Sock

Abstract

This sock is characterized by comprising: a sock body (100); and a circular tightening section (120) provided so as to cover the instep and the sole at a part of the sock body corresponding to at least one of the head section and the base section of the five metatarsal bones of a sock wearer. The sock is also characterized in that the tightening force of the tightening section is larger than the tightening force of sections other than the tightening section of the sock body. Alternatively, this sock is characterized by comprising: a sock body; and a circular tightening section provided to a part of the sock body corresponding to at least one of the metatarsophalangeal joint, the Lisfranc joint, the Chopart joint, a toe joint, and the tibio-talar joint which are joints of the foot of a wearer. The sock is also characterized in that the tightening force of the tightening section is larger than the tightening force of sections other than the tightening section of the sock body.

Description

socks

[0001] The present invention relates to socks used to correct the arch of the foot.

[0002] Figure 1 shows the bones of the human foot, and Figure 2 shows the arch structure of the human foot. As shown in these figures, the human foot (the part from the ankle (or malleolus) to the toes) is made up of a total of 26 bones: 7 tarsal bones, 5 metatarsal bones, and 14 phalanges, with joints formed at the junctions of multiple bones. The 26 bones are connected to each other by multiple ligaments, and the arch structure is formed by a combination of bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, etc.

[0003] The arch structure of the foot (hereinafter referred to as "foot arch") is composed of the medial longitudinal arch connecting the calcaneus and the head of the first metatarsal, the lateral longitudinal arch connecting the calcaneus and the head of the fifth metatarsal, and the transverse arch connecting the heads of the first and fifth metatarsals. In Japan, the depression formed in the sole of the foot by the foot arch is called the "arch."

[0004] The arch of the foot is supported by tissues such as ligaments, muscles, and tendons surrounding the bones, and works in conjunction with a series of muscles extending from the top of the head to the back, buttocks, thighs, and the back of the lower legs to maintain an upright posture. The arch of the foot also functions as a cushion to absorb shocks applied to the soles of the feet when walking on two legs.

[0005] Aging and lack of exercise can weaken the muscles in the soles of the feet, stretch the ligaments, and increase body weight, which can cause the three-dimensional shape of the foot arch to collapse. When the three-dimensional shape of the foot arch collapses, the balance between the foot arch and each part of the body, from the top of the head to the back, buttocks, thighs, and the back of the lower legs, is disrupted. As a result, it becomes difficult to maintain an upright posture, leading to poor posture such as hunched back. Furthermore, when the foot arch collapses and the sole of the foot no longer has a depression (flat feet), the sole of the foot is unable to adequately absorb the impact on the sole of the foot when walking on two legs, which places strain on the knees and hips.

[0006] In response to this, for example, Patent Document 1 discloses a sock in which an arch support portion is provided on the sock body in a portion corresponding to the arch of the foot, wrapping the entire circumference of the sole and instep. The arch support portion is constructed by knitting a yarn that is less stretchy than the yarn used to knit the sock body into the base weave of the sock body. With this construction, the arch support portion of the sock body has a stronger tightening force than the other portions. Therefore, when a person whose sole is flat due to a collapsed three-dimensional shape of the foot arch wears a sock with this construction, the arch support portion tightens the sole and instep corresponding to the foot arch, correcting the foot arch to a normal three-dimensional shape.

[0007] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2020-133046

[0008] For example, in people with bow legs, weight being placed on the outside of the foot (towards the little toe) can cause the arch of the foot to tilt outward. When the arch of the foot is tilted, the balance between the arch of the foot and each part of the body, from the top of the head to the back, buttocks, thighs and the back of the lower legs, is lost, causing poor posture. However, the socks described in Patent Document 1 cannot adequately correct tilted arches of the foot.

[0009] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to make it possible to correct various defective foot arches to a normal state by wearing socks.

[0010] The sock according to a first aspect of the present invention, which has been made to solve the above problems, comprises a sock body, and an annular tightening portion provided on the sock body in a portion corresponding to the head and base of at least one of the wearer's five metatarsal bones so as to cover the instep and sole, and is characterized in that the tightening force of the tightening portion is greater than the tightening force of the sock body in any other portion than the tightening portion.

[0011] Furthermore, a sock according to a second aspect of the present invention, which has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, comprises a sock body; and an annular tightening portion provided on the sock body in a portion corresponding to at least one of five types of joints in the wearer's foot: the metatarsophalangeal joint, the Lisfranc joint, the Chopart joint, the toe joint, and the talocrural joint, and is characterized in that the tightening force of the tightening portion is greater than the tightening force of portions of the sock body other than the tightening portion.

[0012] The metatarsophalangeal joints are located at the heads of the five metatarsals, and the Lisfranc joints are located at the bases of the five metatarsals. Therefore, when wearing the sock of the first aspect of the present invention, the instep and sole surrounding the metatarsophalangeal joints and / or Lisfranc joints of the foot are tightly tightened by the tightening parts, correcting the arch of the foot into a three-dimensional shape. Furthermore, because the metatarsophalangeal joints and / or Lisfranc joints of the wearer's foot are stimulated by the tightening force of the tightening parts, if the arch of the wearer's foot is tilted or the position of the foot bones is distorted, it can be restored to a normal state.

