Sock with improved toe region and toe seam

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to provide a sock which has improved wearing comfort owing to an improved toe region that better adapts to the anatomy of the foot. This is achieved in that the toe region (4) has a first seam section (51) connected to a foot region (3) continuously knitted between a first toe seam sub-line (z1) and a first toe sub-line (g1) and a second toe sub-line (g2), which first seam section is directly adjoined by a first toe-shape section (41) having a decreasing number of needles between a first toe sub-line (g1) and a second toe sub-line (g2), which first toe-shape section is directly adjoined by a second toe-shape section (42) having an increasing number of needles between a first toe sub-line (g1) and a second toe sub-line (g2), to which second toe-shape section a second seam section (52) is continuously knitted between a second toe seam sub-line (z2), first toe sub-line (g1) and second toe sub-line (g2), wherein a toe seam (5') is arranged along the second toe seam sub-line (z2) and the sock is thus closed in the toe region (4).

Description

[0001] Sock with improved toe area and toe seam

[0002] Technical field

[0003] The present invention describes a toe area of ​​a sock, which is knitted as a tubular circular knit directly adjoining a foot area on one side in a stitch direction, wherein the toe area is closed by means of a sock seam, as well as a sock comprising a sock shaft, a heel area, a foot area and a toe area and a method for producing a toe area of ​​a sock essentially by means of a circular knitting machine on a circularly knitted foot area.

[0004] State of the art

[0005] The human foot is a complex mechanical structure of the human body, consisting of thirty-three joints, as schematically indicated in Figure 1a. Each of these joints contributes to optimal impact distribution and a powerful stride. Of course, walking barefoot would be ideal, but this is difficult in today's world. We wear socks and usually shoes as well. The result is restricted freedom of movement, which is further exacerbated by the design of the socks.

[0006] As an example of a sock known from the prior art, Figure 1b shows a foot section 3, a toe section 4, and a closing toe seam 5. Such socks are now industrially knitted on circular knitting machines with circular knitting cylinders, using various yarns and knitting patterns. In Figure 1b, the double arrows indicate the knitting direction K, whereby the circular knitting cylinder rotates either clockwise or counterclockwise during the knitting process. Once the toe section 4 has been knitted, the tubular knitted section can be closed by the toe seam 5.

[0007] The toe area, or toe seam, of most socks is now usually hand-linked, meaning the fine toe seam is precisely hand-linked by skilled workers. This ensures the toes are optimally encased in the material; nothing pinches or slips. This handwork can be bypassed by machine, simplifying the manufacturing process. In some cases, the finished knitted fabric is removed from the needles on a circular knitting machine, and the stitching process is carried out in a separate machine, preferably robot-controlled.

[0008] The toe seam runs essentially parallel to the knitting direction K and has not been changed so far, as it was considered a necessary evil. The circularly knitted cylindrical sock tube must be closed at the end opposite the sock cuff with the toe section 4. Therefore, the toe section 4 is currently closed with the toe seam 5, essentially parallel to the sock's circumference direction, i.e., the direction of the knitting stitches, by a sewing process either inside or outside the circular knitting machine.

[0009] Based on the machine knitting pattern view projected in two dimensions of the toe area 4 of a sock according to Figure 1c, a first toe-shaping section 41 with a decreasing number of stitches along toe section lines gl and g2 directly adjoins the foot area 3 in the stitch direction S, and subsequently a second toe-shaping section 42 with an increasing number of stitches along toe section lines gl and g2 up to the toe seam 5, are recognizable. The knitting pattern according to the prior art creates the usual straight toe seam 5, parallel to the knitting direction K, as can be seen in Figure 1b. Representation of the invention

[0010] The above-described, known from the prior art

[0011] The present device is intended to eliminate these disadvantages.

[0012] The present invention aims to create a sock with improved wearing comfort, whereby the optimized toe seam offers the foot more freedom of movement in the toe area and the sock adapts better to the anatomy of the foot.

