NONSLIP HOSIERY

Abstract

A non-slip hosiery to provide metatarsal support and foot stabilization when worn with high heeled or open toed shoes. The non-slip hosiery includes one or more gel cushioned pads at the ball and heel of the foot of the hosiery. The gel pads are configured such that the pads may be in at least partial contact with the wearer's skin and the insole of the shoe, providing frictional contact to limit slipping of the wearer's foot within the shoe.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to hosiery, and more particularly to hosiery for wear with high heels and open toe shoes.

Everyone who wears nylons and high heeled shoes must alter the way they walk in order to avoid walking out of the shoe and the slip and slide of the shoes while they walk. With existing nylons, even top of the line brands, it is extremely difficult to walk while wearing heels, due to the foot sliding forward and down into the front of the shoe. Likewise, when a person wears open toe shoes their foot will slide out the front of the shoe while wearing nylons. When a person alters the way they walk in heels, they can cause injury or damage to the ankles, knees, hips, and back. Additionally, they may also look silly due to an unnatural gait, and may even lose confidence in their appearance and ability to walk.

As can be seen, there is a need for an improved hosiery that provides stability and gripping action to hold the foot properly in the shoe for a comfortable unaltered walk while the foot is in heels with nylons.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a non-slip hosiery, is disclosed. The non-slip hosiery includes an elongate elastic tubular shaped element that is dimensioned to receive at least a foot of the user with a bottom portion of the tubular element defining a sole of the non-slip hosiery. A ball pad and a heel pad are formed of a non-slip elastomeric gel material. The ball pad and the heel pad are formed into the sole, such that the ball pad and the heel pad simultaneously contact with both the wearer's foot and an insole of the wearer's shoe, when worn.

An interior surface of the ball pad and the heel pad may have a smooth surface. An exterior surface of the ball pad and the heel pad may have a textured gripping surface.

In some embodiments, the ball pad is dimensioned so that it terminates, at a forward end, when worn, at a junction of the wearer's toes with the wearer's foot.

In yet other embodiments, an intermediate pad is disposed on the sole of the hosiery between the ball pad and the heel pad.

The non-slip hosiery may also include a reinforced fabric material in the sole of the hosiery. The reinforced fabric material is at least partially received within each of the ball pad and the heel pad.

In some embodiments, the tubular element has a length extending to at least a thigh of the wearer, when worn.

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 view of the non-slip hosiery shown in use;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the non-slip hosiery;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the non-slip hosiery;

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the non-slip hosiery illustrated in use with a high heel shoe; and

FIG. 5 is an alternate embodiment of the non-slip hosiery.

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, embodiments of the present invention provide an improved item of hosiery that provides stability of the wearer's foot while wearing high heel or open toe shoes. The non-slip hosiery allows the wearer to walk comfortably, without altering their gait movements while wearing nylon hosiery. The non-slip hosiery of the present invention prevents the occurrence of “toe scrunch” and slipping and sliding out of high heels and open toed shoes.

As seen in reference to FIGS. 1-4, the non-slip hosiery 10 includes strategic placement of one or more nonslip, shock absorbent silicone, or elastomeric gel pads 12, 16, 18 attached to an article of hosiery 10. As used herein, hosiery may include stockings, tights, thigh highs, knee highs. Hosiery may also include socks, such as shown in reference to FIG. 5, for the purposes of playing sports, athletic activities and wearing athletic shoes such as cleats, boxing shoes, cycling bicycle shoes, etc. The non-slip hosiery 10 includes an elongate elastic tubular shaped element 12 that is dimensioned to receive at least a foot 30 of the user, and may extend up to or beyond a user's thighs. The tubular shaped element has a top opening for receiving the wearer's foot 30 and typically includes a closed toe portion, for enclosing the user's toes.