[0013] Furthermore, when wearing the sock of the second aspect of the present invention, the instep and sole of the wearer's foot, which surround at least one of the five types of joints, are tightly tightened by the tightening parts, correcting the arch of the foot into a three-dimensional shape. Furthermore, because at least one of the five types of joints is stimulated by the tightening force of the tightening parts, if the wearer's arch of the foot is tilted or the position of the foot bones is distorted, it can be returned to a normal state.

[0014] 1 is a diagram showing the bones of a human foot; 2 is a diagram showing the arch of a human foot; 3 is a diagram showing a right foot wearing a sock according to a first embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the big toe side; 4 is a diagram showing a right foot wearing a sock according to the first embodiment, viewed from the instep side (a) and the sole side (b); 5 is a diagram showing a right foot wearing a sock according to a second embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the big toe side; 6 is a diagram showing a right foot wearing a sock according to the first embodiment, viewed from the instep side (a) and the sole side (b); 7 is a diagram showing a right foot wearing a sock according to a third embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the big toe side; 8 is a diagram showing a right foot wearing a sock according to the first embodiment, viewed from the instep side (a) and the sole side (b); 9 is a diagram showing a right foot wearing a sock according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the big toe side; 10 is a diagram showing a right foot wearing a sock according to the first embodiment, viewed from the instep side (a) and the sole side (b); 11 is a diagram showing a right foot wearing a sock according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the big toe side; 12 is a diagram showing a right foot wearing a sock according to the first embodiment, viewed from the instep side (a) and the sole side (b); 10A and 10B are views of a right foot wearing a sock according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the big toe side; FIG. 10A shows a right foot wearing a sock according to the above embodiment, as viewed from the instep side, and FIG. 10B shows a right foot wearing a sock according to a reference example, as viewed from the instep side, and FIG. 10B shows a left foot wearing the same sock, as viewed from the instep side; and FIG. 10C shows an example of a treatment.

[0015] As mentioned above, the foot consists of multiple bones and multiple joints (see Figure 1). The condition of the joints affects a person's daily movements and walking. Furthermore, as evidenced by the spinal reflexes observed in the foot, it is said that the condition of the bones in the foot is related to the condition of the bones in the back. Specifically, the condition of the calcaneus and sacrum, the talus and lumbar vertebrae, the navicular bone, metatarsals and thoracic vertebrae, and the phalanges and cervical vertebrae are all related to each other.

[0016] Stimulating five of the most common joints in the foot (metatarsal joint, Lisfranc joint, Chopart joint, toe joint, and talocrural joint) can help to position the bones of the foot correctly. It is known that when the bones of the foot are in the correct position, the spine maintains its natural curve, resulting in a stable posture that does not put strain on the body, known as the neutral position (natural relaxed posture).

[0017] Therefore, the inventors conducted an experiment in which tape was wrapped around the locations of several subjects corresponding to the above-mentioned five joints, and the walking posture and static posture of the subjects were observed before and after wrapping the tape. Furthermore, each subject was interviewed about the condition of the joint before and after wrapping the tape, and the condition of the joint after wrapping the tape. As a result, it was found that wrapping tape around the locations corresponding to each of the above-mentioned five joints changes the condition of the joint, and accordingly changes the walking posture and static posture.

[0018] These changes in joint condition and posture are thought to be due to the stimulation of the joints and nearby bones caused by wrapping tape around the instep and sole of the foot, tightening the instep and sole. Stimulating the foot joints and nearby bones corresponds to the treatment performed to improve a subject's walking or static posture, as shown in Figures 16(a) to 16(f). The inventors therefore conceived the idea of ​​providing the wearer with an effect equivalent to the treatment by simply wearing socks, and arrived at the present invention. The socks of the present invention were developed based on the findings obtained from the above-mentioned experiments and interviews. Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0019] First Embodiment The first embodiment comprises a pair of socks including a right sock and a left sock. Fig. 3 shows a view of the right foot wearing the right sock of the first embodiment from the big toe side, Fig. 4(a) shows a view of the right foot wearing the right sock from the instep side, and Fig. 4(b) shows a view of the right foot wearing the right sock 100 from the sole side. The right and left socks (not shown) are symmetrical and have the same configuration and function, so the configuration, function, etc. of the socks will be described below without distinguishing between left and right.

[0020] The sock 100 comprises a sock body 110 having a foot insertion opening 111, and a tightening portion 120 formed on the sock body 110. The tightening portion 120 is formed in a ring shape so as to cover the areas where the heads 16 of the five metatarsal bones B1 of the wearer's foot are located, from the instep to the sole. The areas where the bases 17 of the metatarsals are located are not covered by the tightening portion 120. The tightening portion 120 is formed to have approximately the same width around the entire circumference, and the width is, for example, 20 to 50 mm.

