SOCK HAVING CONCEALED POCKET FOR STORING JEWELRY AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME

Abstract

A method of concealing and/or securing jewelry on a user includes placing a sock on a foot of the user. The sock may include a sock body having an open end portion, a closed end portion, and a slit formed on the sock body adjacent the open end portion. A pocket body may be coupled to the sock body and may define a pocket cavity, with the pocket body having a narrow neck and a wide bottom. The method may include inserting a jewelry item into the pocket cavity to cause the narrow neck to expand as the jewelry is advanced through the narrow neck.

Claims

1. A method of concealing jewelry on a user, the method comprising the steps of: placing a sock on a foot of the user, the sock including: a sock body having an open end portion and a closed end portion, and a slit formed on the sock body adjacent the open end portion; and a pocket body coupled to the sock body and defining a pocket cavity, the pocket body having a narrow neck and a wide bottom; and inserting a jewelry item into the pocket cavity to cause the narrow neck to expand as the jewelry is advanced through the narrow neck.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the inserting step further includes advancing the jewelry item into the wide bottom.

3. The method recited in claim 2, wherein the inserting step further includes retracting the narrow neck after the jewelry item passes therethrough.

4. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the inserting step further includes advancing the jewelry item through the slit.

5. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of imparting a compressive force on the jewelry item from the narrow neck.

6. The method recited in claim 5, further comprising the step of retracting the jewelry item from the narrow neck by overcoming the compressive force applied by the jewelry item by the narrow neck.

7. The method recited in claim 6, wherein the retracting step further includes removing the jewelry item from the pocket cavity.

8. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of kneeling to position the sock having the jewelry item in the pocket cavity in front of a torso of the user.

9. The method recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of kneeling to position the sock having the jewelry item in the pocket cavity behind a torso of the user.

10. A sock for concealing an engagement ring, the sock comprising: a sock body having a foot portion and a calf portion; a slit formed in the calf portion; and a pocket body defining a pocket cavity and attached to the sock body adjacent the slit, the pocket body having opposed tapered regions defining a narrow neck and a wide bottom of the pocket body.

11. The sock recited in claim 10, wherein the pocket body is elastic.

12. The sock recited in claim 10, wherein the pocket body is transitional between a neutral position and an expanded position, wherein a size of an opening defined by the narrow neck expands as the pocket body transitions from the neutral position toward the expanded position.

13. The sock recited in claim 10, wherein the slit extends in a circumferential direction along the calf portion.

14. The sock recited in claim 10, wherein the calf portion includes an inner surface and an opposed outer surface, the pocket body extending over a portion of the inner surface.

15. The sock recited in claim 10, wherein the pocket body includes an open end and a closed end to define a depth therebetween, the depth being between 2.0-3.0 inches.

16. A method of concealing a small item on a user, the method comprising the steps of: placing a sock on a foot of the user, the sock including: a sock body having a foot portion and a calf portion; a slit formed on the calf portion; and a pocket body coupled to the sock body and defining a pocket cavity, the pocket body having a narrow neck and a wide bottom; and inserting a small item into the pocket cavity to cause the narrow neck to expand as the small item is advanced through the narrow neck.

17. The method recited in claim 16, wherein the inserting step further includes advancing the small item into the wide bottom.

18. The method recited in claim 17, wherein the inserting step further includes retracting the narrow neck after the small item passes therethrough.

19. The method recited in claim 16, wherein the inserting step further includes advancing the small item through the slit.

20. The method recited in claim 16, further comprising the step of imparting a compressive force on the small item from the narrow neck.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which:

[0014] FIG. 1 is a side view of a sock having a pocket integrated therein according to one aspect of the present disclosure;

[0015] FIG. 2 is a side view of the sock of FIG. 1, with the sock being shown in an inside-out configuration to more clearly depict a pocket body;

[0016] FIG. 3 is an upper perspective view of a pair of socks including the sock of FIG. 1, worn by a user, with an engagement ring stored in the pocket of the sock;

[0017] FIG. 4 is an upper perspective view of a right handed individual in a marriage proposal position accessing the pocket integrated into a sock worn on a left foot;

[0018] FIG. 5 is an upper perspective view of a left handed individual in a marriage proposal position accessing the pocket integrated into a sock worn on a right foot; and

[0019] FIG. 6 is an upper perspective view of a right handed individual in a marriage proposal position accessing the pocket integrated into a sock worn on the left foot positioned behind the user's torso.

[0020] Common reference numerals are used throughout the drawings and the detailed description to indicate the same elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of certain embodiments of a sock having a pocket for concealing jewelry and is not intended to represent the only forms that may be developed or utilized. The description sets forth the various structure and/or functions in connection with the illustrated embodiments, but it is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent structure and/or functions may be accomplished by different embodiments that are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of the present disclosure. It is further understood that the use of relational terms such as first and second, and the like are used solely to distinguish one entity from another without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities.

