U.S. patent application number 14/200262 was filed with the patent office on 2014-10-02 for cut resistant compression sock with moisture channeling.
The applicant listed for this patent is Elicit Brands, LLC. Invention is credited to Mark Cleveland.
Application Number | 20140289924 14/200262 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 50272339 |
Filed Date | 2014-10-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140289924 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cleveland; Mark |
October 2, 2014 |
CUT RESISTANT COMPRESSION SOCK WITH MOISTURE CHANNELING
Abstract
A compression sock has a sock body including a top band, a sock
front region, a sock rear region, and a sock bottom. A sweat
ejection port is defined proximate the sock bottom. A sweat channel
extends continuously from the top band to the ejection port. The
sweat channel is made of a hydrophilic material embedded with ions
effective to attract body sweat into the sweat channel. Separate
cut-resistant front and rear shields may be integrated into front
and rear regions of the sock.
Inventors: |
Cleveland; Mark; (Brentwood,
TN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Elicit Brands, LLC |
Brentwood |
TN |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
50272339 |
Appl. No.: |
14/200262 |
Filed: |
March 7, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61774765 |
Mar 8, 2013 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/2.5 ;
2/239 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 13/08 20130101;
A41B 11/00 20130101; A41B 11/02 20130101; A41B 2400/60
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/2.5 ;
2/239 |
International
Class: |
A41B 11/00 20060101
A41B011/00 |
Claims
1. A compression garment comprising: a garment body having an upper
section and a lower section; at least one sweat ejection port
defined in the lower section of the garment body; at least one
sweat channel defined in the garment body and extending
continuously from the upper section of the garment body to the
ejection port, the sweat channel comprising a hydrophilic
material.
2. The compression garment of claim 1 wherein the garment body is
configured as a prosthetic liner sock.
3. The compression garment of claim 1 wherein the garment body is
configured as a compression athletic sock.
4. The compression garment of claim 1 wherein: the least one sweat
channel is defined by sweat channel bands adjacent to the sweat
channel, the sweat channel bands comprising a semi-hydrophobic
material; and at least part of the garment body outside of the
sweat channel comprises a hydrophobic material.
5. The compression garment of claim 4 further comprising positively
charged ions embedded in the sweat channel.
6. The compression garment of claim 5 further comprising negatively
charged ions embedded in at least part of the garment body outside
of the sweat channel.
7. The compression garment of claim 1 further comprising an
anti-microbial material embedded in at least a portion of the
garment body.
8. The compression garment of claim 7 wherein the anti-microbial
material comprises silver ions.
9. The compression garment of claim 1 wherein the upper section of
the garment body further comprises a top band configured to collect
and direct sweat moving downward toward the compression garment
into the sweat channel.
10. The compression garment of claim 9 wherein the top band
comprises a cut-resistant material.
11. The compression garment of claim 3 wherein: the garment body
further comprises a rear section; and the rear section of the
garment body comprises a cut-resistant material defining a rear
protective shield positioned to protect at least part of the back
of the foot when the sock is worn.
12. The compression garment of claim 3 wherein: the garment body
further comprises a front section; and the front section of the
garment body comprises a cut-resistant material defining a front
protective shield positioned to protect at least parts of the ankle
and shin when the sock is worn.
13. The compression garment of claim 12 wherein: the garment body
further comprises a rear section; the rear section of the garment
body comprises a cut-resistant material defining a rear protective
shield positioned to protect at least part of the back of the foot
when the sock is worn; an each of the front and rear protective
shields are configured in the garment body such that when the sock
is worn, each of the front and rear protective shields are located
only at areas of the foot and leg that are exposed to contact, and
each of the front and rear protective shields is discontinuous
around the foot and leg to enable continuous flow of moisture
through the sweat channel.
14. The compression garment of either claim 1 or claim 13 wherein
the sweat ejection port comprises alternating sections of
hydrophobic and hydrophilic materials.
15. A compression sock comprising: a sock body comprising a top
region, a sock front region, a sock rear region, and a sock bottom;
a cut-resistant front shield defined in the sock front region; and
a cut resistant rear shield defined in the sock rear region.
16. The compression sock of claim 15 further comprising: at least
one sweat ejection port defined proximate the sock bottom; and at
least one sweat channel extending from the top region to the at
least one ejection port, the sweat channel comprising a hydrophilic
material effective to attract body sweat into the sweat
channel;
17. The compression sock of claim 16 wherein the sock body further
comprises a top band configured to collect and direct sweat moving
downward toward the compression sock into the sweat channel.
18. The compression sock of claim 17 further comprising sweat
channel bands defined adjacent to the sweat channel, the sweat
channel bands comprising a semi-hydrophobic material; and wherein
at least part of the sock body outside of the sweat channel and
adjacent to the sweat channel bands comprises a hydrophobic
material.