[0021] The tightening portion 120 is made up of a medial tightening portion 121 located on the big toe side and an lateral tightening portion 122 located on the little toe side. The medial tightening portion 121 is configured to cover from the portion of the sole that corresponds to the first metatarsal 11 to the portion of the instep that corresponds to the second metatarsal 12. Meanwhile, the lateral tightening portion 122 is configured to cover at least the portions of the instep and sole of the foot that correspond to the third metatarsal 13, fourth metatarsal 14, and fifth metatarsal 15. It is sufficient that the medial tightening portion 121 covers at least the portions of the instep and sole of the foot that correspond to the first metatarsal 11.

[0022] The sock body 110 is formed from a material such as a knitted or woven fabric that has elasticity, and the tightening portions 120 of the sock body 110 are configured to have a lower rate of elasticity than the other portions (non-tightening portions). The sock body 110 may be configured by joining together the tightening portions 120 and non-tightening portions that are made from different materials, or by performing a process to reduce the rate of elasticity on the portions of the sock body 110 that correspond to the tightening portions 120. In either case, the non-tightening portions of the sock body 110 have the same degree of elasticity as ordinary socks, and the tightening portions 120 are configured to have lower elasticity than the non-tightening portions. Furthermore, the inner tightening portions 121 that make up the tightening portions 120 are configured to have a lower rate of elasticity than the outer tightening portions 122. With this configuration, when wearing the sock 100, the parts of the sole and instep covered by the tightening portion 120 are tightened with a stronger force than the other parts, and furthermore, the parts covered by the inner tightening portion 121 are tightened with a stronger force than the parts covered by the outer tightening portion 122.

[0023] In cases where the sock body 110 is constructed by joining together tightening portions 120 and non-tightening portions, the tightening portions 120 can be formed, for example, by the following methods. In a first method, the tightening portions 120 are formed by joining together inner tightening portions 121 that have a predetermined degree of stretchability and outer tightening portions 122 that are formed from a highly stretchable material that has greater stretchability than the inner tightening portion 121. In a second method, two strip-shaped pieces of material are prepared whose stretch rate gradually increases from one end to the other, and the two strip-shaped pieces of material are joined together at one end and then at the other end to form the tightening portions 120. In this case, one end of the two joined pieces of material becomes the inner tightening portion 121, and the other end becomes the outer tightening portion 122. In a third method, the tightening portions 120 are constructed from a tubular knitted or woven fabric in which the knitting or weaving patterns of the portion corresponding to the inner tightening portion 121 and the portion corresponding to the outer tightening portion 122 are different. The tightening portion 120 of this configuration has no seams.

[0024] Furthermore, examples of processing methods for applying processing to the portions of the sock body 110 that correspond to the tightening portions 120 to reduce the rate of stretch include the following: If the sock body 110 is made of knitted fabric, reinforcing yarn may be knitted into the portions that correspond to the tightening portions 120, the stitch density (stitch size) may be reduced when knitting the knitted fabric, or a knitting structure with low stretchability (tuck knitting, float knitting, etc.) may be used. If the sock body 110 is made of woven fabric, the proportion of elastic yarn that makes up the portions that correspond to the tightening portions 120 may be increased, the elastic yarn may be thickened, or elastic yarn with a high modulus of elasticity may be used. If the sock body 110 is made of knitted or woven fabric, the portions that correspond to the tightening portions 120 may be coated with a resin such as silicone, or a low-stretch fabric or material such as power net may be attached.

[0025] When the sock 100 configured as described above is worn, the tightening portions 120 tighten the portions of the wearer's instep and sole that correspond to the foot arch, thereby correcting the foot arch into a three-dimensional shape. Furthermore, greater pressure is applied to the portions of the wearer's foot that correspond to the medial tightening portions 121 than to the portions that correspond to the lateral tightening portions 122. This achieves the same effect as when the "eversion" treatment shown in FIG. 16( b) or the "abduction" treatment shown in FIG. 16( f) is performed on the wearer's foot. Therefore, the foot arch, which has tended to float on the big toe side due to an imbalance in the center of gravity, is pushed back to its normal position, thereby correcting the foot arch to its normal state. In this embodiment, the tightening portions 120 tighten the portions that correspond to the metatarsal heads 16 (the ends on the metatarsophalangeal joint 21 side), effectively improving the posture of people with hunched backs, whose weight tends to concentrate on the metatarsophalangeal joint 21.

[0026] <Second embodiment> Fig. 5 shows a right foot wearing a right sock according to a second embodiment, viewed from the big toe side, Fig. 6(a) shows a right foot wearing a right sock, viewed from the instep side, and Fig. 6(b) shows a right foot wearing a right sock, viewed from the sole side. As with the first embodiment, the sock according to the second embodiment also consists of a right sock and a left sock that are symmetrical in shape, so the configuration, function, etc. of the sock will be described without distinguishing between left and right.

