Sock having protective gusset
The sock design with a protective gusset knitted at the ankle joint addresses the issue of injury prevention and fit enhancement during running by using varying needle usage and suitable yarns, achieving improved protection and comfort.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/IB2025/057968
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-08-15
- Filing Date
- 2025-08-05
- Publication Date
- 2026-02-19
AI Technical Summary
Existing socks do not provide reliable protection against injuries, such as when the toe of one foot strikes the ankle of the other during running or jogging, and their fit and comfort are not optimized for these activities.
A sock design featuring a protective gusset located on the medial side, knitted with varying needle usage to create a gusset angle greater than 60°, embedded within the tubular fabric to enhance fit and protection at the ankle joint, using suitable yarns like polypropylene or thermoplastic elastomers.
The design provides enhanced protection against injuries and improved fit and comfort during running by integrating a protective gusset that aligns with the ankle joint, ensuring a smooth transition and increased wearing comfort.
Smart Images
Figure IB2025057968_19022026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Sock with protective gusset
[0002] Technical field
[0003] The present invention describes a sock comprising a shaft, a subsequent heel section with a gusset having a first gusset area and a subsequent second gusset area, wherein the first and second gusset areas are knitted with different numbers and varying rows of stitches in a row direction, along gusset lines in a knitting process on a circular knitting machine and form a tubular knitted fabric.
[0004] State of the art
[0005] Socks are now manufactured on a circular knitting machine as a partially closed textile tube, a process that is usually semi-automated and programmable. Circular knitting machines knit in a circular direction because the needles are continuously arranged in a circle along a cylinder. This creates continuous rows of stitches, as shown in Figure 1, from a cuff 0, a leg 1, through a heel section 2 with a transition to a foot section 3 and ending in a toe section 4, forming the essentially tubular, closed knitted fabric.
[0006] The row direction K runs partially clockwise or counterclockwise along the circle or cylinder of the knitting needles, depending on the cylinder's direction of rotation. The knitting process combines both efficiency and precision, and almost all commercially available yarns can be used. The heel section 2 in known socks is knitted with a gusset 20, comprising a first gusset area 2a, a second gusset area 2b, and a gusset line g, whereby the opening angle between the leg 1 and the foot section 3 through this gusset 20 is approximately 220°. The tubular knitted section is closed at adjacent gusset lines in the area of the gusset 20, thus forming the familiar heel section shape.
[0007] To describe the shaping of the gusset areas 2a, 2b and the gusset line g, Figure 2a shows a machine knitting pattern view projected in two dimensions of the known heel section. The row direction K indicates the knitting directions of the individual rows with arrows of two possible directions, while the gusset line g has several sections gla, gib on the left and gra and grb on the right, as shown in the machine knitting pattern view. In the first gusset area 2a, the number of needles carrying yarn is reduced along the gusset lines gla on the left and gra on the right. In the second gusset area 2b, along gusset lines gib and grb, yarn-carrying needles are added again until, at the beginning of the foot section 3, all needles are used again, allowing for continued circular knitting and a transition to the foot section 3.
[0008] To achieve a closed tube, which forms a curve by means of the gusset 20, the knitted fabric is interwoven along gla and gib as well as gra and grb, as indicated by the double arrows in Fig. 2a. The regular decrease and increase of stitches from the needles firmly integrates the gusset 20 into the knitted fabric, ensuring a good fit and stability.
[0009] The decreasing of stitches, i.e. the gradual cessation of the use of individual needles along the gusset 20, is shown by way of example in Figure 2b in the dashed section of the gusset line gra, whereby
[0010] P248907 / XTP-095: Knit one row to the right from gray to gla, then one row to the left again until gray is knitted, then decrease one yarn loop from one fewer needle and repeat the process. By shaping the gusset line g and decreasing or adding stitches, a familiar gusset 20 is created.
[0011] The comfort and overall fit are not designed for running and jogging; at best, the sock fits well in the running shoe, even during prolonged, sweaty runs. While padding is a known feature of socks, it doesn't currently provide reliable protection against injuries, such as when the toe of one foot strikes the ankle of the other.
[0012] Description of the invention
[0013] The present invention aims to provide a sock with an optimized fit and increased wearing comfort for use while running. Runners are protected from injuries that can occur when the toes strike the ground.
[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] The knitted fabric features a protective area with a protective gusset along the shaft, which is located exclusively on the medial side.
