Abstract:
The shin covering athletic apparel of the current invention is a sock, or tube of sock material, made of an elastic or stretchy material that forms to the leg, with a top cuff, where the top cuff is a band that keeps the sock from sliding down the leg of the user, that is used to secure athletic equipment to the leg of a user. Below the top cuff is a slit in the sock that that is closed preferably by means of a zipper. The slit is preferably slightly smaller than the length of a standard shin guard. In one embodiment, there is another band below the slit intended to help hold the shin guard in place. In another embodiment, there is a pouch on the inside of the sock where the bottom of the shin guard can rest.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a non-provisional application of U.S. Patent Application No. 61/349,826 filed on May 29, 2010, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    This invention was not federally sponsored. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of Invention 
       [0003]    This invention relates to the general field of apparel, and more specifically toward shin covering athletic apparel. In one preferred embodiment, the shin covering athletic apparel of the current invention is a sock, or tube of sock material, made of an elastic or stretchy material that forms to the leg with a top cuff, where the top cuff is a band that keeps the sock from sliding down the leg of the user, and is used to secure athletic equipment to the leg of a user. Below or beginning with the top cuff is a slit in the sock that can be closed with several means of closure, including without limitation hook and loop fasteners, snaps, zippers, laces, and magnets. The slit is preferably slightly smaller than the length of a standard shin guard. In one embodiment, there is another band below the slit intended to help hold the shin guard in place. In another embodiment, there is a pouch on the inside of the sock where the bottom of the shin guard can rest. 
         [0004]    The sock is normally used by sliding a leg, to which a shin guard has been attached, through the top cuff. Because of the extra circumference made possible by the slit, the sock is easily pulled over the leg and shin guard. Once the foot is securely in the lower portion of the sock, the slit can be closed to secure the shin guard on the leg. An alternative method includes pulling the sock over the foot and leg until the foot is securely positioned in the lower portion of the sock. The slit can then be opened to allow for extra room between the shin and sock. A shin guard is then inserted directly into the opening and positioned along the shin after which the slit can be closed. 
         [0005]    Additional security for the shin guard is accomplished by folding the top cuff back down around the slit, thereby adding a circumferential pressure on the shin guard and that portion of the leg to which the shin guard is attached. The lower band (placed below the shin guard near the ankle), or alternately a small inner pouch, may provide additional support to keep the shin guard from slipping down the shin. 
         [0006]    The use of shin guards is well known in the athletic industry, particularly in the sport of soccer. With very little to protect the sensitive shins from being kicked during a soccer game, it could be said that shin guards are the single most important thing that keeps soccer games from being constantly halted because of injuries on the field. The need for shin guards is particularly strong with children&#39;s soccer, as a broken leg can be considerably more dangerous to a developing child than to an adult whose legs have already attained their maximum length. Trying to minimizing injury to children playing a sport such as soccer is extremely important to not only keeping the children enjoying their exercise, but also to retain the enthusiasm and financial support of parents who are less likely to support youth soccer if injuries are a constant factor. 
         [0007]    According to one study at Washington State University, between 50 and 80 percent of all injuries in soccer relate to the feet and legs. A number of studies published in medical journals extol the virtues of using shin guards to protect against tibia fracture and serious bruising. Thus, enhancing the ease with which a player, particularly a young player, uses shin guards is highly desirable for both the participant and the sport in general. 
         [0008]    The main problem facing today&#39;s soccer player is that shin guards are notoriously difficult to attach to the leg such that they remain in the proper position and orientation while being covered by a sock. This is especially true for youth soccer players, many of who do not yet have adequate manual dexterity to effectively attach and adjust shin guards. One method used to counter the shin guard from slipping is to wear form-fitting socks that help to hold it in place. However, these socks can be very difficult to pull up the leg and over the shin guard, particularly for younger players. Additionally, the pulling and tugging of the sock over the shin guard often results in the shin guard being moved from its original placement on the leg. Thus, once the sock is pulled up the leg, the user often has to adjust the shin guard to put it in the correct placement. 
         [0009]    Further, many athletes wear two pairs of socks. The first pair is pulled over the foot and leg before the shin guard is secured to the leg. Since soccer rules require that the shin guard be covered, athletes don a second pair of socks that cover the first pair as well as the shin guards. This second pair of socks adds unwanted bulk to the athlete. It may change the size of the shoes the athlete wears as well as unnecessarily trap heat produced by the athlete&#39;s feet and legs. 
         [0010]    The prior art has several examples of attempts to resolve this problem. Some shin guards come with elastic straps that encircle the back of the leg and can be adjusted to tighten the shin guard on the player. Some socks have an external pouch that covers the shin guard outside of the sock and holds the shin guard to the leg. Other prior art methods teach wearing loose socks, however these socks do not hold a shin guard sufficiently in place. 
