Patent Publication Number: US-11641891-B2

Title: Garment with integrated socks

Description:
The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 63/029,274 filed on May 22, 2020. The current application is filed on May 24, 2021, whereas May 22, 2021 and May 23, 2021 were on a weekend. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to the construction of coveralls, specifically articles of children&#39;s clothing comprising both legwear and footwear. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is well known to wear socks with one or more other items of clothing in order to keep the user&#39;s feet warm. The socks also typically prevent rubbing and increase the comfort of a user wearing shoes. A common problem, particularly with babies and young children, is that one or both of the socks can become detached from the user&#39;s feet, such that the user&#39;s feet get cold and/or the one or more socks become lost. This is particularly the case when the baby is crawling and is not yet able to walk, since the action of crawling typically moves the socks in a direction opposite to the direction of travel and other clothing of the baby. This problem also results in discomfort to the baby caused by the garment becoming twisted around a part of the baby&#39;s body. Furthermore, socks often become lost during the process of washing and, even if the socks are not lost during washing, it is time consuming for a user to match up socks to form a pair before putting the socks away for storage prior to use. Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a novel means of integrating socks along legwear. 
     The present invention features legwear with integrated socks sewn in, preventing the loss of the socks when worn by a baby or a young child. Additionally, the integrated socks along the legwear prevents the socks from displacing in an uncomfortable position. Furthermore, the integration of socks along legwear prevents the loss and mis-match of socks normally associated with washing socks separately from legwear. 
     Additional advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Additional advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the detailed description of the invention section. Further benefits and advantages of the embodiments of the invention will become apparent from consideration of the following detailed description given with reference to the accompanying drawings, which specify and show preferred embodiments of the present invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a top-front-left perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention, wherein multiple alternate configurations of the present invention are shown in a single instance. 
         FIG.  2    is a composite section view of the present invention taken along the dashed line. 
         FIG.  3    is a detail view of area  3  in  FIG.  2   . 
         FIG.  4    is a detail view of area  4  in  FIG.  2   . 
         FIG.  5    is an illustration of one embodiment of the present invention, wherein an embodiment of the leg covering is within the foot covering. 
         FIG.  6    is an illustration of one embodiment of the present invention, wherein an embodiment of the leg covering is outside of the foot covering in a cuff style. 
         FIG.  7    is a detail view of one exemplary embodiment of the at least one interstitial binding, wherein the interstitial binding is exposed to show construction. 
         FIG.  8    is a detail view of one exemplary embodiment of the at least one interstitial binding, wherein the interstitial binding is partially disengaged to show construction. 
     
    
    
     DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION 
     All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. The present invention is to be described in detail and is provided in a manner that establishes a thorough understanding of the present invention. There may be aspects of the present invention that may be practiced or utilized without the implementation of some features as they are described. It should be understood that some details have not been described in detail in order to not unnecessarily obscure focus of the invention. References herein to “the preferred embodiment”, “one embodiment”, “some embodiments”, or “alternative embodiments” should be considered to be illustrating aspects of the present invention that may potentially vary in some instances, and should not be considered to be limiting to the scope of the present invention as a whole. 
     In reference to  FIG.  1  through  8   , the present invention is a garment with integrated socks comprising a foot covering  10  and a leg covering  20 . The foot covering  10  broadly refers to any identifiable article of clothing, extant or manufactured wholly for assembly into the present invention, that is commonly worn on or about the foot. More specifically, the foot covering  10  is ideally a sock sized to match the leg covering  20 . Accordingly, the leg covering  20  refers to any type or variety of pants onto which the foot covering  10  may be attached to create a suitable coverall or ‘onesie’. 
