Inventors:
David H. Scharbius - Merrill WI
Charles E. Phillips - Gleason WI
Robert J. Krebs - St. Charles MO
Linda M. Herber - Tomahawk WI
David A. Kucirek - Merrill WI
Daniel D. Szulczewski - Merrill WI
Lance R. Nienow - Merrill WI
Assignee:
Weinbrenner Shoe Company, Inc. - Merrill WI
International Classification:
A43B 714
Abstract:
An improved safety boot or shoe is disclosed which integrally incorporates a cushioned metatarsal guard to protect the metatarsal region of the wearers foot from injury caused by objects falling onto this region of the wearers foot. The metatarsal guard is be assembled from different segments of materials in consecutive layer fashion, and in the preferred embodiment includes a segment of impact cushion material, a segment of cut-resistant material, a segment of force absorption material, and a segment of in-step cushion material. The segments are preferably adhesively affixed together to form a sandwich, with the sandwich then being interposed between the interior of the upper and the inner lining of the safety boot or shoe. In the preferred embodiment, a rigid toe is also included, with a portion of the metatarsal guard of the present invention overlying a portion of the rigid toe.