BAREFOOT SANDAL SOCKS

Abstract

An aesthetically pleasing sandal sock with an upper planar surface and with a lower surface on which is located an oval structure with an opening and sides capable of engaging with the outer edges of the sandal sole, principally the outer edge of a toe region of the sandal and the outer edge of heel region of the sandal, such that the upper planar surface of the sock extends the length and width of the sandal sole. The sandal sock is composed of elastic and flexible material. The side of the oval opening has an outer edge and an inner edge. The inner edge connects and binds with the lower surface. The outer edge is capable of contacting the outer edge of the sandal to position and hold the upper planar surface of the sock so that it is in contact with both upper surface of the sandal sole and foot, when the sandal is worn. The sandal enjoys a naked foot look when worn.

Claims

1. A sandal sock having an upper planar surface and a lower surface with a structure that has an opening and sides capable of engaging with outer edges of a sandal sole, principally an outer edge of a toe region of the sandal and the outer edge of heel region of the sandal, such that the upper planar surface of the sock covers the length and width of the sandal sole, wherein the sandal sock comprises elastic, flexible material and wherein the side of the opening has an outer edge and an inner edge where the inner edge connects with the lower surface and where the outer edge is capable of contacting the outer edge of the sandal thereby positioning and holding the upper planar sock surface on the upper surface of the sandal sole and in contact with a foot sole, when worn.

2. The sandal sock of claim 1 wherein the opening is sized to secure the sandal and be flexible.

3. The sandal sock of claim 1 wherein the size of the opening is adjustable.

4. The sandal sock of claim 1 wherein the outer opening edge includes an elastic fibers knitted and defines a perimeter.

5. The sandal sock of claim 1 wherein the material is contiguous.

6. The sandal sock of claim 1 wherein the material comprises two or more materials.

7. The sandal sock of claim 1 wherein the planar surface includes a stitched recess near the toe region capable of accommodating a thong sandal strap and includes one or more fasteners that adjust the size of the stitched recess to accommodate the region between the big toe and second toe and to provide for an open or closed recess, when the fasteners are engaged.

8. The sandal sock of claim 7 wherein the fasteners includes hook and loop type fasteners.

9. The sandal sock of claim 8 wherein the hook and loop fasteners securing include Velcro tape.

10. A sandal having an upper surface that conforms to a foot where the sole surface includes the sandal sock of claim 1.

11. A process for making the sandal sock of claim 1 comprising obtaining elastic, flexible material, fashioning the material to form a sock structure having a continuous upper planar surface and a lower surface with an opening defined by a perimeter that defines a boundary region, and introducing into the boundary region elastic fiber or thread thereby surrounding the opening and imparting sufficient elasticity to the opening edge and the boundary region flexibility and a gripping power to maintain contact with the sandal edge.

12. The process of claim 11 further comprising, affixing the toe and heel region of the sock opening to the outer edge of the sandal sole at the respective heel and toe region, thereby extending the sock over the upper planar surface of the sandal to cover the length and width of the sandal sole.

13. The process of claim 12, wherein the affixed upper planar sock is in contact with both the upper surface of the sandal sole and the sole of the foot, when worn.

Description

5. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] FIG. 1 shows a bottom view of the sandal sock showing a lower surface with an oval opening (cavity) having elastic sides, where the oval opening has a toe region (front), heel region (rear), where the size accommodates the upper surface of sandal, including the edge or portion thereof. An elastic band can be positioned on the circumference of the oval opening, if desired.

[0023] FIG. 2 (a) shows a front view; (b) shows a back heel view and (c) shows a side views of an open toe (front) and heel (rear) sandal where a sock is positioned on the sandal surface and extends from the front sandal edge of the toe region to the rear heel sandal edge. As depicted in the front view (a) and the rear view (b) is a sandal edge overlap that holds the sock in place so that the upper planar surface of the sock extends over the upper sole surface of the sandal.

[0024] FIG. 3 shows an overhead side view of a thong sandal where the sock is situated on the upper sandal surface and has a recess to accommodate the thong. The shaded portions are the edge sock overlaps.

[0025] FIG. 4 (a) shows a sandal sock positioned on an open toe and heel sandal and (b) shows a sandal sock positioned on a thong sandal with a stitched recess and fastener for the thong of the sandal.