[0022] Referring now to the drawings, wherein the showings are for purposes of illustration, and are not for purposes of liming the same, there is depicted a sock 10 specifically sized and structured to allow an individual wearing the sock 10 to conceal jewelry 12, such as an engagement ring, until the appropriate time for presenting the jewelry 12 to its intended recipient. As will be explained in more detail below, the sock 10 may include a hidden pocket 14 which is sized to receive the jewelry 12 to allow the individual to keep the jewelry 12 on his/her person in a very discreet location, thus, making it highly unlikely that the intended recipient of the jewelry 12 becomes aware of the jewelry 12 before the jewelry 12 is presented to the recipient.

[0023] Referring now specifically to FIGS. 1 and 2, where FIG. 1 is a side view of the sock 10 in a normal configuration, and FIG. 2 is a side view of the sock in an inside-out configuration relative to the normal configuration depicted in FIG. 2. The sock 10 generally includes a sock body 16 and a pocket body 18 coupled to the sock body 16. The sock body 16 may be sized and structured similar to a conventional sock, with the sock body 16 including a foot portion 20 and a calf portion 22. The foot portion 20 may include a closed end sized to extend over a user's toes and extends from the closed end toward the calf portion 22 so as to extend over the user's foot. The sock 10 may be available in different sizes, with the foot portion 20 being commensurate in size to the foot of the intended wearer. The calf portion 22 extends from the foot portion 20 upwardly along the user's leg and terminates at an upper edge 24 defining an open end of the calf portion 22. The size of the calf portion 22 may vary depending on the size of the user's foot, as well as the type of sock 10. For instance, it is contemplated that the sock 10 may be knee length, calf length, mid-calf length, crew length, or other lengths known in the art.

[0024] The sock body 16 may be fabricated from materials commonly used in conventional socks, such as cotton, wool, polyester, synthetic fibers, etc. Along these lines, the sock body 16 may be configured to expand as the sock 10 is placed on the user. The calf portion 22 may have elastic characteristics which allows the calf portion 22 to exert a compressive force on the user. The magnitude of the compressive force may be sufficient to maintain the sock 10 in position on the user without falling down, without creating discomfort to the user.

[0025] The sock body 16 may be contoured in a manner similar to the contour of a user's foot. The sock body 16 may be structured to allow the sock body 16 to be worn on either the left foot or the right foot. Alternatively, the sock body 16 may be specifically contoured to more closely conform to a specific one of the left foot or the right foot.

[0026] Referring now to FIG. 3, the sock body 16 additionally includes opposed side portions, including a medial side portion 26 and a lateral side portion 28 opposite the medial side portion 26. When the sock 10 is worn by the user, the medial side portion 26 may face the inside (i.e., toward the user's other leg), while the lateral side portion 28 faces the outside (i.e., away from the user's other leg).

[0027] The sock body 16 may include a slit 30 formed in the calf portion 22 adjacent the upper edge 24 at a side portion of the sock body. The slit 30 may be in communication with a pocket cavity 32 to allow for insertion of the jewelry item 12 into the pocket cavity 32, as will be explained in more detail below. The slit 30 may be very discreet or generally hidden when the sock 10 is worn by the user. Along these lines, the sock body 16 may have elastic or other resilient material coupled thereto to urge the slit 30 toward a closed configuration to minimize any gap created by the slit 30 and mitigate any discontinuity in the appearance of the sock 10. In other words, the appearance of the pocket 14 may blend with the sock body 16. However, it is contemplated that in other embodiments, the pocket 14 may intentionally be visually distinct from the pocket body 16. For instance, the pocket 14 may be associated with a color that contrasts or pops out relative to the color of the sock body 16. As such, the aesthetics of the sock and pocket 14 may vary, while still performing the function of concealing a small item.

[0028] The pocket body 18 may be coupled to the sock body 16 adjacent the slit 30 and may be operative to receive the jewelry item 12 and retain the jewelry item 12 therein while the sock 10 is worn by the user. The pocket body 18 may be coupled to the sock body 16 via stitching, adhesive, or other attachment mechanisms known by those skilled in the art. The pocket body 18 may include an open end portion 34 and an opposed closed end portion 36. The open end portion 34 may be coupled to the sock body 16 adjacent the slit 30, such that the open end portion 34 is in communication with the slit 30. The pocket body 18 may extend along an inner surface of the sock body 16 away from the slit 30.

