| CLAIMS 1. A foot guard including: a protective plate member being sized and shaped to cover and protect that portion of a shoe housing the metatarsal region of a wearer's foot, the protective plate member defining a plurality of lacing apertures through which the lace of the shoe is threadable for the purposes of releasably securing the protective plate member to the shoe; and a lace cover member for covering the lacing apertures and the lace securing the protective plate member to the shoe; such that, in use, the lace is sandwiched between the protective plate member and the lace cover member thereby protecting the lace from being severed and/or burnt, so as to prevent the foot guard from falling off the shoe and exposing the wearer's shoe and/or foot to damage and/or injury. 2. A foot guard according to claim 1, wherein the protective plate member is a rigid plate member shaped to conform generally to the metatarsal area of the foot. 3. A foot guard according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the protective plate member comprises an operative upper surface, an operative lower surface, an operative top edge, an operative bottom edge and a pair of operative side edges extending between the operative top and bottom edges, the operative lower surface of the protective plate member having a convex shape extending between the operative top and bottom edges and a concave shape extending between the operative side edges. 4. A foot guard according to claim 3, wherein the operative bottom edge of the protective plate member is supportable on a toe cap of the shoe so as to better protect the wearer's foot in the event of an object falling on the foot guard. 5. A foot guard according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the lacing apertures are located nearer to the operative top edge than to the operative lower edge of the protective plate member. 6. A foot guard according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the lacing apertures are spaced laterally and longitudinally apart from one another so as to align with at least some of the lacing eyelets of the shoe to which the protective plate member is securable. 7. A foot guard according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the protective plate member has a high resistance to blunt impact, penetration by sharp objects and high temperatures from exposure to welding conditions. 8. A foot guard according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the protective plate member is manufactured from a hard plastic-like material. 9. A foot guard according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the lace cover member is a rigid plate member comprising an operative upper surface, an operative lower surface, an operative top edge, an operative bottom edge and a pair of operative side edges extending between the operative top and bottom edges, the operative lower surface of the lace cover member having a substantially concave shape extending between the operative side edges. 10. A foot guard according to claim 9, wherein the lace cover member has a high resistance to blunt impact, penetration by sharp objects and high temperatures from exposure to welding conditions. 11. A foot guard according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the lace cover member is manufactured from a hard plastic-like material. 12. A foot guard according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the lace cover member is attached to the protective plate member and movable between a first position, wherein the lacing apertures are exposed, and a second position, wherein the lacing apertures are covered by the lace cover member. 13. A foot guard according to claim 12, wherein the lace cover member is movable between the first and second positions by one or more corresponding slide formations, hinge formations or swivel formations located on the protective plate member and the lace cover member. 14. A foot guard according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the protective plate member and lace cover member co-operate in the second position to define a space therebetween in which the lace of the shoe, in use, is positionable. 15. A foot guard according to any one of claims 9 to 11 , wherein the lace cover member is releasably attachable to the protective plate member, the lace cover member being attachable to the protective plate member to cover the lacing apertures in a first orientation, and detachable from the protective plate member to expose the lacing apertures in a second orientation. 16. A foot guard according to claim 15, wherein the lace cover member is releasably attachable to the protective plate member by corresponding clipping formations located on the protective plate member and the lace cover member. 17. A foot guard according to claim 16, wherein the corresponding clipping formations comprise one or more slots defined by the protective plate member and one or more male clipping formations projecting downwardly from the operative lower surface, the slots and the male clipping formations being co-operative to releasably retain the lace cover member in the first orientation with respect to the protective plate member. 18. A foot guard according to claim 17, wherein each of the male clipping formations comprise a primary clipping tab and a secondary clipping tab, the primary clipping tab being engagable with a lower end of the slot lying closest to the operative bottom edge of the protective plate member and the secondary clipping tab being engagable with an upper end of the slot lying closest to the operative top edge of the protective plate member. 19. A foot guard according to claim 18, wherein the secondary clipping tab is substantially perpendicular to and pointing downwardly with respect to the operative lower surface of the lace cover member and the primary clipping tab is substantially parallel to the operative lower surface of the lace cover member and pointed towards the operative bottom edge of the lace cover member, such that a sliding motion of the lace cover member with respect to the protective plate member causes the primary clipping tab to engage with the lower end of the slot and a pressing force applied downwardly near the operative top edge of the lace cover member cases the secondary clipping tab to engage the upper end of the slot. 20. A foot guard according to any one of claims 15 to 19, wherein the protective plate member and lace cover member co-operate in the first orientation to define a space therebetween in which the lace of the shoe, in use, is positionable 21. A foot guard substantially as herein described and illustrated. 22. A protective plate member for a foot guard substantially as herein described and illustrated. 23. A lace cover member for a foot guard substantially as herein described and illustrated. |
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
THIS invention relates to a foot guard. More specifically, the invention relates to a foot guard with a lace guarding member that protects the laces attaching the foot guard to wearer's shoe from being severed or burnt, thereby preventing the foot guard from falling off the shoe and exposing the wearer's feet to injury.
