Patent Publication Number: US-2015059059-A1

Title: Mid length dress  sock

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Dress socks are part of the male&#39;s standard business dress. When dress shoes are worn, it is customary to wear dark socks, known as dress socks, which differ from athletic socks in that they are thinner and meant to be worn with leather shoes. While athletic socks are designed to absorb perspiration and cushion the feet, dress socks are more aesthetic and designed to not clash with slacks or dress pants. Dress socks come in many styles and colors, but traditionally the dress sock comes in one size, which extends up past the shin of an adult male and up to the tip of the knee. The problem with this size is that many men find the sock uncomfortable, constraining the calf and reducing the exposure of the skin to cooling air. The male seeking a dress sock is either forced to choose an athletic sock that is much shorter, but not aesthetically pleasing and too thick for dress shoes, or dress socks that extend too high on the shin and, especially in warm weather, can be uncomfortable to the wearer. 
     The art would be served by a new size of dress sock that is longer than athletic socks, but shorter than dress socks, but still retain the properties of dress socks. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a front view of a prior art athletic sock; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of a prior art dress sock; 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  depicts a prior art athletic sock as worn by an adult male. It can be seen that the length of an athletic sock is no more than mid ankle, and is inappropriate for dress wear as the user&#39;s bare ankle and shin would be exposed in certain seated positions. For this reason, athletic socks are not worn with dress pants or in situations where the display of one&#39;s skin above the sock would be inappropriate.  FIG. 2 , on the other hand, shows a typical dress sock. The dress sock of the prior art, when fully extended, rises above the mid-shin and extends almost to the bottom of the knee cap. Many men find this length of sock uncomfortable, especially in summer months where it is warmer. It tends to make the legs hot, sweaty, and itchy in some types of fabrics. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a sock  10  having the properties of the present invention. The sock is preferably made from a fabric blend, comprising approximately forty percent polyester oblong fibers in cross-section with grooves running lengthwise along the threads. The fibers are manufactured in either a tetrachannel or hexachannel style, and a series of closely spaced channels creates capillary action that wicks moisture through the core and out to a wider area on the surface of the fabric which increases evaporation. Such fibers are sold, as an example, by Invista Inc. of Wichita, Kans., under the trademark Coolmax. The oblong polyester fibers are combined with approximately forty percent cotton fibers, and seventeen percent nylon. The remaining percentage (approximately three percent) is comprised of man-made elastic fibers to give the socks elasticity and comfort. 
     In order to achieve the proper length of the sock and meet the needs of the invention&#39;s objective, the above materials are combined and placed in a standard hosiery machine, such as the New Zealand Auto Knitter (NZAK). The machine combines the materials and creates a first tubular portion  12  for the foot, and a second tubular portion  14  for the ankle. The first tubular portion  12  and the second tubular portion  14  are connected to form, at their respective axes or centerlines, an angel α of approximately 135 degrees. Once the machine has created the two connecting tubes  12 , 14 , the toe portion  16  is applied and the socks are packed for sale. 
     Using the tip of the foot portion  12  (at the toe) to an intersection of the tubular centerlines  18 , a preferred distance D1 is seven and a half inches. The height “Z”, measured from the bottom of the heel  20  to the upper edge  22  of the sock, is also a preferred seven and one half inches. The distance D2 from the intersection  18  of the two tubular centerlines to the upper edge  22  of the sock is approximately six inches. The distances have been found, when used together, to yield a sock that is both accommodating to the foot of an average male, and have a length that is neither too long nor too short from a comfort standpoint. The thickness of the sock is of high importance because of the nature of dress socks and their relation with dress shoes, which do not permit significant clearance with the sock. In the present example, a thickness of no more than one eighth inch in the undeformed (unstretched) condition is perfect for compromising comfort and durability. 
     To create the second tubular portion  14 , a top end  24  is doubled over upon itself to create a two layer configuration for a portion of the sock along the upper edge. The double layer is formed by a seam  26  securing the folded over portion to the second tubular portion  14 , creating a band at the upper part of the sock  10 . The length of the top end  24  to the length D2 of the second tubular portion is 2⅝ inches to 6 inches, or 7:16. This ratio of double material to single material provides the precise amount of comfort and elastic hold needed to control the sloping portion of the calf where the present invention extends. That is, while traditional socks extend well over the calf and therefore do not need reinforced elastic hold, the present invention reaches only to the converging portion of the calves and thus require more elastic tension to retain the socks at the converging portion of the calf. The 7:16 ration of double to single layers has been found to meet that requirement without excessive overlapping which could lead to unnecessary material costs. 
     The foregoing description and figures are intended to be illustrated, but not limiting with respect to the present invention. Rather, the invention is to be defined by the appended claims, using the ordinary meaning of the terms therein.