Thermal sock having a toe heating pocket

A thermal sock includes on the top part of the toe portion of the sock a pocket for receiving a chemical heating pouch, thereby to effect warming of the toes of a user. A pocket is defined by a fabric layer that is secured to the sock by a generally U-shaped line of stitching. A closure arrangement, such as a cooperating pair of Velcro strips, a button, a snap fastener device or the like, may be provided for closing the flap defined on the fabric layer at the open end of the pocket.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
A thermal sock for hunting, skiing, or stadium use, or the like is provided 
having a pocket on the sock toe portion for receiving a chemical heating 
pouch, thereby to heat the user's toes. 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
As indicated by the advertisement of Visa-Therm Products that appeared on 
Page 222 of the August 1966 issue of The Sporting Goods Dealer, it has 
been proposed to provide wool/nylon socks that are electrically heated by 
a D-cell battery associated with each sock. When rechargeable batteries 
are used, heat may be provided for up to five hours. 
In the Barry et al U.S. Pat. No. 5,038,779, it has been proposed to provide 
a therapeutic garment, such as a vest or the like, for applying cold or 
heat to a desired localized portion of the user's body, specifically, the 
user's back. A pocket is formed for receiving a thermal control packet 
that is cooled to a given temperature in a freezer, or is heated in a 
microwave oven if heat therapy is desired. The position of the pocket is 
adjustable on the user's back, thereby to permit the application of 
therapy to the specific portion of the lower back that is in pain. 
Finally, as shown by the patent to Williger U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,235, it is 
known to provide a compartment in the ribbed calf portion of a sock, 
thereby to permit the user to carry a key, coins or the like, which pocket 
is provided with closure means such as a zipper, button, Velcro fastener 
or the like. 
The present invention was developed to provide an improved thermal sock 
construction for warming the toes of the user by means of a chemical 
heating pouch inserted into a pocket formed on the top of the toe portion 
of the sock. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a 
thermal sock including on the top part of the sock toe portion a pocket 
for receiving a chemical heating pouch, thereby to warm the toes of the 
user. 
According to a more specific object of the invention, the pocket is defined 
on the upper part of the sock toe portion by means of a fabric layer that 
is stitched or adhesively secured to the sock by a generally U-shaped line 
of attachment. The stitching or other line of attachment extends solely 
between the upper surface of the toe top part and the fabric layer, 
thereby to isolate the line of attachment from the toes of the user, 
whereby rubbing and blistering of the toes by the stitching is avoided. 
A further object of the invention is to provide closure means for closing 
the fabric flap portion that defines the pocket opening. In the preferred 
embodiment, the pocket closure means includes a pair of cooperating Velcro 
strips, although other types of closure means, such as a button 
arrangement, a zipper or a snap fastener, could be used as well. 
Another object of the invention is to provide a thermal sock including an 
elastic ribbed portion for engagement with the calf of the user, whereby 
the sock is positively oriented on the user's foot with the pocket 
adjacent the upper surface of the user's toes. In one embodiment, the 
access opening to the pocket extends normal to the longitudinal axis of 
the sock, while in another embodiment, the pocket access opening extends 
parallel with the sock longitudinal axis. 
The thermal sock is a garment designed solely for the purpose of foot 
warming. The pouch, which is sewn on the top of the toe portion of the 
sock may be formed of the same fabric as the actual sock and therefore 
will not cause the wearer any discomfort. Most of the sock owners will be 
wearing a boot of some sort which also allows for more room in the toe 
area. 
The pouch is arranged on the top of the sock namely for comfort. Another 
benefit of having the pouch and warmer on the top is that as the foot 
perspires, the moisture does not effect the heating capability of the 
warmer. The opening to the pouch may be provided at any edge, as desired. 