         [0011]    Thus there has existed a long-felt need for shin covering athletic apparel that secures athletic equipment in place while being easy to put on and comfortable to wear. Adding unnecessary bulk to the athlete should be avoided while providing a means of properly securing a shin guard in place to a leg of an athlete. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    The current invention provides just such a solution by having a sock, or tube of material, made of an elastic or stretchy material, with a top cuff, where the top cuff is a band that helps to keep the sock from sliding down the leg of the user, that is used to secure athletic equipment to the leg of a user. Below the top cuff is a slit in the sock that can be closed with several means of closure, including without limitation hook and loop fasteners, snaps, zippers, laces, and magnets. The sock is normally used by sliding a leg, to which a shin guard has been attached, through the top cuff. Because of the extra circumference made possible by the slit, the sock is easily pulled over the leg and shin guard. Once the foot is securely in the lower portion of the sock, the slit can be closed to secure the shin guard on the leg. 
         [0013]    An alternative embodiment includes pulling the sock over the foot and leg until the foot is securely in the lower portion of the sock. The slit can then be opened to allow for extra room between the shin and sock. A shin guard is then inserted directly into the opening and positioned along the shin after which the slit is closed. Additional security for the shin guard is accomplished by folding the top cuff back down around the slit, thereby adding a circumferential pressure on the shin guard and that portion of the leg to which the shin guard is attached. An additional embodiment may include a small pouch on the inside of the sock near the bottom of the slit to hold the bottom of the shin guard and keep it in place. 
         [0014]    It is a principal object of the invention to provide an article of apparel that easily secures over athletic equipment worn over the shin of a user. 
         [0015]    It is another object of the invention to provide an article of apparel that is comfortable to wear. 
         [0016]    It is a final object of this invention to provide an article of apparel that aids users in complying with the rules of their sport. 
         [0017]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. The features listed herein and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following description and appended claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0018]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  is a side view of a shin covering athletic apparel according to selected embodiments of the current invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the shin covering athletic apparel uncuffed according to selected embodiments of the current invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the shin covering athletic apparel uncuffed and unzipped according to selected embodiments of the current invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the shin covering athletic apparel uncuffed and partially zipped, with no foot portion, according to selected embodiments of the current invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with the references made to the drawings below. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed upon clearly illustrating the components of the present invention. Moreover, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts through the several views in the drawings. 
         [0024]      FIG. 1  is a side view of an embodiment of a shin covering athletic apparel according to the current invention. According to this embodiment of the invention, the shin covering athletic apparel is a sock  10  that includes a foot portion  20  and a shin portion  30 . The shin portion  30  includes a slit  35  that is secured together by means of a zipper  36 . The zipper may be made from various materials, including transparent or translucent plastic. At the top of the shin portion  30  is a cuff portion  40 , which in this figure is shown in a cuffed configuration. The cuff portion  40  may include one or more bands located therein, where the bands are loops of elastic material. The sock  10  is worn over the leg  90  of a user. 
         [0025]    The slit  35  extends from the bottom of the cuff portion  40  down the side of the shin portion  30  to the top of the foot portion, where the top of the heel would be of the user. The slit allows the internal diameter of the shin covering athletic apparel to expand, thereby making it easier for users to don and remove the article of apparel, especially over shin guards worn by the user. 
         [0026]    The shin covering athletic apparel according to the current invention preferably is made from an elastic material. The use of an elastic material helps to secure the shin guard in place on the leg by applying a compressive force when pulled up the leg. Furthermore, the use of bands on the article of apparel provides additional support that keeps the apparel in place and the shin guard from slipping down the leg. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the shin covering athletic apparel uncuffed. According to this embodiment of the invention, the shin covering athletic apparel is a sock  10  that includes a foot portion  20  and a shin portion  30 . The shin portion  30  includes a slit  35  that is secured together by means of a zipper  36 . At the top of the shin portion  30  is a cuff portion  40 , which in this figure is shown in an uncuffed configuration. From this view, a flap  39  is visible. A flap  39  at the top of the zipper is used to cover the zipper pull-tab (shown in  FIG. 3 ) from view when the zipper  36  is engaged and the slit  35  is closed. The sock  10  is worn over the leg  90  of a user. A flap  39  at the top of the zipper is used to cover the zipper from view when the zipper is engaged. 
