CUT-RESISTANT SAFETY SHOE

Abstract

The invention relates to a shoe (10), in particular a safety shoe, having a sole (12), an upper material (14) and a rand (16), the rand (16) being adhesively bonded to the sole (12), and the rand (16) having an edge (18) which faces the upper material (14). According to the invention, rivets (20) are inserted along the edge (18) of the rand (16), said rivets penetrating the rand (16) and the upper material (14).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a shoe, in particular to a cut-resistant safety shoe having a sole, an upper material, and a rand.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Such shoes are usually provided with a rubber sole often having a profile. The upper material of the shoe may be comprised of various materials. Apart from manufacturing the upper material from one homogenous material, it is also possible that the upper material is, in sections, made of different materials. Eligible are, for example, leather, synthetic leather, fabrics and synthetic materials frequently provided with functional features such as water tightness and breathing properties. A rand is a reinforcement of the shoe adjoining the sole and extending upwards which, like the sole, usually consists of rubber. The same or a similar rubber mixture as used for the sole may be used. Likewise, entirely different rubber mixtures may be deployed. The rand may also consist of other materials, for example leather, synthetic leather, fabrics and synthetic materials.

The rand is adhesively bonded to the sole and, according to the state of the art, sewn to the upper material. These different types of connections are selected because adhesive bonding is particularly useful in the area of the sole to guarantee absolute tightness of the shoe in this area. The materials for the sole and rand can further be easily combined so that an adhesive bond is durable in any case. On the other hand, adhesive bonding of the rand to the upper material is frequently impossible since the material selection of the upper material is normally entirely dependent on the other requirements imposed on the upper material. Insofar, the rand is sewn to the upper material here.

It turned out that, with regard to sewing the upper material to the rand, problems occur, namely due to damage to the seams and a consequential opening of the connection. This is completely undesirable in case of heavy duty shoes. In contrast, it is a key requirement on, for example, hiking boots, work shoes, and, in particular, cut-resistant safety shoes, that they will endure under all conditions and thus provide for the required safety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to eliminate the problems of the state of the art and, in particular, to provide for an increased durability in the area of the connection between the rand and the upper material to this effect. Said object is solved by the features of the independent claim.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

The invention is based on the generic shoe in that rivets penetrating the rand and the upper material are inserted along the edge of the rand. What is more, the rivets are preferably inserted in addition to a seam and/or adhesive bond between rand and upper material. The connection provided for by the rivets is extremely durable, and in addition, the presence of the rivets protects the seams from friction externally applied to the seams so that they achieve prolonged durability. Insofar, the rivets have a dual function. On the one hand, they are joining means, on the other hand, they protect the shoe from the outside. This is particularly relevant when the shoe is a cut-resistant safety shoe, i.e. a shoe intended to protect the wearer's foot against the impact of cutting tools, for example against a chain saw. If the chain saw hits one or more rivets which is not improbable when the rivets are suitably arranged it will rebound from the shoe, and the shoe will remain entirely or almost undamaged. The wearer's foot will remain unhurt.

Usefully, it may be contemplated that the edge is, at least partly, undulated, and that the rivets are arranged in the wave crests of the undulated edge. Thus, the upper material is exposed in the wave troughs, so that it is only overlapped by the rand to the extent required. When the upper material has functional features such as, for example, breathing properties, these may be effective in the wave troughs without being impaired by the rand.

Comparable advantages are achieved by the edge being, at least partly, serrated and the rivets being arranged in the spikes of the serrated edge.

The invention is usefully further developed in that the rand is, in addition, at least partly, sewn to the upper material. In principle, it is conceivable that the rivet connection is the only connection between the upper material and the rand. Furthermore, it is conceivable that, in addition to riveting, another connection is present between the rand and the upper material, for example a press or weld connection. As already mentioned, however, it is particularly advantageous to combine sewing and riveting since a seam can provide for a continuous connection of the upper material to the rand along its edge, and the seam is reliably protected by the rivets.

