U.S. patent application number 13/223822 was filed with the patent office on 2012-07-19 for cut-resistant hockey sock.
Invention is credited to David Tock.
Application Number | 20120180196 13/223822 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46489560 |
Filed Date | 2012-07-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120180196 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Tock; David |
July 19, 2012 |
CUT-RESISTANT HOCKEY SOCK
Abstract
A hockey sock is provided, constructed as a tube. The tube
includes an outer textile layer and an inner lining including an
ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene yarn that confers
cut-resistance to the hockey sock. The inner lining may be
configured as a knit half-cardigan fabric that is disposed
generally in a floating relationship with the outer textile layer
such that the two are connected only at their respective top and
bottom, and/or a select number of locations such as point
connections, seams, or other connections that permit a sliding
relationship between the layers.
Inventors: |
Tock; David; (Montreal,
CA) |
Family ID: |
46489560 |
Appl. No.: |
13/223822 |
Filed: |
September 1, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61432863 |
Jan 14, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/239 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 13/06 20130101;
A41B 11/02 20130101; A41B 17/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/239 |
International
Class: |
A43B 17/00 20060101
A43B017/00 |
Claims
1. A hockey sock, comprising: an inner tubular layer having an
upper end and a lower end, and comprising ultra-high molecular
weight polyethylene yarn knit as a fabric; and an outer tubular
layer of a textile material; wherein the outer tubular layer of
textile material is attached to the inner tubular layer near the
upper end and near the lower end.
2. The hockey sock of claim 1, wherein the ultra-high molecular
weight polyethylene yarn knit as a fabric is configured to resist
significant cutting penetration by a hockey skate blade.
3. The hockey sock of claim 1, further comprising at least one
other point of contact between the outer tubular layer of textile
material and the inner tubular layer, beyond near the upper end and
near the lower end.
4. The hockey sock of claim 1, further comprising at least one seam
of contact between the outer tubular layer of textile material and
the inner tubular layer, between near the upper end and near the
lower end.
5. The hockey sock of claim 1, constructed to comprise a floating
relationship between a significant surface portion of each of the
outer layer and the inner tubular layer.
6. The hockey sock of claim 1, wherein the attachment of the outer
tubular layer of textile material to the inner tubular layer
comprises a circumferential upper seam, a circumferential lower
seam, or both.
7. The hockey sock of claim 1, wherein the ultra-high molecular
weight polyethylene yarn knit as a fabric is configured with a
tubular knit construction.
8. The hockey sock of claim 1, wherein the outer tubular layer
comprises a textured polyester fiber, cotton, spun polyester, or a
combination thereof.
9. The hockey sock of claim 1, wherein the outer tubular layer
comprises colored material selected to provide a desired color
scheme.
10. The hockey sock of claim 1, wherein the inner tubular layer
comprises woven construction, knit construction, or any combination
thereof.
11. The hockey sock of claim 1, wherein the outer tubular layer
comprises a multi-colored striped pattern, a solid color, or any
combination thereof.
12. The hockey sock of claim 1, configured and dimensioned to
accommodatingly fit over a hockey player's leg and standard safety
equipment.
13. The hockey sock of claim 1, configured with an open top end and
an open bottom end.
14. The hockey sock of claim 13, where the open bottom end
comprises a smaller diameter than the open top end.
15. The hockey sock of claim 1, where the inner tubular layer
consists essentially of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene
yarn knit as a half-cardigan fabric.
16. A hockey sock, comprising: a first tubular layer having an
upper end and a lower end, and comprising ultra-high molecular
weight polyethylene yarn knit as a fabric configured to resist
significant cutting penetration by a hockey skate blade; and a
second tubular layer of a textile material; wherein the second
tubular layer of textile material is attached to cover an exterior
surface of the second tubular layer near the upper end and near the
lower end.
17. The hockey sock of claim 16, further comprising at least one
other location of attachment between the first and second tubular
layers.
18. The hockey sock of claim 16, wherein at least one of the first
tubular layer or the second tubular layer comprises more than one
layer.
19. The hockey sock of claim 16, wherein the ultra-high molecular
weight polyethylene yarn knit as a fabric includes a tubular knit
construction configured as a half-cardigan fabric.
20. A hockey sock, comprising: a first tubular layer having an
upper end and a lower end, and comprising cut-resistant fiber
selected from para-aramid synthetic fiber high-density polyethylene
fiber, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber, and any
combination thereof, knit as a fabric configured to resist
significant cutting penetration by a hockey skate blade; and a
second tubular layer of a textile material; wherein the second
tubular layer of textile material is attached to cover an exterior
surface of the second tubular layer near the upper end and near the
lower end.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a non-provisional application which
claims priority to U.S. provisional application Ser. No.