[0027] The sock 200 of the second embodiment has a sock body 210 with a foot insertion opening 211, and a tightening portion 220 formed on the sock body 210. The tightening portion 220 is composed of an instep-side tightening portion 221 that covers the instep and a rear-side tightening portion 222 that covers the sole. The instep-side tightening portion 221 is configured so that its stretch rate in the direction sloping toward the toe from the outside (little toe side) to the inside (big toe side) (the direction indicated by arrow A1 in FIG. 6( a)) is greater than the stretch rate in other directions. Similarly, the rear-side tightening portion 222 is configured so that its stretch rate in the direction sloping toward the toe from the outside (little toe side) to the inside (big toe side) (the direction indicated by arrow A2 in FIG. 6( b)) is greater than the stretch rate in other directions.

[0028] The positions of the compression parts 220 in the sock 210 of this embodiment are the same as the positions of the compression parts 120 in the sock 100 of the first embodiment. Furthermore, the method of forming the sock body 210 and the compression parts 220 is the same as the method of forming the sock body 110 and the compression parts 120 of the first embodiment, and as described above, various methods can be used.

[0029] When a wearer wears the sock 200 according to this embodiment, the tightening force of the tightening portions 220 tightens the instep and sole of the foot in the areas corresponding to the foot arch. This corrects the wearer's foot arch to a normal three-dimensional shape. Furthermore, the instep-side tightening portion 221 applies a force to the big toe-side end of the instep in the direction indicated by arrow A3 in FIG. 6( a) and a force to the little toe-side end in the direction indicated by arrow A4 in FIG. 6( a). As a result, the force indicated by arrow A5 in FIG. 6( b) is applied to the entire foot of the wearer. This application of such a force to the foot achieves the same effect as the "inversion" treatment shown in FIG. 18 . As a result, joints that have become stiff due to, for example, the aftereffects of an injury or surgery or aging are stimulated, restoring the wearer's feet, spine, and entire body to a neutral position.

[0030] <Third embodiment> Fig. 7 shows a right foot wearing a right sock according to a third embodiment, viewed from the big toe side, Fig. 8(a) shows a right foot wearing a right sock, viewed from the instep side, and Fig. 8(b) shows a right foot wearing a right sock, viewed from the sole side. As with the first embodiment, the sock according to the third embodiment also consists of a right sock and a left sock that are symmetrical in shape, so the configuration, function, etc. of the sock will be described without distinguishing between left and right.

[0031] The sock 300 of the third embodiment has a sock body 310 with a foot insertion opening 311, and tightening portions 320 formed on the sock body 310. The position of the tightening portions 320 of the sock 300 of this embodiment is different from the position of the tightening portions 120 of the sock 100 of the first embodiment. In other words, the tightening portions 320 are positioned on the sock body 310 so as to cover the portions from the instep to the sole that correspond to the bases 17 of the five metatarsal bones B1, but not the heads 16 of the metatarsal bones B1. The configuration of the sock 300 other than the position of the tightening portions 310 is the same as the configuration of the sock 100 of the first embodiment, so a detailed description will be omitted.

[0032] When a wearer wears the sock 300 according to this embodiment, the tightening portions 320 tighten the portions of the instep and sole that correspond to the bases 17 of the metatarsals. This corrects the arch of the foot into a three-dimensional shape. Furthermore, greater pressure is applied to the portions of the wearer's foot that correspond to the medial tightening portion 321 than to the portions that correspond to the lateral tightening portion 322. Therefore, if the wearer's center of gravity is shifted and the big toe side of the foot tends to float, the bones of the foot can be pushed back into their normal position, correcting the arch of the foot to its normal state. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the tightening portions 320 tighten the portions of the instep and sole that correspond to the bases 17 of the metatarsals (the ends on the Lisfranc joint 22 side), which effectively improves the posture of people with hunched backs who tend to concentrate weight on the Lisfranc joint 22.

[0033] 9 shows a view of a right foot wearing a right sock according to a fourth embodiment, viewed from the big toe side, Fig. 10(a) shows a view of a right foot wearing a right sock, viewed from the instep side, and Fig. 10(b) shows a view of a right foot wearing a right sock, viewed from the sole side. As with the first embodiment, the sock according to the second embodiment also consists of a right sock and a left sock that are symmetrical in shape, and therefore the configuration, function, etc. of the sock will be described without distinguishing between left and right.

[0034] The sock 400 according to the fourth embodiment has a sock body 410 with a foot insertion opening 411, a tightening portion 420 formed on the sock body, and a plurality of markings (markers) on the surface of the sock body 410. The sock 400 of this embodiment differs from the sock 100 of the first embodiment in that it has markings, but is otherwise configured the same as the sock 100 of the first embodiment. Below, the markings on the sock 400 will be described in detail, and a description of the configuration of the sock 400 other than the markings will be omitted.

[0035] The markings are intended to indicate areas to be treated that are effective in improving physical discomfort resulting from a collapsed foot arch, and are provided on the surface of the sock body 410 at locations corresponding to the wearer's treatment areas. Specifically, markings 431, 432, 433, 434, and 435 are provided on the surface of the sock body 410 at two locations corresponding to the wearer's left and right ankles (ankle malleoli), two locations closer to the toes than the ankles, two locations closer to the heel than the ankles, locations corresponding to the first metatarsal 11 and fifth metatarsal 15 on the instep, and the surface of the tightening portion 420 located on the sole. Also, a marking 436 consisting of a pair of arrows with their arrowheads facing each other is attached between the two markings 434. The arrow marking 436 is located on a straight line connecting the two markings 434. In this embodiment, the marks 431, 432, 433, 434, and 435 are triangular, rectangular, circular, diamond-shaped, and elliptical, respectively, but may be any shape, or may all be the same shape.

