Protective sock

Abstract

A sock includes a pad with a bulbous region arranged across an upper side of a wearer's toes. The bulbous region is arranged to reinforce the toe region of a shoe worn atop the sock. In this manner, the bulbous region prevents unsightly wear creases from occurring. Moreover, the sock may be worn with a shoe that exhibits a sunken top toe region or unsightly wear lines to reduce or cause the lines to disappear.

Description

There are no related applications.

The instant application did not receive any federal research and/or development funding.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally, the present invention relates to a protective sock for wear under a shoe. The protective sock comprises a sock having an open and a closed end. A reinforced protective region includes a pad that is arranged at a top side of the closed end to reinforce a top side of a shoe worn over the sock to prevent unsightly creases from occurring at the base of the toe area of the top side of the shoe. The protective sock also protects the toenails of the athletes from being smashed during athletic events.

Various protective socks are known. For example. U.S. patent Ser. No.2,443,997 to Town discloses a stocking toe protector that is impregnated by wax. The protector is a bow-like design to be worn over the toe portion of the foot, outside the stocking, for protecting the stocking against wear of that portion of the fabric disposed between the nail of the large toe and the inner lining of the shoe which is where the stockings usually fail first. Thus, the Town device minimizes wear of the stocking at the toe portion of the stocking.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,615,188 to Hursh et al. discloses a two-ply athletic sock for use in jogging or other athletic activity. The sock has a foot portion consisting of a first inner layer or ply disposed inside a second outer layer or ply. The first ply of the foot portion has an inner surface adapted to contact the skin formed principally of yarns having high frictional characteristics, high thermal conductivity, and low moisture regain. Its opposed surface is formed principally of yarns having relatively low frictional characteristics. The second ply has an inner surface which has low frictional characteristics and its outer surface is formed of yarns having relatively high frictional characteristics and high moisture regain (hydrophilic). The latter surface may also be formed with terry loops to enhance its shock-absorbing construction as well as to increase its moisture absorbing capacity.

U.S. patent Ser. No. 5,307,522 to Throneburg et al. discloses a snowboarding sock for use with a snowboarding boot. The sock is adapted for wear with a flexible snowboarding boot when snowboarding and cushions selected areas of the leg and foot by providing pads of different fabric thickness in selected areas of the leg and foot of the wearer. The Throneburg invention relates generally to a sock particularly adapted for wear with snowboarding boots when snowboarding to facilitate evaporation of moisture from the foot, prevent shifting of the foot in the boot and for cushioning selected areas of the leg and foot by providing pads of different fabric thickness in selected areas of the leg and foot of the wearer. Cushioning pads of medium fabric thickness are provided by forming a first set of terry loops (single terry loops) in the front half of the leg, the instep of the foot and optionally in the heel and low splice area extending below the heel. Cushioning pads of heavy fabric thickness are provided by forming both first and second sets of terry loops (double terry loops) in a high pad area in the medial portion of the rear of the leg, in the ball, and in the toe. Cushioning pad of maximum fabric thickness is provided by forming first, second and third sets of terry loops (triple terry loops) in the high splice area above the heel.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a sock that keeps the toe area of a shoe from depressing or sinking in over time as the shoe is worn. The novel sock also reduces the lines on the upper front toe area of a shoe already displaying wear lines. Moreover, the invention relieves pressure on the top of the toes when sneakers and steel-toed boots are worn. The sock includes a pocket or an enlarged area in the upper toe region having a bulge formed from cotton padding, batting or the like that runs atop the toe area and from between the base of the toes and the ends of the toes. The bulge has two ends and a central region that is thicker than either end. The unique shape of bulge causes it to be properly situated at the base of the toes to prevent creases from occurring in boots or shoes worn atop the sock.

It is an object of the invention to provide a sock having a uniquely shaped bulge arranged atop a toe region of the sock. The bulge extending across the toes of a foot inserted into the sock and being arranged such that the thickest part of the bulge extends across the base socket of each toe. In this manner, the bulge prevents unsightly wear lines from being created on the top side of the shoe.

