Corrective socks featuring elastic bands and reinforcing bands to correct hallux valgus and digitus quintus varus

Abstract

In a corrective sock for correcting hallux valgus and digitus quintus varus of a foot, the sock has a foot portion, and an elastic band formed in the foot portion so as to cover both a metatarsophalangeal joint portion and a Lisfranc joint portion of the foot between which first, second, third, fourth and fifth metatarsals extend. A first reinforcing band is formed on the elastic band to cover a distal caput of the first metatarsal and a distal caput of the fifth metatarsal, and a second reinforcing band is formed on the elastic band to cover a proximal caput of the first metatarsal and a pioximal caput of the fifth metatarsal.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to corrective socks for correcting hallux valgus and digitus quintus varus to thereby return a transverse arch and a longitudinal arch to a normal state, so that a normal foot balance can be recovered on the soles of foots.

2. Description of the Related Art

Human beings have been always engaged with the gravity so as to balance themselves on the foots since they acquired bipedalism. A human body is sophisticatedly and delicately created so as to be balanced as a whole with the gravity. Thus, when there are instabilities, such as hallux valgus, digitus quintus varus and so on, in the foots, especially the soles of the foots, the instabilities cause unbalances back and forth, right and left, up and down and so on in the human body. Further, whenever taking a walk, the instabilities on the soles of the foots causes harmful stresses, such as excess impacts, torsional waves and so on, in the human body, resulting in occurrence of pain in knees, hips, a neck and a head, a stiff back autonomic imbalance and so on.

For example, US 2003/0005601 A1 discloses corrective footwear for correcting the hallux valgus and the digitus quintus varus, and JP-2003-299685 A discloses corrective socks for correcting the hallux valgus and the digitus quintus varus. Although these conventional corrective footwear and corrective socks can improve the halluxvalgus and the digitus quintusvarus, it is difficult to obtain a sufficient and complete correction of the hallux valgus and the digitus quintus varus, as will be discussed in detail hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide corrective socks for correcting hallux valgus and digitus quintus varus, which is constituted so that the hallux valgus and the digitus quintus varus can be sufficiently corrected.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a corrective sock for correcting hallux valgus and digitus quintus varus of a foot, which sock comprises a foot portion, an elastic band formed in the foot portion so as to cover both a metatarsophalangeal joint portion and a Lisfranc joint portion of the foot between which first, second, third, fourth and fifth metatarsals extend, a first reinforcing band formed on the elastic band to cover a distal caput of the first metatarsal and a distal caput of the fifth metatarsal, and a second reinforcing band formed on the elastic band to cover a proximal caput of the first metatarsal and a proximal caput of the fifth metatarsal.

Preferably, the first reinforcing band slantly surrounds the foot so as to cover both the distal caput of the first metatarsal and the distal caput of the fifth metatarsal, and the second reinforcing band slantly surround the foot so as to cover both the proximal caput of the first metatarsal and the proximal caput of the fifth metatarsal.

The elastic band may include rubber yarns knitted in the foot portion, and each of the first and second reinforcing band may include non-stretchable strong yarns knitted into the elastic band.

Preferably, the foot portion has first and second pockets formed in a toe section thereof, so that first and fifth toes of the foot are received in the first and second pockets, respectively.

The foot portion may be knitted by a circular knitting machine. Also, each of the first and second reinforcing bands may be formed on the elastic band by knitting non-stretchable strong yarns into the elastic band 13A, using either a wrapping stitch method or a plating stitch method.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a corrective sock for correcting hallux valgus and digitus quintus varus of a foot, which sock comprises a foot portion, an elastic band formed in the foot portion so as to cover both a metatarsophalangeal joint portion and a Lisfranc joint portion of the foot between which first, second, third, fourth and fifth metatarsals extend, and a reinforcing band formed on the elastic band to cover distal proximal caputs of the first metatarsal and distal and proximal caputs of the fifth metatarsal.

