Abstract:
A sock for use with an athletic protector comprises a leg section formed from a first substantially elastic material and a pocket comprising a second substantially elastic material coupled to an inside front portion of the leg section.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention generally relates to socks for athletic wear and more particularly to an athletic sock to accommodate a protective device for the user to guard against injury or protect from aggravation of preexisting injuries.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     With the growing numbers of adults and children participating in athletic contests such as soccer, basketball, baseball and other sports, it has become increasingly significant that injuries be prevented and/or at least minimized as possible. Soccer players, for example, are frequently struck along the shin areas of their legs during play which can result in cuts, bruises or even broken bones. To prevent such injuries, shin guards have been in use many years formed from rigid materials such as plastic or metal which are attached by the use of straps and other means to hold the guards in place on the players&#39; legs during the rigors of the game.  
         [0003]     One conventional approach is to utilize two pairs of socks such that one pair of socks is placed directly on the user&#39;s leg under the pads and the other pair over the pads. This approach has proven, however, to be quite unsatisfactory. Specifically, this technique necessitates the wearing of soccer shoes which are oversized in order to accommodate the added thickness due to the wearing of a second athletic sock over the foot area. Also, flexibility of the ankle which is required for playing soccer is substantially reduced.  
         [0004]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,126 is directed to a sock used for playing soccer which accommodates a shin guard. U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,791 is directed to a sock having a exterior compartments for containing articles and a cuff which folds over for locking purposes. U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,817 illustrates a sock having an extended leg portion which is folded over a shin guard. Each of these prior art approaches have deficiencies, however, that the present invention overcomes. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,699,126 utilizes two layers of material overlying the user&#39;s leg. This approach adds weight to the user&#39;s leg as well as increasing the level of constriction felt by the user. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,581,817 utilizes one layer of material which is doubled over causing the same negative results referred to above with respect to the &#39;126 patent.  
         [0005]     There is a need for an athletic sock that accommodates a protective device that does not constrict the user&#39;s leg nor impede movement at the ankle.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     To solve the aforementioned disadvantages of conventional bonding tools, the present invention relates to sock for use with an athletic protector, such as a shin guard. The athletic sock comprises a leg section formed from a first substantially elastic material and a pocket comprising a second substantially elastic material coupled to an inside front portion of the leg section.  
         [0007]     According to another aspect of the present invention, an inside upper portion of the pocket is free from attachment to the inside portion of the sock such that the athletic protector may be disposed within the pocket from the upper portion of the pocket.  
         [0008]     According to a further aspect of the present invention, the pocket further comprises means for maintaining the athletic protector within the pocket.  
         [0009]     According to still another aspect of the present invention, the pocket is comprised of a single sheet of material.  
         [0010]     According to a yet a further aspect of the present invention, the pocket is formed from a tubular material positioned substantially flat against only a portion of the inner portion of the leg section. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing. It is emphasized that, according to common practice, the various features of the drawing are not to scale. On the contrary, the dimensions of the various features are arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. Included in the drawing are the following Figures:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  with the sock turned inside out;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 ; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  is a sectional side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. As shown in  FIG. 1 , athletic sock  100  has a leg section  102 , ankle section  104  foot section  110  and cuff section  108 . In one exemplary embodiment, athletic sock  100  may also include a heel portion (not shown) disposed between foot section  110  and ankle section  104 . Athletic sock  100  may be formed from a variety of conventional materials, such as cotton for example, with or without elastic components. Material  106  is coupled to the inside of front portion  112  of leg section  102  to form a pocket  114  at the inside of front portion  112 . Material  106  may be a cotton based material or a resilient material such as Lycra® for example. Material  106  may be a single sheet of material or may be a section of tubular material folded against the inside of front portion  112 . In either case, the edges of material  106  are sewn or otherwise attached to front portion  112  based on the size of the guard to be inserted into pocket  114 . As referred to herein, front portion  112  may comprise a portion of the side sections of leg portion  102 .  
         [0017]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , sock  100  is shown turned inside-out to better illustrate the forming of pocket  114 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , material  106  is attached to the inside front section of leg section  102  along all sides of material  106  except at the top portion. In this way a shin guard  120  (shown in  FIG. 4 ) may be easily inserted into pocket  114  from the top of the sock. As also shown in  FIG. 2 , pocket  114  is preferably positioned above ankle portion  104  to minimize interference with the user&#39;s movement during play. Pocket  114  is also preferably positioned below cuff portion  108 .  
         [0018]     Pocket  114  may also include a closure  115  to maintain the shin guard in position during play. It is contemplated that closure  115  may be an elasticized portion of material  106  or may be a combination of hook and loop material, for example.  
         [0019]      FIG. 3  is a top perspective view of athletic sock  100  further illustrating the formation of pocket  114  at the front inside portion of sock  100 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 4  illustrates a sectional side view of sock  100 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , pocket  114  is formed either by section  112  and a single layer of material  106 . As discussed above, if material  106  is a tubular material, it may be folded against the inside of front portion  112  and attached thereto to form pocket  114  between opposing walls of material  106 . Shin guard  120  is easily inserted into sock  100  either prior to or after sock  100  is placed on the user&#39;s leg. During breaks in play the user may also easily remove shin guard  120  from the inside pocket  114 , by simply reaching into the top to sock  100 , and reinsert shin guard  120  when play resumes. It is also notable that shin guard does not directly contact the user&#39;s leg thus minimizing the prevalence of perspiration that typically occurs when a shin guard is place directly against the skin. This has the added benefit of reducing sweat on the shin guard thereby increasing the level of hygiene in that socks are readily laundered, while shin guards are not.  
         [0021]     While preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown and described herein, it will be understood that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes and substitutions will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the appended claims cover all such variations as fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.