[0013] The redesigned toe seam allows each foot to follow its natural range of motion more effectively. The toe seam, which closes the toe area, now better conforms to the joints and arch of the natural foot shape. By following the anatomy, the new toe seam provides significantly more freedom of movement in the toe area.

[0014] Variations in feature combinations or minor adjustments to the invention can be found in the detailed description, illustrated in the figures, and included in the dependent patent claims.

[0015] Brief description of the drawings

[0016] A preferred embodiment of the toe area of ​​a sock with an adapted toe seam on the upper part of the sock is described below in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

[0017] Further features, details, and advantages of the invention will also become apparent from the following description of slightly modified embodiments of the invention, some of which will be clear to those skilled in the art simply from the drawings. Figure 1a shows a schematic view of the human foot skeleton, while

[0018] Figure 1b shows a top view of the toe area of ​​a sock according to the state of the art and

[0019] Figure lc shows a machine knitting pattern view projected in two dimensions of the toe area of ​​a sock according to the state of the art.

[0020] Figure 2a shows a suggested schematic view of a sock with an adapted toe seam, while

[0021] Figure 2b shows a top view of the toe area of ​​a sock with a curved toe seam that deviates from the horizontal.

[0022] Figure 2c shows a machine knitting pattern view projected in two dimensions of the toe area with toe seam, starting from the foot area in the direction of the stitches.

[0023] Figure 3 shows a machine knitting pattern view projected in two dimensions of another toe area, with the course of the first and second toe seam part lines modified.

[0024] Figure 4 shows a machine knitting pattern view of another version of a toe area, in which the shaping of the first and second toe seam lines is modified again.

[0025] Description

[0026] In the circular knitting process of a sock, the tubular, closed knitted fabric transitions from a sock cuff 1, through a heel area 2 and a subsequent foot area 3, to a toe area 4 in the direction of the stitches S. As usual, the toe area 4 is closed by means of a toe seam 5', which is divided into several parts, as explained below, so that the toe seam 5' is curved.

[0027] Viewed from the front, the foot area 3 transitions into a first seam section 51 and then, in the stitch direction S, into a directly adjoining first toe-shaping section 41, as indicated in Figure 2b. In contrast, the known horizontal toe seam 5, according to the prior art, is also shown, the course of which differs significantly from that of the curved toe seam 5'. This curved course of the toe seam 5' is achieved by a suitable knitting pattern, as shown below.

[0028] In Figure 2c, the machine-knitting pattern projected in two dimensions, the toe section 4 connects directly to the foot section 3 with the first seam section 51, with yarn being picked up in stitches from individual needles. Along a first toe seam section line zl, which is shown divided into a left and a right section and between a first toe section line gl and a second toe section line g2, yarn is added on needles and the stitches are attached to the foot section 3 as indicated by the double arrows. Thus, the first seam section 51 connects directly to the foot section 3.

[0029] Framed by the first gusset line (right), the second gusset line (left), and the first toe seam line (left), yarn or stitches are added or decreased on the needles, with a change in knitting direction (K), as indicated by the arrows. The knitting cylinder of the circular knitting machine rotates counterclockwise or clockwise. Several rows of stitches are knitted, first with an increasing and then a decreasing number of needles, with yarn typically decreased from one needle after each counterclockwise and counterclockwise rotation. Knitting is carried out along the first gusset line (right) and the second gusset line (left) with a decreasing number of needles, along the first toe shaping section (41).

[0030] After reaching a minimum number of needles used, the number of needles used is increased again in the following second toe-shaping section 42. Following a change in knitting direction K, one more needle is used, and the number of stitches increases again along the first gusset line gl and the second gusset line g2 in the second toe-shaping section 42. The tubular knitted section is closed along the first gusset line gl and the second gusset line g2, as indicated by the dashed double arrows.

[0031] A second seam section 52 is knitted directly following the second toe shaping section 42. In the second seam section 52, the number of needles used decreases linearly along a second toe seam line z2 on both the left and right sides.

[0032] The resulting stitches are closed along the second toe seam section line z2 with the toe seam 5', as shown by the indicated seam line, which is done by a sewing operation inside or outside the circular knitting machine.

[0033] The first toe seam line (zl) at the top runs in a straight line from one or two needles to the maximum number of needles used. The second toe seam line (z2) runs similarly, tapering from the maximum number of needles used to one or two needles used, along a straight line. The final result after sewing the toe seam (5') is a slightly curved toe seam (5'). The connections between the first toe seam line (zl) and the stitches of the foot area (3), as well as with the toe seam (5'), are indicated by dashed double arrows. This creates a closed, tubular sock knit in the toe area (4).

[0034] Based on the embodiment according to Figure 2c, a further design of the toe area 4' is shown in Figure 3. A first toe seam section line z1' is located on the right side opposite the foot area 3, and a second toe seam section line z2' is located on the right side opposite the toe seam 5" in the first seam section 51 and second seam section 52, each with a stepped profile.

[0035] On the left side, the first toe seam line zl' runs from one needle, with an increasing number of needles carrying yarn, from the second toe seam line g2 to the left edge of the knitting pattern. On the right side, i.e., from the right edge of the 2d projection, the first toe seam line zl' runs in a stepped fashion with an increasing number of needles until it reaches the first toe seam line gl. In the upper first seam section 51, yarn is picked up on the right side of the projection along a first diagonal line on each additional needle, and a further horizontal section is knitted with the same number of needles until it reaches the beginning of the first toe seam line gl, thus creating the stepped first toe seam line zl'.

[0036] In the subsequent first toe shaping section 41, the number of needles used decreases again before increasing again in the second toe shaping section 42 along the first and second toe part line gl, g2.

[0037] The course of the first suture section 51 is mirrored around the horizontal in the second suture section 52. After completion of the first toe seam gl and with the beginning of the second suture section 52, the second toe seam z2' is initially executed with a horizontal section, which transitions into an oblique section with a decreasing number of needles.

[0038] After completion of the second suture section 52 and the tapering of the second toe suture line z2', the toe suture 5" is arranged along the stepped second toe suture line z2'.

[0039] Here too, the first stepped toe seam section line zl' is attached to the last row of stitches of the foot area 3 and the second stepped toe seam section line z2' forms the toe seam 5", so that the tubular knit is closed.

[0040] This additional toe area 4' shown here has less knitting along one end of the toe seam 5" so that an annoying bulge can be avoided.

[0041] In the further modified embodiment according to Figure 4, a modified toe area 4" is shown. Here, the left-side design of the first toe seam line zl", z2" is modified, whereby the shaping of the right side of the first and second toe seam lines zl", z2" can optionally be straight or stepped.

[0042] The left part of the first toe seam section zl', which is of interest here, begins with twenty needles of the circular knitting cylinder. At the transition from foot area 3 to the first seam section 51, the yarn is distributed across twenty needles. In principle, ten to forty needles can preferably be used in this area at the transition between foot area 3 and the first seam section 51. This does not create a point, as can be seen in Figure 3, but rather the entire first toe seam section zl' is bluntly tapered and shorter. On the side of the second seam section 52 adjacent to the toe seam 5"', the second toe seam section z2" is also bluntly tapered, so that after completion of the second seam section 52, yarn remains on more than one needle, preferably twenty needles. The toe seam 5'" is shaped differently accordingly and is shorter in this version.

[0043] Consequently, the edges of the toe seam 5"' are made with less knit fabric, thus avoiding bothersome fabric bulges on both sides. This reduces the risk of pressure points at the medial and lateral ends of the toe seam 5"'.

