Patent Publication Number: US-6701533-B2

Title: Hockey sock attachment device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of hockey equipment and more particularly to a device for supporting hockey socks relative to a hockey short or other support member. 
     2. Summary of the Prior Art 
     A variety of means have been used by hockey players to keep their hockey socks from falling down during play. Some of these means include tape or Velcro, elastic or other straps wrapped around the sock and shin guard. Other means support the sock along its top edge. These other means have included providing a Velcro patch on the front surface of a hockey short, with the inside top edge of the sock connected directly to the Velcro patch, or providing a garter belt having garter clips permanently attached to the belt which are in turn connectable with the top edge of the sock. 
     While these prior means are acceptable to varying degrees, there is a need for an improved hockey sock attachment and support device which is readily and economically replaceable, if needed, and which provides secure support of the hockey sock. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a hockey sock attachment device, sometimes also referred to as a garter clip, which is readily and selectively connectable to and disconnectable from both a hockey short or other support member as well as the hockey sock itself. This device is readily and economically replaceable and provides the desirable degree of support for the hockey sock. 
     More specifically, the invention includes the combination of a first attachment member which is fixedly secured to a hockey short, a garter belt or the like. A second element of the combination includes a second attachment member which has one end which is selectively connectable to the first attachment member and a second end which is selectively connectable to a hockey sock. 
     A further embodiment of the device of the present invention includes a second attachment member which is provided with an elastic connection link extending between the first and second ends of the second attachment member. A still further embodiment of the invention includes a second attachment member which is provided with a garter clip at the second end of the second attachment member for selective connection to the upper edge of a hockey sock. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved hockey sock attachment and support device. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a hockey sock attachment device which is selectively connectable both to a hockey short, a garter belt or the like as well as to a hockey sock. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a system for selectively connecting a hockey sock to a hockey short or the like. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent with reference to the drawings, the description of the preferred embodiment and the appended claims. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a hockey short embodying attachment members. 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a hockey sock attachment device of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of a hockey sock attachment device of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a further embodiment of an attachment member for connection to a hockey short or the like. 
     FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the attachment member of FIG.  4 . 
     FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of a hockey sock connection device selectively connected to the attachment member of FIGS. 4 and 5. 
     FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of a further embodiment of a hockey sock attachment device. 
     FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of a hockey player showing use of the hockey sock attachment device of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Reference is first made to FIGS. 1,  2 ,  3  and  8  showing a first embodiment of the hockey sock attachment or support device of the present invention and its association with a hockey short. As shown best in FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 , the hockey sock attachment or support device and system generally includes a first attachment member  10  which is fixed to a hockey short  11 , or the like and a second attachment member  12  which is selectively connectable both to the first attachment member  10  and to a hockey sock  13  (FIG. 8) via the connection member  14 . 
     The first attachment member  10  includes a backing portion  15  and a central Velcro or other connection element  16  centrally positioned on the backing member  15 . In the preferred embodiment as shown in FIG. 1, an attachment member  10  is fixed to the front surface of a hockey short or the like at a point near the lower edge of each leg  18 . This connection is preferably made by stitching  17  or some other substantially permanent connection means. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the attachment member  10  and the Velcro portion  16  are shown as having a generally rectangular configuration; however, a variety of alternate configurations may be utilized as well without deviating from the spirit of the present invention. 
     The hockey short  11  shown in FIGS. 1 and 8 is a conventional hockey short known to those skilled in the art. The invention has particular application to such a hockey short with the first attachment member  10  fixed thereto; however, application of the present invention is not limited to use with a conventional hockey short. Specifically, any other type of garment worn by the hockey player may perform a function similar to that of the hockey short such as a garter belt or the like which includes a portion for supporting the first attachment member  10 . Accordingly, unless otherwise stated herein, use of the term “hockey short” shall also mean a garter belt or some other garment worn by the hockey player which is capable of supporting the first attachment member  10 . 
     The connection element  16  can comprise any attachment means known in the art by which two elements or members can be readily connected to and disconnected from one another. In the preferred embodiment, the attachment portion  16  is comprised of one half of a hook and loop attachment material such as the material commonly referred to by the trademark Velcro. However, it is contemplated that other similar attachment means are available and can be used as well. Although either half of the Velcro attachment material can be associated with the first attachment member  10 , preferably, the connection element  16  is comprised of the male portion of the Velcro material. 
     The second attachment member  12 , shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3, includes a first attachment end comprising an attachment portion for selective attachment to the connection element  16  of the member  10  and an opposite second attachment end having an attachment portion for selective connection to the upper edge portion of a hockey sock  13  (FIG.  8 ). 
     The attachment portion at the first attachment end of the attachment member  12  includes a backing material  19  and a connection element  20  secured to or formed on the inside surface of the backing material  19  as shown in FIG.  3 . The connection element  20  is centrally positioned within the backing material  19  so that a peripheral edge of the backing material extends around the connection element  20 . Like the connection element  16 , the connection element  20  can comprise any material or attachment means for selectively connecting the second attachment member  12  to the first attachment member  10 . In the preferred embodiment, the connection element  20  is comprised of a hook and loop attachment material such as Velcro, with the connection element  20  being the opposite (male/female) as the connection element  16 . Preferably, with the connection element  16  being the male half of Velcro material, the connection element  20  is constructed of the female half of Velcro material. Although shown as being rectangular, the first attachment end of the attachment member  12  may be any configuration. Preferably, the configuration of the first attachment end connecting portion is similar to that of the first attachment member. Although FIG. 3 shows the Velcro portion  20  as being smaller than the backing material  19 , the portion  20  can be the same size as the backing member  19 . 
     The second attachment end of the member  12  may be comprised of any connection element which can be selectively and readily connected to and disconnected from a hockey sock. In the preferred embodiment, this connection element is a conventional garter clip  14  having a preformed wire frame  21 , a plastic or other material strap  22  and a sock attachment button  24 . The strap  22  is supported by the wire frame  21  in a conventional manner so that the strap is freely moveable relative to the frame  21 . The button  24  is adapted for selective engagement with a lower portion of the wire frame  21  to attach the sock to the clip  14 . Although the garter clip  14  is shown as the preferred connection member, any other connection member known in the art which may be readily connected to and disconnected from a hockey sock may be utilized. 
     The connection element or garter clip  14  may be directly connected to the first attachment end, and specifically the backing material  19 , or can be connected, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, via an intermediate attachment link  25 . In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the intermediate attachment link  25  includes one end fixed to a portion of the backing material  19  such as by stitching  23  (FIG. 2) or the like, and a second, opposite end connected with the sock connection element  14 . Specifically, the link  25  is connected to a portion of the wire frame  21  of the garter clip by extending an end of the link  25  around a portion of the frame and then connecting the link  25  by stitching  27 . The attachment link can be constructed of a variety of materials; however, preferably the material is an elastic material. Thus, in the preferred embodiment, the elastic attachment link  25  is securely connected to, and extends between both the backing material  19  and the frame  21  of the garter clip  14 . A further embodiment  26  of the first attachment member which is fixedly secured to the hockey short or the like is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. This further embodiment  26  includes a hockey short attachment member  28  designed for fixed connection to a hockey short  11  or the like and an attachment member flap or cover member  29 . As shown, the attachment member  28  and the flap or cover  29  are joined to one another along a top edge  30 . Thus, the flap or cover  29  is hingedly connected to the attachment member  28  along the edge  30 . Like the attachment member  10 , the attachment member  28  is fixedly secured to a hockey short by stitching or the like. The outer surface of the member  28  includes one-half of a connection material such as a hook and loop material  31 . The inner side surface of the flap or cover  29  also includes one-half of a connection material such as a hook and loop connection material  32 . Preferably, the materials  31  and  32  are opposite halves of Velcro material with the material  31  preferably being the male half and the material  32  being the female half. 
     When the hockey sock is not attached to the attachment member  26 , the connection materials  31  and  32  are connected with one another. This prevents such materials from picking up lint or other materials when the hockey shorts are being cleaned or otherwise not in use. 
     FIG. 6 shows attachment of a second attachment member to the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5. As shown, the flap  29  is raised, and the second attachment end of the attachment member  12 , and specifically the Velcro material  20  is connected with the Velcro material  31 . Preferably, the size of the backing material  19  is less than the Velcro material  31  so that when the flap or cover  29  is lowered, it is secured to the portion of the Velcro material  31  outside the backing material  19 . 
     FIG. 7 shows a further embodiment of a second attachment member. The embodiment of FIG. 7 is similar to that of FIG. 2, except that the exterior surface of the backing material  19  is provided with one or more patches of Velcro or other hook and loop connecting material  34 . This embodiment is useful with an attachment member  26  such as that shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. When used with such embodiment, the Velcro patches  34  assist in holding the flap  29  against the backing material  19 . 
     FIG. 8 shows application of the present invention to a pair of hockey shorts  11  to hold up a pair of hockey socks  13 . 
     Although the description of the preferred embodiment has been quite specific, it is contemplated that various modifications could be made without deviating from the spirit of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the present invention be dictated by the appended claims rather than by the description of the preferred embodiment.