US20150096107A1

US20150096107A1 - Exercise Sock with Configurable Fastening Straps

Info

Publication number: US20150096107A1
Application number: US14/488,786
Authority: US
Inventors: Caroline Juliette Krumel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-10-03
Filing date: 2014-09-17
Publication date: 2015-04-09

Abstract

An exercise sock with configurable straps includes a sock body, at least one lateral reinforced-opening, at least one medial reinforced-opening, and a pair of fastening straps. The lateral reinforced-opening and the medial reinforced-opening are traversed through the sock body opposite of each other so that the pair of fastening straps can be inserted through the sock body. The pair of fastening straps allows the wearers of the exercise sock to create different configurations across the top of the foot around the ankle and leg for aesthetic appearance while securing the sock body to the wearer's foot.

Description

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/886,199 filed on Oct. 3, 2014.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a form of footwear known as exercise socks. More specifically the present invention is an exercise sock with reinforced openings in the sidewalls and/or heel allowing for configurable fastening straps placement. The present invention aims to improve the traditional exercise sock by providing an aesthetically pleasing sock with reinforced openings and/or configurable fastening strap placement to secure the sock to the user's feet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is important for people to stay physically active throughout their lives in order to combat the potential effects of an otherwise sedentary lifestyle brought on by the conveniences of modern technology. One method of getting sufficient physical activity is participating in exercise classes such as Pilates, yoga, classes incorporating the ballet bar, or various different dancing classes and special exercise methods. Exercise classes done in a group class setting can be an enjoyable and effective method of maintaining physical health for many people.
Exercise classes are most often performed in facilities known as exercise studios or dance studios. Such facilities typically feature large open spaces and floor covering can vary from studio to studio. There is a variety of floor covering used in studios, from hardwood flooring to carpet, to vinyl covered mats. The open space provides the area necessary for people to carry out dance and exercise moves. Smooth floors in exercise areas can create some issues however, as the surface may be slippery if contacted by a person's foot encased in a sock. Alternative solutions to this include wearing shoes, or going barefoot. Wearing shoes is not optimal for classes such as yoga, Pilates and ballet bar inspired classes because shoes restrict the participants' foot movement, awareness of how their feet are connecting to the ground and how they are distributing their weight through their feet. Shoes are typically not allowed in padded or carpeted rooms for hygiene reasons. On hard smooth surfaces such as wood floors rubber soles can leave scuff marks on the floor and generate too much friction between the participants' feet and the floor to perform certain maneuvers. Going barefoot can be a good alternative, as the contact between bare foot and floor is typically the right amount of friction to maintain control and still allow the dexterity to perform advanced maneuvers. However, going barefoot is also undesirable in many situations, particularly since many people use public exercise or dancing studios. There are many known foot-borne bacteria and fungi, and it is generally unsanitary to go barefoot in public spaces. Many gyms and exercise studios require socks be worn in class for such hygiene reasons.
In order to solve the issues above, dancers and exercisers may utilize socks or special footwear such as ballet slippers. Leather ballet slippers provide a covering for the foot to ensure hygiene whilst also providing friction between a smooth floor and the wearer's feet. It is the object of the current invention to provide a washable alternative to the ballet slipper, providing the flexibility of a sock with the look of a ballet slipper. The current invention provides alternatives to the typical ballet slipper ribbon tying configuration with the addition of reinforced openings in the sidewall and heel/rear of the sock. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved exercise sock with aesthetically pleasing configurable straps that serve to firmly secure the sock to the foot. The current invention allows for configurable fastening straps to be inserted through the use of several reinforced openings in the sidewall and heel/rear of the footwear allowing for a variety of complex patterns when worn by the user. The fastening straps keep the exercise sock in place on the foot while performing exercise and dance moves. The present invention may also be produced in a manner such that it is reversible in order that the user may choose whether the ribbons originate near the balls of their feet or near their heels; thus the present invention offers superior customizability and flexibility for the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the first alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a top view of the first alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the second alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a top view of the second alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the third alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a top view of the third alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the present invention being worn by the wearer.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
