Athletic Sock Ankle Welt Tab With Zoned Grip and Breathability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional athletic socks lack features such as zoned cushioning, zoned grip, zoned breathability, and fit, making them unsuitable for activities like running and hiking, which pose challenges like foot shifting, debris entry, sweating, and joint impact.
Innovation Solution
A knit sock design featuring an integrally knit ankle welt with a tab, zoned grip strips, alternating knit patterns for cushioning and breathability, and specific yarn types to enhance fit and stability, including grip yarns with high filament counts for improved traction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional athletic socks are used, then they provide basic coverage, but they lack zoned cushioning, grip, and breathability needed for athletic activities
Solution Approach 1:
The sock employs different knit patterns and yarn types in specific zones: terry loops in the heel and ankle welt for cushioning, grip yarns with high filament counts in the foot portion for traction, and breathable knit structures in the upper leg. This localized differentiation of material properties directly addresses the performance requirements of different foot regions during athletic activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The sock is divided into distinct functional sections: collar, leg portion, foot portion, heel portion with Achilles section, and ankle welt with tab. Each segment is knitted with specific patterns and yarns tailored to its function, allowing independent optimization of cushioning, grip, and breathability in different areas without compromising overall sock integrity.
2Ease of operation
If the sock uses zoned cushioning and grip features, then it reduces foot shifting and discomfort, but it increases manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple functional features are integrated into a single sock structure through integral knitting: the tab is integrally knit with the ankle welt, grip strips are woven into the foot portion knit pattern, and terry loops are incorporated during the heel section knitting. This merging of features into one continuous knit structure eliminates the need for separate components and simplifies manufacturing while achieving comprehensive foot stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The knitting process utilizes parameter changes in yarn composition (switching between grip yarns with high filament counts and standard yarns) and knit pattern parameters (altering stitch types, loop configurations, and density) to create different functional zones. These parameter variations during the knitting process enable complex functionality without requiring complex manufacturing equipment or multi-step processes.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects herein are directed to a knit sock having a leg portion and an integrally knit ankle welt extending around a circumference of the leg portion and positioned at a lower end of the leg portion. The knit sock further includes an integrally knit tab located at a back aspect of the ankle welt.