Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02847505 2014-03-26
Docket: AA0541
SPORT SOCK SUPPORT DEVICE
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of sporting equipment and more
particularly to a reusable sock support band for securing sport hosiery, such
as a
hockey sock.
Background of the Invention
The invention relates to securing sports hosiery worn by athletes and
particularly those cases where protective padding placed inside the hosiery
against the player's shin. The sport of hockey is used as an example but the
invention has application to all such sports such as soccer, field hockey and,
generally, sports where shin protection is worn.
Hockey players, for example, use a variety of means to secure their
hockey socks in place over their shin pads during play. These means include
adhesive tape, hook and loop fasteners and various other strap-like attachment
devices.
One such attachment means is disclosed in United States Patent No.
6,701,533 to Webb, issued March 9, 2004, entitled "Hockey Sock Attachment
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Device". The attachment device disclosed is affixed to a player's hockey
shorts
by hook and loop fasteners and attaches to the player's hockey socks by a
garter
clip. However, a drawback to this device is that the sock is only attached to
the
attachment device at one location and as such the sock is not supported all
the
way around the player's leg. Additionally, the device must be disconnected
from
the sock to accommodate the washing of the sock.
A further attachment means is disclosed in "Pant for a Hockey Player"
(United States Patent Application No. 12/541,525) wherein a patch of hook
fasteners is provided on the front of the hockey shorts for affixing hockey
socks
to the hockey shorts. A drawback to this device is that the sock is only
attached
to the attachment device at one location and as such the sock is not supported
all the way around the player's leg. Additionally, the device must be
disconnected from the sock to accommodate the washing of the sock.
Summary of the Invention
An object of the present invention is to provide a reusable sock support
band for attachment to sports hosiery which exerts a supportive force on the
sock
around the circumference of the player's leg and eliminates the need for use
of
tape or other attachment devices and prevents the sock from slipping during
use.
Additionally, the sock support band provides support for protective equipment
placed against the shin inside the sock during play.
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Another object of at least one embodiment of the present invention is to
provide a reusable sock support band for sports hosiery which can remain
attached thereto during the regular removal thereof and during washing of the
sock. Once fitted on the sock, the sock support band according to this
invention
does not have to be reinstalled on the sock but rather remains attached
thereto
at a desired location for subsequent use.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a sock support
band. The band is preferably a closed loop and has a first elastic attachment
portion along the perimeter and a second attachment portion along the
remaining
perimeter. The attachment portion has hook material attachment means on one
side of the band for direct attachment to the adjacent sock material.
According to
another aspect of the present invention the hook material attachment means may
be replaced with soft hook material attachment means or adhesive attachment
means. According to yet another aspect of the present invention the sock
support band is an elongated strap with conventional buckle means or hook and
loop material attachment means on the ends for attachment of one end of the
strap to the other.
Yet another object of the present invention is to use the support strap to
retain a sock in place along the leg against the shin. Typically, there will
be
padding material between the shin and the sock. The use consists of
positioning
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the support strap at the desired position against the sock and wrapping the
strap
tightly around the player's leg, so that the attachment portion faces inwardly
in
order to be secured to the sock material fabric at that location by means of
hook
material, soft hook material, or adhesive material.
Further features of the invention will be described or will become apparent
in the course of the following detailed description.
Brief Description of the Drawings
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, a
preferred embodiment thereof will now be described in detail by way of
example,
with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the sock support band in the neutral
orientation; and
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sock support band in the
engaged orientation.
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Description of Preferred Embodiments
A sock support band 1 according to the present invention is illustrated in
the figures. As shown in FIG. 1, the sock support band 1 is a closed loop
having
5 an elastic portion 3 along its perimeter and an attachment portion 2
along the
remaining perimeter. The portions may be joined by any fastening means such
as stitching 4 to create a closed loop or band.
Alternatively, the sock support band 1 may take the form of a strap having
buckle attachment means or hook and loop material attachment means to enable
the strap to be converted to a loop. In this way, the buckle or hook and loop
attachment means may also provide length adjustment for the loop. Examples of
attachment means include hook and loop attachment material known
commercially under the VeIcroTM trademark and cinch type and tri-glide type
buckles as are known in the art.
The attachment portion 2 has opposing sides and is provided with hook
material attachment means 6 on one side and a neutral backing 7 on the other
side. The hook material attachment means 6 may be secured to the neutral
backing 7 by any means known in the art. Alternatively, the hook material
attachment means 6 may be manufactured integral with the neutral backing 7.
According to another aspect of the present invention, soft hook material
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attachment means or adhesive attachment means may be used in place of hook
material attachment means 6.
The hook material attachment means 6 may be comprised of any
attachment element known in the art which can be selectively and easily
releasably attached to a hockey sock. In the preferred embodiment the
attachment element is the hook portion of a traditional hook and loop
attachment
material known commercially under the Velcro"" trade-mark. The soft hook
material attachment means is used for attachment to jersey-knit type hockey
socks to allow engagement with the finer weave of the fabric. The "soft hooks"
are less rigid as a result of being made of finer, softer material and are
individually smaller, and more densely arranged. The adhesive attachment
means may be comprised of any adhesive known in the art which can be
selectively and easily releasably attached to a jersey-knit type hockey sock.
Preferably the adhesive is the Velcro"' brand pressure sensitive adhesive,
already supplied by the manufacturer on the product.
