FOOTWEAR WITH A POCKET

Abstract

At least one pocket may be integrated into, coupled to, or otherwise provided by any suitable footwear, where the pocket may enable the wearer of the footwear to securely hold objects in the pocket during use of the footwear.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

[0001] This application claims the benefit of prior filed U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/924,507, filed Jan. 7, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] This disclosure relates to footwear with a pocket and, more particularly, to footwear with a pocket that enables the wearer of the footwear to securely hold objects during use of the footwear.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0003] Oftentimes, a person uses a purse to carry around personal effects or other suitable items (e.g., a wallet, portable electronic device, keys, etc.) when that person's outfit does not provide suitable pockets for such use (e.g., when a user is wearing a dress or pajamas or tight pants). This can prove troublesome as a purse is often cumbersome or easily misplaced.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0004] This document describes footwear with a pocket and methods for using the same.

[0005] For example, footwear to be worn by a user may include a hollow body extending between a first end and a second end, and a pocket at least partially coupled to the hollow body and operative to hold an object, where the first end is operative to surround a portion of a leg of the user when the footwear is worn by the user, and where the second end is operative to be positioned adjacent at least one toe of the leg of the user when the footwear is worn by the user.

[0006] As another example, footwear may include a hollow body extending between a first end and a second end, a pocket at least partially coupled to the hollow body and operative to hold an object, and an auxiliary hollow body extending between a first auxiliary end and a second auxiliary end, where the first auxiliary end is coupled to the first end, and where the second auxiliary end is operative to be pulled over at least a portion of the hollow body for covering an opening of the pocket when the footwear is worn by a user.

[0007] As yet another example, a method for using footwear being worn by a lower limb of a user, where the footwear includes a hollow body extending between a first end and a second end, and a pocket at least partially coupled to the hollow body between the first and second ends, may include positioning an object at least partially within the pocket through an opening of the pocket and folding the first end over at least a portion of the hollow body to cover the opening of the pocket.

[0008] This Summary is provided merely to summarize some example embodiments, so as to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the subject matter described in this document. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the features described in this Summary are merely examples and should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the subject matter described herein in any way. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter described herein will become apparent from the following Detailed Description, Figures, and Claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] The discussion below makes reference to the following drawings, in which like reference characters may refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

[0010] FIG. 1 is a front, top, right side elevational view of a lower limb of a user wearing footwear with a pocket, in a first stage of use;

[0011] FIG. IA is a front, top, right side elevational view, similar to FIG. 1, of the lower limb and footwear of FIG. 1, in a second stage of use;

[0012] FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the lower limb and footwear of FIGS. 1 and 1A, taken from line IB-IB of FIG. 1A;

[0013] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, similar to FIG. 1B, of the lower limb of FIGS. 1-1B wearing other footwear with a pocket; and

[0014] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view, similar to FIGS. 1B and 2, of the lower limb of FIGS. 1-2 wearing other footwear with a pocket.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0015] At least one pocket may be integrated into, coupled to, or otherwise provided by any suitable footwear, where the pocket may enable the wearer of the footwear to securely hold objects in the pocket during use of the footwear. The footwear may be any suitable article of clothing that may be worn on the foot, ankle, shin, and/or lower leg of a user, such as a sock, boot, shoe, sandal, slipper, moccasin, athletic footwear, leg warmer, and the like. The footwear may include one pocket or any suitable number of pockets greater than one for holding any suitable object or collection of objects (e.g., a wallet, portable electronic device, keys, etc.). A pocket may include an opening accessible to a user from the outside of the footwear and/or from the inside of the footwear when the footwear is being worn by the user.

[0016] In some embodiments, the footwear may be configured to conceal or otherwise hide at least a portion of the opening of the pocket, the entirety of the opening of the pocket, and/or the entirety of the pocket. For example, as described below, when worn by a user, a top portion of the footwear (e.g., a portion configured to extend away from the pocket higher up along the ankle and/or leg of the user, such as towards the knee or hip of the user) may include an auxiliary cuff (e.g., a portion of the material forming the remainder of the article or a separate band of material sewn or attached (e.g., by buttons) to the remainder of the article). In some embodiments, that auxiliary cuff may be turned down or otherwise folded over another portion of the footwear (e.g., a portion further down the leg of the user closer to the foot of the user) that may include the opening of the pocket or that may include any other portion or the entirety of the pocket (e.g., when the pocket is empty and/or when one or more objects are positioned in the pocket). Such a folded configuration of an auxiliary cuff portion of the footwear may at least partially hide the existence of the pocket and/or may at least partially cover the opening of the pocket to prevent an object within the pocket from escaping the pocket.

