Puncture Resistant Workboot

Abstract

A work boot has a midsole connected between an upper and a sob, the midsole having a plurality of layers of puncture resistant material lining an inner surface and side walls thereof. The side walls extend upwardly from a periphery of the inner surface of the midsole. Additional layers of puncture resistant material cover a bottom of the upper. An arch of the midsole also has a plurality of layers of puncture resistant fabric thereon. The midsole has a series of spaced apart cross members and a shank extending substantially perpendicular to the cross members to provide stability and to prevent reverse flexing of the work boot.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a puncture resistant work boot having a sole, midsole, and upper where the midsole has a plurality of layers of puncture resistant fabric embedded therein along a bottom and upwardly extending side walls of the midsole.

2. Description of the Prior Art

It is known to have puncture resistant work boots having a plurality of layers of puncture resistant fabric extending partially along a bottom of a midsole. However, previous puncture resistant work boots do not provide adequate safety protection to a user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a puncture resistant work boot having a plurality of layers of a puncture resistant fabric embedded therein where the layers of puncture resistant fabric cover the bottom of the midsole and have side walls extending upward from a periphery of a bottom.

A puncture resistant work boot comprises a sole, midsole, and an upper, the midsole having a plurality of puncture resistant layers embedded therein. The midsole has a bottom and side walls extending upward from a periphery of the bottom and the puncture resistant line the midsole and have a bottom and at least one side wall extending upward from a periphery of a bottom. The sole is connected to the midsole and the midsole is connected to the upper.

Preferably, there are five puncture resistant layers stitched directly to a bottom of an upper.

Still more preferably, there are a plurality of puncture resistant layers extending over an arch of the midsole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a work boot having an upper, midsole and outsole;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a work boot having a transparent portion;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a midsole and outsole;

FIG. 4 is an inside side view of the midsole and outsole;

FIG. 5 is an outside side view of the midsole and outsole;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the midsole and outsole;

FIG. 7 is a sectional side view of the midsole and outsole along the Section A-A of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the midsole and outsole;

FIG. 9 is a sectional end view of the midsole and outsole along the Section B-B of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a sectional end view of the midsole and outsole along the Section C-C of FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a sectional end view of the midsole and outsole along the Section D-D of FIG. 6;

FIG. 12 is an end view of a heel of the midsole and outsole; and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a work boot with the upper partially separated from the midsole and the midsole partially separated from the outsole.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a work boot 2 having an outsole 4, midsole 5 and upper 8. In FIG. 1, there is shown an exploded view and the midsole 6 has a plurality of puncture resistant layers 10. The layers 10 are located along an inner surface 12 of the midsole 6 and side walls 13 extending upward around a periphery 14 of the midsole 6. The outsole 4 has a tread 18 thereon. In FIG. 2, the puncture resistant layers 10 are shown as cross-hatching on the surface of the midsole 8 and side wall 13 that the layers 10 cover. The cross hatching is only partially shown on the surfaces that are preferably covered entirely by the puncture resistant layers 10.

In FIG. 3, an outsole 4 and midsole 8 is shown with the midsole 6 having a plurality of puncture resistant layers 10 thereon on top of the inner surface 12 (not shown in FIG. 3) of the midsole 8 and on the top of part of the side walls 13. The midsole 8 has cross members 18 that are spaced apart from one another and extend across the midsole 8 above the plurality of puncture resistant layers 10. A shank 20 extends along a rear portion of the midsole 8 and rests on the cross members 18. A plurality of puncture resistant layers 22 extend along an interior surface of the arch of the midsole 8. Preferably, the layers 10 cover the side walls 13 entirely.

In FIGS. 4 to 13, there are shown further views of the midsole 6 and outsole 4. The same reference numerals are used in FIGS. 4 to 13 as those used in FIGS. 1 to 3 for those components that are identical. In FIG. 5, the puncture resistant layers 10 are slightly smaller than the midsole 6 to fit inside, the midsole 8. While FIG. 5 shows the layers 10 as having an identical shape to the midsole 6, the layers 10 can be shaped in various ways to fit within the midsole 6 without being identical thereto.

In FIG. 13, there is shown an upper 8, midsole 6 and outsole 4, preferably made from high traction rubber, that are partially attached to one another. The upper 8 has laces 24 and is bent forward so that only a toe portion 28 is mounted to a corresponding toe portion 28 of the midsole 8. A bottom 30 of the midsole 6 has five layers of fabric plate 32 affixed thereto. The same reference numerals are used in FIG. 11 as those used In FIGS. 1 to 10 for those components that are identical. The shank 20, preferably made, from thermoplasticpolyurethene, provides added stability to the work boot and counters against reverse-flex. The midsole 6 is preferably made from ethylvinylacetate foam. In addition, the midsole 6 has at feast two puncture resistant layers 10 embedded into a chassis 34 of the midsole 6. The puncture resistant layers 10 are preferably comprised of layers of puncture resistant fabric.

The workboot of the present invention protect a user (not shown) by having a plurality of puncture resistant layers that are preferably arranged to protect against puncture for two or more of a bottom, sides, and arch of a foot (not shown) of the user. Still preferably, the puncture resistant layers extend from heel to toe.

Claims

1. A puncture resistant work boot comprising a sole, a midsole and upper, the midsole having a plurality of puncture resistant layers embedded therein, the midsole having an inner surface and side walls extending upward from a periphery of the inner surface, the puncture resistant layers lining the midsole and having a bottom and at least one side wall extending upward from a periphery of the bottom, the sole being connected to the midsole and the midsole being connected to the upper.

2. A work boot as claimed in claim 1 wherein the layers of puncture-resistant material line the side walls of the midsole.

3. A work boot as claimed in claim 2 wherein there are a further plurality of puncture resistant layers affixed to a bottom of the upper.

4. A work boot as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of puncture resistant layers on an arch of the midsole.

5. A work boot as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein there are cross members extending across the midsole, the cross members being spaced apart from one another.

6. A work boot as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 where cross members extend across the midsole and are anchored on sides thereof, support a shank extending substantially perpendicular to the cross members.

7. A work boot as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2 or 3 wherein the puncture resistant layers are layers of puncture resistant fabric.

8. A puncture resistant work boot comprising a sole, a midsole and upper, the midsole having an inner surface and side walls extending upward from a periphery of the inner surface, with a plurality of puncture resistant layers covering the inner surface and at least part of the side walls and extending at least from heel to toe and from side wall to side wall of said midsole, the midsole being connected between the upper and the sole to form the work boot.