STOCKING RELEASABLY ATTACHABLE TO FOOTWEAR
Hosiery, such as stockings, are releasably and removably attachable to footwear such as flip-flop type sandals, and/or serve to secure a flip-flop adjacent the foot while the flip-flop is being worn. An instep covering front flap is provided, covering portions of the top of the foot while leaving toes exposed. The stockings include cooperating fastening elements configured to secure the stocking to the V-strap portion of the flip-flop.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates, in general, to stockings and hosiery and, more particularly, to a stocking that is releasably and removably attachable to footwear, such as thong-style sandals, commonly known as “flip-flops”.
2. General Background of the Invention
While they have been in existence for quite some time, flip-flop sandals have become increasingly popular in recent years. While flip-flops are traditionally worn during the summer months and in warmer weather, there are many who, for purposes of comfort, fashion, or both, prefer to wear summer in cooler weather and, indeed, year round.
Accordingly, there are those who may benefit from wearing flip-flops in combination with stockings and hosiery, both for warmth, and for fashion. While flip-flops may potentially work with conventional hosiery, such as socks, there are many who do not find such a combination aesthetically pleasing.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention comprises hosiery, such as stockings, that are releasably and removably attachable to footwear such as flip-flops, and/or which serve to secure footwear such as flip-flops adjacent the foot while the flip-flop is being worn. The stockings may be of a length sufficient to completely cover the calf, extending further over the knee and at least a portion of the thigh, serving as a leg warmer. Alternatively, the stocking may extend any desired height above the ankle but terminate below the knee, serving as a sock.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the stocking includes a generally cylindrical leg covering region, and an instep covering front flap extending a bottom front edge of the leg covering region. Each distal corner of the front flap includes a cooperating fastening element. In operation, the stocking is worn first, with leg covering region, depending upon its length, surrounding at least the ankle and lower leg of the wearer. Next, the flip-flop is worn in the conventional manner, with the toes slid underneath the strap members or arms of the V-strap of the flop-flop, and with the apex of the V-strap positioned between the big and second toes of the wearer. Next, the opposing corners of the instep covering front flap are drawn forward, between the foot and the arms of the V-strap. Each opposing corner is then wrapped over the top of its associate V-strap arm, and brought towards the other corner of the flap. Finally, the cooperating fastening elements are brought together and affixed to each other. In this manner, The V-strap and, in turn, the remainder of the flip-flop, are secured to the stocking and, in turn, are secured in place adjacent the wearer's foot, while, at the same time, leaving a significant portion of the toes exposed and in view.
In this embodiment, the cooperating fastening elements may comprise, for example, a button and buttonhole. Alternatively, the cooperating fastening elements may comprise male and female portions of a snap fastener. Other types of cooperating fastener element combinations contemplated by the present invention involve hook-and-loop type fasteners, laces that can be tied together, a button in combination with a looped string or cord, and a pair of mating hooked members.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a substantially tubular leg covering region is again provided. In this embodiment, the instep covering front flap takes on the form of a tapering partial foot covering region, having a loop of string, cord, or an elastic material at the tapered distal end. In operation, the stocking is again worn first, with leg covering region, depending upon its length, surrounding at least the ankle and lower leg of the wearer. Next, the flip-flop is again worn in the convention manner, with the toes slid underneath the strap members or arms of the V-strap of the flip-flop, and with the apex of the V-strap positioned between the big and second toes of the wearer. Next, the loop at the distal end of the partial foot covering region is stretched over the top of the V-strap, and over and around one of the wearer's toes, such as the second or third toe, where the loop remains in place. Inasmuch as a portion of the V-strap is thus sandwiched between the wearer's foot and the partial foot covering region, this, in turn, serves to secure the flip-flop in place adjacent the wearer's foot, while, at the same time, leaving a significant portion of the toes exposed and in view.
In a variation of this second embodiment, a cooperating fastening element, such as a button, is provided proximate the attachment point of the looped material to the distal end of the instep covering front flap. In operation, the loop is passed underneath one of the arms of the V-strap, wrapped around the strap back towards the leg, and placed around the button, thus securing the loop to the button. Moreover, it is also contemplated that a plurality of such loops may be provided, with at least one loop being passed underneath and back around each of the separate arms or strap members of the V-strap. Each loop may be secured to its own button attached to the instep covering front flap. Alternatively, all of the loops may be secured to the same, central button. Moreover, as in the first described embodiment, a variety of cooperating fastening members, other than loops and buttons, may alternatively be used. Such cooperating fastening members may comprise, for example, cooperating hook-and-loop tape segments, male and female snap members, eyelets and hooks, buttons and buttonholes, etc.