[0017] The footwear may include any suitable adjustable mechanism for altering the size of a portion of the pocket (e.g., the size of the opening of the pocket, the diameter, cross-sectional area, tightness, or any other suitable characteristic of the pocket, etc.). For example, as described below, a length of a string (e.g., draw string) or a lace may be fed through a channel that may run within the footwear about a particular portion of the footwear (e.g., about the footwear portion that may surround the shin of a user when the footwear is worn by the user). The length of the string within the channel may be shortened or lengthened to decrease or increase the cross-sectional area of the user that may be surrounded by the channel, such as by tying a knot with the two exposed ends of the string exiting the two ends of the channel. The channel may run about a portion of a side of the pocket adjacent the exterior of the footwear, such that shortening the length of the string within the channel (e.g., tightening the size of the channel) may reduce a cross-sectional area of a portion of the pocket (e.g., to exert a force on any object in the pocket to reduce the likelihood of the object falling out of or otherwise escaping from the pocket). In other embodiments, such an adjustable mechanism may be included in the above-described cuff and may be adjusted once the cuff has been folded over a portion of the pocket.

[0018] The footwear may be made of any suitable material or combination of materials including, but not limited to, leather, plastic, rubber, textiles (e.g., polyester and/or acrylic yarn), wood, jute, metal, and the like. The footwear may be made in any suitable size, shape, color, or style for any suitable user (e.g., human men, human women, human children, pets, dolls, etc.). In some embodiments, the material and/or color of the article of clothing may hide or otherwise conceal or otherwise make the pocket difficult to discern by a human eye. For example the material about the pocket opening may be fuzzy or otherwise capable of blending to hide the opening, at least when no object is protruding through the opening. The footwear may include a soft sole for indoor use, a hard sole for outdoor use, or combinations thereof.

[0019] FIGS. 1-1B shows a lower limb 12 of a user 10 wearing footwear 100 that may include a pocket 170 operative to hold at least one object 1. As shown, lower limb 12 of user 10 may include a leg 14, an ankle 16, and a foot 18. Leg 14 may extend between an upper end 13, which may be a hip or gluteal region of user 10, and a lower end 15, which may be at ankle 16. Leg 14 may include a thigh, knee, shin, and various other anatomical parts between upper end 13 and lower end 15. Foot 18 may extend between an upper end 17, which may be at ankle 16, and a lower end 19, which may include one or more toes of user 10. Foot 18 may include a heel, arch, ball, and various other anatomical parts between upper end 17 and lower end 19. The user 10 that may wear footwear 100 may not only be of any gender identity but may also be of any age and/or animal type (e.g., human, dog, etc.).

[0020] With continued reference to FIGS. 1-1B, footwear 100 may generally be worn by user 10 on lower limb 12 in the same manner as any suitable article of clothing that may be worn on a user's foot, such as a sock, boot, shoe, sandal, slipper, moccasin, athletic footwear, leg warmer, and the like. For example, as shown, footwear 100 may include a hollow body 150 extending between a first end 101 and a second end 199. Hollow body 150 may include an outer or external surface 151 and an inner or internal surface 159. To put on footwear 100 for use, user 10 may pass lower end 19 of foot 18 through an opening of first end 101 and into the hollow space 154 of hollow body 150 towards second end 199 such that lower end 19 may be positioned adjacent second end 199 and such that first end 101 may surround at least a portion of leg 14. For example, in some embodiments, footwear 100 may be a sock, where first end 101 may be an open end operative to initially receive the toes at lower end 19 of user 10 and then pass foot 18 through at least a portion of hollow space 154 such that the toes at lower end 19 of user 10 may eventually be positioned at second end 199, which may be a closed end of the sock, and such that first end 101 may be operative to surround at least a portion of leg 14 (e.g., between ankle 16 and upper end 13 of lower limb 12). In other embodiments, second end 199 may be open, for example, when footwear 100 may be an open-toed sandal or boot.

