Compression sock

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a sock with graduated compression and pads. The pads are on the leg section of the sock and are adapted to increase protection of the wearer, particularly, in sports applications. The pads can be aligned with the wearer's shin, which is a relatively unprotected during many athletic contests. Pads can also be positioned on the side of the sock. These pads may help protect the wearer's ankle or the side of the leg.

1 . A sock, comprising:
 a foot section to cover a foot of a wearer, the foot including material to form a closed toe end and an open, ankle end; and   a leg section to cover part of a lower leg portion of the wearer, the leg section including graduated compression, the leg section including:
 a lower end connected to the ankle end; 
 an upper end that is open to receive a leg of the wearer therein; 
 a front extending between the lower end and the upper end, the front to extend along a front of a leg of the wearer while worn; 
 graduated compression; 
 a plurality of shin pads positioned along the front of the leg section; and 
 at least one side pad positioned, at least partly, on a side of the leg section. 
   
     
     
         2 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the shin pads are polygonal in shape. 
     
     
         3 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the shin pads are aligned vertically along the front of the leg section to cover more than about half of the shin of the wearer. 
     
     
         4 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the shin pads are aligned vertically along an outer side of the leg section to cover at least part of an outer side of the leg of the wearer. 
     
     
         5 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the shin pads cover more than about three-quarters (¾) the shin of the wearer. 
     
     
         6 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the shin pads are knit into material of the leg section and cannot be removed from the leg section. 
     
     
         7 . The sock of  claim 6 , wherein the shin pads are formed of a larger loop weave than the remainder of the leg section. 
     
     
         8 . The sock of  claim 6 , wherein the shin pads are formed of a larger diameter thread than at least part of the remainder of the leg section. 
     
     
         9 . The sock of  claim 8 , wherein the remainder of the leg section is a flat knit. 
     
     
         10 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the side pad includes a plurality of side pads. 
     
     
         11 . The sock of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of side pads have a chevron shape. 
     
     
         12 . The sock of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of side pads are all adjacent an ankle of the wearer when the sock is worn. 
     
     
         13 . The sock of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of side pads includes a lower side pad below the ankle bone of the wearer and an upper side pad above the ankle of the wearer. 
     
     
         14 . The sock of  claim 10 , wherein the side pads are formed of a larger loop knit than the remainder of the leg section. 
     
     
         15 . The sock of  claim 14 , wherein the remainder of the leg section is a flat knit. 
     
     
         16 . The sock of  claim 10 , wherein the side pads are formed of a larger diameter thread than at least part of the remainder of the leg section. 
     
     
         17 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the leg section includes knit material and the knit materials of both the leg section and the foot section include hydrophobic material to increase wicking of moisture from the skin of a wearer. 
     
     
         18 . The sock of  claim 17 , wherein the foot section includes an elastic material to provide a compression such that both the foot section and the leg section are held in place by the elastic to assist in preventing blisters to the wearer. 
     
     
         19 . The sock of  claim 17 , wherein the foot section includes essentially uniform compression except for an intermediate band of different compression. 
     
     
         20 . The sock of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one pad on a top of the foot section. 
     
     
         21 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the shin pads are positioned in a side-by-side arrangement as well as vertically along the front of the leg section.