IT201900009978A1 - Training sock to keep the toe and preparation procedure of the relative tubular product. - Google Patents

Description

"Training sock for keeping the toe and preparation procedure of the relative tubular product".

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a training sock for keeping the foot on the tip, particularly for dancing on the toe or for wearing shoes with high heels. The invention also relates to a process for preparing the relative tubular product from which to obtain the aforementioned sock.

As is known, in classical ballet the pointe dance technique requires the dancer to shift all her weight on her toes.

The reinforcement of the ankles can be reached with the "relevé" (ie by lifting the heels) in tip or demi-pointe, and also by doing jumps.

However, in order to train the feet in this technique, it is known to resort to stretching exercises using mechanical instruments which keep the back of the foot in substantial alignment with the tibia or in any case away from the tibia.

These tools have the disadvantage of being painful or otherwise usable for a few minutes.

A similar problem of reinforcement of the ankles is felt by those who wear shoes with high or stiletto heels.

The aim of the present invention is to provide an instrument which is capable of improving the known technique in one or more of the aspects indicated above.

Within this aim, an object of the invention is to be able to keep the back of the foot away from the tibia for a period of time in the order of hours.

In particular, another object of the invention is to train the foot to keep the back substantially aligned with the tibia even during rest (for example at night) or in any case without paying attention or forcing the user to operate mechanisms or to stay standing.

A further object of the invention is to avoid the use of rigid mechanisms (made of wood or metal) for the aforementioned training.

Furthermore, the present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the known art in an alternative way to any existing solutions.

Not least object of the invention is to provide a foot training instrument which is highly reliable, relatively easy to manufacture and at competitive costs.

This aim, as well as these and other objects which will become clearer hereinafter, are achieved by a training sock according to claim 1, optionally equipped with one or more of the characteristics of the dependent claims.

The aim and objects of the invention are also achieved by a production method according to claim 8.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the sock and of the method according to the invention, illustrated, by way of non-limiting example, in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a training sock according to the invention;

Figure 2 illustrates the training sock of Figure 1 when it is worn;

- figure 3 is a diagram of the knitting of the leg band III-III of the stocking of figure 1;

- figure 4 is a diagram of the mesh of the ankle band IV-IV of the stocking of figure 1;

figure 5 is a diagram of the knit of the heel band V-V of the sock of figure 1;

figure 6 is a diagram of the mesh of the foot band VI-VI of the sock of figure 1;

- figure 7 is a diagram of the knitting of the fore-toe band VII-VII of the sock of figure 1;

- figure 8 is a diagram of the knit of the toe VIII-VIII of the sock of figure 1.

With reference to the aforementioned figures, the sock according to the invention, globally indicated by the reference number 10, is a tubular knitted product in weft formed by rows and columns of knitting and is essentially composed of a cuff 9, a leg band III -III, an ankle band IV-IV, a heel band V-V, a foot band VI-VI, a fore-toe band VII-VII and a tip VIII-VIII, the latter suitable to be closed with a seam or with other known methods for obtaining the sock 10.

The tubular product is obtained with a circular knitting or hosiery machine of the type with at least two feeds or feeds and more preferably with four feeds.

In the first feed a first elastane yarn of at least 180 denier and preferably between 180 and 500 denier, for example 285 denier, is fed.

An elastane yarn, as is known, has a very high elongation at break (for example between 400% and 850%) as well as the percentage elastic recovery (95-100% after an elongation of 200%) and low the modulus initial elastic (for example, between 0.02 and 0.1).

The first elastane thread is preferably double covered, to increase the elastic force of the thread.

In the second feed a second elastane yarn with a count lower than the first and preferably between 5 and 7 times lower than the count of the first yarn, for example 44 denier, is fed. The second elastane yarn can also be double covered.

Advantageously, in the second feed, the second elastane yarn is fed in vanisé (i.e. plating) with a much less extensible yarn, for example with a percentage elongation at break lower than 50%, for example between 20% and 50%. Preferably, this less extensible yarn can be of polyamide, for example with a 78/68 count (78 dtex and 68 burrs).

With the threads of the first and second feed a high elasticity is therefore offered.

