IP Library Granted Patent US 10,021,919
Granted Patent B2
US 10,021,919 · App. 13/699,865 · Granted Jul 17, 2018

Method and device for protecting the human body from foot strike shock

Inventors: Ellen Frieder Spicuzza (Canton, MA); Alicia M. Sacramone (Winchester, MA)
Assignee: Soleimpact, Inc.
A41B11/007A41B11/008A41B11/02A41D13/015A41D31/0044A41B2400/60
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,021,919
App. No.
13/699,865
Granted
Jul 17, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A shock-absorbing sock is shown and described. In one embodiment, the sock is a shock-absorbing athletic sock generally conforming to the shape of a human foot that includes a heel portion, a mid-foot portion and a shock absorbing assembly. The shock absorbing assembly may include a cavity assembly and a shock absorbing material. In other embodiments, the sock may include a slip-avoidance system.

Claims (12)

1. A shock-absorbing athletic sock having a shape configured to generally conform to a shape of a human foot, said sock comprising:

(a) a cavity assembly having an inner wall comprising of about fifty-one percent nylon, about forty-seven percent cotton, and about two percent spandex and an outer wall comprising of about fifty-one percent nylon, about forty-seven percent cotton, and about two percent spandex stitched together with an elastic stitching, and a wicking layer comprising microfiber and polyester, said cavity assembly comprising a heel portion and a mid-foot portion, said mid-foot portion aligned with said heel portion;

(b) a shock absorbing assembly having a rear portion and a front portion, wherein said rear portion of said shock absorbing assembly has a visco-elastic polymeric gel having a plurality of grooves extending between opposing sides of said heel portion and having a rear thickness portion tapering toward a lesser front thickness within said cavity assembly and secured by stitching to a bottom portion of said inner wall, said rear thickness portion of said visco-elastic polymeric gel configured to flow under a point contact and configured to distort under a non-point contact, said shock absorbing assembly having a plurality of grooves; and

(c) a first cuff and a second cuff, said first cuff positioned at an ankle portion of said sock configured to prevent slippage of said sock from said human foot, said second cuff positioned at a front end of said sock configured to prevent slippage of said sock from a mid-foot of the human.

2. The shock-absorbing athletic sock according to claim 1 , wherein the wicking layer is part of a slip-avoidance system.

3. The shock-absorbing athletic sock according to claim 2 , wherein said slip-avoidance system includes a stick pad.

4. The shock-absorbing athletic sock according to claim 1 , wherein said sock is adapted to be donned without a shoe.

5. A shock-absorbing athletic sock having a shape configured to generally conform to a shape of a human foot, said sock comprising:

(a) a heel portion having a width;

(b) a mid-foot portion, said mid-foot portion aligned to said heel portion;

(c) a shock absorbing assembly including (i) a cavity assembly having an inner wall consisting essentially of about fifty-one percent nylon, about forty-seven percent cotton, and about two percent spandex and an outer wall consisting essentially of about fifty-one percent nylon, about forty-seven percent cotton, and about two percent spandex stitched together with elastic stitching and (ii) a visco-elastic polymeric gel material secured by stitching to a bottom portion of said inner wall and having a plurality of grooves extending across said width of said heel portion, said visco-elastic polymeric gel material having a thickness tapering toward a front portion of said shock absorbing assembly and configured to collapse and configured to flow under a compressive point pressure and configured to rebound when said compressive point pressure is removed; and

(d) a slip-avoidance system comprising a wicking layer.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 11, 2018
From: PROTECH 10 REORG CORP.
To: SOLEIMPACT INC.
Reel/Frame 047245/0824 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 19, 2018
From: PROTECH 10, INC,
To: PROTECH 10 REORG CORP.
Reel/Frame 046124/0268 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 19, 2018
From: PROTECH 10 REORG CORP.
To: SOLEIMPACT INC.
Reel/Frame 046380/0196 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2013
From: SPICUZZA, ELLEN F.; SACRAMONE, ALICIA M.
To: PROTECH 10 INC.
Reel/Frame 029877/0181 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61348317 · May 26, 2010
Related Publication 20130145521A1 · Jun 13, 2013