Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SOCK
The invention relates to a sock, in particular for use in athletic activities.
Human feet are often accommodated in tight shoes. This is the case in
particular
when the person moves quickly and a lot, e.g., in athletic activities. The
tight
shoes themselves result in increased perspiration on the feet. During athletic
activity such a person will experience above-average perspiration. Since the
risk
of the development of blisters on the foot is increased due to the
accumulation of
perspiration in the shoe and/or sock, there have been attempts to facilitate
the
removal of perspiration from the shoe and/or sock.
German Utility Model DE 297 15 762 U1 discloses a climate-regulating stocking,
in particular for use in types of leisure activities such as jogging, inline
skating,
skiing or the like, having at least one integrated air channel made of a
climate-
regulating mesh knit fabric extending from the sole of the foot to the band at
the
top. The climate channel allows most of the moisture generated to evaporate by
conveying the moisture of perspiration out of the tread area of the foot and
into an
area of the stocking where free evaporation is possible. The known climate-
regulating stocking fulfills all the requirements made of it.
The object of an embodiment of the present invention is to further improve
upon
the removal of moisture from the shoe. According to this invention, this
object
may be addressed by providing at least one climate channel in the tread area.
An embodiment of the invention creates a sock, in particular for athletic
activities,
which further improves upon the removal of perspiration from the shoe and/or
sock. By providing a climate channel in the tread area, it is possible to
promote
the conveying of the moisture that occurs in the area of the sole of the foot
directly
out of the area of the sole of the foot via the climate channel. The moisture
can
then escape through ventilation holes in the shoe.
In an embodiment of the invention, there is a sock, in particular for use in
athletic
activities, wherein at least one climate channel is provided in the tread area
and
1
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air channels are provided on the inside of the leg and on the outside of the
leg of
the sock, wherein the air channels are connected to at least one climate
channel.
In a further embodiment of this invention, the tread area of the sock has a
central
climate channel with additional climate channels branching off from it to the
outer
area of the sock. This achieves a uniform climate in the tread area.
Furthermore,
an equalization of pressure between the channels is achieved, resulting in a
uniform removal of moisture under load. In addition, a pleasant feeling of
occurrence is induced with the tread.
In an embodiment of this invention, the climate channel has a bent or wavy
pattern. This enlarges the effective channel length, which results in an
increase in
the transport capacity while also increasing the surface area available for
cooling
in the tread area.
la
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z
In another embodiment of this invention, the channels in the tread area are
designed with a
constriction. Due to the partial tapering of the channel path, accelerated air
guidance is achieved,
which in turn accelerates the removal of moisture out of the tread area and
causes an increase in
the cooling power in this area.
In another embodiment of this invention, an air channel is provided optionally
on the inside
and/or outside of the leg of the sock and this air channel is connected to the
climate channel in
the tread area. This provides an additional path for removing perspiration
from the tread area of
the foot. In the case of air channels on the inside of the leg and the outside
of the leg, an
additional air circulation in the shoe is achieved through the connection of
the air channels.
In another embodiment of this invention, the sock has cushions. The cushions
may be provided at
different locations in the sock. They reduce skin abrasion as well as the risk
of pressure points
developing on the foot.
The sock is advantageously equipped with an X-cross bandage. The X-cross
bandage supports
the ankle in the transition area between the leg and the foot.
Other embodiments and improvements on this invention are characterized in the
other dependent
claims. An exemplary embodiment of this invention is depicted in the drawing
and is described
in greater detail below.
Figure 1 shows a diagram of a sock with a lateral air channel, X-cross bandage
and
cushions in a side view.
Figure 2 shows a diagram of the tread area of the sock with a curved
conveyance channel;
Figure 3 shows a diagram of the tread area of the sock with a wavy conveyance
channel;
Figure 4 shows a diagram of the sock illustrated in Figure 3 as seen in a side
view;
Figure 5 shows a diagram of the tread area of the sock with a narrowed
conveyance
channel;
Figure 6 shows a section along line VI-VI in Figure 5;
Figure 7 shows a diagram of the tread area of the sock with a central
conveyance channel;
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3
Figure 8 shows a diagram of the tread area of the sock with an additional air
channel on the
inside of the leg;
Figure 9 shows a diagram of the tread area of the sock with an additional air
channel on the
outside of the leg; and
Figure 10 shows a diagram of the tread area of the sock with an additional air
channel on the
inside of the leg and on the outside of the leg.
The sock selected as an exemplary embodiment (Figure 1) consists of a foot
part 1 and a shaft 2.
The foot part 1 has a toe area 11, a heel area 12 and a tread area 13 situated
between the toe area
and the heel area. The areas 11, 12 and 13 may be made of a reinforced
material, as illustrated in
the exemplary embodiment. The use of combinations of materials such as sheared
wool with
elastic fiber materials such as Elastan is also possible. It is also possible
to provide additional
cushions or padding in the areas mentioned above.
The shaft 2 is provided with a band 21 on the end facing away from the foot
part 1. In the area of
the calf, the shaft 2 is provided with padding 22, with bar padding being
provided in the example
shown here. Other forms of cushioning are also possible. Padding 23 is also
provided in the
lower area of the ankle developing into the arch of the foot. The arrangement
of padding may
also be provided in the area of the Achilles tendon.
