Abstract: An improved sock wherein moisture distribution, wicking, evaporation and other phases of control are all managed by the sock construction. The moisture management sock has a toe portion knit of predominantly of hydrophilic yarn; a heel portion knit of predominantly of hydrophilic yarn; and alternating rings of hydrophobic and hydrophilic yarn located between said toe portion and said heel portion. Moisture absorbed from the wearer's foot by the hydrophilic yarn is transferred by wicking action into the hydrophobic rings and then to the leg portion to be evaporated therefrom.

Abstract: A convertible stocking for use by dancers is disclosed. The stocking may be converted from a footed to footless stocking without changing the stocking. The stocking has a main tubular portion, a toe pocket portion, and a foot opening collar. The main tubular portion is knitted in a continuous, circular manner to form a substantially uniform knit tube having a border at one end. The toe pocket portion is knitted in a continuous, reciprocating manner onto about one half of the border of the main tubular portion using successive courses of yarn beginning with about one half the total number of knitting needles of the knitting machine and progressively decreasing the number of knitting needles used to knit each course and then increasing the number of knitting needles to about one half the total number of knitting needles thereby forming a knitted pocket over about one half the border of the main tubular portion. The pocket has a terminating edge.

Abstract: A combination dress and sport sock, for use on feet having a heel portion, a bottom, and a toe portion. The sock has an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion is made to resemble a dress sock, being made of a darkly colored synthetic fiber. The lower portion is made of thick, comfortable cotton. The upper portion and lower portion are separated by a seam, which extends fully around the foot, parallel to the bottom of the foot, a short and constant distance above the bottom of the foot.

Abstract: A circular knitting machine for knitting a sock having a pocket knitted integrally with the foot portion includes a needle cylinder carrying long and short butt needles, a drive train for oscillating the needle cylinder in a normal first mode and a second mode 180 degrees out of phase relative to the first mode, a pair of needle raising cams positionable so as to engage only the long butt needles during the knitting of the toe pocket, a lifter for holding the long butt needles in an up position during the knitting of the toe pocket, and a pair of stitch cam for engaging the needles to form the stitches. During the formation of the toe pocket, the short butt needles are pushed downwardly out of action below the knitting height while maintaining their stitches and the long butt needles are oscillated 180 degrees out of phase to form the toe pocket.

Abstract: A foot protector for providing cushioning comfort and support to the foot of a wearer is described. The foot protector has a toe portion, a ball portion and an instep portion, and a pad positioned on the ball portion. The pad has an arcuate front edge, and the pad is positioned on the foot protector such that the arcuate front edge of the pad is located proximate the juncture of the toe portion and the ball portion, such that the transition from the padded region to the relatively less padded region is positioned below the toe joints, where it is not readily felt by the wearer. The padding can be formed during the knitting process, with the padding being formed by a plurality of terry loops.

Abstract: A double layer sock has an inner ply having a foot portion that is undyed and a dyed outer ply covering the inner ply and joined to the inner ply at an upper end of the inner and outer plies. The inner ply is formed of antimicrobial and/or hydrophobic yarns.A method of making a double ply sock includes knitting a singular tubular garment having a first section formed of undyed yarn and a second section of dyed yarn. The undyed section is inserted into the dyed section forming a two-ply construction having an undyed inner ply.

Abstract: A knit athletic sock having a leg section and a foot section which includes a sole section intermediate a toe section and a heel section having internal-facing terry loops to form a cushion. A breathable instep panel is positioned atop the sole section, wherein the instep panel extends from the wearer's ankle to the toe section. A transition zone is located between the foot section and the leg section to provide additional comfort and durability.

Abstract: A foot protector for use in combination with stocking-type hosiery to cushion and protect a wearer's foot is described. The foot protector is preferably knit to include padding in the form of integrally knit terry loops, and has a specially constructed top portion for encircling the wearer's ankle. The top portion extends upwardly to a greater extent proximate the wearer's heel than the instep, and is substantially unpadded. When the foot protector is worn in a layered relationship with a stocking and a shoe, the protector is only minimally visible, if at all, thereby providing enhanced wearer comfort while maintaining the appearance of wearing stockings and shoes alone.