[0036] The above-mentioned marks 431-436 are formed by coating the surface of the sock body 410 with urethane resin or by attaching a thin resin sheet. In this configuration, the sock body 410 and the marks 431-436 can be distinguished from each other by the different feel of the marks. Therefore, the sock body 410 and the marks 431-436 may be the same color or different colors. Furthermore, the knitted or woven fabric constituting the portions of the sock body 410 corresponding to the marks 431-436 may be a different color from the other portions. In this configuration, the sense of incongruity caused by the marks 431-436 can be eliminated.

[0037] The marks 431 to 435 indicate treatment locations on the foot of a person wearing the sock 400, and mark 436 indicates the direction of force to be applied when treating the location indicated by mark 434. The size of marks 431 to 435 indicates the area to be treated, and typically, the locations corresponding to smaller marks 431 to 434 are treated by pressing with fingers (acupressure), and the location corresponding to larger mark 435 is treated by pressing with the palm. Mark 436 also indicates the direction in which to press mark 434.

[0038] Therefore, the practitioner can apply appropriate treatment to appropriate parts of the foot of the wearer of sock 400 by pressing the foot with the fingers or palm of the hand over markings 431 to 435. In this way, sock 400 has the effect of correcting the shape of the wearer's foot arch, as well as the effect of supporting treatment to relieve physical discomfort caused by collapse of the foot arch.

[0039] The marks 431 to 436 may be provided with information such as numbers indicating the order of treatment or the names of the areas to be treated. Furthermore, the sock body 410 does not need to be provided with all six types of marks 431 to 436, and may be provided with one to five types selected from the six types of marks 431 to 436. Furthermore, the marks may be provided in positions other than those shown in Figures 9 and 10. The marks 431 to 436 can also be attached to the sock 200 of the second embodiment.

[0040] Fifth Embodiment Fig. 11 shows a right foot wearing a right sock according to a fifth embodiment, viewed from the big toe side, Fig. 12(a) shows the right foot wearing a right sock, viewed from the instep side, and Fig. 12(b) shows the right foot wearing a right sock, viewed from the sole side. As with the first embodiment, the sock according to the fifth embodiment also consists of a right sock and a left sock that are symmetrical in shape, so the configuration, function, etc. of the sock will be described without distinguishing between left and right.

[0041] The sock 500 of the fifth embodiment has a sock body 510 with a foot insertion opening 511, and a plurality of tightening portions formed on the sock body 510. The sock 500 of this embodiment is a five-toe sock in which the portion covering the toes is separated into five parts.

[0042] The tightening portions of the sock 500 of this embodiment consist of a big toe tightening portion 521, a middle finger tightening portion 522, and a little toe tightening portion 523, which are provided in regions of the sock body 510 corresponding to the base ends (portions near the metatarsophalangeal joints) of the first proximal phalange (big toe), the third proximal phalange (middle finger), and the fifth proximal phalange (little finger), a big toe tip side tightening portion 524 provided in a region corresponding to the toe side of the first proximal phalange, a midfoot tightening portion 525 provided in a region corresponding to the area between the metatarsophalangeal joint and the Lisfranc joint, a central tightening portion 526 provided in a region corresponding to the Chopart joint, and one ankle tightening portion 527 provided in a region corresponding to the talocrural joint (ankle). All seven tightening portions 521-527 are annular and configured to cover the instep and sole sides of the sock body 510.

[0043] The socks of the fifth embodiment are men's socks designed with the arch structure of the male foot in mind. When worn by a female wearer, these socks can more effectively correct the arch of the foot to a normal state, as well as walking and standing posture.

[0044] 13 shows a view of the right foot wearing a right sock according to the sixth embodiment, as seen from the big toe side, Fig. 14(a) shows a view of the right foot wearing a right sock, as seen from the instep side, and Fig. 14(b) shows a view of the right foot wearing a right sock, as seen from the sole side. As with the first embodiment, the sock according to the fifth embodiment also consists of a right sock and a left sock that are symmetrical in shape, and therefore the configuration, function, etc. of the sock will be described without distinguishing between left and right.

[0045] The sock 600 of the sixth embodiment has a sock body 610 with a foot insertion opening 611, and a plurality of tightening portions formed on the sock body 610. Like the sock 500 of the fifth embodiment, the sock 600 of this embodiment is also a five-toe sock in which the portion covering the toes is separated into five parts.