Preferably, the reinforcing band slantly surrounds the foot so as to cover both the distal caput of the first metatarsal and the distal caput of the fifth metatarsal and both the proximal caput of the first metatarsal and the proximal caput of the fifth metatarsal.

Similar to the first aspect of the present invention, in this second aspect, the elastic band may include rubber yarns knitted in the foot portion, and the reinforcing band may include non-stretchable strong yarns knitted in to the elastic band. Also, similarly, the foot portion may have first and second pockets formed in a toe section thereof, so that first and fifth toes of the foot are received in the first and second pockets, respectively. Further, the reinforcing bands may be formed on the elastic band by knitting non-stretchable strong yarns into the elastic band, using either a wrapping stitch method or a plating stitch method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above objects and other objects will be more clearly understood from the description set forth below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a foot which is abnormally deformed due to hallux valgus and digitus quintus varus;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a toe portion of a foot having a normal transverse arch;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of a foot having a normal longitudinal arch;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a corrective sock for correcting hallux valgus and digitus quintus varus according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial bottom view of a foot portion of the corrective sock of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the corrective sock for correcting the hallux valgus and the digitus quintus varus according to the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a partial bottom view of a foot portion of the corrective sock of FIG. 6.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Before description of embodiments of the present invention, for better understanding of the present invention, with reference to FIG. 1, hallux valgus and digitus quintus varus will now be explained below.

Referring to FIG. 1, a foot is abnormally deformed due to hallux valgus and digitus quintus varus, So that five toes 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55 of the foot are huddled together. In particular, a symptom of the hallux valgus is a deviation of the first or great toe 51 to the second toe 52, and a symptom of the digitus quintus varus is a deviation of the fifth or small toe 55 to the fourth toe 54. Pathologically, the hallux valgus is defined as the symptom in which the first or large toe 51 is outwardly deviated with respect to a vertical central axis passing through a human body, and the digitus quintus varus is defined as the symptom in which the fifth or small toe 55 is inwardly deviated with respect to the vertical central axis of the human body.

As shown in FIG. 1, the foot has a metatarsophalangeal joint portion, generally indicated by reference 61M, and a Lisfranc joint portion, generally indicated by reference 61L. Also, the foot has first, second, third fourth and fifth metatarsals 71, 72, 73, 74 and 75 extending between the metatarsophalangeal joint portion 61M and the Lisfranc joint portion 61L.

When the hallux valgus is caused, a distal end or caput 71D of the first or large metatarsal 71 is abnormally and inwardly protruded with respect to the vertical central axis of the human body, as indicated by an arrow A1. Also, when the digitus quintus varus is caused, a proximal end or caput 75P of a fifth metatarsal 75 is abnormally and outwardly protruded with respect to the vertical central axis of the human body, as indicated by an arrow A2.

As well known, for example, the hallux valgus and the digitus quintus varus may be caused by repeatedly wearing shoes each having a pointed shape or narrowed width, such as fashionable or stylish shoes, high heels or the like.

In particular, when the foot is put into the shoe having the pointed shape or narrowed width, the first or large toe 51 is rotated around the distal caput 71D of the first metatarsal 71, and thus is displaced to the second toe 2 so that the distal caput 71D is inwardly shifted and protruded with respect to the vertical central axis of the human body, as indicated by the arrow A1. At this time, the displacement of the first metatarsal 71 provides a physical leverage which is defined by a point P1 which is subjected to the force, a point P2 which bears the force, and a point P3 which receive the force.

As shown in FIG. 1, the points P2 and P3 are located at the distal caput 71D of the first metatarsal 71 and the proximal caput 75P of the fifth metatarsal 75. Thus, the force caused by the first metatarsal 71 is exerted on the proximal caput 75P of the fifth metatarsal 75 so that the proximal caput 75P is abnormally and outwardly shifted and protruded with respect to the vertical central axis of the human body, as indicated by the arrow A2.

Referring to FIG. 2, reference F1 indicates a foot having a normal transverse arch TR. When the foot F1 is abnormally deformed due to the hallux valgus and the digitus quintus varus, the normal transverse arch TA may be reversely distorted as indicated by reference TA.