Abstract: A foot protector in combination with hosiery, such as high fashion women's hosiery, is provided to be worn on a foot of a wearer. The foot protector is designed and constructed to provide cushioning comfort to a ball portion, i.e., bottom or planar areas thereof, of a wearer's foot to concentrate cushioning to where most needed. The foot protector preferably is a knit footlet having integrally knit thickened cushion areas provided only in ball portion areas thereof, whereby other areas of the footlet are not thickened to such an amount as to make a shoe feel undersized and tight on a wearer's foot. The knit thickened cushion areas have terry loops integrally knit only in a ball portion of the footlet and are so constructed as to underlie only a corresponding ball portion of a wearer's foot.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a thick pile sock which has heterogeneous body and foot portions. The foot portion has a heel, a toe and a base and is made out of a fiber which is an intimate blend of synthetic and natural fibers whereby the synthetic fibers enhance structure and wicking action and the natural fibers enhance absorption and resiliency. The body portion begins at least one and one-half inches above the heel of the foot portion and is made out of a fiber that is at least 60% of the intimate blend of synthetic and natural fibers of the foot portion with the balance being a heterogeneous elastic synthetic fiber. The thick pile sock can also be worn over an inner sock as part of a sock system.

Abstract: Apparatus for joining two edges of a knitted tubular article, especially the toe of a stocking, comprising:--cam means (31,32) for operating the lifting and respectively the lowering of a predetermined number of needles (3,30) of a first and a second semirank of stitches (8,80);--means for removing the stitches (8) from said first semirank (x) and overturning them through 180.degree. about a diametral axis (a--a) of the cylinder (1) of needles (3,30);--cam means (7) for operating the 180.degree.

Abstract: The anatomical isotonic sock and method for knitting the sock provide enhanced protection and cushioning comfort to the foot of the wearer and is form-fitting and remains so after prolonged periods of use and numerous launderings. The sock has a knit foot and includes a relatively thick density of terry loops formed of at least three terry yarns in the ball and heel portions of the foot for supplementing and protecting the fatty pads so as to provide a therapeutic and preventative benefit to the foot of the wearer. A relatively thin density of terry loops formed of at least one terry yarn is knit in an arch portion and an instep portion of the foot and an intermediate density of terry loops formed of two terry yarns is knit in a toe portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a moisture management sock and shoe. The sock includes a multi-layer moisture-wicking panel extending from a front ankle portion of the sock to a front toe portion of the sock. The moisture wicking panel is generally coextensive with an area of the foot covered by the tongue of a shoe. First and second single layer air circulation channels are formed in the sock, and extend along opposing sides of the moisture-wicking panel from the front ankle portion to the front toe portion of the sock. A moisture-management shoe includes a shoe tongue, a toe box area, and a moisture wicking inner liner residing adjacent the tongue and the toe box area for moving moisture from the foot and through the shoe for evaporation.

Abstract: A cushioning pad of heavy fabric thickness (P-2), including double terry loops (T-1 and T-2), is formed in the high pad area (12) at the medial portion of the rear of the leg (L) to provide cushioning characteristics in this area to protect the rear of the lower leg of the wearer from chafing by the upper edge of a snowboarding boot. A pad of maximum fabric thickness (P-3), including triple terry loops (T-1, T-2 and T-3) is provided in the high splice area (13) above the heel (14) and defines a locking pad to force the wearer's foot forwardly into the boot when the foot is inserted into the boot to provide a firm fit of the foot of the wearer in the boot. Pads of heavy fabric thickness (P-2) are provided in the ball (18) and toe (15) to cushion the toes of the wearer and to absorb shocks in the ball area when landing after completing flip-over operations or maneuvers.

