U.S. patent application number 11/957635 was filed with the patent office on 2009-06-18 for sock capable of providing additional protection for an ankle joint.
This patent application is currently assigned to ASIATIC FIBER CORPORATION. Invention is credited to SIMON CHEN.
Application Number | 20090151051 11/957635 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40751280 |
Filed Date | 2009-06-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090151051 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHEN; SIMON |
June 18, 2009 |
SOCK CAPABLE OF PROVIDING ADDITIONAL PROTECTION FOR AN ANKLE
JOINT
Abstract
A sock includes a sock body with a leg section and a foot
section. The leg section has a cuff that defines a foot opening for
insertion of a foot of a wearer. The foot section is connected to
the leg section, and includes a toe section, a heel section, a sole
section, and an instep section. The leg section has a back segment
that faces away from the toe section and that is formed with an
opening. The sock body is convertible when worn on the foot to an
ankle protecting state, in which the leg section is folded down so
that the cuff surrounds the foot section between the toe section
and the heel section and so that the heel section extends through
the opening, such that the leg section is able to provide
additional protection for an ankle joint of the foot.
Inventors: |
CHEN; SIMON; (Taipei,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FULWIDER PATTON LLP
HOWARD HUGHES CENTER, 6060 CENTER DRIVE, TENTH FLOOR
LOS ANGELES
CA
90045
US
|
Assignee: |
ASIATIC FIBER CORPORATION
Taipei
TW
|
Family ID: |
40751280 |
Appl. No.: |
11/957635 |
Filed: |
December 17, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/240 ;
2/239 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 13/06 20130101;
A41B 11/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/240 ;
2/239 |
International
Class: |
A43B 17/00 20060101
A43B017/00 |
Claims
1. A sock comprising: a sock body including a leg section having a
cuff that defines a foot opening for insertion of a foot of a
wearer, and a foot section connected to said leg section and
including a toe section, a heel section opposite to said toe
section, a sole section extending between said toe section and said
heel section, and an instep section extending between said toe
section and said heel section; wherein said leg section has a back
segment that faces away from said toe section and that is formed
with an opening; and wherein said sock body is convertible when
worn on the foot from an extended state to an ankle protecting
state, in which said leg section is folded down so that said cuff
surrounds said foot section between said toe section and said heel
section and so that said heel section extends through said opening,
such that said leg section is able to provide additional protection
for an ankle joint of the foot.
2. The sock as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a closure
member provided on said back segment of said leg section for
closing selectively said opening when said sock body is in the
extended state.
3. The sock as claimed in claim 2, wherein said closure member
includes a hook and loop fastener.
4. The sock as claimed in claim 2, wherein said closure member
includes a button fastener.
5. The sock as claimed in claim 2, wherein said closure member
includes a zipper.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a sock, more particularly to a
sock that is able to provide additional protection for an ankle
joint.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Many fitness activities, such as running, hiking, soccer,
and tennis, put considerable stress on the ankle joint. If these
activities are prolonged or intense, the risk of ankle sprains or
injuries increases greatly.
[0005] To protect the ankle from injury or to protect an injured
ankle from further damage, an ankle-protecting product (i.e., the
conventional ankle guard) may be used to bind the ankle. The ankle
guard additionally has a cushioning function to further protect the
ankle by absorbing impact forces.
[0006] Since a conventional ankle guard is bound tightly around the
ankle, long-term wear results in skin irritation due to heat and
moisture that remain trapped against the skin. The ankle guard must
therefore be periodically removed to ventilate the skin. Removal is
inconvenient since the ankle guard is normally worn under a sock,
which must first be removed before the ankle guard can be
removed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide
a sock capable of providing additional protection for an ankle
joint so as to eliminate the need for using an ankle guard.
[0008] According to the present invention, there is provided a sock
that comprises a sock body, which includes a leg section and a foot
section. The leg section has a cuff that defines a foot opening for
insertion of a foot of a wearer. The foot section, which is
connected to the leg section, includes a toe section, a heel
section opposite to the toe section, a sole section extending
between the toe section and the heel section, and an instep section
extending between the toe section and the heel section.
