Hidden hosiery

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a hosiery article that is worn on the foot and is completely hidden or essentially hidden from sight when a shoe is worn over it. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a hosiery article that is designed to be worn on a foot such that it will not be visible or at least is essentially hidden when a shoe is worn, comprising: (i) a heel portion that accepts a heel of the foot and covers the back of the heel up to just below ankle-height and a portion of the sides of the heel; (ii) a sole portion that is attached to the heel portion and covers most of a sole of the foot; and (iii) a toe portion that is attached to the sole portion and covers the tops of the toes and a side of the big toe and a side of the smallest toe; and wherein the hosiery is made of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, or a mixture of natural and synthetic fibers.

Description

The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/272,839, filed November 11, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention is directed to a hosiery article that is worn on the foot and is completely hidden or essentially hidden from sight when a shoe is worn over it, including shoes that are open at the side, have a low-rise or expose the arch of foot.

2. Description of Related Art

The earlier art directed to hosiery that is hidden or barely visible was generally for use with men's shoes, such as oxfords, or ladies' work shoes or sneakers. These hosieries were typically visible above the shoe or had attachments that remained outside of the shoe.

There still exists a need for hosiery that is unseen or essentially hidden from view and usable with shoes that have open toes, open sides and/or low-rise arches that expose the arch and side of the foot, such as formal dress shoes, stilettos and low-rise loafers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a hosiery article that is worn on the foot and is completely hidden or essentially hidden from sight when a shoe is worn over it. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a hosiery article that is designed to be worn on a foot such that it will not be visible or at least is essentially hidden when a shoe is worn, comprising: (i) a heel portion that accepts a heel of the foot and covers the back of the heel up to just below ankle-height and a portion of the sides of the heel; (ii) a sole portion that is attached to the heel portion and covers most of a sole of the foot; and (iii) a toe portion that is attached to the sole portion and covers the tops of the toes and a side of the big toe and a side of the smallest toe; and wherein the hosiery is made of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, or a mixture of natural and synthetic fibers.

Another embodiment of the present invention is wherein a hosiery article that is designed to be worn on a foot such that it will not be visible or at least is essentially hidden when a shoe is worn, comprising: (i) a heel portion that accepts a heel of the foot and covers the back of the heel up to just below ankle-height and a portion of the sides of the heel; (ii) a sole portion that is attached to the heel portion and covers most of a sole of the foot; and (iii) a toe portion that is attached to the sole portion and covers the sides of the big toe and the smallest toe, leaving the front of the big toe and the smallest toe exposed and the three middle toes exposed; and wherein the hosiery is made of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, or a mixture of natural and synthetic fibers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an illustration of the hosiery article of this invention.

FIG. 2A is a side view and underside view of a foot wearing the invention, wherein all of the toes are enclosed within the toe portion of the invention.

FIG. 2B is a view of the underside of the foot wearing the inventive hosiery article, wherein all of the toes are enclosed within the toe portion of the invention.

FIG. 3A is a side and underside view of a foot wearing another embodiment of the invention, wherein the front of the toes are left exposed, and the middle three toes are totally exposed.

FIG. 3B is an underside view of a foot wearing another embodiment of the invention, wherein the front of the toes are left exposed, and the middle three toes are totally exposed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention is directed to a hosiery article that when worn with shoes will be hidden from view or essentially hidden from view by the shoe. Thus, giving the illusion that the wearer is not wearing any hosiery.

For the purposes of this invention the phrase “essentially hidden” means that the hosiery, when shoes are worn, will be almost completely hidden by the shoes. Some of the hosiery in the prior art might still be visible through holes or gaps in the shoes, such as an open toed shoe. However, an individual viewing the wearer of the present invention and shoes would not be able to see the tiny portion of hosiery visible without very close inspection. Thus, an individual seeing the wearer walk by will likely believe that the wearer is not wearing any hosiery.

The hosiery of the present invention is comprised of: (i) a heel portion that accepts a heel of the foot and covers the back of the heel up to just below ankle-height and a portion of the sides of the heel; (ii) a sole portion that is attached to the heel portion and covers most of a sole of the foot; and (iii) a toe portion that is attached to the sole portion and covers the tops of the toes and a side of the big toe and a side of the smallest toe.

In one embodiment of the present invention the height of the heel portion will be substantially below the ankle. More particularly, the height of the heel portion will be between about 1 inch to about 2 inches, and more preferably about 1 inch or less.

The sole portion covers most of the sole of the wearer's foot, but leaves the side of the wearer's sole uncovered so that when wearing shoes with open sides the hosiery is unseen, or is only slightly exposed so that it is essentially hidden from view, as shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 3A and 3B. Thereby giving the illusion that the wearer is not wearing any hosiery.

The toe portion of the present invention in one embodiment covers the sides of the largest and smallest toes and the tops, bottoms and fronts of all the toes. Thus the toes are completely enclosed in the toe portion of the hosiery. In another embodiment the toe portion of the hosiery covers only the partial sides of the big and little toe, leaving the fronts of the big and little toes exposed and essentially all of the 3 middle toes exposed, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. This embodiment is intended to be worn in conjunction with shoes that have open toes, open toes/open sides or open toes/low-rise sides.