[0021] Footwear 100 may include a main cuff 130 that may be positioned at a location FC along the length of body 150. In some embodiments, location FC of main cuff 130 may be at or near first end 101 of body 150 (e.g., when no auxiliary cuff 110 is provided by footwear 100, as described below). Alternatively or additionally, as shown in FIGS. 1-1B, location FC of main cuff 130 may be along body 150 between first end 101 and second end 199 (e.g., above ankle 16 adjacent a portion of leg 14 when worn by user 10). A main cuff body region 135 may extend from main cuff 130 towards end 199 of footwear 100 for defining at least a portion of body 150. Main cuff body region 135 may include an outer or external surface 131 that may define at least a portion of surface 151 of body 150 and an inner or internal surface 139 that may define at least a portion of surface 159 of body 150. Main cuff 130 may be provided as at least a portion of a top line or shoe collar or band or cuff of any suitable footwear 100.

[0022] Main cuff 130 may include any suitable adjustable mechanism 134 that may be operative to hold main cuff 130 and, thus, location FC of body 150 at a particular location UC along the length of lower limb 12. For example, mechanism 134 of main cuff 130 may include any suitable material that may elastically or otherwise deform or expand to the shape of lower limb 12 at location UC (e.g., without any active manual adjustment of footwear 100 by user 10). Alternatively or additionally, mechanism 134 of main cuff 130 may include at least one channel 133 extending through body 150 (e.g., main cuff body region 135) at location FC (e.g., between surfaces 131 and 139) and at least one drawstring 132 extending between a first drawstring end 132a and a second drawstring end 132b, where drawstring 132 may pass through channel 133 while ends 132a and 132b may be accessible by user 10 via respective openings 133a and 133b at opposite ends of channel 133, such that user 10 may adjust the length of drawstring 132 within channel 133 for adjusting the shape of channel 133 and, thus, main cuff body region 135 at location FC to match the shape of lower limb 12 at location UC (e.g., increasing the length of drawstring 132 within channel 133 to expand the shape and/or decreasing the length of drawstring 132 within channel 133 to contract the shape), where a user may tie ends 132a and 132b in a bow or knot or other suitable configuration to maintain a chosen length of drawstring 132 within channel 133. Any suitable adjustable mechanism 134 that may be operative to adjust a cross-sectional area of space 154 of hollow body 150 at location FC to match the cross-sectional area of user 10 at location UC may be provided by footwear 100. Alternatively, the structure of body 150 (e.g., of main cuff body region 135) may be operative to hold location FC of main cuff 130 at a particular location UC along the length of lower limb 12 with or without a functional adjustable mechanism 134 (e.g., when footwear 100 includes an at least partially rigid structure along body 150 between a portion of footwear 100 adjacent ankle 16 and location FC along the length of body 150, such as a leather boot).

[0023] Footwear 100 may include a pocket 170 that may be positioned along any portion of body 150. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1-1B, pocket 170 may be provided along a portion of main cuff body region 135. As shown, a pocket cuff 160 may be positioned at a location FP along the length of body 150. In some embodiments, location FP of pocket cuff 160 may be at or near first end 101 of body 150 (e.g., when no auxiliary cuff 110 is provided by footwear 100, as described below). Alternatively or additionally, as shown in FIGS. 1-1B, location FP of pocket cuff 160 may be along body 150 between first end 101 and second end 199 (e.g., above ankle 16 adjacent a portion of leg 14 when worn by user 10). Particularly, in some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 1-1B, location FP of pocket cuff 160 may be along body 150 below location FC by a separation distance S (e.g., along the length of body 150). As shown, a pocket opening 171 to a pocket space 173 of pocket 170 may be defined between at least a portion of pocket cuff 160 and external surface 131 of main cuff body region 135. In other embodiments, location FP may be in the same plane as location FC, such that pocket cuff 160 may extend about main cuff 130, such that separation distance S may be zero, and/or such that pocket opening 171 to pocket space 173 of pocket 170 may be defined between at least a portion of pocket cuff 160 and main cuff 130. A pocket cuff body region 165 may extend from pocket cuff 160 towards end 199 of footwear 100 for defining at least a portion of body 150. Pocket cuff body region 165 may include an outer or external surface 161 that may define at least a portion of surface 151 of body 150 and an inner or internal surface 169 that may define at least a portion of surface 169 of body 150 and/or at least an internal surface of pocket 170.

