Hosiery having a comfort toe area

Abstract

A hosiery having a comfort toe area includes a panty member to receive the lower torso of a user. Such panty member having an upper edge. A pair of leg members to receive the legs of such user depend from such panty member. A pair of foot members are connected respectively to such leg members to receive the feet of such user. A pair of toe members are connected respectively such foot members to receive the toes of such user.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This patent application is related to and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/828,850 filed Oct. 10, 2006.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to hosiery, and, more particularly, this invention relates to hosiery with reinforced toes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prior to the conception and development of the present invention, hosiery, as is generally well known in the prior art, has always been prone to rips, tears, and holes at the toe section. Specifically of interest to the present invention are the following: Honeycutt, U.S. Pat. No. 6,735,988 which discloses a knitted cotton footie and stocking that includes a top portion, a bottom portion and a seam. The seam extends substantially from the toe of the bottom portion to the heel of the bottom portion, thereby forming the sides and sole of said knitted article.

Alvera, U.S. Pat. No. 5,787,509 discloses a fine hosiery stocking with a comfort foot area. The comfort area encompasses the toe, sole and heel areas of the foot. A pad is sized to cover and be secured to the comfort area or integrally knit or woven into the comfort area to act as a liner to protect and comfort the foot of the wearer of the stocking. The pad is made out of a thicker, absorbent fiber material to absorb wetness and allow the foot to breathe.

Goldstein, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 4,195,497 discloses a stocking and method of making a stocking in which an aerated region is knitted from a synthetic yarn, such as nylon, and another softer, more moisture-absorbent yarn, such as cotton, to provide a greater surface area of the synthetic material on the exterior surface than on the interior surface and a greater surface area of the other yarn on the interior surface than on the exterior surface and in which the aeration is provided by knitting air flow interstices in that region of the stocking.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a hosiery having a comfort toe area. A panty member, manufactured from a first predetermined material and having a first predetermined size, receives the lower torso, buttocks and crotch of a user, such panty member has an upper edge.

A pair of leg members, manufactured from a second predetermined material and having a second predetermined size and a first predetermined shape, receive each one of a respective leg of such user and depend from such panty member.

A pair of foot members, manufactured from a second predetermined material and having a third predetermined size and a second predetermined shape, are connected respectively to such pair of leg members to receive each one of a respective foot of such user.

A pair of toe members, manufactured from a third predetermined material and having a fourth predetermined size and a third predetermined shape, are connected respectively to such pair of foot members to receive the toes of such user.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a hosiery which is more comfortable for a user to wear and which lasts longer than traditional hosiery.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hosiery which is less prone to holes, tears, rips, and runs in to toe portions.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a hosiery which protects a user's toes from blisters and irritation caused by shoes.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a hosiery which absorbs more of a user's sweat than typical hosiery thereby being more comfortable for a user.

In addition to the various objects and advantages of the present invention described with some degree of specificity above it should be obvious that additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those persons who are skilled in the relevant art from the following more detailed description of the invention, particularly, when such description is taken in conjunction with the attached drawing figures and with the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partial perspective view of a hosiery having a comfort toe area according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of a hosiery having a comfort toe area according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a hosiery having a comfort toe area according to a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of a hosiery having a comfort toe area according to a fourth embodiment of the invention, and in particular showing an inside out view of a hosiery having a comfort toe area.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a hosiery having a comfort toe area according to a fifth embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF A PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND VARIOUS ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding, identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawing figures.

Reference is now made, more particularly, to FIGS. 1-5. According to a first embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 1-5, a hosiery having a comfort toe area, generally designated 10, is provided.

The hosiery having a comfort toe area 10 includes a panty member 12 manufactured from a first predetermined material. Panty member 12 has a first predetermined size to receive the lower torso 14, buttocks 16 and crotch 18 of a user. Such panty member 12 having an upper edge 20.

A pair of leg members 22, manufactured from a second predetermined material and having a second predetermined size and a first predetermined shape, receive each one of a respective leg, generally designated 24, of such user and depend from such panty member 12.

A pair of foot members, generally designated 26, manufactured from such second predetermined material and having a third predetermined size and a second predetermined shape, are connected respectively to such pair of leg members 22 to receive each one of a respective foot generally designated 28 of such user.

A pair of toe members 30, manufactured from a third predetermined material and having a fourth predetermined size and a third predetermined shape, are connected respectively to such pair of foot members 26 to receive the toes (not shown) of such user.

