Chain Mail Protective Insole

Abstract

A protective insole comprised of chain mail which is placed in between the lower and upper soles of a construction boot, thereby preventing nails or other sharp objects found on construction sites from penetrating the shoe and causing painful injury to the worker. The insole is preferably rubberized as to provide comfort to the user, and is melded in between the lower and upper soles of the boot. In an alternative embodiment of the invention the chain mail insole is fabricated as a separate, removable sole that is rubberized and placed in the boot itself.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to footwear; namely, to footwear that is enhanced with a protective sole to prevent injury to the foot of a user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many construction workers have suffered injuries to the feet on the job site by nails or sharp objects penetrating the sole of the shoe and puncturing/wounding the skin. This generally causes the worker to be out of commission and unable to perform work duties for a few weeks.

Additionally, infections such as tetanus may arise from wounds caused by sharp rusty objects. Needless to say, this is a problematic issue.

Safety boots used on similar job sites usually have a reinforced steel toe and/or heel, or some type of reinforced plastic molding incorporated into the soles of the shoe. However, these insoles are generally not removable, and the plastic may be ineffective in preventing a sharp object from passing through.

There exists a need for a boot that has an embedded or removable insole of a strong, virtually impenetrable metallic material such as steel or titanium that provides industrial strength protection for the user, such that a nail cannot pass through the shoe and injure the user. However, this material must also be flexible insofar as to allow optimal movement of the user's foot.

Relevant art includes WO Patent 92/14372 issued to Alexander et al. on Sep. 3, 1992 (European Patent 0572393 B1 issued Jul. 21, 1999), which discloses a protective foot capsule. The invention is a boot that is intended for particular use as industrial footwear, mainly to avoid injury due to a chemical spill or a fire. Unlike the present invention, Alexander et al. does not use a metal in the insole that is capable of deflecting a sharp object should the user step on one; furthermore, it is an invention designed for a specific use and is more applicable to firefighters or workers in a chemical plant than construction workers.

Japanese Publication 2002121835, Shigehiko et al. on May 11, 2003, describes work boots that are easy to remove and put on. The cylindrical shape of the upper section of the boot provides protection while an internalized “guide section” allows for easy insertion and removal of the foot. Unlike the present invention, the patent makes no reference to having a reinforced insole to protect the foot against sharp objects.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,992,056, issued to Lohrmann on Nov. 30, 1999, is an anti-personnel mine protective footpad. It is intended to guard against explosive devices, and is comprised of nearly 30 layers of fabric. Unlike the present invention, its principle aims are not to prevent a nail penetrating the sole, but to protect the foot in case of an explosion.

Prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,583 issued to Aleven on Feb. 15, 1994 (European Patent 0667108A1 issued Aug. 16, 1995), which is a puncture-resistant insole made of a plastic mold, fabric liner and a fabric mesh, and steel plates on the toe and heel. Unlike the present invention, the steel does not cover the entirety of the bottom portion of the shoe, which provides more effective protection to the user.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,255 issued to Ventura on Dec. 7, 1999 is an insole made of synthetic fibers such as Kevlar. The layers of fiber are not bonded together, but rather covered with foam. Unlike the present invention, the insole is not made of a metallic material that provides superior protection.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,151,803, issued to Charles on Nov. 28, 2000, is an insole made of a polymer-fiber and a rigid steel plate. Unlike the present invention, the rigid steel plate would not allow great flexibility of the foot. It has been shown that a rigid steel plate is not as effective in preventing injury as other materials.

It is expected that none of the relevant and prior art can accomplish the objectives of the present invention, as the present invention provides maximum flexibility as well as complete protection of the foot.

Thus, the present invention provides a simple and adequate solution to the existing problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to improve the prior art of puncture-resistant insoles and protective footwear by designing an insole that is made entirely of chain mail. The chain mail would then be rubberized and used as a removable insert, or placed between the boot and sole by the manufacturer prior to selling the shoe.

Chain mail is made from chain links woven together to form a “fabric” made of metal. Chain mail was typically used as armor in the medieval era. It is nowadays produced as a finer metal mesh, from very strong welded links that are woven together on large machines. It is used by butchers, who wear it as gloves to protect their hands when cutting meat. Shark divers may use chain mail as a full-body suit.

Manufacturers must consider the size and quality of the links in order for the chain mail to be effective: if the chain mail pattern is too tight, it can trap body heat; if it is too loose, objects may penetrate the chain mail. Modern chain mail can be made from stainless steel, titanium, niobium or aluminum, and the rings are available in various sizes.

Unlike a plastic or polymer fiber as used in previous designs, the chain mail would assure that no sharp object could penetrate the sole of the construction worker's boot. The chain mail is cut to fit the boot of the user and coated with a thick rubber exterior, ensuring a comfortable fit. The safety of the user's foot is therefore guaranteed without sacrificing comfort.

Hence, is an object of the present invention to provide for a boot that a construction worker could use on the work site without risking injury to the foot by penetration of a nail or sharp object.

It is a further object of the present invention to create this puncture-resistant insole from fine chain mail, which is an improvement on existing insoles because if the quality of the rings is good and the size is accurate, said material is virtually impenetrable by a nail or other sharp object, but it is also comfortable and flexible, allowing movement of the foot. Heretofore, relevant and prior art uses no such substantially impenetrable material for its purposes.

It is an additional object of the present invention to have said insole be removable if the user so desires, wherein the user may customize the boot to their needs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is comprised of a construction boot that has a layer of rubberized chain mail 10 in between the lower sole 20 and the upper sole 30 of the boot 40 worn on the user's foot. By placing the chain mail 10 in between the soles 20 and 30 of the boot 40, the chain mail 10 is impenetrable by nails or the like. When it is placed in such a fashion, the manufacturer does so before it is sold on the market. The chain mail 10 insole is melded in between the lower sole 20 and upper sole 30 of the boot, and is not removable from the boot itself. Therefore, the sole is guaranteed to stay in place and will not shift within the shoe when it is worn.

In an alternative embodiment of the present invention, and as shown in FIG. 2, the chain mail 10 is rubberized and used as a removable insole 12. The chain mail 10 is lightweight, molds comfortably to the foot as it is a fine layer of metal. Unlike a rigid steel plate or sheet mail, the chain mail 10 is more effective and comfortable for the user. It is flexible and molds easily to the foot. Preferably, the insole would be made of a stainless steel or titanium metal that resists rusting and is a durable material. The chain mail essentially serves as a woven metal fabric.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments as described above. It should be understood that there might be variations in the present invention that are not limited to the detailed description of the embodiment, but still capture the essence of the invention as dictated in the following claims.

Claims

1. A shoe for a user, comprised of:

a construction boot; and

a chain mail insole within said construction boot.

2. The construction boot of claim 1 wherein said chain mail insole is configured to be impenetrable by sharp objects.

3. The construction boot of claim 1 wherein said chain mail insole is placed on the interior of said construction boot.

4. The construction boot of claim 1 wherein said chain mail insole is melded between the lower and upper soles of said construction boot.

5. The construction boot of claim 1 wherein said chain mail insole is covered with any conventional material to provide comfort to the user.

6. The construction boot of claim 1 wherein said chain mail insole is covered with any conventional material so that the user does not feel said chain mail insole.