[0024] Pocket cuff 160 may include any suitable adjustable mechanism 164 that may be operative to hold pocket cuff 160 and, thus, location FP of body 150 at a particular location UP along the length of lower limb 12 and/or that may be operative to adjust the size of pocket opening 171 of pocket 170. For example, mechanism 164 of pocket cuff 160 may include any suitable material that may elastically or otherwise deform or expand to the shape of lower limb 12 at location UP in combination with the shape of any portion of any object 1 that may be protruding from pocket space 173 of pocket 170 via pocket opening 171 (e.g., without any active manual adjustment of footwear 100 by user 10). Alternatively or additionally, mechanism 164 of pocket cuff 160 may include at least one channel 163 extending through body 150 (e.g., pocket cuff body region 165) at location FP (e.g., between surfaces 161 and 169) and at least one drawstring 162 extending between a first drawstring end 162a and a second drawstring end 162b, where drawstring 162 may pass through channel 163 while ends 162a and 162b may be accessible by user 10 via respective openings 163a and 163b at opposite ends of channel 163, such that user 10 may adjust the length of drawstring 162 within channel 163 for adjusting the shape of channel 163 and, thus, pocket cuff body region 165 at location FP to match the shape of lower limb 12 at location UP in combination with the shape of any portion of any object 1 that may be protruding from pocket 170 via pocket opening 171 (e.g., increasing the length of drawstring 162 within channel 163 to expand the shape and/or decreasing the length of drawstring 162 within channel 163 to contract the shape), where a user may tie ends 162a and 162b in a bow or knot or other suitable configuration to maintain a chosen length of drawstring 162 within channel 163. Any suitable adjustable mechanism 164 may be provided by footwear 100 that may be operative to adjust a cross-sectional area of space 154 of hollow body 150 at location FP to match the cross-sectional area of user 10 at location UP in combination with any portion of any object 1 that may be protruding from pocket 170 at pocket opening 171. Alternatively, the structure of pocket cuff body region 165 may be operative to hold location FP of pocket cuff 160 at a particular location UP along the length of lower limb 12 and/or with respect to main cuff 130, with or without a functional adjustable mechanism 164 (e.g., when footwear 100 includes an at least partially rigid structure along body 150 between a portion of footwear 100 adjacent ankle 16 and location FP along the length of body 150, such as a leather boot with a rigid pocket 170).

[0025] Pocket 170 may be operative to hold any suitable object 1 or combination of objects 1 of any suitable size, shape, and weight. For example, in some embodiments, pocket 170 may be operative to hold a portable electronic device, such as a smart telephone or gaming device. Alternatively or additionally, pocket 170 may be operative to hold a wallet and/or keys and/or any other suitable object that user 10 may wish to keep on their person. As shown, pocket 170 may include a depth D between internal surface 169 and external surface 131 of body 150, a width W at either ends of pocket opening 171 that may be defined the spacing of locations at which pocket cuff 160 may be coupled to main cuff body region 135 or main cuff 130, and/or an inner length L1 between pocket cuff 130 and the bottom of pocket space 173 (e.g., where pocket cuff body region 165 may be integrated with or otherwise coupled to main cuff body region 135 opposite pocket opening 171). Depth D may be any suitable dimension, such as in the range between 0.1 inches and 0.8 inches, or in the range between 0.4 inches and 0.6 inches, or about 0.5 inches. Width W may be any suitable dimension, such as in the range between 1.0 inch and 7.0 inches, or in the range between 3.0 inches and 5.0 inches, or about 4.0 inches. Inner length L1 may be any suitable dimension, such as in the range between 3.0 inches and 9.0 inches, or in the range between 4.0 inches and 8.0 inches, or about 6.0 inches. Footwear 100 (e.g., mechanism 134 and/or mechanism 164 and/or the structure of body 150) may be configured to hold object(s) 1 of any suitable weight within pocket 170 while footwear 100 is worn by lower limb 12 of user 10, such as in the range between 50 grams and 650 grams, or in the range between 250 grams and 450 grams, or about 350 grams. As shown, at least a portion of main cuff body region 135 that may define at least a portion of pocket 170 may include a comfort component 138 that may prevent pocket 170 and/or any object 1 from exerting an uncomfortable pressure on user 10. For example, component 138 may be provided within main cuff body region 135 between surfaces 131 and 139 and/or on one or both of surfaces 131 and 139 for providing additional structure to footwear 100. Component 138 may be padding, gel, or any other suitable material or mechanism operative to reduce the potential for discomfort when pocket 170 (e.g., mechanism 164) may be securing an object 1 at least partially within a pocket space 173 of pocket 170.

