BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional flattened stocking;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the conventional stocking of FIG. 1 worn on a foot and in a state where an end portion is foldable back on a lower portion of a main body so as to be positioned to a bottom of the foot of the person;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the conventional stocking of FIG. 1 worn on a foot and in another state where the end portion is foldable back on an upper portion of the main body so as to be positioned to a top of the foot;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a stocking according to this invention;
FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view of the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the preferred embodiment taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 illustrates the stocking of FIG. 1 worn on a foot of a person and disposed at a folded position;
FIG. 8 illustrates the situation where a folded portion of the stocking of FIG. 4 is changed from the folded position to an unfolded position; and
FIG. 9 illustrates the stocking of FIG. 4 worn on a foot of a person and disposed at another folded position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, the preferred embodiment of a stocking 10 according to the present invention is shown to include a flattenable hollow tube of a stretch material having a first portion 11 with a first open end 111, a second portion 12 extending from the first portion 11 and having a second open end 121, and a folded portion 14 folded backward from the second open end 121 of the second portion 12 to surround the second portion 12 and having a circumferentially extending connecting part 141 secured to the second portion 12 along a circumferentially extending securing line 143, and a circumferentially extending open part 142 movable between a folded position, where the circumferentially extending open part 142 of the folded portion 14 is folded back to surround a corresponding area 13 of the second portion 12, and an unfolded position, where the circumferentially extending open part 142 of the folded portion 14 is extended forward from the second open end 121 of the second portion 12 away from the second portion 12.
Preferably, as shown in FIG. 4, the folded portion 14 has a third open end 144 opposite to the second open end 121 of the second portion 12 in a longitudinal direction (X) and having a peripheral edge 145. The circumferentially extending securing line 143 is along the peripheral edge 145 of the third open end 144.
Preferably, the second open end 121 has a radius and a perimeter. The circumferentially extending securing line 143 has a length in the longitudinal direction (x), which is at least half of the perimeter of the second open end 121. Moreover, the folded portion 14 has a length along the longitudinal direction (X) greater than the radius of the second open end 121.
FIG. 7 shows the stocking 10 of this invention worn on a foot of a person and disposed at a folded position. At the folded position, the circumferentially extending open part 142 of the folded portion 14 is folded back to surround a corresponding area 13 of the second portion 12 so that toes are revealed. When the toes are likely to be covered, as shown in FIG. 8, the folded portion 14 of the stocking 10 is pulled forward toward the toes to cover the same (i.e., at the unfolded position), preferably, to cover the second open end 121 of the second portion 12 (see the position indicated by arrow A) as well.
Furthermore, the stocking 10 can be restored to the folded position by folding the folded portion 14 back onto the corresponding area 13 of the second portion 12.
In addition, if the foot is to be totally exposed, the stocking 10 can be pulled upwardly such that the second open end 121 of the second portion 12 of the stocking 10 (which is at the folded position) is located at the user's ankle (see FIG. 9).
It should be noted that the stocking 10 of this invention refers to a stocking which is intended to cover the foot and at least a portion of the leg of the person. In addition, the circumferentially extending securing line 143 can be continuous or discontinuous.
According to the present invention, with the simple construction of the stocking 10 according to this invention, the user can easily change the wearing type by moving the folded portion 14 between the folded position and the unfolded position without damaging the circumferentially extending securing line 143 as encountered in the aforesaid conventional stocking 200.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation and equivalent arrangements.
Patent Application
20080092275