Abstract: A sock includes an integral leg and foot knit throughout of at least one body yarn, the leg and foot including a front half having a front leg portion and an instep portion, and a rear half including a rear leg portion, a heel portion and a sole portion. A stabilizing band of elastic yarn, e.g., LYCRA.RTM., is laid-into, or knit in a plated relationship with, the body yarn and extends from the top of the wear's instep around an apex of the heel portion such that in use the stabilizing band prevents the leg of the sock from sliding down the wearer's leg into the ski boot. A method of manufacturing the "split-heel" construction uses a circular hosiery knitting machine having short, medium and long butt needles. The needles are selectively lifted out of and/or dropped into the knitting track of the machine to form the split-heel.

Abstract: Moisture control characteristics are imparted to the sock of the present invention by body yarn knit in successive courses throughout the leg and foot. A hydrophobic yarn is knit in plated relationship with the body yarn in partial courses extending throughout the sole, and hydrophilic yarn is knit in plated relationship with the body yarn in partial courses extending throughout the instep whereby moisture generated by the foot of the wearer is wicked and transported from the sole and into the instep to be evaporated therefrom. Cut free ends extend from the endmost stitch loops in wales along the juncture of the sole and the instep while cut free ends of the hydrophilic yarn extend from endmost stitch loops in wales along the juncture of the sole and instep so that the endmost stitch loops at opposite ends of the partial courses of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic yarns are formed in adjacent wales and are not knit in plated relationship with each other in the same courses.

Abstract: Process for making a sock of the type with two layers. A first course knitted by the needles, and corresponding to the end of the tip of a first layer, is transferred onto the central transfer plate of the machine where it is maintained in standby. Knitting of the first layer is continued, from the tip to the mock-rib edges. Then knitting is continued from the mock-rib edges of the second layer up to the tip, the knitted tubular structure being constantly suspended, by one (circular) end, from the central transfer plate and, by the other circular end, from the needle cylinder in the course of work, thus shaping the two concentric layers engaged in one another. The initial course in standby on the plate is transferred to the needles of the cylinder to effect join of the two layers to form one sole terminal layer.

Abstract: An improved sock wherein moisture distribution, wicking, evaporation and other phases of control, as well as stretch and cushioning, are all managed by the sock construction. The toe and heel portions are knit predominately, or entirely, of hydrophilic yarn while the instep portion extending therebetween is knit of hydrophobic yarn so that moisture absorbed from the wearer'foot by the hydrophilic yarn in the toe and heel portions is transferred by wicking action into the hydrophobic yarn in the instep portion to be evaporated therefrom.

Abstract: A knitted athletic sock having a double terry cushion area having two sets of terry pile loops of differing sizes and shapes and staggered walewise with respect to one another to provide upstanding support and resist flattening of the terry loops for improved cushioning and moisture absorption. The sock preferably is of a terry construction throughout the entire foot except for a single jersey panel in the front ankle region to resist wrinkling and bunching of the sock in such region when worn. The sock also includes a mock rib elastic cuff having a relatively frequent rib repeat in the front shin area and a relatively infrequent rib repeat in the rear calf area to better accommodate different sizes and shapes of calves while resisting slippage of the cuff and leg portion of the sock along the wearer's leg.

Abstract: The knitted clothing article has a nonfeltable base mesh layer. On the outside surface of said base mesh layer a yarn layer is knitted in a said base mesh and consisting of feltable textile fibres and forming loop pile meshes. Due to the interaction of the inner base mesh layer with the outer plush layer, a climatic zone is built up that, especially in sports clothing, hosiery and health clothing, assures a good moisture removal and an agreeable body temperature.

Abstract: Elastic yarn is incorporated in different manners in two circumferential sections of the ankle and arch portions of the sock to provide compressive force and support to these areas of the wearer. The elastic yarn is incorporated in spaced-apart wales of each course of the ankle and arch portions and is floated inside of plural wales in the rear half of successive courses in the ankle and lower half of the arch to form mock ribs extending around substantially the rear half of the sock. The elastic yarn is incorporated in every other wale of single alternating courses and in the remaining wales of single intervening courses in the front half of the ankle and upper half of the arch to form a diamond pattern extending around substantially the front half of the sock. By incorporating the elastic yarn in two different manners in every course, the proper amount of compressive force and support is provided on the ankle and arch of the wearer.

