Abstract:
A dual sleeved sock is provided as a sock having two cuffs. One cuff remains on the wearer&#39;s leg in a normal fashion, while the other cuff folds down over the wearer&#39;s boots.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    The present invention was first described in Disclosure Document No. 478,625 filed on Aug. 18, 2000. There are no previously filed, nor currently any co-pending applications, anywhere in the world.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates generally to hosiery and, more particularly, to a dual sleeved sock and method of manufacturing the same.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0005]    Hunters, outdoorsmen, construction workers and others that either work or partake in activities in the outdoors know all too well of the burdens associated with performing these activities. Any task that needs to be accomplished is made more difficult by the environmental conditions one is working under. Minor annoyances become general aggravations. One of these minor annoyances, usually greeting those who wear boots, are socks that do not do their job. First, socks often fall down into the wearer&#39;s boots. The friction and motion of the leg and ankle cause the boot to pull the sock down until it is wrapped around one&#39;s ankles. This allows the boot to rub directly against the leg in addition to exposing the leg directly to cold air should it occur in cold weather. The boot wearer must stop their other task to pull the socks back up, which will fall down again in a vicious cycle. Also, foreign objects such as small rocks, dirt, insects, ticks and the like can fall inside the boot creating additional discomfort. Finally, the laces on the boots can be easily snagged by twigs or other objects causing the laces to become untied, thus creating a tripping hazard.  
           [0006]    Accordingly, there is a need for a means by which one can wear boots and socks with none of the disadvantages as described above. The development of the dual sleeved sock fulfills this need.  
           [0007]    A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related. The following patents disclose the ornamental design for a shoe collar: U.S. Pat. No. D 412,614 issued in the name of Lavertue et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. D 386,000 issued in the name of Cretinon.  
           [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,018,892 issued in the name of Acheson et al. describes an internal collar device for an article of footwear.  
           [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,943,793 issued in the name of Elements discloses a shoe or boot with an adjustable ankle collar. U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,910 issued in the name of Graichen describes a non-slip knitted lace fabric and method of manufacturing same.  
           [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,867,838 issued in the name of Corry discloses a sock for use with open toe sandal type footwear.  
           [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,013 issued in the name of Krack describes an easy-on sock with an extension flap.  
           [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,417,091 issued in the name of Moser discloses a reverse pattern turn cuff sock.  
           [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,513,589 issued in the name of Kearns describes a sock with simulated lace edge and method.  
           [0014]    Consequently, a need has been felt for providing a device which compensates for the many inherent disadvantages of the conventional sock and boot combination in a manner which is quick, easy and efficient.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0015]    Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide socks for boots which utilizes both an inner and outer cuff.  
           [0016]    It is another object of the present invention to provide socks for boots which are available in multiple sizes.  
           [0017]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide socks for boots which work with all types of boots.  
           [0018]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide socks for boots which keep feet and legs warm and comfortable.  
           [0019]    It is another object of the present invention to provide socks for boots which can be worn all day long.  
           [0020]    It is another object of the present invention to provide socks for boots which are also available in multiple styles to suit different height boots such as ankle high and mid-calf.  
           [0021]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an inner cuff which is held against the wearer&#39;s leg.  
           [0022]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an inner cuff which operates in an identical manner to conventional socks.  
           [0023]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an inner cuff which keeps dirt, rocks, ticks, insects and the like off of one&#39;s legs.  
           [0024]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an outer cuff which folds down over the top of the boot and boot laces.  
           [0025]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an outer cuff which keeps dirt, rocks, ticks, insects and the like out of one&#39;s boots  
           [0026]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an outer cuff which prevents laces from becoming untied and prevents a possible tripping hazard, thereby being safer.  
           [0027]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an outer cuff which keeps socks from falling down.  
           [0028]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a dual sleeved sock which is perfect for hunters, hikers, campers and the like.  
           [0029]    Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present invention, a dual sleeved sock and method of manufacturing the same is provided which is a pair of socks having two cuffs. One cuff remains on the wearer&#39;s leg in a normal fashion, while the other cuff folds down over the wearer&#39;s boots. This arrangement has several advantages. First, the socks stay up better and are less prone to slide down the wearer&#39;s legs through the course of a day, since the outer cuff is held in place by the boot. Second, foreign objects such as rocks, dirt, ticks and the like cannot enter the wearer&#39;s boot or sock area since they are held in close physical contact by one another. Finally, the laces on the wearer&#39;s boots are less likely to become untied since the sock covers them and prohibits them from unfastening and becoming unsafe.  
           [0030]    The use of the dual sleeved sock compensates for the many inherent disadvantages of the conventional sock and boot combination in a manner which is quick, easy and efficient. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0031]    The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dual sleeved sock according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view thereof shown in use; and  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary diagrammatic view showing the stitch link pattern of a small area of the cuff and the manner in which it is joined to the elongated centerline of the leg-covering portion according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0035]    1. Detailed Description of the Figures  
         [0036]    Referring now to FIGS.  1 - 3 , a dual sleeved sock  10  is shown, according to the present invention, comprised of an inner cuff  15  and a foldable outer cuff  40 .  
