Moisture-Permeable and Waterproof Sock

Abstract

A moisture-permeable and waterproof sock includes a sock body and a moisture-permeable and waterproof layer The sock body is made of an elastic and stretchable fabric material, and includes an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface defining a receiving space, the outer surface being divided into an uncovered region that has an opening for insertion of the user's foot into said receiving space, and a covered region continuously extending from the uncovered region and away from the opening. The moisture-permeable and waterproof layer is only formed on the covered region of the outer surface for preventing water from entering into the sock body while allowing moisture to escape from the receiving space of the sock body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A moisture-permeable and waterproof sock, comprising:
 a sock body which is made of an elastic and stretchable fabric material, and which includes an inner surface and an outer surface that is opposite to said inner surface, said inner surface defining a receiving space for receiving a user's foot, said outer surface being divided into an uncovered region that has an opening for insertion of the user's foot into said receiving space, and a covered region continuously extending from said uncovered region and away from said opening, said covered region having a foot portion that corresponds in position to the user's foot; and   a moisture-permeable and waterproof layer only formed on said covered region of said outer surface of said sock body for preventing water from entering into said sock body while allowing moisture to escape from said receiving space of said sock body.   
     
     
         2 . The sock of  claim 1 , further comprising a three-dimensional pattern layer interposed between said outer surface of said sock body and said moisture-permeable and waterproof layer, and located at a position corresponding to a sole of the user's foot. 
     
     
         3 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein said moisture-permeable and waterproof layer includes a pigment. 
     
     
         4 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein said moisture-permeable and waterproof layer has an outer surface opposite to said outer surface of said sock body. 
     
     
         5 . The sock of  claim 4 , wherein the outer surface of said moisture-permeable and waterproof layer is a glossy surface. 
     
     
         6 . The sock of  claim 4 , wherein the outer surface of said moisture-permeable and waterproof layer is a dull finished surface. 
     
     
         7 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the moisture-permeable and waterproof layer is made from a material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethene, and polymethylmethacrylate. 
     
     
         8 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the moisture-permeable and waterproof layer has a water resistance greater than 2000 mm as measured by the method in accordance with JIS L-1092B. 
     
     
         9 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the moisture-permeable and waterproof layer has a moisture permeability greater than 2000 g/m 2 /24 hr as measured by the method in accordance with JIS L-1099B1. 
     
     
         10 . The sock of  claim 9 , wherein the moisture-permeable and waterproof layer is made from thermoplastic polyurethane.