US 5,125,116 AGranted

Sock with simulated stirrup

AssigneeRidgeview, Inc.

InventorsHugh R. Gaither, James R. Richard

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A one-piece integrally circular knit athletic sock is provided which simulates the appearance of a separate stirrup being worn over the sock. The straps of the conventional stirrup are simulated and made prominent by a pair of stripes of a color which contrasts with the color of the body of the sock and which extend downwardly for a length sufficient to insure for the sake of appearance that the lower ends of the stirrup strap simulating stripes are below the normal level of the top of the athletic shoe. The curved front and rear edges of the stirrup straps are simulated by straight border lines but which resemble the curved lines when seen from a distance.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A knit athletic sock constructed so as to simulate when worn the appearance of having a circular knit stirrup worn over the sock, the stirrup being simulated by being circular knit as an integral piece and having an upper tubular leg encircling portion merging into a pair of lower substantially flat strap portions joined at lower ends thereof for placement under the arch of the foot of the wearer, each said lower strap portion having respective front and rear inwardly curved edges extending downwardly from a lower end of said upper leg portion, said sock comprising:

(a) stretchable leg and foot portions formed throughout of circular weft-knitted courses of skeleton yarns of a common color providing a knit base and body yarns of varying selected color interknit with said base;
and
(b) a simulated stirrup portion forming part of and interknit with portions of said leg and foot portions and formed of said body yarns on an outer surface portion of the sock at least in part with body yarns having at least one color contrasting with the body yarn or yarns forming other outer surface portions of said sock and knit so as to define the shape of said stimulated stirrup portion, said simulated stirrup portion including a tubular portion simulating the tubular leg encircling portion of the stirrup and stripe portions located below and forming extensions of said simulating tubular portion on opposite sides of said sock, said stripe portions comprising a pair of vertical stripes simulating said stirrup straps and extending down the length of said sock to said foot portion and to a level above the arch of said foot portion such that a lower end of each said stirrup strap simulating stripe can be hidden below the top of an athletic shoe worn by the wearer of the sock, the location at which the upper portion of said simulating stripes is joined to the lower portion of said simulating tubular portion being defined at the front and rear of the sock as viewed from one side of the sock when the sock is worn by pairs of what appear to be front and rear angularly related substantially straight border lines simulating when viewed from a distance said front and rear inwardly curved edges of said stirrup, said front border line being positioned on said tubular portion at a level lower than the level at which said rear border line is positioned on said tubular portion.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

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Abstract

(a) stretchable leg and foot portions formed throughout of circular weft-knitted courses of skeleton yarns of a common color providing a knit base and body yarns of varying selected color interknit with said base;
and
(b) a simulated stirrup portion forming part of and interknit with portions of said leg and foot portions and formed of said body yarns on an outer surface portion of the sock at least in part with body yarns having at least one color contrasting with the body yarn or yarns forming other outer surface portions of said sock and knit so as to define the shape of said stimulated stirrup portion, said simulated stirrup portion including a tubular portion simulating the tubular leg encircling portion of the stirrup and stripe portions located below and forming extensions of said simulating tubular portion on opposite sides of said sock, said stripe portions comprising a pair of vertical stripes simulating said stirrup straps and extending down the length of said sock to said foot portion and to a level above the arch of said foot portion such that a lower end of each said stirrup strap simulating stripe can be hidden below the top of an athletic shoe worn by the wearer of the sock, the location at which the upper portion of said simulating stripes is joined to the lower portion of said simulating tubular portion being defined at the front and rear of the sock as viewed from one side of the sock when the sock is worn by pairs of what appear to be front and rear angularly related substantially straight border lines simulating when viewed from a distance said front and rear inwardly curved edges of said stirrup, said front border line being positioned on said tubular portion at a level lower than the level at which said rear border line is positioned on said tubular portion.