Also, referring to FIG. 3, reference F2 indicates a foot having a normal longitudinal arch LR. When the foot F2 is abnormally deformed due to the hallux valgus and the digitus quintus varus, the normal transverse arch LA may be distorted so as to be flattened as indicated by reference LA.

In either event, when the transverse arch TA and the longitudinal arch LA are abnormally distorted, the abnormal distortion causes unbalanced walks so that harmful stresses, such as excess impacts, torsional waves and so on, occur in the human body.

PRIOR ART

US 2003/0005601 A1 discloses a corrective sock having a pair of annular bands surrounding an instep thereof and composed of an suitable elastic material, and the annular bands are arranged so as to cover a metatarsophalangeal joint portion (61M) and a Lisfranc joint portion (61L) when a foot, which is abnormally deformed due to hallux valgus and digitus quintus varus, is put into the corrective sock. Thus, a distal caput (71D) of a first metatarsal (71) is elastically pressed outwardly by one of the elastic annular bands with respect to a vertical central axis passing through a human body, and a proximal caput (75P) of a fifth metatarsal (75) is elastically pressed inwardly by the other elastic annular band with respect to the vertical central axis passing through the human body, whereby the hallux valgus and the digitus quintus varus can be improved.

Nevertheless, the elastic forces for pressing the distal caput (71D) and the proximal caput (75P) by the elastic annular bands are relatively small, and thus it is difficult to sufficiently correct the hallux valgus and the digitus quintus varus. Also, since a body of the corrective sock is usually formed of knit material, the corrective sock is slidable and shiftable over the foot so that the respective elastic annular bands may be easily moved away from the distal caput (71D) and the proximal caput (75P).

Also, US 2003/0005601 A1 discloses a corrective sock having a pair of reinforcing sections provided on sides thereof, and the respective reinforcing sections are arranged so as to cover a distal caput (71D) of a first metatarsal (71) and a proximal caput (75P) of a fifth metatarsal (75) when a foot, which is abnormally deformed due to hallux valgus and digitus quintus varus, is put into the corrective sock. Nevertheless, the respective distal and proximal caputs (71D, 75P) cannot be sufficiently pressed outwardly and inwardly with respect to a vertical central axis passing through 8 human body.

JP-2003-299685 A discloses a corrective sock having a pair of elastic annular bands which are arranged in substantially the same manner as in US 2003/0005601 A1, and the corrective sock features three pockets formed in a toe section thereof. In particular, one of the three pockets is provided for receiving a first or large toe of a foot, another of the three pockets is provided for receiving second, third and fourth toes of the foot, and the other pocket is provided for receiving a fifth or small toe.

Nevertheless, similar to US 200310005601 A1, elastic forces for pressing a distal caput (71D) and a proximal caput (75P) by the elastic annular bands are relatively small, and thus it is difficult to sufficiently correct hallux valgus and the digitus quintus varus.

First Embodiment

With reference to FIG. 4 which is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a corrective sock according to the present invention, the corrective sock, into which a light leg of a person is put, is generally indicated by reference numeral 1.

The corrective sock 1 includes a leg portion 12 and a foot portion 13, and may be produced from suitable yarns, rubber yarns and so on by a circular knitting machine.

The foot portion 13 has an elastic annular band 13A which is formed so as to cover both a metatarsophalangeal joint portion (61M in FIG. 1) and a Lisfranc joint portion (61L in FIG. 1) between which first, second, third, fourth and fifth metatarsals (71, 72, 73, 74 and 75 in FIG. 1) extend. For example, the elastic annular band 13A includes rubber yarns as the weft, so that the respective distal and proximal caputs (71D, 75) of the first and fifth metatarsals (71, 75) elastically pressed outwardly and inwardly with respect to a vertical central axis passing through a human body.