The present invention is a floor/bar exercise sock with configurable ribbon placement and specifically designed for people who commonly exercise or dance in exercise or dancing studios. The present invention is intended to provide a wearer with sufficient friction between their feet and the floor while still maintaining a high degree of foot dexterity for the user. The present invention also promotes hygiene as it prevents the need for the wearer's foot to come into contact with a public floor surface. In reference to FIG. 1-FIG. 4, the present invention comprises a sock body 1, at least one lateral reinforced-opening 8, at least one medial reinforced-opening 9, and a pair of fastening straps 10. The at least one lateral reinforced-opening 8 and the at least one medial reinforced-opening 9 are traversed through the sock body 1 opposite of each other, and the pair of fastening straps 10 is connected to the sock body 1 so that the pair of fastening straps 10 is able to configure through the at least one lateral reinforced-opening 8 and the at least one medial reinforced-opening 9.
In reference to FIG. 1-FIG. 4, the sock body 1 is the primary component of the present invention and provides a platform for the other components of the present invention to attach or adhered. The sock body 1 completely covers the bottom, the back heel, the toes, and the flanks of the feet while leaving the top of the foot exposed. Leaving the top of the foot exposed can help the wearer's foot to breathe better and therefore have less sweat buildup within the sock body 1 when the present invention is worn. The sock body 1 comprises a foot cuff 2, a lateral sidewall portion 5, a medial sidewall portion 6, and a sole portion 7. The foot cuff 2 that allows the wearer to insert his or her foot into the sock body 1 is oppositely positioned from the sole portion 7. The sole portion 7 makes contact with the floor when the present invention is worn by the wearer. The lateral sidewall portion 5 and the medial sidewall portion 6 are oppositely positioned from each other as the lateral sidewall portion 5 and the medial sidewall portion 6 are positioned between the foot cuff 2 and the sole portion 7. More specifically, the lateral sidewall portion 5 and the medial sidewall portion 6 are completely symmetrical across the horizontal mid-plane of the sock body 1 so that the lateral sidewall portion 5 is able to cover the lateral side of the foot and the medial sidewall portion 6 is able to cover the medial side of the foot.
In reference to FIG. 4, the foot cuff 2 comprises a first curvature portion 3 and a second curvature portion 4, where the first curvature portion 3 and the second curvature portion 4 are partially extends along the foot cuff 2. More specifically, the first curvature portion 3 is adjacently and equally positioned with the lateral sidewall portion 5 and the medial sidewall portion 6. The second curvature portion 4 is adjacently and equally positioned with the lateral sidewall portion 5 and the medial sidewall portion 6 opposite of the first curvature portion 3.
In reference to FIG. 4, since the lateral sidewall portion 5 and the medial sidewall portion 6 are completely symmetrical across its horizontal mid-plane, the basic configuration of the sock body 1 provides a fully reversible exercise sock so that the wearer is able to slide his or her foot regardless of which is the front and which is the rear of the body. The sock body 1 is manufactured from a flexible and breathable clothing material which can be comfortably worn by the wearer. The exact material used for the sock body 1 may vary by different embodiment of the present invention; however it is most likely that the material used for the sock body 1 is some form of machine washable cloth or fabric. Optionally, the sole portion 7 of the sock body 1 may be thickened or padded so that the sock body 1 is able to offer additional comfort to the wearer's feet.
The sole portion 7 may comprise non-slip material to provide a high friction gripping surface for contact with smooth floor surfaces such as tiles or hardwood. More specifically, the sole portion 7 comprises a plurality of rubber beads or dots that is embedded onto the sole portion 7. The plurality of rubber beads may be distributed in different patterns on the sole portion 7. The exact number and distribution of rubber beads or dots of other non-slip material may vary according to the different embodiments of the sock body 1. Additionally, it is important to note that the material used for the plurality of rubber beads may be any suitable material, such as rubbers or silicones. It is also important to note that the plurality of rubber beads may not be included if the present invention is intended to be used on a non-smooth floor surface such as carpet. In such a situation, the sole portion 7 comprises a plain surface as the friction provided between sole portion 7 and the non-smooth floor surface is sufficient.