[0026] FIG. 5 shows a top view of a thong sandal with a sandal sock having a recess for the thong and a Velcro fastener that provides for recess closure, when engaged.

[0027] FIG. 6 shows an upper view of the sandal sock with a recess where Velcro tab is disengaged and the recess is in an open position.

[0028] FIG. 7 shows an upper view of the sandal sock where the recess is closed and the opposite surfaces of the Velcro tab are engaged.

6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a bottom view of the sandal sock (1) having a toe region (2), an adjustable opening (3) for receiving the upper surface of a sandal and a heal region (4). An elastic band (5) can be secured along the perimeter of the oval opening to permit adjustment of the size of the oval opening. The sandal is secured within the sock by the elasticity of the material that forms the sock (1) and the contact of the oval opening edges with the sandal edges.

[0030] FIG. 2 (a) provides a front view of the sandal (6) that shows the sock edge overlap associated with the sock toe region (2) and also shows the frontal strap (7). FIG. 2 (b) shows a back heel view of the sandal (6) and shows the ankle strap (8). The sock overlap with the edge associated with the heel portion (4) of the sock is also shown. FIG. 2 (c) shows a side view of the sandal (6) with the front (7) and ankle (8) straps. The side view of the sock includes the toe (2) and heel (4) regions. The toe region edge sock overlap and the heel region edge overlap, as depicted, illustrate the tension on the elastic material that causes the material to be contiguous with the upper surface (6a) of the sandal. The sock-sandal absorbs moisture from the foot surface. The wicking action of the sock material removes the moisture from the sock-foot sole interfaces which creates and maintains a dry environment. As depicted in FIGS. 2(a) and 2 (b), are the edge overlaps, toe and heel regions that position and hold the sock in place so that the planar upper surface extends over the upper surface of the sandal surface, e.g. the overlap extends a quarter of the distance from the upper surface of the sandal to the bottom edge of the sole, where the sandal contacts the ground. The thickness of the sole can be a quarter inch thick; the overlap would then be about a sixteenth of an inch. The necessary overlap is dependent on a variety of factors. The positioned sock minimizes friction and skin irritation. The overlap of the sock on the edges is in sufficient contact with the sandal edge to maintain placement of the sock on the upper surface of the sandal sole during walking or any level of movement.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows an overhead view of the thong sandal embodiment and sock. The thong strap (10) is shown in relation to toe and heel regions of the sock. The ankle strap (8) and opening (3) are not shown. The open toe sandal sock and thong sandal embodiments are shown in FIG. 5. Depicted in the thong sandal embodiment is the stitched recess (11) and fastener (12).

[0032] FIG. 4 (a) shows a sandal sock (1) positioned on the upper sole of an open toe and heel sandal (13) and a sandal sock (1) positioned on the upper sole surface (14) of a thong sandal (15) with a stitched recess (16) and fastener (17) for the thong (18) of the thong sandal.

[0033] FIG. 5 shows a photograph of a top view of a thong sandal (15) with a sandal sock (1) having a recess (11) for receiving the thong strap (10) and a Velcro tab (19) for closing the open recess after placement of the thong strap (10).

[0034] FIG. 6 shows a photograph of an upper view of the sandal sock (1) with a recess (11) and open ends of the disengaged Velcro tab (19) used for closure.

[0035] FIG. 7 shows a photograph of an upper view of the sandal sock (1) with a recess (11) in a closed position achieved by contacting the respective sides of the Velcro tab (19).

[0036] The sandal sock (1) is positioned on the upper surface of the sandal sole (6a) by placing the edge of the opening of the sock associated with the toe region (2) and hooking the opening edge on the sandal edge associated with the toes. The oval edge opening is positioned on the sole edge (toe or heel) to insure that contact with the edge is maintained when opposite edge of the oval opening (heel or toe) is stretched and hooked on that edge (4 or 2). The edge contact remains in place when the sandal is worn. The toe edge contact and heel edge contact with the edges of the opening to provide a sufficient tension to hold the sock in place on the upper surface of sandal surface. The sock maintains sufficient contact with the sole of the foot to direct moisture away from the foot.

[0037] While the invention has been described with an emphasis on preferred embodiments, it will be obvious that variation of the preferred embodiments may be used and that it is intended that the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically designed herein. Accordingly, this invention includes all modification encompassed within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the claims that follow.