Sock with heel padding and method of making same

Abstract

Embodiments of socks having heel padding are disclosed herein. A heel padding can be attached to the heel pocket area of a sock, preferably in the top half of the heel pocket area. Such socks can be particularly advantageous in improving the comfort, as well as the fit of shoes on a person's feet.

1 . A sock for use with an oversized shoe, the shoe having a counter and a topline above the counter, wherein the sock compensates for gaps between the heel of a wearer and the counter, the sock comprising:
 a toe portion, a foot portion, a heel pocket area, and an upper cuff portion with an opening to receive a foot of a wearer, wherein the foot portion extends from the toe portion to the heel pocket area, and the upper cuff portion is positioned on an end of the sock opposite the toe portion; and   a heel padding disposed within the heel pocket area, a combined thickness of the sock and heel padding being at least equal to the gap between the wearer's heel and the shoe counter, the heel padding configured on the sock to be positioned below the shoe topline and to push the wearer's foot forward inside the shoe;   wherein the heel pocket area is defined as an area of the sock that extends from a base of the wearer's heel bone to approximately a calcaneal insertion of the Achilles tendon when the sock is worn by the wearer.   
     
     
         2 . The sock as in  claim 1 , further comprising a pouch disposed in the heel pocket area for receiving the heel padding, the pouch positioned to align the heel padding into a target position to cover a majority of a posterior aspect of the wearer's heel bone when the sock is worn by the wearer. 
     
     
         3 . The sock as in  claim 1 , wherein the heel padding is removably coupled to the sock. 
     
     
         4 . The sock as in  claim 1 , wherein the heel padding wraps at least partially around the heel pocket area such that the heel padding rests below the wearer's Achilles tendon when the sock is worn by the wearer. 
     
     
         5 . A sock for use with an oversized shoe, the shoe having a counter and a topline above the counter, wherein the topline defines an opening for receiving a wearer's foot, the sock comprising:
 a toe portion, a foot portion, a heel pocket area, and an upper cuff portion with an opening to receive a foot of a wearer, wherein the foot portion extends from the toe portion to the heel pocket area, and the upper cuff portion is positioned on an end of the sock opposite the toe portion; and   a heel padding disposed within the heel pocket area, the heel padding configured on the sock to be positioned below the shoe topline and to push the wearer's foot forward inside the shoe;   wherein the heel pocket area is defined as an area of the sock that extends from a base of the wearer's heel bone to approximately a calcaneal insertion of the Achilles tendon when the sock is worn by the wearer.   
     
     
         6 . The sock as in  claim 5 , wherein the heel padding is disposed in the top half of the heel pocket area such that the heel padding is positioned to cover a majority of a posterior aspect of the wearer's heel bone when the sock is worn by the wearer. 
     
     
         7 . The sock as in  claim 5 , wherein the heel padding has a short-axis and long-axis, and is symmetrical along at least one of the axes. 
     
     
         8 . The sock as in  claim 5 , wherein the heel padding conforms to a curvature of an interior surface of the counter of the shoe. 
     
     
         9 . The sock as in  claim 5 , wherein the heel padding extends beyond the heel pocket area so that a superior edge of the heel padding is disposed between the calcaneal insertion of the Achilles tendon and the shoe topline when the sock is worn by the wearer in the shoe. 
     
     
         10 . The sock as in  claim 5 , wherein the heel padding is made of a polyurethane foam. 
     
     
         11 . The sock as in  claim 5 , further comprising a pouch disposed in the heel pocket area for receiving the heel padding and securing the heel padding to the sock. 
     
     
         12 . The sock as in  claim 5 , wherein the heel padding can be adjusted within the heel pocket area and positioned to achieve a target orientation for maximizing individual fit and comfort of the wearer. 
     
     
         13 . The sock as in  claim 12 , wherein the heel padding is removably coupled to the sock. 
     
     
         14 . The sock as in  claim 12 , further comprising marked reinforced sections in the heel pocket area, the marked reinforced sections provide landmarks for the wearer to achieve target orientation of the heel padding on the sock. 
     
     
         15 . The sock as in  claim 5 , wherein the heel padding is integrated with the sock. 
     
     
         16 . A method of making a sock for use with an oversized shoe, the shoe having a counter and a topline above the counter, wherein the topline defines an opening for receiving a wearer's foot, the method comprising:
 defining a heel pocket area on the sock for receiving the heel of a wearer such that the heel pocket area extends roughly from a base of the wearer's heel bone to approximately a calcaneal insertion of the Achilles tendon when the sock is worn by the wearer;   providing a heel padding that is symmetrical from left and right, and front and back, the heel padding comprising a symmetrical line separating the left and right;   defining a target orientation within the heel pocket area for positioning the heel padding to maximize shoe fit and comfort of the wearer;   positioning the heel padding within the target orientation and aligning the symmetrical line of the heel padding coincident with the sagittal plane of the foot upon wearing; and   coupling the heel padding to the sock.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the heel padding is sewn onto the sock. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the heel padding is adhered to the sock. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising creating a pouch on the sock within the heel pocket area for receiving the heel padding, and positioning the pouch to align the heel padding into a target position to cover a majority of a posterior aspect of the wearer's heel bone when the sock is worn by the wearer. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising placing the heel padding in the pouch and positioning the heel padding on a top half of the heel pocket area. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the heel padding is integrally made with the sock. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising selecting at least one material for the heel padding from a group consisting of polyurethane, cotton, cotton-polyester blend, nylon, vinyl, rubber, leather, satin, and silicone.