Exercise Sock with Configurable Fastening Straps
An exercise sock with configurable straps includes a sock body, at least one lateral reinforced-opening, at least one medial reinforced-opening, and a pair of fastening straps. The lateral reinforced-opening and the medial reinforced-opening are traversed through the sock body opposite of each other so that the pair of fastening straps can be inserted through the sock body. The pair of fastening straps allows the wearers of the exercise sock to create different configurations across the top of the foot around the ankle and leg for aesthetic appearance while securing the sock body to the wearer's foot.
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/886,199 filed on Oct. 3, 2014.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to a form of footwear known as exercise socks. More specifically the present invention is an exercise sock with reinforced openings in the sidewalls and/or heel allowing for configurable fastening straps placement. The present invention aims to improve the traditional exercise sock by providing an aesthetically pleasing sock with reinforced openings and/or configurable fastening strap placement to secure the sock to the user's feet.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIt is important for people to stay physically active throughout their lives in order to combat the potential effects of an otherwise sedentary lifestyle brought on by the conveniences of modern technology. One method of getting sufficient physical activity is participating in exercise classes such as Pilates, yoga, classes incorporating the ballet bar, or various different dancing classes and special exercise methods. Exercise classes done in a group class setting can be an enjoyable and effective method of maintaining physical health for many people.
Exercise classes are most often performed in facilities known as exercise studios or dance studios. Such facilities typically feature large open spaces and floor covering can vary from studio to studio. There is a variety of floor covering used in studios, from hardwood flooring to carpet, to vinyl covered mats. The open space provides the area necessary for people to carry out dance and exercise moves. Smooth floors in exercise areas can create some issues however, as the surface may be slippery if contacted by a person's foot encased in a sock. Alternative solutions to this include wearing shoes, or going barefoot. Wearing shoes is not optimal for classes such as yoga, Pilates and ballet bar inspired classes because shoes restrict the participants' foot movement, awareness of how their feet are connecting to the ground and how they are distributing their weight through their feet. Shoes are typically not allowed in padded or carpeted rooms for hygiene reasons. On hard smooth surfaces such as wood floors rubber soles can leave scuff marks on the floor and generate too much friction between the participants' feet and the floor to perform certain maneuvers. Going barefoot can be a good alternative, as the contact between bare foot and floor is typically the right amount of friction to maintain control and still allow the dexterity to perform advanced maneuvers. However, going barefoot is also undesirable in many situations, particularly since many people use public exercise or dancing studios. There are many known foot-borne bacteria and fungi, and it is generally unsanitary to go barefoot in public spaces. Many gyms and exercise studios require socks be worn in class for such hygiene reasons.
In order to solve the issues above, dancers and exercisers may utilize socks or special footwear such as ballet slippers. Leather ballet slippers provide a covering for the foot to ensure hygiene whilst also providing friction between a smooth floor and the wearer's feet. It is the object of the current invention to provide a washable alternative to the ballet slipper, providing the flexibility of a sock with the look of a ballet slipper. The current invention provides alternatives to the typical ballet slipper ribbon tying configuration with the addition of reinforced openings in the sidewall and heel/rear of the sock. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved exercise sock with aesthetically pleasing configurable straps that serve to firmly secure the sock to the foot. The current invention allows for configurable fastening straps to be inserted through the use of several reinforced openings in the sidewall and heel/rear of the footwear allowing for a variety of complex patterns when worn by the user. The fastening straps keep the exercise sock in place on the foot while performing exercise and dance moves. The present invention may also be produced in a manner such that it is reversible in order that the user may choose whether the ribbons originate near the balls of their feet or near their heels; thus the present invention offers superior customizability and flexibility for the user.
