Sock shoe

Abstract

A sock shoe has a single layer of base fabric having a volumetric configuration for receiving at least a forefoot portion of a user's foot. The sock shoe is configured with an upper portion for receiving a top portion of the user's foot and a bottom portion for receiving a bottom portion of the user's foot. The base fabric has a knit or woven structure that is resiliently elastic. An elastomeric coating is fused to the base fabric in a single-layer unitary structure to provide at least two of: (i) a retention function, (ii) a durability/foot protection function, (iii) a grip or anti-slip function, and (iv) an outsole function. The bottom portion having an outer-facing, ground-contacting surface and an inner-facing, foot-contacting surface, the ground-contacting surface including at least one outsole portion being formed of the fused elastomeric material, and the inner-facing, foot-contacting surface being formed of the fused elastomeric material.

1 . A sock shoe, comprising:
 a foot compartment formed of a single-layer, unitary structure of a base fabric and an elastomeric coating fused to the base fabric, the compartment having two tiers of mesh, the first tier is defined in the base fabric and the second tier is defined in the coating, the sock shoe being resiliently stretchable and conforming to the contours of the intended user's foot.   
     
     
         2 . The sock shoe of  claim 1  wherein the unitary structure represents at least 50% of the surface area of the foot compartment. 
     
     
         3 . The sock shoe of  claim 1  wherein the base fabric is a synthetic fabric comprising elastic yarns. 
     
     
         4 . The sock shoe of  claim 3  wherein the base fabric is a knit structure. 
     
     
         5 . The sock shoe of  claim 1  further comprising one or more patterns or zones of elastomeric material heat fused to base fabric or unitary structure, the patterns or zones providing a foot retention function, the elastomeric material having relatively less elasticity than the base fabric and forming part of the unitary structure. 
     
     
         6 . The sock shoe of  claim 1  wherein the pattern is configured to create tension around the user's instep and/or at least one side of the foot. 
     
     
         7 . The sock shoe of  claim 1  wherein the foot compartment is configured to have a topline that fits under the ankle of the intended user. 
     
     
         8 . The sock shoe of  claim 1  wherein the foot compartment is tongueless. 
     
     
         9 . The sock shoe of  claim 1  wherein the foot compartment is laceless and free of any retention system other than what is inherent in the single-layer, unitary structure. 
     
     
         10 . The sock shoe of  claim 1  further comprising one or more outsole portions formed of elastomeric material fused to the base fabric and forming part of the unitary structure. 
     
     
         11 . The sock shoe of  claim 1  wherein there is a forefoot outsole portion and a rearfoot outsole portion, and the midfoot is free or substantially free of an outsole portion. 
     
     
         12 . The sock shoe of  claim 1  further comprising an insole portion formed of elastomeric material fused to the base fabric and forming part of the unitary structure, the insole portion coating the base fabric in a pattern that provides grippiness and anti-foot slip 
     
     
         13 . The sock shoe of  claim 1  wherein elastomeric coating on outer surface of the foot compartment enhances grippiness for interaction with other surfaces. 
     
     
         14 . The sock shoe of  claim 1  wherein the mesh openings of the second tier of the elastomeric coating have a larger area than the first-tier mesh openings in the base fabric. 
     
     
         15 . The sock shoe of  claim 1  wherein the elastomeric coating is configured in a pattern that provides selective, anisotropic restriction stretchability of the upper in desired areas. 
     
     
         16 . The sock shoe of  claim 15  wherein the elastomeric coating comprises one or more bands extending over the top and sides shoe that are configured to resiliently stretch when receiving the user's foot and tension the upper on the user's foot. 
     
     
         17 . The sock shoe of  claim 1  wherein the mesh openings in the elastomeric coating are from 1 mm to 1.5 mm diameter or width and the mesh opening in the base fabric are 0.5 mm to 0.75 mm diameter or width, when both meshes are under static (untensioned) conditions. 
     
     
         18 . The sock shoe of  claim 1  wherein the mesh openings of the elastomeric coating have a geometric shape configured for an anisotropic stretch effect. 
     
     
         19 . The sock shoe of  claim 17  wherein the mesh opening in the elastomeric coating are larger than the mesh openings in the base fabric. 
     
     
         20 . The sock shoe of  claim 17  wherein the openings have a hexagonal shape. 
     
     
         21 . A sock shoe comprising:
 a single layer of base fabric having a volumetric configuration for receiving at least a forefoot portion of a user's foot and configured with an upper portion for receiving a top portion of the user's foot and a bottom portion for receiving a bottom portion of the intended user's foot;   the base fabric comprising a woven or knit structure that is resiliently elastic;   an elastomeric coating material is fused to the base fabric in a single-layer unitary structure to provide at least two of: (i) a retention function, (ii) a durability/foot protection function, (iii) a grip or anti-slip function, and (iv) an outsole function; and   the bottom portion having an outer-facing, ground-contacting surface and an inner-facing, foot-contacting surface, the ground-contacting surface including at least one outsole portion being formed of the fused elastomeric material, and the inner-facing, foot-contacting surface being formed of the fused elastomeric material.   
     
     
         22 . The sock shoe of  claim 21  wherein the sock shoe is substantially free of any outsole portion in a midfoot section of the sock shoe. 
     
     
         23 . The sock shoe of  claim 22  wherein the outsole portions are disposed in forefoot and rearfoot sections of the shoe. 
     
     
         24 . The sock shoe of  claim 21  wherein the upper portion of the sock shoe has on its outer surface a coating of the fused elastic material in a pattern configured to provide a foot-retention function. 
     
     
         25 . The sock shoe of  claim 24  wherein the elastomeric material is deposited in a pattern on the upper portion of the sock shoe that extends transverse to the longitudinal axis of the sock shoe thereby being tensionable around the foot of the intended user and retentive to the foot. 
     
     
         26 . The sock shoe of  claim 25  wherein the elastomeric material is applied to the outer surface of the sock shoe and thereby also provides a grippy areas for a user to engage other surfaces. 
     
     
         27 . The sock shoe of  claim 21  wherein the sock shoe has a topline comprising fused elastomeric material configured to provide a foot-retention function. 
     
     
         28 . The sock shoe of  claim 27  further comprising a toe cap formed of the fused elastomeric material to provide durability and toe protection. 
     
     
         29 . The sock shoe of  claim 1  wherein the distal portion of the sock shoe includes one or more toe openings to expose some or all of an intended user's toes. 
     
     
         30 . The sock shoe of  claim 29  wherein the toe openings include an elastic web structure that tensions around the toe or toes of the intended user. 
     
     
         31 . The sock shoe of  claim 1  wherein the sock shoe does not include a rearfoot section and/or a midfoot/rearfoot sections.