It is another object of the invention to provide a sock having a padded upper region arranged atop the toe area. The padded upper region is bulbous and includes two ends that are thinner in size than the central area of the padded region. The central area pushes against the top inside of the toe of a shoe worn over the sock to reinforce the base of the toe region to prevent or diminish unsightly wear lines of the shoe.

The above and further objects, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the sock. FIG. 1B is a side view of the sock.

FIG. 2A shows a shoe worn atop the sock. FIG. 2B illustrates how the bulbous padded region of the sock prevents crease line from occurring.

FIG. 3A shows a prior art shoe having crease lines. FIG. 3B depicts how the bending of the wearer's toes at the base of the toes causes the crease lines to occur.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the invention and the various features and advantageous details thereof are more fully explained with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and set forth in the following description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and the features of one embodiment may be employed with the other embodiments as the skilled artisan recognizes, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and techniques may be omitted to avoid obscuring the invention. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the invention may be practiced and to further enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments set forth herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, which is defined by the appended claims. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show two views of the instant sock 1. The sock 1 comprises an open end 3 through which a user's foot is passed. A heel 7 is provided for comfort of the wearer. The sock 1 further includes a closed toe end 5. A bulbous pad 10 is arranged above the toes of the wearer, as more clearly shown in FIGS. 2A-2B.

The bulbous pad 10 includes a central region that is thicker than either end arranged at the front and back of the pad 10, with front and back being relative to the wearer's foot. When worn, as shown in FIG. 2A, the central region is arranged above the base socket of the toes. In this manner, the bulbous region 10 reinforces the top 51 of shoe 50 to prevent creases 55.

As can be understood by FIGS. 3A and 3B, the prior art shoe 50 becomes worn and develops creases 55 when the wearer flexes the toes at the base socket as shown in FIG. 3B. The wearing of the sock 10 prevents the creases 55 from forming on the top side of the shoe 50.

The padding for the sock may comprise cotton batting, piling or other such fill material. Otherwise, the padding may be formed by knitting multiple strands of material together. The sock may be formed from polypropylene, cotton, silk, or wool. As can be recognized, the sock shown in the drawings is typically referred to as an athletic sock.

While the invention has been described with respect to preferred embodiments, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in limiting sense. From the above disclosure of the general principles of the present invention and the preceding detailed description, those skilled in the art will readily comprehend the various modifications to which the present invention is susceptible. Therefore, the scope of the invention should be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A sock that prevents creases from occurring on a top side of a shoe worn atop the sock, said sock comprising:

a first end that is open and through which a user's foot is passed;

a second end that is closed and into which toes of the user are inserted; and,

a bulbous pad arranged atop said sock substantially near the second end, said bulbous pad being arranged atop a base joint of the user's toes and preventing creases from forming in the shoe worn atop the sock.

2. The sock of claim 1 further comprising knit terry materials.

3. The sock of claim 1 wherein said sock is an athletic sock.

4. The sock of claim 1 wherein said sock is formed from one or more selected from a group consisting of polypropylene, cotton, silk, and wool.

5. A sock that prevents creases from occurring on a top side of a shoe worn atop the sock, said sock comprising:

a first end that is open and through which a user's foot is passed;

a second end that is closed and into which toes of the user are inserted;

a heel region arranged between said first and second ends; and,

a bulbous pad arranged atop said sock substantially near the second end, said bulbous pad being arranged atop a base joint of the user's toes and preventing creases from forming in the shoe worn atop the sock.

6. The sock of claim 5 further comprising knit terry materials.

7. The sock of claim 5 wherein said sock is an athletic sock.

8. The sock of claim 5 wherein said sock is formed from one or more selected from a group consisting of polypropylene, cotton, silk, and wool.

9. A sock that prevents creases from occurring on a top side of a shoe worn atop the sock, said sock comprising:

a first end that is open and through which a user's foot is passed;

a second end that is closed and into which toes of the user are inserted; and,

a bulbous pad arranged atop said sock substantially near the second end, said bulbous pad being arranged atop a base joint of the user's toes and preventing creases from forming in the shoe worn atop the sock,

wherein said sock is formed from one or more selected from a group consisting of polypropylene, cotton, silk, and wool.

10. The sock of claim 9 further comprising knit terry materials.

11. The sock of claim 9 wherein said sock is an athletic sock.