[0016] Brief description of the drawings
[0017] P248907 / XTP-095 A preferred embodiment of the construction of a sock with an additional protective gusset at the level of the ankle joint is described below in detail in connection with the accompanying drawings.
[0018] 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 a person skilled in the art simply from the drawings. These are illustrated in
[0019] Figure 1 shows a top view of the medial side of a sock known from the prior art, while
[0020] Figure 2a shows a machine knitting pattern view projected in two dimensions of the leg, heel section and foot section of a sock according to the prior art, and
[0021] Figure 2b shows a detailed view of the machine knitting pattern from Figure 2a, according to the dashed rectangle, where the knitting pattern including heel construction with gusset is known from the prior art.
[0022] Figure 3a shows a perspective rear view of a sock according to the invention, with the lateral and medial sides of the sock marked, with a protective gusset according to the invention on the medial side.
[0023] Figure 3b shows a side view of the medial side of a
[0024] Socks with a protective gusset according to the invention, while Figure 3c projects a machine knitting pattern view in two
[0025] Figure 3b shows the dimensions of the sock with shaft, heel section and foot section and protective gusset enclosed in the shaft.
[0026] P248907 / XTP-095 Description
[0027] The sock presented here is produced on a circular knitting machine using suitable synthetic yarns. The knitting begins at a cuff 0 and transitions directly into a leg 1 in the stitch direction S. A protective gusset 10 is knitted into the leg 1, which is described in detail below. After the leg 1 is completed, a familiar heel section 2 with a gusset 20 and gusset lines gl, gr is added. Once the heel section 2 is completely knitted, a foot section 3 and then a toe section 4 are incorporated, as is known for socks of the prior art.
[0028] The sock is constructed with the additional protective gusset 10 in such a way that the gusset 10 lies at the level of the user's ankle when the sock is worn. The protective gusset 10 is thus knitted into the side of the tubular leg 1 facing the heel section 2, within the length of the leg 1, framed by leg sections. The sock is knitted so that the protective gusset 10 lies exclusively on the medial side of the sock at the level of the ankle when worn.
[0029] The medial side of a sock refers to the inside or the side that faces the center of the body when the sock is worn. This is often mentioned in knitting patterns for socks to make it easier to orient oneself when knitting the individual pieces. It helps ensure the fit and symmetry of the socks, especially when making heels and toes. Here, the protective effect is only desired on the medial side.
[0030] The design of the heel section 2, the subsequent foot section 3 and the toe section 4 is each interchangeable and can be adapted according to various methods known from the prior art.
[0031] P248907 / XTP-095 knitting patterns. The shape of the waistband 0 also plays no role in the design of the protective gusset 10.
[0032] As can be seen in the side view according to Figure 3b, the protective gusset 10 is embedded in the knitted fabric of the leg 1 and has indicated protective gusset lines szl, szr, while stitches of the leg 1 run virtually around the protective gusset 10. The smooth transition from the heel section 2 to the foot section 3 and to the final toe section 4 is known before the tubular sock is closed with a seam at the toe section 4.
[0033] Figure 3c shows in detail how, in the stitch direction S, a first leg section la is knitted in a row direction K using the needles of the circular knitting machine before a first gusset section 10a is directly attached. The first gusset section 10a is characterized by knitted stitches between a left gusset line szl and a right gusset line szr with an increasing number of needles used. Preferably, for a given number of needles, the knitting is performed once in one row direction and once in the other row direction before adding another needle. This results in a gusset increase angle of greater than 60°, in particular 63.4°.
[0034] After completion of the first protective gusset area 10a with increasing number of needles in the stitch direction S, the second protective gusset area 10b with decreasing number of needles follows directly, whereby along the protective gusset line on the left szl and the protective gusset line on the right szr the number of needles used is reduced by one needle after every two opposite turns in the row direction K.
[0035] P248907 / XTP-095 The gusset 10 has a total width of at least 30 needles, starting from at least 15 needles at the thinnest point of the gusset 10. Depending on the circular knitting machine cylinder and number of needles used.
[0036] The total height of the protective gusset 10 in the stitch direction S depends on the resulting sock size and is at least twelve rows of stitches in different row directions K.
[0037] Along the left gusset line szl, the knitted gusset 10 is attached to the first leg section la at the top and to the second leg section lb at the bottom in the same knitting operation. Similarly, along the right gusset line szr, the knitted gusset 10 is attached to the first leg section la at the top and to the second leg section lb at the bottom, as indicated by the dashed double arrows in Figure 3c.