[0029] The pocket body 18 may include opposed tapered regions 38. The tapered regions 38 define a narrow neck 40, with the closed end portion 36 defining a wide bottom 42 relative to the narrow neck 40. The configuration of the pocket body 18 may be aimed at retaining the jewelry item 12 within the pocket cavity 32 until the wearer of the sock 10 wants to retrieve the item 12 therefrom. Along these lines, the narrow neck 40 may define an opening that is smaller than that of the wide bottom 42, such that the narrow configuration of the narrow neck 40 may help at retaining the jewelry item 10 within the pocket cavity 32.

[0030] The pocket body 18 may be elastic in nature to allow for selective expansion and contraction of the narrow neck 40 to facilitate insertion and removal of the jewelry item 12 into and out of the pocket cavity 32. In this regard, the narrow neck 40 may be biased toward a closed configuration, and expandable toward an open configuration, wherein the size of an opening defined by the narrow neck 40 may increase as the narrow neck 40 transitions from the closed configuration toward the open configuration. Conversely, the size of the opening defined by the narrow neck 40 may decrease as the narrow neck 40 transitions from the open configuration toward the closed configuration. The material used in forming the pocket body 18 may itself be elastic, or alternatively, if formed from a non-elastic material, the pocket body 18 may include elastic strips or other elastic elements to impart the bias on the narrow neck 40.

[0031] According to one embodiment, the pocket 14 may have a width of approximately 2.5 inches-3.5 inches, and in one particular implementation, a width of approximately 3.0 inches. The width of the pocket 14 may be the direction along which the slit 30 extends. The pocket 14 may have a depth of approximately 2.0 inches-3.0 inches, and in one particular implementation, a depth of approximately 2.5 inches. The depth of the pocket 14 may be the direction perpendicular to the direction along which the slit 30 extends.

[0032] While the foregoing describes the pocket body 18 as being elastic and having opposed tapered regions 38, it is understood that the scope of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. For instance, the pocket body 18 may be non-elastic, and may be devoid of tapered regions 38. The pocket 14 may have a closing element, such as hook-and-loop fasteners (i.e., VELCRO), a button, snap or other closing elements known in the art, for closing the pocket cavity 32 when the jewelry item 12 is received therein. It is also contemplated that the sock body 16 may be sufficient elastic to compress the jewelry item 12 against the user's leg for securing the jewelry item 12 on the user. In this regard, several alternative attributes may be implemented into the sock 10 for securing the jewelry item 12 therein, with such attributes being used alone, or in combination with one or more of the attributes.

[0033] With the basic structure of the sock 10 described above, the following discussion will focus on several exemplary uses of the sock 10. In general, the sock 10 may be used by being placed on a foot of the user, and inserting a jewelry item 12 into the pocket cavity 32. At a later time, the user may retrieve the jewelry item 12 from the pocket cavity 32 by inserting at least one finger, and preferably multiple fingers into the pocket cavity 32 to expand the pocket cavity 32 for retrieving the jewelry item 12 therefrom.

[0034] It is contemplated that the sock 10 may be particularly useful during a marriage proposal for concealing the engagement ring 12 on the individual making the proposal until the for making the proposal occurs. In this regard, the specific methodology associated with using the sock 10 during a marriage proposal may vary slightly depending on the dominant hand of the user, as will be described below.

[0035] Referring now specifically to FIG. 4, there is shown a user in a typical marriage proposal position, i.e., down on one knee. The position shown in FIG. 4 is a marriage proposal position commonly assumed by a right-handed individual. In this regard, the user's right knee is placed on the ground, with the right foot extending behind the user's torso, while the user's left foot is placed on the ground, with the left shin extending upwardly from the ground and the user's left knee being elevated above the ground. In this position, the inside of the user's left calf or ankle is easily accessible to the user's right hand. Therefore, prior to the proposal, the user may place the sock 10 having the pocket 14 on the user's left foot, such that the pocket 14 is positioned along the inside of the user's left ankle or calf. The user may also place the engagement ring 12 inside the pocket cavity 32, either prior to placing the sock 10 on the foot, or after placing the sock 10 on the foot. To place the engagement ring 12 inside the pocket cavity 32, the ring 12 is advanced through the slit 30, and into the pocket cavity 32 until it is received in the wide bottom 42 of the pocket cavity 32. As the ring 10 is advanced through the pocket cavity 32, the ring 12 may be urged through the elastic narrow neck 40, wherein advancement of the ring 12 through the narrow neck 40 may temporarily cause the narrow neck 40 to expand and then subsequently contract once the ring 12 is received in the wide bottom 42.

