SOCK PIECE

Abstract

A sock piece is provided. The sock piece may include a flat sole base, a reversible sock and cooperating footwear. The sole base may have a plurality of fasteners. The plurality of fasteners may removably attach to a plurality of straps to form a sandal; removably attach to the cooperating footwear to form padded footwear; and removably attach to the reversible sock to form a sock configured to cover substantially all of the wearer's foot. The reversible sock may receive at least one additional sole base to modify the air circulation, odor control and/or padding as the wearer so desires.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/960,560 filed 21 Sep. 2013, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to footwear and, more particularly, to a sock piece that combines with other components to provide a sock sandal, a reversible sock and comfortable footwear.

Current footwear, does not allow wearers to adjust the function—e.g., the amount of air circulation, the amount of padding or the odor control—that the footwear provides, much less allow the wearer to adapt the form of the footwear.

As can be seen, there is a need for a footwear component that allows the wearer to adjust the function and form of the footwear worn.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a foot region of footwear comprises: a sole base having a plurality of male fasteners; and a plurality of straps having a plurality of female fasteners, wherein the plurality of straps are configured to form a sock sandal by mating complementary male and female fasteners.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of controlling the air circulation of a foot region of footwear comprises: providing at least one sole base having a plurality of male fasteners; providing a reversible sock configured to receive the at least one sole base; and securing the at least one sole base in the reversible sock.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an assembled perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a side elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a sock piece. The sock piece may include a flat sole base, a reversible sock and cooperating footwear. The sole base may have a plurality of fasteners. The plurality of fasteners may removably attach to a plurality of straps to form a sandal; removably attach to the cooperating footwear to form padded footwear; and removably attach to the reversible sock to form a sock configured to cover substantially all of the wearer's foot. The reversible sock may snugly receive at least one additional sole base to modify the air circulation, odor control and/or padding as the wearer so desires.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 7, the present invention may include a sock piece 10. The components of the sock piece 10 may be fabricated from materials suitable for hosiery and garment applications, including fabrics of natural and synthetic materials such as, for example, nylon, spandex, cotton, silk, lycra and polyester or blends thereof, woven materials such as felt, non-woven materials including non-woven spunbond or carded webs of polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon, polyester, a non-woven web of cellulosic fibers, textile fibers such as rayon fibers, or a blend of cellulosic and textile fibers; or melt blown thermoplastic fibers, such as macro fibers or micro fibers of polypropylene, polyethylene, polyester or other thermoplastic materials or mixtures of such thermoplastic macro fibers or micro fibers with cellulosic, pulp or textile fibers, and natural fibers (e.g., wood or cellulose), may be used depending on the particular application. One skilled in the art, however, will realize that other materials suitable for manufacture, in accordance with the present disclosure would be appropriate. It is further envisioned that the sock piece 10 may be fabricated from a non-fabric material such as rubber or other polymers. The sock piece 10 may be fabricated from material that controls odor and/or facilitates air circulation.

The sock piece 10 may include a flat sole base 12 of a configuration corresponding to the ground-engaging sole surface of the foot of a wearer. The sole base 12 may be sufficiently wide and long enough to fit any size foot comfortably and is offered in a variety of sizes to fit all standard or non-standard shoe sizes and may be worn on either foot, i.e., the sock piece 10 is not formed to fit a particular foot but may be worn on either the right or left foot.

It is contemplated that the sole base 12 may include a single layer or be fabricated from a laminate of multiple layers. In an embodiment including multiple layers, it is further contemplated that the multiple layers may include the same or alternative materials. In certain embodiments, the sole base 12 may be fabricated by multiple layers by using a crisscross stitching 14 patterned for providing stability. In an alternative embodiment, the fabrication of multiple layers may utilize stitching 14 in a patchwork patterned for providing stability.

In certain embodiments, the sock piece 10 may provide a sock sandal 20 including the sole base 12 and a plurality of sole fasteners 16. In certain embodiments, the plurality of sole fasteners 16 may each provide a male component 18. It should be understood that the plurality of sole fasteners 16 may be any fastener known in the art for fastening or removably securing one object to another including, for example, standard push-button snaps, Velcro-type fasteners, adhesive substances, combinations thereof, and the like.

