Foot stabilizer socks and stabilizer pads therefor

Abstract

A stabilizing sock has a foot section having a shape corresponding to a human foot and comprising a rearfoot portion corresponding to human calcaneous and talus bones and to tibial and fibular malleoli, a forefoot portion corresponding to human metatarsal and phalanx bones, and a midfoot portion between the rearfoot portion and the forefoot portion and corresponding to human cuboid, navicular and cuneiform bones. The sock has a medial stabilizer region on a medial side of the sock and a lateral stabilizer region on a lateral side of the sock. The medial stabilizer region covers a forward medial region of the rearfoot portion and a rearward medial region of the midfoot portion, and the lateral stabilizer region covers a forward lateral region of the rearfoot portion. The sock may also include lace bite protector regions and boot bang protector regions. Kits for assembling stabilizing socks are also described.

1 . A sock system comprising:
 a sock, the sock having a foot section, wherein:   the foot section has a shape corresponding to a human foot and comprises:
 a rearfoot portion corresponding to human calcaneous and talus bones and to tibial and fibular malleoli; 
 a forefoot portion corresponding to human metatarsal and phalanx bones; 
 a midfoot portion between the rearfoot portion and the forefoot portion and corresponding to human cuboid, navicular and cuneiform bones; and 
   the sock further having a leg section corresponding at least to lower portions of human tibia and fibula bones;   the sock has a medial stabilizer region on a medial side of the sock corresponding to a medial side of the foot and a lateral stabilizer region on a lateral side of the sock corresponding to a lateral side of the foot;   the medial stabilizer region and the lateral stabilizer region are separate and distinct from one another;   the medial stabilizer region covers a forward medial region of the rearfoot portion and a rearward medial region of the midfoot portion; and   the lateral stabilizer region covers a forward lateral region of the rearfoot portion;   the medial stabilizer region:
 extends inferiorly along an area of the leg section corresponding to a lower posterior part of the tibia to a position on the rearfoot portion corresponding to a medial position posterior to the tibial malleolus and anterior to an Achilles tendon, 
 curves around inferiorly of an area on the rearfoot portion corresponding to the tibial malleolus; 
 extends inferiorly of and anteriorly relative to the area on the rearfoot portion corresponding to the tibial malleolus; and 
 ends at a position on the midfoot portion corresponding to a position on the foot anterior to the tibial malleolus; 
   the medial stabilizer region includes a medial malleolal concavity at its upper edge to accommodate the tibial malleolus;   the lateral stabilizer region:
 extends inferiorly along an area of the leg section corresponding to a lower posterior part of the fibula to a position on the rearfoot portion corresponding to a lateral position posterior to the fibular malleolus and anterior to the Achilles tendon; 
 curves around inferiorly of an area on the rearfoot portion corresponding fibular malleolus; 
 extends inferiorly of and anteriorly relative to the area on the rearfoot portion corresponding to the fibular malleolus; and 
 ends at a position corresponding to a position on the foot anterior to the fibular malleolus; 
   the lateral stabilizer region includes a lateral malleolal concavity at its upper edge to accommodate the fibular malleolus;   wherein each of the medial stabilizer region and the lateral stabilizer region consists of a stabilizer pad pocket for receiving, respectively, a stabilizer pad;   the sock system further comprising:
 a plurality of stabilizer pads shaped to fit the stabilizer pad pockets; 
 wherein the plurality of stabilizer pads includes stabilizer pads having different thicknesses; 
   wherein each stabilizer pad pocket includes a respective aperture through which one of the plurality of stabilizer pads is insertable into, and removable from, the respective stabilizer pad pocket; and   the stabilizer pad pockets and their respective apertures and also the plurality of stabilizer pads are adapted so that appropriate perimeter sizes of the stabilizer pad pockets and of the plurality of stabilizer pads are selected for a size of the human foot with which the plurality of stabilizer pads are used.   
     
     
         2 . The sock system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the medial stabilizer region extends across a part of the rearfoot portion corresponding to a lower medial part of the talus and an upper medial part of the calcaneous to terminate at a position on the midfoot portion corresponding to the navicular bone; and   the lateral stabilizer region extends across a lower part of the rearfoot portion corresponding to a lower lateral part of the talus and an upper lateral part of the calcaneous.   
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The sock system of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral stabilizer region extends to and terminates at a position on the rearfoot portion corresponding to a position on the foot posterior and proximal to the cuboid bone. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
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         15 . The sock system of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer pads are formed from one of:
 a material comprising silicone, a foam, or a gel-filled enclosure.   
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
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         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
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         29 . The sock system of  claim 1 , wherein the sock includes a lace bite protector region extending along a front surface of the sock from a posterior upper surface of the foot section thereof to a lower anterior surface of the leg section thereof. 
     
     
         30 . The sock system of  claim 29 , wherein the lace bite protector region extends from a position on the forefoot portion corresponding to posterior ends of inner ones of the metatarsal bones, across an upper part of the midfoot portion corresponding to at least inner ones of the cuneiform bones and the navicular bone, and then superiorly along a lower front of the leg section corresponding to a lower front of the tibia and fibula. 
     
     
         31 . The sock system of  claim 29 , wherein the lace bite protector region comprises a lace bite protector pocket for receiving a lace bite protector pad. 
     
     
         32 . The sock system of  claim 31 , wherein the lace bite protector pocket has a stretchable aperture for inserting and removing the lace bite protector pad. 
     
     
         33 . The sock system of  claim 1 , wherein the sock includes a boot bang protector region positioned on the leg section thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The sock system of  claim 33 , wherein the boot bang protector region comprises a boot bang protector pocket for receiving a boot bang protector pad. 
     
     
         35 . The sock system of  claim 35 , wherein the boot bang protector pocket has a stretchable aperture for inserting and removing the boot bang protector pad.