19. The compression sock of claim 18 wherein: the sweat channel
further comprises positively charged ions embedded therein; and the
sock body outside of the sweat channel and adjacent to the sweat
channel bands further comprises negatively charged ions embedded
therein.
20. The compression sock of claim 16 wherein the sweat channel is
defined in the sock body such that when the sock is worn, the sweat
channel extends continuously over a side region of the sock body
proximate to the ankle bone.
21. The compression sock of claim 20 wherein the hydrophilic
material in the sweat channel is thinned into a flat weave in the
side region of the sock body.
22. The compression sock of claim 21 wherein the sweat ejection
port comprises alternating sections of hydrophobic and hydrophilic
materials.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent
App. No. 61/774,765 filed Mar. 8, 2013, entitled "Cut Resistant,
Moisture Channeling Compression Sock" which is incorporated herein
in its entirety.
[0002] A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains
material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright
owner has no objection to the reproduction of the patent document
or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all
copyright rights whatsoever.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0003] Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING
APPENDIX
[0004] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention relates generally to socks, sleeves
and liners and other compression garments that are worn to cover
parts of the extremities, such as the foot and ankle. More
particularly, this invention pertains to compression socks, sleeves
and liners that are worn by athletes to protect and support their
feet and lower legs during training and athletic competitions. The
present invention also pertains to liner socks worn by amputees who
use prosthetics on their extremities.
[0006] Many sporting, outdoor and athletic activities involve risk
of injury to the feet and lower legs of the participants. For
example, participants in ice sports are routinely exposed to
slashing wounds from an open skate blade. This makes the sport more
dangerous. Therefore, protective gear has been developed for the
safety of players. However, an area that is typically exposed but
not sufficiently protected is the rear, lower and upper calf area
commonly referenced as the Achilles tendon area and those tendons
in the front of the calf between the skate boot tongue and shin
guard.
[0007] The tradition of hockey includes skating without socks, or
wearing skates that can be one or more full sizes smaller than the
equivalent shoe size. Many conventional socks are not sufficiently
thin as preferred by players who want to "feel the ice". A thin
sock can be a difficult platform when managing moisture as an
objective which means that sock odor is often an immediate problem.
Also, socks worn by many athletes must be a compression sock to
reduce swelling and improve both muscular support and venous
return.
[0008] Socks currently available which promise to protect the lower
leg from slashing wounds use aramid and other cut resistant
materials. These conventional designs locate the cut resistant
material in the sock in places where the benefit of protection is
not obvious and the risk of sustaining a wound is minimal. Also,
these cut resistant materials do not offer efficient moisture
wicking properties and they are not as flexible or soft as may be
desirable. Therefore, these products are uncomfortable for players
to wear. There is no compression sock on the market that is also
cut resistant. Furthermore, there are no sophisticated moisture
management techniques used in any conventional sock.
[0009] Compression liner socks are often worn by amputees
underneath a prosthetic liner. Moisture management is also needed
in prosthetic liner socks to reduce blistering, sweat build-up and
bacterial growth.
[0010] What is needed, then, are moisture-wicking compression
garments, such as socks, liners and sleeves that are comfortable to
wear and, when worn by hockey players and other athletes, provide
effective injury protection to the wearer at the points most highly
at risk.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In an embodiment, the present invention is a compression
garment having a garment body with an upper section, a lower
section, a sweat ejection port defined in the lower section, and at
least one sweat channel extending continuously from the upper
section of the garment body to the ejection port, the sweat channel
being formed of a hydrophilic material. The sweat channel may be
defined by sweat channel bands adjacent to the sweat channel, the
sweat channel bands formed from a semi-hydrophobic material. In
some embodiments, at least part of the garment body outside of the
sweat channel may include a hydrophobic material. In some
embodiments, the sweat ejection port may be defined by alternating
sections of hydrophobic and hydrophilic materials.
[0012] In some embodiments, the compression garment may be an
athletic sock, such as a hockey sock. In other embodiments, the
compression garment may be a prosthetic liner sock.
[0013] In another aspect, the compression garment may have
positively charged ions embedded in the sweat channel and
negatively charged ions embedded in at least part of the garment
body outside of the sweat channel. Further, an anti-microbial
material may be embedded in at least a portion of the sock
body.
[0014] In some embodiments, the upper section of the garment body
may have a top band configured to collect and direct sweat moving
downward toward the compression garment into the sweat channel.
[0015] According to other athletic sock embodiments of the
invention, a rear portion of the sock body may include a
cut-resistant material defining a rear protective shield positioned
to protect at least part of the back of the foot when the sock is
worn. Similarly, a front section of the sock body may include
cut-resistant material defining a front protective shield
positioned to protect at least parts of the ankle and shin when the
sock is worn. The front and rear protective shields may be
configured in the sock body such that when the sock is worn, each
of the front and rear protective shields are located only at areas
of the foot and leg that are exposed to contact, and so that each
of the front and rear protective shields are discontinuous around
the foot and leg to enable continuous flow of moisture through the
sweat channel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 is a plan view of one embodiment of a compression
sock according to the present invention.