The pads 14, 16, 18 are formed so that they will simultaneously have contact with both the wearer's foot 30 and an insole 32 of the wearer's shoe 20, performing a gripping function which alleviates an altered walk when wearing heels with nylons. The non-slip hosiery 10 according to aspects of the invention may include a toe, or ball pad 18, that is applied to the hosiery towards the ball of the wearer's foot 30. A heel pad 14 may be applied to the hosiery 10 in the heel area of the wearer's foot 30. The non-slip hosiery 10 may also include an intermediate element 16 that provides for adjustment in the placement of the pads 18, 14 between the ball and heel of the wearer's foot 30.

The attached gel cushioned ball pad 18 and heel pad 14 are attached to the hosiery 10 such that the gel is in at least partial contact with the wearer's skin and the shoe insole 32 simultaneously. The interior surface (the surface that is oriented against the skin of the foot) of the pads 18, 14 will have a smooth surface. An exterior surface of the pads 14, 18 (the part that is against the shoe) is preferably formed with a textured, and more preferably, with semi gripping/adhesive surface.

The ball pad 18 serves two purposes, metatarsal support and foot stabilization. The ball pad 18 will be positioned over the ball of the foot 30 to enable the bones to spread out and not collapse in the toe area of the shoe 20, which ultimately leads to the scrunching of the toes, large gaps in the back of the shoe 20, and ill fitted shoes. The heel pad 14 may be placed under the heel for shock absorbance and wearer comfort. The intermediate pad 16 may be reinforced with a more structured and stretchy material to allow for longitudinal adjustment and placement of the heel pad 14 according to the wearer's needs. Preferably, the heel pad 14 and the ball pad 18 are limited to the surface area between the wearer's sole and the insole of the shoe. In some embodiments, the heel pad 14 and the ball pad 18 may be extended to provide a cushion and gripping between the lateral aspects of the wearer's heel and ball and the heel cup and interior sides of the shoe 20.

The non-slip hosiery 30 is provided with an underfoot reinforcement area, that provides a suitable fabric reinforcement to the hosiery 10 for attachment of the pads 14, 16, 18. As seen in reference to FIG. 3, the ball pad 18 is preferably dimensioned so that it terminates, at a forward end, at the junction of the toes with the foot 30 so as to remain concealed with open toed shoes and to permit the wearer's toes to grip the insole 32 of the shoe 20.

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 non-slip hosiery, comprising: an elongate elastic tubular shaped element that is dimensioned to receive at least a foot of the user with a bottom portion of the tubular element defining a sole of the non-slip hosiery; anda ball pad and a heel pad formed of a non-slip elastomeric gel material, the ball pad and the heel pad formed into the sole, such that the ball pad and the heel pad simultaneously contact both the wearer's foot and an insole of the wearer's shoe, when worn.

2. The non-slip hosiery of claim 1, wherein an interior surface of the ball pad and the heel pad have a smooth surface.

3. The non-slip hosiery of claim 2, wherein an exterior surface of the ball pad and the heel pad have a gripping surface.

4. The non-slip hosiery of claim 3, wherein the ball pad is dimensioned so that it terminates, at a forward end, when worn at a junction of the wearer's toes with the wearer's foot.

5. The non-slip hosiery of claim 3, further comprising: an intermediate pad disposed on the sole of the hosiery between the ball pad and the heel pad.

6. The non-slip hosiery of claim 5, wherein the intermediate pad is stretchable along a longitudinal length of the sole to permit positioning of the heel pad and the ball pad relative to the foot of the wearer.

7. The non-slip hosiery of claim 1, further comprising: a reinforced fabric material in the sole of the hosiery.

8. The non-slip hosiery of claim 7, wherein the reinforced fabric material is at least partially received within each of the ball pad and the heel pad.

9. The non-slip hosiery of claim 1, wherein the tubular element has a length extending to at least a thigh of the wearer, when worn.

10. The non-slip hosiery of claim 1, wherein the tubular element has a length extending to at least an ankle of the wearer, when worn.