Sock with gripping dots and a method of making same
A sock construction that substantially prevents wrinkling and bunching of the sock within the shoe. The sock construction includes a multiplicity of strategically located gripping dots disposed on the interior surface of the sock which effectively resist slippage of the sock relative to the user's foot. The gripping dots are strategically positioned so as not to restrict blood flow to the foot and so as not to inhibit normal blood circulation within the foot.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to socks and methods for making same. More particularly, the invention concerns an improved gripping sock having a friction-gripping surface consisting of a multiplicity of closely positioned gripping dots provided on the interior surface of the foot portion of the sock.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
A variety of different types of socks have been produced in the past from various materials, including natural and synthetic yarns. Styles of prior art socks include dress socks, socks for casual wear, athletic socks and special-purpose socks for special activities.
As a general rule, socks are made by knitting using circular knitting machines. Such machines typically knit a tubular fabric structure using a multiplicity of closely controlled latch needles and sinkers on a length of yarn. One form of prior art circular knitting machine is commercially available from the Lonati Company, S.P.A. of Brescia, Italy. In this machine the knitting action and stitch density is controlled by a program of instructions installed in a microprocessor.
Prior art socks are generally knitted with a rim surrounding an opening at the leg portion and an opening at the toe portion. The toe opening of a machine knit sock is typically closed in a separate operation performed on one of several different types of commercially available automatic sewing machines.
The interaction between the sock and the wearer's foot can have a profound impact on the comfort and well being of the user. For example, a wrinkle or a bunching of the stock within the shoe will, overtime, likely cause friction and skin shear which, in turn, can cause blisters, ulcers or other debilitating conditions. This result can be particularly severe with persons having poor circulation, such as persons suffering with diabetes and certain other types of physical disabilities.
Experience has shown that unless both the sock and the shoe fit nearly perfectly, wrinkling and bunching of the sock within the shoe is generally unavoidable. It is this problem that the present invention seeks to overcome by providing a novel sock and the method of making same that will substantially prevent unwanted wrinkling and bunching of the wearer's sock within the shoe even during periods of prolonged walking and exercise.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the present invention to provide a novel sock construction that substantially prevents wrinkling and bunching of the sock within the shoe. More particularly, it is an object of the invention to provide a sock construction which includes a multiplicity of strategically located gripping dots disposed on the interior surface of the sock which effectively resist slippage of the sock relative to the user's foot.
A further important object of the present invention is to provide a sock of the aforementioned character that effectively prevents slippage of the sock relative to the user's foot without restricting blood flow to the foot and without inhibiting normal blood circulation within the foot.
Another object of the invention is to provide a novel method for efficiently and cost effectively producing socks of the character described in the preceding paragraphs.
Another object of the invention is to provide a stretchable sock of the aforementioned character and the method of making the sock wherein the sock is provided with a multiplicity of gripping dots spaced such that the stretch quality of the sock is not restricted by the excessive coverage of the knit fabric by the grip-dots.
In accordance with these and other objects, the present invention concerns a sock comprising an open top, seamless, fabric receptacle that extends downwardly to a closed toe end. The receptacle includes a tapered toe section that projects from the toe end and is configured to receive the toes of the wearer, a tubular generally straight-leg section that is adjacent the leg end and is dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the leg of the wearer, and a tubular, generally straight-foot section extending between the leg section and toe section. The toe, foot and leg sections of the receptacle can be knitted of a common, high-stretch yarn and are preferably configured to cause the yarn to stretch when the sock is donned. In one embodiment of the invention, the yarn comprises multiple corespun strands, each of which includes an elastomeric core and an outer sheath of substantially non-elastic fibers. This construction provides a highly stretchable, form-fitting sock that is free of seams.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to the drawings and particularly to
Sock 24 comprises an open top, seamless, fabric enclosure that extends downwardly to a closed toe end. The enclosure includes a tapered toe section 24c that projects from the toe end and is configured to receive the toes of the wearer, a tubular generally straight-leg section 24d that is adjacent the leg end and is dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the leg of the wearer and a tubular, generally straight-foot section 24e extending between the leg section and toe section. The foot section includes a lower portion 24f having an inner surface that engages the bottom portions of the user's foot. The toe, foot and leg sections of the enclosure are preferably knitted of a yam that will permit stretching when the sock is donned.
