Athletic sock

Application filed August 13, 1924. Serial No. 731.708.

To dll whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, William S. Prankard, citizen of the United States, residing at 210 Riverside Drive, in the city, county, 5 and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Athletic Socks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to wearing apparel, and is more especially directed to 10 improvements in foot wear, such, for instance, as socks.

As is well known, athletes and others who engage in games and various forms of activities which involve more or less con15 stant use of the pedal extremities, find that the foot portions of their socks quickly wear out, so that frequent additions to their supply of foot wear must be made. As the leg portion of the sock of hose is generally 20 in perfect condition, it will be obvious that the necessity for discarding socks or, hose after a relatively brief period of use, because of the worn condition of the foot portions thereof, is an expensive item, and in 25 an effort to minimize the expense incident to the replacement of the entire sock, socalled half socks or foot portions have been designed in conjunction with which independently made leg portions may be used. ⁸⁰ These half socks or foot portions have generally been unsatisfactory in use, inasmuch as they involve the employment of a strap, elastic garter, or other means for fastening them about the ankle. Manifestly, fasten35 ing devices of the character referred to are more or less bulky and cumbersome and have a tendency to cause discomfort to the wearer, especially if a high shoe is worn. On the other hand where a low shoe is used, 40 the outline of the fastening· means is usually accentuated within the leg portion which is commonly used in conjunction with articles of this kind, so that the appearance is generally unsightly.

In those games where the leg portions of the hose may be entirely dispensed with and in which low . shoes are usually worn, the fastening devices of the character above mentioned are of a nature to interfere with 50 the freedom of movement of the muscles of the ankle or instep and frequently impede the circulation of the blood through the foot, so that runners, hurdlers, etc., forego the advantages flowing from the use of a 55 sock and rarely resort to any foot covering other than their’low-cut shoes.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a half sock or foot protector which will overcome the disadvantages of prior articles of the kind in an effi- 60 cient and economical manner.

More specifically, my invention is directed to a half sock or foot protector, adapted to be used with or without a cooperating leg portion, which embodies integrally formed 65 elastic supporting means embracing the ankle whereby the half sock or foot protector, when worn, will be caused to closely conform to the configuration of the foot and ankle or instep. 70

My invention further contemplates a half sock or foot protector which may be woven or knitted of any desired material, and which is especially useful in meeting the requirements of those whose foot conditions 75 make it necessary or desirable to make frequent changes of their foot wear.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will present themselves as the description proceeds, and I would have it ⁸θ understood that I reserve unto myself all rights to the full range· of equivalents, both in structure and uses, to which I may be entitled under my invention in its broadest aspect. 85

For the purposes of the present disclosure 1 have elected to illustrate and describe a preferred embodiment of my invention, but it will be evident that my invention may take other forms, without departing from M the spirit and scope thereof, as defined by the appended claim.. ‘

In the drawings, Figure 1, is a view in elevation showing a half sock or foot pro tector made in accordance with my inven- ⁰⁵tion, as cooperatively associated with a legportion when in use; and _η Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view of a half sock or foot protector shown in Figure 1. loo . Referring now to the drawings in detail, m which like characters of reference are employed to designate similar parts and elements .in both views, 7 represents the half sock or foot protector which may be ¹⁰⁵woven or knitted from any suitable material, in accordance with established practice, to conform to the general outline of the human foot.

It-will be observed that the body portion ^1J of ihe half sock or foot protector is closely woven or knitted and is provided with darts

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8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13, whereby it is shaped to fit the foot of the wearer. That portion of the sock or foot protector which is adapted to be disposed about, the instep or ankle 6 is of a ribbed construction, as shown at 14, this ribbed portion merging into or terminating in a band 15, surrounding the top of the half sock or foot protector in which the ribbing is doubled and of a closer weave 10 or texture than the aforesaid major portion

14. The rib portions 14—15 are highly elastic, and are so positioned upon the improved half sock as to grip snugly around the ankle directly over the instep and slightly above the heel of the wearer. This causes the heel portion of the sock to be drawn upwardly, while the remainder of the sock is drawn rearwardly toward the ankle, thus insuring a proper and com20 fortable fit.

By means of this construction I am able to produce a half sock which not only fits the foot satisfactorily, but one which at all times adjusts itself and lies snug around the ankle, so as to avoid all wrinkles ami 25 discomfort to the wearer.