In reference to FIG. 1-FIG. 2, the at least one lateral reinforced-opening 8 and the at least one medial reinforced-opening 9 provide the necessary openings or slits for the pair of fastening straps 10 to be configured within the present invention. The at least one lateral reinforced-opening 8 is traversed through the lateral sidewall portion 5 and adjacently positioned with the first curvature portion 3. The at least one lateral reinforced-opening 8 allows the wearer to secure the lateral sidewall portion 5 through the pair of fastening straps 10. The at least one medial reinforced-opening 9 is traversed through the medial sidewall portion 6 and adjacently positioned with the first curvature portion 3. The at least one medial reinforced-opening 9 allows the wearer to secure the medial sidewall portion 6 through the pair of fastening straps 10. More specifically, the at least one lateral reinforced-opening 8 and the at least one medial reinforced-opening 9 are intended to allow the pair of fastening straps 10 to be threaded through the sock body 1 several times, thereby enabling the wearer to completely secure the present invention to wearer's foot. Even though the at least one lateral reinforced-opening 8 and the at least one medial reinforced-opening 9 are preferably extended in the horizontal direction, the at least one lateral reinforced-opening 8 and the at least one medial reinforced-opening 9 can also be extended in the vertical direction.
In reference to FIG. 1-FIG. 2, the pair of fastening straps 10 is an important component of the present invention, as the pair of fastening straps 10 allows the sock body 1 to be secured to the wearer's foot to prevent the sock body 1 from sliding off during the usage of the present invention. The pair of fastening straps 10 that is connected to the first curvature portion 3 comprises a first strap 31 and a second strap 32. More specifically, the first strap 31 is connected to the first curvature portion 3 adjacent to the medial sidewall portion 6, and the second strap 32 is connected to the first curvature portion 3 adjacent to the lateral sidewall portion 5. As a result, the first strap 31 and the second strap 32 are able to cross each other as the first strap 31 and the second strap 32 are looped through the at least one lateral reinforced-opening 8 and the at least one medial reinforced-opening 9. In reference to FIG. 13, by allowing the pair of fastening straps 10 to be threaded through the at least one lateral reinforced-opening 8 and the at least one medial reinforced-opening 9, the present invention allows for the creation of more intricate patterns on the wearer's feet with the pair of fastening straps 10. This serves the dual purpose of providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance and for holding the sock body 1 securely onto the user's feet. The first strap 31 and the second strap 32 preferably comprise thin and flexible strips of fabric which is resistant to tearing and fraying. However, the exact material used for the first strap 31 and the second strap 32 can be vary as long as the materials of the first strap 31 and the second strap 32 have sufficient tensile strength to hold the sock body 1 firmly on the wearer's foot. The exact positioning of the pair of fastening straps 10 with respect to the wearer's foot depends upon how the wearer puts the sock body 1 onto his or her foot. For example, the pair of fastening straps 10 can originate near the wearer's toes or near the wearer's heel. The pair of fastening straps 10 can optionally comprise an attachment mechanism, where the attachment mechanism allows the wearer to attach the free ends of the pair of fastening straps 10 together. The attachment mechanism can include, but is not limited to, a hook-and-loop fastener, a magnetic fastening system, and a button fastener.
In reference to FIG. 5-FIG. 6, a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the sock body 1 further comprises a sock toe 11, a rear reinforced-opening 12, and a rear cover 13 in conjunction with the at least one lateral reinforced-opening 8, the at least one medial reinforced-opening 9, and the pair of fastening straps 10 of the present invention. The sock toe 11 is positioned on the lateral sidewall portion 5 and the medial sidewall portion 6 adjacent to the first curvature portion 3. The sock toe 11 provides strengthen area within the sock body 1 so that the pair of fastening straps 10 can be securely connected to the sock toe 11 of the sock body 1. The rear reinforced-opening 12 is oppositely positioned from the sock toe 11 along the sock body 1 and provides an additional opening or a slit for the pair of fastening straps 10 to thread through. The rear cover 13 is connected to the lateral sidewall portion 5 and the medial sidewall portion 6 in such a way that the rear cover 13 is positioned atop the rear reinforced-opening 12. As a result, the rear cover 13 hides the rear reinforced-opening 12 as the rear cover 13 is adjacently and linearly positioned along the rear reinforced-opening 12. However, the preferred embodiment may be presented without the rear cover 13 if the rear reinforced-opening 12 needs to be visible.
In reference to FIG. 7-FIG. 8, a first alternative embodiment of the present invention, the sock body 1 further comprises a first lateral cover 16, a first medial cover 17, a second lateral cover 18, and a second medial cover 19 in addition to the sock toe 11, the rear reinforced-opening 12, and the rear cover 13. The first alternative embodiment also utilizes the at least one lateral reinforced-opening 8, the at least one medial reinforced-opening 9, and the pair of fastening straps 10 for the proper functionality of the present invention. The at least one lateral reinforced-opening 8 and the at least one medial reinforced-opening 9 each comprises a first opening 14 and a second opening 15. The first opening 14 and the second opening 15 of the at least one lateral reinforced-opening 8 are positioned offset of each other. The first lateral cover 16 is connected to the lateral sidewall portion 5 and adjacently positioned along the first opening 14 of the at least one lateral reinforced-opening 8. Similarly, the second lateral cover 18 is connected to the lateral sidewall portion 5 and adjacently positioned along the second opening 15 of the at least one lateral reinforced-opening 8. The first opening 14 and the second opening 15 of the at least one medial reinforced-opening 9 are positioned offset of each other opposite of the first opening 14 and the second opening 15 of the at least one lateral reinforced-opening 8. The first medial cover 17 is connected to the medial sidewall portion 6 and adjacently positioned along the first opening 14 of the at least one medial reinforced-opening 9 while the second medial cover 19 is connected to the medial sidewall portion 6 and adjacently positioned along the second opening 15 of the at least one medial reinforced-opening 9. The sock toe 11 is positioned on the lateral sidewall portion 5 and the medial sidewall portion 6 adjacent to the first curvature portion 3. The sock toe 11 provides strengthen area within the sock body 1 so that the pair of fastening straps 10 can be securely connected to the sock toe 11 of the sock body 1. The rear reinforced-opening 12 is oppositely positioned from the sock toe 11 along the sock body 1 and provides an additional opening or a slit for the pair of fastening straps 10 to thread through. The rear cover 13 is connected to the lateral sidewall portion 5 and the medial sidewall portion 6 in such a way that the rear cover 13 is positioned atop the rear reinforced-opening 12. As a result, the rear cover 13 hides the rear reinforced-opening 12 as the rear cover 13 is adjacently and linearly positioned along the rear reinforced-opening 12. However, the first embodiment may be presented without the rear cover 13 if the rear reinforced-opening 12 needs to be visible.
In reference to FIG. 9-FIG. 10, a second alternative embodiment of the present invention, the sock body 1 further comprises an elongated lateral cover 20 and an elongated medial cover 21 in addition to the sock toe 11, the rear reinforced-opening 12, and the rear cover 13. The second alternative embodiment also utilizes the first opening 14 and the second opening 15 for the at least one lateral reinforced-opening 8, the first opening 14 and the second opening 15 for the at least one medial reinforced-opening 9, and the pair of fastening straps 10 for the proper functionality of the present invention. The first opening 14 and the second opening 15 of the at least one lateral reinforced-opening 8 are positioned offset of each other in such a way that the elongated lateral cover 20 is connected to the lateral sidewall portion 5 and adjacently positioned along the first opening 14 and the second opening 15 of the at least one lateral reinforced-opening 8. Similarly, the first opening 14 and the second opening 15 of the at least one medial reinforced-opening 9 are positioned offset of each other in such a way that the elongated medial cover 21 is connected to the medial sidewall portion 6 and adjacently positioned along the first opening 14 and the second opening 15 of the at least one medial reinforced-opening 9. The sock toe 11 is positioned on the lateral sidewall portion 5 and the medial sidewall portion 6 adjacent to the first curvature portion 3. The sock toe 11 provides strengthen area within the sock body 1 so that the pair of fastening straps 10 can be securely connected to the sock toe 11 of the sock body 1. The rear reinforced-opening 12 is oppositely positioned from the sock toe 11 along the sock body 1 and provides an additional opening or a slit for the pair of fastening straps 10 to thread through. The rear cover 13 is connected to the lateral sidewall portion 5 and the medial sidewall portion 6 in such a way that the rear cover 13 is positioned atop the rear reinforced-opening 12. As a result, the rear cover 13 hides the rear reinforced-opening 12 as the rear cover 13 is adjacently and linearly positioned along the rear reinforced-opening 12. However, the second embodiment may be presented without the rear cover 13 if the rear reinforced-opening 12 needs to be visible.
In reference to FIG. 11-FIG. 12, a third alternative embodiment of the present invention, the at least one lateral reinforced-opening 8 and the at least one medial reinforced-opening 9 each comprises the first opening 14 and the second opening 15 along with the pair of fastening straps 10. Similar to the first alternative embodiment, the first opening 14 and the second opening 15 of the at least one lateral reinforced-opening 8 are positioned offset of each other while the first opening 14 and the second opening 15 of the at least one medial reinforced-opening 9 are positioned offset of each other opposite of the first opening 14 and the second opening 15 of the at least one lateral reinforced-opening 8. Since the pair of fastening straps 10 that is connected to the first curvature portion 3, the third alternative embodiment does not comprise a designated front side or rear side. As a result, the wearers of the third alternative embodiment are able to switch the orientation of the third alternative embodiment upon their discretion. For example, a wearer can position the first curvature portion 3 adjacent to the toe area of the foot or to the heel area of the foot.
Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An exercise sock with configurable strap placement comprises:

