Method and device for protecting the human body from footstrike shock

Abstract

A shock-absorbing sock is shown and described. In one embodiment, the sock is a shock-absorbing athletic sock generally conforming to the shape of a human foot that includes a heel portion, a mid-foot portion and a shock absorbing assembly. The shock absorbing assembly may include a cavity assembly and a shock absorbing material. In other embodiments, the sock may include a slip-avoidance system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . In a sock having a heel portion, a mid-foot portion and a shock absorbing assembly, said sock comprising:
 (a) a cavity assembly; and   (b) a shock absorbing material secured in said cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein an inner wall and an outer wall define said cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said inner wall and said outer wall are stitched together, whereby said stitching is an elastic stitching adapted to allow flexibility and movement of said inner wall and outer wall about one another. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said cavity wicks moisture away from a user's foot. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said sock including at least one layer secured adjacent to said cavity chosen from a wicking layer, a protective layer and an adhesive layer. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said cavity has sufficient memory to hold said cavity in place. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said shock absorbing material is a gel. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said shock absorbing material is a visco-elastic polymeric gel. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein said shock absorbing material is adapted to flow and absorb shock under a load. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said shock absorbing material is adapted to mimic an elasticity of a human flesh. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said shock absorbing material absorbs greater than about 94 percent of impact shock. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said shock absorbing assembly cushions a human foot from foot-strike shock while said mid-foot portion allows tactility in said ball area and toes. 
     
     
         13 . A shock-absorbing athletic sock comprising:
 (a) a heel portion;   (b) a mid-foot portion; and   (c) a shock absorbing assembly including (i) a cavity assembly and (ii) a visco elastic polymeric shock absorbing material adapted to absorb greater than about 94 percent of impact shock.