Shoe or boot spats for protecting a welder's feet are known. Typically, these spats are manufactured from a layer of leather, pigskin or rigid plastic, and attachable to the upper halves of shoes so as to prevent welding sparks or spatter from burning through the shoes and injuring the welders' feet. There are various ways of attaching the spats to the shoes, but the more popular one is by attaching the spats to the shoes using tie downs or the laces of the shoes themselves. However, the problem with these spats is that the tie downs or laces are susceptible to becoming severed or burnt as a result of being struck by falling objects or by welding spatter, causing the spats to fall off and exposing the wearer's feet to injury.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a foot guard that protects the laces securing the foot guard to a shoe, thereby preventing the foot guard from falling off and enabling the foot guard to continue protecting the wearer's shoes and feet. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a foot guard including:
a protective plate member being sized and shaped to cover and protect that portion of a shoe housing the metatarsal region of a wearer's foot, the protective plate member defining a plurality of lacing apertures through which the lace of the shoe is threadable for the purposes of releasably securing the protective plate member to the shoe; and
a lace cover member for covering the lacing apertures and the lace securing the protective plate member to the shoe;
such that, in use, the lace is sandwiched between the protective plate member and the lace cover member thereby protecting the lace from being severed and/or burnt, so as to prevent the foot guard from falling off the shoe and exposing the wearer's shoe and/or foot to damage and/or injury respectively.
The protective plate member may be a rigid plate member shaped to conform generally to the metatarsal area of the foot. Preferably, the protective plate member comprises an operative upper surface, an operative lower surface, an operative top edge, an operative bottom edge and a pair of operative side edges extending between the operative top and bottom edges, the operative lower surface of the protective plate member having a convex shape extending between the operative top and bottom edges and a concave shape extending between the operative side edges.
The operative bottom edge of the protective plate member may be supportable on a toe cap of the shoe so as to better protect the wearer's foot in the event of an object falling on the foot guard. Typically, the lacing apertures are located nearer to the operative top edge than to the operative lower edge of the protective plate member. Generally, the lacing apertures are spaced laterally and longitudinally apart from one another so as to align with at least some of the lacing eyelets of the shoe to which the protective plate member is securable.
Preferably, the protective plate member has a high resistance to blunt impact, penetration by sharp objects and high temperatures from exposure to welding conditions. More preferably, the protective plate member is manufactured from a hard plastic-like material.
The lace cover member may be a rigid plate member comprising an operative upper surface, an operative lower surface, an operative top edge, an operative bottom edge and a pair of operative side edges extending between the operative top and bottom edges, the operative lower surface of the lace cover member having a substantially concave shape extending between the operative side edges. Typically, the lace cover member has a high resistance to blunt impact, penetration by sharp objects and high temperatures from exposure to welding conditions. Generally, the lace cover member is manufactured from a hard plastic-like material.
