US2013263360A1PendingUtilityA1

Socks and other footwear with selective friction reducing features

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Assignee: THIBODEAU LEE LPriority: Apr 4, 2012Filed: Apr 4, 2013Published: Oct 10, 2013
Est. expiryApr 4, 2032(~5.7 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Lee L. Thibodeau
A43B 5/0405A41B 2400/80A43B 11/00A43B 7/14A41B 11/00A43B 17/00
54
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Claims

Abstract

A sock and/or outer footwear having one or more portions with reduced frictional characteristics. One or more of the heel portion, the arch portion and the ball portion of the sock and/or interior of the outer footwear is fabricated with the reduced frictional characteristics. The reduced frictional characteristics may be established by applying a low-friction material to such portions, incorporating one or more low-friction fibers into the material of the sock and/or interior of the outer footwear in such portions or reducing the thickness of the material in such portions. The provision of reduced frictional characteristics in one or more of the heel, arch and ball facilitates insertion of a foot into footwear.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sock comprising:
 a. a heel portion;   b. an arch portion; and   c. a ball portion,   
       wherein one or more of the heel portion, the arch portion and the ball portion includes a friction reducing feature. 
     
     
         2 . The sock of  claim 1  wherein the friction reducing feature is a low-friction material applied to a surface of one or more of the heel portion, the arch portion and the ball portion. 
     
     
         3 . The sock of  claim 1  wherein the friction reducing feature is formed of one or more low-friction fibers forming one or more of the heel portion, the arch portion and the ball portion. 
     
     
         4 . The sock of  claim 3  wherein the one or more low-friction fibers are integrated with a material used to make portions of the sock other than the one or more portions of the sock including the friction reducing feature. 
     
     
         5 . The sock of  claim 3  wherein the one or more low-friction fibers are separately formed and joined to a material used to make portions of the sock other than the one or more portions of the sock including the friction reducing feature. 
     
     
         6 . The sock of  claim 1  wherein the friction reducing feature is formed by reducing a thickness of one or more of the heel portion, the arch portion and the ball portion to be less than a thickness of other portions of the sock. 
     
     
         7 . The sock of  claim 6  wherein the portion of reduced thickness is a gradual transition from the portions of the sock that are not of a reduced thickness. 
     
     
         8 . The sock of  claim 6  wherein the portion of reduced thickness is a stepped transition from the portions of the sock that are not of a reduced thickness. 
     
     
         9 . The sock of  claim 1  wherein the friction reducing feature is formed of one or more fibers coated with a low-friction material and forming one or more of the heel portion, the arch portion and the ball portion. 
     
     
         10 . Outer footwear comprising:
 a. an interior heel;   b. a top arch portion; and   c. a ball portion,   
       wherein one or more of the interior heel, the top arch portion and the ball portion includes a friction reducing feature. 
     
     
         11 . The footwear of  claim 10  wherein the friction reducing feature is a low-friction material applied to a surface of one or more of the interior heel, the top arch portion and the ball portion. 
     
     
         12 . The footwear of  claim 10  wherein the friction reducing feature is formed of one or more low-friction fibers forming one or more of the interior heel, the top arch portion and the ball portion. 
     
     
         13 . The footwear of  claim 12  wherein the one or more low-friction fibers are integrated with a material used to make portions of an interior of the footwear other than the one or more portions of the interior of the footwear including the friction reducing feature. 
     
     
         14 . The footwear of  claim 12  wherein the one or more low-friction fibers are separately formed and joined to a material used to make portions of the interior of the footwear other than the one or more portions of the interior of the footwear including the friction reducing feature. 
     
     
         15 . The footwear of  claim 10  wherein the friction reducing feature is formed by reducing a thickness of one or more of the interior heel, the top arch portion and the ball portion to be less than a thickness of other portions of the interior of the footwear. 
     
     
         16 . The footwear of  claim 15  wherein the portion of reduced thickness is a gradual transition from the portions of the interior of the footwear that are not of a reduced thickness. 
     
     
         17 . The footwear of  claim 15  wherein the portion of reduced thickness is a stepped transition from the portions of the interior of the footwear that are not of a reduced thickness. 
     
     
         18 . A sling comprising:
 a. a heel portion;   b. an arch portion; and   c. a ball portion,   wherein the heel portion, the arch portion and the ball portion are joined together and wherein one or more of the heel portion, the arch portion and the ball portion includes a friction reducing feature.   
     
     
         19 . The sling of  claim 18  wherein the friction reducing feature is a low-friction material applied to a surface of one or more of the heel portion, the arch portion and the ball portion. 
     
     
         20 . The sling of  claim 18  wherein the friction reducing feature is formed of one or more low-friction fibers forming one or more of the heel portion, the arch portion and the ball portion.

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