Abstract: A compression garment and methods of forming and operating the same. In one embodiment, the compression garment includes an electrically stimulated auxetic material having a dimension responsive to an electrical signal, an electrical contact coupled to the electrically stimulated auxetic material and an electrical power source. The compression garment also includes a controller, coupled to the electrical contact and the electrical power source, configured to provide the electrical signal to control a pressure produced by the compression garment via the electrically stimulated auxetic material.

Abstract: To provide a functional area partially within the toe area on the sole side of the sock. Providing a needle-lowering area 1a which is knit by needle-lowering knitting and a needle-raising area 2 which is knit by needle-raising knitting at a specified position within the toe area 4 on the sole side of sock S, these being aligned in the course direction, and providing a first functional area 1 in which the needle-lowering area 1a and/or the needle-raising area 2 is knit with a functional yarn which differs from the yarn used in knitting the other areas 11 within the toe area 4 on the sole side. A first functional member 1 can be provided within a specified portion of the toe area 4 on the sole side. If the first functional member 1 is knit with a functional yarn having high frictional resistance, it becomes possible to increase the gripping force only of that specified portion.

Abstract: A sock having a toe section, mid-section, and ankle section, wherein the denier of the toe and ankle sections is significantly less than the denier of the mid-section to provide increased stretch in the mid-section of the sock. To further increase the stretch in the mid-section of the sock, the mid-section is knitted with a longer stitch loop than the toe and ankle sections. A hosiery garment includes a leg section and a control top section. The control top section includes a stretch band that provides increased vertical stretch in that area. The stretch band is knitted in a jersey knit pattern with four courses of spandex yarn, where as the remainder of the control top section and leg sections are knitted with alternating courses of spandex and textured yarns.

Abstract: A method of knitting a sock with a bulbous heel and a square toe is disclosed. A circular sock knitting machine is controlled in four phases to alternately narrow and widen the heel and toe by actuating only some of the needles in the knitting machine. The result is a sock with an expanded Y-gore and a heel and toe of increased size.

Abstract: A sock with zones of varying numbers of layers is formed as a single tube on a circular knitting machine. At least one end of the tube is doubled back over a portion of the remainder of the tube to form a double layer first zone. The sock further includes a single layer zone adjacent to the double layer first zone, where no such folding occurs. Optionally, a second end of the tube may also be folded to create a third zone having two layers of material.

Abstract: To provide a tubular knitted fabric and a knitting method thereof, which can be knitted without sewing by a flatbed knitting machine, and which is easily fitted to a three dimensional shape of a wearing region without detriment to appearance. As shown in (a), an outward side of thumb pouch 7 is knitted so as to continue in its wale direction to an end portion of a four finger body 6 and while repeats reciprocated knitting in its course direction. In the course direction, a row of stitches is formed in midway and hanging stitches 8, 9 are added on both sides respectively as stitches to be used for linking. In order to make the knitting needles that suspend the hanging stitches 8, 9 different from each other, the position of the row of stitches is shifted in a direction away from a knit end of the four finger body 6.

Abstract: An article of hosiery having a toe seam has been developed. The hosiery includes a foot portion and a first circumferential toe portion having a first stitch length. A second circumferential toe portion can be adjacent the first toe portion. The second circumferential toe portion has at least two knitted courses with each of the at least two knitted courses having a second stitch length that is less than the first stitch length. There is at least one thread in the first circumferential toe portion that forms the toe seam.

Abstract: A method of forming an article of footwear by forming the article on a glove machine. An article of footwear formed on a glove machine, wherein the article includes a body that includes a leg portion, an ankle portion, and a foot portion.

Abstract: To transfer the stitches from a first needle arc (7X) to a second opposed needle arc (7Y), a overturnable semicircular sector (19) presents elements (25) terminating in a bifurcate way (25F) (flanking inside the respective sinkers (11) the relevant needle (7X) of the first arc), each of which has an upper fork projection (25A) embracing the needle (7X) and forming a rear recess (25X) and a front recess (25C) suitable to engage an end stitch (M1) formed by the corresponding needle (7X), said stitch (M1) then being transferred and engaged on a corresponding needle (7Y) of the second needle arc.

Abstract: A therapeutic compression stocking is knitted in an integrated knit format to have an oversized heel pocket from which an ankle arch portion extends that is knitted in a rib stitch format that is free of wrinkles when donned. The foot portion has a constant compression force while the leg portion has a graduated compression force. The leg portion compression force being less than the foot portion compression force.

Abstract: A method of forming an article of footwear by forming the article on a glove machine. An article of footwear formed on a glove machine, wherein the article includes a body that includes a leg portion, an ankle portion, and a foot portion.

Abstract: A therapeutic compression stocking is knitted in an integrated knit format to have an oversized heel pocket from which an ankle arch portion extends that is knitted in a rib stitch format that is free of wrinkles when donned. The foot and leg are of conventional compression stocking construction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sock and more particularly to a sock designed to cushion the foot in particular locations around the foot of a wearer. The invention is particularly directed to a sock having a cushioning zone positioned to protect the bony prominences of the dorsal tarsus and to deflect pressure away from the dorsalis pedis pulse of the foot.

Abstract: There is provided a sock that causes no feeling of tightness or pressure when a toe is housed, has no connecting portion, causes no tightening of knitted fabric itself, and has good appearance. The sock includes a toe housing portion that forms a laterally asymmetrical substantially planar trapezoidal shape slanted to a thumb side that is provided continuously with a cylindrically knitted portion. The cylindrically knitted portion forms a sole portion and an instep portion. The toe housing portion is provided with a forward knitted portion for increasing thickness between a front portion and a back portion invertedly knitted to form a substantially planar trapezoidal shape, along contours thereof.