[0017] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a bottom portion of the sock
of FIG. 1, showing a lower region of the sweat channel and the
ejection port.
[0018] FIG. 3 an enlarged view of a side ankle portion of the sock
of FIG. 1, showing an upper section of the sweat channel and the
ultra-thin ankle bone area of the sock.
[0019] FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a side foot portion of the
sock of FIG. 1, showing a lower section of the sweat channel.
[0020] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of a front portion of the sock of
FIG. 1, showing an upper section of the sweat channel and a front
region of the protective shield.
[0021] FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a front portion of the sock of
FIG. 1, showing a front region of the protective shield that is
proximate the ankle and shin of the wearer.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a side view of a knee-high embodiment of the sock
of the present invention, as worn.
[0023] FIG. 8 is a front view of a knee-high embodiment of the sock
of the present invention, as worn.
[0024] FIG. 9 is a rear view of a knee-high embodiment of the sock
of the present invention, as worn.
[0025] FIG. 10 is a side view of an ankle-high embodiment of the
sock of the present invention, as worn.
[0026] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an embodiment of prosthetic
liner sock according to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] Managing large volumes of sweat in the lower leg and the
sources of sweat in the upper body is a significant challenge. In
one aspect, the present invention implements multiple unique
strategies for managing sweat generated in and around a compression
garment during use. These strategies include a combination of
structures in the sock that: (a) retard downward progress of upper
body sweat; (b) provide for wicking of sweat using polyolefin and
other materials to maximize dryness in specific areas; and (c)
direct the sweat generated into a sweat channel defined in the
garment which leads to a specific ejection port in the sock and
shoe/boot where it can be ejected, by forces in the boot and by the
function of the materials at that point of the sock.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1-8, a first embodiment of a knee-high
compression sock 10 is shown. According to one aspect of the
present invention, the sock 10 includes multiple functional
structures integrated into a single sock. In the embodiment
illustrated in FIGS. 1-8, the compression sock 10 includes at least
four novel structures integrated into the sock body: a front
ankle/shin shield 15, a rear Achilles shield 20, a sweat channel
25, and a sweat ejection port 50.
[0029] In one embodiment of a hockey version of sock 10, a top band
30 is provided at the top of the sock 10. The top band 30 may be a
four inch welt with a double layer construction to place an inner
layer of comfortable olefin material against the skin surface. In
some embodiments, the outer layer of the top band 30 can be made of
a cut-resistant material. With this structure, the top band 30
provides both comfort and protection for the wearer. The top band
30 may also act as a "sweat dam" to help collect, manage and direct
upper body sweat volume into the sweat channel 25.
[0030] Looking at FIG. 2, most of the body of sock 10 is made of a
hydrophobic material 60. The sweat channel 25 includes one or more
continuous regions of hydrophilic material that collect and direct
sweat downward along the sides of sock 10 until it reaches the
ejection port 50 formed in the bottom of the sock 10. The sweat
channel 25 may be defined by adjacent narrow regions 65 or sweat
channel bands 65 made of a semi-hydrophobic material. The
hydrophilic material in the sweat channel 25 can be formed as a
1.times.1 rib knit to facilitate both sweat flow and movement.
Preferably, the sweat channel 25 extends continuously over the
ankle bone region 35 of the sock 10 (FIG. 3) where the hydrophilic
material may be thinned into a flat weave to provide greater
comfort and to allow for continuous channeling of sweat.
[0031] The sweat channel 25 terminates at one or more ejection
ports 50. In some hockey sock embodiments, the ejection post may be
located in the bottom of the body of sock 10 so that when the sock
is worn, the ejection port is positioned over or proximate to holes
drilled in the skate body. This allows moisture to be evacuated
from the tight confines of the skate boot. In some embodiments, the
sweat ejection port 50 can be made of alternating squares or
sections of hydrophobic and hydrophilic materials, such as in a
5.times.7 checkerboard pattern. Thus, the ejection port 50
functions to attract and hold moisture as long as the arch action
in the boot does not press the moisture out. With this design, the
foot anatomy acts as an engine to pump water out at a defined
ejection port location rather than just spreading the moisture to
the heel and toe region.
[0032] In some embodiments, the sock materials can include an
embedded active anti-microbial to provide anti-odor and ant-fungal
benefits. For example, silver ions can be bonded into the sock
material. These ions may then be activated by contact with sweat.
In some embodiments, both negatively and positively charged ions
are used. The positively charged ions are positioned in the sock to
attract sweat to the sweat channel 25. The negatively charged ions
may be positioned in areas of the sock body adjacent to the sweat
channel 25 to "repel" the sweat into the sweat channel 25.
