SHIN GUARD SOCK FOR PRACTICING SPORT

Abstract

A shin guard sock for practicing sport having a sock provided with a pocket-type compartment on the inside, which is open at the top, in correspondence with the tibia, defining a space suitable for inserting a shin guard therein. The sock being produced from a material comprising three protective layers: an internal layer made of a thermoplastic polymer, such as EVA; an external layer made of a polycarbonate; and an external coating made of polyurethane elastomer sprayed onto the polycarbonate, forming an extremely rigid impact surface.

Claims

1. A shin guard sock for practicing sport, the shin guard sock comprising: a sock provided with a pocket-type compartment on the inside, which is open at the top and which is made up of a fabric fixed by heat sealing to the front area of the sock, in correspondence with an athlete's tibia, and defines a space that is appropriate for inserting therein a shin guard which remains immobilised in an operating position, protecting this area of the leg while an athlete is practicing sport; and the shin guard, which is situated inside the pocket defined in the inside of the sock, which has three protective layers: an internal layer made of a thermoplastic polymer, which is in contact with the compartment on the inside of the sock; an external layer made of a polycarbonate; and an external coating made of polyurethane elastomer sprayed onto the polycarbonate, which is in contact with the inner face of the sock in the front area thereof, in correspondence with the tibia of the leg on which it is placed.

2. The shin guard sock for practicing sport, according to claim 1, wherein the sock is a compressive elastic clothing item.

3. The shin guard sock for practicing sport, according to claim 2, wherein the compressive sock has a composition of 85-95% polyamide and 15-5% elastane.

4. The shin guard sock for practicing sport, according to claim 1, wherein the sock has silicone prints on the lower part and outer face thereof in support areas of the foot in the shoe.

5. The shin guard sock according to claim 1, wherein the thermoplastic polymer is ethylene-vinyl acetate.

6. The shin guard sock for practicing sport, according to claim 2, wherein the sock has silicone prints on the lower part and outer face thereof in support areas of the foot in the shoe.

7. The shin guard sock for practicing sport, according to claim 3, wherein the sock has silicone prints on the lower part and outer face thereof in support areas of the foot in the shoe.

8. A shin guard sock for protecting a shin of a user, the shin guard sock comprising: a sock; and a pocket-type compartment provided on the inside of said sock, wherein said pocket-type compartment is open at one end, said pocket-type compartment is made up of a fabric fixed by heat sealing to said sock, and said pocket-type compartment defines a space that is appropriate for inserting therein a shin guard.

9. The shin guard sock according to claim 8, the shin guard sock further comprising: a shin guard, wherein the shin guard is situated inside the pocket defined in the inside of the sock, the shin guard includes at least a first protective layer, a second protective layer and a third protective layer, the first protective layer being an internal layer made of a thermoplastic polymer which is in contact with the compartment on the inside of the sock, the second protective layer being an external layer made of a polycarb, and the third protective layer being an external coating made of polyurethane elastomer sprayed onto the polycarbonate.

10. The shin guard sock for practicing sport, according to claim 9, wherein the sock is a compressive elastic clothing item.

11. The shin guard sock for practicing sport, according to claim 10, wherein the compressive sock has a composition of 85-95% polyamide and 15-5% elastane.

12. The shin guard sock for practicing sport, according to claim 9, wherein the sock has silicone prints on the lower part and outer face thereof in support areas of the foot in the shoe.

13. The shin guard sock according to claim 9, wherein the thermoplastic polymer is ethylene-vinyl acetate.

14. The shin guard sock for practicing sport, according to claim 10, wherein the sock has silicone prints on the lower part and outer face thereof in support areas of the foot in the shoe.

15. The shin guard sock for practicing sport, according to claim 11, wherein the sock has silicone prints on the lower part and outer face thereof in support areas of the foot in the shoe.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0010] As a complement to the present description, and for the purpose of helping to make the features of the invention more readily understandable, said description is accompanied by a set of drawings which, by way of illustration and not limitation, represent the following:

[0011] FIG. 1 shows a general view of a sock (1) provided with a shin guard (3), which is fastened to the leg of an athlete by means of an inner pocket (2).

