Footwear with External Safety Toe Cap

Abstract

Footwear includes a sole, an upper secured to the sole for covering a foot of a wearer of the footwear, and an external toe cap located at a toe portion of the upper and outside of the upper to form a portion of an exterior surface of the footwear. The toe cap includes a horizontal bottom flange that extends between the upper and the sole and is secured to the sole with adhesive. The toe cap is also secured to the upper with adhesive

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Footwear for covering a foot of a wearer, said footwear comprising, in combination:
 a sole;   an upper secured to the sole for covering a foot of a wearer of the footwear;   a toe cap located at a toe portion of the upper and outside of the upper to form a portion of an exterior surface of the footwear; and   wherein the toe cap partially extends between the upper and the sole and is secured to the sole.   
     
     
         2 . The footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the toe cap extends between a front lower edge of the upper and the sole. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein a horizontal bottom flange of the toe cap extends between the upper and the sole. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the toe cap is secured directly to the sole. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the toe cap is secured to the sole with adhesive. 
     
     
         6 . The footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the toe cap is secured to the upper with adhesive. 
     
     
         7 . The footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the toe cap comprises a composite material. 
     
     
         8 . The footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the upper comprises leather. 
     
     
         9 . The footwear according to  claim 1 , wherein the toe cap is located within a recess in the top of the sole. 
     
     
         10 . Footwear for covering a foot of a wearer, said footwear comprising, in combination:
 a sole;   an upper secured to the sole for covering a foot of a wearer of the footwear; and   an external toe cap located at a toe portion of the upper and outside of the upper to form a portion of an exterior surface of the footwear;   wherein the toe cap is secured to the upper with adhesive; and   wherein the toe cap is located within a recess in the top of the sole.   
     
     
         11 . The footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein the toe cap includes a horizontal bottom flange that extends between the upper and the sole and is secured to the sole with adhesive. 
     
     
         12 . The footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein the toe cap is secured directly to the sole. 
     
     
         13 . The footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein the toe cap comprises a composite material. 
     
     
         14 . The footwear according to  claim 10 , wherein the upper comprises leather. 
     
     
         15 . A method of making footwear for covering a foot of a wearer, said method comprising the steps of, in combination:
 securing a toe cap to a sole;   after securing the toe cap to the sole, securing an upper to the sole for covering a foot of a wearer of the footwear; and   wherein the step of securing the upper to the sole includes extending a toe portion of the upper into the toe cap so that the toe cap is located outside of the upper to form a portion of an exterior surface of the footwear and so that the toe cap partially extends between the upper and the sole.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the toe cap is secured to the sole with adhesive. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising the step of securing the upper to the toe cap with adhesive. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the upper is secured to the sole with adhesive. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein a horizontal bottom flange of the toe cap extends between the upper and the sole. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising the step of locating the toe cap within a recess in the top of the sole.