Sock

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a sock for substantially covering a foot or footwear. The sock has a wall defining an opening and a recess, the opening leading to the recess. The wall has an inside surface and an outside surface and is flexible, elastic and waterproof.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to footwear, and more specifically to socks to be worn on a person's feet or over a person's shoes or boots.[0002]The invention has been developed primarily for use in hospitals and home care. However, it will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to these particular fields of use.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]A variety of socks to be worn on a person's feet are known. The most commonly available type of sock is made primarily of natural or synthetic fabric, and is normally used to cover the foot before insertion into external footwear, for example, a shoe or boot, to provide cushioning, comfort, warmth and / or fluid absorption. This type of sock is often elasticised to facilitate a snug fit and may be slippery on smooth or wet surfaces. Socks are not usually intended to be worn without or on the outside of external footwear.[0004]Some socks comprise slip-reducing pads or slip-reducing material located on the sol...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011]Advantageously, the flexibility of the sock allows the sock to be worn over a person's foot or footwear in relative comfort. The elasticity of the sock allows for the sock to be relatively easily donned yet still well fitted over a person's foot or footwear. A well fitted sock prevents the user from potentially tripping over loose folds of the wall and also allows the foot to maintain its tactile sense through the wall (provided the wall is sufficiently thin). The waterproof wall of the sock prevents water, dirt or other contaminants from permeating through the sock, thus protecting the user's foot or footwear from these contaminants in use.

[0122]The various arrangements of ridges may provide benefits in relation to grip, engagement with a rough or recessed surface, cushioning and / or comfort.

Problems solved by technology

This type of sock is often elasticised to facilitate a snug fit and may be slippery on smooth or wet surfaces.

Reusable shoe or boot covers are often made of relatively thicker and more durable material which reduces elasticity of the overall cover making it difficult to don, hence requiring a larger opening to compensate.

These designs usually result in the shoe or boot covers being unable to provide a watertight or contaminant-tight seal when in use.

While these shoe or boot covers protect from water, dirt, mud and other contaminants underfoot, they do not protect from water, dirt, mud and other contaminants that may enter through the opening.

Elderly or physically impaired people may fall in wet and slippery areas such as in a bathroom or shower, and the impact from the fall is likely to cause injury, sometimes severe.

For areas that are regularly wet or moist, however, these semi-permanent mats or stickers may not be hygienic.

This is a particular issue in showers and bathrooms in public use, such as in aged care facilities, hospitals, gymnasiums and hostels.

Furthermore, being adhered to a constantly wet surface may cause the mat or sticker to be dislodged or slip over time.

The mat or sticker can also wear out.

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