It may be particularly advantageous that the rand is, at least in parts, additionally adhesively bonded to the upper material. Adhesive bonding as well provides for a continuous connection to the upper material along the edge of the rand.

The invention is further developed in a particularly useful manner in that, at least in sections, a connecting layer which is, at least in parts, adhesively bonded to both the upper material and the rand is provided between the rand and the upper material. When the option of adhesively bonding the rand to the upper material is selected this may be problematic since adhesively bonding the materials of the rand and the upper material to each other is not possible or can only be poorly achieved. A connecting layer between the rand and the upper material may be of assistance here. The material can be selected so that adhesive bonding to both the rand and the upper material is possible. Particularly specific rubber mixtures qualify here.

It is advantageous that, at least in sections, a lining layer is provided on the inside of the upper material. A lining provides for additional protection against mechanical influences and against weather conditions.

It is particularly useful that, at least in sections, a cut protection layer is provided on the inside of the upper material. A cut protection layer is a material lining the inside of the shoe which cannot be easily cut through by a saw due to its fibrous texture. A chain saw will be stopped by shredding the cut protection layer. Should a chain saw penetrate the shoe despite of the rivets the cut protection layer will thus ensure an uninjured wearer of the shoe.

It is useful that the rivets, at least in part, penetrate the rand, the upper material, and the lining layer. The rivets will thus hold several layers together providing for particular stability of the shoe.

In this respect, it is also possible that the rivets, at least in part, penetrate the rand, the upper material, the lining layer, and the cut protection layer. However, according to other embodiments, the cut protection layer may also be arranged inwardly so that it is not penetrated by the rivets. In this case, it has the additional function of protecting the foot against exposure to the rivets to avoid pressure points.

In this connection it is also advantageous that the rivets have a substantially flat head on the inside. In contrast to a domed head, the flat head will exert hardly any or no pressure on the foot.

In contrast to this, it is advantageous that the rivets have a substantially domed head on the outside. A domed rivet on the outer portion of the shoe offers a larger engagement and prevention surface and a larger defence mass against impinging saw tools.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings based on particularly preferred embodiments.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective side view of a shoe according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of a shoe according to the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a layer arrangement in the vicinity of a rivet.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a perspective side view of a shoe according to the invention. FIG. 2 shows a front view of a shoe according to the invention. The shoe 10 is, in the present case, a shoe 10 having a raised collar as common in, for example, hiking shoes, working shoes, and, in particular, in cut-resistant safety shoes. The shoe 10 has a profiled sole 12 made of rubber. The upper material 14 of the shoe 10 is, in the present example, at least in parts, made of fabric. The sole 12 is adjoined by a rand 16 adhesively bonded to the sole 12. The rand 16 is, in the present example, also made of rubber. The lateral reinforcement of the shoe 10 provided for by the rand 16 may completely surround the shoe 10 or may only be provided in sections. An edge 18 of the rand 16 is, in parts, designed so as to be undulated or serrated. The rand 18 is connected to the upper material by rivets 20. These rivets 20 are arranged in the wave crests 22 or spikes 24 of the undulated edge 18. In addition, the rand 16 may be sewn and/or adhesively bonded to the upper material 14.

The rivets 20 provide for a reliable connection between the rand 16 and the upper material 14. Furthermore, they provide for cut protection, for if a saw tool hits a rivet 20 it will bounce off with a high probability so that the foot of the wearer of the shoe 10 is protected and will remain uninjured. Moreover, the rivets 20 protect a possibly provided seam joining the rand 16 and the upper material 14 so that wear of the seams is reduced, and the shoe 10 remains durable in the area of the connection between the rand 16 and the upper material 14.

FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a layer arrangement in the vicinity of a rivet. A rivet 20 connects the rand 16 disposed on the outer side to the upper material 14. Between the rand 16 and the upper material 14, a connecting layer 34 may be provided. Further, a lining layer 26 and a cut protection layer 28 may be arranged on the inside of the upper material 14. In the present embodiment, the rivet 20 penetrates the upper material 16, the connecting layer 34, the rand 14, and the lining layer 26. A cut protection layer 28 disposed on the inside of the lining layer 26 is not penetrated by the rivet 20 in the present embodiment. However, this is nevertheless possible. Likewise, it is conceivable that the lining layer 26 is not penetrated by the rivet 20 either. It may likewise be contemplated that the arrangement of the lining layer 26 and of the cut protection layer 28 is reversed. Then again, it is possible that both layers are not penetrated by the rivet 20, or that only the layer arranged further to the outside or both are. The rivet 20 is provided with a flat head 30 on the inner side so that as little pressure as possible is exerted on the wearer's foot. On its outer side, the rivet 20 has a domed head 32 so as to provide for more engagement surface and mass with regard to the protection of the outer side of the shoe and for the purpose of cut protection.

The features of the invention disclosed in the above description, in the drawings as well as in the claims may be important for the realisation of the invention both individually and in any combination.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

• 10 shoe
• 12 sole
• 14 upper material
• 16 rand
• 18 edge
• 20 rivet
• 22 wave crests
• 24 spikes
• 26 lining layer
• 28 cut protection layer
• 30 flat head
• 32 domed head
• 34 connecting layer

Claims

1. A cut-resistant safety shoe, the shoe comprising: a sole,an upper material;a rand having an edge facing the upper material;an adhesive bond for bonding the rand to the sole; anda plurality of rivets penetrating the rand and the upper material;wherein the rivets are inserted along the edge of the rand.

2. The cut-resistant safety shoe according to claim 1, wherein the edge comprises an undulated portion, andwherein the rivets are arranged in a wave crest of the undulated portion.

3. The cut-resistant safety shoe according to claim 1, wherein the edge comprises a serrated portion; andwherein the rivets are arranged in a spike of the serrated portion.

4. The cut-resistant safety shoe according to claim 1, further comprising a connection between the rand the upper material, the connection being sewn.

5. The shoe according to claim 1, further comprising a second adhesive bond for bonding the rand to the upper material.

6. The cut-resistant safety shoe according to claim 1, further comprising a connecting layer, the connecting layer disposed between the rand and the upper material, the connecting layer being bonded to the rand and the upper material.

7. The cut-resistant safety shoe according to claim 1, further comprising a lining layer disposed on an inside of the upper material.

8. The cut-resistant safety shoe according to claim 2, further comprising a cut protection layer provided on an inside of the upper material.

9. The cut-resistant safety shoe according to claim 1, wherein the rivets penetrate partially the rand, the upper material, and the lining layer.

10. The cut-resistant safety shoe according to claim 1, further comprising a cut protection layer provided on an inside of the upper material and a lining layer provided on the inside of the upper material;wherein the rivets penetrate partially the rand, the upper material, the lining layer; and the cut protection layer.

11. The cut-resistant safety shoe of claim 9, wherein the rivets have a substantially flat head on the inner side.

12. The cut-resistant safety shoe of claim 9, wherein the rivets have a substantially domed head on an outside of the upper material.

13. A cut-resistant safety shoe, the shoe comprising: a sole,an upper material;a rand having an edge facing the upper material;a adhesive bond for connecting the rand to the sole; anda plurality of rivets penetrating the rand and the upper material;wherein the rivets are inserted along the edge of the rand.

14. The shoe according to claim 2, wherein the edge comprises a serrated portion, andwherein the rivets are arranged in a spike of the serrated portion.

15. The cut-resistant safety shoe according to claim 1, further comprising a cut protection layer provided on an inside of the upper material and a lining layer provided on the inside of the upper material.

16. The cut-resistant safety shoe of claim 10, wherein the rivets have a substantially flat head on the inner side.

17. The cut-resistant safety shoe of claim 10, wherein the rivets have a substantially domed head on an outside of the upper material.