Sock for improving comfort for a user

Abstract

A sock for improving comfort for a user is provided. The sock includes a foot area having a closed end, an open end opposite the closed end, and a notch extending from an edge of the open end of the sock toward the closed end. When a part of a user's body is inserted into the sock, the notch is configured to expand from a first state, in which edges of the notch are at a first angle with respect to each other, to a second state, in which the edges of the notch are at a second angle with respect to each other, wherein the second angle is greater than the first angle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sock comprising:
 a foot area having a closed end;   an open end opposite the closed end; and   at least one notch extending from an edge of the open end of the sock toward the closed end.   
     
     
         2 . The sock of  claim 1 , further comprising a mid area between the foot area and the open end. 
     
     
         3 . The sock of  claim 1 , further comprising a band at the open end. 
     
     
         4 . The sock of  claim 2 , further comprising a band at the open end. 
     
     
         5 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one notch extends from the edge of the open end of the sock into a part of the foot area. 
     
     
         6 . The sock of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one notch extends from the edge of the open end of the sock into a part of the band. 
     
     
         7 . The sock of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one notch extends from the edge of the open end of the sock through an entire height of the band and beyond the band into a part of the foot area. 
     
     
         8 . The sock of  claim 4 , wherein the at least one notch extends from the edge of the open end of the sock through an entire height of the band and beyond the band into a part of the mid area. 
     
     
         9 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein, when a part of a user's body is inserted into the sock, the at least one notch is configured to expand from a first state, wherein edges of the at least one notch are at a first angle with respect to each other, to a second state, wherein the edges of the at least one notch are at a second angle with respect to each other, wherein the second angle is greater than the first angle. 
     
     
         10 . The sock of  claim 9 , wherein, in the first state, the at least one notch is configured to have a C shape, a D shape, a U shape, a V-neck shape, a square shape, a rectangle shape, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The sock of  claim 9 , wherein, in the second state, the at least one notch is configured to have a C shape, a D shape, a U shape, a V-neck shape, a square shape, a rectangle shape, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein, when a part of a user's body is inserted into the sock, the at least one notch is configured to expand from a first state, wherein edges of the at least one notch are substantially parallel to each other, to a second state, wherein the edges of the at least one notch are at an angle with respect to each other. 
     
     
         13 . The sock of  claim 12 , wherein, in the first state, the at least one notch is configured to have a linear shape or a rectangular shape. 
     
     
         14 . The sock of  claim 12 , wherein, in the second state, the at least one notch is configured to have a C shape, a D shape, a U shape, a V-neck shape, a square shape, a rectangle shape, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one notch includes an elastic material in an edge of the at least one notch. 
     
     
         16 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one notch includes an elastic material in an opening of the at least one notch. 
     
     
         17 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one notch is a single notch. 
     
     
         18 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one notch is located on a front of the open end facing a toe portion of the foot area. 
     
     
         19 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one notch is located on a back of the open end facing a heel portion of the foot area. 
     
     
         20 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one notch comprises a plurality of notches. 
     
     
         21 . The sock of  claim 20 , wherein the plurality of notches includes a first notch and a second notch, wherein the first notch and the second notch are in the opposite sides of the open end. 
     
     
         22 . The sock of  claim 21 , wherein the first notch is in a front of the open end facing a toe portion of the foot area and the second notch is in a back of the open end facing a heel portion of the foot area. 
     
     
         23 . A method of making the sock according to  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 providing the foot area having the at least one notch integrally formed therein.   
     
     
         24 . A method of making the sock according to  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 providing the foot area having the closed end;   providing an open end opposite the closed end; and   cutting at least one slit extending from an edge of the open end of the sock toward the closed end to form the at least one notch.