Abstract: A knitting method provides an easy-to-wear knitted tubular knitted fabric which gives little stretching feeling and exhibits high fitness upon wearing by joining at least three tubular parts.

Abstract: A knitted sock has an inner layer 2 comprising a toe end 4 and an outer layer 3 comprising a toe end 7. The inner and outer toe ends are aligned and joined wale stitch to wale stitch to form a composite toe end, which is closed to provide a flat toe seam 10. The layered sock is manufactured complete in a single process being knit continuously from the inner toe end to the outer toe end. It comprises reciprocated heel and toe portions. The foot portion of the inner layer is knit from a yarn with properties such as a low coefficient of friction and/or antifungal/antibacterial properties. The low friction fiber is a fluoropolymer such as polytetrafluroethylene. The outer layer may comprise a cushion structure.

Abstract: When knitting the sole section and instep section of the toe section, knitting is performed while sequentially decreasing the number of stitches on the small-toe side of the toes by a specified number, and after the number of stitches on the large-toe side has been decreased by a ratio larger than the ratio of decreasing the number of stitches on the small-toe side, the number is increased by the same ratio, and by doing this, on the small-toe side, the side edge section goes toward the tip end and deviates to the inside at a specified ratio, and on the large-toe side, side edge section is nearly a straight line toward the tip end, and by doing this, the shape of the tip end of the toe section protrudes such that it gradually extends to the front of the toes going from the small-toe side to the large-toe side, and that shape is such that it runs along the curve that is obtained by connecting the tip ends of the toes.

Abstract: A sock having a foot portion, a leg portion, and a heel portion between the leg portion and the foot portion. The heel portion has a double gore line configured so that the foot portion is at an angle of substantially 90° to the leg portion.

Abstract: A sock type garment adapted for wearing on a wearer foot including a sole (3), partial upper foot (5), a heel (8, 9) and a toe (11, 12) wherein said heel and toe are shaped to assist accommodation of the respective parts of the wearers foot characterised in that an opening (4) for insertion of the wearers foot is provided intermediate of said heel and toe in the region of the partial upper foot.

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 process of rotary knitting a tubular blank with a knitted pocket or pockets such as a heel or toe portion on a multi-feed circular knitting machine and products made by the process. The blank is preferably first knit with continuous courses of stitches on all needles, then with rotary knitting continuing on partial courses to form a pocket on one side of the blank while no other knitting on the blank is taking place. Each partial course has at its start a selected number of yarn end securing stitches such as tuck stitches, then a selected number of stitches to substantially form the partial course, and then a selected number of securing stitches at the end of the partial course, the purpose of the securing stitches being to lock in the yarn at the beginning and end of the partial course.

Abstract: Socks having a rib top part, a leg part, a heel part, a foot part and a toe part which are knitted in order wherein first gore lines extending obliquely downwardly from upper portions of the heel part to rear portions of the heel part are formed on the heel part next to the leg part from first and second trapezoidal knit fabrics whose top sides are common to each other, and a third trapezoidal knit fabric having a top side whose length is equal to the length of a bottom side of the second trapezoidal knit fabric at portions of the first gore lines rather near to the toe part is knitted next to the second trapezoidal knit fabric. Further, a fourth trapezoidal knit fabric is knitted continuously to the bottom side of the third trapezoidal knit fabric, and second gore lines are formed between the bottom side of the third trapezoidal knit fabric and inclined sides of the fourth trapezoidal knit fabric of the socks.

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 sock knit throughout of at least one body yarn including an integrally knit leg portion and a foot portion. Additional yarn is knit in plated relationship with the body yarn in the ball portion of the foot, providing a thickened fabric area. This thickened fabric area is anatomically shaped to fit the ball of one of either a right or a left foot. The invention may also include additional thickened fabric areas at the heel, arch and toe portions of the sock, which are also anatomically shaped to fit the foot. A method is also provided for minimizing foot discomfort by selecting from among a plurality of socks, each pair of socks having thickened fabric areas of different volume or thickness, the sock with a volume that matches the width of the wearer's foot.

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 chain feeder for a looping machine for closing a toe portion of a stocking formed of elastic yarns includes two identical bars forming a slot therebetween for receiving a folded toe portion of the stocking to be sewn, each bar having a first segment starting at a distance after an inlet of the feeder and diverging downwards and passing into a second segment running parallel to the upper side of the bar, so that the first segments of the bars form a slanted plane interrupted by a slot receiving the stockings in which the finer rows of elastic yarn at the toe portion are gradually stretched upon advancing along the slot.

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: 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: 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: 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 method of knitting a stocking especially adapted for athletic use, and the stocking so produced. The stocking includes a top 3.times.1 mock-rib portion, with spandex being knit in every fourth wale, an ankle and instep portion, a heel portion and a toe portion. The ankle and instep portion has a 1.times.1 mock rib with spandex being knit in every other wale, and with terry loops having a first density formed on the interior of the ankle and instep portion. A heel portion is provided free of spandex and including terry loops of a second density greater than the first density, the second density being obtained by randomly introducing an auxiliary terry yarn through a different yarn finger than that through which the main terry yarn is introduced, in the heel portion. The toe portion is free of mock ribbing and has terry loops formed on the interior thereof having the first density.

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: 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: An improved toe construction for women's seamless hosiery, panty hose, anklets, and the like, is obtained by knitting, trimming and joining the toe portion in such a manner as to provide a generally arc-shaped, reinforced area in at least the top portion of the toe or in both top and bottom toe portions to maximize the nude look, minimize the amount of reinforced area in the toe, and to expedite the toe closure trimming and joining operation.