injuries, are therefore not uncommon. Afurther possible cause of injury in a stable is that of a pitchfork piercing a foot.

Safety footwear is comparatively common for industrial use, but such footwear is not available for equestrian application.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided equestrian footwear including a reinforced toe portion, which may be in the form of a steel or hard plasticstoecap, enclosed within the boot.

It is preferred thatthe reinforcing toecap be extended at the outside of the foot to coverthe whole of the little toe.

The reinforcing toecap may be embedded between two layers of leather orflexible plastics material soas to protectthefoot and also preserve the required stylish appearance ofthe boot.

As an alternative, the reinforcing toecap may be addedto a boot after manufacture, e.g. by coating it with a suitable adhesive, such as a contact adhesive, and pushing it towards the toe area of the boot.

In addition to protection against being trodden on by a horse, the reinforcement also effects some protection against the boot being pierced by a pitch forkorthe like.

ance is less critical, the flange may be received between two layers of sole material.

The invention will be further described with refer enceto the accompanying diag ra m miic drawings, which: Figure lisa perspective view from above showing one form of reinforcing toecap for use in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view from below of the toecap offigurel; and Figure 3 is a partially cutaway view showing a toecapin a boot.

The toecap illustrated in the drawings b of a rigid plastics material and has a main body portion 1 to extend over the toes, and a rearedge 2 thereof is backwardly extended, as indicated at 3 to provide coverforthe little toe. Around the lateral edges and the front, the toecap is formed with an inturnedflang 4forsecuring purposes. As illustrated in figures 1 an 2, the flange 4 is wide so as to be received during manufacture between two layers of sole-forming material, but for lightweight boots, in which the sole' are formedof a single layer of material, the flange 4 would be narrower.Also, when atoecap isto befitted into an already manufactured baotto convert itto a reinforced boot, the flange 4would be much reducec or eliminated to avoid chafing ofthe wearer's foot.

Such conversion would normally be by coating the outside ofthetoecapwith acontact or other suitable adhesive and pressing the toecap asfarforward as possible into the boot, as illustrated in figure 3, wherein pa rt of the upper has been cut awayto revea the toecap hard against the welt areas 5.

Various modifications may be madewithin the scope of the invention. For example, thetoecap coul be pressed out of steel or other metal or alloy.

1. Equestrian footwear including a reinforced tOE portion enclosed within the boot.

2. Equestrian footwear as claimed in claim 1, in which the reinforcement is in the form of a steel toecap.

3. Equestrian footwear as daimed in claim 1 or2, in which the reinforcing toecap ortoe portion is extended at the outside of the footto coverthewhoh of the little toe.

4. Equestrianfootwear as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, in which the reinforcing toecap ortoe portion is embedded between two layers of leather or flexible plastics material so asto protect the foot.

5. Equestrian footwear as claimed in claim 4, in which the toecap or toe portion is anchored to the upper surface ofthe sole by means of a narrowflang 6. Equestrian footwear as claimed in claim 4, in which thetoecap or toe portion is anchored to the so by means of a flange received between two layers of

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

Claims (6)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Safetyfootwear This invention relates to equestrian footwear. The term "equestiran footwear" includes riding boots, jodhpur boots and the snug fitting work boots which are normally worn in and around-stables. Boots for riding have thin and smooth soles for ease of entry to and egress from stirrups. They may be malta of leather or suitable plastics material. A normal riding boot hasa close fitting leg portion terminating above the calf, and is flexible at the ankle for easeof entry and exit and for the wearer's comfort and eontrol.A jodhpur boot is of ankle length and is provided with elasticated gussets to ensure a snug fit. The form of such boots for riding is controlled by competition regulations. Jodhpur boots are normally required for Children's events. Awork boot differs from a conventional Wellington boot in being somewhat longer so asto terminate above the calL and also in being tighter fitting in the leg. In orcierto achieve this, work boots are normally provided with tightening straps at the top of the leg portion. Thetightness is designed to prevent the entry of foreign matter during such operations as mucking out. When working with horses, accident sometime occur when the horsetreads on a handler's foot. The weights involved are considerable and the pressure may be quite concentrated in the case of a shod hoof. Broken toes, and worse injuries, are therefore not uncommon. Afurther possible cause of injury in a stable is that of a pitchfork piercing a foot. Safety footwear is comparatively common for industrial use, but such footwear is not available for equestrian application. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided equestrian footwear including a reinforced toe portion, which may be in the form of a steel or hard plasticstoecap, enclosed within the boot. It is preferred thatthe reinforcing toecap be extended at the outside of the foot to coverthe whole of the little toe. The reinforcing toecap may be embedded between two layers of leather orflexible plastics material soas to protectthefoot and also preserve the required stylish appearance ofthe boot. As an alternative, the reinforcing toecap may be addedto a boot after manufacture, e.g. by coating it with a suitable adhesive, such as a contact adhesive, and pushing it towards the toe area of the boot. In addition to protection against being trodden on by a horse, the reinforcement also effects some protection against the boot being pierced by a pitch forkorthe like. ance is less critical, the flange may be received between two layers of sole material. The invention will be further described with refer enceto the accompanying diag ra m miic drawings, which: Figure lisa perspective view from above showing one form of reinforcing toecap for use in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view from below of the toecap offigurel; and Figure 3 is a partially cutaway view showing a toecapin a boot. The toecap illustrated in the drawings b of a rigid plastics material and has a main body portion 1 to extend over the toes, and a rearedge 2 thereof is backwardly extended, as indicated at 3 to provide coverforthe little toe. Around the lateral edges and the front, the toecap is formed with an inturnedflang 4forsecuring purposes. As illustrated in figures 1 an 2, the flange 4 is wide so as to be received during manufacture between two layers of sole-forming material, but for lightweight boots, in which the sole' are formedof a single layer of material, the flange 4 would be narrower.Also, when atoecap isto befitted into an already manufactured baotto convert itto a reinforced boot, the flange 4would be much reducec or eliminated to avoid chafing ofthe wearer's foot. Such conversion would normally be by coating the outside ofthetoecapwith acontact or other suitable adhesive and pressing the toecap asfarforward as possible into the boot, as illustrated in figure 3, wherein pa rt of the upper has been cut awayto revea the toecap hard against the welt areas 5. Various modifications may be madewithin the scope of the invention. For example, thetoecap coul be pressed out of steel or other metal or alloy. CLAIMS

1. Equestrian footwear including a reinforced tOE portion enclosed within the boot.

2. Equestrian footwear as claimed in claim 1, in which the reinforcement is in the form of a steel toecap.

3. Equestrian footwear as daimed in claim 1 or2, in which the reinforcing toecap ortoe portion is extended at the outside of the footto coverthewhoh of the little toe.

4. Equestrianfootwear as claimed in claim 1,2 or 3, in which the reinforcing toecap ortoe portion is embedded between two layers of leather or flexible plastics material so asto protect the foot.

5. Equestrian footwear as claimed in claim 4, in which the toecap or toe portion is anchored to the upper surface ofthe sole by means of a narrowflang

6. Equestrian footwear as claimed in claim 4, in which thetoecap or toe portion is anchored to the so by means of a flange received between two layers of