Abstract: The high-splice area, heel, instep, sole ring-toe area, and toe of the present sock includes a heavy wool yarn knit in plated relationship with body yarn so that the wool yarn is exposed on the outside of these areas of the sock to provide a soft and fuzzy appearance thereto. The wool yarn also forms inwardly extending terry loops in these areas of the sock to provide a "cushion foot" and good moisture absorbency to the lower portion of the foot of the sock. Elastic yarn is incorporated in spaced-apart wales and floats inside of multiple wales to form mock ribs in the leg and instep while the elastic yarn is incorporated in alternate single wales of alternate single courses and in intervening single wales of intervening single courses of the high-splice area and sole, and ring-toe area to provide stretchability and firm support so that these areas are maintained in close engagement with the lower portion of the foot of the wearer.

Abstract: The double-layer fabric extends throughout at least a substantial portion of the foot of the sock and both the inner and outer layers of the double-layer fabric in the foot include the same number of wales as the number of wales in the leg portion of the sock. The sock can be knit on a conventional hosiery knitting machine provided with a single set of needles and special sinkers for holding the stitch loops of the last course of the leg while the inner and outer layers of the foot portion of the sock are being knit. The double-layer fabric in the foot of the sock provides improved cushioning and moisture-absorbing characteristics to the sock.

Abstract: Each embodiment of the ski sock of the present invention includes additional yarn knit in plated relationship with the body yarns to form a thickened fabric area extending down the front portion of the leg of the sock to cushion and protect the front portion of the leg of the wearer from discomfort caused by the front and upper edge of the ski boot. The ski sock also includes a thickened fabric area extending along the rear half of the sock and at least through the heel and sole area to cushion and protect the heel and lower portion of the foot of the wearer. Opposite side panels of thinner fabric are provided between the thickened fabric areas in the front and rear of the sock to reduce the bulk of the fabric. The thinner fabric areas may provide increased stretchability to these areas and to permit the sock to be easily drawn onto and off of the foot and to readily conform to the foot of the wearer.

Abstract: A reinforced toe with varying density is provided for hosiery articles such as sheer stockings, pantyhose and the like so that there is no sharply contrasting line of demarcation between the sheer fabric in the foot portion and the reinforced fabric in the toe pocket and while providing full reinforcement in the area of the toe pocket at the ends of the toes where the need is greatest. The reinforced toe is produced by knitting a reinforcing yarn in plated relationship with the body yarn in spaced-apart courses in a first group of courses adjacent the sheer foot and knitting the reinforcing yarn in more closely spaced courses of a second group of courses adjacent the closed end of the toe pocket. This arrangement provides a gradual or stepped transition from the sheer fabric of the foot to the relatively heavy fabric at the closed end of the toe pocket and provides the reinforced toe with varying or increasing fabric density from the foot to the closed end thereof.

Abstract: The triple layer fabric extends throughout at least a substantial portion of the foot portion and provides improved cushioning and moisture-absorbing characteristics thereto. The sock can be knit on a conventional hosiery knitting machine with very little modification being required. The inside and outside fabric layers of the foot are knit of hydrophobic yarn and the intermediate layer is knit at least in part of hydrophilic yarn so that moisture from the foot is wicked through the inner layer and into the intermediate layer where the moisture is absorbed and then wicked and evaporated through the outside layer. The triple layer in the foot of the sock maintains the foot of the wearer in a dry condition and provides cushioning for at least the ball and toes of the foot of the wearer.

Abstract: The present athletic socks are particularly suitable for jogging and running and are provided with shock absorber cushion pads in the heel (11), ball (15), and in the inner portion (16a) of the arch area (16) and being formed by a sufficiently greater amount of yarn being knit in these portions than the amount of yarn knit in the outer portion of the arch (16b). The shock absorber cushion pads protect and cushion the heel, ball and inner portion of the arch of the wearer's foot and reduce the shock normally imparted to the heel, ball and inner portion of the arch of the foot so that normal articulation of the bones in the feet takes place when the wearer is jogging and running. The shock absorber cushion pads are illustrated as being formed by providing a greater density of terry loops in the heel (11), ball (15), and inner portion (16a) of the arch than in the outer portion (16b) of the arch to enhance the cushioning provided in the corresponding portions of each sock.

