GB2483521A

GB2483521A - Sock with a peripherally extending cuff

Info

Publication number: GB2483521A
Application number: GB201017155A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jason Richard Akerman; Michelle Madden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-09-13
Filing date: 2010-10-12
Publication date: 2012-03-14
Also published as: GB201015373D0; GB201017155D0

Abstract

A sock 10 comprises a foot portion 11 for receiving a wearer's foot and a lower leg portion 12 which extends from the foot portion 11 and which is arranged to receive the lower leg of the wearer. The lower leg portion 12 comprises a peripherally extending cuff 14 which is arranged to extend toward the foot portion 11 and which is arranged to extend over a portion of a wearer's footwear (19, Figure 3). The lower leg portion 12 further comprises a peripherally extending compressible portion 17 disposed upon the lower leg portion 12, which is arranged to compress between the lower leg of the wearer and an inner portion of the wearer's footwear (19).

Description

The present invention relates to a sock.

When wearing footwear, such as hiking boots and Wellington boots, with socks, it is a common problem that the sock often falls down within the boot as the wearer walks around, thereby creating discomfort.

In addition, it is often necessary to remove a boot or similar to extract debris which falls into the boot between the boot and the wearer's leg.

I have now devised a sock which addresses the above-mentioned problems.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a sock, the sock comprising a foot portion for receiving a wearers foot and a lower leg portion which extends from the foot portion and which is arranged to receive the lower leg of the wearer, the lower leg portion comprising a peripherally extending cuff which is arranged to extend along the lower leg portion, toward the foot portion and which is arranged to extend over a portion of a wearer's footwear, the lower leg portion further comprising a peripherally extending compressible portion disposed upon the lower leg portion, which is arranged to compress between the lower leg of the wearer and an inner portion of the wearer's footwear.

Advantageously, the cuff and compressible portion serve to seal the opening to the footwear to minimise the ingress of any debris, and further serve to hold the sock upon the wearer's leg to prevent the sock from slipping down the wearer's leg into the footwear.

The cuff and compressible portion are preferably arranged to minimise any material from passing into the footwear between the footwear and the lower leg portion. Preferably, the cuff and compressible portion are further arranged to minimise any slipping of the sock down the lower leg into the footwear.

Preferably, the cuff is arranged to extend from the lower leg portion from a position intermediate a proximal end and a distal end of the lower leg portion.

The compressible portion is preferably disposed upon the lower leg portion at a position which is arranged to be substantially covered by the cuff.

The lower leg portion preferably further comprises an elasticated portion disposed intermediate the cuff and the distal end of the lower leg portion.

Preferably the cuff comprises an elasticated material which is arranged to secure the cuff to the footwear.

Preferably, the elasticated portion and cuff comprise a waterproof material.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sock according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the sock illustrated in figure 1, taken along line A-A; Figure 3 is a side view of the sock illustrated in figure 1, disposed upon the lower leg of a wearer.

Referring to figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is illustrated a sock 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The sock 10 comprises a foot portion 11 which is arranged to receive a wearer's foot (not shown) and a lower leg portion 12 which is arranged to receive the lower leg 13 of the wearer (not shown). The foot and lower leg portions 11, 12 may be formed separately and secured together using stitching or similar, or formed integrally as a single piece, and comprise a substantially tubular sleeve. The sleeve is closed at the toe region I Ia of the foot portion 11 and is open at a distal end 12a of the lower leg portion 12 50 that a wearer (not shown) can position their foot (not shown) within the foot region 11 by passing their foot (not shown) into the open distal end 12a of the lower leg portion 12 and pulling the sock 10 up their lower leg (not shown).

