US 6,381,876 B2Granted

Metatarsal protectors for footwear

OwnerDezi A. Krajcirinventor

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Abstract

A metatarsal protector for footwear consists of a body molded from resilient plastics material, thus facilitating walking and kneeling, the material being sufficiently flexible that it can be molded flat and bent to the required saddle shape when it is incorporated into the footwear close against the upper inner surface. The range of hardness required for the material is comparatively narrow, so that it is sufficiently flexible, but can still meet certification requirements, and as measured by a Durometer A test is between 35 and 50 Shore. The protector comprises a plurality of integral ridged projections protruding from one surface, forming between themselves a corresponding plurality of open-mouthed recesses, each of which is surrounded by a single projection (e.g. giving a circular recess) or by a plurality thereof intersecting one another (e.g. giving rectangular or triangular recesses). When an impact force is applied to the metatarsal region the resilient material deforms and absorbs the force. The projections may be more closely spaced at and around the usual impact point. Preferably, the body is provided on the opposite surface with second projections, each of which registers with a respective recess at the first surface, and is the same shape and size, or slightly smaller, so that on deformation the second projections to enter their respective recesses, increasing the impact absorption. It has been found unexpectedly that even with such soft material the resultant boots can meet the highest Mt75 impact classification.

A metatarsal protector for footwear to protect the foot of a wearer from an impact force applied to the metatarsal region thereof, each such footwear comprising an upper having outer and inner surfaces and a sole having outer and inner surfaces, the upper and the sole having respective registering metatarsal regions and being joined to one another with their inner surfaces facing one another;

wherein the protector comprises a protector body having first and second opposite faces, the protector body when incorporated into the footwear being interposed between the registering metatarsal regions with its first surface adjacent to the upper inner surface;
wherein the protector body has two longitudinally extending sides and two transversely extending ends, and when so incorporated is of size to conform to and cover the metatarsal region and of saddle shape, the body first surface is transversely convex and longitudinally concave toward the upper inner surface, and the body second surface is transversely concave and longitudinally convex toward the sole inner surface;
wherein the protector body is molded from flexible, resilient plastics material and at least the central portion thereof has protruding from one surface thereof a plurality of ridged first projections providing a corresponding plurality of open-mouthed first recesses, each of which first recesses is surrounded by a respective first projection or immediately adjacent first projections that are joined together;
the material from which the protector body is molded has an overall hardness as measured by a Durometer A test of from 35 to 60 Shore;
and
the width and height dimensions of the first projections and the corresponding dimensions of the first recesses are such that an impact force of up to 35 foot pounds applied to the footwear metatarsal region at an impact point results in a minimum clearance inside the footwear after the impact, as measured by a permanently compressible wax body under the impact point, of at least 2.5 cm for a 9D boot and 2.4 cm for an 8B boot.

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Abstract

Claims21