     The foot covering  10  further comprises a first mounting seam  11  and the leg covering  20  further comprises a second mounting seam  21 , wherein the first mounting seam  11  and the second mounting seam  21  constitute compatible mounting structures, formations, or fixtures that may be used to attach the foot covering  10  to the leg covering  20  as shown in  FIGS.  1 ,  5 , and  6   . It is broadly contemplated that the first mounting seam  11  and the second mounting seam  21  may defines features that are created specifically for the purpose of enabling attachment and assembly into a finished instance of the present invention. Additionally, the first mounting seam  11  and the second mounting seam  21  may define existing formations or features of existing garments that are identifiable during assembly as analogous in form or function to the first mounting seam  11  and the second mounting seam  21 . The first mounting seam  11  and the second mounting seam  21  are characterized by a thickened material segment, reinforcement, or existing self-attachment seam configured to provide a suitable attachment position for the first mounting seam  11  to the second mounting seam  21 , or vice versa. Therefore, the seams arranged about the openings of socks may be identified as instances of the first mounting seam  11  and the leg cuff-seams of conventional pants may be identified as instances of the second mounting seam  21  in at least one conceivable embodiment. 
     The first mounting seam  11  is engaged to the second mounting seam  21  with at least one interstitial binding  30 . As outlined above, the first mounting seam  11  and the second mounting seam  21  may be manufactured as compatible structures in one embodiment, or existing formations of conventional garments may be utilized on an ad hoc basis. The variety of potential disparate garments necessitates a flexible means of attachment, thereby enabling drastically dislike fabrics and textiles to be effectively assembled into the present invention as shown in  FIGS.  5  and  6   . Accordingly, the at least one interstitial binding  30  is broadly conceptualized to refer to any type or combination of mechanical, chemical, or thermal attachment means as may be realized by a reasonably skilled individual. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the at least one interstitial binding  30  being a plurality of stitches  31  as shown in  FIG.  7   . The plurality of stiches is placed through the foot covering  10  and the leg covering  20  along the first mounting seam  11  and the second mounting seam  21 , wherein each of the plurality of stitches  31  ideally penetrates both the foot covering  10  and the leg covering  20  to achieve a ‘single-pass’ attachment between the otherwise disparate components. More specifically, the plurality of stitches  31  ideally refers to a machine-placed running stitch through the overlapping first mounting seam  11 , and the second mounting seam  21 . Placement of the plurality of stitches  31  along the first mounting seam  11  and second mounting seam  21  ideally captures reinforced sections of existing pants and socks to provide the most secure attachment between the foot covering  10  and the leg covering  20  possible. As shown in  FIGS.  3  and  4   , the total material density of the first mounting seam  11  and the second mounting seam  21  is ideally greater than the constituent garments in general. 
     In at least one alternate embodiment shown in  FIG.  8   , the at least one interstitial binding  30  is a plurality of releasable fasteners  32 , wherein each of the plurality of releasable fasteners  32  further comprises a first fastener  33  and a second fastener  34 . The first fastener  33  of each of the plurality of releasable fasteners  32  is mounted to the first mounting seam  11  and the second fastener  34  of each of the plurality of releasable fasteners  32  is mounted to the second mounting seam  21 , ideally positioned in a matched radial pattern along the first mounting seam  11  and the second mounting seam  21 . More specifically, the second fastener  34  positionally corresponds to the first fastener  33  for each of the plurality of releasable fasteners  32 , thereby enabling the plurality of fasteners to be fully engaged with no ‘orphaned’ pairs. The first fastener  33  and the second fastener  34  releasably fix the foot covering  10  and the leg covering  20  to allow the present invention to be selectively configured with alternate embodiments of the foot covering  10  and leg covering  20  as needed. For example, the foot coverings  10  may be exchanged as a wearer transitions from indoor to outdoor environs, or the leg covering  20  may be separated for washing, maintenance, or for aesthetic reasons. I.e., the foot covering  10  and the leg covering  20  may be interchanged as modular elements to allow for customization by a user. 
     In another embodiment shown in  FIG.  7    the at least one interstitial binding  30  is a length of thermal weldment  35 , wherein the length of thermal weldment  35  is formed from the first mounting seam  11  and the second mounting seam  21 . In this embodiment, the first mounting seam  11  and the second mounting seam  21  may contain prepositioned filler materials or volumes of compatibilized material to enable the formation of a homogenized material attachment between the first mounting seam  11  and the second mounting seam  21 , but it is generally proposed that the constituent materials of the foot covering  10  and the leg covering  20  may be configured for attachment by welding without additional additives across various embodiments. The means and methods of utilizing a heat source, ultrasonic generator, or welding iron to permanently affix separate, comparable materials is presumed to be well understood by a reasonably skilled individual and should not be construed as limitations to the type of weldment defined by the length of thermal weldment  35 . 
     In yet another alternate embodiment, the at least one interstitial binding  30  is a volume of chemical adhesive  36  as shown in  FIG.  7   . The volume of chemical adhesive  36  is applied to adjacent facets of the first mounting seam  11  and the second mounting seam  21 , wherein the first mounting seam  11  and the second mounting seam  21  are permanently bonded by the volume of chemical adhesive  36 . In one embodiment, the volume of chemical adhesive  36  may act as a bonding agent, mechanically encapsulating and attaching the first mounting seam  11  and the second mounting seam  21  as the volume of chemical adhesive  36  permeates the constituent materials of the foot covering  10  and the leg covering  20 . In another embodiment, the volume of chemical adhesive  36  will partially dissolve and compatibilized the first mounting seam  11  and the second mounting seam  21 , thereby enabling the foot covering  10  and the leg covering  20  to become materially contiguous across the first mounting seam  11  and the second mounting seam  21 . 
     It is further considered that the use of a singlet onesie may preclude the wearing of shoes, particularly by infants while indoors. Infants are generally not expected to be sure-footed in general and wearing bare sock-material while walking across hard surfaces (wood, tile, etc.) poses a falling hazard. Therefore, the present invention further comprises a traction pad  24  to assist a wearer in maintaining their footing while wearing the present invention. As shown in  FIG.  2   , the traction pad  24  is mounted to the foot covering  10  opposite the first mounting seam  11 , between a toe  25  and a heel  26  of the foot covering  10 . This location generally corresponds the sole of a wearer&#39;s foot within the foot covering  10 , ideally with material concentrations adjacent to the toe  25  and the heel  26  of the foot covering  10  to effectively support the greatest distributions of a wearer&#39;s weight. The traction pad  24  ideally defines a textured, rubberized material that is permanently bonded to the foot covering  10  to provide traction in any condition. However, the specific material composition and surface contours of the traction pad  24  are understood to be variable between embodiments without departing from the original spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     Additionally, it is proposed that the foot covering  10  and the leg covering  20  may be configured to provide the illusory appearance of separate garments while remaining attached. This configuration enables the use of the present invention in pseudo-formal settings wherein a pajama-type garment would be unsuitable. In this embodiment, the foot covering  10  further comprises an ankle band  22  and the leg covering  20  further comprises a hem  12 . The ankle band  22  is attached to the first mounting seam  11  and the hem  12  is attached to the second mounting seam  21 , creating a material overlap over the conjunction of the foot covering  10  and the leg covering  20  in the preferred embodiment. More specifically, the ankle band  22  is positioned within the leg covering  20  with the hem  12  extending over the foot covering  10 . This configuration approximates the normal configuration of a conventional sock and a conventional pant leg upon casual observation. The connection of the first mounting seam  11  and the second mounting seam  21  are camouflaged as conventional seam structures adjacent to the hem  12 , and the attachment of the foot covering  10  is hidden within the leg covering  20 . 
     While worn, the foot covering  10  is generally expected to remain in-position on a user&#39;s foot due to the inherent tailoring of the leg covering  20  and the foot covering  10 . However, a particularly energetic wearer may dislodge the foot covering  10  and entangle themselves in the connected leg covering  20  without some additional means of retention. Accordingly, the ankle band  22  comprises at least one elastic member  23  as shown in  FIGS.  3  and  4   . The elastic member  23  is configured to constrict the diameter of the ankle band  22 , thereby capturing a user&#39;s foot within the foot covering  10  as the ankle band  22  constricts around a user&#39;s leg. 
     The outward appearance of the present invention as a conventional pair of pants and socks may be further enhanced by including a thickened or otherwise intentionally complicated structure adjacent to the conjunction of the foot covering  10  and the leg covering  20  as shown in  FIGS.  5  and  6   . However, any camouflaging structure must conform to conventional stylistic choices present in existing legwear and be concealable into the first mounting seam  11  and the second mounting seam  21 , without creating a visually obvious attachment point. To fulfill these functional requirements, the leg covering  20  further comprises a third mounting seam  14  positioned opposite to the second mounting seam  21  across the hem  12 . An annular inflection  13  is formed into the hem  12  between the second mounting seam  21  and the third mounting seam  14 , and the leg covering  20  is self-attached along the third mounting seam  14  and the second mounting seam  21 . The finished structure of the self-attached third mounting seam  14  and the annular inflection  13  is roughly analogous to a conventional pant finished in a cuff, wherein the annular inflection  13  defines the end of the leg covering  20 . The third mounting seam  14  defines a generally similar component to the first mounting seam  11  and second mounting seam  21 , ideally formed using compatibilized or identical processes. In at least one embodiment, the engagement of the first mounting seam  11 , the second mounting seam  21 , and the third mounting seam  14  may be executed simultaneously with a single attachment process. 
     The individual formation of the foot covering  10  and the leg covering  20  prior to attachment enables the use of distinct materials in the construction of each component. This allows the construction of the disparate components to be configured towards a specific role or function in the finished garment, rather than utilizing a single generic composition throughout. For example, the foot covering  10  could be formed from soft, form-fitting materials that may withstand friction wear. In the same instance, the leg covering  20  may be formed of a separate, durable material more suitable to resist wear-damage. Therefore, it is proposed that the foot covering  10  comprises a first textile  15  and the leg covering  20  comprises a second textile  27  as shown in  FIGS.  1 ,  2 ,  5 , and  6   . The first textile  15  and the second textile  27  broadly refer to any distinct fabric compositions or hybridized materials typically used in the construction of clothing or as may be realized by a person of ordinary skill. The first textile  15  and the second textile  27  are integrated along the first mounting seam  11  and the second mounting seam  21 . The integration of the first textile  15  and the second textile  27  may constitute a material compatibilization or the inclusion of an adhesive filler-material, wherein said integration means would fall under the broad definition of the at least one interstitial binding  30  in all conceivable embodiments. 
     In at least one specific embodiment the first textile  15  comprises a natural fiber at greater than 90% wt, wherein the first textile  15  is substantially dimensionally stable. This first textile  15  is roughly analogous to the construction of a conventional fitted sock, wherein the fibrous composition is primarily a natural cotton, and the inherent geometry of the sock provides any necessary form-fitting functionalities typically associated with soft footwear. In various alternate embodiments, the inclusion of a percentage of elastic or synthetic materials in the construction of the first textile  15  does not deviate from the original spirit and scope of the present invention, provided that the first textile  15  does not substantially deform or debride during normal use and wear. The dimensional stability of the first textile  15  significantly increases the working life of the foot covering  10  by resisting damage to the sole area of said foot covering  10 ; such damage being common when the present invention is worn without shoes. 
     Additionally, the second textile  27  comprises a natural fiber at greater than 70% wt, and synthetic materials at greater than 20% wt in at least one embodiment. The second textile  27  is substantially elastic in this configuration, thereby enabling the leg covering  20  to stretch and expand to target the needs of young children. More specifically, the flexibility of the second textile  27  enables the leg covering  20  to twist and stretch along with a typically rambunctious young wearer without compromising the integrity of the leg covering  20 . Further, the elastic qualities of the second textile  27  enable the leg covering  20  to comfortably fit a variety of rapidly-growing wearers without requiring a new instance of the present invention to fit the same wearers every month. 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.