SockTips

Abstract

A footwear accessory (hereafter referred to as “SockTip”) that facilitates reduced shoe toe-box creasing and enhanced comfort of footwear, for example, dress, casual, and athletic shoes. The SockTip includes instep and toe elements with the instep element constructed with increased thickness atop the toe and metatarsal areas and along the sides of the foot when worn. Worn with toed footwear, SockTip's increased thickness, generally over top and aside of the foot metatarsal area, pads the shoe-toe box, thereby reducing the onset of creasing and facilitating enhanced shoe comfort.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of, and priority to, co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62 / 124,604 entitled “SockTips” filed on Dec. 26, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.BACKGROUND[0002]This invention relates to a product configured for preventing, or significantly reducing the onset of, creasing in the shoe-toe box of toed footwear, for example, dress, casual, and athletic shoes. By padding the shoe toe-box, this invention also relates to enhancing wear comfort of said shoe types using said product.[0003]Currently existing apparatus or devices in the marketplace intended to preserve general shoe shape, appearance, and or to reduce shoe toe-box creasing, include the conventional “shoe tree” and so-called “insert for footwear,” the latter of which is sold under the trademark ForceFields by NewRide, a division of Penguin Brands, Inc. (reference U.S. Pat. No. 8,490,300 B1—Insert for footwear...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]This invention relates to a footwear accessory (SockTip), akin to the toe portion of a sock, that includes instep and toe elements with the instep element providing increased thickness atop the toe and metatarsal areas and along the sides of the foot when worn. Worn with toed footwear, SockTip's increased thickness atop the foot and along the side of its metatarsal areas provides a means to pad the shoe-toe box, thereby reducing the onset of shoe toe-box creasing and facilitating enhanced shoe comfort. The crease-reducing and comfort-enhancing means is accomplished by an increased terry-looping within the SockTip's stitching.

[0014]This invention considers the popularity of footwear in modern society as it pertains to self-expression and reflection of one's uniqueness and style, as well as economic implications of acquiring and maintaining said footwear. These considerations in mind, it may be reasonable to accept...

Problems solved by technology

One might argue an inconvenience factor of needing to insert a mechanism in the sock before wear, and needing to remove it prior to laundering.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,490,300 B1—Insert for FootwearWhile the insert for footwear is designed to maintain general shape and appearance of footwear, the resiliency of the material from which it is constructed may result in discomfort to the user.

Further, the insert typically requires “trimming” to achieve desired fit which can be an inconvenience as it relies on user intervention and customization to be effective.

U.S. Pat. No. 2,391,064 A—Toe MittThe toe mitt provides for preventing wear to a stocking toe; however, its design is not referenced as such that it will prevent shoe toe creasing, enhance shoe comfort, nor improve shoe fit.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,334,356 A—Toe CoverThe toe cover provides for reduced foot slippage in footwear; however, its design is not reference as such that it will prevent shoe toe creasing, enhance shoe comfort, no...

Images