[0012] FIG. 2 is a view that is equivalent to the previous figure, with a partial cross section in the front area so as to show the shin guard (3) and the pocket (2).

[0013] FIG. 3 shows a view of the shin guard (3) outside of the sock (1).

[0014] FIG. 4 shows a general view of a sock (1) provided with prints (12) on the sole of the foot.

[0015] FIG. 5 represents a transverse cross-sectional view of a sock (1) at the central part of the shin guard (3) and the inner pocket (2).

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0016] As can be seen in the referenced figures, the shin guard sock for practicing sport object of this invention is of the type that incorporates a compartment (2) in the form of a pocket situated in the area of the tibia. This pocket (2) is open at the top and optionally provided with a type of closing means. According to an important feature of the invention, this pocket (2) is fastened by heat sealing to the front area of the sock (1), in correspondence with the athlete's tibia, and defines a space that is appropriate for inserting therein a shin guard (3) which remains immobilised in an operating position, protecting this area of the leg while the athlete is practicing sport.

[0017] In turn, the shin guard (3), which is inserted into the pocket (2) defined in the sock (1), has a constitution formed by three protective layers made of different materials; namely: [0018] an internal layer (32) made of a thermoplastic polymer, such as ethylene-vinyl acetate EVA, which is in contact with the compartment (2) on the inside of the sock (1); [0019] an external layer (33) made of a polycarbonate-type plastic; and [0020] an external coating (31) made of polyurethane elastomer sprayed onto the polycarbonate (33), which is in contact with the inner face of the sock (1) in the front area thereof, in correspondence with the tibia of the leg on which it is placed.

[0021] The external coating (31) is achieved by applying by means of spraying a layer of high-performance polyurethane elastomers, which do not contain volatile organic compounds (VOC) and which once applied make up a 100% solid product. In the tests carried out, LINE-X was used, which is a product of this nature that offers an exceptional performance based on protective layers of elastomers for surfaces; this product is easy to use and fast drying (3 seconds), and furthermore, it offers exceptional adherence features and forms an excellent protective film for chemical resistance and as a protective barrier for moisture, among other features.

[0022] The sock (1) object of the invention is preferably a compressive elastic clothing item; with a composition of 85-95% polyamide and 15-5% elastane, which is a synthetic fibre known for its exceptional elasticity, made up of a urethane-urea copolymer, which is extremely strong but not as long-lasting as natural latex.

[0023] This sock (1), as can be seen in FIG. 4, has silicone prints (12) on the lower part and outer face thereof in support areas of the foot in the shoe, which have the aim of preventing the mobility of the foot inside the shoe, when there is space between the two.

[0024] FIG. 5 shows a cross section of a sock (1) with a compressive tissue (11) in which, on the front face thereof a pocket (29) has been heat sealed along perimeter strips (21), leaving the upper mouth open in order to allow a shin guard (3) of the mentioned type to be inserted in said pocket (2). The way of placing the same is extremely simple and without any added difficulty with respect to a conventional sock: once the sock (1) is put on and into position, below the knee, the shin guard (3) is inserted in the pocket defined in the front wall of the sock (1) and the heat sealed fabric on the inside, and once it slides to the bottom of said pocket (2) the sock is raised to its normal position, either below or above the knee. From that moment on, the sock is maintained in the final position thereof, and more easily when it is a compression sock; and for the same reason, the shin guard (3) is also maintained in the proper position, in front of the tibia and without moving to either side or downwards, given that the sock (1) along with the shin guard (3) prevents the same from happening.

[0025] Having sufficiently described the nature of the invention, in addition to an example of preferred embodiment, it is hereby stated for the relevant purposes that the materials, shape, size and layout of the described elements may be modified, provided that it does not imply altering the essential features of the invention claimed below: