IP Library Granted Patent US 12,295,428
Granted Patent B2
US 12,295,428 · App. 18/264,196 · Granted May 13, 2025

Structure provided with concealed modules for preventing separation of socks

Inventor: Seung-Oug Choi (Gwangju, KR)
Assignee: Seung-Oug Choi
A41B11/002D06F95/008A41B2500/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,295,428
App. No.
18/264,196
Granted
May 13, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A structure includes female and male snap buttons are supported so as to be covered by left and right concealed modules fixed to one side of two socks, respectively. Thus, when the socks are not being worn, the female and male snap buttons can be exposed by an opening operation of the concealed modules to correspondingly couple the two socks to each other so that the two socks form a pair when washed, dried, and stored. When the socks are being worn, the female and male snap buttons can be covered so as not to be exposed to the outside by a closing operation of the concealed modules. Thus, it is possible to prevent protrusions of the female and male snap buttons from contacting skin and clothing on the opposite ankle.

Claims (36)

1. A structure provided with concealed modules for preventing separation of socks, comprising:

left and right concealment modules respectively attached to sides of two socks and having entrances opened or closed at sides;

female and male snap fasteners respectively attached to centers of the left and right concealment modules, revealed upon opening the entrances of the left and right concealment modules, and engaged with each other to pair the two socks;

a pair of concavely recessed or convexly protruding pockets having a semilunar shape, the pockets disposed within the concealment modules; and

wherein each of the left and right concealment modules comprise:

an attachment band extending around a peripheral edge of the concealment modules;

a meniscus-shaped cap supporting the female or male snap fastener respectively attached to a center of the female or male snap fastener and facing outwards, the meniscus-shaped cap respectively disposed within the pocket;

thin-film covers extending inwards from and integral with peripheral edges of the cap, transformation of the cap revealing or concealing the female or male snap fastener supported on the cap; and

a rim extending outwards from the peripheral edge of the cap, the rim having multiple through holes extending through the rim to enable contact with surfaces of the socks through the multiple through holes.

2. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the pair of pockets are formed in a region between an ankle bone corresponding portion and a heel corresponding portion of each of the two socks.

3. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the left and right concealment modules comprise a silicone material.

4. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the cap has a cross-sectional thickness decreasing from the center toward the edge so as to enable transformation of the cap by a pressing force to have an inwardly concave or outwardly convex shape.

5. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the covers have a thickness, the covers divided into multiple equal parts to open or close the entrance.

6. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the multiple through holes are located at regular intervals along a circumference of the rim.

7. The structure of claim 1 , wherein the attachment band comprises an adhesive applied to a rear surface thereof to be adhered to an area of the rim and partially adhered to the surfaces of the socks through the multiple through holes.

8. A pair of socks, comprising:

a first sock;

a second sock; and

a first fastener attached to a surface of the first sock; and

a second fastener attached to a surface of the second sock;

wherein, the first fastener and the second fastener are configured to releasably attach to one another; and

wherein each of the first fastener and the second fastener respectively comprises:

a deformable concealment module having a pocket therein, the pocket being openable and closeable responsive to manual deformation of the concealment module; and

a fastening member attached to the concealment module within the pocket, the fastening member being revealed upon opening the pocket, the fastening member being hidden upon closing the pocket,

wherein the deformable concealment module has a concave shape in a closed configuration of the deformable concealment module, and a convex shape in an open configuration of the deformable concealment module,

wherein each of the first fastener and the second fastener comprises an attachment band extending around a peripheral edge of the deformable concealment module, and

wherein the deformable concealment module comprises:

a cap;

a cover extending inwards from a peripheral edge of the cap so as to define the pocket between the cap and the cover, deformation of the cap causing movement of the cover to reveal or conceal the fastening member within the pocket; and

a rim extending outwards from the peripheral edge of the cap, the rim having multiple through holes extending through the rim to enable contact with surfaces of the socks through the multiple through holes,

wherein the cap has a cross-sectional thickness decreasing from the center toward the peripheral edge of the cap so as to enable manual deformation of the cap by a pressing force to cause the cap to have an inwardly concave shape or an outwardly convex shape.

9. The pair of socks of claim 8 , wherein the pocket of the first fastener and the pocket of the second fastener are formed in a region between an ankle bone corresponding portion and a heel corresponding portion of each of the first sock and the second sock.

10. The pair of socks of claim 8 , wherein the concealment module comprises silicone.

11. The pair of socks of claim 8 , wherein the cover includes multiple divided parts.

12. The pair of socks of claim 8 , wherein the multiple through holes are located at regular intervals along the rim.

13. The pair of socks of claim 8 , wherein the attachment band comprises an adhesive applied to a surface thereof, the adhesive securing the attachment band to the rim at an interface between the rim and the attachment band, the adhesive securing the respective fastener to the respective sock at an interface between the attachment band and the respective sock within the multiple through holes in the rim.

Priority Claims (2)
KR 20-2021-0000367 · Feb 4, 2021 · national
KR 10-2021-0034597 · Mar 16, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240122272A1 · Apr 18, 2024
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