COMPRESSIVE RESISTANT FABRIC

Abstract

A sock includes a cuff portion, an upper portion, and a lower portion. The lower portion includes at least one non-compressive resistant fiber, a heal area, a toe area, and at least one compressive resistant fiber. The at least one compressive resistant fiber is located in at least one of the heal area and the toe area and.

Description

The application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/464,758 which was filed on Feb. 28, 2017.

BACKGROUND

Summary

In one exemplary embodiment, a sock includes a cuff portion, an upper portion, and a lower portion. The lower portion includes at least one non-compressive resistant fiber, a heal area, a toe area, and at least one compressive resistant fiber. The at least one compressive resistant fiber is located in at least one of the heal area and the toe area and.

These and other features of the disclosed examples can be understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings, which can be briefly described as follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a sock according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates a bottom view of the sock of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of compressive resistant fibers in the sock of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the compressive resistant fibers in the sock of FIG. 1 being compressed.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a sock according to another embodiment.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a sock according to yet another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure generally relates to compressive resistant fabrics used in clothing, such as socks, or in other applications where a compressive resistant fabric is needed. As discussed further below, compressive resistant fabric possesses many benefits when incorporated into apparel, such as socks in one example.

FIG. 1 illustrates a sock 10 according to one non-limiting embodiment of this disclosure. The sock 10 includes a toe portion 12, an upper portion 14, a lower portion 16, a heel portion 18, and a cuff portion 20. A majority of the sock 10 includes fabric made of one or more of the following: cotton, polyester, cotton-polyester blend, nylon, wool, merino, bamboo, silk, or other non-compressive resistant materials. The fabric of the sock 10 is breathable and may also include moisture wicking properties, antibacterial properties that can reduce the risk of infection, and/or odor control properties. The sock 10 also includes a flexible compressive resistant thread or fiber that is also incorporated into the fabric of the sock 10 as will be described further below.

The toe portion 12 is located at a distal end of the sock 10 opposite the cuff portion 20 and is enclosed to form an end of the sock 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the toe portion 12 includes a toe seem 12A that encloses the distal end of the sock 10.

The upper portion 14 is located on a top side of the sock 10 such that the upper portion 14 would be located adjacent a top side of a foot located in the sock 10.

The lower portion 16 is located on a bottom side of the sock 10 opposite the upper portion 14. The lower portion 16 is configured to be located adjacent a bottom side of a foot located in the sock 10.

The heel portion 18 forms a transition between the cuff portion 20 and the lower portion 16 of the sock 10. The heel portion 18 is configured to be located adjacent a heel of a foot located in the sock 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the heel portion 18 includes a heel seam 18A that connects adjacent pieces of the heel portion 18 such that the heel portion 18 will conform to a general heel shape of a foot in the sock 10.

The cuff portion 20 is located at a proximal end of the sock 10 and includes an opening 22 that provides access to an interior of the sock 10 such that the sock 10 can accept a foot inside. The cuff portion 20 contributes to maintaining the sock 10 on a foot by incorporating an elastic or stretchable material into the fabric that will reduce a width dimension of the cuff portion 20 such that the cuff portion 20 will fit snuggly against the ankle but not slide down past the ankle and foot.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the sock 10 illustrating a path for a flexible compressive resistant fiber 24 or thread through the lower portion 16 of the sock 10. The flexible compressive resistant fiber 24 follows a toe serpentine pattern 26A and a heel serpentine pattern 26B in the lower portion 16 adjacent the toe portion 12 and the heel portion 18, respectively, and conforms to the shape of a foot in the sock 10. The ability to conform to the shape of the foot allows the compressive resistant fiber 24 to remain in position on the load bearing portions of the foot, such as a heel or ball of the foot.

In the illustrated non-limiting embodiment, the toe and heel serpentine patterns 26A, 26B follow a generally widthwise path in the lower portion 16. In another embodiment, the toe and heel serpentine patterns 26A, 26B follow a generally longitudinal pattern back and forth towards the heel portion 18 and the toe portion 12. Although the toe and heel serpentine patterns 26A, 26B are shown as a single fiber or thread with a connecting portion 24B of the compressive resistant fiber 24 extending through an arch portion 28, the toe and heel serpentine patterns 26A, 26b could be formed from separate compressive resistant fibers 24.

In another non-limiting embodiment, a density or concentration of the compressive resistant fibers 24 could be different between the toe serpentine pattern 26A and the heel serpentine pattern 26B. Moreover, in yet another embodiment, the sock 10 could include either the toe serpentine pattern 26A or the heel serpentine pattern 26B but not both.

FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged view of the compressive resistant fibers 24 in the lower portion 16 of the sock 10. As shown in the illustrated non-limiting embodiment, the compressive resistant fibers 24 extend in a first direction and the non-compressive resistant fibers 30 extend in a second direction that is generally perpendicular to the first direction. In another non-limiting embodiment, the compressive resistant fibers 24 could include at least one non-compressive resistant fiber 30 between adjacent compressive resistance fibers 24. Some or all of the non-compressive resistant fibers 30 could also be impregnated with antibacterial, anti-moisture, and anti-odor substances that can be in direct contact with the foot and still allow the sock 10 to be breathable. The non-compressive resistant fibers 30 improve the manufacturability of the sock 10 by allowing the compressive resistant fibers 24 to move through a weaving machine with less resistance and friction than if the sock 10 was made entirely out of the compressive resistant fibers 24.

Moreover, using the compressive resistant fibers 24 instead of a solid compressive resistant pad reduces the weight of the sock 10 by allowing the compressive resistant fibers 24 to expand and fill the dead or void spaces in the fabric of the sock 10. Using the compressive resistant fibers 24 in place of a solid compressive resistant pad also increases the breathability of the sock 10.

The compressive resistant fibers 24 in the sock 10 may vary depending on the application of the sock 10, such as an athletic sock compared to a casual or dress sock. The compressive resistant fibers 24 can include encapsulated gels, rubbers (synthetic and natural), silicones, fluoroelastomer, fluoropolymer, foams, and other suitable materials. These materials are easily cleaned and resistant to deterioration under significant compressive forces.

A durometer of the compressive resistant fibers 24 can range from 10-80 on the Shore-A scale. In one non-limiting embodiment, the compressive resistant fibers 24 are silicone and include a Shore-A rating of 20 or 30 and a diameter of 1/64^th of an inch or 1/32^nd of an inch, respectively. For example, athletic socks could include a greater durometer and thread diameter to withstand greater loads place on the sock 10 during use while a dress sock, casual sock, or pantyhose could include a lower durometer and thread diameter to accommodate lower load levels and fitting within a person's normal size dress shoe.

The cross-sectional profile of the compressive resistant fibers 24 could also include varying cross sections such circumferential or longitudinal grooves, protrusions, or textures. These features in the compressive resistant fibers 24 can promote stimulation or provide feedback through a person's foot through the foot coming into contact with the varying cross sections.

Moreover, the compressive resistant fibers 24 used in the heel serpentine pattern 26B could include different physical properties from the compressive resistant fibers 24 in the toe serpentine pattern 26A. This will allow the sock 10 to accommodate different applications such where the amount of compressive force applied by a heel or ball region of the foot varies.

The compressive resistant fibers 24 may also include properties that vary depending on temperature, such as body warmth, and duration of compressive force applied. These properties could be achieved through the use of thermoplastics or anti-Newtonian materials.

As shown in FIG. 3, the compressive resistant fibers 24 in the illustrated embodiment include a circular cross section that compresses to a non-circular cross section (FIG. 4) when a compressive force, such as the weight of a person is applied to the compressive and non-compressive resistant fibers 24, 30. Because the fibers 24 are compressive resistant, they will return to their original circular configuration when the compressive force is removed. This allows a portion of the kinetic energy stored in the compressive resistant fibers 24 to be transferred back to the foot. The compressive resistant nature of the fibers 24 also provides the user with improved comfort and a sock that a new and soft feeling for a greater duration of time compared to a sock that does not have compressive resistant fibers 24.

FIG. 5 illustrates a sock 110 according to another non-limiting embodiment. The sock 110 is similar to the sock 10 with similar features identified by the addition of a leading 1 except where noted below or shown in the Figures. The sock 110 includes the compressive resistant fibers 24 woven into the entire lower portion 116 of the sock 110. The compressive resistant fibers 24 extend longitudinally in a direction from the toe portion 112 to the heel portion 118 and the non-compressive resistant fibers 30 extend widthwise in a serpentine pattern. The longitudinally extending compressive resistant fibers 24 may each be individual compressive resistant fibers 24 or a serpentine pattern of a compressive resistant fiber 24. Non-compressive resistant fibers 30 may also extend in a longitudinal direction adjacent the compressive resistant fibers 24.

Alternatively, the compressive resistant fibers 24 could extend widthwise and the non-compressive resistant fibers 30 could extending longitudinally. The configuration of the compressive resistant fibers 24 in FIG. 5 provides greater comfort over the entire bottom side of the foot and may be beneficial to low arch feet. The compressive resistant fibers 24 could also include a greater density or concentration at the ball or heel of the foot in the sock 110.