61/432,863, filed Jan. 14, 2011, which is incorporated by reference
herein in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] Embodiments of the present invention relates to a hockey
sock. More particularly they relate to a hockey sock provided with
a cut-resistant liner feature.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Hockey socks are ankle-to-thigh garments worn over
protective gear by ice hockey players. Traditionally, they are
form-fitting and are made of a cotton, synthetic, or blended
rib-knit fabric. "Hockey socks" should not be confused with "hockey
skate socks" which are thin socks worn over the foot inside the
skate in the same manner as socks worn inside shoes. The hockey
sock generally are held up either by a garter or attached to
undershorts with hook-and-loop fabric fastener tabs. Some players
keep their socks tucked inside the upper ankle area of their
skates, but other wear their socks pulled down over the outside
heel of their skates. Many organized hockey teams wear hockey socks
in designated team colors, which may be complementary to the team
jersey.
[0004] One of the risks faced by hockey players is injury when the
sharpened blade of a skate (worn by another player or oneself)
comes into contact with the player. A resulting cut may range from
a shallow cut or scrape to a deep wound that can sever muscles
and/or tendons. For example, a player who falls to the ice during
play may expose his calf and Achilles tendon to debilitating injury
by another player who slides into him.
[0005] Some "hockey skate socks" have been developed using
cut-resistant aramid fibers. These thin socks are worn next to the
skin, and--as a result of the physical properties of the fibers
with which they are made cannot typically be dyed in a color-fast
manner that would promote player use and compliance with uniform
rules in hockey leagues. They may be screen printed or the like,
but the regular washing of socks of this type (e.g., by school age
and other non-major league/professional hockey players) may weaken
the aramid fibers and may erode any printed pattern/color.
[0006] Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide protective
equipment that protects against such injury without impairing the
mobility of a player wearing the equipment. It would further be
advantageous to provide equipment of a type already in common use
that would further provide protection against such injury. It would
also be advantageous to provide cut-resistance in an outermost
hockey garment such as a hockey sock, which will permit any
underlying layers of garments, equipment, or the like to
potentially assist in further protection.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0007] In one aspect, embodiments of the present invention may
include a hockey sock including a cut-resistant liner separate from
an outer layer. Certain embodiments may include more than one
cut-resistant layer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 shows a pair of hockey socks;
[0009] FIG. 2 shows an external view of a dual-layer hockey
sock;
[0010] FIG. 3 shows a perspective lateral section view of the
hockey sock of FIG. 2, with a lining layer displayed; and
[0011] FIG. 4 shows a view of the hockey sock of FIG. 2, with an
intermediate length of an outer layer removed to display a lining
inner layer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] Embodiments are described with reference to the drawings in
which like elements are generally referred to by like numerals. The
relationship and functioning of the various elements of the
embodiments may better be understood by reference to the following
detailed description. However, embodiments are not limited to those
illustrated in the drawings. It should be understood that the
drawings are not necessarily to scale, and in certain instances
details may have been omitted that are not necessary for an
understanding of embodiments of the present invention, such as--for
example--conventional fabrication and assembly. The present
invention now will be described more fully hereinafter. This
invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and
should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth
herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this
disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the
scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. As used in this
specification and the claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and
"the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates
otherwise.
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a pair of hockey socks 100 of the present
invention, including a multi-colored striped pattern on its
exterior, although the sock may be solid color or any combination
of solid color(s) and/or pattern(s). FIG. 2 shows a side view of a
single hockey sock 100. The sock 100 is open at its top end 102 and
at its bottom end 104, forming a tapered tube or generally
tube-like shape configured and dimensioned to accommodate and fit
to a player's leg, including any underlying equipment (e.g., shin
guards, thigh pads, etc.). A smaller-diameter portion near the
bottom end 104 may allow a player to tuck the sock 100 into his
skate or to have it closely fit around the skate's exterior. The
visible outer layer 110 may include or completely be constructed
of, for example, a textured polyester fiber, cotton, spun
polyester, or a combination thereof, as well as any other
appropriate knitted, woven, or non-woven textile material. In some
embodiments, an inward-facing surface of the outer layer may
include spun polyester, which provides desirable strength, low
weight, and low moisture absorption (e.g., as compared to cotton).
In preferred embodiments, the outer layer 110 may be dyed during
and/or after construction, and/or may incorporate dyed or otherwise
colored yarn and/or other construction materials that will be
useful and likely to be used by players desiring (or--subject to
rules--needing) to have certain colors in their hockey socks. For
example, the sock may include colored material selected to provide
a desired color scheme such as official team colors, or some other
pre-determined color and/or color-combination.
