Sock and process for the production thereof

Abstract

An ankle length sock having an opening welt positioned in the vicinity of an ankle of a wearer, and having an elastic welt provided at the opening welt is provided. The sock may include a compression area with high elasticity and high compressive force disposed laterally in a diagonal direction in an area extending from behind an arch portion to an Achilles tendon portion above a heel portion. A size control course with a knitted fabric increased by 4-20 courses may be disposed between the compression area and the heel portion. An additional pocket may be interknit with 2-24 courses by reverse knitting, repeatedly alternating normal rotation and reverse rotation of the circular knitting machine cylinder, at a position on the sole portion side between the size control course and the compression area.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application Number 2008-053658 filed Mar. 4, 2008, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The present invention relates to a sock and a process for the production thereof. It is an object of the present invention to prevent slipping of a heel side of an elastic welt disposed at an opening of a sock, particularly in an ankle-length sock.BACKGROUND ART[0003]When wearing sneakers or pumps, or when wearing athletic shoes such as tennis shoes, an ankle-length sock is used which has an opening welt positioned in the vicinity of the ankle of the wearer. In an ankle-length sock, the leg portion is short, and the leg portion and an elastic welt are hidden inside the shoe, or are only slightly visible when the shoe is worn, and this is desirable from the standpoint of fashion. It should be noted that in ankle-length socks, the position corresponding to the “leg portion”...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0028]FIG. 6 is a drawing illustrating the structural factors which are among the causes for slipping of a prior art ankle-length sock.

[0029]FIG. 7 is a drawing illustrating the external factors which are among the causes for slipping of a prior art ankle-length sock.

[0030]FIG. 8 is a drawing illustrating a test method for measuring slipping, in the case where the holding clipper of a digital force gauge is attached at the heel side of the elastic welt.

[0031]FIG. 9 is a drawing illustrating a test method for measuring slipping, in the case where the holding clipper of a digital force gauge is attached at the center of the arch portion.

[0032]FIG. 10 is a drawing illustrating a test method for measuring slipping, in the case where the holding clipper of a digital force gauge is attached at the outer side of the sole portion near the heel.

[0033]FIG. 11 is a drawing illustrating a test method for measuring slipping, in the case where the holding clipper of a digital force gauge is attached at the inner side of the sole portion near the heel.

Problems solved by technology

During activities such as jogging, insufficient elasticity in the longitudinal direction or rubbing against the shoe can cause the heel side of the elastic welt of such an ankle-length sock to slip, resulting in discomfort while wearing it.

These forces oppose each other, resulting in friction.

However, slipping of the heel side of the elastic welt of an ankle-length sock occurs due to increased surface area of the knitted fabric of the sole portion, as well as due to rubbing against the shoe.

Thus, Patent Reference 1, in which the sock only has a structure in which the heel portion is knitted larger than usual, discloses a sock in which it is impossible to impart an upward force to resist the downward slipping of the heel side of the elastic welt, so the slip-preventing effect is insufficient.

Furthermore, since the ankle portion of an ankle-length sock is very short, providing a compression area in a structure such as that of Patent Reference 2 is difficult from the start.

Moreover, even if the structure of Patent Reference 2 were applied to an ankle-length sock, it would not be possible to impart a force in a direction to resist the downward slipping of the heel side of the elastic welt, so no slip-preventing effect is obtained.

However, such circular knitting machine technology only controls the elastic force in the course direction of the sock, making it difficult to raise the elastic force in a diagonal direction in a lateral area from behind the arch portion of the sock to the Achilles tendon portion above the heel portion.

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