FIG. 6 illustrates a sock 210 according to yet another embodiment. The sock 210 is similar to the sock 10 with similar features identified by the addition of a leading 2 except where noted below or shown in the Figures. The sock 210 includes the compressive resistant fibers 24 covering the entire lower portion 216 as well as compressive resistant fibers 24 extending up from the lower portion 216 on a toe portion 212 and a heel portion 213 at least partially located on an upper portion 214. By having the compressive resistant fibers 24 extend upward onto the toe and heel portions 212, 214, greater protection and comfort is provided to the foot. The increased coverage by the compressive resistant fibers 24 can also reduce or eliminate abrasion related injuries to the foot in those regions.

Although the illustrated embodiment shows the entire lower portion 216 of the sock 210 having compressive resistant fibers 24, only a portion of the lower portion 216 could include compressive resistant fibers such as shown and described in relation to the compressive resistant fibers 24 in the sock 10 in FIG. 2. The compressive resistant fibers 24 could also include a greater density or concentration at the ball or heel of the foot.

Although the above disclosure is in relation to socks, this disclosure also applies to underwear, padding for pant knees, padding in elbows of shirts, padding in exercise garments, the palm of gloves, helmets, bed sheets, upholstery fabrics, and motor vehicle fabrics among others.

The preceding description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed examples may become apparent to those skilled in the art that do not necessarily depart from the essence of this disclosure. The scope of legal protection given to this disclosure can only be determined by studying the following claims.

Claims

1. A sock comprising:

a cuff portion;

an upper portion; and

a lower portion including at least one non-compressive resistant fiber, a heal area, a toe area, and at least one compressive resistant fiber located in at least one of the heal area and the toe area and.

2. The sock of claim 1, wherein the at least one compressive resistant fiber extends in a serpentine pattern in the heel area and in a serpentine patter in the toe area.

3. The sock of claim 2, wherein the at least one compressive resistant fiber extends in a serpentine pattern in the heel area the at least one compressive resistant fiber extends in a serpentine pattern in the toe area.

4. The sock of claim 3, wherein the serpentine pattern in the heel area is spaced from the serpentine pattern in the toe area by an arch area.

5. The sock of claim 4, wherein the serpentine pattern in the heel area of the at least one compressive resistant fiber is connected to the serpentine pattern in the toe area of the at least one compressive resistant fiber.

6. The sock of claim 3, wherein the heel area includes a first density of the at least one compressive resistant fiber, the toe area includes a second density of the at least one compressive resistant fiber, and the first density is different from the second density.

7. The sock of claim 1, wherein the at least one compressive resistant fiber extends in one of a heel to toe direction or side to side direction and the at least one non-compressive resistant fiber extends in the other of the heel to toe direction and the side to side direction.

8. The sock of claim 1, wherein the at least one compressive resistant fiber includes pairs of adjacent compressive resistant fibers separated by a single non-compressive resistant fiber.

9. The sock of claim 1, wherein the at least one compressive resistant fiber includes at least one of encapsulated gel, synthetic rubber, natural rubber, and silicone.

10. The sock of claim 1, wherein the at least one compressive resistant fiber includes at least one of fluoroelastomer, fluoropolymer, and foam.

11. The sock of claim 1, wherein the at least one compressive resistant fiber is silicone having a Shore-A scale between 20 and 30 and a diameter between 1/64th of an inch and 1/32nd of an inch.

12. The sock of claim 1, wherein s cross-sectional profile of the at least one compressive resistant fiber varies.

13. The sock of claim 12, wherein the at least one compressive resistant fiber includes at least one of a circumferential groove and a longitudinal groove.

14. The sock of claim 12, wherein the at least one compressive resistant fiber includes at least one of a protrusion and a textured surface.

15. The sock of claim 1, wherein the at least one compressive resistant fiber is woven into the entirety of the lower portion.

16. The sock of claim 15, wherein the at least one compressive resistant fiber extends in a heel to toe direction and the at least one non-compressive resistant fiber extends in a widthwise serpentine pattern.

17. The sock of claim 16, wherein the at least one compressive resistant fiber includes a plurality of individual compressive resistant fibers extending in the heel to toe direction.

18. The sock of claim 16, wherein at least one non-compressive resistant fiber extends in the heel to toe direction.

19. The sock of claim 16, wherein the at least one compressive resistant fiber extends upward from the lower portion adjacent the toe area and adjacent the heel area onto the upper portion.

20. The sock of claim 1, wherein the at least one non-compressive resistant fiber includes at least one of cotton, polyester, nylon, wool, merino, bamboo, and silk.