Sock Toe Section Wraparound Fabric for Abrasion Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional socks lack elasticity at the big toe base portion due to join lines, leading to abrasion damage, especially during sporting activities, and often result in an unnatural feel due to excess fabric and poor lateral width alignment with the shoe.
Innovation Solution
A sock design featuring a toe section with a stitch-number decreasing area adjacent to the foot section, where the sole fabric wraps around to the instep side and the sole leading end fabric intersects the lateral dividing line, eliminating the need for sewing lines and providing flexibility and protection to the big toe base.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a join line is used to connect the toe section to the foot section, then the structural integrity is improved, but the elasticity and flexibility at the big toe base portion deteriorates, leading to abrasion damage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the join line from the big toe base portion by extending the sole fabric to wrap around to the instep side, covering the area where join lines would normally be located. This removes the harmful element (join line) that causes abrasion while maintaining structural integrity through the extended sole fabric configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The sole fabric is extended from its conventional two-dimensional position to wrap around three-dimensionally to the instep side, creating a wraparound portion that covers the big toe base area. This dimensional extension allows the fabric to protect areas that would otherwise require join lines
2Shape
If circumferential edges of knitted fabric are joined to form the toe section, then the bag-like shape is achieved, but the elasticity inherent in knitted fabric is lost at the join line
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies different fabric configurations to different areas: the sole fabric extends and wraps around to the instep side to cover the big toe base area with continuous elastic knitted fabric, while the toe section maintains its bag-like shape through join lines only at areas away from the big toe base. This local differentiation preserves elasticity where needed while achieving the required shape
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the sock is made of soft knitted fabric to prevent abrasion, then the comfort is improved, but the lateral width alignment with the shoe deteriorates, causing excess fabric and unnatural feel
Solution Approach 1:
The extended sole fabric configuration dynamically adapts to the foot's movement and deformation within the shoe. By wrapping around to the instep side, the fabric can flex and move with the foot's natural motion, maintaining proper lateral width alignment during various activities while still providing abrasion protection through the continuous soft knitted material
Data Source
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AI summary
The object is to provide a sock capable of providing protection to the vicinity of the big toe base portion, as well as to the other portion. In a sock including a foot section (1) and a toe section (2) both formed of knitted fabric, the toe section (2) being provided in the form of a bag having a predetermined shape by mutual joining of circumferential edges of the knitted fabric, the sock being characterized in that a knitted portion of the fabric is present at a portion covering a lateral face of the vicinity of a base of the toe section (2). A big-toe side end edge (s2-8) of fabric covering at least one of the sole portion and instep portion of the toe section (2) wraps around to the other on the toe base side and a big-toe side join line joining them is located within the plane (rear face) of the other. The toe section consists of a big toe bag accommodating the big toe and a four-toe bag accommodating the other toes, and in the big-toe bag, at a portion thereof covering the base of body-center side lateral face of the big toe, a knitted portion of a knitted fabric is present. A body-center side lateral end edge of the fabric covering one of the sole portion and the instep portion of the big-toe bag extends into the other on the side of the toe base side, and a big-toe side join line joining these two portions is located within the plane (rear face) of the other.