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is a side view of the shin covering athletic apparel uncuffed and unzipped. According to this embodiment of the invention, the shin covering athletic apparel is a sock  10  that includes a foot portion  20  and a shin portion  30 . The shin portion  30  includes a slit  35  that is secured together by means of a zipper  36 . In this view, the zipper  36  is unzipped, whereby the pull-tab  37  of the zipper  36  has been used to open the slit  35 . The flap  37  at the top of the zipper is not secured. At the top of the shin portion  30  is a cuff portion  40 , which in this figure is shown in an uncuffed configuration. Uncuffing the cuff portion  40  allows for access to the tab  37  of the zipper  36  when the slit  35  is secured together. A zipper guard  31  covers the zipper  36  on the inside of the article of apparel. The zipper guard  31  protects the user from coming in direct contact with the zipper  36 . At the same time, however, the user may still gain access through the slit when needed. The sock  10  is worn over the leg  90  of a user. 
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the shin covering athletic apparel uncuffed and partially zipped, with no foot portion, shown inside-out, according to selected embodiments of the current invention. According to this embodiment of the invention, the shin covering athletic apparel is a tube of sock material  11  that includes a shin portion  30  and a cuff portion  40 . A zipper guard  31  covers the zipper  36  on the inside of the article of apparel. The zipper guard  31  protects the user from coming in direct contact with the zipper  36 . At the same time, however, the user may still gain access through the slit when needed. 
         [0030]    The shin covering athletic apparel according to the current invention can be worn over athletic equipment, such as shin guards, secured to the shin of a user. First, the user secures a shin guard to his or her leg. Then, the user takes the article of apparel disclosed herein and opens the slit, preferably by unzipping a zipper. Because of the open slit, the internal diameter of the shin portion of the apparel is larger than if the slit is closed. With this extra room, the user easily slides his or her foot through the cuff portion of the apparel, through the shin portion, and into the foot portion, even while wearing a shin guard. Then, the user simply closes the slit, preferably by zipping up a zipper. The user may also close a protective flap over the tab of the zipper. Finally, the user can fold the cuff portion over on itself. This not only provides additional friction from circumferential pressure around the upper calf of the user&#39;s leg to keep the shin covering athletic apparel in place, but also hides the tab of the zipper. The user may remove the apparel by performing the preceding steps in reverse. 
         [0031]    An alternative method of donning the apparel is to pull the device over the leg and securely onto the foot. The user then opens the slit, preferably by unzipping a zipper. Because of the open slit, the internal diameter of the shin portion of the device is larger than if the slit were closed. With this extra room, the user easily slides the shin guard into the opening and positions it at the desired location along the shin. The user then closes the slit by zipping up the zipper. Such an article of apparel and method related thereto enables a user to easily position a shin guard on the user&#39;s shin and keep it in place. 
         [0032]    The shin covering athletic apparel may also include a small pouch therein, near the bottom of the slit. A user inserts the bottom of the shin guard into the pocket when donning the apparel. This provides additional support for keeping the shin guard in the desired position. 
         [0033]    In an alternative embodiment of the current invention, the apparel does not include a foot portion. Instead, the shin covering athletic apparel has a bottom cuff portion made from an elastic material. The bottom cuff portion, similar to that of the cuff portion  40  may include one or more bands located therein, where the bands are loops of elastic material. The bottom cuff portion is located around the ankle when worn by the user. In this manner, the apparel is worn with a shin guard and sock. For example, the user may first don a sock over his or her leg. Then, the user places a shin guard over the sock. Rather than placing another sock over the first sock and shin guard, the user can take the article of apparel according to the current invention, with the slit open, and pull his or her foot through the apparel and over the shin guard. By closing the slit, the device is secured over the shin guard and leg of the user. Thus, the user can wear a sock underneath the shin guard for comfort while still covering and securing the shin guard to his or her leg. 
         [0034]    The slit is preferably closed and secured together by means of a zipper; however, other means of securing the slit in a closed position are contemplated. For example, hook and loop fasteners, otherwise known as Velcro®, can be used. Alternatively, a plurality of snaps is used to secure the two sides of the slits together. In a similar fashion, magnets or laces can be used to close the slit. The zipper is preferably composed of a transparent or translucent plastic to reduce the visibility of the zipper and create a more aesthetically appealing article of apparel. 
         [0035]    While the embodiments described herein disclose an item of apparel worn around the shin of a user, it is nonetheless possible to use such a device around another appendage. For example, it may be desirable to secure an item of athletic equipment to the arm of a user. The shin covering athletic apparel according to the current invention can be used in such a fashion, whereby the size and shape of the device is modified to cover and secure an item of athletic equipment to an arm. 
         [0036]    It should be understood that while the preferred embodiments of the invention are described in some detail herein, the present disclosure is made by way of example only and that variations and changes thereto are possible without departing from the subject matter coming within the scope of the following claims, and a reasonable equivalency thereof, which claims I regard as my invention. 
         [0037]    All of the material in this patent document is subject to copyright protection under the copyright laws of the United States and other countries. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in official governmental records but, otherwise, all other copyright rights whatsoever are reserved.