GB2524034A

GB2524034A - Sock

Info

Publication number: GB2524034A
Application number: GB1404319.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Carol Lynn Gina Quinn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-03-12
Filing date: 2014-03-12
Publication date: 2015-09-16
Also published as: GB201404319D0

Abstract

A sock comprises a main substantially linear tubular housing 2 for fitting to the front of the foot. In use it covers the arch 13 and instep 12 but not the heel 14 and ankle 10.The housing 2 has a main opening 5 into which a user may insert the foot, which is elasticised and in use located at the rear end 5 of the housing 2 for the arch and instep. The front end 7 is also elasticised and comprises at least one toe opening out of which a user may protrude a toe 9. The sock is adapted such that when the sock is in use with a toe 9 protruding from a toe opening and the sock is fully extended the main opening 5 s on the underside of the foot located between the toes 9 and the back of the heel 11.

Description

The present invention relates to a sock.

Most people wear socks every day, often to keep a user's feet warm, to protect feet from abrasive shoes, and also to wick away sweat.

However, in some circumstances socks can be undesirable, particularly if wearing fashionable shoes.

This problem is particularly acute with women's shoes, such as slingback or high heels, where it is preferable for a substantial part of a users foot to be visible in order to provide the desired aesthetic.

The wearing of socks with such shoes is in general considered undesirable, which can lead to problems particularly with blisters and a user's feet slipping within shoes owing to sweat.

The present invention seeks to address this problem.

According to the present invention there is provided a sock comprising: a main opening into which a user may insert a foot; a substantially linear housing for at least part of an instep and arch of a foot having toes and a heel with a back, an upper side with an instep and an underside with an arch, the housing having a front end and a rear end, wherein the front end comprises at least one toe opening out of which a user may protrude at least one toe; the main opening of the sock is located at the rear end of the housing for at least part of the arch and instep.

It can be seen that the sock is adapted such that when the sock is in use with at least one toe protruding from at least one toe opening and the sock is fully extended the main opening of the sock is on the underside of the foot located between the toes and the back of the heel. By providing a sock with a main opening that is located at the rear end of a housing for an arch and instep the main opening is on the underside of the foot located between the toes and back of the heel when the sock is fully extended, and a rear portion of the foot including the back of the heel remains exposed. Furthermore, at least one toe remains exposed at the front of the foot. Thus with many shoes the sock is concealed within the main body thereof, or is very discreet and largely unnoticeable. yet a user may still benefit from the anti-chafing and sweat-wicking properties of a sock.

In some embodiments when the sock is in use with a toe protruding from the toe opening and the sock is fully extended the rear end of the sock on the upper side of the foot is located at or adjacent the instep.

In some embodiments when the sock is in use with a toe protruding from the toe opening and the sock is fully extended the rear end of the sock on the upper side of the foot is substantially located in the area where the instep of the foot meets the respective shin of a user.

In some embodiments the foot has a related anklebone, and when the sock is in use with a toe protruding from the toe opening and the sock is fully extended the rear end of the sock on the underside of the foot is substantially located beneath the related anklebone.

In some embodiments the foot has a related anklebone, and when the sock is in use with a toe protruding from the toe opening and the sock is fully extended the rear end of the sock on the underside of the foot is substantially located in the area where the arch meets the heel.

In some embodiments at least 1cm of the underside of the heel is exposed between the rear end of the sock and the back of the heel.

In some embodiments at least 2cm of the underside of the heel is exposed between the rear end of the sock and the back of the heel.

In some embodiments at least 3cm of the underside of the heel is exposed between the rear end of the sock and the back of the heel.

In some embodiments at least 4cm of the underside of the heel is exposed between the rear end of the sock and the back of the heel.

In some embodiments at least Scm of the underside of the heel is exposed between the rear end of the sock and the back of the heel.

In some embodiments the whole underside of the heel is exposed between the rear end of the sock and the back of the heel.

Preferably the sock is elasticised around its main opening.

Preferably the sock is elasticised around at least one toe opening.

Preferably the sock comprises silicone thread around its main opening.

Preferably the sock comprises silicone thread around at least one toe opening.

Preferably the sock comprises a plurality of toe openings through which respective toes may protrude.

Preferably the sock comprises five openings for five respective toes.

Preferably the sock is elasticised around the plurality of toe openings.

In some embodiments the main housing is formed of an elastic material.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood a specific embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a front view of a sock made in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a first side view of the sock of Figure 1 on a foot; Figure 3 is a second side view of the sock of Figure 1 on a foot; Figure 4 is a front view of the sock of Figure 1 on a foot; Figure 5 is a plan view of the sock of Figure 1 on a foot; Figure 6 is a view of the underneath of the sock of Figure 1 on a foot; and Figure 7 is a rear view of the sock of Figure 1 on a foot.

Referring to Figure 1, a sock 1 has a main housing 2 having a rear end 3 and front end 4.

Housing 2 is of a size and shape to fit substantially snugly around part of a users foot, in particular that part of a foot that comprises the arch and instep.

Housing 2 is substantially linear. That is to say that housing 2 is only adapted to fit around a linear part of a foot and is not adapted to fit around the substantially ninety-degree bend found at the base of a leg. Thus housing 2 does not comprise a heel turn, heel flap or leg and can be considered to be substantially linear (albeit flared so as to accommodate the shape of a foot that widens from a toe end to a heel end).

In some embodiments the main material of the sock, namely that forming housing 2 may be elasticised in order that housing 2 snugly fits the foot of a user, but this need not be the case in all embodiments. Any suitable material may of course be used.