[0009] The leg section has a back segment that faces away from the
toe section and that is formed with an opening. The sock body is
convertible when worn on the foot from an extended state to an
ankle protecting state, in which the leg section is folded down so
that the cuff surrounds the foot section between the toe section
and the heel section and so that the heel section extends through
the opening, such that the leg section is able to provide
additional protection for an ankle joint of the foot.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of the first preferred
embodiment of a sock according to this invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the sock of FIG. 1 when
worn on a foot, illustrating an extended state of a sock body of
the sock;
[0013] FIG. 3 is another schematic side view of the sock of FIG. 1,
illustrating an ankle protecting state of the sock body of the
sock;
[0014] FIG. 4 is a schematic side view of the second preferred
embodiment of a sock according to this invention;
[0015] FIG. 5 is a schematic rear view of the sock of FIG. 4;
and
[0016] FIGS. 6 and 7 are schematic side views to illustrate
possible modifications of the sock of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0017] FIGS. 1 to 3 illustrate the first preferred embodiment of a
sock according to this invention. The sock comprises a sock body 1,
which includes a leg section 15 and a foot section 16. The leg
section 15 has a cuff 17 that defines a foot opening for insertion
of a foot 2 of a wearer. The foot section 16, which is connected to
a lower segment 151 of the leg section 15, includes a toe section
11, a heel section 13 opposite to the toe section 11, a sole
section 12 extending between the toe section 11 and the heel
section 13, and an instep section 14 extending between the toe
section 11 and the heel section 13 and disposed above the sole
section 12.
[0018] The leg section 15 further has a back segment 152 that faces
away from the toe section 11 and that is formed with an opening 18.
When worn on the foot 2, the sock body 1 is convertible between an
extended state (see FIG. 2) and an ankle protecting state (see FIG.
3). In the extended state, the leg section 15 extends to the calf 3
of the wearer. In the ankle protecting state, the leg section 15 is
folded down so that the cuff 17 surrounds the sole section 12 and
the instep section 14 of the foot section 16 between the toe
section 11 and the heel section 13, and so that the heel section 13
extends through the opening 18. In this state, the leg section 15
provides additional protection for an ankle joint 23 of the foot
2.
[0019] Therefore, when ankle protection is not needed, the sock
body 1 may be worn on the foot 2 in the extended state by pulling
the cuff 17 upward so that the leg section 15 extends to the calf
31. The extended state allows greater ventilation of the skin,
thereby avoiding irritation from heat and moisture. In the extended
state, the sock body 1 functions as a conventional sock.
[0020] Preferably, the sock body 1 includes 59% by weight of
cotton, 31% by weight of elastic yarn, 4% by weight of nylon, 3% by
weight of noble metal, and 3% by weight of deodorizing fiber. The
sole section 12, the instep section 14, and the lower segment 151
of the leg section 15 may be formed of a bulkier knit construction
as compared to the other sections of the sock body 1 to be suitable
for use when performing fitness activities.
[0021] FIGS. 4 to 7 illustrate the second preferred embodiment of a
sock according to this invention. The sock comprises a sock body 4,
which includes a leg section 45 and a foot section 46. The leg
section 45 has a cuff 47 that defines a foot opening for insertion
of a foot of a wearer. The foot section 46, which is connected to a
lower segment 451 of the leg section 45, includes a toe section 41,
a heel section 43, a sole section 42, and an instep section 44. The
leg section 45 further has a back segment 452 that faces away from
the toe section 41 and that is formed with an opening 48.
[0022] The second preferred embodiment differs from the first
preferred embodiment in that the back segment 452 of the leg
section 45 is provided with a closure member for closing
selectively the opening 48 when the sock 4 is in the extended
state. While the closure member is exemplified to include a hook
and loop fastener 49, in FIGS. 4 and 5, the actual configuration of
the closure member should not be limited thereto. As shown in FIG.
6, the closure member is exemplified to include button fasteners
49'. As shown in FIG. 7, the closure member is exemplified to
include a zipper 49''.
[0023] In summary, the sock according to this invention can
function as a conventional sock, yet it is readily adapted to
provide protection for an ankle joint.
[0024] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what are considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *