Abstract: Separation of the upper from the midsole, and separation of the midsole from the main sole, of shoes resulting from the kind of forces that are applied during the practice in bowling and other sports is minimized or prevented by the use of a wrap-around member in the toe region of the shoe. The lower margin of that wrap-around member is sandwiched between the midsole and the sole of the shoe, and it is wrapped around and over the midsole and up the side of the upper where it is fastened in a way that combines with a lock stitch that binds together the wrap-around member, the midsole, and the sole so that forces that would otherwise tend to separate midsole from the upper tend, if anything, to relieve pressure on that juncture.

Abstract: In footwear of most varieties including boots and shoes, there is described improved footwear wherein the upper or boot portion of the footwear, including a safety toe cap, is detachably connected to the lower or heel and sole portion of the footwear. Known footwear is integrally formed such that damage to the safety toe cap necessitates replacement of the footwear if the safety features of the boot are to be maintained. In this invention, releasable fasteners such as hooks are deployed about the periphery of the sole. These hooks engage a continuous flexible wire which extends around the lower periphery of the upper portion of the footwear. A toe cap is formed with similar hook fasteners along its lower periphery which also engage the flexible wire. The toe cap hooks are spaced to fit between the hooks deployed about the periphery of the sole when installed. Accordingly, the toe cap may be secured to the upper portion prior to attachment of the upper portion to the sole.

Abstract: A safety waterproof boot of molded plastics material is provided having an integral sole and upper, the upper including a toe portion and a metatarsal portion, a metallic plate provided in the sole portion and extending the width and length thereof and allowing for longitudinal flexing of the sole, a box-shaped rigid toe guard provided in the toe portion, a rigid arched metatarsal guard member extending laterally and having side portions connected to the sole plate, the trailing edge of the toe guard being spaced inwardly relative to the leading edge of the metatarsal guard and the molded plastics material extending between the metatarsal guard and the toe guard having a flexible hinge portion in the form of a reverse fold such that the trailing edge of the toe guard will pivot inwardly of the leading edge of the metatarsal guard when the toe portion of the boot is being pivoted relative to the boot.

Abstract: An improved athletic shoe in which the solepiece has a wedge to facilitate supporting the runner's foot when contacting the ground; the toe box section being provided with pleats to allow expansion for toe movement when the foot flexes; the solepiece is provided with a flexure break segment of reduced thickness following the phalangal-metatarsal joint line of action of the human foot to permit differential flexure of the solepiece in a manner following such lines of action; and the heel part of the solepiece is rounded for optimizing initial and following ground foot contact.

Abstract: A laminated insole for a skate boot is disclosed. The insole includes a base layer moulded in a relatively rigid plastic material and an inner layer of a relatively resilient material laminated to the base layer. The base layer has a raised central portion in its outer surface which provides a strengthening spine for the insole and which is surrounded by a relatively flat peripheral surface portion onto which the margin of a lasted upper can be secured in constructing a boot. The raised central portion has a thickness corresponding generally to the thickness of the margin of the upper so that the bottom surface of the upper/insole combination is generally flat.

Abstract: A safety shoe with a concealed metatarsal guard enclosed, with a metal toe cap, and thick padding, between the vamp and the lining at the forepart of the shoe. The guard itself is of a relatively rigid but somewhat yieldable plastic material curved and formed both longitudinally and laterally, overlying the rear part of the toe cap and with thick padding beneath it where it overlies the metatarsal area of the shoe. The guard is designed to spread upon receiving a heavy falling object and thereby distribute the load over the entire area of the guard so as to minimize damage to the foot.

Abstract: In safety footwear, an impact-resistant toe-cap, for example of steel, has a synthetic plastics coating by means of which it is secured to the shoe. The coating, which can incorporate a base board, has a lip which is stitched to the upper. The coating may form a peripheral flange for incorporation in a stitched welt. The coating protects the wearer against head edges of the toe-cap and protects a steel toe-cap against corrosion.