[0033] In some embodiments, a rear protective shield 20 (FIG. 7)
may be integrated into the rear section of sock 10 to provide cut
protection for the Achilles tendon and adjacent tissues of the
foot, ankle and leg. A front protective shield 15 (FIG. 8) may be
integrated into the front of sock 10 to provide cut protection for
the shin and front of the ankle. In some embodiments, the front and
rear protective shields 15 and 20 can be made of conventional
cut-resistant fibers such as aramid. In other embodiments, the
front and rear protective shields can be made of X-13 cut-resistant
yarn supplied by Patrick Yarns of King Mountain, N.C.
[0034] In some embodiments, the front and rear protective shields
15, 20 may be positioned in the sock 10 only at the exposed areas
of the foot and leg and may not extend continuously around the foot
and leg. For example, looking at the hockey sock embodiment of FIG.
6, the front protective shield 15 extends between an upper shin
guard area to the skate boot area. This discontinuous configuration
of the protective shields 15, 20 as shown allows the sweat channel
25 to extend continuously down either side of the foot and leg.
[0035] In some embodiments as shown in FIG. 1, the sock 10 may
include padding 45 at the heel section 56 and toe section 55, and
an arch support region 40. Also, to minimize bunching of the sock
around the ankle, a half-density weave construction 75 may be used
near the ankle, as shown in FIG. 5. Other areas of the sock may
employ a full density olefin weave, as indicated at areas 70 and 71
on FIG. 4.
[0036] FIG. 10 illustrates a rear view of a knee-high embodiment of
sock 10. FIG. 10 shows an ankle-length sock 80 according to another
embodiment of the invention. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 9
and 10, the front protective shield 15 may be omitted.
[0037] FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of a compression garment
according to the present invention, configured as a prosthetic
liner sock 100. The prosthetic liner sock 100 may be worn by an
amputee at least partially underneath a prosthesis or under a liner
for a prosthesis for comfort and moisture control. In this
embodiment, multiple sweat channels 125 may be defined in the sock
body. Each sweat channel 125 may be configured to extend
continuously down the sock body and then terminate in a common
ejection port 150. Alternatively, multiple ejection ports may be
provided. A top band 130 may be provided around the top of the sock
body to collect, manage, and direct moisture toward the sweat
channels 125.
[0038] While embodiments of the compression garments are described
herein as socks or prosthetic liner socks, other embodiments are
also within the scope of the present invention, including
compression sleeves worn on various parts of the upper and lower
extremities.
[0039] The compression garment of the present invention as
disclosed herein uniquely presents hydrophobic materials in a
double layer, extended against the skin, purposed to absorb, repel
and manage upper body sweat to prevent, as much as possible,
collection of that source of sweat volume which otherwise descends
into the boot. When upper body sweat volume overpowers the
garment's first defense, it is then channeled to a specific point,
using the sweat channel structures and methods as illustrated and
described. The salty brine of sweat carries charge, and the garment
materials may also carry a charge which repels sweat to a specific
section (e.g., the sweat channel which is made from materials with
a comparatively more attractive charge. These same sections of the
sock are made with hydrophobic materials, and the hydrophobic
differentials of different sock regions assist in channeling sweat
to the ejection port.
[0040] The properties of these various materials also wick
moisture, with the objective to maintain the most dry surface at
the front and back of the sock where skates have binding surfaces
on the tongue and heel section of the boot. Additionally, to
present a dry, yet flexible surface at these points to improve the
athlete's performance and comfort, the sock of the present
invention does not have inflexible cut resistant materials
descending into the boot. The channeling function of the sock
should not be blocked by the cut resistant material.
[0041] Once sweat is in the boot, an objective of the present
invention is to keep the heel and toe sections as dry as possible.
The concept of ejecting excess sweat helps minimize moisture
remaining in the sock and represents a novel strategy in moisture
management. Holes drilled in the skate may be placed in any spot
and the sock ejection system and port can be placed in a single or
at multiple points.
[0042] The features of present invention may also affect the
manufacturing process. The machines that make compression socks are
constantly called upon to cut materials, change patterns and call
new materials. Traditional cut resistant socks, by their nature,
employ materials that are difficult to cut. A machine employed to
construct a conventional cut-resistant sock will typically cut the
material only once (or a highly limited number of times) within the
program to build the sock. This is because it is hard on the
machines and expensive to execute any design that requires frequent
cuts. To enable and employ the sweat channel as described above,
the present invention deploys a strategy where the cut resistant
material is used only where needed and optimized against risk.
[0043] Thus, although there have been described particular
embodiments of the present invention of a new and useful
cut-resistant, moisture-channeling compression garment, it is not
intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the
scope of this invention except as set forth in the following
claims.
* * * * *