[0026] As mentioned, footwear 100 may include an auxiliary cuff 110 that may be positioned at a location FA along the length of body 150. In some embodiments, location FA of auxiliary cuff 110 may be at or near first end 101 of body 150. An auxiliary cuff body region 115 may extend from auxiliary cuff 110 towards main cuff 130 of footwear 100 for defining at least a portion of body 150. Auxiliary cuff body region 115 may include an outer or external surface 111 that may define at least a portion of surface 151 of body 150 and an inner or internal surface 119 that may define at least a portion of surface 159 of body 150. Auxiliary cuff 110 may be provided as at least a portion of a top line or shoe collar or band or cuff of any suitable footwear 100 when it is fully uplifted position, such as a first stage of use of FIG. 1 when footwear 100 is fully pulled up onto lower limb 12 of user 10 and location FA may be at or about a location UU of lower limb 12 that may be above location UC (e.g., closer to end 13). However, in a second state of use, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, auxiliary cuff 110 may be pulled down over and about at least a portion of main cuff body region 135 such that location FA may be at or about a location UA of lower limb 12 that may be below location UC (e.g., farther from end 13). In some embodiments, as shown, auxiliary cuff 110 may be rolled or folded or otherwise pulled down over and about at least a portion of pocket cuff body region 165 (e.g., using main cuff 130 as a pivot or fold region) such that location FA may be at or about a portion of pocket 170 (e.g., down beyond pocket cuff 160). This may enable auxiliary cuff body region 115 to cover opening 171 and combine with main cuff body region 135 and pocket cuff body region 165 to fully enclose any object(s) 1 that may be at least partially positioned within pocket space 173 for securely holding object(s) 1 with footwear 100. When in its second stage of FIGS. 1A and 1B, for example, pocket 170 may be hidden from view of an external viewer (e.g., a viewer nearby user 10). Alternatively, even in embodiments without auxiliary cuff 110, pocket 170 may be hidden or hard to discern by an unsuspecting viewer as pocket cuff 160 may blend into main cuff body region 135 when no portion of object 1 is protruding out from pocket space 173 via pocket opening 171.

[0027] Auxiliary cuff 110 may include any suitable adjustable mechanism 114 that may be operative to hold auxiliary cuff 110 and, thus, location FA of body 150 at a particular location UA along the length of lower limb 12. For example, mechanism 114 of auxiliary cuff 110 may include any suitable material that may elastically or otherwise deform or expand to the shape of lower limb 12 at location UA (e.g., without any active manual adjustment of footwear 100 by user 10). Alternatively or additionally, mechanism 114 of auxiliary cuff 110 may include at least one channel 113 extending through body 150 (e.g., auxiliary cuff body region 115) at location FA (e.g., between surfaces 111 and 119) and at least one drawstring 112 extending between a first drawstring end 112a and a second drawstring end 112b, where drawstring 112 may pass through channel 113 while ends 112a and 112b may be accessible by user 10 via respective openings 113a and 113b at opposite ends of channel 113, such that user 10 may adjust the length of drawstring 112 within channel 113 for adjusting the shape of channel 113 and, thus, auxiliary cuff body region 115 at location FA to match the shape of lower limb 12 at location UA in combination with any portion of object(s) 1 and/or pocket cuff body region 165 and/or main cuff body region 135 that may be between lower limb 12 and auxiliary cuff 110 (e.g., increasing the length of drawstring 112 within channel 113 to expand the shape and/or decreasing the length of drawstring 112 within channel 113 to contract the shape), where a user may tie ends 112a and 112b in a bow or knot or other suitable configuration to maintain a chosen length of drawstring 112 within channel 113. Any suitable adjustable mechanism 114 may be provided by footwear 100 that may be operative to adjust a cross-sectional area of space 154 of hollow body 150 at location FA to match the cross-sectional area of user 10 at location UA in combination with the cross-sectional area of any portion of any object 1 that may be within pocket 170 and/or the cross-sectional area of any portion of pocket cuff body region 165 and/or the cross-sectional area of any portion of main cuff body region 135 that may be between location UA of lower limb 12 and auxiliary cuff 110. Alternatively, the structure of auxiliary cuff body region 115 may be operative to hold location FA of auxiliary cuff 110 at a particular location UA along the length of lower limb 12 and/or with respect to main cuff 130 and/or pocket cuff 160, with or without a functional adjustable mechanism 114 (e.g., when footwear 100 includes an at least partially rigid structure along body 150 between a portion of footwear 100 adjacent ankle 16 and location FA along the length of body 150, such as a leather boot with a rigid auxiliary cuff 110 at location FA). In some embodiments, one or more coupling components (e.g., coupling components 168) may be provided between a portion of auxiliary cuff body region 115 (e.g., at surface 111) and a portion of pocket cuff body region 165 (e.g., at surface 161) for enabling those two portions to be removably coupled together for temporarily maintaining auxiliary cuff 110 of footwear 100 in its second stage of FIGS. 1A and 1B. For example, coupling component 168 may include any suitable elements, such as complimentary snap elements or complimentary hook and loop fastener elements (e.g., Velcro®) or the like. As shown, when auxiliary cuff 110 of footwear 100 in its second stage of FIGS. 1A and 1B, pocket 170 may include an overall length L2 between auxiliary cuff 110 and the bottom of pocket space 173 (e.g., where pocket cuff body region 165 may be integrated with or otherwise coupled to main cuff body region 135 opposite pocket opening 171). Overall length L2 may be any suitable dimension, such as in the range between 5.0 inches and 15.0 inches, or in the range between 7.5 inches and 12.5 inches, or about 10.0 inches. Overall length L2 may differ from inner length L1 by spacing dimension S between location FC of main cuff 130 and location FP of pocket cuff 160.

