|
|
Blast Protective Footwear - boots and overboots
Several colors and styles available - call to order or for more
information
MINE BOGGLERS@ BY WELLCO
THE PRODUCT:
Wellco is the world leader in production of anti-personnel mine
protective footwear. Wellco produces both mine protective boots and over
boots, with either solid rubber soles, or, as in the latest development,
the AMine Bogglers A, with a combination polyurethane (towards the foot)
and rubber (towards the ground). These products are designed to reduce
injury from activation of anti-personnel mines which all-too-frequently
results in amputation.
USES:
All of Wellcos protective boots are designed to be functional in mud,
sand and rocks.
The protective over boot is designed to be worn over a standard combat
boot or over a Wellco protective boot.
Wellco=s mine protective boot is designed to be worn all day in all
terrains, as well as being a protection against anti-personnel mine
detonation. Wellco=s AMine Bogglers@ boots are extremely comfortable to
wear all day. Their weight is equal to or less than most standard combat
boots.
The wearing of both the blast protective boot and the blast protective
over boot simultaneously doubles the protection, and is used mostly when
mapping or clearing mine fields.
CONSTRUCTION:
All the AMine Bogglers@ boots and over boots have similar sole
construction. The rubber cleats elevate the sole, and the sidewise wedge
shaped sole design directs much of the force from the mine to go to the
side instead of sending the force up into the foot and leg.
Inside the polyurethane sole is a wedge shaped attenuator constructed
from stainless steel and aluminum honeycomb. The upward force makes the
stainless steel compress the honeycomb and thereby absorb energy that
otherwise would have continued into the foot. The thick polyurethane
sole between the upper and the rubber cleats is of a special blend which
can also absorb large amounts of force before being ripped apart, which
is part of the hard force resistance in Wellco=s protective boots and
over boots. The use of polyurethane allows the sole to be thicker
without adding weight. Because there is more distance between the blast
and the foot, the blast=s force has more area to dissipate before
reaching the foot and leg.
The boot upper can be of any type that is desirable, such as all
leather, insulated, hot weather, desert type, etc. All boots have
protective insoles from multi layers of KEVLAR. In addition, the over
boot has KEVLAR in the upper side panels. KEVLAR7 in the side panels of
the boot was tested extensively, but was never liked by soldiers; since
it substantially reduces comfort in this boot, which is designed for all
day, wear.
HISTORY:
Wellco has been a manufacturer of anti-personnel mine blast protective
footwear since 1969. The US Army has purchased the rubber bottomed over
boot since 1970. About twenty (20) other countries are buyers of boots
and over boots, either with all rubber bottoms or the new PU/Rubber
combination. More recently, Wellco has been supplying these products for
humanitarian de-mining work in several countries around the world.
In an effort to continually improve and develop protective footwear,
Wellco has performed blast tests at Fort Benning, as well as at Aberdeen
Proving Grounds. These tests compare new materials and constructions
versus earlier models. Only when the results are equal or better will a
change to a boot or over boot be accepted. The incorporation of KEVLAR7
and Polyurethane was a result of this testing. Comfort has always been a
factor and we now have a lightweight, comfortable boot that is more
protective than ever and which can be worn full time, especially when in
mine infested areas.
LEVEL OF PROTECTION:
Injury to a soldiers foot and leg when stepping on a mine, even with
protective footwear, is in many cases, unavoidable. It is the severity
of the injury, which in the worst case results in amputation of limb,
which the Wellco products are designed to protect against.
The original mine protective boot, back in 1969, was designed to save a
soldier from amputation if he stepped on an antipersonnel mine of the
size made up from 28 grams of C-4 explosive. Improvements over the years
have increased the level of protection and usability. Wellco has been
told of several anti-personnel mine activations, in which personnel were
wearing Wellco=s protective footwear, and amputation was avoided. There
are many variables that affect the level of injury from anti-personnel
mine activation, and, because of this, Wellco cannot guarantee a level
of protection. Perhaps the best indicator of the protection provided by
these products is the significant number of re-orders received by Wellco.
OTHER:
Wellcos protective footwear is being used by NATO Human Factors and
Medicine Task Group for its ATest Methodologies for Personal Protective
Equipment Against Anti-Personnel Mine Blast@ program. This program=s
purpose includes publishing a description of available protective
measures to be used for protection against anti-personnel mines.
The attached pictures are form testing at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. The
charge for each blast was 25 grams of C-4.
All the protective boots and over boots are individually made in Wellco=s
factory in Waynesville, NC in order to keep assurance that every item
and operation is completed as specified and that the final item is as
previously tested at the U.S. military=s test facility in Aberdeen,
Maryland.
Wellco sells these Blast Protective Boots (or Blast Protective Overboots)
in individual pairs or in quantities.
Call for more information or to order |
