Waterproof safety footwear

Abstract

A waterproof safety article of footwear and preferably, but not exclusively, constructed with an outer shell formed from EVA (ethyl vinyl acetate) material, is described. It is comprised of an outer boot shell formed of waterproof material capable of being injection molded and an inner protective boot liner which is positioned inside the boot shell. The protective liner has a puncture proof insert, preferably a toe cap and sole plate secured thereto. The outer shell can also be molded from TPR (thermoplastic rubber) material. In order to achieve a maximum light weight safety article of footwear, the protective liner has a toe cap and a sole plate formed from composite materials and the outer shell is molded from EVA material. The method of constructing the waterproof safety article of footwear is also described.

1 . A waterproof safety article of footwear comprising an outer boot shell formed of waterproof material capable of being injection molded, and an inner protective boot liner inside said boot shell, said protective liner having a puncture proof protective insert to protect a portion of a wearer's foot, said puncture proof insert being independently secured to said protective liner. 
   
   
       2 . A waterproof safety article of footwear as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said protective liner is removably retained inside said outer boot shell. 
   
   
       3 . A waterproof safety article of footwear as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said boot shell is a light weight injection molded shell formed of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) material. 
   
   
       4 . A waterproof safety article of footwear as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said puncture proof insert is a toe cap immovably secured to a toe portion of said boot liner. 
   
   
       5 . A waterproof safety article of footwear as claimed in  claim 4  wherein said puncture proof insert further comprises a sole plate immovably secured to a sole portion of said boot liner. 
   
   
       6 . A waterproof safety article of footwear as claimed in  claim 5  wherein at least one of said toe cap and sole plate is formed from one of a composite material or steel. 
   
   
       7 . A waterproof safety article of footwear as claimed in  claim 6  wherein both said toe cap or sole plate are formed from one of a composite material or steel. 
   
   
       8 . A waterproof safety article of footwear as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said toe cap and sole plate are secured to said protective boot liner by glue. 
   
   
       9 . A waterproof safety article of footwear as claimed in  claim 8  wherein said toe cap and sole plate are imprisoned in said protective boot liner between fabric material pieces which are stitched together along predetermined contour lines. 
   
   
       10 . A waterproof safety article of footwear as claimed in  claim 2  wherein said boot shell is a thermoplastic rubber (TPR) injected shell. 
   
   
       11 . A waterproof safety article of footwear as claimed in  claim 1  wherein said inner protective boot liner has a boot upper secured thereto, said outer boot shell being a boat-like shell, said liner being stitched to said boat-like shell. 
   
   
       12 . A waterproof safety article of footwear as claimed in  claim 6  wherein said sole plate extends to about 4 mm from a feather edge of the sole portion of said protective liner. 
   
   
       13 . A waterproof safety article of footwear as claimed in  claim 9  wherein said protective boot liner is constructed of felt material, said cap and sole plate being imprisoned between said felt material and an outer fabric retention liner secured to said felt material by stitching. 
   
   
       14 . A method of constructing a waterproof safety article of footwear comprising the steps of:
 i) injection molding an outer boot shell with a waterproof injectable material;   ii) forming an inner protective boot liner from fabric material;   iii) securing a puncture proof protective insert to said boot liner to protect a portion of a wearer's foot; and   iv) inserting said liner with said puncture proof insert inside said outer boot shell.   
   
   
       15 . A method as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said waterproof safety article of footwear is a light weight safety article of footwear, said step (i) comprising injection molding said outer boot shell with ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) material. 
   
   
       16 . A method as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said step (iii) comprises immovably securing a sole plate to a sole portion of said boot liner. 
   
   
       17 . A method as claimed in  claim 16  wherein there is further provided immovably securing a toe cap to a toe portion of said boot liner. 
   
   
       18 . A method as claimed in  claim 17  wherein said toe cap and sole plate are secured by gluing same to said boot liner. 
   
   
       19 . A method as claimed in  claim 18  wherein said toe cap and sole plate are further imprisoned in said protective boot liner between fabric material pieces which are stitched together along predetermined contour lines. 
   
   
       20 . A method as claimed in  claim 14  wherein said step (i) comprises injection molding said outer boot shell with thermoplastic rubber (TPR) material.