Technical Fields

The invention relates to a specially made sock with characteristics of a shoe which is easy to store and can be worn occasionally instead of standard shoes.

Background Arts

A shoe is the most used garment for protection of the human foot and for walking. There are various shoe styles which differ mainly by design and characteristics depending on their purpose and use. From high heels to sports boots intended for mountain hiking. All shoe styles have a similar construction despite the difference in their shapes. The outsole is used to insulate and protect the sole of the feet from ground and weather conditions, it can be complemented with a heel, then comes the upper part of the shoe, either in the form of an elastic slip-on or with a mechanism (shoelaces, buckles, Velcro straps) fastening the shoe to the foot. From the medical viewpoint, the biggest disadvantage of traditional footwear with a hard sole is the fact that the human foot is physiologically adapted to walking barefoot. Shoes that are not suitable from orthopaedic viewpoint may even be harmful to health with respect to the bearing and shape of the arches of the human foot.

To a certain extent, this disadvantage is compensated by footwear with a thinner sole. Locomotion in such footwear is to simulate walking barefoot. This trend is labelled also in other languages by an English expression“barefoot”. Barefoot shoes have a thin sole (ca. 3 to 6 mm). Apart from barefoot shoes there are also minimalist shoes with a sole of ca. 7-13 mm. The aim of a thin sole is to provide maximum sensory feedback to the brain (proprioception) as 70% of information about locomotion received by the brain comes from nerve-endings located on the sole of human feet. Technical solutions of minimalist shoes are based on the fact that the better and more direct contact of the foot with the ground, the more natural locomotion as well as response of the human body to the environment in which it moves.

Similarly to traditional footwear with hard soles, barefoot shoes are not that easily portable and they are not intended for occasional wear at moments when, for example, one needs to change specialized sports footwear and when it is not practical to carry also traditional shoes. A typical example could be i.e. an inline skating trip when most of the time the user has the boots with wheels on, however, such footwear may not be used everywhere, typically in public transport, or where there is an increased risk of injury when overcoming various obstacles (stairs, hills, uneven surface). In order to change, the user would have to carry solid shoes which are bulky, heavy and take up space.

This disadvantage is partially resolved by transport covers or socks with a non-slip layer, however, while wearing such socks feet are not protected properly against undesired effects, such as sharp edges, moisture, dirt, etc. Known solutions include e.g. the CNl04432579(A) or US20l5320l39(Al) patents. In both cases these are textile solutions of a sock type suitable to be worn in home environment.

The task of the inventor was to develop a solution which would enable easy and compact transport in a size approximating a rolled-up sock, at the same time offering sufficient protection for the foot against moisture, abrasion, damage or being soiled.

Disclosure of Invention

The above-mentioned shortcomings can be substantially removed by a sock with a reinforced stepping layer which consists of the sock body and the cuff stretch fabric based on this invention, whose essence lies in the fact that the bottom part of the sock body consists of a reinforced stepping layer. This stepping layer comprising one or multiple layers of a polymer composite or a similar material (such as latex, nitrile, polyurethane or PVC) of various thickness and structure has in its front part a toe guard formed by an elevated height of the reinforced stepping layer. Further more, the back part of the stepping layer protects the heel and/or Achilles tendon thanks to an elevated height of the reinforced stepping layer at the heal part. The elevated height of the protective layer is also applied along the sides of the foot in order to insulate the foot from external conditions. A sock with a reinforced stepping layer has its vamp made of an elastic breathable material to ensure sufficient comfort in motion and protection of the foot. The inner side of the sock cuff made of stretch fabric, which is in direct contact with the skin, can also consists of a rubber non-slip band.

A sock with a reinforced stepping layer in line with this invention has several benefits compared to the current state of the field of technology. Firstly, it allows its user simple and compact transport as it can be rolled-up as a common sock. In combination with the first benefit, the second benefit means that despite its low weight it offers almost full protection of the foot and it can adequately replace shoes, while providing the foot with sufficient freedom and protection and offering almost the same feeling as if walking barefoot. Thanks to the material used for the reinforced stepping layer the sock has non-slip and anti-abrasive features.

Brief Description of Drawings

The invention will be explained in detail using a drawing where Fig. 1 shows the sock with a reinforced stepping layer and its individual components.

Made for Carrying out the Invention

Example 1

A sock with a reinforced stepping layer is composed of the sock body 1 which is made of a mix of natural and synthetic fibres and the cuff 4 made of stretch fabric consisting mainly of elastic synthetic fibres with added rubber. The bottom part of the sock body J_ has two polymer composite layers. Layers thus together form a reinforced stepping layer 2 of the sock body 1. The front part of the reinforced stepping layer 2 runs almost up to the vamp 3 of the sock body J_ forming there a toe guard 5. At the back the stepping layer 2 runs upward forming a heel and/or Achilles tendon guard 6. The reinforced stepping layer 2 is also applied to the sides of the foot.

The vamp 3 of the sock body l_ and the sock body as such J_ are made of a stretch material consisting of a mix of natural and synthetic fibres.

Example 2

A sock with a reinforced stepping layer is composed of the sock body J_ which is made of a mix of natural and synthetic fibres and the cuff 4 made of stretch fabric 4 consisting mainly of elastic synthetic fibres with added rubber. The bottom part of the sock body J_ has one strong layer of a polymer composite. Once applied, the layer is chemically etched in order to achieve its structured surface. The etched layer of a polymer composite forms a reinforced stepping layer 2 of the sock body L The front part of the reinforced stepping layer 2 runs almost up to the vamp 3 of the sock body 1 forming there a toe guard 5. At the back the stepping layer 2 runs upward forming a heal and/or Achilles tendon guard 6. The reinforced stepping layer 2 is also applied to the sides of the foot. The vamp 3 of the sock body 1 is made of a stretch material consisting of a mix of natural and synthetic fibres.

Example 3

A sock with a reinforced stepping layer is composed of the sock body J_ which is made of a mix of synthetic fibres and the cuff 4 made of stretch fabric consisting mainly of elastic synthetic fibres with added rubber. A layer of a polymer composite is applied to the bottom part of the sock body l . After the application and setting a second polymer layer is applied in the form of non-slip dots (drops). Both applications of a polymer composite thus form together a reinforced stepping layer 2 of the sock body 1. The front part of the reinforced stepping layer 2 runs almost up to the vamp 3 of the sock body 1 forming there a toe guard 5. At the back the stepping layer 2 runs upward forming a heal and/or Achilles tendon guard 6. The reinforced stepping layer 2 is also applied to the sides of the foot. The vamp 3 of the sock body J_ is made of a stretch material consisting of a mix of natural and synthetic fibres.

Industrial Application of the Invention

A sock with a reinforced stepping layer can be used almost anywhere instead of traditional solid footwear, particularly, in situations when one needs spare shoes or shoes to change into (e.g. inline skating, cycling, mountaineering, etc.) and/or where there is no need to have traditional solid footwear (fitness gym, yoga and similar lessons, beach, etc.).

A list of reference signs

1 sock body

2 reinforced stepping layer

3 sock vamp

4 cuff

5 toe guard

6 heel and Achilles tendon guard