Abstract: This tube sock is of a medium or dress weight so that the sock may be comfortably worn with dress shoes and includes very long and fine terry loops in the heel and sole area to provide the sock with cushion and comfort characteristics of the type normally provided in heavy weight athletic type socks. The sock is knit on a fine gauge machine of the type normally employed in knitting ladies' sheer hosiery and panty hose, usually provided with 400 needles. The sock is knit on every other or alternative needles so that it contains only 200 wales instead of the normal 400 wales usually contained in ladies' sheer hosiery articles. The terry loops formed in the heel and sole area are formed on dial instruments projected outwardly over an idle needle so that unusually long terry loops are formed of a fine cotton yarn which are three to five times as long as the stitch loops formed of the body yarn. spThis a division of application Ser. No. 939,261, filed Sept. 7, 1978 now U.S. Pat. No. 4,172,370.

Abstract: The present athletic socks are particularly suitable for jogging and running and are provided with shock absorber cushion pads (C) in the inner portions (16a, 36a) of the arch areas (16, 36) and being formed by a sufficiently greater amount of yarn being knit in the inner arch portions (16a, 36a) than the amount of yarn knit in the outer portions of the arch (16b). The shock absorber cushion pads (C) protect and cushion the inner portions of the arches of the wearer's feet and reduce the shock normally imparted to the inner portions of the arches of the feet of the wearer so that normal articulation of the bones in the feet takes place when the wearer is jogging and running. The shock absorber cushion pads (C) are illustrated as being formed by providing a greater density of terry loops in the inner portions of the arch area (16a, 36a) of the socks than in the outer portions of the arch (16b) to enhance the cushioning provided in the inner portions of the arch (16a, 36a) of each sock.

Abstract: One embodiment of this tube sock includes clearly defined and distinct tuck stitch type mock ribs completely arund the leg and in the instep. In another embodiment, the tuck stitch type mock ribs are formed around the front of the leg while the usual type of plain stitch mock ribs are formed around the rear of the leg. In both embodiments, the sock is of a medium or dess weight so that the sock may be comfortably worn with dress shoes and includes very long and fine terry loops in the heel and sole area to provide the sock with cushion and comfort characteristics of the type normally provided in heavy weight athletic type socks. Both embodiments of the sock are provided with partial additional or extra courses of elastic yarn in the heel area to provide the heel with additional stretch to provide a better fit on the heel of the wearer.

Abstract: A circular knit sock has a leg and upper foot portion knitted from a body yarn in a conventional stitch pattern, and a lower foot portion knitted from a combination of the body yarn and an auxiliary or reinforcement yarn of a second fiber content in a cushion stitch which has: (1) a first set of alternating courses knitted from the body yarn; (2) a second set of alternating courses knitted from a combination of the body and reinforcement yarns; (3) a first set of alternating wales formed of plain stich loops made from a combination of the body yarn and the auxiliary yarn; and (4) a second set of alternating wales formed of successive tuck stitches made from the combined auxiliary and body yarns of one course and the body yarn of the preceding or adjacent course.

Abstract: A stocking and method of making a stocking in which an aerated region is knitted from a synthetic yarn, such as nylon, and another softer, more moisture-absorbent yarn, such as cotton, to provide a greater surface area of the synthetic material on the exterior surface than on the interior surface and a greater surface area of the other yarn on the interior surface than on the exterior surface and in which the aeration is provided by knitting air flow interstices in that region of the stocking.