One potential benefit of this releasable attachment of the flip-flop adjacent the foot by means of the present invention is that the requirement to repetitively curl the toes while walking, in order to maintain the flip-flop in attachment to the foot, is lessened or eliminated. Flip-flop wearers tend to grip the shoe with their toes while walking, forcing them to take shorter steps. This modification in gait may potentially produce muscle imbalances and improper joint mechanics. It is believed that the additional support provided by the attachment of the flip-flop to a stocking may lessen the modifications made to the gait by the wearer, and thus reduce the risk of associated injuries.
While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail, several specific embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is intended as an exemplification of the principles of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiments illustrated.
As shown in
A first embodiment of the present stocking, that is releasably and removably attachable to at least a portion of a flip-flop, is shown in
Referring to
Referring to
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Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in
As best seen in
Referring to
Various means of attachment to flip-flop 10, other than an elastic loop and button, may be employed in variation of this embodiment of the invention. For example, a length of material, having a buttonhole proximate a distal end, may instead be attached to apex 223, wrapped around a portion of V-strap 15, and attached to button 251. Hook-and-loop type fastening elements may alternatively be disposed at the distal end of such a strip of material, and in place of button 251. Male and female portions of a snap fastener may likewise be disposed at the distal end of such a strip of material, and in place of button 251. A hook may be disposed proximate apex 251 in place of a fastener, to engage and secure loop 250. Moreover, a plurality of any of the foregoing fastening elements may be employed, with at least one pair of such fasteners associated with each opposing tapered edge 222 of front flap 230. In this manner, loops or lengths of material may alternatively be simultaneously wrapped around both strap member 16 and strap member 17 of V-strap 15, thereby providing more balanced, enhanced securement, as compared to a single point of attachment.
Moreover, a variation of the embodiment of
In the embodiments illustrated in
The stockings of the present invention may be woven or knit from a variety of natural or synthetic materials, such as cotton, wool, polyester, nylon, Spandex®, or natural/synthetic blends. It is desirable that at least the portion of the stocking that partially covers the foot be sufficiently stretchable or elastic in nature to facilitate attachment of the stocking to the flip-flop while the stocking is being worn.
Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described. Various modifications, changes and variations may be made in the arrangement, operation and details of construction of the invention disclosed herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The present disclosure is intended to exemplify and not limit the invention.
Claims
1. A stocking releasably and removably attachable to an article of footwear, the footwear having a strap having at least one strap member, the stocking comprising:
- a leg covering region;
- a front flap region; and
- at least one fastening element;
- wherein at least one of at least a portion of the front flap region and the at least one fastening element is configured to be disposed about the at least one strap member.
2. The stocking according to claim 1, wherein the at least one strap member comprises a V-strap having a first strap member and a second strap member, and the front flap region includes a first corner region wrappable around the first strap member and a second corner region wrappable around the second strap member.
3. The stocking according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fastening element comprises a first fastening element and a second fastening element, the first and second fastening elements being attachable to each other.
4. The stocking according to claim 2, wherein the at least one fastening element comprises a first fastening element proximate the first corner region and a second fastening element proximate the second corner region.
5. The stocking according to claim 4, wherein the first fastening element comprises a button and the second fastening element comprises a buttonhole.
6. The stocking according to claim 1, wherein the front flap region is substantially rectangular.
7. The stocking according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fastening element comprises a loop disposed proximate a distal end of the front flap region.
8. The stocking according to claim 7, further comprising a second fastening element comprising a button disposed proximate a distal end of the front flap region, the first fastening element and the second fastening element being attachable to each other.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 14, 2010
Publication Date: Jul 14, 2011
Applicant: MOXEE LLC (Lake Barrington, IL)
Inventors: Summer Germann (Santa Monica, CA), Tam Trinh (Dallas, TX), Mark David Levine (Tavares, FL)
Application Number: 12/687,473
International Classification: A43B 17/00 (20060101); A41D 27/00 (20060101);