Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02576918 2012-05-25
31604-8
1
Sock
The invention relates to a sock, in particular for application in athletic
activities.
Human feet are often accommodated in tight shoes. This is the case in
particular
when the person moves rapidly and a great deal, e.g., in athletic activities.
However,
the tight shoes per se cause increased perspiration by the feet. In human
athletic
activity, this perspiration output is above average. Due to the accumulation
of
perspiration in the shoes and/or socks, there is an increased risk of blisters
developing on the foot, so there have been efforts to facilitate the transport
of
perspiration out of the shoe and/or sock.
DE 297 15 762 U1 discloses a climate regulating stocking, in particular for
use in
leisure athletic activities such as jogging, inline skating, skiing or the
like, said
stocking having at least one integrated air channel made of a climate
regulating knit
mesh fabric extending from the sole of the foot to the cuff. The climate
channel
allows most of the resulting moisture to evaporate by conveying the moisture
of
perspiration out of the sole area of the shoe into an area of the stocking
where free
evaporation is possible. The known climate regulating stocking fulfills all
the tasks
required of it. However, this requires that an air channel be provided.
It is the object of some embodiments of the present invention to simplify the
conveyance of moisture out of the shoe.
An embodiment of the invention relates to sock for use in sporting activities,
in which
sock at least two pads arranged one beside the other and designed essentially
rod-
shaped are provided for at least in the area of the ankle, the at least two
pads being
located in contact with the ankle on the same side of the foot, wherein the
pads are of
different lengths and wherein the pads are positioned essentially parallel to
one
another.
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la
A sock is created with an embodiment of the present invention, in particular
for
athletic activities, allowing conveyance of perspiration out of the shoe
and/or sock
without requiring an air channel to do so. Because a rod-shaped pad is
provided in
the area of the ankle, it is possible to transport the high levels of moisture
that occur
in the shoe out of the area. This is ensured by the fact that a gap is created
between
the sock and the shoe on both sides of the pad, through which aeration and
ventilation are possible.
In another embodiment of the invention, at least two pads arranged in
proximity to
one another are provided in the area of the ankle. Due to the neighboring
arrangement of multiple pads, the gap between the sock and the shoe is
increased,
thereby additionally improving ventilation and aeration.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the pads are aligned
essentially in
parallel to one another. Due to the parallel alignment, one or more channels
are
formed between the pads. By
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WO 2006/024260 2 PCT/DE2005/001446
providing multiple pads, the gap formed between the sock and the shoe is
increased, thereby further
improving the air exchange.
In an embodiment of the invention, an air channel is provided optionally on
the inside and/or outside
of the sock in relation to the leg. This further increase the efficiency in
conveying perspiration out of
the area of the shoe.
In another embodiment of the invention, the tread area of the sock has at
least one climate channel
extending to the outer area of the sock. This yields a uniform climate in the
tread area because
moisture generated even in the tread area is conveyed away. This results in a
pleasant feeling in the
tread area.
The sock is advantageously equipped with an X-cross band. The X-cross band
supports the anlde in
the transitional area between the leg and the foot.
Other embodiments and refined embodiments of the present invention are
characterized in the other
subclaims. An exemplary embodiment of the invention is depicted in the drawing
and described in
detail below, showing:
Figure 1 a diagram of a sock with a pad in a side view;
Figure 2 a side view of the sock shown in Figure 1 with a shoe;
Figure 3 a section along line in Figure 2;
Figure 4 a diagram of a sock having two pads in a side view;
Figure 5 a diagram of a sock having a lateral air channel, X-cross band,
three pads and
padding in a side view.
The sock A selected as an exemplary embodiment (Figure 1) consists of a foot
part 1 and a leg part 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 shown in the
exemplary embodiment. Use of combinations of materials such as sheared wool
with elastic fiber
materials, e.g., Elasthane is also possible. The arrangement of additional
pads or padding in the
aforementioned areas is also possible. The leg part 2 is provided with a cuff
21 on its end facing
away from the foot part 1.
The pad 3 designed essentially in the form of a rod is provided on the sock A
in the area of the anlde.
It has essentially a vertical alignment. The pad 3 has a length partially
protruding into the shoe in the
condition in which it is worn in a shoe B, while partially protruding out of
the shoe. The pad 3 is
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= WO 2006/024260 3 PCT/DE2005/001446
consequently arranged in the transition of the shoe leg part and leads
partially out of the shoe leg part
(Figure 2).
