Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02783849 2012-07-27
Docket: AA0541
SPORT SOCK SUPPORT BAND
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
Device". The attachment device disclosed is affixed to a player's hockey
shorts
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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 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 support band is an elongated strap
with conventional buckle 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 band 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 pulling
the
support band with the attachment portion facing outwardly over the sock and
then rotating the band 180 degrees so that the attachment portion faces
inwardly
in order to be secured to the sock material fabric at that location by means
of the
hook material.
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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 neutral orientation
for placement over a sport sock, and;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the sock support band in engaged
orientation for releasable attachment to a sport sock.
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 and
has an elastic portion 3 along the perimeter and an attachment portion 2 along
the remaining perimeter. The portions may be joined at their ends by any
fastening means such as stitching 4 to create a closed loop or band.
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Alternatively, the sock support band may take the form of a strap having
buckle attachment means to enable the strap to be converted to a loop. In this
way, the buckle provides length adjustment for the loop. Examples of
attachment
means include cinch buckle type and tri-glide buckle type as is known in the
art.
5
The attachment portion 2 has opposing sides and is provided with sock
hook material attachment means on one side 6 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.
The hook material attachment means 6 may be comprised of any
attachment means known in the art which can be selectively and easily
releasably attached to a hockey sock. In the preferred embodiment the
attachment element 6 is the male hook portion of a traditional hook and loop
attachment material known commercially under the VelcroTM trademark.
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
in place against the shin and can be shortened or lengthened to accommodate
various sizes.
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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 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 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 are facing outwardly and the
neutral backing is facing inward.
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 I into the attachment orientation, wherein the hook material
attachment means is facing inward and brought into contact with the sock
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.
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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 I 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 attachment hook attachment means on the band. In the
cases where the sock is made out of a jersey type material, the sock itself
may
have to be adapted with a strip of loop material to enable the band hook
attachment means to mate and be attached thereto.
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 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 are capable of withstanding the washing
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process and the strap will remain attached in the original location on the
sock
throughout the washing and drying process.
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 I 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 I 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.
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 hook
material
attachment means 6. The centerline allows for the player to align the center
of
the hook material attachment means 6 as desired during the installation of the
sock support band 1 of the leg. In the preferred embodiment the center line is
marked by way of coloured sticking. However, any means known in the art may
be used to mark the centerline.
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
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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 1. A player is
thereby able to control the magnitude of the supportive force exerted on their
sock by selecting a sock support band I of desired size.
In a further embodiment, the sock support band 1 is manufactured from
coloured materials to allow for the matching of the strap to the player's sock
or
uniform.
In a further embodiment, the hook material attachments means 6 may be
manufactured from any material known in the art that springs back into a
predetermined shape after a deforming force is removed.
A further embodiment of the sock support band I is contemplated wherein
the sock support band 1 is generally comprised of only one elongated strap
portion. In this further embodiment the opposing ends of the single elongated
strap portion are joined together by cinch buckle means to create a closed
loop.
Alternatively, 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
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foregoing embodiments will be evident to a person of ordinary skill and are
intended by the inventor to be encompassed by the disclosure.
