U.S. patent application number 11/000017 was filed with the patent office on 2006-07-06 for nitrile coated sock.
Invention is credited to Bernadette Etchart Butz.
Application Number | 20060143802 11/000017 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36638673 |
Filed Date | 2006-07-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060143802 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Butz; Bernadette Etchart |
July 6, 2006 |
Nitrile coated sock
Abstract
A sock suitable for wearing with shoes and protecting feet from
contact with dirt and debris. The sock is coated on the heel and
sole with a protective coating of nitrile. The interior of the sock
has a band of nitrile in the area of the sock that covers the heel.
The exterior coating protects the feet from the drying effects of
prolonged contact with dirt. The interior band, when used in
conjunction with an emollient applied to the heel, holds the
emollient in contact with the skin, allowing the skin to be
softened and protected The sock can be laundered by virtue of its
properties, and reused
Inventors: |
Butz; Bernadette Etchart;
(Redding, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Bernadette Butz
P.O. Box 993573
Redding
CA
96099
US
|
Family ID: |
36638673 |
Appl. No.: |
11/000017 |
Filed: |
November 29, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/239 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41B 11/007
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/239 |
International
Class: |
A41B 11/00 20060101
A41B011/00 |
Claims
1. A sock, comprising: A sock substrate of sufficient dimension to
cover a human foot; and an air permeable, water resistant material
applied to said sock substrate.
2. The sock of claim 1, wherein said material is nitrile.
3. The sock of claim 1, further comprising a nitrile coating
applied to the interior surface of said sock substrate.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to socks and related items and
specifically, socks that are breathable but guard against
penetration of dirt from the outside inward. The sock also allows
for the use of an emollient and prevents its absorption into the
sock, thereby keeping it close to the skin in the area where the
emollient has been applied.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Various types of socks that provide protection are known in
the prior art. One group of socks includes socks made to be worn
with a shoe. These socks are typically made of cotton, wool or
synthetic fibers, and/or blends thereof. Another group of known
socks includes socks made to worn without a shoe. These socks
typically have a coating that resists moisture penetration, and
protects the foot from injury by sharp objects, permitting the sock
to be worn outside of the house.
[0003] Socks made to be worn with shoes are typically manufactured
such that they provide comfort and protection to the foot of the
wearer by providing a barrier between the skin of the foot and the
shoe. These socks may also provide additional functions such as
absorbing foot moisture, as with cotton socks, or conversely
wicking moisture away from the foot, as with polypropylene socks
etc.
[0004] These comfort socks are disadvantageous and useless,
however, for people who work or recreate in situations where dirt
and debris may migrate into their shoes. In this situation,
conventional socks tend to permit the movement of dirt and debris
into and through the sock. When this penetration occurs, dirt can
adhere to the surface of the foot and increase the possibility of
cracking and scaling of the skin. Further, if the heel or sole of
the foot is already dry and cracked, the dirt can penetrate into
the skin, and becomes impossible to remove with normal cleansing
practices. This problem is routinely faced by professionals such as
landscapers and forestry workers and by non-professionals such as
hikers and home-gardeners.
[0005] There are numerous socks and sock-like items that can
protect the foot from dirt, but are described in the prior art as
having a hard and durable exterior coating and are presented as a
substitute for a shoe. Examples include U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,585,
issued to Fons et al, for a rubber-soled slipper sock, U.S. Pat.
No. 4,276,671 issued to Florence Melton, U.S. Pat. No. 3,383,782
issued to James McGinnity and U.S. Pat. No. 266,614, issued to
Catherine Douglass. The expressed intent of all these items it to
protect the foot. The most common means being the coating of the
sock with a thick substance, typically resin, rubber or a
rubber-like derivative such as latex. In all these presentations,
the expressed intent is that the sock or slipper sock, be worn
without shoes. The materials used to provide protection tend to
create an item that is too bulky or stiff to be worn inside a shoe
or to comfortably stretch to accommodate different size feet, as
would a sock. Furthermore, by virtue of the chemical properties of
the substances used as the coating agents, they are not air
permeable and can interrupt the normal respiration/transpiration of
the epidermal cells of the foot. None of the products address the
feasibility of washing the item.
[0006] There are sock-like items listed in the prior art that have
to do with addressing the problem of drying and cracking of the
skin of the foot. These items allow for the use of an emollient
while a sock-like item is being worn. There is no recommendation
that they be worn with shoes or worn with shoes out of doors. None
address as their goal, the preventing of penetration of dirt.
