Non-Slip Athletic Shoe Socklet

Abstract

A on-slip below the ankle athletic socklet for wearing in cooperation with an athletic shoe, where the athletic shoe has an upwardly extending heel and ankle support portion extending upwardly from or comprising an upward extension of the upper edge of the rear portion of the shoe. The socklet includes a heel receiving end and a toe receiving end and is otherwise configured for receiving a wearer's foot and being positioned within the athletic shoe when the wearer is wearing the athletic shoe and also includes an element adapted to engage and loop over and/or onto said support portion by means of a loop or band fitting over same so as to stabilize the socklet relative to the heel support and prevent migration of the heel receiving end of the socklet towards a forward end of the athletic shoe when the wearer is wearing the socklet with the shoe.

Claims

1. A non-slip athletic shoe sock for wearing with a shoe having a heel extension at its upper rear edge, comprising: a sock with an opening for insertion of a user's foot into the sock, said sock having a heel section disposed adjacent the user's foot when said foot is inserted into the sock, wherein said heel section has an upper rear portion disposed adjacent the heel extension of a shoe worn by the user; and a band portion having ends joined to said sock at opposite sides of said heel section adapted to fit over and across said heel extension.

2. The non-slip athletic shoe sock of claim 1, wherein said band portion is one of: a separate member connected to said sock at each of its ends, and an integral portion of said sock.

3. The non-slip athletic shoe sock of claim 2, wherein said sock is an ankle height socklet having an elastic band portion surrounding its opening, and said band portion is one of: a separate member connected to said elastic band portion at each of its ends, and a part of said elastic band portion.

4. A combination athletic shoe and non-slip athletic shoe sock, comprising: an athletic shoe having a heel extension at its upper rear edge, comprising; a sock with an opening for insertion of a user's foot into the sock, said sock having a heel section disposed adjacent the user's foot when said foot is inserted into the sock, wherein said heel section has an upper rear portion disposed adjacent the heel extension of the said shoe when worn by the user; and a band portion having ends joined to said sock at opposite sides of said heel section adapted to fit over and across said heel extension.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein said band portion is one of: a separate member connected to said sock at each of its ends, and an integral portion of said sock.

6. The combination of claim 5, wherein said sock is an ankle height socklet having an elastic band portion surrounding its opening, and said band portion is one of: a separate member connected to said elastic band portion at each of its ends, and a part of said elastic band portion.

7. A method for providing and using a non-slip sock by a user with an athletic shoe having a heel extension at its upper rear edge, comprising: providing a sock with an opening for insertion of a user's foot into the sock, said sock having a heel section disposed adjacent the user's heel when said foot is inserted into the sock, wherein said heel section has an upper rear portion disposed adjacent the heel extension of the said shoe when worn by the user with a band portion having ends joined to said sock at opposite sides of said heel section adapted to fit over and across said heel extension; inserting a user foot into said sock via said opening such that said heel section is disposed adjacent the user's heel; inserting said sock and foot into said shoe such that said said heel section is adjacent the heel extension of the shoe and the band portion is fitted over and across said heel extension.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said band portion is one of: a separate member connected to said sock at each of its ends, and an integral portion of said sock.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said sock is an ankle height socklet having an elastic band portion surrounding its opening, and said band portion is one of: a separate member connected to said elastic band portion at each of its ends, and a part of said elastic band portion.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

[0011] The novel features believed to be characteristic of this invention will be set forth with particularity in the claims that follow. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further object and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0012] FIG. 1 provides a schematic side view of a socklet with a first type of retention loop in accordance with the teachings of the invention.

[0013] FIG. 2 provides a schematic top view of the socklet of FIG. 1.

[0014] FIG. 3 provides a schematic perspective back view of the socklet of FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0015] FIG. 4 provides a schematic perspective back view of a socklet with a second type of retention loop in accordance with the teachings of the invention.

[0016] FIG. 5 provides a side perspective view of a socklet with retention loop in accordance with the teachings of the invention.

DESCRIPTION

[0017] As will be noted fro FIG. 1, the socklet 1 of the invention includes numerous features typical of this article of clothing, such as an opening into which the foot of the user is inserted 2, a heel section 3, and a toe section 4. These same features can be observed where the position of the socklet 1 allows in FIGS. 2 and 3. However, the distinctive addition to the foregoing is found at the upper back portion of heel 3, and is comprised of a horizontally disposed maintenance band or strap 5 fastened on opposite sides of the elastic band 6 around opening 2 at the top of the socklet 1 by stitching or other appropriate means known in the art 5A. A second embodiment of the invention is provided in FIG. 4, where the maintenance band or strap 5′ is formed by a portion of elastic band 6 that is separated from the heel portion 3 of the socklet illustrated so as to form an opening 7.

[0018] The advantages of the non-slip, below the ankle, athletic socklet 1 described is best seen as it functions in cooperation with an athletic shoe 8 of the type illustrated in FIG. 5, which has a heel support portion extending upwardly from or comprising an upward extension 8A of the upper edge of the rear portion of the shoe 8. When socklet 1 of the invention, as previously described, is positioned on a wearer's foot, the wearer's foot with socklet 1 can be positioned within the athletic shoe 8 such that extension 8A is inserted through opening 7 as shown in FIG. 5. In this position, maintenance band or strap 5/5′ is fastened around extension 8A and prevents migration of the socklet 1 towards a forward end of the athletic shoe. Socklet 1 and strap 5/5′ can also include gripping surfaces (not shown) of the type known in the art.

PARTS LIST

[0019] Socklet [0020] 2 Opening of Socklet [0021] 3 Heel of Socklet [0022] 4 Toe of Socklet [0023] 5 Retention Strap/band [0024] 5A Fastening for Band 5 [0025] 5′ Retention Strap/band formed from Elastic Ankle Band [0026] 6 Elastic Band around Opening of Socklet [0027] 7 Opening for insertion of Heel Extension 8A [0028] 8 Athletic Shoe [0029] 8A Heel Extension of Athletic Shoe

[0030] In view of the foregoing, it should be clear that numerous changes and variations can be made without exceeding the scope of the inventive concept outlined. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiment(s) of the invention herein described is/are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiment(s) is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.