         [0037]    The dual sleeved sock  10 , hereinafter referred to as sock  1   0 , is knitted of a cotton material in any of many knit stitch constructions known to one skilled in the hosiery art. It is envisioned that the present invention may also be knitted of a wool material so as to provide a user with a warmer sock  10  as may be required in colder environments.  
         [0038]    The inner cuff  15  is defined as having an inner portion  16  of which remains next to a user&#39;s skin when worn by the user, and an opposing outer portion  17 . The inner and outer portions  16 ,  17  comprise a foot-covering portion  20  which includes a toe portion  22  and a heel portion  24 . The inner and outer portions  16 ,  17  further comprise a leg-covering portion  30  which includes the foldable, outer cuff  40  formed integrally therewith along a linearly elongated centerline thereof. It is envisioned that the cuff  40  may be fabricated as a separate loop which could be sewn on at a later time. The cuff  40  is designed and configured so as to fold downward in a direction away from the leg-covering portion  30  to the heel portion  24 , in such a manner whereby the cuff  40  folds over a top portion of a boot  25  so as to effectively cover upper boot laces.  
         [0039]    The cuff  40  includes a selvage makeup  42  formed preferably of several rounds of elastic yarn  43 , and a group of courses of suitable knit stitch link patterns positioned adjacent for fabricating the cuff  40 . The resulting functionality of the cuff  40  serves to prevent the entry of dirt, rocks, ticks, insects, and other small objects from entering the user&#39;s boots  25 . The cuff  40  also serves as a covering shield for preventing boot laces  26  from becoming untied. Exposed boot laces  26  are more susceptible to being snagged by twigs or other objects causing the laces to become untied, thus creating a tripping hazard. The cuff  40  serves as an effective covering shield against such lace snagging objects for preventing not only the laces  26  from becoming untied, but also aiding in preventing a tripping injury occurring therefrom.  
         [0040]    The cuff  40  further serves to prevent the sock  10  from sliding down the user&#39;s leg and into the boot  25  through the course of the day. Typically, friction and motion of a leg and ankle when walking cause the boot  25  to pull the sock  10  down. Being folded over the top portion of the boot, the cuff  40  is frictionally held thereto via the selvage makeup  42 , thus the cuff  40  aids in making the sock  10  less apt to sliding down the user&#39;s leg and into the boot.  
         [0041]    It is envisioned that the sock  10  would be available in multiple styles and sizes to suit boots of different heights including but not limited to ankle high and mid-calf.  
         [0042]    2. Detailed Description of Method of Knitting  
         [0043]    The sock  10  of the present invention is knit on a circular hosiery knitting machine which has a single set of needles The selvage makeup  42  is formed by interlacing the rounds of yarn  43  in alternate needles for forming an initial knit stitch link pattern. Preferably a single round of yarn  44  is then knitted on all needles so as to form a desired remaining group of courses of suitable knit stitch link patterns making up the cuff  40 . A desired number of courses of suitable knit stitch link patterns are knitted so as to form the desired length of the leg-covering portion  30  and the foot-covering portion  20  by feeding the yarn  44  to all needles so that an identical suitable knit stitch link pattern is formed.  
         [0044]    Upon completion of the knitting of a final course of the inner portion  16 , the leg-covering portion  30  and the foot-covering portion  20  are knitted by feeding yarn  44  to all needles so that the identical suitable knit stitch link pattern are formed, thereby automatically integrally knitting the cuff  40  to the linearly elongated centerline of the leg-covering portion  30 . The foot-covering portion  20  is then knitted utilizing the identical suitable knit stitch link pattern heretofore utilized. An opening at the toe portion  22  is closed via a closure seam  50 .  
         [0045]    3. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment  
         [0046]    To use the present invention, the user simply pulls the present invention over his foot and over his lower leg area in a manner identical to putting on any typical pair of socks. After putting on a pair of boots  25 , the user simply folds the outer cuff  40  down so as to effectively cover the boot laces  26 . The outer cuff  40  will be maintained in such position via the selvage makeup  42 . The outer cuff  40  serves the user with the following functional features: prevents the entry of dirt, rocks, ticks, insects, and other small objects from entering the user&#39;s boots  25 ; serves as a covering shield for preventing boot laces  26  from becoming untied, thus aiding in preventing a tripping injury occurring therefrom; and prevents the socks  10  from sliding down the user&#39;s leg and into the boot  25  through the course of the day.  
         [0047]    The use of the present invention compensates for the many inherent disadvantages of the conventional sock and boot combination in a manner which is quick, easy and efficient.  
         [0048]    Therefore, the foregoing description is included to illustrate the operation of the preferred embodiment and is not meant to limit the scope of the invention. As one can envision, an individual skilled in the relevant art, in conjunction with the present teachings, would be capable of incorporating many minor modifications that are anticipated within this disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be broadly limited only by the following claims.