The sock is suitable for use by adults or children. For use as a hunting 
sock, the fabric would normally include a wool and polypropylene blend, 
and would be worn with hunting boots. For use as a ski sock, an 
Orlon-wool-nylon blend sock would be worn when used as a stadium spectator 
sock, and a cotton blend sock would be suitable for use as a utility sock 
by outdoor laborers, farmers and cold weather workers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
Referring first more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the thermal sock 2 of 
the present invention is formed of a relatively thick knitted fabric 
material--such as wool, a synthetic fiber/wool or cotton-polypropylene 
blend, or the like--as normally used in hiking and skiing socks. The sock 
includes a toe portion 2a, a heel portion 2b, a sole portion 2c, an ankle 
portion 2d, and an elastic ribbed calf portion 2e. In accordance with a 
characterizing feature of the invention, a fabric layer 4 is secured to 
the top part 2a' of the sock toe portion 2a by a generally U-shaped (but 
not limited to) line of stitching 6 to define a pocket 8 for receiving a 
conventional oxygen-activated chemical heating pouch 10, as shown in FIG. 
5. One example of a commercially available heating pouch is the MEDIHEAT 
product produced by Heatmax, Inc. of Dalton, Ga., having a porous cover 
layer 12 containing an oxygen-activated mixture 14 including activated 
charcoal, iron powder, saltwater and wood fibers. This heating pouch 
normally has an operating life of about 6 hours. As shown in FIG. 3, the 
bottom part 2a" of the toe portion of the sock merges with the sole 
portion 2c. 
The pocket-defining fabric layer 4 (formed, for example, from 100% 
polyester) is stitched solely to the upper extremity of the top part 2a' 
of the sock toe portion 2a by a generally U-shaped but not limited to) 
line of stitching 6 having a pair of parallel side portions 6a, 6b and a 
transverse bottom portion 6c, thereby to define the pocket 8. As shown in 
FIGS. 3 and 5, no portion of the stitching 6 extends completely through 
the upper part of the toe portions of the sock, thereby to isolate the 
inner surface of the sock from the stitching and thus avoid rubbing and 
blistering of the user's toes. The U-shaped line of stitching 6 defines an 
unstitched flap portion 4a which forms an opening through which the 
heating pouch 10 is inserted into the pocket 8. If desired, a pair of 
cooperating Velcro (i.e., hook and loop fastener) strips 16a and 16b may 
be fastened to the fabric layer 4 and the top part 2a' of the sock toe 
portion 2a, respectively, thereby to provide means for closing the pocket. 
Alteratively, button, snap or other closure means may be provided. Of 
course, in certain cases the provision of pocket closure means may be 
completely avoided, the dimensions of the pocket being sufficient to 
retain the heating pouch in place. 
In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5, the stitching bottom portion 6c is arranged 
adjacent the forward extremity of the toe portion of the sock, and the 
pocket flap portion 4a extends transversely across the upper surface of 
the toe portion of the sock. In the embodiment of FIG. 6, the pocket 
fabric layer 24 is rotated through 90.degree. relative to the sock, so 
that the bottom portion 26c of the U-shaped stitching and the open flap 
portion 24a extend in the direction expending between the heel and toe 
portions of the sock. 
In operation, either before or after the user applies a sock upon his foot, 
the pocket flap 4a is opened and the heating pouch is inserted within the 
pocket 8, thereby to heat the user's toes for a period of from about 6 to 
8 hours. The user then in a normal manner introduces his or her foot into 
the associated boot or shoe S (FIG. 5), whereby the user's toes will be 
heated for the operating life of the pouch. Of course, if the user wishes 
to discontinue the heating operation at any time, he merely removes his 
foot from 
the shoe or boot, and opens the flap 4a, whereupon the pouch 10 is slipped 
out of the pocket. If the pocket is provided with the Velcro closure 
means, the components 16a and 16b are merely manually separated to open 
the flap 4a, and are subsequently automatically re-fastened together when 
the pocket is closed. The ribbed portion 2e of the sock serves to properly 
orient the sock on the user's foot with the pocket 8 above the user's 
toes. 
While the line of attachment has been illustrated and described as being 
generally U-shaped, it is apparent that other configurations for defining 
a pocket are equally possible. Moreover, instead of a line of stitching, 
the line of attachment could be an adhesive attachment as well. The pouch 
could be arranged with its opening extending in any direction, as desired. 
While in accordance with the provisions of the Patent Statutes the 
preferred forms and embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and 
described, it will be apparent that the various changes may be made 
without deviating from the inventive concepts set forth above.