PEDICURE SOCKS

Abstract

A modified pedicure sock for use following a pedicure, during and/or after toe nails are painted, to keep the feet warm without disturbing the toenail area includes a central sock body forming an elongated, hollow member, a toe slot section integral with the distal end of the central sock body, and a heel section integral with the proximal end of the central sock body. The toe slot section is defined by a plurality of discrete toe slots, each of which sized to receive a toe on a wearer's foot so as to allow the toe to extend outside of the modified pedicure sock when the rest of the foot is inside the modified pedicure sock. The heel section includes a retention band that encircles the foot area of a wearer above the ankle.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and incorporates by reference co-pending U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/086,696 filed Dec. 2, 2014.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to foot apparel and, more particularly, to socks adapted to be worn after receiving a pedicure.

2. Description of the Prior Art

When receiving a pedicure, it is well known that any nail polish that is applied takes time to properly set in so that it will maintain its glossy appearance. To account for this, recipients of pedicures are typically forced to wear open toes shoes or sandals following a pedicure. A problem which still exists, however, is that in colder climates or for those whose feet are prone to being cold, being forced to wear open shoes or sandals provides little in the way of helping them keep their feet warm while waiting for polish to set. Thus, there remains a need for modified pedicure socks that completely cover the feet but leave the toes uncovered. It would be helpful if such modified pedicure socks included a discrete hole for each toe so as to prevent them from sliding too far on the foot. It would be additionally desirable for such modified pedicure socks to include a heel area that would keep the sock from sliding too far down the foot by the toes.

The Applicant's invention described herein provides for modified pedicure socks adapted to be worn during a pedicure and immediately after to cover the feet without disturbing the toe nail area. The primary aspects in Applicant's modified pedicure socks are a central body, a plurality of toe slots, and a heel section. When in use, the modified pedicure socks enable a user to keep her feet warm during and after a pedicure while waiting for nail polish to set. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art structures are removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A modified pedicure sock for use following a pedicure, during and/or after toe nails are painted, to keep the feet warm without covering the toes or disturbing the toe nail area. The modified pedicure sock comprises a central sock body forming an elongated, hollow member suitable to allow a wearer's foot to be placed through and be held against the foot when in place over it, a toe slot section integral with the distal end of the central sock body, and a heel section integral with the proximal end of the central sock body. The toe slot section is defined by a plurality of discrete toe slots, each of which sized to receive a toe on a wearer's foot so as to allow the toe to extend outside of the modified pedicure sock when the rest of the foot is inside the modified pedicure sock. The heel section includes a retention band that encircles the foot area of a wearer above the ankle.

It is an object of this invention to provide modified pedicure socks that completely cover the feet but leave the toes uncovered.

It is another object of this invention to provide modified pedicure socks which include a discrete hole for each toe so as to prevent them from sliding too far on the foot.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide modified pedicure socks which include a heel area that would keep the sock from sliding too far down the foot by the toes.

These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a modified pedicure sock built in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a modified pedicure sock built in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1 and 2, a modified pedicure sock 10 is shown on a foot 20. The modified pedicure sock 10 is defined by a central sock body 11, a toe slot section 12, and a heel section 13. The central sock body 11 is constructed in substantially the same manner as a conventional sock, forming an elongated, hollow member suitable to allow a wearer's foot to be placed through and be held against the foot when in place over it. Integral with the distal end of the central sock body 11 is the toe slot section 12 and integral with the proximal end of the central sock body 11 is the heel section 13.

The toe slot section 12 is defined by a plurality of discrete toe slots. In the preferred embodiment, a corresponding slot is provided for each toe on a wearer's foot ha, through which it can extends when the modified pedicure sock 10 is in place on the foot of a wearer. The toe slot section 12 additionally includes a reinforcing portion, embodied as a wooly nylon thread sewn in with the conventional sock material, that operates to reinforced the area and render it better suited to resist allowing the foot of a wearer to inadvertently break through than the material of the remainder of the modified pedicure sock 10. It is contemplated that in some embodiments, the area surrounding each toe slot section 12 is defined by the reinforcing portion, while in others, the area surrounding the all of the toe slot section 12 (taken together) are defined by the reinforcing portion.

In alternate embodiments, it is contemplated that any number of toe slots between two and five can be employed, with the reinforced material in the modified toe socks 10 with lesser numbers of toe slots being thicker and even more durable than can be provided when four or five toe slots are provided.

The heel section 13 is constructed in substantially the same manner as the heel section of a conventional sock, but additionally includes a retention band 14 that encircles the foot area of a wearer above the ankle. The retention band 14 is constructed of an elastic band material that holds the tightly against the wearer to allow the modified pedicure sock 10 to resist slipping down over the toes of a wearer.

In one embodiment, the modified pedicure socks 10 include a water and puncture resistant textured bottom 15 to allow them to be worn alone, both outdoors and indoors.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A modified pedicure sock, comprising:

a sock body having a distal end and a proximal end and defining elongated, hollow member suitable to be worn over a foot of a wearer;

a toe slot section defining the distal end of the sock body, wherein said toe slot section includes a plurality of discrete toe slots, each of which providing a discrete opening through which at least one toe of a wearer can extend; and

a heel section defining the proximal end of the sock body, wherein said heel section is configured to hold the sock body against the foot of a wearer and resist slipping down over the toes of a wearer.

2. The modified pedicure sock of claim 1, wherein said toe slot section includes an integrated reinforcing thread operative to reinforce each of the toe slots.

3. The modified pedicure sock of claim 1, wherein said heel section includes an elastic retention band, thereby configuring it to hold the sock body against the foot of a wearer and resist slipping down over the toes of a wearer.

4. The modified pedicure sock of claim 1, wherein said toe slot section includes five discrete toe slots.

5. The modified pedicure sock of claim 1, wherein said sock body includes a water and puncture resistant textured bottom.

6. A modified pedicure sock, comprising:

a sock body having a distal end and a proximal end and defining elongated, hollow member suitable to be worn over a foot of a wearer;

a toe slot section defining the distal end of the sock body, wherein said toe slot section includes a plurality of discrete toe slots, each of which providing a discrete opening through which at least one toe of a wearer can extend and having an integrated reinforcing thread operative to reinforce each of the toe slots;

a heel section defining the proximal end of the sock body, wherein said heel section includes an elastic retention band, thereby configuring it to hold the sock body against the foot of a wearer and resist slipping down over the toes of a wearer.

7. The modified pedicure sock of claim 6, wherein said toe slot section includes five discrete toe slots.

8. The modified pedicure sock of claim 6, wherein said sock body includes a water and puncture resistant textured bottom.