Abstract: A shoe having a partial liner is disclosed. The shoe is unlined single thickness leather having a partial leather girdle in the interior. The girdle is of reduced thickness and extends transversely across the foot from sole edge to sole edge and from a point just behind the box toe or toe stiffening area of the shoe to a point slightly behind the bunion joint portion of the foot, that is, to the longitudinal arch area. The girdle is skived at the periphery to prevent its being visible from outside the shoe. The girdle may be perforated on all or a portion of its surface to facilitate cooling of the foot. The perforations may extend entirely through the shoe for additional cooling. The girdle is placed with the grain side of the leather next to the foot and is oriented so that the stretch of the girdle is transverse to the stretch of the vamp of the shoe. Normally the maximum stretch of the girdle is longitudinal to the shoe and the maximum stretch of the vamp is transverse of the shoe.

Abstract: A safety shoe instep guard of compound curvature conforming generally to the shape of the human instep is constructed as an integral part of the shoe or secured to the shoe adjacent at least the lower end of the guard and extends upwardly from the region of the toes. The guard includes a plurality of elongated generally arched-shaped rigid strips extending transversely of the instep and are articulated together in overlapping relation to provide an armored protector assembly having sufficient flexibility to permit normal use and movement of the shoe. The articulated rigid strips are provided with an upwardly directed, generally arcuate arch extending transversely of the individual strips, with the arcuate arches of adjacent rigid strips overlapping and cooperating to form a continuous upwardly directed reinforcing ridge extending substantially the full length of the articulated armor assembly.

Abstract: An orthopedic shoe with a domical forefoot protective guard to provide a safety zone for the distal portion of the foot. The shoe includes a generally rigid sole, to which the protective guard is attached and which extends about and overlies the dorsum of the toes. Spacer means may be utilized to provide additional forward clearances as may be required in certain deformity corrective surgical procedures.

Abstract: Copolyamides derived from mixed acids (a polymeric fatty acid and short-chain dibasic acid) and mixed amines (a polyoxyalkylene diamine and a short-chain diamine) are provided. These thermoplastic resin compositions are excellent reinforcing adhesives for flexible substrates and are particularly useful as box-toe construction resins.

Abstract: Foot protector for use in safety footwear, shaped of a plastic material that is adapted to the shape of the foot, and being preferably of the polycarbonate type. The protector comprises a toe cap and an instep cap, with a lower part that is shaped so as to be secured to the sole of the footwear, to prevent the foot protector from penetrating into the sole.

Abstract: A rigid box toe piece for use in the assembly of a lasted safety shoe is lined in a machine which shapes the liner and attaches it to the inner surface of the steel box. The machine includes a clamp to temporarily hold the positioned box liner with respect to a mold which is shaped to correspond to the toe end of a last. The steel box is placed over the clamped liner and a press then urges the steel box over the liner and onto the mold to press and shape the liner between the box and the mold. The liner is secured to the steel box by adhesive which is applied to the inner surface of the box before the box is placed in the machine so that the pressing step also bonds the liner to the box. The machine includes means for aligning the liner with respect to the mold.

Abstract: In a welt shoe having a resilient cushion outsole there is provided a crush-proof safety box toe incorporated in the toe portion of the shoe and associated with a stress-distributing plate anchored above the outsole and beneath the insole in position to distribute stresses exerted by the safety box toe when it receives a blow.

Abstract: A safety shoe having a rigid box toe (such as steel) is assembled by a method in which the steel box is incorporated into the shoe upper before the upper is assembled with the last. The steel box is attached to the upper in a position such that when the upper assembly (including the steel box) is fitted onto the last, a light longitudinal draft of the upper will result. With the upper thus placed on the last, it can be lasted in conventional pulling over and lasting equipment. The upper assembly has only one lastable marginal portion at its toe and forepart region so that only one pulling over and lasting operation is required in order to last the upper about the box toe.

Abstract: Formable or formed stiffening materials are prepared which are dry and free of fibrous materials and consisting essentially of a thermoplastic synthetic resin containing at least 3 parts of an active substance, preferably carbon black in 100 parts of the resin. Optionally, there are present conventional fillers, plasticizers, dyes, pigments and/or stabilizers against light, heat and/or mechanical influences.

Abstract: A safety box toe for use in shoes and the like having flange means on the lower edge thereof wherein the total of the horizontally projected areas of the flange means rearwardly of an imaginary transverse test axis one-half inch in front of the center back edge of the box toe is at least equal to the total of the horizontally projected areas of the flange means forwardly of that axis, with the maximum transverse width of the flange means on each side of the box toe element being no more than 20 percent of the overall maximum width of the box toe element. This "balanced flange" design provides improved compression and impact test result according to conventional standards.