[0044] Reference symbol list

[0045] 1 sock shaft

[0046] 2 Heel area

[0047] 3 Foot area

[0048] 4, 4', 4" toe area

[0049] 41 First toe shaping section (decreasing needles)

[0050] 42 second toe shape section (increasing needles) gl first toe line g2 second toe line

[0051] 5, 5', 5", 5"' toe seam

[0052] 51 first seam section

[0053] 52 second suture section zl, zl', zl" first toe suture line z2, z2', z2" second toe suture line

[0054] S Mesh direction

[0055] K knitting direction

Claims

Patent claims 1. Toe area (4) of a sock, which is knitted as a tubular circular knit directly onto a foot area (3) on one side and then in a stitch direction (S), wherein the toe area (4) is closed by means of a sock seam (5), characterized in that the toe area (4) has a connection to the foot area (3) - first seam section (51) is knitted between a first toe seam section line (zl) and a first toe section line (gl) and a second toe section line (g2), on which directly - a first toe shaping section (41) with decreasing number of needles between first toe part line (gl) and second toe part line (g2) is connected, to which directly - a second toe shaping section (42) with an increasing number of needles between the first toe part line (gl) and the second toe part line (g2) is connected, to which - a second seam section (52) is knitted between a second toe seam section line (z2), first toe section line (gl) and second toe section line (g2), wherein - a toe seam (5') is arranged along the second toe seam line (z2) and thus the sock is closed in the toe area (4).

2. Toe area (4) of a sock according to claim 1, wherein the first seam section (51) and thus the first toe seam section (zl) extends from the foot area (3) starting at a needle in the direction of the first toe shape section (41) and the second toe seam section (z2) ends on a needle at the end of the second seam section (52), wherein in the course of the Toe seam section lines (zl, z2) are knitted in a straight line with a continuous decrease or increase in needles.

3. Toe area (4) of a sock according to claim 1, wherein the first seam section (51) and thus the first toe seam section line (z1") extends from the foot area (3) starting at ten to forty needles in the direction of the first toe shape section (41) and the second toe seam section line (z2") ends at ten to forty needles at the end of the second seam section (52).

4. Toe area (4) of a sock according to claim 3, wherein the first seam section (51) and thus the first toe seam section line (z1") from the foot area (3) as well as the second toe seam section line (z2") are bluntly tapered and terminate on twenty needles at the end of the second seam section (52).

5. Toe area (4) of a sock according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a step is knitted in along the first toe seam line (zl', zl") and the second toe seam line (z2', z2").

6. Sock comprising a sock shaft (1), a heel area (2), a foot area (3) and a toe area (4, 4', 4") according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

7. Method for manufacturing a toe area (4) of a sock essentially by means of a circular knitting machine, wherein the following manufacturing steps are connected to a circularly knitted foot area (3): - Knitting a first seam section (51) running between a first toe seam section line (zl) and a first toe section line (gl) and a second toe section line (g2), - immediately following this, knitting a first toe shaping section (41) with decreasing number of needles between first toe line (gl) and second toe line (g2), to which directly - a second toe shape section (42) is knitted with an increasing number of needles between the first toe section line (gl) and the second toe section line (g2), followed by - knitted in a second seam section (52) between a second toe seam line (z2), first toe line (gl) and second toe line (g2) before - a toe seam (5') is made along the second toe seam section line (z2) to close the sock in the toe area (4) inside or outside a circular knitting machine.

8. Method for producing a toe area (4) according to claim 7, wherein the first seam section (51) and thus the first toe seam section line (zl) is knitted from the foot area (3) starting at a needle in the direction of the first toe shape section (41) and the second toe seam section line (z2) is knitted on a needle ending at the end of the second seam section (52), wherein a straight line with a continuous decrease or increase of needles is knitted in the course of the toe seam section lines (zl, z2).

9. Method for producing a toe area (4) according to claim 7, wherein the first seam section (51) and thus the first toe seam section line (z1") are knitted from the foot area (3) and the second toe seam section line (z2") are knitted in a blunt manner from the foot area (3) starting at ten to forty needles or the second toe seam section line (z2") is knitted on ten to forty needles ending at the end of the second seam section (52).

10. Method for producing a toe area (4) according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein a step is knitted in along the first toe seam line (zl', zl") and the second toe seam line (z2', z2").

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