[0046] The tightening portions of the sock 600 of this embodiment consist of a big toe tightening portion 621, an index finger tightening portion 622, and a ring finger tightening portion 623, which are provided in regions of the sock body 610 corresponding to the base ends (portions near the metatarsophalangeal joints) of the first proximal phalanx (thumb), the second proximal phalanx (index finger), and the fourth proximal phalanx (ring finger), respectively, a big toe tip side tightening portion 624 provided in a region corresponding to the toe side of the first proximal phalanx, a midfoot tightening portion 625 provided in a region corresponding to the area between the metatarsophalangeal joint and the Lisfranc joint, a central tightening portion 626 provided in a region corresponding to the Chopart joint, and one ankle tightening portion 627 provided in a region corresponding to the talocrural joint (ankle). All seven tightening portions 621-627 are annular and configured to cover the instep and sole sides of the sock body 610.

[0047] The socks of the sixth embodiment are women's socks designed with the arch structure of the female foot in mind. When a female wearer wears these socks, they can more effectively correct the arch of the foot to a normal state, as well as the walking posture and standing posture.

[0048] (Modifications) Although specific examples of the form for carrying out the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and appropriate modifications are permitted within the scope of the spirit of the present invention.

[0049] The socks according to the present invention may be any socks that cover at least the sole and instep, and include socks of various lengths (short socks, long socks), tights, stockings, etc. Furthermore, the socks may expose some or all of the toes, or the portion covering the toes may be separated into several parts. To prevent the socks from slipping down when worn, it is preferable that the socks be separated into a portion covering the big toe and a portion covering the other toes, a portion covering the toes, a portion covering the index to ring fingers, and a portion covering the little toe, or a portion covering all five toes.

[0050] In the above embodiment, the tightening portion is configured as a band of approximately the same width in the circumferential direction, but it may also be configured so that it is wider on the big toe side than on the little toe side. By doing so, it is possible to tighten the big toe side of the foot over a wider area, thereby effectively correcting the arch of the foot that is tilted toward the little toe.

[0051] In the above embodiment, the tightening portion was formed to cover either the head or base of the metatarsal bone, but it may also be formed to cover both the head and base of the metatarsal bone, but not the portion between the head and base.

[0052] Furthermore, the tightening portions 220 of the sock 200 of the second embodiment may be configured so that their stretching force is lower in the direction indicated by arrow A3 than in the direction indicated by arrow A4. With this configuration, just like the sock 100 of the first embodiment, the tightening force of the tightening portions 220 is stronger on the big toe side, and a strong tightening force is applied to the big toe side of the foot. As a result, the tightening portions 220 generate a force that twists the foot more strongly inward. This more strongly exerts the effect of correcting the foot arch to a normal angle, and achieves the same effect as when the "inversion" treatment in FIG. 16( a) or the "adduction" treatment in FIG. 16( e) is performed.

[0053] In the second embodiment of the sock 200, the stretch direction is the same around the entire circumference within the instep tightening portion 221 and the back tightening portion 222, but the instep tightening portion 221 and the back tightening portion 222 may be further divided into multiple regions and the stretch direction may be switched.

[0054] <Reference example> Human feet have a pivot foot (the foot that supports the body) and a dominant foot (the foot that performs movements). With the pivot foot, weight is concentrated on the little toe side of the foot, which tends to cause the big toe side to tend to lift. When the foot becomes deformed in this way, stress is placed on the biceps femoris, one of the muscles that make up the hamstrings, causing the biceps femoris to hypertrophy, which can lead to a misalignment of the pelvis, which is connected to the biceps femoris.

[0055] The inventors of the present application have discovered that wearing socks designed to tighten specific toes on each of the supporting and dominant feet can prevent deformation of the feet due to an imbalance in the center of gravity and prevent misalignment of the pelvis. These socks are described below as a reference example.

[0056] Fig. 15(a) is a view from the instep side of a left foot wearing a left sock of sock 700 according to a reference example, and Fig. 15(b) is a view from the instep side of a right foot wearing a right sock of sock 700 according to a reference example. In this reference example, a sock for a person whose left foot is the pivot foot and whose right foot is the dominant foot is described. The sock 700 is a so-called five-toe sock in which the portion covering the toes is separated into five, and includes a sock body 710 having a toe insertion portion 711 and multiple toe tightening portions 721, 722, 723, and 724 formed on the sock body 710. The toe tightening portions 721 and 722 are formed in an annular shape so as to wrap around the portion corresponding to the proximal interphalangeal joint C3a of the left middle toe and the portion corresponding to the proximal interphalangeal joint C3b of the left little toe, respectively. The toe tightening portions 723 and 724 are formed in a band shape so as to wrap around the portion corresponding to the proximal interphalangeal joint C3c of the index toe of the right foot and the portion corresponding to the proximal interphalangeal joint C3d of the ring toe of the right foot, respectively. The toe tightening portions 721-724 are made of a material such as a knitted or woven fabric that is less stretchy than the other portions of the sock body 710. Therefore, the toe tightening portions 721-724 have a stronger tightening force than the other portions of the sock body 710.