Also, the foot portion 13 has a pair of reinforcing bands 13B and 13C surrounding the elastic annular band 13A. The reinforcing bands 13B and 13C may be formed on the elastic band 13A by knitting non-stretchable strong yarns into the elastic band 13A, using either a wrapping stitch method or a plating stitch method. In this case, preferably, the non-stretchable strong yarns are entangled with the rubber yarns of the elastic band 13A. Note that it is possible to carry out the formation of the elastic band 13A and the reinforcing bands 13B and 13C by the aforesaid circular knitting machine.

Referring to FIG. 5 which is a partial bottom view of the foot portion 13 of the corrective sock of FIG. 4, the reinforcing band 13B slantly surrounds around the foot so as to cover the distal caput 71D of the first metatarsal 71 and the distal caput 75D of the fifth metatarsal 75, and the reinforcing band 13C slantly surrounds around the foot so as to cover the proximal caput 71P of the first metatarsal 71 and the proximal caput 75P of the fifth metatarsal 75.

Due to the fact that the reinforcing bands 13B and 13C slantly surround around the foot, the corrective sock can be effectively applied to various foot types, such as an Egypt type in which the first toe has the maximum length, a Greek type in which the second toe has a larger length than the first toe, a square type in which all the five toes have substantially the same length.

Due to the fact that the reinforcing band 13B includes the non-stretchable strong yarns, the distal capit 71D of the first metatarsal 71 can be elastically pressed outwardly by a relatively large elastic force, obtained from the elastic band 13A, with respect to the vertical central axis passing the human body. Similarly, due to the fact that the reinforcing band 13C also includes the non-stretchable strong yarns, the proximal caput 75P of the fifth metatarsal 75 can be elastically pressed inwardly a relatively large elastic force, obtained from the elastic band 13A, with respect to the vertical central axis passing the human body.

In short, when a human weight is exerted on the foot, the elastic band 13A is prevented from being laterally widened by the reinforcing bands 13B and 13C, and thus it is possible to obtain the relatively large elastic forces from the elastic band 13A to effectively press outwardly and inwardly the distal caput 71D and the proximal caput 75P, respectively.

Further, due to the existence of the non-stretchable reinforcing bands 13B and 13C, the foot portion 13 can be effectively prevented from being slid and shifted over the foot. Namely, the respective non-stretchable reinforcing bands 13B and 13C cannot be easily moved away from the distal caput (71D) and the proximal caput (75P).

With the aforesaid arrangement of the corrective sock 1, since the respective distal and proximal caputs 71D and 75P can be surely pressed outwardly and inwardly by the relatively large elastic forces with respect to the vertical central axis of the human body, as indicated by arrows A3 and A4, it is possible to return the distorted transverse and longitudinal arches (see: FIGS. 2 and 3) to a normal state, resulting in sufficient correction of the hallux valgus and digitus quintus varus.

Returning to FIG. 4, the corrective sock 1 preferably has three pockets 14A, 14B and 14C formed in a toe section of the foot portion 13. The pocket 14A is provided for receiving the first or large toe of the foot, the pocket 14B is provided for receiving the second, third and fourth toes of the foot, and the pocket 14C is provided for receiving the fifth or small toe. Thus, the first toe is movable away from the second toe, and the fifth toe is movable away from the fourth toe, whereby it is possible to facilitate the correction of the hallux valgus and digitus quintus varus.

Also, the existence of the pockets 14A, 14B and 14c contributes to the prevention of the slide and shift between the foot portion 13 and the foot.

Second Embodiment

FIGS. 6 and 7, corresponding to FIGS. 4 and 5, shows a second embodiment of the corrective sock according to the present invention. Note, in FIGS. 6 and 7, the features to those of FIGS. 4 and 5 are indicated by the same references.

The second embodiment is substantially identical to the first embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 except that an single reinforcing band 13D is substituted for the pair of reinforcing bands 13B and 13C.

The reinforcing band 13D also may be formed on the elastic band 13A by knitting non-stretchable strong yarns into the elastic band 13A, using either a wrapping stitch method or a plating stitch method. Also, preferably, the non-stretchable strong yarns are entangled with the rubber yarns of the elastic band 13A.