The padding is usually made of synthetic yams or compound fabrics or yam or
similar materials.
In the exemplary embodiment, the padding in the socks is made of hollow
chamber fibers spun
with wool or cotton on the outside. The hollow chamber synthetic fiber yams
are especially
highly shock absorbing and pressure absorbing. The tread area 13 may be made
of a microfiber
knit that helps to reduce abrasion. Depending on the requirements, the foot
bed may also be made
of microfibers in the area of the toes and heel.
In addition, the sock is equipped with an X-cross bandage 24 which is made of
an elastic climate-
regulating fabric. The X-cross bandage 24 supports the ankle in the transition
area between the
leg and the foot.
In the exemplary embodiment, an air channel 25 extends from the band 21 into
the tread area 13
and is made of a climate-regulating mesh knit fabric. The air channel 25
contributes toward
removal of the moisture from the tread area upward. Such an air channel 25 may
also be provided
on the sock on the inside of the leg or on both sides.
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In tread area 13 of the sock, at least one climate channel 26 is provided. In
the exemplary
embodiment according to Figure 2, three climate channels 26 are provided. The
tread area 13 is
interrupted by the climate channels 26. The climate channels 26 begin and end
on the outside of
the tread area and are designed with a curvature so that the effective channel
length is increased.
This effect is further increased by the wavy design of the climate channel in
the exemplary
embodiment according to Figure 3. By enlarging the effective channel length,
the transport
capacity is increased and the cooling surface area in the tread area is
increased. As shown in
Figure 4, the climate channels 26 may run throughout the entire (reinforced)
tread area 13 of the
sock so they may also extend into the lateral areas enclosing the foot. The
climate channels 26
are made of a climate-regulating mesh knit fabric. They may be designed so
that the thickness of
the mesh knit fabric corresponds to the thickness of the tread area so as to
form a continuous
surface. This has a positive influence on wearing comfort.
In the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 5, the climate channels 26 are
designed with a
constriction in the tread area 13 of the sock. Due to the partial taper 261 in
the climate channel
26, acceleration of the air guidance is achieved (so-called Venturi
principle). This accelerates the
removal of moisture out of the tread area 13 while also increasing the cooling
capacity in this
area. This advantage may be further reinforced by the fact that the climate
channels 26 have an
essentially circular cross section (Figure 6). In this embodiment, the taper
261 also has an
approximately circular cross section. The section of the channel 26 that is
not closed is labeled as
"b." Under load, the distance b is reduced in the extreme case to b = 0,
resulting in a closed
circular cross section. The climate channel 26 is then in the form of a Laval
nozzle, further
improving the positive properties.
In the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 7, a central channel 262 is
arranged on the
longitudinal central axis of the tread area 13 with curved climate channels 26
branching off on
both sides and ending on the outside edge of the tread area 13. Due to the
central connection of
the climate channels 26 through the central channel 262, a uniform climate is
achieved over the
tread area 13. In addition, the connection produces a uniform pressure in all
climate channels 26
so that a uniform moisture removal under load is achieved. In addition the
uniform pressure
results in a pleasant tread feeling. In a modification of the exemplary
embodiment, there is the
possibility of extending the central channel 262 beyond the tread area 13 into
the toe area 11
and/or the heel area 12.
In the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 8, an air channel 25 is
provided on the inside
of the leg. The air channel 25 extends into the arch of the foot. At the
transition from the arch of
the foot to the tread area 13 of the sock, the climate channels taper out,
arranged in a radiating
pattern. Due to this arrangement, wide areas of the tread area are reached by
the climate channels
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26 so that it is possible to remove moisture out of the entire tread area. The
width and length of
the climate channels 26 can usually be selected freely. The number of climate
channels 26 is also
variable. By increasing the length and/or width of the climate channels 26 or
increasing the
number of climate channels 26, an increase in the moisture that can be
conveyed is also possible.
In the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 9, an air channel 25 is
provided as an
equivalent on the outside of the leg, with the three climate channels 26
leading away from it. The
climate channels radiate outward into the area of the arch of the foot.
In the exemplary embodiment according to Fig. 10, an air channel 25 is
provided on the inside of
the leg of the sock and on the outside of the leg of the sock. The climate
channels 26 run between
the air channels on the inside of the leg and those on the outside of the leg.
The number and
dimensions of the climate channels can be selected essentially freely here.
With the connection of
the air channels 25 on the inside of the leg and on the outside of the leg,
optimum air circulation
is provided in the shoe, so that a maximum of atmospheric humidity can be
transported out of the
shoe and/or the sock.
In addition to the exemplary embodiments depicted in the figures, there are
also other
possibilities for the distribution and orientation of the climate channels 26.
For example with the
exemplary embodiments according to Figures 8, 9 and 10, it is possible for the
climate channels
to run into the area of the tip of the foot and/or the heel. When speaking of
socks in the
description and claims, this invention is not limited only to socks but
instead this term also
includes stockings, pantyhose and the like to which this invention also
refers.