[0014] FIG. 3 shows an upper portion of the sock 100 of FIG. 3,
viewed along a lateral section taken across line 3-3 of FIG. 2. The
outer layer 110 surrounds an inner layer 112. The inner layer 112
includes an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene yarn
(UHMW--ultra-high molecular weight fiber). One preferred material
is commercially available under the trade name Dyneema.RTM.. In
various embodiments, the liner/inner layer 112 may include, consist
of, or consist essentially of the ultra-high molecular weight
polyethylene yarn, which may be woven or may be knit, for example,
as a half-cardigan fabric. Cut-resistant fibers including non-UHMW
materials such as, for example, para-aramid synthetic fibers (e.g.,
poly paraphenylene terephthalamide, available as Kevlar.RTM.)
high-density polyethylene (HDPE) fibers, and/or other materials may
be used with or in addition to UHMW materials). The liner 112 may
be woven, knit, or any combination thereof. A tubular knit
construction, of which half-cardigan is one example, may be
preferred in many embodiments for the inner layer 112. FIG. 4 shows
the hockey sock of FIG. 2, with an intermediate portion of the
outer layer 110 removed for illustrative purposes only to show the
liner 112. In the embodiment shown, the liner 112 is attached to
the outer layer 110 only along a circumferential upper seam 106
near the upper end 102 and/or a circumferential lower seam 108 near
the lower end 104. At least one or more other points and/or seams
of contact between the liner 112 and the outer layer 110 may be
provided in other embodiments between near the upper end and near
the lower end, but with a significant surface portion of each of
the outer layer 110 and the liner 112 being disposed in a
"floating" relationship between contact regions. Each of the outer
layer 110 and the liner 112 preferably will include at least one
layer of material, but each of the outer layer 110 and the liner
112 may include more than one layer of material. In embodiments
where the outer layer 110 and/or the liner 112 includes more than
one layer of material, those other layers may include the same or
different construction and composition than each other. Stated
differently, a first layer 110 will include at least one layer of
material, but may--in other embodiments that will readily be
understood--include a plurality of layers, each of which may differ
from the others. In like manner, a second, inner, layer 112 will
include at least one layer of the cut-resistant material described
above, but may--in other embodiments that will readily be
understood--include a plurality of layers, each of which may differ
from the others. As such, each of the outer layer 110 and the liner
112 may include multilayer construction. Those of skill in the art
will readily appreciate that the floating construction and other
construction features described above with reference to
two-layer-only embodiment will readily apply to such further
multilayer embodiments, within the scope of the present
disclosure.
[0015] This construction may enhance the cut-resistance feature of
the hockey sock 100. The liner fabric 112 made of ultra-high
molecular weight polyethylene yarn most preferably will have
cut-resistant properties inherent in the yarn and aided by the knit
or woven nature of the fabric, such that it is configured to resist
significant cutting penetration by a hockey skate blade. The
"floating" relationship between a significant surface portion of
each of the outer layer 110 and the liner 112 may provide for extra
energy absorption and redirection in the kind of glancing blow that
may commonly be expected when a skate blade contacts the hockey
sock 100 being worn by a player during skating/game-play
conditions.
[0016] Although no standardized test is known for measuring
cut-resistance of hockey socks being contacted by skate blades,
exemplary embodiments have been tested under conditions believed to
approximate those that could be encountered in a skating/game-play
situation. For each test, a sock specimen was mounted onto a
legform (as used for testing under "BS EN 13061, Protective
Clothing; Shin guards for association football players requirements
and test"). A rubber pad, 1.27 cm (0.5 inches) thick was placed
over the legform to simulate muscle and skin of a human leg. The
sharpened edge standard hockey skate blade was directed into the
simulated leg using a tracked drop tower. In the control tests, the
simulated leg was sheathed in a standard single-layer hockey sock
made of a knit cotton polyester blend. The blade penetrated through
the sock and through the 0.5 inches of material at an average
velocity of 6.28 m/sec. However, in the tests of the test
embodiment of a lined sock of the type described above with
reference to FIGS. 1-4 (specifically embodied with an outer layer
of a knit textured polyester and recycled cotton and an inner layer
of Dyneema.RTM. yarn knitted as a half-cardigan fabric, or formed
as another tubular knit construction), even skate speeds in excess
of 8.2 m/sec did not cut through the 0.5 inches of material (a
>30% increase in the speed/energy of blade attack, which was the
maximum velocity attainable on the testing equipment used). In each
of the experimental operations using the legform sheathed with a
lined hockey sock 100, the liner remained intact or substantially
intact.
[0017] Those of skill in the art will appreciate that embodiments
not expressly illustrated herein may be practiced within the scope
of the present invention, including that features described herein
for different embodiments may be combined with each other and/or
with currently-known or future-developed technologies while
remaining within the scope of the claims presented here. Although
specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and
descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. It is
therefore intended that the foregoing detailed description be
regarded as illustrative rather than limiting. And, it should be
understood that the following claims, including all equivalents,
are intended to define the spirit and scope of this invention.
Furthermore, the advantages described above are not necessarily the
only advantages of the invention, and it is not necessarily
expected that all of the described advantages will be achieved with
every embodiment of the invention.
* * * * *