The present invention relates to apparel and, more particularly, to socks. BACKGROUND

Long socks, either long sport socks or dress socks worn with shorts, have a tendency to slip down the calf of the leg of a wearer. Even though such socks are usually provided with elastic woven into the sock material adjacent its upper portion, either trough wear from washing or overstretching, this elasticity frequently loses any ability to retain the sock in the desire position.

It is also the case that this "one size fits all" approach cannot cater for the different shapes and sizes of the legs of wearers so that for some the elastic top of the sock may be too tight and uncomfortable, for others the fit may be too loose.

It is an object of the present invention to address or at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages.

Notes

1. The term "comprising" (and grammatical variations thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive sense of "having" or "including", and not in the exclusive sense of "consi £5ting only of". v

2. The above discussion of the prior art in the Background of the invention, is not an admission that any information discussed therein is citable prior art or part of the common general knowledge of persons skilled in the art in any country.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

Accordingly, in a first broad form of the invention, there is provided a sock suspension system; said suspension syetem including an elastic strap passing around at least a portion of an upper section of said sock/ said elastic strap including a pulling tongue provided with a Velcro® patch on an inside surface of said tab; said patch adapted to engage with any one of at least three Velcro® attachment points provided οη· a periphery of a gusset or pocket of said sock.

Preferably, said elastic strap is housed in said gusset provided at said upper section of said sock.

Preferably, said pulling tongue is attached at an outer end of said elastic strap; said pulling tongue extending from an opening provided in said gusset

Preferably, said elastic strap is substantially retracted within said gusset when said elastic strap is in a non- extended state.

Preferably, an inner end of said elastic strap is secured within said gusset; said inner end secured proximate said opening.

Preferably, an outer surface of said gusset is provided with a number of said Velcro® attachment points spaced at intervals around at least a portion of said periphery of said gusset.

Preferably, said pulling tongue is of leather or other non- extensible material.

In another broad form of the invention, there is provided a method of securing a sock at the calf of a user' s leg/ said method including the steps of:

(a) drawing eaid sock onto said leg,

(b) grasping a tab projecting from an opening in a gusset proximate an upper section of said sock,

(c) pulling an elastic strap attached to said tab into a stretched condition so ae to tighten said upper section of said sock around said calf,

(d) securing said tab to a selected attachment point located on an outer surface of said gusset.

Preferably, said elastic strap is located in said gusset; said gusset forming an annular enclosed space around said upper section of said sock.

Preferably, an inner end of said elastic strap is secured within said gusset; said elastic strap passing around at least a portion of said sock inside said gusset; an outer end of said elastic strap secured to said tab.

Preferably, said selected attachment point is one of at least three attachment points positioned at spaced intervals around a portion of the periphery of said gusset. Preferably, said attachment points and an inside surface of said tab are provided with cooperating portions of Velcro®.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side view of a, sock provided with a sock suspension system according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a partially sectioned plan view of the sock of Figure 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION; OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference t:o Figures 1 and 2, a sport or dress sock 10 is provided with a suspension system 12 located at the upper section 14 of the sock. The sock 10 is provided with an annular gusset or pocket 16, extending around the periphery of the upper section 14 of the sock 10, and which forms an annular enclosed space. The gusset or pocket 16 is of sufficient depth to accommodate the width of a length of non-roll elastic strap 18 housed within the gusset 16.

In this specification, the term "non-roll elastic strap" refers to the type of wide elastic typically used in the waistband of trousers and for other applications where it is desirable that the strap remains flat across its width. Although this type of strap is the preferred material for the present invention, it will be understood that the principles of the invention can be applied using elastic cord also.

As can be seen in Figure 2, the elastic strap 16 is attached within the gusset 16, preferably at an attachment point 20 proximate an opening 22 in the outer portion 24 of the gusset 16. From this attachment point 20 the strap 18 encircles the upper portion 14 of the sock 10 within the gusset 16, with an outer end 26 of the strap 18 emerging at the opening 22 when the strap 16 is in a retracted, non- extended state.

Attached to the outer end 26 of the strap 18 and clear of the opening 22, is a pull tab 28, preferably of leather or some other non-extensible material, the inside surface of which is provided with a patch 30 of Velcro®.

Arranged at intervals around at least a portion of the periphery of the outer portion 24 of the gusset 16, are cooperating patches 32 of Velcro®, to any one of which the patch 30 of Velcro® of the pull tab 28 may be attached.

In Use

In use, a wearer pulls the sock 10 fully up the calf of the leg (not shown), then grasps the pull tab 28 to pull the elastic strap 18 into a desired stretched condition so as to tighten the elastic, and hence the upper part of the sock around the calf of the leg. When the tension applied to the elastic strap 18 is such as to be both comfortable to the wearer and at which the upper part of the sock feels secure, the Velcro® patch 30 of the pull tab 28 is pressed onto the nearest of the cooperating Velcro® patches 32, thus securing the tensioned elastic strap 18.

The adjustability of the suspension system of the invention thus provides stability, comfort and flexibility for an optimum fit of the upper portion of the sock to the wearer's calf.

The sock 10 may include an upper extension 34 above the gusset 16 _/ which may be turned down over the gusset, pull tab and Velcro® attachment patches for appearance.

The above describes only some embodiments of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.