Rear end 3 has a main opening through which a user may insert their foot into

housing 2, similar to prior art socks.

Sock 1 comprises a single main opening into which a user may insert a foot.

The main opening opens directly into the chamber of the sock that is adapted to house at least part of the arch and instep of a foot.

The main opening at rear end 3 comprises around its periphery a band 5 of an elasticised material, in the present embodiment silicone thread. Band 5 is adapted to grip a user's foot when sock 1 is in use so as to thereby hinder sock 1 from moving and to maintain sock 1 at its maximum extension along the length of a foot.

Front end 4 has five individual openings 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e each adapted to allow five respective toes of a foot to protrude therefrom.

Around the peripheries of openings 6a, 6b, 6c, Gd, 6e is a band 7 of an elasticised material, in the present embodiment silicone thread. Band 7 is adapted to grip each of the respective toes of a user that protrude through openings 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e when sock 1 is in use. Band 7 thereby hinders sock 1 from moving and allowing the toes of a user to retract into housing 2.

Turning to sock 1 in use and Figure 2 to 6 a user may put sock 1 onto their foot 8 by inserting their foot into the main opening at rear end 3. Toes 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e may be protruded by the user through respective openings 6a, 6b, 6c, 6d, 6e.

A user may then fully extend sock 1 such that it rests as shown in Figure 2 to 6 and elasticised bands 5, 7 hold sock 1 in this position.

Housing 2 covers on the upper side of foot 8 instep 12 thereof and also covers on the underside of foot 8 arch 13 thereof. Housing 2 may therefore be seen as a covering for at least part of an arch and instep of a foot, but as it is substantially linear does not in its normal deployment cover any of the rear of the heel of the foot.

Rear end 3 of sock 1 is located on the upper side of foot 8 in the area where instep 12 meets shin 15 of a user, and is located on the underside of foot Bin the area where arch 13 meets the heel 14, substantially under anklebone 10 of the user.

Thus the underside of heel 14 of foot 8 remains exposed as does the back 11 of heel 14 of foot 8.

Thus a user may deploy sock 1 when a particular style of shoe is to be worn, and it is desirable for both the back 11 of heel 14 and toes 9a, 9b, 9c, 9d, 9e to be uncovered.

With such shoes sock 1 may be barely noticeable, ort indeed may be entirely covered in the instance of a shoe that comprises an instep covering. However the user of sock 1 may still benefit from the anti-chafing and sweat-wicking properties thereof.

Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the present invention as set out in the appended claims.

Claims

Claims: 1. A sock comprising a main substantially linear housing for a foot having toes and a main opening into which a user may insert a foot; a substantially linear housing for at least pad of an instep and arch of a foot having toes and a heel with a back, an upper side with an instep and an underside with an arch, the housing having a front end and a rear end, wherein the front end comprises at least one toe opening out of which a user may protrude at least one toe; the main opening of the sock is located at the rear end of the housing for at least part of the arch and instep.
2. The sock of claim 1 adapted such that when the sock is in use with a toe protruding from the toe opening and the sock is fully extended the rear end of the sock on the upper side of the foot is located at or adjacent the instep.
3. The sock of claim 1 adapted such that when the sock is in use with a toe protruding from the toe opening and the sock is fully extended the rear end of the sock on the upper side of the foot is substantially located in the area where the instep of the foot meets the respective shin of a user.
4. The sock of any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the foot has a related anklebone, and the sock is adapted such that when the sock is in use with a toe protruding from the toe opening and the sock is fully extended the rear end of the sock on the underside of the foot is substantially located beneath the related anklebone.
5. The sock of any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the foot has a related anklebone, and the sock is adapted such that when the sock is in use with a toe protruding from the toe opening and the sock is fully extended the rear end of the sock on the underside of the foot is substantially located in the area where the arch meets the heel.
6. The sock of any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the sock is adapted such that when the sock is in use at least 1cm of the underside of the heel is exposed between the rear end of the sock and the back of the heel.
7. The sock of any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the sock is adapted such that when the sock is in use at least 2cm of the underside of the heel is exposed between the rear end of the sock and the back of the heel.
8. The sock of any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the sock is adapted such that when the sock is in use at least 3cm of the underside of the heel is exposed between the rear end of the sock and the back of the heel.
9. The sock of any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the sock is adapted such that when the sock is in use at least 4cm of the underside of the heel is exposed between the rear end of the sock and the back of the heel.
10. The sock of any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the sock is adapted such that when the sock is in use at least 5cm of the underside of the heel is exposed between the rear end of the sock and the back of the heel.
11. The sock of any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the sock is adapted such that when the sock is in use the whole underside of the heel is exposed between the rear end of the sock and the back of the heel.
12. The sock of any preceding claim wherein the sock is elasticised around its main opening.
13. The sock of any preceding claim wherein the sock is elasticised around at least one toe opening.
14. The sock of any preceding claim wherein the sock comprises silicone thread around its main opening.
15. The sock of any preceding claim wherein the sock comprises silicone thread around at least one toe opening.
16. The sock of any preceding claim wherein the sock comprises a plurality of toe openings through which respective toes may protrude.
17. The sock of any preceding claim wherein the sock comprises live openings for live respective toes.
18. The sock of claim 16 or 17 wherein the sock is elasticised around the plurality of toe openings.
19. The sock of any preceding claim wherein the main housing is formed of an elastic material.
20. A sock substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.