[0007] A need thus exists for a sock that provides comfort,
protection, tensile strength, and the durability to withstand
washing, yet resists dirt and other debris from penetrating into
and/or through the sock material. A need also exists that addresses
the problem of the cracking of skin that can be associated with the
drying effect of contact with dirt. None of the above inventions or
patents is seen to suggest or claim the properties as the invention
claimed herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to
provide a sock that resists movement of dirt or other debris from
the outside inward.
[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
sock that is sufficiently thin, pliable and comfortable to be used
within a shoe.
[0010] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
a sock that is a least in part coated with nitrile or a like
substance.
[0011] It is also the object of the present invention to provide a
sock that has an interior area coated with nitrile or a like
substance.
[0012] It is an object of the present invention to provide a sock
that has the properties that allow it to be laundered.
[0013] These and related objects of the present invention are
achieved by use of a nitrile coated sock as described herein.
[0014] The attainment of the foregoing and related advantages and
features of the invention should be more readily apparent to those
skilled in the art, after review of the following more detailed
description of the invention taken together with the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the invention
[0016] FIG. 2 is a back elevational view of the invention.
[0017] FIG. 3 is an interior view of the heel area of the
invention.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a bottom exterior view of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, a sectional view of a sock 1 in
accordance with the present invention is shown. Sock 1 includes a
sock substrate that may be formed in whole or part of any suitable
sock material, many of which are known in the art including cotton,
nylon, silk, polypropylene, and others. In one preferred
embodiment, substrate 1 is a blend of approximately 50% cotton-50%
nylon,(though other ranges do not depart from the present
invention).
[0020] The exterior bottom surface, and extending slightly up the
back and sides, of substrate 1 as detailed in 2, is preferably
coated with acrylonitrile butadiene, commonly known as nitrile or
another substance with similar properties. The nitrile layer may
have a thickness of approximately 0.2 mm, particularly on the sole.
In FIG. 2, the nitrile or other appropriate coating 2, extends up
and around the exterior of the heel of the substrate by
approximately 2 inches forming an a cup around the heel. The
thickness may be less or more and may vary at different locations
on the substrate. In FIG. 3 the nitrile, or other appropriate
coating 2, extends approximately 11/2 inches up and around the
interior 3 of the heel of the substrate and extending downward by 1
inch to form a cup surrounding the heel. In FIG. 4, the nitrile
coating 2, covers the entirety of the sole of the substrate.
[0021] Nitrile has very different chemical properties as compared
to the other substances utilized in the prior art. It is a
synthetic polymer that exhibits rubber-like properties when
vulcanized. The polymer is made in the form of a latex emulsion,
and in the latex form can be processed much like natural rubber
latex. Compared to natural rubber latex, however, which is a
polysoprene, nitrile is typically composed of three monomers.
acrylonitrile, butadiene and carboxylic acid. After vulcanization,
the butadiene component contributes to softness and flexibility,
while the carboxylic acid provides high tensile strength and tear
resistance. In addition, in the prior art demonstrated in garden
glove manufacturing, nitrile coating is shown to withstand cleaning
i.e., laundry by conventional means while retaining its desired
properties. In the prior art nitrile has also proven to be air
permeable.
[0022] Sock substrate sizes may vary widely, from ankle height to
knee height, or other. The present invention includes socks of any
size, though in one embodiment, a sock substrate is provided that
extends approximately 5 inches above the ankle. The substrate may
include a portion provided above the ankle that is ribbed and
elasticized. There is a portion directly above and encircling the
ankle that contains an additional amount of elastic. In one
embodiment, the nitrile coating is applied to the sole and heel and
extends at least 3/4 of an inch up the sides of the substrate. It
should be recognized that the nitrile may extend above or below
this level or be otherwise configured. The application of nitrile
to a substrate is described extensively in the prior art in its
application to the manufacture of nitrile coated gloves.
[0023] Sock 1 may also include a nitrile or like substance in
certain interior portions of the substrate, FIG. 6, such as the
heel. The nitrile coating is preferably odorless, non-toxic and
hypoallergenic. The nitrile region is substantially not liquid
permeable. An emollient or other medication of beneficial substance
may be applied by a wearer to this region of the heel without
absorption into the material taking place. By virtue of the
emollient or medication being held close to the surface of the
skin, beneficial action may occur in preventing or healing dry,
cracked skin. Moreover, because it is durable and flexible, it may
be worn comfortably with a shoe, and laundered.
[0024] While the invention has been described in connection with
specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is
capable of further modification, and this application is intended
to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention and
including departures from the present disclosure as come within
known or customary practice in the art to which the invention
pertains and as may be applied to the essential features herein set
forth, and as fall within the scope of the invention and the limits
of the appended claim.
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