All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The present invention is a floor/bar exercise sock with configurable ribbon placement and specifically designed for people who commonly exercise or dance in exercise or dancing studios. The present invention is intended to provide a wearer with sufficient friction between their feet and the floor while still maintaining a high degree of foot dexterity for the user. The present invention also promotes hygiene as it prevents the need for the wearer's foot to come into contact with a public floor surface. In reference to
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The sole portion 7 may comprise non-slip material to provide a high friction gripping surface for contact with smooth floor surfaces such as tiles or hardwood. More specifically, the sole portion 7 comprises a plurality of rubber beads or dots that is embedded onto the sole portion 7. The plurality of rubber beads may be distributed in different patterns on the sole portion 7. The exact number and distribution of rubber beads or dots of other non-slip material may vary according to the different embodiments of the sock body 1. Additionally, it is important to note that the material used for the plurality of rubber beads may be any suitable material, such as rubbers or silicones. It is also important to note that the plurality of rubber beads may not be included if the present invention is intended to be used on a non-smooth floor surface such as carpet. In such a situation, the sole portion 7 comprises a plain surface as the friction provided between sole portion 7 and the non-smooth floor surface is sufficient.
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Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims
1. An exercise sock with configurable strap placement comprises:
- a sock body;
- at least one lateral reinforced-opening;
- at least one medial reinforced-opening;
- a pair of fastening straps;
- the sock body comprises a foot cuff, a lateral sidewall portion, a medial sidewall portion, and a sole portion;
- the foot cuff comprises a first curvature portion and a second curvature portion;
- the at least one lateral reinforced-opening traversing through the lateral sidewall portion;
- the at least one medial reinforced-opening traversing through the medial sidewall portion; and
- the pair of fastening straps being connected to the first curvature portion.
2. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
- the foot cuff being oppositely positioned from the sole portion;
- the lateral sidewall portion and the medial sidewall portion being oppositely positioned from each other; and
- the lateral sidewall portion and the medial sidewall portion being positioned between the foot cuff and the sole portion.
3. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
- the first curvature portion and the second curvature portion being partially extended along the foot cuff;
- the first curvature portion being adjacently positioned with the lateral sidewall portion and the medial sidewall portion; and
- the second curvature portion being adjacently positioned with the lateral sidewall portion and the medial sidewall portion opposite of the first curvature portion.
4. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
- the at least one lateral reinforced-opening being adjacently positioned with the first curvature portion; and
- the at least one medial reinforced-opening being adjacently positioned with the first curvature portion.
5. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
- the pair of fastening straps comprises a first strap and a second strap;
- the first strap being connected to the first curvature portion adjacent to the medial sidewall portion; and
- the second strap being connected to the first curvature portion adjacent to the lateral sidewall portion.
6. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
- the sock body further comprises a sock toe and a rear reinforced-opening;
- the sock toe being positioned on the lateral sidewall portion and the medial sidewall portion adjacent to the first curvature portion; and
- the rear reinforced-opening being oppositely positioned from the sock toe along the sock body.
7. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 6 comprises:
- the sock body further comprises a rear cover;
- the rear cover being connected to the lateral sidewall portion and the medial sidewall portion; and
- the rear cover being adjacently and linearly positioned along the rear reinforced-opening.
8. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 1 comprises:
- the at least one lateral reinforced-opening and the at least one medial reinforced-opening each comprise a first opening and a second opening;
- the first opening and the second opening of the at least one lateral reinforced-opening being positioned offset of each other; and
- the first opening and the second opening of the at least one medial reinforced-opening being positioned offset of each other.
9. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 8 comprises:
- the sock body further comprises a first lateral cover, a first medial cover, a second lateral cover, and a second medial cover;
- the first lateral cover being connected to the lateral sidewall portion and adjacently positioned along the first opening of the at least one lateral reinforced-opening;
- the first medial cover being connected to the medial sidewall portion and adjacently positioned along the first opening of the at least one medial reinforced-opening;
- the second lateral cover being connected to the lateral sidewall portion and adjacently positioned along the second opening of the at least one lateral reinforced-opening; and
- the second medial cover being connected to the medial sidewall portion and adjacently positioned along the second opening of the at least one medial reinforced-opening.
10. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 8 comprises:
- the sock body further comprises an elongated lateral cover and an elongated medial cover;
- the elongated lateral cover being connected to the lateral sidewall portion and adjacently positioned along the first opening and the second opening of the at least one lateral reinforced-opening; and
- the elongated medial cover being connected to the medial sidewall portion and adjacently positioned along the first opening and the second opening of the at least one medial reinforced-opening.
11. An exercise sock with configurable strap placement comprises:
- a sock body;
- at least one lateral reinforced-opening;
- at least one medial reinforced-opening;
- a pair of fastening straps;
- the sock body comprises a foot cuff, a lateral sidewall portion, a medial sidewall portion, and a sole portion;
- the foot cuff comprises a first curvature portion and a second curvature portion;
- the foot cuff being oppositely positioned from the sole portion;
- the lateral sidewall portion and the medial sidewall portion being oppositely positioned from each other;
- the lateral sidewall portion and the medial sidewall portion being positioned between the foot cuff and the sole portion;
- the at least one lateral reinforced-opening traversing through the lateral sidewall portion;
- the at least one medial reinforced-opening traversing through the medial sidewall portion; and
- the pair of fastening straps being connected to the first curvature portion.
12. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 11 comprises:
- the first curvature portion and the second curvature portion being partially extended along the foot cuff;
- the first curvature portion being adjacently positioned with the lateral sidewall portion and the medial sidewall portion; and
- the second curvature portion being adjacently positioned with the lateral sidewall portion and the medial sidewall portion opposite of the first curvature portion.
13. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 11 comprises:
- the at least one lateral reinforced-opening being adjacently positioned with the first curvature portion; and
- the at least one medial reinforced-opening being adjacently positioned with the first curvature portion.
14. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 11 comprises:
- the pair of fastening straps comprises a first strap and a second strap;
- the first strap being connected to the first curvature portion adjacent to the medial sidewall portion; and
- the second strap being connected to the first curvature portion adjacent to the lateral sidewall portion.
15. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 11 comprises:
- the sock body further comprises a sock toe and a rear reinforced-opening;
- the sock toe being positioned on the lateral sidewall portion and the medial sidewall portion adjacent to the first curvature portion; and
- the rear reinforced-opening being oppositely positioned from the sock toe along the sock body.
16. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 15 comprises:
- the sock body further comprises a rear cover;
- the rear cover being connected to the lateral sidewall portion and the medial sidewall portion; and
- the rear cover being adjacently and linearly positioned along the rear reinforced-opening.
17. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 11 comprises:
- the at least one lateral reinforced-opening and the at least one medial reinforced-opening each comprise a first opening and a second opening;
- the first opening and the second opening of the at least one lateral reinforced-opening being positioned offset of each other; and
- the first opening and the second opening of the at least one medial reinforced-opening being positioned offset of each other.
18. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 17 comprises:
- the sock body further comprises a first lateral cover, a first medial cover, a second lateral cover, and a second medial cover;
- the first lateral cover being connected to the lateral sidewall portion and adjacently positioned along the first opening of the at least one lateral reinforced-opening;
- the first medial cover being connected to the medial sidewall portion and adjacently positioned along the first opening of the at least one medial reinforced-opening;
- the second lateral cover being connected to the lateral sidewall portion and adjacently positioned along the second opening of the at least one lateral reinforced-opening; and
- the second medial cover being connected to the medial sidewall portion and adjacently positioned along the second opening of the at least one medial reinforced-opening.
19. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 17 comprises:
- the sock body further comprises an elongated lateral cover and an elongated medial cover;
- the elongated lateral cover being connected to the lateral sidewall portion and adjacently positioned along the first opening and the second opening of the at least one lateral reinforced-opening; and
- the elongated medial cover being connected to the medial sidewall portion and adjacently positioned along the first opening and the second opening of the at least one medial reinforced-opening.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 17, 2014
Publication Date: Apr 9, 2015
Inventor: Caroline Juliette Krumel (Park City, UT)
Application Number: 14/488,786