CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
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This application claims the benefit of, and priority to, co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/124,604 entitled “SockTips” filed on Dec. 26, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
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This invention relates to a product configured for preventing, or significantly reducing the onset of, creasing in the shoe-toe box of toed footwear, for example, dress, casual, and athletic shoes. By padding the shoe toe-box, this invention also relates to enhancing wear comfort of said shoe types using said product.
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Currently existing apparatus or devices in the marketplace intended to preserve general shoe shape, appearance, and or to reduce shoe toe-box creasing, include the conventional “shoe tree” and so-called “insert for footwear,” the latter of which is sold under the trademark ForceFields by NewRide, a division of Penguin Brands, Inc. (reference U.S. Pat. No. 8,490,300 B1—Insert for footwear). While the shoe-tree may help preserve general shoe shape over time, it is not necessarily designed to prevent or reduce the onset of shoe toe-box creasing during shoe wear. Note that the shoe tree is a mechanism, primarily a shaped block, designed to be inserted into a shoe when it is not being worn, to maintain shoe shape, absorb moisture, and guard against foot odor. The aforementioned insert for footwear is intended to protect against said shoe toe-box creasing. The insert for footwear is comprised of a shaped, foam-like material designed to be a stationary addition, or insert, to the shoe, secured by adhesive. While the insert for footwear is designed to maintain general shape and appearance of shoes, the resiliency of the material from which it is constructed may result in discomfort to the user. Further, the insert typically requires “trimming” to achieve desired fit, which can be an inconvenience to the user as it relies on user intervention and customization to be effective. As well, being a fixture to the shoe, potential concerns could be raised as it pertains to cleanliness over time.
RELATED ART
US 20090106879 A1—Sock for Reducing Footwear Instep Creasing
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- The sock for reducing footwear instep creasing may achieve its stated benefit of reducing toe creasing in shoes; however, it is a “full” sock and must be worn as such. As well, the benefits of this sock are achieved by inserting a gel or foam pad. One might argue an inconvenience factor of needing to insert a mechanism in the sock before wear, and needing to remove it prior to laundering. The SockTip invention, however, can be readily and easily applied over existing socks and may also facilitate economic considerations of the wearer, as s/he could wear a given SockTip multiple instances over socks worn daily, as opposed to needing multiple pairs of the socks referenced in this citation.
U.S. Pat. No. 8,490,300 B1—Insert for Footwear
- While the insert for footwear is designed to maintain general shape and appearance of footwear, the resiliency of the material from which it is constructed may result in discomfort to the user. Further, the insert typically requires “trimming” to achieve desired fit which can be an inconvenience as it relies on user intervention and customization to be effective. As well, the make of the insert is generally designed to be a stationary addition to the shoe, secured by adhesive. As a fixture to the shoe, potential concerns could be raised as it pertains to cleanliness over time.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,391,064 A—Toe Mitt
- The toe mitt provides for preventing wear to a stocking toe; however, its design is not referenced as such that it will prevent shoe toe creasing, enhance shoe comfort, nor improve shoe fit.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,334,356 A—Toe Cover
- The toe cover provides for reduced foot slippage in footwear; however, its design is not reference as such that it will prevent shoe toe creasing, enhance shoe comfort, nor improve shoe fit.
US 20130117948 A1—Shoe Shaper and Insert
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- The shoe shaper insert is designed specifically for women's heeled shoes and may require cutting and custom-fitting in order to achieve desired fit. As well, the material from which it is constructed is described as “resilient” which could raise the concern for discomfort. And, while the shoe shaper insert may maintain the fashionable design of “pointed toed shoes,” its application may not be useful across a spectrum of shoe types.
US 20020184794 A1—Metatarsal Guard
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- The metatarsal guard is designed specifically for safety shoes and or boots as a guard against the impact of objects that could fall on the foot. Its construction consists of a mold from a rigid plastic material, which would make it impractical for use in dress, casual, and athletic shoes, as it may provide discomfort to the wearer. Additionally, the metatarsal guard is intended to remain affixed inside the shoe or boot and could result in concerns related to cleanliness over time.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,305,776 B2—Integrated Flexible Metatarsal Guard with Extended Toe Cap
- This integrated flexible metatarsal guard is essentially a variation of the metatarsal guard (US 20020184794 A1) referenced above. And, similar concerns would apply as it pertains to application in dress, casual, and athletic shoes.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,744,122 A—Toe-Dancer's Shield
- The toe-dancers shield is intended specifically for use by toe dancers, designed and constructed to cushion the toe and metatarsal bones against violent impact when a dancer is in rapid motion. While the invention could provide comfort to a toe dancer, its application is not designed to ensure ongoing aesthetic appeal of—including reducing toe-box creasing in—dress, casual, and athletic shoes (such as gym shoes).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,194,249 A—Jogging and Running Athletic Sock
- This jogging and running athletic sock embodies dense terry loops in the heel and ball areas of the sock to provide added comfort and cushioning beyond that of traditional athletic socks. However, this invention does not embody the dense terry loop design over the metatarsal region of the foot, and thereby would not provide added top of foot comfort, toe of shoe form-fitting, and or facilitate reduction of shoe to creasing over time.
SUMMARY
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This invention relates to a footwear accessory (SockTip), akin to the toe portion of a sock, that includes instep and toe elements with the instep element providing increased thickness atop the toe and metatarsal areas and along the sides of the foot when worn. Worn with toed footwear, SockTip's increased thickness atop the foot and along the side of its metatarsal areas provides a means to pad the shoe-toe box, thereby reducing the onset of shoe toe-box creasing and facilitating enhanced shoe comfort. The crease-reducing and comfort-enhancing means is accomplished by an increased terry-looping within the SockTip's stitching.