The sock 10 further comprises a cuff 14 which is secured around a periphery of the lower leg portion 12 at a position intermediate a proximal 12b and distal end 12a of the lower leg portion 12 and which is arranged to extend downwardly toward the foot portion 11. The portion 15 of the lower leg portion 12, which is disposed above the cuff 14 and the cuff 14 itself, are formed of a waterproof material and are elasticated to provide a resilient bias toward the wearer's leg 13. The portion 16 of the lower leg portion 12 disposed substantially underneath the cuff 14 comprises a band 17 of compressible material or cushion, which is arranged to extend outwardly from the lower leg portion 12 and compress against an inner portion 18 of the wearer's footwear, such as a hiking boot 19 or Wellington boot (not shown) or similar, to substantially seal the footwear 19 to the wearer's leg 13.

In use, a wearer (not shown) inserts their foot (not shown) into the lower leg portion 12 through the open distal end 12a thereof, and pulls the lower leg portion 12 along their lower leg 13 until their foot (not shown) is suitably positioned within the foot portion 11 and the lower leg portion 12 extends unfolded along the lower leg 13. Referring to figure 3 of the drawings, the wearer (not shown) then inserts their foot (not shown) within a hiking boot 19 for example, by placing their foot within the opening 20 thereof, and secures the boot 19 in place by pulling the laces 21, for example to tighten the upper boot portion to the leg 13. As the wearer (not shown) tightens the upper boot portion, the compressible band 17 is arranged to compress between the wearer's leg 13 and the boot 19 to form a peripheral seal around the wearer's leg 13, between the wearer's leg 13 and boot 19.

Once the boot 19 has been suitably secured, the wearer (not shown) then passes the cuff 14 over an upper portion of the boot 19, so that the cuff 14 covers the opening to the boot 19 and the tied laces 21. The elasticated portion 15 and the elasticated cuff 14 are arranged to grip the wearer's leg 13 and boot 19 to suitably hold the sock upon the wearer's leg 13. The cuff 14 further closes the opening 20 to the boot 19 and minimises any ingress of water or debris (not shown) into the boot 19 through the opening 20 thereof In addition, the cuff 14 serves to enclose at least the tied portion (not shown) of the laces 21 and thus prevents the laces 21 from snagging on branches (not shown) and the like, while walking which may otherwise cause the laces 21 to become untied.

The cuff 14 and compressible band 17 further serve to hold the sock 10 upon the leg 13 and minimise any slipping of the sock 10 down the leg 13 within the boot 19, which would otherwise cause discomfort for the wearer.

From the foregoing therefore, it is evident that the sock according to the present invention provides for a simple yet effective means of securing a sock upon the leg of a wearer, while also sealing the opening of a boot, for example, to the wearer's leg.

Claims

Claims 1. A sock, the sock comprising a foot portion for receiving a wearers foot and a lower leg portion which extends from the foot portion and which is arranged to receive the lower leg of the wearer, the lower leg portion comprising a peripherally extending cuff which is arranged to extend toward the foot portion and which is arranged to extend over a portion of a wearer's footwear, the lower leg portion further comprising a peripherally extending compressible portion disposed upon the lower leg portion, which is arranged to compress between the lower leg of the wearer and an inner portion of the wearer's footwear.
2. A sock according to claim 1, wherein the cuff and compressible portion are arranged to minimise any material from passing into the footwear between the footwear and the lower leg portion.
3. A sock according to claim I or 2, wherein the cuff and compressible portion are arranged or further arranged to minimise any slipping of the sock down the lower leg into the footwear.
4. A sock according to any preceding claim, wherein the cuff is arranged to extend from the lower leg portion from a position intermediate a proximal end and a distal end of the lower leg portion.
5. A sock according to any preceding claim, wherein the compressible portion is disposed upon the lower leg portion at a position which is arranged to be substantially covered by the cuff.
6. A sock according to claim 4, wherein the lower leg portion further comprises an elasticated portion disposed intermediate the cuff and the distal end of the lower leg portion.
7. A sock according to any preceding claim, wherein the cuff comprises an elasticated material which is arranged to secure the cuff to the footwear.
8. A sock according to claim 6 or 7 wherein the elasticated portion and cuff comprise a waterproof material.