[0028] Although pocket 170 may be shown to be oriented such that at least a portion of the spacing between pocket cuff 160 and main cuff body region 135 may extend in the same direction as foot 18 may extend from ankle 16 when footwear 100 is worn by user 10 (e.g., in the direction of axis Z of FIG. 1B, it is to be understood that any pocket 170 of footwear 100 may be oriented in any suitable manner with respect to a foot portion of footwear 100. For example, additionally or alternatively to pocket 170 being centered with respect to a Y-Z plane of FIG. 1B (e.g., along a front facing shin bone of lower limb 12), a pocket of footwear 100 may be centered with respect to an X-Y plane (e.g., along a side of lower limb 12, such as along a side of a calf muscle) or at any other suitable orientation. Multiple pockets may be provided at different orientations about a portion or portions of lower limb 12. Moreover, although pocket 170 may be shown to be distanced a dimension H above a bottom foot portion (e.g., a sole) of footwear 100, dimension H may be any suitable dimension that may position pocket 170 at any suitable position with respect to any suitable portion or portions of lower limb 12, such as at least partially above ankle 16, at least partially below ankle 16, and/or at any other suitable position with respect to the anatomy of lower limb 12 when footwear 100 is worn by user 10. For example, in some embodiments, pocket 170 may be positioned above a knee of lower limb 12 (e.g., adjacent a thigh of lower limb 12), between a knee and ankle 16 of lower limb 12 (e.g., adjacent a shin or calf of lower limb 12), at or below ankle 16 of lower limb 12, and/or adjacent a portion of foot 18 (e.g., adjacent the long plantar ligament of foot 18), or the like. Therefore, multiple pockets 170 may be provided at different orientations about lower limb 12 and/or at different heights along lower limb 12. Each pocket may be of different size and shape (e.g., a first pocket may be shaped to hold a small set of keys, while another pocket may be shaped to hold a sizeable portable electronic device). Different adjustable mechanisms and/or materials may be utilized with respect to different pockets based on the weight and size of the objects intended to be held therein.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of footwear 200 with a pocket 270. Whereas pocket opening 171 of pocket 170 of footwear 100 of FIGS. 1-1B may be accessible to a user from an exterior portion of footwear 100 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 1, pocket opening 171 may be accessible to user 100 (e.g., a hand of user 100 or another user entirely) from exterior surface 159 of body 150), pocket opening 271 of pocket 270 may be accessible from inside footwear 200 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 2, pocket opening 271 may be accessible to user 100 (e.g., a hand of user 100 or another user entirely) from interior surface 259 of body 250 adjacent lower limb 12). For example, rather than pocket cuff 260 being on the opposite side of object 1 and pocket space 273 from main cuff body region 265 (e.g., as may be the case with pocket cuff 160 being on the opposite side of object 1 and pocket space 173 from main cuff body region 165), pocket cuff 260 and body location FP and mechanism 264 may be adjacent or in contact with lower limb 12 at location UP below main cuff 230 and body location FC and mechanism 234 that