The neutral backing 7 may be made of any material known in the art that
is suitable for securement to and support of the hook material attachment
means
6. The elastic portion 3 may be made of any material known in the art that
tends
to spring back into its original length after a deforming force is removed
such as
an elastic band. The elastic portion serves to secure the sock/pad combination
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in place against the shin and can be shortened or lengthened to accommodate
various sizes.
As illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the sock support band 1 can be
manipulated or reversed between a neutral orientation and an engaged
orientation. FIG. 1 illustrates the sock support band 1 in the neutral
orientation,
wherein the hook material attachment means 6 is facing outwardly and away
from the sock or band. FIG. 2 illustrates the sock support band 1 in the
engaged
orientation, wherein the hook material attachment means 6 is facing inward
towards the center of the band or towards the sock.
Before the initial use of the sock support band 1 the hockey player pulls
the sock up into the desired place over top of the protective pad equipment
worn
against the shin. Once the sock has been pulled into place, the player
manipulates the sock support band 1 into the neutral orientation, as shown in
FIG. 1 wherein the hook material attachment means 6 are facing outwardly and
the neutral backing 7 is facing inwardly.
In this orientation, the player pulls the sock support band 1 up to the
desired height location over the sock. Once it reaches the desired location on
the sock, the player secures the sock support band 1 in place by rotating the
sock support band 1 into the attachment orientation, wherein the hook material
attachment means 6 is facing inward and brought into contact with the sock
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material for releasable engagement. The material properties of the elastic
portion
3 allow for an increase in the perimeter of the band upon the application of a
deforming force by the player for placement into the desired position on the
leg.
In the preferred embodiment, the perimeter length of the band, in the
absence of a deforming force, is less than the perimeter length of the
sock/pad/leg combination at the location where the sock support band 1 is to
be
placed. After the manipulation and placement of the sock support band 1 is
complete, the elastic portion 3 shrinks and exerts a supportive force inwardly
on
the sock/pad combination maintaining a proper position on the player's leg.
Typically, the sock material is knitted and is therefore adapted to mate and
be engaged with the hook material attachment means 6 on the band. In cases
where the sock is made out of a jersey-knit type material, the hook material
attachment means 6 may be replaced with soft hook material attachment means
or adhesive attachment means and is used to enable the soft hook material
attachment means to mate and be engaged with the jersey-knit type sock
material or to enable the band to adhesively engage with the sock,
respectively.
The sock can be removed according to the normal and known method of
sock removal with the sock support band 1 remaining in the engaged orientation
and thereby remaining attached to the sock material. The elastic properties of
the
elastic portion 3 allow for a temporary increase in loop length to accommodate
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the removal process and allow for the band to return to its original shape
after the
sock is removed from the hockey player's leg.
The sock can then be washed according to known methods with the sock
support band 1 remaining attached to the sock. In the preferred embodiment,
the
hook material attachment means 6 are capable of withstanding the washing
process and the sock support band 1 will remain attached in the original
location
on the sock throughout the washing and drying process. In the embodiment
where adhesive attachment means are used in place of hook material
attachment means 6, the sock support band 1 may need to be removed prior to
washing in order to retain optimal adhesive properties of the adhesive
attachment means.
For the subsequent use of the sock, the sock is pulled on into the desired
position over the player's hockey equipment with the sock support band 1 in
place. In this manner the sock can be removed, washed and re-worn multiple
times without the need for the removal of the sock support band 1. The sock
support band 1 remains in the same location on the sock and provides the same
supportive force each time. The sock support band 1 is removed from the sock
by the manipulation of the sock support band 1 into the neutral orientation.
The
sock support band 1 can then be removed.
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As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the center of the attachment portion 2 may
be suitably marked with a centerline (not shown) on the mid-point of the hook
material attachment means 6. The centerline allows the player to align the
center of the hook material attachment means 6 as desired during the
installation
5 of the
sock support band 1 of the leg. In the preferred embodiment the center
line is marked by way of coloured stitching. However, any means known in the
art may be used to mark the centerline. Alternatively, the centerline may be
omitted.
10 In a
further embodiment, the attachment portion 2 and the elastic portion 3
are manufactured in a variety of lengths to allow for the assembly of sock
support
bands 1 of different sizes determined by the perimeter length of the closed
loop.
The difference between the perimeter of the band in the absence of a deforming
force, and the perimeter of the sock/pad/leg combination at the location where
the sock support band 1 is to be engaged directly affects the magnitude of the
compressive force exerted on the sock by the sock support band I. A player is
thereby able to control the magnitude of the supportive force exerted on their
sock by selecting a sock support band 1 of the desired size.
In a further embodiment, the sock support band 1 is manufactured from
coloured materials to allow for the matching of the band to the player's sock
or
uniform.
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A further embodiment of the sock support band us contemplated wherein
the sock support band 1 is generally comprised of one elongated strap portion.
In
this further embodiment, the opposing ends of the elongated strap portion are
joined together by hook and loop material attachment means to create a closed
loop. Alternatively, cinch buckle means or a tri-glide connecting device may
be
used.
Other advantages which are inherent to the band structure are obvious to
one skilled in the art. The embodiments are described herein illustratively
and are
not meant to limit the scope of the invention as claimed. Variations of the
foregoing embodiments will be evident to a person of ordinary skill and are
intended by the inventor to be encompassed by the disclosure and the appended
claims.