Abstract: This tube sock is of a medium or dress weight so that the sock may be comfortably worn with dress shoes and includes very long and fine terry loops in the heel and sole area to provide the sock with cushion and comfort characteristics of the type normally provided in heavy weight athletic type socks. The sock is knit on a fine gauge machine of the type normally employed in knitting ladies' sheer hosiery and panty hose, usually provided with 400 needles. The sock is knit on every other or alternative needles so that it contains only 200 wales instead of the normal 400 wales usually contained in ladies' sheer hosiery articles. The terry loops formed in the heel and sole area are formed on dial instruments projected outwardly over an idle needle so that unusually long terry loops are formed of a fine cotton yarn which are three to five times as long as the stitch loops formed of the body yarn.

Abstract: The present hosiery article includes an anti-slip lower sole portion formed with outwardly extending loops of yarn having a high coefficient of friction, such as bare spandex, which is integrally knit with the body yarn during the knitting of the foot portion of the hosiery article. The loops of friction yarn on the outer surface of the sole portion engage the floor and minimize slippage of the foot of the wearer. This hosiery article is particularly adapted for use by bed patients and the formation of the loops of friction yarn does not unduly restrict the contraction and stretchability of the hosiery article.

Abstract: This tube sock includes a cushioned sole formed by partial courses of terry loops on the inner surface of at least that part of the foot portion adapted to underlie the sole of a wearer's foot while that part of the foot portion adapted to overlie the instep of the wearer's foot is devoid of terry loops. Indicia means is provided on the outer surface of the foot portion for indicating the proper manner in which the tube sock should be worn to position the terry loops beneath the sole of the wearer's foot. The indicia means may take the form of an identifying yarn contrasting in color with the color of the body yarn of the sock and knit in plated relationship with the body yarn to appear on the outer surface of the sock in spaced-apart coursewise extending stripes which extend from one side to the other of the sole portion.

Abstract: A circular knit therapeutic garment in which bare elastomeric yarn is knit in selected courses and wales with a non-elastomeric yarn in other selected courses and wales in the boot portion of a stocking to provide a retractive or compressive force of graduating degrees as required with a circumferential heel-instep band of lesser retractive or compressive force, and a closed toe area in which stretchable fabric with minimal retractive forces is integrally knit to the foot portion of the garment whereby the bar elastomeric yarns are buried or concealed by the knitted non-elastomeric yarns to provide improved hand and snag resistance and retractive force on the leg of a wearer.

Abstract: Terry loops provide a cushion throughout at least the sole portion of the foot of the sock and ventilator panels extend along opposite sides of the sole. The ventilator panels are formed with an open mesh stitch construction to permit the passage of air therethrough and to provide for ventilation of the foot when the sock is worn. Terry loops may also provide a cushion in the instep portion and the ventilator panels may be formed with tuck stitches interspersed with plain stitches.

Abstract: A circular knit therapeutic stocking in which bare elastomeric yarn is knit in selected courses and wales with a non-elastomeric yarn in other selected courses and wales in the welt, boot and foot portions of a stocking to provide a retractive or compressive force of graduating degrees as required with a circumferential heel-instep band of lesser retractive or compressive force, and a closed toe area in which stretchable fabric with minimal retractive forces is integrally knit to the foot portion of the stocking whereby the bare elastomeric yarns are buried or concealed by the knitted non-elastomeric yarns and in which a welt panel of flexible and relatively non-stretchable material is secured in the welt portion of the stocking to be positioned on the inner upper thigh of the leg of a wearer.

Abstract: A tubular knit seamless stocking having boot, heel, instep and toe portions formed of non-elastomeric yarn, incorporating, substantially throughout except in the toe portion, at least one elastomeric stretchable retractive yarn having the major portion thereof inlaid coursewise of, and locked in, said portions. The toe portion is formed primarily of non-elastomeric yarn and is free from elastomeric stretchable retractive yarn. The non-elastomeric yarn may be stretch or torque yarn preferably of s and z twist in the boot, heel and instep portions. The heel and toe portions each include a shaped pocket knit of non-elastomeric yarn including partial courses preferably varying in length in the toe portion, the cut ends of yarn of each partial course being knit in tuck-float relationship with a stitch loop of an adjacent course to prevent pulling out.