Sock for reducing footwear instep creasing

Abstract

A sock which reduces and substantially eliminates creasing of the instep of footwear, such as shoes, sneakers, boots or the like when worn with such footwear. The sock includes conventional sock portions, such as an ankle portion, a heel portion, a toe portion and an instep portion, and at the instep portion one or more pads are provided such that when the sock is worn the pads override the instep of the foot of the wearer and underlie the instep of the footwear of the wearer. Pressure created during walking or running is transferred from the foot through the crease reducing pad or pads to the instep of the footwear thereby reducing or eliminating creasing thereof.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention relates to improving wear of footwear insteps when being worn by substantially reducing or eliminating creasing at the instep generally in the instep region between the toe and tongue of footwear, such as casual, dress and sport footwear including shoes, boots, sneakers, etc.[0002]Heretofore it was conventional to use a so-called “shoe tree” for preserving the shape of a shoe, though not necessarily thereby preventing the formation of shoe instep creases. The conventional shoe tree is a foot-shaped device which is inserted into a shoe and generally can be lengthened through the utilization of a screw or a toggle lever to straighten the shoe which normally tends to “set” to a curved shape after appreciable wear. Incidental reduction in the formation of creases might well occur when a shoe tree is utilized on a continuous basis in its normal fashion. However, until recently there were no known devices which can appreciably lessen, reduce...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0004]The invention as just described takes into consideration the fact that many people in our modern age regard footwear as more than just a means to protect one's feet. Many view that which is worn on our feet as a reflection of our own sense of style, professionalism and / or individuality. Moreover, average and high quality shoes, boots, sneakers and the like are also relatively expensive and it therefore makes good sense to preserve the aesthetic appeal of new non-creased shoes, boots and sneakers and preserve the new, fresh and crease-free appearance thereof for as long as possible. The latter is achieved by the present invention through the manufacture and utilization of a sock as described heretofore which can be a conventional sock modified through the addition of a pad which at least reduces footwear instep creasing when utilized by a wearer. Walking and running and attendant normal foot movement creates upward outward pressure from the foot and particularly the foot instep to the pad which is transferred by the pad to an inside surface of the footwear. This outward pressure, caused by the addition of the footwear crease reducing pad, greatly reduces or eliminates creasing of the shoe, boot or sneaker which typically occurs from foot bending during everyday activities, such as walking, running, climbing stairs or the like. Thus, in accordance with the present invention, shoe, boot and sneaker creasing is substantially reduced or eliminated during wear through everyday activities created by and during foot movement, such as walking, running or the like. In this fashion appearance and longevity of footwear is greatly enhanced. Most importantly, the latter-noted advantages of the present invention are virtually guaranteed because each footwear crease reducing pad is housed virtually immobile within its sock and when the sock is placed upon the foot of the wearer and inserted in a shoe, sneaker or boot, no further effort is required to effect reduction or elimination of footwear creasing because (a) accurate location is assured, (b) shifting when in use is prevented by the fact that the footwear is laced to the foot of the wearer, and (c) deterioration through wear is virtually precluded. Only one pair of the crease reducing means of the present invention are required no matter the number of footwear owned by a user because the crease reducing means or pad is preferably removable with respect to its associated sock and therefore only several pairs of socks coordinated to the user's clothing would be required, and obviously each pair of socks would be laundered after the crease reducing pads were removed to increase the life of the crease reducing pads.

Problems solved by technology

Moreover, average and high quality shoes, boots, sneakers and the like are also relatively expensive and it therefore makes good sense to preserve the aesthetic appeal of new non-creased shoes, boots and sneakers and preserve the new, fresh and crease-free appearance thereof for as long as possible.

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