Patent Information

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Socks used mostly for sports activities which have sections that differ from zone to zone in type of stitch and/or degree of elasticity are currently known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,253.317 describes a short-legged sock for athletic use intended for the functions of compression and support of the arch, instep and ankle of the person wearing it. Such a sock comprises a cuff; an upper imitation-ribbed part made by knitting an elastic thread with a basic thread; an instep-ankle section made with said basic and elastic threads as in the upper part, but with the addition of internal terry loops of a certain prism density made with an additional thread; a heel section made without elastic thread, with the basic thread and with an additional thread for an internal terry stitch of another density; and a tip section which is knitted with the basic thread and a terry thread on the inside. Therefore, only one elastic thread is used in the manufacture of such a sock in the upper-part and instep-ankle areas.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,397.161 also pertains to a short-legged sock having a leg section and a foot section, elasticized for a compression and a support function of the foot of the person wearing it.This sock is manufactured by knitting a basic thread and incorporating an elastomeric thread in the areas of the leg and of the foot with an elastomeric thread density greater in the foot section than in the leg section. Therefore, only one elastic thread is used here as well, even though it has a density that is different from one part to another.

In addition, a so-called containment sock is known from U.S. Pat No. 4,240.160 which can be used to keep the venous and lymphatic pressures at the ends of the lower limbs normal. However, the sock is produced by recutting a piece of elastic stitch and by sewing the recut out-line in a direction and with a shaping that are suitable for making it possible for the sock to perform the function for which it has been provided.

SUMMARY AND OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

Based on the above-mentioned, one object of the present invention is to provide a sock for long-legged person that has therapeutic value and has specific sections for the calf, ankle instep area and tip of the foot, which is made by using in addition to at least one basic thread, three different elastic threads incorporated selectively during the knitting individually or combined in a pair. Therefore, the sock manufactured has specific sections which differ in a different degree of elasticity, which derives not from a different density of insertion of a single elastic thread, but from the selective insertion of more elastic threads, which have different elasticities and/or strengths and which combine their elastic effect in some sections of the sock, because two elastic threads are present at the same time.

The sock will have practically along its length four sections which are functional and have a different effect on the lower limb on which it is worn:

a calf section incorporating a first elastic thread which has a first degree of elasticity;

an ankle section incorporating in a combined manner the first elastic thread and a second elastic thread which has a second degree of elasticity;

a section for instep and dorsal and plantar area, incorporating in a combined manner the second elastic thread and a third elastic thread that has a third degree of elasticity;

tip-of-the-foot section incorporating the third elastic thread.

The first elastic thread preferably has a strength that is greater than that of the third thread and the ankle and instep sections are made of vertical ribbed stitches.