FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to a disposable flat sock which is inserted into a shoe to keep the foot dry and odor free.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Traditionally, the purpose of socks is to protect a user's feet while absorbing sweat and drawing it to areas where the sweat can evaporate into the air. The foot is one of the areas of the human body with the largest density of sweat glands. As a result, the foot is the one of the heaviest producers of sweat in the body. In the average human body, the foot will produce over a pint of perspiration per day. The socks are generally utilized by users to protect the feet from the outside environment. For example, in a cold environment, socks prevent the user's feet from becoming frost bitten. In another example, the long socks can help protect a user's feet from scratches due to external forces or while playing sports. However, for users who do not perform activities that risk external wounds the traditional sock is not required. For such cases, the remaining essential function that can be provided by a sock is to absorb and draw sweat away from the user's foot to be evaporated. The present invention is a disposable flat sock is made to be inserted into a shoe to keep the foot dry and odor free in the shoe. The disposable flat sock is an alternative for a conventional tubular sock. The size may be the full length of the foot or any portion of the full length. The flat sock will be ultra thin as to not crowd the toes in the shoe. The flat sock is made to be disposable and can be replaced in the shoe when needed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a rear view of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a right side elevational view of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the present invention.
DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION
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.
In reference to FIG. 1, the present invention is a flat sock without a tube comprising of two basic layers, the top layer 1 and the lower layer 2. The flat sock additional comprises of supplementary layer such as a deodorizing layer 3 for the purpose of deodorizing a shoe or foot. For the connection of the layers the present invention comprises of a bottom adhesive 7, and a bonding means 8. The top layer 1 overlaps and is adhered to the top side of the deodorizing layer 3 by means of a bonding means 8. The deodorizing layer 3 overlaps and is adhered to the top side of the lower layer 2. The bonding means 8 is any bonding method including adhesive or sewing. The adhesives that can be used as the bonding means 8 include polyurethane adhesives, epoxy adhesives, natural animal glues, or any other suitable adhesives that are permeable to moisture. The top layer 1 of the flat sock is constructed from a thin moisture wicking material or fabric. The top layer 1 being in direct contact with the user's foot has a primary objective of drawing moisture such as sweat away from the foot. The top layer 1 is able to achieve its purpose due its moisture wicking property. The top layer 1 can be made from any materials that can efficiently pull sweat away from the skin. The moisture wicking materials can be made from synthetic or natural materials such as polyester, microfiber based fabrics, wools, silk, or even cotton. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the material used for the top layer 1 is a microfiber woven fabric that is able to make use of capillary action to wick sweat away from the surface of a user's foot. The top layer can be manufactured to have localized cushions to provide support on pressure points based on the type of shoe. The localized cushions can be used for the balls of the foot, the sides of the foot, or the heel of the foot. The deodorizing layer 3 can be made from any materials capable of absorbing the sweat transferred through the top layer 1. The deodorizing layer 3 is made from materials including absorbent polymers, fabrics, powders, sprays, liquids, aerosol, sponges or any other suitable absorbent breathable materials. The deodorizing layer can also include a natural or synthetic fragrance. The material of the deodorizing material must be breathable to allow the absorbed sweat to evaporate. Without the breathability, the present invention can become extremely wet from the user's sweat. The lack of breathability will result in discomfort and unpleasant odor on the user's feet. The purpose of the lower layer 2 is to provide additional dissipation of moisture away from the foot. The lower layer 2 is made from any materials including woven fabrics, non-woven fabrics, foam, paper, or any other suitable materials able to dissipate moisture. To ensure that the flat sock does not shift during use, the bottom adhesive 7 is applied to the bottom side of the lower layer 2. The bottom adhesive 7 is a low tack adhesive selected from the group consisting of acrylic adhesives, vinyl adhesives, or any other suitable adhesives that can provide a light bond. In another embodiment of the present invention, the lower layer 2 can be made from a fabric or material with higher frictional properties that prevent the layering system from sliding and shifting in the shoe. The use of high friction materials for the lower layer 2 will eliminate the need for the bottom adhesive 7. However, the present invention can still use a high friction material for the lower layer 2 with the bottom adhesive 7. The bottom adhesive prevents shifting and the misalignment of the present invention to a user's sole. In other embodiments of the present invention, there may be additionally cushioning layers that can also provide support for users. Users that have severe cases of over-pronation and under-pronation will be able to use the present invention to neutralize their feet's pronation for less stress on the ankles and the knees. In another embodiment of the present invention, the layering system can also include an arch support cushion.
In reference to FIG. 2-5, to prevent the foot of a user from excessively shifting inside a shoe and chaffing, the present invention additionally comprises of a shoe toe front barrier flap 4, a shoe toe side barrier flaps 5, and a shoe heel barrier. The shoe toe front barrier flap 4 is positioned on and extends from a front tip edge of the top layer 1. The shoe toe side barrier flaps 5 are positioned on and extend from the front side edges of the top layer 1. The shoe heel barrier flap 6 is positioned along and extends from the rear edge of the top layer 1. The shoe toe front barrier flap 4 and the shoe toe side barrier flaps 5 the user's toe from rubbing against the interior of a shoe. As a result, the shoe toe front barrier flap 4 and the shoe toe side barrier flaps 5 prevent the user from forming blisters due to chaffing. Similarly, the shoe heel barrier flap 6 prevents the user's heel from rubbing and chaffing against the interior of a shoe. This eliminates the user from forming blisters on the heel when wearing a shoe. The shoe toe front barrier flap 4 and the shoe toe side barrier flaps 5 are both shaped to conform to the toes of the user. The shoe heel barrier flap 6 is shaped to conform and cup the user's heel for a comfortable fit. In other embodiments, the present invention can be manufactured without the shoe heel barrier flap 6, the shoe toe side barrier flaps 5, or the shoe toe front barrier flap 4. For users who are using the present invention for everyday commuting, the present invention can be manufactured to have smaller flaps. In this embodiment of the present invention the flaps can be smaller due to the reduced amount of shifting of the foot. For users who wish to use the present invention for sports such as basketball, the barrier flaps can be manufactured to be larger and cover a larger area. During sports the amount of shifting significantly increases due to the user running and constantly changing directions.
To use the present invention, the user will simply insert the present invention into a shoe. The layering system is then pressed against the insole with the lower layer 2 facing down to stabilize the present invention into the shoe. Once the present invention is in place, the user will be able to wear the shoe normally. The present invention will then be able to absorb and dissipate the sweat from the user's feet. When the user does not need to wear the shoe anymore, the present invention can be taken out of the shoe and be disposed of. The size of the present invention may be the full length of the foot or isolated portions of the foot. The thin design of the present invention provides users with the comfort of wearing shoes without the crowding the interior of the shoe. The present invention eliminates the need for users to wear tube sock with shoes. The disposability of the present invention also allows users to replace used flat socks to prevent the germs and bacteria from cultivating in the shoe. The prevention of germs and bacteria collecting in a shoe also significantly lowers the risk of the user from being infected with athlete's foot.
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.
Patent Application
20110119810
