US1544934A

US1544934A - Athletic sock

Info

Publication number: US1544934A
Application number: US731708A
Authority: US
Inventors: William S Prankard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1924-08-13
Filing date: 1924-08-13
Publication date: 1925-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 1942-07-07

Description

July 7, 1925.

w. s. PRANKARD ATHEETIC SOCK Filed Aug. 13. 1924 5 T It? 7/ Fig.2.

INVENTO R 71/17/12: 5. Hunl'ard ATTORNEY Patented July 7, 1925.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM S. PRANKARD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ATHLETIC SOCK.

Application filed August 13, 1924. Serial No. 731,708.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM S. PRANK- ARD, citizen of the United States, residing at 210 Riverside Drive, in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Athletic Socks, of which the following is a specification.

My 'nvention relates generally to wearing appar l, and is more especially directed to improvements in foot wear, such, for instance, as socks.

As is well known, athletes and others who engage in games and various forms of activities which involve more or less constant use of the pedal extremities, find that the foot portions of their socks quickly wear out, so that frequent additions to their supply of foot wear must be made. As the leg portion of the sock of hose is generally in perfect condition, it will be obvious that the necessity for discarding socks or,hose after a relatively brief period of use, because of the Worn condition of the foot portions thereof, is an expensive item, and in an effort to minimize the expense incident to the replacement of the entire sock, socalled half socks or foot portions have been desi ed in conjunction with which indepen ently made leg portions may be used. These half socks or foot portions have generally been unsatisfactory in use, inasmuch as they involve the employment of a strap, elastic garter, or other means for fastening them about the ankle. Manifestly, fastening devices of the character referred to are more or less bulky and cumbersome and have a tendency to cause discomfort to the wearer, especially if a high shoe is worn. On the other hand where a low shoe 15 used, the outline of the fastening means is usually accentuated within the leg portion which is commonly used in conjunction with articles of this kind, so that the appearance is generally unsightly.

In those games where the leg portions of the hosemay be entirely dispensed 'with and in which low shoes are usually worn, the fastening devices of .the character above mentioned are of a nature to interfere with the freedom of movemert of 'the muscles of the ankle or instep and frequently impede the circulation of the blood through the foot, so that runners, hurdlers, etc., -forego the advantages flowing from the use of a sock and rarely resort to any foot covering other than their'low-cut shoes.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a half sock or foot protector which will overcome the disadvantages of prior articles of the kind in an efficient and economical manner.

ore specifically, my invention is directed to a half sock or foot protector, adapted to beused with or without a cooperating leg portion, which embodies integrally formed elastic supporting means embracing the ankle whereby the half sock or foot protector, when worn, will be caused to closely conform to the configuration of the foot and ankle or instep.

My invention further contemplates a half sock or foot protector which may be woven or knitted of any desired material, and which is especially useful in meeting the requirements of those whose foot conditions make it necessary or desirable to make frequent changes of their foot wear.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will present themselves as the description proceeds, and I would have it understood that I reserve unto myself all rights to the full range of equivalents, both in structure and uses, to which I may be entitled under my invention in its broadest aspect. v

For the purposes of the present disclosure 1 have elected to illustrate and describe a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it will be evident that my invention may take other forms, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, as defined by the appended clainn' i In the drawings, Figure 1, is a view in elevation showing a half sock or foot protector made in accordance with my inven tion, as cooperatively associated with a leg portion when in use; and I Figure 2 is an enlarged" detail view ofa half sock or foot protector shown in' Figure 1., I Referrin now to the drawings in (le tail, in wh ch like characters of referencc are employed to designate similar parts and elements in both views, 7 represents the half sock or; foot protector'which ,may be woven or knittcd. -from ;any suitable material, in accordance with established practice, to conform to the the human foot.

It-will be observed that the body portion of the half sock or foot protector is closely wovcn or knitted and is provided with darts general outline of 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13, whereby it is shaped to fit the foot of the wearer. That portion of the sock or foot protector which is adapted to be disposed about the instep or ankle is of a ribbed construction, as shown at 14, this ribbed portion merging into or terminating in a band 15, surrounding the top of the half sock or foot protector in which the ribbing is doubled and of a closer weave or texture than the aforesaid major portion 14. The rib portions 1415 are highly elastic, and are so positioned upon the improved half sock as to grip snugly around the ankle directly over the instep and slightly above the heel of the wearer. This causes the heel portion of the sock to be drawn upwardly, while the remainder of the sock is drawn rearwardly toward the ankle, thus insuring a proper and com- 20 fortable fit.

By means of this construction I am able the foot satisfactorily, but one which at all times adjusts itself and lies snug around the ankle, so as to avoid all Wrinkles and discomfort to the wearer.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Let.- ters Patent is:

A half sock comprising a foot portion, an elastic ribbed knit ankle portion attached to said foot portion, said elastic ribbed knit portion extending from the upper part of the heel portion of the foot member across and around the ankle and over the instep of the foot, said ribbed knit portion being highly elastic and tending to draw upwardly upon the heel portion of the sock and rearwardly upon the foot portion thereof.

WILLIAM S. PRANKARD.