[0038] The knitted-in protective gusset 10 with first and second protective gusset area 10a, 10b is thus embedded in the leg 1 of the sock and the distance in the stitch direction S must be chosen so that the protective gusset 10 lies at the level of the ankle joint, which is defined by the height of the second leg section lb.
[0039] The second shaft section lb is directly followed in the direction of stitch S by the familiar heel section 2, which then transitions into the foot section 3.
[0040] Suitable yarns for all sock applications are preferably made from polyolefins, especially polypropylene, or contain polypropylene. For some applications, thermoplastic elastomers, such as thermoplastic polyurethane, can also be used.
[0041] P248907 / XTP-095 The protective gusset 10 with first and second protective gusset area 10a, 10b can be knitted with the same yarn as the rest of the sock, or the protective gusset 10 can be knitted with a second yarn with different mechanical properties compared to the first yarn for the rest of the sock.
[0042] Preferably, the area of the protective gusset 10 within the shaft 1 is knitted with two needles of polyamide yarn and alternately with two needles of elastomer yarn, thereby achieving a strong curvature of the protective gusset in the medial direction.
[0043] P248907 / XTP-095 Reference List
[0044] 0 Bund
[0045] 1 shaft a first shaft section lb second shaft section
[0046] 10 protective gussets
[0047] 10a first protective gusset area with increasing number of needles
[0048] 10b second protective gusset area with decreasing number of needles
[0049] Gusset increase angle / Grille decrease angle szl Protective gusset line left szr Protective gusset line right
[0050] 2 Heel section / gusset fastening knit
[0051] 20 gussets
[0052] 2a first wedge area (from the state of the art)
[0053] 2b second gusset area (from the prior art) g gusset line (heel wedge seam / goreline) gla, gib left in 2a gra, grb right in 2a
[0054] Opening angle (220°)
[0055] Wedge angle (45° / 63.4°)
[0056] 3 foot section
[0057] 4 toe section
[0058] S Mesh direction (wale direction)
[0059] K Course direction
[0060] P248907 / XTP-095
Claims
Patent claims 1. Sock comprising a leg (1), an adjoining heel section (2) with a gusset (20) having a first gusset area (2a) and an adjoining second gusset area (2b), wherein the first and second gusset areas (2a, 2b) are knitted with different numbers and varying rows of stitches in a row direction (K), along gusset lines (gla, gib, gra, grb) in a single knitting operation on a circular knitting machine and form a tubular knitted fabric, characterized in that a protective gusset (10) is knitted into the leg (1) between a first leg section (1a) and a second leg section (1b) on the medial side of the sock in the same knitting operation.wherein the gusset (10) has a first gusset area (10a) of knitted stitches between a left gusset line (szl) and a right gusset line (szr) with an increasing number of needles used, and a second gusset area (10b) of knitted stitches directly adjoining the first gusset area (10a) in the stitch direction (S) between the left gusset line (szl) and the right gusset line (szr) with an increasing number of needles used, before the knitted fabric transitions directly into the second leg section (lb) in the stitch direction (S).
2. Sock according to claim 1, wherein within the first protective gusset area (10a) for a given number of needles, knitting is carried out once in one row direction (K) and once in the other row direction (K) in a rotating manner before a further needle is added to the knitting. P248907 / XTP-095 3. Sock according to claim 2, wherein the knitting of the protective gusset area (10a) has a gusset increase angle of greater than 60°, in particular of 63.4°.
4. Sock according to one of the preceding claims, wherein within the second protective gusset area (10b) for a given number of needles, knitting is carried out rotatingly once in one row direction (K) and once in the other row direction (K) before yarn is taken off a needle.
5. Sock according to claim 4, wherein the knitting of the second protective gusset area (10b) has a gusset decrease angle of greater than 60°, in particular of 63.4°.
6. Sock according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the total height of the protective gusset (10) in the stitch direction (S) is at least twelve rows of stitches in different row directions (K).
7. Sock according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the protective gusset (10) has a total width in the row direction (K) of at least 30 needles, starting from at least 15 needles at the thinnest point of the protective gusset (10) along the knitting cylinder of the circular knitting machine.
8. Sock according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the upper (1) comprises the heel section (2), the foot section (3) and the toe section (4) made of yarns made of polyolefins, in particular polypropylene, thermoplastic elastomers, in particular thermoplastic polyurethane and / or polyamide. P248907 / XTP-095
Citation Information
Patent Citations
Novelty anklet sock
US2926512A
Footlet and method of forming the same
US3130566A
Athletic sock
WO2022146573A1