Patent Application
20240016235
This invention relates to socks.
Boots, such as ski boots and the like can sometimes be difficult to put on. It would be an advantage in the art to provide a sock that could be used to make putting on such boots easier.
The present invention is directed to socks that include specific portions thereof that include or are formed from a material exhibiting increased slickness (i.e., decreased friction) to aid in putting a socked foot into a ski boot or similar boot that may otherwise be difficult to put on.
The sock may otherwise be formed of typical fabric materials (e.g., cotton, wool, cotton-polyester blend, etc.). Specific portions of the sock are formed from a different material, that provides for decreased friction (i.e., allowing a socked foot to be more easily pulled or pushed into a ski boot or other boot). In particular, a region just above the heel of the sock may be formed from such low friction fabric or other material. Alternatively or in addition, an opposite surface on the front face of the sock (e.g., corresponding to the location of the tongue of a shoe or boot) is also formed from such a low friction fabric or other material. By way of example, this portion or portions of the sock may be formed from a low friction 100% polyester or nylon material. Other slick, low friction materials will be apparent to those of skill in the art, and may also be suitable for use. The portion or patch of material having low friction may exhibit a lower coefficient of friction than the other portions of the sock.
Both the rear low friction portion above the heel and the front low friction portion corresponding to the tongue location may have a width of e.g., from 1-3 inches (e.g., about 2 inches). Such portions may have a length that is greater than the width (e.g., so as to be elongate). For example, the length of such locations may be from 2-5 inches, or from 3-4 inches. In an embodiment, the low friction portion above the heel may have a length of about 4 inches, and the front low friction portion may have a length of about 3 inches.
In an embodiment, the sock is not simply formed entirely from such a low friction material, as such materials may not provide other desired characteristics (e.g., ability to wick away moisture, breathability, insulation, etc.). Thus, in an embodiment, only limited portions of the sock (e.g., the two portions noted herein) are formed from the low friction material. The remainder of the sock may be formed from more conventional sock materials, such as wool, a cotton blend, etc.
Attachment of the low friction portion(s) of the sock to the underlying or other sock portions may be by any suitable means, such as stitching, or use of an adhesive (e.g., hot iron adhesive), combinations thereof, or other attachment mechanisms that will be apparent to those of skill in the art. In an embodiment, such portions may simply be woven into the adjacent portions of the sock body.
Features from any of the disclosed embodiments may be used in combination with one another, without limitation. In addition, other features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art through consideration of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
The appended drawings contain figures of example embodiments to further illustrate and clarify the above and other aspects, advantages and features of the present invention. It will be appreciated that these drawings depict only example embodiments of the invention and are not intended to limit its scope. The invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings.
The present invention is directed to socks that include specific portions thereof that include or are formed from a material exhibiting increased slickness (i.e., decreased friction, lower coefficient of friction) to aid in putting a socked foot into a ski boot or similar boot that may otherwise be difficult to put on.
The sock 10 may otherwise be formed of typical fabric materials (e.g., cotton, wool, cotton-polyester blend, etc.). Specific portions of the sock are formed from a different material, that provides for decreased friction (i.e., allowing a socked foot to be more easily pulled or pushed into a ski boot or other boot). In particular, referring to the Figures (e.g.,
Alternatively or in addition, an opposite surface on the front face of the sock (e.g., corresponding to the location of the tongue of a shoe or boot, which portion is labeled 16) is also formed from such a low friction fabric material. By way of example, portions 12, 16 of the sock 10 may be formed from a low friction polyester or low friction nylon material. In an embodiment, such patches 12, 16 may be 100% low friction polyester, 100% low friction nylon, or a blend of low friction polyester and low friction nylon. Based on the present disclosure, other slick, low friction materials that may be suitable for use will be apparent to those of skill in the art, and may also be used. The portion or patch of material having low friction may exhibit a lower coefficient of friction than the other portions of the sock. For example, cotton, or other cellulose containing fabrics may typically exhibit relatively higher coefficients of friction. In an embodiment, the other portions 14 of the sock 10 include greater cellulose (e.g., cotton, or other cellulose containing fabric materials) content than portions 12, 16 (which may contain lower, or even 0% cotton or other cellulose fabrics).
Both the rear low friction portion 12 above the heel and the front low friction portion 16 corresponding to the tongue location may have a width of e.g., from 1-3 inches (e.g., about 2 inches). Such portions may have a length that is greater than the width (e.g., so as to be elongate). For example, the length of such locations may be from 2-5 inches, or from 3-4 inches. In an embodiment, the low friction portion 12 above the heel may have a length of about 4 inches, and the front low friction portion 16 may have a length of about 3 inches.
In an embodiment, the sock 10 is not simply formed entirely from such a low friction material (e.g., nylon or polyester), as such materials may not provide other desired characteristics (e.g., ability to wick away moisture, breathability, insulation, etc.). Thus, in an embodiment, only limited portions of the sock (e.g., the two portions 12, 16 noted herein) are formed from the low friction fabric material. The remainder 14 of the sock 10 may be formed from more conventional sock materials (which exhibit greater coefficients of friction), such as one or more of wool, cotton, a cotton blend, bamboo fibers, rayon, lyocell, modal, viscose, spandex, etc.
As shown in
The patches 12, 16 may thus be adhered or otherwise attached to the exterior surfaces of the sock, allowing the entire socked portion of the foot of a user to contact the higher friction material 14 (but such material 14 may have better moisture wicking, better insulative characteristics, etc. as compared to the material of patches 12, 16).
A method for manufacturing such a sock may include providing a sock body formed from a given sock material (e.g., wool, cotton blend, or the like as noted herein), selected to provide desired characteristics relative to moisture wicking, and insulation, said material having a coefficient of friction. Patch portions (e.g., corresponding to 12 and 16, as shown in
The patch portions can be stitched to the sock body, woven into the sock body, attached to the sock body with an adhesive, or both. In an embodiment the patch portions are attached to the sock body with a hot iron activated adhesive (e.g., a hot iron is used to attach the patch(es) to the sock. Such hot iron activated adhesives will be familiar to those of skill in the art, as they are often employed in other fields of fabric patching (e.g., when patching a hole).
In another embodiment, the present sock may be formed where the patch portions are integrated directly into the sock body, e.g., where such portions are not only prseent on the exposed exterior face of the sock, but are also on the inside of the sock, so as to contact the heel and tongue portions of the user's foot that is inserted into the sock. Nevertheless, in an embodiment, attachment may be as described above, where the patch portions 12, 16 are only exposed on the exterior surface of the sock, so that the full interior surface of the sock does not include such low friction materials (e.g., only other material 14, providing better moisture wicking, insulation, etc.).
In addition, unless otherwise indicated, numbers expressing quantities, constituents, distances, or other measurements used in the specification and claims are to be understood as optionally being modified by the term “about” or its synonyms. When the terms “about,” “approximately,” “substantially,” or the like are used in conjunction with a stated amount, value, or condition, it may be taken to mean an amount, value or condition that deviates by less than 20%, less than 10%, less than 5%, less than 1%, less than 0.1%, or less than 0.01% of the stated amount, value, or condition.
As used herein, the term “between” includes any referenced endpoints. For example, “between 2 and 10” includes both 2 and 10.
The present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. Thus, the described implementations are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
The present invention claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of U.S. Application No. 63/194,385, filed May 28, 2021, and entitled SOCK, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63194385 | May 2021 | US |