[0057] The five toes are connected to various muscles that perform various movements of the foot (abduction / adduction, dorsiflexion / plantar flexion, supination / pronation, and a combination of these for inversion / eversion; see FIG. 16 ). The sock 1E according to this reference example stimulates the muscles connected to the toes by tightening specific toes on the supporting and dominant feet, thereby improving the function of the above-mentioned foot movements. Specifically, tightening the middle toe of the left foot (supporting foot) improves the adduction / abduction function of the foot, and tightening the little toe of the left foot (supporting foot) improves the eversion function of the foot. Furthermore, tightening the ring toe of the right foot (dominant foot) improves the dorsiflexion function of the foot, and tightening the index toe of the right foot (dominant foot) improves the inversion function of the foot. By improving these various functions through treatment, it is possible to resist foot deformation caused by an imbalance in the wearer's center of gravity. In socks for a person whose right foot is the pivot foot, toe tightening portions 721 and 722 are formed in the right sock, and toe tightening portions 723 and 724 are formed in the left (dominant) sock.

[0058] Aspects It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the exemplary embodiments described above are examples of the following aspects.

[0059] (Item 1) A sock according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: a sock body; and an annular tightening portion provided on the sock body in a portion corresponding to the head and base of at least one of the wearer's five metatarsal bones so as to cover the instep and sole of the foot, wherein the tightening force of the tightening portion is greater than the tightening force of the sock body in any other portion than the tightening portion.

[0060] According to the socks of paragraph 1, the tightening parts tightly tighten the instep and sole surrounding the metatarsophalangeal joints and / or Lisfranc joints of the wearer's foot, correcting the arch of the foot into a three-dimensional shape. Furthermore, because the tightening force of the tightening parts stimulates the metatarsophalangeal joints and / or Lisfranc joints of the wearer's foot, if the arch of the wearer's foot is tilted or the position of the foot bones is distorted, it is possible to return them to a normal state.

[0061] (Clause 2) The socks according to clause 2 are the socks according to clause 1, characterized in that the tightening portion is made up of an inner tightening portion and an outer tightening portion, and the tightening force of the inner tightening portion is greater than the tightening force of the outer tightening portion.

[0062] (Clause 3) The sock according to clause 3 is the sock according to clause 1, characterized in that the tightening portion is configured so that the rate of stretch in the direction inclined from the little finger side toward the big toe side toward the toe is greater than the rate of stretch in other directions.

[0063] With the socks according to paragraphs 2 and 3, the tightening force of the tightening portions is shifted relative to the direction in which the tightening portions annularly cover the instep and sole, generating a tightening force on the foot and a force that twists the foot. In particular, if the elasticity in the direction inclining from the little toe side toward the big toe side toward the toes is greater than the elasticity in other directions, a force that twists the foot inward will be generated. For this reason, wearing the socks can properly correct the three-dimensional shape and inclination of the foot arch.

[0064] (Item 4) A sock according to another aspect of the present invention comprises a sock body and an annular tightening portion provided on the sock body in a portion corresponding to at least one of the joints of the wearer's foot, namely the metatarsophalangeal joint, the Lisfranc joint, the Chopart joint, the toe joint, and the talocrural joint, wherein the tightening force of the tightening portion is greater than the tightening force of the sock body other than the tightening portion.

[0065] According to the socks of paragraph 4, the tightening parts tightly tighten the instep and sole of the wearer's foot, which surround at least one of the five types of joints in the foot, correcting the arch of the foot into a three-dimensional shape. Furthermore, because at least one of the five types of joints is stimulated by the tightening force of the tightening parts, if the wearer's arch is tilted or the position of the foot bones is distorted, it can be restored to a normal state.

[0066] (Item 5) The sock according to item 5 is the sock according to item 4, wherein the tightening portions are provided in the parts of the sock body that correspond to the joints of the big toe, middle toe, and little toe of the wearer's five toes.

[0067] The socks according to the fifth aspect have the effect of correcting the three-dimensional shape of the foot arch to a correct state, particularly for male wearers.

[0068] (Item 6) The socks according to item 6 are the socks according to item 4, wherein the tightening portions are provided in portions of the sock body that correspond to the joints of the big toe, index finger, and ring finger out of the joints of the wearer's five toes.

[0069] The socks according to the sixth aspect have the effect of correcting the three-dimensional shape of the arch of the foot of a female wearer in particular.

[0070] (Item 7) The sock pertaining to item 7 is the sock pertaining to item 5, wherein the tightening portions are further provided on the sock body in portions that correspond to the wearer's metatarsophalangeal joints, Lisfranc joints, Chopart joints, and talocrural joints. (Item 8) The sock pertaining to item 8 is the sock pertaining to item 6, wherein the tightening portions are further provided on the sock body in portions that correspond to the wearer's metatarsophalangeal joints, Lisfranc joints, Chopart joints, and talocrural joints.

[0071] The inventors have found that the location of the metatarsal bones to be tightened is effective in improving certain types of poor posture. Specifically, in poor posture where the lumbar spine is lordotic and the pelvis is tilted forward (hereinafter referred to as "hunchback"), weight is concentrated near the metatarsophalangeal joints, so by tightening the metatarsal heads (ends on the metatarsophalangeal joint side), the structure of the foot arch is effectively corrected, and by living in this state, the hunchback is improved. Similarly, in poor posture where the lumbar spine is kyphotic and the pelvis is tilted backward (hereinafter referred to as "hunchback"), weight is concentrated near the Lisfranc joints, so by tightening the bases of the metatarsals (ends on the Lisfranc joint side), the hunchback is improved.