As shown in FIG. 7, the reinforcing band 13D slantly surrounds around the foot so as to cover the distal caput (71D) of the first metatarsal (71) and the distal caput 75D of the fifth metatarsal (75). Thus, similar to the aforesaid first embodiment, the distal caput (71D) of the first metatarsal 71 and the proximal caput (75P) of the fifth metatarsal 75 can be elastically pressed outwardly and inwardly by the relatively large elastic forces, obtained from the elastic band 13A, with respect to the vertical central axis passing the human body.

Modification

In the above-mentioned embodiments, the foot portion 13 may have five pockets formed in a toe section thereof, so that the first, second, third, fourth and fifth toes are received in the respective pockets.

Finally, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing description is of preferred embodiments of the sock, and that various changes and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

Claims

1. A corrective sock for correcting hallux valgus and diqitus varus minimi of a foot, which sock comprises:

a foot portion;

an elastic band formed in said foot portion so as to cover both a metatarsophalangeal joint portion and a Lisfranc joint portion of said foot between which first, second, third, fourth and fifth metatarsals extend;

a first reinforcing band formed on said elastic band to cover a distal caput of said first metatarsal and a distal caput of said fifth metatarsal; and

a second reinforcing band formed on said elastic band to cover a proximal caput of said first metatarsal and a proximal caput of said fifth metatarsal.

2. The corrective sock as set forth in claim 1, said first reinforcing band slantly surrounds said foot so as to cover both the distal caput of said first metatarsal and the distal caput of said fifth metatarsal, and wherein said second reinforcing band slantly surround said foot so as to cover both the proximal caput of said first metatarsal and the proximal caput of said fifth metatarsal.

3. The corrective sock as set forth in claim 1, wherein said elastic band includes rubber yarns knitted in said foot portion.

4. The corrective sock as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said first and second reinforcing band includes non-stretchable strong yarns knitted into said elastic band,

5. The corrective sock as set forth in claim 1, wherein said foot portion has first and second pockets formed in a toe section thereof, so that first and fifth toes of said foot are received in said first and second pockets, respectively.

6. The corrective sock as set forth in claim 1, wherein said foot portion is knitted by a circular knitting machine.

7. The corrective sock as set forth in claim 6, wherein each of said first and second reinforcing bands is formed on said elastic band by knitting non-stretchable strong yarns into said elastic band using either a wrapping stitch method or a plating stitch method.

8. A corrective sock for correcting hallux valgus and digitus quintus varus of a foot, which sock comprises:

a foot portion;

an elastic band formed in said foot portion so as to cover both a metatarsophalangeal joint portion and a Lisfranc joint portion of said foot between which first, second, third, fourth and fifth metatarsals extend; and

a reinforcing band formed on said elastic band to cover distal proximal caputs of said first metatarsal and distal and proximal caputs of said fifth metatarsal.

9. The corrective sock as set forth in claim 8, said reinforcing band slantly surrounds said foot so as to cover both the distal caput of said first metatarsal and the distal caput of said fifth metatarsal and both the proximal caput of said first metatarsal and the proximal caput of said fifth metatarsal.

10. The corrective sock as set forth in claim 8, wherein said elastic band includes rubber yarns knitted in said foot portion.

11. The corrective sock as set forth in claim 8, wherein said reinforcing band includes non-stretchable strong yarns knitted into said elastic band.

12. The corrective sock as set forth in claim 8, wherein said foot portion has first and second pockets formed in a toe section thereof, so that first and fifth toes of said foot are received in said first and second pockets, respectively.

13. The corrective sock as set forth in claim 8, wherein said foot portion is knitted by a circular knitting machine.

14. The corrective sock as set forth in claim 13, wherein said reinforcing bands is formed on said elastic band by knitting non-stretchable strong yarns into said elastic band, using either a wrapping stitch method or a plating stitch method.