may be adjacent or in contact with lower limb 12 at location UC, where the distance between pocket cuff 260 and main cuff 230 may provide pocket opening 271. Therefore, to access pocket space 273 via pocket opening 271, main cuff 230 may be temporarily pulled away from lower limb 12 in order to expose pocket opening 271 for use in receiving object 1 at least partially therethrough. Pocket space 273 may be at least partially defined by inner surface 239 of main cuff body region 235 and by outer surface 261 of pocket cuff body region 265, while outer surface 231 of main cuff body region 235 may define at least a portion of outer surface 251 of body 250, and/or while inner surface 269 of pocket cuff body region 265 may define at least a portion of inner surface 259 of body 250.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of footwear 300 with a pocket 370. Whereas pocket opening 171 of pocket 170 of footwear 100 of FIGS. 1-1B may be accessible to a user from an exterior portion of footwear 100 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 1, pocket opening 171 may be accessible to user 100 (e.g., a hand of user 100 or another user entirely) from exterior surface 159 of body 150), pocket opening 371 of pocket 370 may be accessible from a top of footwear 300 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 3, pocket opening 371 may be accessible to user 100 (e.g., a hand of user 100 or another user entirely) from between an interface of main cuff 330 and pocket cuff 360 that may be in the same plane (e.g., X-Z plane) and positioned about main cuff 330 at the same location along lower limb 12 (e.g., location UC may be the same as location UP)). For example, rather than pocket cuff 360 being below main cuff 330 (e.g., as may be the case with pocket cuff 160 and main cuff 130 and/or as may be the case with pocket cuff 260 and main cuff 230), pocket cuff 360 and body location FP and mechanism 364 may be adjacent or in contact with main cuff 330 and body location FC and mechanism 334. Therefore, to access pocket space 373 via pocket opening 371, pocket cuff 360 may be temporarily pulled away from main cuff 330 in order to expose pocket opening 371 for use in receiving object 1 at least partially therethrough. Pocket space 373 may be at least partially defined by outer surface 331 of main cuff body region 335 and by inner surface 369 of pocket cuff body region 365, while inner surface 339 of main cuff body region 335 may define at least a portion of inner surface 359 of body 350, and/or while outer surface 361 of pocket cuff body region 365 may define at least a portion of outer surface 351 of body 350. In some embodiments, one or more coupling components (e.g., coupling components 368) may be provided between a portion of main cuff 330 (e.g., at surface 331) and a portion of pocket cuff 360 (e.g., at surface 369) for enabling those two cuffs to be removably coupled for temporarily maintaining pocket opening 371 in a closed configuration (e.g., to prevent object(s) 1 from unintentionally escaping from pocket space 373 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 3)). For example, coupling components 368 may include any suitable elements, such as complimentary snap elements or complimentary hook and loop fastener elements (e.g., Velcro®) or the like. In some embodiments, only one of adjustable mechanisms 334 and 364 may be provided in combination with or without coupling components 368.