The lace cover member may be attached to the protective plate member and movable between a first position, wherein the lacing apertures are exposed, and a second position, wherein the lacing apertures are covered by the lace cover member. Generally, the lace cover member is movable between the first and second positions by one or more corresponding slide formations, hinge formations or swivel formations located on the protective plate member and the lace cover member. Typically, the protective plate member and lace cover member co-operate in the second position to define a space therebetween in which the lace of the shoe, in use, is positionable.
In an alternative embodiment, the lace cover member may be releasably attachable to the protective plate member, the lace cover member being attachable to the protective plate member to cover the lacing apertures in a first orientation, and detachable from the protective plate member to expose the lacing apertures in a second orientation.
Preferably, the lace cover member is releasably attachable to the protective plate member by corresponding clipping formations located on the protective plate member and the lace cover member. More preferably, the corresponding clipping formations comprise one or more slots defined by the protective plate member and one or more male clipping formations projecting downwardly from the operative lower surface, the slots and the male clipping formations being co-operative to releasably retain the lace cover member in the first orientation with respect to the protective plate member. Most preferably, the male clipping formations comprise a primary clipping tab and a secondary clipping tab, the primary clipping tab being engagable with a lower end of the slot lying closest to the operative bottom edge of the protective plate member and the secondary clipping tab being engagable with an upper end of the slot lying closest to the operative top edge of the protective plate member. Even more preferably, the secondary -A-
clipping tab is substantially perpendicular to and pointing downwardly with respect to the operative lower surface of the lace cover member and the primary clipping tab is substantially parallel to the operative lower surface of the lace cover member and pointed towards the operative bottom edge of the lace cover member, such that a sliding motion of the lace cover member with respect to the protective plate member causes the primary clipping tab to engage with the lower end of the slot and a pressing force applied downwardly near the operative top edge of the lace cover member cases the secondary clipping tab to engage the upper end of the slot.
With reference to the alternative embodiment, the protective plate member and lace cover member co-operate in the first orientation to define a space therebetween in which the lace of the shoe, in use, is positionable
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an assembled foot guard in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the foot guard in a disassembled form;
Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the foot guard secured, in use, to a shoe;
Figure 4 shows a cross-sectioned side view of the foot guard in the disassembled form; and
Figure 5 shows a cross-sectioned side view of the foot guard in an assembled form. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A foot guard according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is designated generally with reference numeral 10 in figure 1. The foot guard 10 comprises a protective plate member 12 and a lace cover member 14.
The protective plate member 12 comprises of an operative upper surface 16, an operative lower surface 18, an operative top edge 20, an operative bottom edge 22 and a pair of operative side edges 24,26 extending between the operative top and bottom edges 20, 22. Further, and with specific reference to figure 3, the protective plate member 12 is sized and shaped to generally conform to that portion 27 of a shoe 29 housing the metatarsal region of a wearer's foot, wherein the operative lower surface 18 of the protective plate member 12 comprises a convex shape extending between the operative top and bottom edges 20, 22 and a concave shape extending between the operative side edges 24, 26.
With specific reference now to figure 2, the protective plate member 12 defines a plurality of lacing apertures 28 located near the operative top edge 20 of the protective plate member 12. With reference now to figure 2 and figure 3, the lacing apertures 28 are laterally and longitudinally spaced apart from one another so as to align with at least some of the lacing eyelets 31 of the shoe 29. Although the protective plate member 12 is illustrated as having six lacing apertures 28, it will be appreciated that the protective plate member 12 may define any number of lacing apertures 28, spaced apart from one another in any way.
The protective plate member 12 preferably comprises of a longitudinal dimension i.e. the dimension between the operative top and bottom edges 20, 22, of sufficient length to enable the operative bottom edge 22 to be supported on a toe cap (not shown) of the shoe 29 for the purposes of better protecting the a wearer's foot by distributing the impact of a falling object on the foot guard 10 into the toe cap.