[0036] When the user gets down on one knee and assumes the position shown in FIG. 4, the user may easily access the pocket 14 with the user's right hand. More specifically, the user may lift the bottom of the pants, if the pants are extending over the slit 30, and place one or more fingers in the slit 30 to reach for the engagement ring 12. If the pocket 14 includes a closing element, the user may open the closing element to access the pocket cavity 32. As the user's finger(s) are advanced into the slit 30, the user may open up the pocket cavity 32 through the force of the finger(s). For instance, if the pocket body 18 is elastic, the finger(s) may overcome the bias of the elasticity to temporarily create a larger area for removal of the ring 12 from the pocket 14. The user then reaches for the ring 12 and once securing the ring 12 with the finger(s), the user removes the ring 12 from the pocket 14 for presentation during the proposal.

[0037] Referring now to FIG. 5, a left handed user is shown in a marriage proposal position. In this regard, the user's left knee is placed on the ground, with the left foot extending behind the user's torso, while the user's right foot is placed on the ground, with the right shin extending upwardly from the ground and the user's right knee being elevated above the ground. In this position, the inside of the user's right calf or ankle is easily accessible to the user's left hand. Therefore, prior to the proposal, the user may place the sock 10 having the pocket 14 on the user's right foot, such that the pocket 14 is positioned along the inside of the user's right ankle or calf. The user may also place the ring 12 inside the pocket cavity 32, either prior to placing the sock 10 on the foot, or after the sock 10 is placed on the foot, as described in more detail above.

[0038] When the user gets down on one knee and assumes the position shown in FIG. 5, the user may easily access the pocket 14 with the user's left hand for removing the engagement ring 12 from the pocket 14. The removal of the ring 12 from the pocket 14 using the left hand is substantially identical to the methodology described above in relation to the right hand, with the primary exception being the use of the user's left hand accessing the sock 10 worn on the user's right leg.

[0039] The positions of the pockets 14 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 are on the leg opposite to the user's dominant hand. In those instances, the sock 10 including the pocket 14 is worn on the leg opposite the dominant hand, with the pocket 14 being located on the inside of that leg. FIG. 6 is an example of an alternative arrangement, where the sock 10 including the pocket 14 is worn on the leg that is on the same side of the dominant hand, with the pocket 14 being positioned on the outside of the user's leg. In particular, for right-handed individuals, the sock 10 including the pocket 14 is worn on the right leg, with the pocket 14 facing the outside, and for left-handed individuals, the sock 10 including the pocket 14 is worn on the left leg, with the pocket 14 facing the outside.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 6, the user's dominant hand is the right hand, and thus, the sock 10 including the pocket 14 is worn on the user's right leg, with the pocket 14 facing the outside direction. When the user assumes the marriage proposal position, and wants to reach for the engagement ring 12, the user reaches behind the torso toward the ankle or calf of the right leg to reach for the pocket 14. The removal of the ring 12 from the pocket 14 is similar to that described in more detail above.

[0041] By storing the engagement ring 12 in the sock 10, the user may conceal the engagement ring 12, until the appropriate time for presenting the engagement ring 12. Previously, it was common for a user to store the engagement ring 12 in a pants pocket or a coat pocket, which may not conceal the ring as well, and thus, may spoil the surprise. The sock 10 and the pocket 14 integrated therein may be concealed by the user's pants, and thus, provides a better location for temporarily storing the ring 12. Furthermore, those significant others who may be expecting an engagement would be unlikely to inspect the user's sock 10, as it is not a conventional location for storing an engagement ring.

[0042] Although the foregoing describes the sock 10 as being useful for storing an engagement ring 12, it is understood that the sock 10 may be used for other occasions. For instance, the sock 10 may also be useful during a marriage ceremony for securely carrying a wedding band prior to the vows, as is traditionally the responsibility of the Best Man. Furthermore, any small gift, such as coins, money, other jewelry, i.e., rings, earrings, bracelets, necklaces, charms, etc., may be stored in the sock 10 until the appropriate time for gifting or presenting for any occasion, such as an anniversary, graduation, holiday, birthday, other milestone, etc. Also, the ability of the sock 10 to conceal an item may not only be useful for concealing gifts, but may useful in areas that are prone to pickpockets for concealing important items.

[0043] The above discussion describes a single sock having a single pocket integrated therein. It is contemplated that the sock having the pocket may be sold as a pair with a more conventional sock, i.e., one not having a pocket. The pair of socks may have an identical design, i.e., stripes, argyle, patterns, etc. In addition to the foregoing, it is contemplated that the sock having a pocket is not limited to a single pocket. Rather, multiple pockets may be integrated into the sock for storing multiple items. The pockets may be aligned in a linear array, or may be circumferential disposed about the sock. For instance, a sock having a pair of pockets may have such pockets arranged in diametrically opposed relation to each other.

[0044] The particulars shown herein are by way of example only for purposes of illustrative discussion, and are not presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the various embodiments of the present disclosure. In this regard, no attempt is made to show any more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the different features of the various embodiments, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how these may be implemented in practice.