[0031] While there has been described footwear with at least one pocket, it is to be understood that many changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein in any way. Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.

[0032] Therefore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the previous description of the disclosed examples can be practiced by other than the described embodiments, which are presented for purposes of illustration rather than of limitation.

Claims

1. Footwear to be worn by a user comprising: a hollow body extending between a first end and a second end; and a pocket at least partially coupled to the hollow body and operative to hold an object, wherein: the first end is operative to surround a portion of a leg of the user when the footwear is worn by the user; and the second end is operative to be positioned adjacent at least one toe of the leg of the user when the footwear is worn by the user.

2. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the hollow body is a sock.

3. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the hollow body is a shoe.

4. The footwear of claim 1, wherein: the first end is an open end; and the second end is a closed end.

5. The footwear of claim 1, wherein: the hollow body comprises a main cuff at the first end; and the main cuff comprises an adjustable mechanism operative to hold the first end about the portion of the leg of the user when the footwear is worn by the user.

6. The footwear of claim 1, wherein: the pocket comprises a pocket cuff; a pocket opening of the pocket is provided between the pocket cuff and a portion of the hollow body; and the pocket cuff comprises an adjustable mechanism operative to limit the size of the pocket opening.

7. The footwear of claim 1, further comprising an auxiliary hollow body extending between a first auxiliary end and a second auxiliary end, wherein: the first auxiliary end is coupled to the first end; and the second auxiliary end is operative to be pulled over at least a portion of the hollow body for covering an opening of the pocket.

8. The footwear of claim 1, wherein an opening of the pocket is accessible via an external surface of the hollow body.

9. The footwear of claim 8, further comprising an auxiliary hollow body extending between a first auxiliary end and a second auxiliary end, wherein: the first auxiliary end is coupled to the first end; and the second auxiliary end is operative to be pulled over at least a portion of the hollow body for covering the opening of the pocket.

10. The footwear of claim 8, wherein: the hollow body comprises a main cuff at the first end; the main cuff comprises an adjustable mechanism operative to hold the first end about the portion of the leg of the user when the footwear is worn by the user; the pocket comprises a pocket cuff; a pocket opening of the pocket is provided between the pocket cuff and a portion of the hollow body; and the pocket cuff comprises an adjustable mechanism operative to limit the size of the pocket opening.

11. The footwear of claim 10, further comprising an auxiliary hollow body extending between a first auxiliary end and a second auxiliary end, wherein: the first auxiliary end is coupled to the first end; the second auxiliary end is operative to be pulled down about at least a portion of the hollow body; the auxiliary hollow body comprises an auxiliary cuff at the second auxiliary end; and the auxiliary cuff comprises an adjustable mechanism operative to hold the second auxiliary end against the pocket for covering the pocket opening with the auxiliary hollow body.

12. The footwear of claim 10, further comprising an auxiliary hollow body extending between a first auxiliary end and a second auxiliary end, wherein: the first auxiliary end is coupled to the first end; the second auxiliary end is operative to be pulled down about a portion of the hollow body; the auxiliary hollow body comprises a first coupling component at the second auxiliary end; the portion of the hollow body comprises a second coupling component; and the first coupling component is operative to be removably coupled to the second coupling component for covering the pocket opening with the auxiliary hollow body.

13. The footwear of claim 1, wherein an opening of the pocket is accessible via an internal surface of the hollow body.

14. The footwear of claim 13, wherein: the hollow body comprises a main cuff at the first end; the main cuff comprises an adjustable mechanism operative to hold the first end about the portion of the leg of the user when the footwear is worn by the user; the pocket comprises a pocket cuff; the pocket cuff comprises an adjustable mechanism operative to hold the pocket cuff about another portion of the leg of the user when the footwear is worn by the user; and a pocket opening of the pocket is provided between the pocket cuff and the main cuff.

15. The footwear of claim 1, wherein an opening of the pocket is accessible via a top surface of the hollow body.

16. The footwear of claim 15, wherein: the hollow body comprises a main cuff at the first end; the pocket comprises a pocket cuff; and a pocket opening of the pocket is provided between the pocket cuff and the main cuff.

17. The footwear of claim 16, wherein: the main cuff comprises a first coupling component; the pocket cuff comprises a second coupling component; and the second coupling component is operative to be removably coupled to the first coupling component for at least partially closing the pocket opening.

18. The footwear of claim 16, wherein at least one of the following is true: the main cuff comprises an adjustable mechanism operative to hold the first end about the portion of the leg of the user when the footwear is worn by the user; and the pocket cuff comprises an adjustable mechanism operative to hold the pocket cuff about the main cuff when the footwear is worn by the user.

19. Footwear comprising: a hollow body extending between a first end and a second end; a pocket at least partially coupled to the hollow body and operative to hold an object; and an auxiliary hollow body extending between a first auxiliary end and a second auxiliary end, wherein: the first auxiliary end is coupled to the first end; and the second auxiliary end is operative to be pulled over at least a portion of the hollow body for covering an opening of the pocket when the footwear is worn by a user.

20. A method for using footwear being worn by a lower limb of a user, wherein the footwear comprises a hollow body extending between a first end and a second end, a pocket at least partially coupled to the hollow body between the first and second ends, the method comprising: positioning an object at least partially within the pocket through an opening of the pocket; and folding the first end over at least a portion of the hollow body to cover the opening of the pocket.

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