US2586045A - Sock-type footwear - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 19, 1952 J. HOZA SOCK-TYPE FOOTWEAR Filed June 25 1950 INVENTUR Llnhn H02 51 ATTEIRNE Patented Feb. 19, 1952 UNITED *STATES PATENT OFFICE soon-TYPE FOOTWEAR,

John Hoza, Belcamp, Md.

.ApplicationJune23, 1950, Serial No. 169,969

1 "Claim.

prise a regular knitted sock having a sole attached thereto so that the socks serve as shoes for lounging purposes. Theicustomary socks are moccasin type soft leather soles that are removably secured to the socks by large loose stitches. Thus, the socks absorbentlyand porously encase the wearers feet while the soles save most of the wear and tear on the socks.

These loafer socks have two principal defects, namely: they are not 'water repellent and, consequently, are not altogether'.-:suitable. for use on thev waterfront, boats or the like; and, primarily, they are difficult to launder because the soles must be removed by removing the stitches before washing the socks and then, after the socks are dry, the soles must be again sewed to the socks.

Having in mind the defects of the prior art constructions, it is the principal object of the present invention to provide socks having permanently attached soles and which are capable of being laundered.

It is another object of the invention to provide loafer socks with permanently attached waterproof soles.

It is a further object of the invention to provide loafer socks having cushion soles.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide loafer socks having soft, flexible heel and toe counters.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide loafer socks with simplicity of organization, economy of construction, and efficiency of operation.

The foregoing objects and others ancillary thereto are preferably accomplished, in accordance with the present invention, by a regular, loosely knit sock, preferably cotton, having a thin rubber sole permanently attached to the sole and slightly up the sides of the sock. The rubber sole, preferably, includes a sponge rubber inner sole to cushion the wearers foot. Thin sheet-rubber toe and heel counters are provided to lightly and resiliently support the sock at these points. The rubber parts are attached to the sock by a suitable cement to enable adhesion without completely impairing the absorbency of the fabric.

The so-calledarticle of footwear .or loafer socks have become'somewhat popular 'and com-' composed of ordinary wool orcotton socks and The novel features that are considered characteristic ofthe-invention are set forth with particularity in -the agppended claim. The invention=;itse1-f, however ,-:both as to its-organization and its-method of operation, together with additionalobjects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of a specific embodiment when read in connection with-the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters indicate like :partsthroughout the several .figures and ,in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective-of a loafer sock in accordancewith the present invention;

Figure 2 .is a cross-sectional view takenon line 2-2 of Figure 1; 1

Figure 3 is an exploded cross-sectional view, similar to Figure .2 but showing the individual parts-prior to assembly; and

Figure 4 is-a cross sectional view takenon line 4--4 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, specifically to Figure 1, an article of footwear or loafer sock, according to the present invention, comprises a regular knit sock I that may be of any suitable knitting material but is preferably of cotton, and

preferably comprises a relatively large or loose knit and a heavily ribbed ankle and leg portion, as shown. This sock I is provided with the usual foxing stri 2, preferably a thin rubber strip, around the sides of the sock foot, and a relatively thin rubber sole 3 that extends up and partially over the foxing strip 2. If desired, thin sheet rubber counters 4 may be provided at the toe and heel, these counters bein identical as far as construction is concerned, differing only in size and shape.

The specific sole construction is best shown in Figures 2 and 3, wherein it will be seen that the sole 3 comprises a thin rubber sheet 5 forming the outer sole and surrounding a relatively thicker inner sole 6 composed of a layer of s onge rubber. The sponge rubber layer 6, while being somewhat thicker than the sole sheet 5, is relatively thin so as to produce a thin, light, highly flexible sole.

The inner sole 6 is preferably secured to and embedded in a thin fabric friction reinforcement 1 which, in turn, is secured to the sole sheet 5, thus providing a thin but strong sole construction. The inner sole 6 is secured directly to the sole of the sock, there being a partial embedding of the sponge rubber in the sock threads and stitches which provides good adhesion but does not materially inhibit absorption by the sock. In addition a thin reinforcing strip 8 of fabric is interposed between the sponge rubber inner sole 6 and foxing strip 2, said strip 8 extending up around the edge of the inner sole 6 and over the sides of the sock foot portion but below the top edge of the foxing strip 2. The foregoing parts are all bonded together and the 'foxing strip 2, liner 8 and inner sole 5 are applied to the sock I, and then the entire assembly is inserted intoa vulcanizer and vulcanized to provide permanent adherence. I

If desired, the counter pieces 4 may be applied to the heel and toe portions of the sock, as illustrated in the cross-section through the toe portion shown in Figure 4. These counters are preferably cut from the thin sheet rubber which is used for the outer sole 5 and are cut to shape for the particular location, that is, the heel or the toe. The counters 4 are attached directly to the sock material and beneath the foxing strip 2.

In view of the foregoing description, it will be seen that, according to the invention, a unitary loafer sock is provided, the sole being waterproof and integrally secured so that the unitary structure maybe laundered without the necessity of removing and re-attaching the sole. The relatively thin sponge rubber inner sole cushions the foot without materially thickening the solefas a whole. Thus, a completely practical, economical, sanitary and eflicient loafer sock is afforded by the invention.

Although a certain specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is obvious that many modifications thereof are possible. The invention, therefore, is not to be restricted except in so far as is necessitated by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claim.

That which is claimed, as new, is:

An article of footwear comprising a seamless open mesh knit sock including a foot portion, a relatively thick inner sole formed of sponge rubher cemented to the bottom of the foot portion of the open mesh seamless sock, a thin fabric strip cemented to the side wall of the open mesh sock and the under side of the margin of the sponge rubber, a rubber foxing strip overlying the thin fabric strip and extended beyond the upper and lower edges of said fabric strip, the upper edge of the rubber foxing strip being cemented to the lower portion ofv the side wall of the sock and the lower edge cemented to the bottom of the sponge rubber inner sole and the intermediate portion being cemented to the fabric strip; a thin fabric sheet cemented to and extending entirely over the bottom of the sponge rubber inner sole and over the lower portion of the rubber foxing strip and cemented thereto, and a thin sheet of rubber extending over the fabric sheet and up and around the lower portion of the sides of the rubber foxing strip, said thin sheet of rubber being' cemented to the fabric sheet and the rubber foxing strip.

JOHN HOZA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,249,702 Wiegard Dec. 11, 1917 1,622,860 Cutler Mar. 29, 1927 2,143,556 Hodaly Jan. 10, 1939 2,147,197 Glidden Feb. 14, 1939 2.538.673 Donahue Jan. 16. 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 362,799 Italy Sept. 5, 1938

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