In certain embodiments, the sock sandal 20 may include a plurality of straps of material 21, each forming at least one female component 22. The female component 22 may be adapted to securely mate with the male component 18 so that the plurality of straps 21 may extend from one side of the sock sandal 20 to an another side, as illustrated in FIG. 3, so as to operably retain the foot of the wearer. It should also be that the plurality of straps 21 may be configured in any array and/or number, so long as the straps function in accordance with the present invention as described herein

In certain embodiments, the sock piece 10 may provide a footwear component 30. The footwear component 30 may include cooperating footwear 34 providing a plurality of female fastening components 22 along a portion of the interior surface thereof. The plurality of female fastening components 22 may be disposed along the base thereof so that the plurality of sole fasteners 16 male fastening components 18 of the sole base 12 may be removably attach within the cooperating footwear 34.

In certain embodiments, the sock piece 10 may provide a reversible sock component 40. The reversible sock component 40 may include a reversible sock body 42. The reversible sock body 42 may include a foot portion configured to cover substantially all of the wearer's foot. The reversible sock body 42 may be worn on either foot, i.e., the reversible sock body 42 is not formed to fit a particular foot but may be worn on either the right or left foot, as a long sock. The reversible sock body 42 may be fabricated from materials suitable for hosiery and garment applications, similar to the sock piece 10. The reversible sock body 42 may include a single layer or be fabricated from a laminate of multiple layers, similar to the sock piece 10. The reversible sock body 42 may be reversible so that the reversible sock body 42 may be turned inside out and still be operable, as illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 7.

In certain embodiments, the sock piece 10 may provide a padded reversible sock 50. The padded reversible sock 50 may include reversible sock body 42 adapted so that at least one sole base 12 may be snugly secured near a base 52 in the inside of the reversible sock body 42, whereby the reversible sock body 42 may be configured as a receptacle for snugly receiving at least one sole base 12. If the function of the odor control, air circulation and/or padding is desired to be modified by the wearer, then the number of sole bases 12 snugly secured within the reversible sock body 42 may be adjusted accordingly.

In an alternative embodiment, the reversible sock body 42 may provide a sole base sock 60. The sole base sock 60 may include the plurality of female fastening components 22 disposed along the base 52 thereof so that the plurality of sole fasteners 16 male fastening components 18 of the sole base 12 may be removably attach along the base 52 about the inside or outside of the reversible sock body 42. It should be understood that the sole base sock 60 may be reversed so that sole base 12 may either be reversed to the outside or the inside of the sole base sock 60.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. The sock piece 10 disclosed above may be provided. A user may adapt the sole base 12 and the plurality of straps 21 into the sock sandal 20 by mating at least a portion of the plurality of complementary fastening components 18, 22. When the user desires to fully cover their foot, they may remove the plurality of straps 21 and then attach the reversible sock body 42 to the sole base 12 by mating at least a portion of the plurality of complementary fastening components 18, 22. Alternatively, the user may wear the reversible sock body 42 by itself. When the user desires the reversible sock body 42 to provide different levels of padding, odor control and/or air circulation for the wearer, the user may insert and snugly secure at least one additional sole base 12 into the reversible sock body 42. When the user desires to the wearer is provided sturdier footwear, the user may separate the sole base 12 from the reversible sock body 42 and then insert the sole base 12 into the cooperating footwear 34 by mating at least a portion of the plurality of complementary fastening components 18, 22.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A foot region of footwear, comprising:

a sole base having a plurality of male fasteners; and

a plurality of straps having a plurality of female fasteners.

2. The foot region of footwear of claim 1, wherein the plurality of straps are configured to form a sock sandal by mating at least one complementary male fastener and female fastener.

3. The foot region of footwear of claim 1, further providing a cooperating footwear, wherein the cooperating footwear has a plurality of female fasteners configured to mate with at least one male fastener.

4. The foot region of footwear of claim 3, wherein the cooperating footwear and the sole base are configured to form a shoe.

5. The foot region of footwear of claim 1, further providing a reversible sock configured to receive at least one sole base.

6. The foot region of footwear of claim 5, wherein the reversible sock further provides a plurality of female fasteners along a portion of the base of the reversible sock.

7. The foot region of footwear of claim 6, wherein the reversible sock and at least one sole base are configured to form a long sock.

8. A method of adapting the air circulation, odor control and padding of a reversible long sock, comprising:

providing at least one sole base having a plurality of male fasteners;

providing a reversible sock configured to receive at least one sole base; and

snugly securing the at least one sole base in the reversible sock.

9. The method of claim 8, further providing reversing the long sock so that the at least one sole base is disposed on the outside surface relative to the placement of a wearer's foot.

10. A method of configuring a sandal from a foot region of footwear that can also be configured to form a shoe and separately a long sock, comprising:

providing at least one sole base having a plurality of male fasteners;

providing a plurality of straps having a plurality of female fasteners; and

mating the complementary male and female fasteners so that at least one strap comfortably secures a foot of a wearer to the at least one sole base.