Garment including ankle cushion and method of making same

Abstract

A garment is provided including a main body adapted to enclose at least the foot of a wearer, the main body including an ankle portion and a foot portion, and a cushion located at the ankle portion of the main body, wherein the cushion is configured to protect an ankle of the wearer from abrasion caused by a heel of a footwear.

1 . A garment comprising:
 a main body adapted to enclose at least a foot of a wearer, the main body including an ankle portion and a foot portion; and   a cushion located at the ankle portion of the main body, wherein the cushion is configured to protect an ankle of the wearer from abrasion caused by a heel of a footwear.   
   
   
       2 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the cushion is made of a material selected from the group consisting of cotton, foam, feather, polyester, silk, linen, gel, rubber and plastic. 
   
   
       3 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the cushion includes a lateral body, the lateral body wrapping partially around the ankle portion from a back side of the ankle portion. 
   
   
       4 . The garment of  claim 3 , wherein the cushion includes a vertical lip, the vertical lip extending from the lateral body at least partially to the heel. 
   
   
       5 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the cushion is sewn into the main body of the hosiery garment. 
   
   
       6 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the cushion is held in place between the main body and a fabric layer sewn into the main body. 
   
   
       7 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the cushion is configured to protect the ankle of the wearer from abrasion caused by the heel of a footwear selected from the group consisting of dress shoes, casual shoes, high heeled shoes, boots, sneakers, tennis shoes, orthopedic shoes, basketball shoes, running shoes, ice skates, athletic cleats, ski boots, cross trainer shoes, sandals, and flats. 
   
   
       8 . The garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment is a garment selected from the group consisting of dress socks, casual socks, stockings, legging, toe socks, tights, thigh-high socks, and athletic socks. 
   
   
       9 . A garment adapted to be worn over an ankle of a wearer comprising:
 a cushion located above a heel portion of the sock, and extending at least partially about an ankle portion of the sock, the cushion configured to provide protection to the wearer from a heel of a footwear.   
   
   
       10 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the cushion further includes a vertical lip, the vertical lip extending from the lateral body at least partially to the heel. 
   
   
       11 . The garment of  claim 10 , wherein the vertical lip provides protection to the wearer from a plurality of footwear having a plurality of heel heights. 
   
   
       12 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the cushion is made of a material selected from the group consisting of cotton, foam, feather, polyester, silk, linen, gel, rubber and plastic. 
   
   
       13 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the cushion is sewn into the sock. 
   
   
       14 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the cushion is held in place between the sock and a fabric layer sewn into the sock. 
   
   
       15 . The garment of  claim 9 , wherein the cushion is configured to protect the ankle of the wearer from abrasion caused by the heel of a footwear selected from the group consisting of dress shoes, casual shoes, high heeled shoes, boots, sneakers, tennis shoes, orthopedic shoes, basketball shoes, running shoes, ice skates, athletic cleats, ski boots, cross trainer shoes, sandals, and flats. 
   
   
       16 . A method of producing a garment, the method comprising:
 attaching a cushion to an ankle portion of the garment, wherein the cushion is configured to protect an ankle of a wearer of the garment from abrasion caused by a heel of a footwear.   
   
   
       17 . The method of producing a garment of  claim 16 , wherein the sewing further comprises introducing the cushion to the ankle portion of the garment and sewing a fabric layer to the ankle portion around the cushion. 
   
   
       18 . The method of producing a garment of  claim 16 , wherein the method further comprises sewing the cushion to the garment.