Sole Coated Toe Sock

Abstract

The present invention relates to socks and related items and specifically, toe socks that are breathable but include a thin protective barrier on the sole to guard against most types of penetration. The invention comprises a five toed sock that includes a thin elastomer protective layer, preferably natural latex rubber or nitrile, generally located on the exterior portions of the heel, arch, pad, and toes sections.

Description

A. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]None.B. GOVERNMENT SUPPORT[0002]None.C. REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, TABLE, ETC[0003]Not Applicable.D. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]The present invention relates to socks and related items and specifically, toe socks that are breathable but include a thin protective barrier on the sole to guard against most types of penetration.[0005]There is a growing movement afoot to study the potential harm done by running shoes. Proponents of barefoot running claim that it causes less collision force to the feet than running in cushioned shoes, and that runners who run without shoes usually land on the balls of their feet (forefoot strike), or sometimes flat-footed (midfoot strike), compared to runners in shoes, who tend to land on their heels first (heel strike).[0006]Proponents of barefoot running believe that cushioned running shoes, which date back to the 1970s, may seem comfortable but may actually contribute to a variety of injuries, i...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0022]A toe sock allows the entire foot to perform naturally, encouraging the toes to separate and activate the muscles in the feet. Toe socks increase dexterity and tactile sensitivity and awareness during any activity. Toe socks help to strengthen the muscles in the feet, while allowing for overall better circulation, balance and posture.

[0023]The five toe design reduces friction between toes and minimizes moisture around the foot. Reduced movement in your socks means less chance of developing blisters while you exercise. Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide a sock that resists movement of dirt or other debris from the outside inward.

Problems solved by technology

In doing so, the foot's natural motion is impeded and the arch and lower leg are not able to absorb the shock of the landing.

Running in shoes may increase the risk of ankle sprains, either by decreasing awareness of foot position or by increasing the twisting torque on the ankle during a stumble.

Running shoes may also increase the risk of plantar fasciitis and other chronic injuries of the lower limb by modifying the transfer of shock to muscles and supporting structures.

For instance weight lifting performed in shoes often puts the person into bad posture or incorrect form, since the elevated heels cause postural compensation.

This puts an unnatural curve in their spine and can cause injury.

However, exercising while barefoot has the potential to cause problems as a result of the activity.

This includes the fact they provide no protection from outside elements.

When a person is barefoot outside, their feet can be exposed to wet, cold and windy conditions with no insulation or protective barrier.

Further, when performing athletic activities barefoot, toughened, callused areas of skin develop on the bottom of the feet.

When the calluses form it may cause the athlete's feet to peel, crack, and become rough, and look unpleasant.

This would limit the person's duration of activities for an extended period of time until they thicken the skin on the sole of their feet.

The bottoms and sides of the person's feet would also start to turn black with repeated contact on dirty surfaces.

The overall cleanliness of the person's feet is dramatically impacted when no protection is worn.

Another negative consequence of barefoot running is that constant contact with hard ground and rough surfaces, particularly prior to developing calluses, can cause lacerations, abrasion burns, blisters and bleeding.

Further, there are many natural and manmade objects found on the ground today that make it unsafe to walk or run on bare feet.

Hazardous materials in liquid or powder form could also penetrate bare skin with no layer of protection.

Lastly, if a person is barefoot, he or she cannot typically work out at fitness facilities, walk into most stores or attend certain social events.

However, most proponents of barefoot running claim that a foot cannot function naturally inside of a shoe due to the fact that it is constricted by the lacing system, elevated on a thick sole cushion, and is influenced to strike heel first.

The feet and leg muscles in such a situation are still restricted in their development just as they would be when wearing a normal sock in a traditional shoe.

Further, the Injinji socks may provide insufficient protection when worn alone, since they do not offer adequate protection from the grounds surface or sharp objects.

These two layers (three if socks are also worn) create a sole thickness that is too thick to properly simulate barefoot running, and negatively affect the user's balance, posture, and running style.

However, these socks do not allow for toe separation, which is critical to simulate barefoot running.

Also, by virtue of the chemical properties of the coating agents, they are typically not air permeable, and therefore may interrupt the normal respiration / transpiration of the epidermal cells of the foot.

Furthermore, these products are typically not washable.

There is no recommendation that they be worn with shoes outdoors, and none address the issue of preventing the penetration of dirt through the sock.

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