Pad for soccer sock

Abstract

A soccer sock woven from Lycra/Spandex has a protective pad sewn to the upper metatarsal prominence area of the sock, to provide protection for the wearer's foot. A tongue portion protects the metatarsal area, and wing portions protect his/her ankle joint. The pad is of layered construction, an inner layer being of closed cell polyurethane foam, and an outer layer being of molded elastomeric material more rigid than the readily compressible inner layer. The laminated pad layers are held in place by an outer fabric skin adhered to the molded elastomeric material and sewn to the sock fabric with parallel peripherally extending stitching. The pad is 3 to 6 millimeters in thickness, each layer being of different density and compressibility to accommodate the forces reacted from blows to the pad during use, and the holding forces required to secure the pad to the sock itself.

1 . A soccer sock for protecting the upper metatarsal prominence of the wearer's foot, said sock comprising an ankle height sock of textile material suitable for use with a soccer shoe, and a protective pad, said pad having a central portion for protecting the metatarsal prominence and having projecting wing portions for protecting the ankle joint, said pad formed by laminated inner and outer layers, said inner layer being of synthetic microcellular foam of ready compressibility, said outer layer being of molded elastomeric material, said inner layer being readily compressed and said outer layer having a more rigid structure, and a fabric outer skin, said outer skin being stitched to said sock and overlying said inner and outer layers, thereby affording improved holding action for said stitching. 
   
   
       2 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein said protective synthetic foam pad has a thickness in the range of 3-6 millimeters, said pad having a tongue portion with a lower edge provided above the wearer's toes and an upper portion defining said wing portions. 
   
   
       3 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein said outer skin is of woven fabric material similar to that of said sock, and said outer skin adhesively secured to said molded elastomeric layer. 
   
   
       4 . The sock of  claim 3 , wherein said outer layer is formed by a molding process to fit the metatarsal prominence of the human foot. 
   
   
       5 . The sock of  claim 4 , wherein said stitching comprises at least two continuously stitched generally parallel rows extending peripherally around said laminated pad, one row provided outside the pad periphery through only the fabric outer skin, the second of said parallel stitching rows provided inside said one row and extending through said inner and outer pad layers.