The hosiery of the present invention can be made of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, or a mixture of natural and synthetic fibers. In one embodiment the hosiery is made from a polycotton spandex blend, a nylon spandex blend, a cotton nylon spandex blend, a rayon spandex blend, a lycra spandex blend, a polyester spandex blend or cotton. It is preferable to make the hosiery of the present invention from a polycotton spandex blend, since cotton in a breathable material which allows the foot to cool and also wisks sweat away from the body. Thus, providing more comfort, and also by wisking sweat away from the skin, it helps keep the wearer of high heeled shoes from having their foot slide forward in the shoe, causing damage to the toes. A common polycotton spandex blend is made from about 63% cotton, 34% polyester, and about 3% spandex. One skilled in the art would know other blends that would be useful for the present invention. In one embodiment the present invention is made from a polycotton spandex blend, wherein the blend is comprised of about 63% cotton, about 34% polyester, and about 3% spandex. Another embodiment is wherein the hosiery of the present invention is made of cotton.

For the purposes of this invention “cotton” refers to either 100% cotton or a cotton blend which is about 97% or more cotton, and the remainder is spandex or lycra.

Another embodiment of the hosiery of the present invention is wherein the interior of the heel portion contains a patch of material that should contact the back of the heel of the foot and the patch of material provides either protection to the skin of the heel of the foot, or helps the heel portion stay in position, or both. More specific is an embodiment wherein the patch of material is made of Molskin or a rubbery non-slip material, such as, for example silicone.

Another embodiment of the hosiery of the present invention is also made antibacterial and/or anti-microbial. One of ordinary skill in the art would possess the knowledge of how to accomplish making hosiery antibacterial and/or anti-microbial. One example of this is adding small amounts of silver metal, usually as nanoparticles, to the hosiery.

Another embodiment of the hosiery of the present invention is wherein the hosiery is created without a seem, i.e. seemless. This provides further comfort to the wear. One of ordinary skill in the art would know how to produce seemless hosiery.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrated in FIG. 1 is a top view of inventive hosiery 1.

Illustrated in FIG. 2A is a view of a foot 1 wearing the hosiery of the present invention 2, wherein all the toes are covered, showing the bottom of the foot and the side of the foot and ankle. The sole portion of the hosiery is completely under the foot. Thus, it will not be visible when wearing open side shoes.

Illustrated in FIG. 2B is a view of the bottom of a foot 1 wearing hosiery of the present invention 2, wherein all the toes are covered. Also, illustrated is how the sole portion is completely under foot and even removed from the sides of the foot.

Illustrated in FIG. 3A is a view of a foot 1 wearing the hosiery of the present invention 2, wherein the toes are uncovered, showing the bottom of the foot and the side of the foot and ankle. The sole portion of the hosiery is completely under the foot. Thus, it will not be visible when wearing open side shoes. Similarly, if wearing open toed shoes, the toe portion of the hosiery will not be visible.

Illustrated in FIG. 3B is a view of the bottom of a foot 1 wearing hosiery of the present invention 2, wherein the toes are uncovered. The sole portion is completely under foot and even removed from the sides of the foot. Thus, it cannot seen when wearing shoes without sides. Similarly, if wearing open toed shoes, the toe portion of the hosiery will not be visible.

The illustrations should not be construed to limit the invention as claimed in anyway. The illustrations are provided merely for the purpose of helping the reader better understand the invention.

Claims

1. A hosiery article that is designed to be worn on a foot such that it will not be visible or at least is essentially hidden when a shoe is worn, comprising:

(i) a heel portion that accepts a heel of the foot and covers the back of the heel up to just below ankle-height and a portion of the sides of the heel;

(ii) a sole portion that is attached to the heel portion and covers most of a sole of the foot; and

(iii) a toe portion that is attached to the sole portion and covers the tops and the front of the toes and a side of the big toe and a side of the smallest toe;

and wherein the hosiery is made of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, or a mixture of natural and synthetic fibers.

2. The hosiery article of claim 1, wherein the interior of the heel portion contains a patch of material that should contact the back of the heel of the foot and the patch of material provides either protection to the skin of the heel of the foot, or helps the heel portion stay in position, or both.

3. The hosiery article of claim 2, wherein the patch of material is made of Molskin or a rubbery non-slip material.

4. The hosiery article of claim 1, wherein the toe portion has an additional opening that allows the middle three toes to be exposed.

5. The hosiery article of claim 1, wherein the hosiery has been made antibacterial and anti-microbial.

6. The hosiery article of claim 1, wherein the hosiery is seemless.

7. A hosiery article that is designed to be worn on a foot such that it will not be visible or at least is essentially hidden when a shoe is worn, comprising:

(i) a heel portion that accepts a heel of the foot and covers the back of the heel up to just below ankle-height and a portion of the sides of the heel;

(ii) a sole portion that is attached to the heel portion and covers most of a sole of the foot; and

(iii) a toe portion that is attached to the sole portion and covers the big toe and the smallest toe, but leave the three middle toes exposed; and

wherein the hosiery is made of natural fibers, synthetic fibers, or a mixture of natural and synthetic fibers.

8. The hosiery article of claim 7, wherein the interior of the heel portion contains a patch of material that should contact the back of the heel of the foot and the patch of material provides either protection to the skin of the heel of the foot, or helps the heel portion stay in position, or both.

9. The hosiery article of claim 8, wherein the patch of material is made of Molskin or a rubbery non-slip material.

10. The hosiery article of claim 7, wherein the hosiery has been made antibacterial and anti-microbial.

11. The hosiery article of claim 7, wherein the hosiery is seemless.