a sock body;

at least one lateral reinforced-opening;

at least one medial reinforced-opening;

a pair of fastening straps;

the sock body comprises a foot cuff, a lateral sidewall portion, a medial sidewall portion, and a sole portion;

the foot cuff comprises a first curvature portion and a second curvature portion;

the at least one lateral reinforced-opening traversing through the lateral sidewall portion;

the at least one medial reinforced-opening traversing through the medial sidewall portion; and

the pair of fastening straps being connected to the first curvature portion.

2. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the foot cuff being oppositely positioned from the sole portion;

the lateral sidewall portion and the medial sidewall portion being oppositely positioned from each other; and

the lateral sidewall portion and the medial sidewall portion being positioned between the foot cuff and the sole portion.

3. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the first curvature portion and the second curvature portion being partially extended along the foot cuff;

the first curvature portion being adjacently positioned with the lateral sidewall portion and the medial sidewall portion; and

the second curvature portion being adjacently positioned with the lateral sidewall portion and the medial sidewall portion opposite of the first curvature portion.

4. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the at least one lateral reinforced-opening being adjacently positioned with the first curvature portion; and

the at least one medial reinforced-opening being adjacently positioned with the first curvature portion.

5. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the pair of fastening straps comprises a first strap and a second strap;

the first strap being connected to the first curvature portion adjacent to the medial sidewall portion; and

the second strap being connected to the first curvature portion adjacent to the lateral sidewall portion.

6. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the sock body further comprises a sock toe and a rear reinforced-opening;

the sock toe being positioned on the lateral sidewall portion and the medial sidewall portion adjacent to the first curvature portion; and

the rear reinforced-opening being oppositely positioned from the sock toe along the sock body.

7. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 6 comprises:

the sock body further comprises a rear cover;

the rear cover being connected to the lateral sidewall portion and the medial sidewall portion; and

the rear cover being adjacently and linearly positioned along the rear reinforced-opening.

8. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 1 comprises:

the at least one lateral reinforced-opening and the at least one medial reinforced-opening each comprise a first opening and a second opening;

the first opening and the second opening of the at least one lateral reinforced-opening being positioned offset of each other; and

the first opening and the second opening of the at least one medial reinforced-opening being positioned offset of each other.

9. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 8 comprises:

the sock body further comprises a first lateral cover, a first medial cover, a second lateral cover, and a second medial cover;

the first lateral cover being connected to the lateral sidewall portion and adjacently positioned along the first opening of the at least one lateral reinforced-opening;

the first medial cover being connected to the medial sidewall portion and adjacently positioned along the first opening of the at least one medial reinforced-opening;

the second lateral cover being connected to the lateral sidewall portion and adjacently positioned along the second opening of the at least one lateral reinforced-opening; and

the second medial cover being connected to the medial sidewall portion and adjacently positioned along the second opening of the at least one medial reinforced-opening.

10. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 8 comprises:

the sock body further comprises an elongated lateral cover and an elongated medial cover;

the elongated lateral cover being connected to the lateral sidewall portion and adjacently positioned along the first opening and the second opening of the at least one lateral reinforced-opening; and

the elongated medial cover being connected to the medial sidewall portion and adjacently positioned along the first opening and the second opening of the at least one medial reinforced-opening.

11. An exercise sock with configurable strap placement comprises:

a sock body;

at least one lateral reinforced-opening;

at least one medial reinforced-opening;

a pair of fastening straps;

the foot cuff being oppositely positioned from the sole portion;

the lateral sidewall portion and the medial sidewall portion being oppositely positioned from each other;

the lateral sidewall portion and the medial sidewall portion being positioned between the foot cuff and the sole portion;

the pair of fastening straps being connected to the first curvature portion.

12. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 11 comprises:

13. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 11 comprises:

14. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 11 comprises:

the pair of fastening straps comprises a first strap and a second strap;

15. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 11 comprises:

the sock body further comprises a sock toe and a rear reinforced-opening;

16. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 15 comprises:

the sock body further comprises a rear cover;

17. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 11 comprises:

18. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 17 comprises:

19. The exercise sock with configurable strap placement as claimed in claim 17 comprises: