AU2010100995A4 - Woolies - Google Patents

Description

1 Description ???Woolies??? A foot warming device: un-spun sheep wool sock lining This invention relates to improvements in devices for keeping feet warm. In cold winter months and cold environments, people are always eager to keep their feet warm. From the elderly to the very young, whether walking to work, hiking and camping, or just staying cosy at home ??? people wear socks and shoes designed to keep their feet warm. Traditional socks, however, often do not meet peoples??? needs when it comes to having warm feet. For example, people living in environments as cold as many European countries find their feet remain cold when they are outdoors, despite the fact they are wearing normal socks and shoes. People taking part in cold weather activities such as snow boarding and skiing, camping and hiking often struggle to keep their feet warm. In addition, the very young and the elderly (who are extra sensitive to cold environments and winter weather), and often those aged in-between, are often ???bundled up??? in an attempt to warm themselves and their feet yet find their feet still feeling chilly ??? even when relaxing at home during winter. One device, that already exists, that attempts to help people with the problem of warming their feet is sheep skin boots. However, these boots can not be worn, for example: to work or in any situation where more ???dressy??? or appropriate footwear is expected; in bed; cuddled up on the couch; inside hiking boots and ski boots etc. The problems of both the traditional sock and of sheep skin boots are overcome by the current innovative modification to traditional socks which will keep feet much warmer than traditional socks (as warm as sheep skin boots) but, unlike sheep skin boots, can be worn in almost every situation, such as: cuddled up on the couch; in bed; in homes where shoes (or boots) are not allowed to be worn inside; while hiking and while sleeping on camp trips; while wearing snow boarding and ski boots; inside 2 business shoes on the way to and during work; and, inside any type of normal or leisure shoe during times people feel they need extra warmth.

Claims (3)

1. A foot warming device which is an innovative modification of traditional socks, whereby un-spun sheep wool covers the entire lining of the sock, surrounding the foot.

2. The foot warming device of claim 1 does not involve sheep skin, but rather, uses only un-spun sheep wool as a lining inside a traditional sock. The use of only the un spun sheep wool (rather than sheep skin) enables the sock to be as free moving and comfortable as a traditional sock, without the movement restrictions that harder sheep skin results in. The use of only the un-spun wool, as a lining in a traditional sock, is also what enables the invention to be worn inside conventional shoes.

3. The foot warming device of claim 1 wherein the un-spun sheep wool is sewn into a traditional sock in strips. The method of making and sewing the strips of un-spun wool results in a sock lining that is very much like the appearance and feel of the inside of boots made with sheep skin. However, as stated in point 2, this thick layer of un-spun wool is achieved without the movement restrictions of using sheep skin.