Cushioned sock

• US 5,329,640 A
• Filed: 04/14/1993
• Issued: 07/19/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hourigan, James T.
• Original Assignee: Hourigan, James T.
• Inventors: Hourigan, James T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crowder, Clifford D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HALE, GLORIA M
• Application Number:
  US08/045,729
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 2/239, 2/19, 2/267, 2/DIG. 3, 2/DIG. 10, 2/2, 2/88, 2/93, 2/29
• US Class Current: 2/239
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 11/00 Hosiery; Panti-hose elastic stockings for curative purposes A61F13/08
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 2/03 Inflatable garment
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 2/10 Inflatable hat

Abstract

An adjustably cushioned sock wherein a plurality of flexible bladders are provided internally of the sock to receive and retain variable amounts of air therein; pumps to variably supply air to the internal flexible bladders; and a release value to permit such air contained within the flexible internal bladders to be variably exhausted therefrom.

Claims

1. An adjustably cushioned sock having a cuff portion adapted to extend above the ankle, an ankle portion, an instep portion, and a sole portion comprising:

an interior layer and an exterior layer of fabric material forming said sock;

first and second separate air inflatable bladders disposed between said interior and exterior layers of fabric material to form separate circuits adapted to receive and retain air therein;

first and second finger-operated air pumps for each of said circuits, respectively, mounted on said exterior layer of said sock;

said first inflatable bladder being adapted for receiving and retaining air within the fabric layers of said sock over said instep and ankle portions of said sock;

said second inflatable bladder being adapted for receiving and retaining air within the fabric layers of said sock making up said sole portion of said sock; and

flexible manifold tubing disposed within said first and second layers of material of said sock to feed air from each said air pump into said first and said second bladders, respectively.

2. A sock as in claim 1 wherein flexible tubing is provided connecting each of said circuits to a finger-operated exhaust valve mounted on the surface of said sock.

3. The cushioned sock of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second inflatable bladders comprises a plurality of closed-end flexible tubing members disposed between said layers of fabric material.

4. The cushioned sock of claim 1 wherein each of said first and second inflatable bladders comprises a plurality of closed-end flexible tubing members disposed between said layers of fabric material.

5. The cushioned sock of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first or second finger-operated air pumps is located on said cuff portion of said sock.

6. The cushioned sock of claim 1 further including a finger-operated air release valve connected to at least one of said first or second inflatable bladders.

7. The cushioned sock of claim 1 further including first and second finger-operated air release valves connected to each of said first or second inflatable bladders, respectively, said first and second finger-operated air release valves being mounted on said exterior layer of fabric material.