The protective plate member 12 may be manufactured from a rigid plastic-like material having a high resistance to blunt impact, penetration by sharp objects and high temperatures from exposure to welding conditions. Initial testing by the applicant of a foot guard manufactured from polycarbonate (although any material may be used) has shown that it is capable of withstanding, with little to no damage, impacts from: ■ a blunt striker of 5 kilograms dropped from a height of 2 metres;
■ a sharp point striker of 3 kilograms dropped from a height of 2 metres; and
■ an axe like striker of 2 kilograms dropper from a height of 1 metre.
The lace cover member 14 is a rigid plate member comprising an operative upper surface 30, an operative lower surface 32, an operative top edge 34, an operative bottom edge 36 and a pair of operative side edges 38, 40 extending between the operative top and bottom edges 34, 36. Further, the operative lower surface 32 of the lace cover member 14 comprises a substantially concave shape extending between the operative side edges 38, 40.
The lace cover member 14 is preferably manufactured from a material being the same or similar to the material from which the protective plate member 12 is manufactured, thereby ensuring that the protective plate member 12 and the lace cover member 14 have similar resistance capacities.
With reference now to figure 2, figure 4 and figure 5, the lace cover member 14 is releasably attachable to the protective plate member 12 by corresponding clipping formations 42, 44 located on the protective plate member 12 and the lace cover member 14 respectively. The clipping formations 42 are in the form of a pair of slots defined by the protective plate member 12, flanking the lacing apertures 28. The clipping formations 44 are in the form of a pair of male clipping formations projecting downwardly from the operative lower surface 32 of the lace cover member 14. Further, the male clipping formations 44 each comprise a primary clipping tab 44A and a secondary clipping tab 44B, engagable with the lower end 42A and upper end 42B of the slot 42 respectively. The secondary clipping tab 44B is perpendicular to and pointing downwardly with respect to the operative lower surface 32 of the lace cover member 14, and the primary clipping tab 44A is substantially parallel to the operative lower surface 32 of the lace cover member 14 and pointed towards the operative bottom edge 36 thereof. Although the primary clipping tab 44A and secondary clipping tab 44B of the male clipping formations 44 have been illustrated in this manner, it will be appreciated that the male clipping formations 44 may take any form.
In use, and with specific reference to figure 3, figure 4 and figure 5, the protective plate member 12 is secured to that portion 27 of the shoe 29 housing the metatarsal region of a wearer's foot by threading the lace 43 of the shoe 29 through the lacing apertures 28 defined by the protective plate member 12. Once secured tightly, the clipping formations 44 of the lace cover member 14 are aligned with the respective slots 42 defined by the protective plate member 12, and then slid downwardly with respect to the protective plate member 12 thereby enabling the primary clipping tabs 44A to engage with the lower end 42A of the respective slots 42. In this position, and by applying a pressing force near or to the operative top edge 34 of the lace member cover 14, the secondary clipping tabs 44B are brought into engagement with the upper ends 42B of the respective slots 42, thereby attaching the lace cover member 14 to the protective plate member 12, the attached members 12, 14 co-operating to define a space 46 in which the lace 43 is sandwiched. In this position the lace 43 is protected from being severed and/or burnt, thereby preventing the foot guard 10 from falling off the shoe 29 and exposing the wearer's shoe and/or foot to damage and/or injury.
For detachment, the lace cover member 14 is simply pulled off the protective plate member 12 to expose the lace 43. The lace 43 is then untied, enabling the wearer to willingly remove the protective plate member 12 from the shoe 29.
Although the invention has been described above with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications or variations of the invention are possible without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example, and in an alternative embodiment, the lace cover member may be attached to the protective plate member and movable between a first position, wherein the lacing apertures are exposed, and a second position, wherein the lacing apertures are covered by the lace cover member. Where the lace cover member is attached to the protective plate member, it is preferably that the lace cover member is movable by means of one or more corresponding slide formations, hinge formations or swivel formations located on the protective plate member and the lace cover member.
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