In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, such first and second predetermined materials are substantially identical. It is presently most preferred that such first and second predetermined materials are nylon. It is further presently preferred that the third predetermined material is cotton.

According to the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, such second and third predetermined materials are substantially identical in color.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, such hosiery having a comfort toe area includes a pair of leg members 22, manufactured from a second predetermined material and having a second predetermined size and a first predetermined shape, to receive each one of a respective leg 24 of a user. Each one of such pair of leg members 22 having an upper edge 32 and a lower end 34. A pair of foot members, generally designated 26, manufactured from such second predetermined material and having a third predetermined size and a second predetermined shape, are connected respectively at a first end thereof to such pair of leg members 22 at a lower end thereof to receive each one of a respective foot 28 of such user. A pair of toe members 30, manufactured from a third predetermined material and having a fourth predetermined size and a third predetermined shape, are connected respectively to such pair of foot members 26 to receive the toes (not shown) of such user.

According to yet another embodiment of the invention, the upper edge 32 of such leg members 22 is connected to a gripping means 36 for positioning such leg members 22 respectively on at least one of such user's respective calves 38 and thighs 40 for ensuring leg members 22 will not move from such position. It is presently preferred that such gripping means 36 is connected to an inner portion 42 of such upper edge 32. It is further presently preferred that such gripping means 36 is a thin layer of a third predetermined material disposed along an inner portion 42 of such upper edge 32. It is presently preferred that such third predetermined material is rubber.

While a presently preferred and various alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in sufficient detail above to enable a person skilled in the relevant art to make and use the same it should be obvious that various other adaptations and modifications can be envisioned by those persons skilled in such art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A hosiery having a comfort toe area, comprising:

(a) a panty member manufactured from a first predetermined material, and having a first predetermined size, to receive the lower torso, buttocks and crotch of a user, said panty member having an upper edge;

(b) a pair of leg members manufactured from a second predetermined material, and having a second predetermined size, and a first predetermined shape to receive each one of a respective leg of such user and depending from said panty member;

(c) a pair of foot members manufactured from said second predetermined material, and having a third predetermined size, and a second predetermined shape connected respectively to said pair of leg members to receive each one of a respective foot of such user; and

(d) a pair of toe members manufactured from a third predetermined material, and having a fourth predetermined size and a third predetermined shape and being connected respectively to said pair of foot members to receive the toes of such user.

2. A hosiery having a comfort toe area according to claim 1 wherein said first and second predetermined materials are substantially identical.

3. A hosiery having a comfort toe area according to claim 1 wherein said first and second predetermined materials are nylon.

4. A hosiery having a comfort toe area according to claim 1 wherein said third predetermined material is cotton.

5. A hosiery having a comfort toe area according to claim 1 wherein said second and third predetermined materials are substantially identical in color.

6. A hosiery having a comfort toe area, comprising:

(a) a pair of leg members manufactured from a first predetermined material, and having a first predetermined size, and a first predetermined shape to receive each one of a respective leg of a user, each one of said pair of leg members having an upper edge and a lower end;

(b) a pair of foot members manufactured from said first predetermined material, and having a second predetermined size, and a second predetermined shape connected respectively at a first end thereof to said pair of leg members at said lower end to receive each one of a respective foot of such user; and

(c) a pair of toe members manufactured from a second predetermined material, and having a third predetermined size and a third predetermined shape and being connected respectively at a first end thereof to said foot members at an axially opposed end from said each leg member to receive the respective toes of such user.

7. A hosiery having a comfort toe area according to claim 6 wherein said first predetermined material is nylon.

8. A hosiery having a comfort toe area according to claim 6 wherein said second predetermined material is cotton.

9. A hosiery having a comfort toe area according to claim 6 wherein said first and second predetermined materials are substantially identical in color.

10. A hosiery having a comfort toe area according to claim 6 wherein said upper edge is connected to a gripping means for positioning said leg members respectively on at least one of such user's respective calves and thighs for ensuring said leg members will not move from such position.

11. A hosiery having a comfort toe area according to claim 10 wherein said gripping means is connected to an inner portion of said upper edge.

12. A hosiery having a comfort toe area according to claim 11 wherein said gripping means is a thin layer of a third predetermined material disposed along an inner portion of said upper edge.

13. A hosiery having a comfort toe area according to claim 12 wherein said third predetermined material is rubber.