In the performance of one form of the method of the invention the turned inside out starting sock shown in
Turning next to
In the performance of the emulsion deposition step, the apertured stencil 38 is positioned above the first assemblage 40 in the manner shown in
This curing step is accomplished using a curing means for curing the emulsion, such as the radiation emitting device 44 shown in
Following the curing step, the first cured precursor thus formed is removed from the mandrel by disengaging the sock from the generally “V”-shaped gripping element and sliding the cured precursor over the end of the mandrel 26. As depicted in
Turning now to
In the performance of the alternate form of the method of the invention, the turned inside out starting sock shown in
Turning to
In the performance of the emulsion deposition step of this alternate form of the invention, the apertured stencil 58 is positioned above the first assemblage 60 in the manner shown in
Following the curing step, the first cured precursor thus formed is removed from the mandrel 50. As depicted in
Referring now to
In the performance of the alternate form of the method of the invention, the turned inside out starting sock shown in
Turning to
In the performance of the emulsion deposition step of this latest form of the invention, the apertured stencil 70 is positioned above the first assemblage 72 in the manner shown in
Following this first curing step, assemblage 69 is turned over in the manner depicted in
Following the second curing step, the second cured precursor thus formed is removed from the mandrel 66. The second precursor formed by depositing grip-dots on both sides of the interior surface 24b of the foot engaging portion of the sock 63 (see
Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A gripping sock having inner and outer surfaces, an open top, a generally tubular-shaped leg section that is dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the leg of the wearer and a foot section connected to said leg section and dimensioned to receive the foot of the wearer, the foot and leg sections being constructed from a yam and being configured to stretch when the sock is donned, said foot section having a lower portion, including an inner surface having a multiplicity of yieldably deformable grip-dots constructed and arranged to prevent slippage of the sock relative to the wearers foot.
2. The gripping sock as defined in claim 1 in which said yieldably deformable grip-dots comprise a polymer emulsion.
3. The gripping sock as defined in claim 1 in which said yieldably deformable grip-dots comprise a polyvinyl chloride emulsion.
4. The gripping sock as defined in claim 1 in which said yieldably deformable grip-dots comprise a liquid vinyl.
5. The gripping sock as defined in claim 1 in which said yarn comprises natural fibers.
6. The gripping sock as defined in claim 1 in which said yarn comprises synthetic fibers.
7. The gripping sock as defined in claim 1 in which said yarn comprises synthetic fibers, which incorporate elastic filaments.
8. A method of making a gripping sock comprising the steps of:
- (a) forming a generally foot-shaped sock having first and second surfaces and a lower portion;
- (b) depositing a multiplicity of dots of a gripping material on said first surface of said lower portion of said sock to form a precursor; and
- (c) turning said precursor inside out to form a finished sock.
9. The method as defined in claim 8 in which said gripping material comprises a polymer emulsion.
10. The method as described in claim 8 in which said gripping material comprises a polyvinyl chloride emulsion.
11. The method as described in claim 8 in which said gripping material comprises a liquid vinyl.
12. A method of making a sock using an apparatus comprising a sock positioning mandrel and a curing apparatus, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) forming a generally foot-shaped sock including a lower portion having first and second surfaces;
- (b) positioning said generally foot-shaped sock on the mandrel to form a first assemblage wherein at least a portion of the first surface of said lower portion of said generally foot-shaped sock is in engagement with said generally planar portion of said mandrel;
- (c) depositing a multiplicity of dots of a gripping material on said first surface of said lower portion of said generally foot-shaped sock to form an uncured first precursor;
- (d) using the curing apparatus, curing said gripping material to form a first cured precursor; and
- (e) removing said first cured precursor from the mandrel and turning said first cured precursor inside out to form a finished sock.
13. The method as defined in claim 12 in which said gripping material comprises a polymer emulsion.
14. The method as described in claim 13 in which said gripping material comprises a polyvinyl chloride emulsion.
15. The method as described in claim 13 in which said curing apparatus comprises an irradiation device for producing ultraviolet radiation.
16. The method as described in claim 13 in which said curing apparatus comprises a heating device for heating said gripping material.
17. The method as defined in claim 13 in which said polymer emulsion comprises a polyvinyl chloride emulsion.
18. The method as defined in claim 13 in which said mandrel comprises a three-dimensional article.
19. The method as defined in claim 13 in which said mandrel comprises a generally foot-shaped, planar article.
20. The method as defined in claim 13 in which said mandrel comprises a planar article having a sock gripping element.
21. The method as defined in claim 20 in which said sock gripping element is generally “V”-shaped.
22. An apparatus for making a gripping sock from a sock having a foot receiving portion for engagement with the foot of the user, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) a sock supporting mandrel comprising a generally planar support member having first and second ends, a generally planar support portion disposed intermediate said first and second ends and a sock capture element located in intermediate said first and second ends;
- (b) a stencil operatively associated with said sock supporting mandrel for use in depositing a multiplicity of dots of a curable emulsion onto said foot receiving portion of said sock; and
- (c) curing means for curing said curable emulsion.
23. The apparatus as defined in claim 22 in which said supporting mandrel is provided with an aperture and in which said capture element comprises a generally “V”-shaped sock capture element extending into said aperture.
24. The apparatus as defined in claim 22 in which said supporting mandrel has first and second ends and a generally planar sock supporting planar portion disposed intermediate said first and second ends.
25. The apparatus as defined in claim 22 in which said first end of said supporting mandrel is tapered and in which said second end comprises a segment of reduced width.
24. The apparatus as defined in claim 22 in which said curing means comprises a radiation emitting device.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 22, 2005
Publication Date: Feb 8, 2007
Inventor: Cole Williams (Bainbridge Island, WA)
Application Number: 11/187,088
International Classification: A41B 11/00 (20060101);