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This invention considers the popularity of footwear in modern society as it pertains to self-expression and reflection of one's uniqueness and style, as well as economic implications of acquiring and maintaining said footwear. These considerations in mind, it may be reasonable to accept that preserving the aesthetic appeal of footwear, including delaying the onset of shoe toe-box creasing, would be of importance to a given shoe wearer. The SockTip invention provides a practicable and economical method to reduce and or delay the onset of shoe toe-box creasing. The SockTip is designed to be form-fitting over the metatarsal area of the foot, anchoring over the toes and extending to the ball of the foot on the foot's bottom-side. The SockTip extends alongside the adjacent areas of the ball of the foot and over top of the foot, covering the area that resides under the shoe toe and tongue, where additional layering (terry looping density) provides for reduced shoe toe-box creasing and enhanced shoe wear comfort. Further, by helping to create a “form fit” of the foot in the toe area of the shoe, the SockTip may facilitate increased agility of the wearer, which could be of particular note in athletic applications.
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As well, this invention considers the population who experience certain foot ailments, especially, as it relates to toe and bunion pains. Per the contour and positioning of padding, or increased terry looping, said pains, as it pertains to onset as a result of worn footwear, may be reduced by use or application thereof, said SockTip. The SockTip's increased terry looping provides padding along the sides of the foot, especially, along the frontal toe and side-of-foot areas, therefore, facilitating enhanced comfort by further reducing friction of a foot against the inner portion of an applied shoe, beyond that of a singularly-applied sock.
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With the background and summary of the SockTips invention described above, along with the following and or attached descriptions, claims, and illustrations, SockTips may be more clearly understood.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
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FIG. 1 is a side-angled perspective view of a foot inside a shoe (denoted by hashed lines) with a SockTip in place.
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FIG. 2 illustrates “feet in action” with SockTips in place. In this example, the SockTips are placed over a standard ankle sock; however, a shoe is not depicted.
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FIG. 3 provides both top and bottom views of a footprint with SockTips in place.
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FIG. 4 shows perspective views of a SockTip, both front and back angled, without a foot or shoe depicted.
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FIG. 5 reflects both top and bottom views of a SockTip without a foot or shoe depicted.
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Note within each of the figures described in paragraphs [0007]-[0011] above the numbered arrows (1-5) point to the same aspects of the SockTip, regardless of figure number. Those aspects are described in paragraphs [0013]-[0017] below:
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The arrow corresponding to the number 1 highlights increased terry looping in the top portion of the SockTip (note that the shaded area of the SockTip is where increased terry looping resides). This terry looping is designed to pad the shoe toe-box, providing a mechanism to reduce shoe toe creasing and enhance shoe comfort.
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The arrow corresponding to number 2 points to a “notch,” in the SockTip's curved contour (described in paragraph [0016] below), that is designed to enhance the SockTip's fit to the foot by allowing the area around the notch to lay flat against the foot when the SockTip is applied.
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The arrow corresponding to number 3 highlights a thin elastic band that spans the circumference of the instep of the SockTip and promotes a secure fit to the foot.
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The arrow corresponding to number 4 illustrates the contoured SockTip silhouette. This contour is designed to anchor over the toes and extend to the ball of the foot on its bottom-side. It is intended to extend along the side of the ball of the foot and cover the metatarsal area that resides under the shoe toe and tongue.
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The arrow corresponding to number 5 (not reflected in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3) points to silicon beads that reside on the underside of the top instep area of the SockTip. This silicon facilitates the SockTip's secure fit, helping to hold it in place during wear.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
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Functional design aspects of the SockTip include a contoured silhouette to facilitate its fit to the foot and comfortable wear. As well, a thin elastic band is sewn around the circumference of the SockTip instep to secure its placement on the foot. Further, silicon beads are placed on the underside of the top instep area of the SockTip that provide a sticky, or tacky-like, surface which helps secure its placement on the foot during wear. Additionally, the SockTip includes a notch within the top contour of its instep circumference that allows it to lay flat on the foot. Note that said notch lies within the SockTip contour previously described as having an elastic band sewn around its circumference.
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The preferred material from which the SockTip is to be constructed would generally be that of a knitted yarn or fabric, for example, knitted in a method known as a “chain stitch,” with a combination of terry looping. Such material tends to facilitate the SockTip's form-fitting to the foot and provides aspects of softness, durability, and resilience. Examples of currently existing fabrics that meet said conditions include polyester (and blends, thereof), cotton, and spandex.
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Illustrated in each figure and described in every “Description of Drawing” by the number 1 is an increased terry-looping atop the SockTip and along its sides that is designed to achieve its desired purpose, which is to reduce the onset of toe-box creasing in—and enhance the wear comfort of—dress, casual, and athletic footwear. Said terry-looping provides for a padding effect in the shoe toe-box that (1) resists acute shoe material folding that occurs during foot flexion motion, particularly in the front-top metatarsal area of the foot, during walking, running, climbing, jumping, and otherwise general foot movement, and (2) comforts the wearer's foot, especially, along the sides of the foot where, for example, many people experience bunion pain and blistering.
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Also illustrated in provided figures are aspects of the SockTip that either support or enhance its ability to achieve its desired purpose as described in the preceding paragraph [0020]. These additional aspects are noted in the provided Figures by the numbers 2-5, the descriptions of which are provided in paragraphs [0014]-[0017] above.