[0072] A stronger surface pressure is applied to the parts of the instep and sole on the big toe side that come into contact with the tightening parts than to the parts on the little toe side.As a result, a radial tightening force (tightening force) is applied to the parts of the wearer's foot that correspond to the tightening parts, correcting the arch of the foot into a three-dimensional shape.In addition, if the wearer's center of gravity is imbalanced, causing the little toe side (outside) of the foot to tilt downwards and the big toe side (inside) to tilt upwards, causing the big toe side to tend to float, the arch of the foot is corrected to the appropriate angle.

[0073] Furthermore, the inventors have found that the location of the metatarsal bones to be tightened is effective in improving certain types of poor posture. Specifically, in poor posture in which the lumbar spine is lordotic and the pelvis is tilted forward (hereinafter referred to as "hunchback"), weight is concentrated near the metatarsophalangeal joints, so by tightening the metatarsal heads (ends on the metatarsophalangeal joint side), in particular, the structure of the foot arch is effectively corrected, and by maintaining this state, the hunchback is improved. Similarly, in poor posture in which the lumbar spine is kyphotic and the pelvis is tilted backward (hereinafter referred to as "lower back"), weight is concentrated near the Lisfranc joints, so by tightening the bases of the metatarsals (ends on the Lisfranc joint side), the hunchback is improved.

[0074] If the metatarsal bones are tightened over a wide range, it will be impossible to correct the specific types of poor posture described above. Furthermore, tightening unnecessary parts can worsen blood flow. Therefore, in order to effectively correct the specific types of poor posture described above, it is preferable that the tightening portion be formed so that it covers one of the head and base of the metatarsal bones but not the other.

[0075] In the above-mentioned sock, it is preferable that the tightening portion is wider on the big toe side than on the little toe side.

[0076] With this configuration, the big toe side of the foot is tightened over a wider area, improving the corrective effect on the arch of the foot when the wearer's center of gravity is imbalanced, causing the little toe side (outside) of the foot to be tilted downwards and the big toe side (inside) to be tilted upwards, causing the big toe side to tend to float.

[0077] (Item 9) The socks according to item 9 are the socks according to any one of items 1 to 8, with one or more marks indicating the treatment area on the surface of the sock body.

[0078] In the socks according to paragraph 9, the treatment area refers to, for example, an area of ​​the foot where the foot is twisted or pressed. Treatments include acupressure and massage. The markings may be anything that marks the treatment area, and may include symbols, letters, pictures, shapes, etc. The markings may also include letters indicating the treatment content, or arrows, pictures, or shapes that indicate the direction in which force should be applied to the treatment area.

[0079] With the sock having the above configuration, even a person who is unfamiliar with foot treatments can perform appropriate treatments on appropriate parts of the wearer's feet based on the markings on the sock.

[0080] 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600... Socks 110, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610... Sock body 120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 620... Tightening portion

Claims

1. A sock comprising: a sock body; and an annular tightening portion provided on the sock body at a portion corresponding to the head and base of at least one of the wearer's five metatarsal bones so as to cover the instep and sole of the foot, wherein the tightening force of the tightening portion is greater than the tightening force of the other portions of the sock body other than the tightening portion.

2. The sock according to claim 1, wherein the tightening portion is made up of an inner tightening portion and an outer tightening portion, and the tightening force of the inner tightening portion is greater than the tightening force of the outer tightening portion.

3. The sock as described in claim 1, wherein the tightening portion is configured so that the rate of stretch in the direction sloping from the little toe side toward the big toe side is greater than the rate of stretch in other directions.

4. A sock comprising: a sock body; and an annular tightening portion provided on the sock body in a portion corresponding to at least one of the joints of the wearer's foot, namely the metatarsophalangeal joint, the Lisfranc joint, the Chopart joint, the toe joint, and the talocrural joint, wherein the tightening force of the tightening portion is greater than the tightening force of the other portions of the sock body.

5. The sock according to claim 4, wherein the tightening portions are provided in portions of the sock body that correspond to the joints of the big toe, middle finger, and little toe of the wearer's five toes.

6. The sock according to claim 4, wherein the tightening portions are provided in portions of the sock body that correspond to the joints of the big toe, index finger, and ring finger of the wearer's five toes.

7. The sock according to claim 5, wherein the tightening portion is further provided in portions of the sock body corresponding to the wearer's metatarsophalangeal joint, Lisfranc joint, Chopart joint, and talocrural joint.

8. The sock according to claim 6, wherein the tightening portion is further provided in portions of the sock body corresponding to the wearer's metatarsophalangeal joint, Lisfranc joint, Chopart joint, and talocrural joint.

9. A sock as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein one or more markings indicating treatment areas are provided on the surface of the sock body.

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