A gap X is formed by the pad 3 between the sock A and the shoe B in the area
of the shoe leg part on
both sides of the pad (Figure 3), allowing for aeration and ventilation. By
placing the shoe on the
floor, the air in the shoe is forced out of it. In the normal case the air can
escape only through the
ventilation openings in the shoe, but their capacity is very limited. With the
help of the pad 3 and the
gap X formed by it, an additional possibility for allowing air to escape is
created, so that ventilation
of the shoe is greatly improved. The same thing is also true conversely in
aeration: if the shoe is
raised from the floor, air is drawn into the shoe, which is greatly
facilitated by the gap X between the
sock and the shoe.
To further improve the aeration and ventilation of the shoe, it is possible to
provide additional pads
3. In the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 4, two pads 3 are provided.
The pads 3 here are
aligned almost in parallel so that one or more channels are formed between
them. By providing
multiple pads 3, the gap formed between the sock A and the shoe B is
increased, so that the air
exchange is further improved.
In the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 5, the leg part 2 of the sock
A is provided with
pads 22 in the area of the calf, with rod-shaped padding being provided in the
example shown here.
Other shapes of pads are also possible. Pads 23 are also arranged in the lower
area of the shin
developing into the arch of the foot part. The pads may also be arranged in
the area of the Achilles
tendon.
The pads are generally made of synthetic yams or compound fabrics or yarn or
similar materials. In
the exemplary embodiment, the padding of the socks is made of hollow chamber
fibers sheathed with
spun wool or cotton. The hollow chamber of synthetic yams are also especially
effective in impact
and compression damping. The tread area 13 may be made of microfiber knit,
which helps to reduce
abrasion. The foot bed is also made of microfibers in the toe and/or heel
area, depending on
requirements.
The sock A is also equipped with an X-cross band 24 made of an elastic,
climate regulating fabric.
The X-cross band 24 supports the ankle in the transitional area between the
leg and the foot.
In the exemplary embodiment shown here, an air channel 25 that is made of a
climate regulating knit
mesh fabric extends from the cuff 21 into the tread area 13. The air channel
25 contributes toward
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= WO 2006/024260 4 PCT/DE2005/001446
diverting moisture upward and out of the tread area. Such an air channel 25
may also be provided on
the sock on the inside of the leg or on both sides of the leg.
In the exemplary embodiment according to Figure 5, three pads 3 are provided
in the area of the
ankle. The two outer pads 3 form the edge of the air channel 25 in some
sections in the area of the
ankle. The middle pad 3 is arranged in the air channel 25. Pads 3 that are
parallel to one another are
arranged obliquely. The pads 3 thereby complete the transition from the
essentially horizontally
aligned foot part 1 to the essentially vertically aligned leg part 2. This
transition can be additionally
improved by providing a small curve on the end of the pad 3 facing the foot
part 1 such that the free
end of the curve is aligned approximately horizontally. Similarly, the end of
the pad 3 facing away
from the foot part 1 may have a small curve, the free end of which is aligned
approximately
vertically.
The three pads 3 are aligned essentially in parallel. They have different
lengths, with the two outer
pads 3 being approximately the same length in the exemplary embodiment shown
here and with the
middle pad 3 having a greater length. They function as described above so that
they support the
effects of the air channel 25. If air channels 25 are provided on the sock A
there is the possibility of
widening the pads 3 over the area of the ankle. This is true in particular for
the pads 3 forming the
edge of the air channel 25. If the pads 3 are designed to be curved in this
way and are lengthened in
the direction of the leg part 21, then the pads 3 assume the function of air
guidance to ensure that the
human air escaping from the shoe B will be evaporated and/or guided in the
channel 25 provided for
this purpose.
Three climate channels 26 are provided in the tread area 13 of the sock. 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. The climate channels 26 are made of climate regulating knit mesh
fabric. They may be
designed so that the thickness of the knit mesh fabric corresponds to the
thickness of the tread area,
thus resulting in a continuous surface. Therefore this has a positive effect
on wearing comfort.
If air channels 25 are provided on the inside and outside of the leg of sock
A, then the climate
channels 26 extend between the air channels 25 on the inside and outside of
the leg. The number and
dimensions of the climate channels 26 are essentially freely selectable. In
the connection of the air
channels 26 to the inside and outside of the legs, optimum air circulation in
the shoe is induced,
making it possible for a maximum amount of atmospheric humidity to be conveyed
out of the shoe
and/or sock.
= CA 02576918 2007-02-08
= WO 2006/024260 5 PCT/DE2005/001446
Although socks are mentioned in the description and claims, the invention is
not limited exclusively
thereto. Instead this term is also understood to include stockings, pantyhose
and the like, to which the
present invention also refers.
