Safety footwear

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention there is disclosed safety footwear comprising a unitarily moulded lower member having a sole portion and a toe cap portion. One or more protective elements are embedded in the unitarily moulded lower member so as to prevent breaches thereof.

1 . Safety footwear comprising:
 (a) a unitarily moulded lower member constructed from polyurethane, wherein said lower member has a sole portion and a toe cap portion; and,   (b) one or more protective elements embedded in said unitarily moulded lower member.   
     
     
         2 . Safety footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein said protective elements comprise one or more substantially planar shield members embedded in said sole portion. 
     
     
         3 . Safety footwear according to  claim 2 , wherein said one or more shield members comprise a single shield member spanning substantially the entire length and width of said sole portion. 
     
     
         4 . Safety footwear according to  claim 3 , wherein said shield member is embedded in said sole portion so as to be fully encased therewithin. 
     
     
         5 . Safety footwear according to  claim 4 , wherein said shield member is constructed from one or more composite materials. 
     
     
         6 . Safety footwear according to  claim 4 , wherein said shield member is constructed from pierce resistant fabric selected from the group consisting of: woven steel fibers and woven KEVLAR® fibers. 
     
     
         7 . Safety footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein said protective elements comprise a toe box embedded in said toe cap portion. 
     
     
         8 . Safety footwear according to  claim 7 , wherein said toe box comprises a convex shell having an inwardly projecting bottom flange portion. 
     
     
         9 . Safety footwear according to  claim 8 , wherein said toe box is embedded in said toe cap portion during moulding so as to be fully encased therewithin. 
     
     
         10 . Safety footwear according to  claim 9 , wherein said toe box is constructed from one or more composite materials. 
     
     
         11 . Safety footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein said protective elements comprise one or more shield members embedded in said sole portion, and a toe box embedded in said toe cap portion. 
     
     
         12 . Safety footwear according to  claim 11 , wherein said shield members are embedded in said sole portion so as to each be fully encased therewithin. 
     
     
         13 . Safety footwear according to  claim 11 , wherein said toe box is embedded in said toe cap portion so as to be fully encased therewithin. 
     
     
         14 . Safety footwear according to  claim 11 , wherein said shield members are embedded in said sole portion so as to be fully encased therewithin; and, wherein said toe box is embedded in said toe cap portion so as to be fully encased therewithin. 
     
     
         15 . Safety footwear according to  claim 12 , wherein said one or more shield members comprise a single shield member spanning substantially the entire length and width of said sole portion. 
     
     
         16 . Safety footwear according to  claim 14 , wherein said one or more shield members comprise a single shield member spanning substantially the entire length and width of said sole portion. 
     
     
         17 . Safety footwear according to  claim 11 , wherein said toe box comprises a convex shell having an inwardly projecting bottom flange portion. 
     
     
         18 . Safety footwear according to  claim 11 , wherein said protective elements are each constructed from one or more composite materials. 
     
     
         19 . Safety footwear according to  claim 12 , wherein said sole plates are constructed from pierce resistant fabric selected from the group consisting of: woven steel fibers and woven KEVLAR® fibers.