In the third and fourth feed, on the other hand, a respective less extensible yarn than the elastane one is fed, for example with a percentage elongation at break lower than 50%, for example between 20% and 50%. Preferably, the yarn of the third and fourth feed can be of polyamide, for example with a 78/68 count (78 dtex and 68 burrs). Advantageously, the burrs that make up the threads fed to the third and fourth feeds have opposite twists, to allow the meshes formed with them to be straightened.

Therefore, at the third and fourth feed a respective third and fourth yarn is fed which is useful for those areas of the sock where greater stiffness is required.

As is known, circular machines comprise a needle cylinder with a vertical axis, on the lateral surface of which a plurality of axial grooves are defined, each of which houses, in a sliding manner parallel to the axis of the needle cylinder itself, a relative needle . The needles can be operated with reciprocating motion along the relative axial groove in such a way as to grip at least one thread delivered in correspondence with a feed or fall of the machine and form meshes. The yarns to be used for the production of the knit are dispensed by special yarn guides which are arranged in correspondence with the machine feeds.

The needles are provided with heels which protrude from the lateral surface of the needle cylinder and which engage with paths defined by needle actuation cams which face the lateral surface of the needle cylinder. These paths have upward and downward stretches in such a way that the needle heels, following these paths following the rotation of the needle cylinder around its axis relative to the needle actuation cams, are pushed to come out with their hook at the top from the needle cylinder to take at least one thread delivered to a feed or feed and then to descend to form new stitches with the thread they have taken.

These machines are generally provided with sinkers which are arranged inside the radial grooves of a special support, called "sinker crown", which is associated, in an integral way, with the needle cylinder at its upper end.

The machine is also equipped with electronic needle selection devices, of known type, which allow to select the machine needles that must be operated to take the thread or threads delivered at the feeds or feeds of the machine while other needles are excluded from the machine. grip of this wire or these wires. Furthermore, this machine is provided, in a per se known manner, with cams for actuating the needles to bring the needles to take the thread or threads delivered by the feeders in a "half-up" (or "held") position or in a "unloading" position (or unloading or maximum ascent) or to bring the needles to an "out of work" position (or inactive or "bridle") for their exclusion from the thread or threads delivered at the power supplies.

More particularly, in the preferred hypothesis of using a single-cylinder circular knitting or hosiery machine and of producing the article with the needles located in the needle cylinder which is arranged with its axis vertically, the thread or threads are gripped by of needles in the semi-rising position is carried out by raising, by means of the relative actuation cams, the needles to a level of height such that their hook is extracted above the abatement sinkers, but to a level of height not sufficient to allow the stitch or stitches, previously formed, to slide below the tongue of the relative needle. In this way, upon subsequent descent, caused by the relative actuation cams, these needles will form a new stitch without knocking down the previously formed or formed stitch or stitches which remain, together with the new stitch, in the hook of the relative needle.

The gripping of the thread or threads by needles in the "unloading" position is carried out by raising, by means of the relative actuation cams, the needles to a level of height such that their hook is extracted above the abatement sinkers to take the thread or threads at a level of sufficient height to allow the previously formed or formed stitch or stitches to slide below the needle tongue. In this way, at the subsequent descent, caused by the relative actuation cams, these needles will form a new stitch by knocking down or unloading the previously formed or formed stitch or stitches.

When the needles are in the "out of work" position, their hook is located below the sinker abatement plane and holds the previously formed or formed stitch or stitches. In this position, the needles cannot take the thread or threads that are delivered at the relative feed and therefore cannot form a stitch.

Returning to Figure 1, in which the reference numbers indicate both the zones of the sock and the relative knit weave of those zones, the leg band is essentially made with the same weave 6 for a part that substantially goes from the cuff 9 to the band. of the heel and interrupted by a pair of lateral stiffening zones 5, arranged on the ankle band and on the heel band substantially in correspondence with the malleolus so as to keep the foot straight with respect to the leg.

While the ankle strap comprises portions of the weave 6 of the leg strap, the heel strap on the other hand comprises a heel area 7 and a neck area 4, between which the terminal portions of the lateral stiffening areas 5 are arranged.

The foot band, on the other hand, is composed of a back area 2 and an insole area 3, which has such an elasticity as to keep the foot band substantially aligned with the leg band, as shown in figure 2, thus pulling the toe band away from the leg band even when the sock 10 is worn.

The toe band of the sock 10 is formed by a fore-toe area 1 and by the sole area 3 and possibly by a toe area 8 which can be closed by the tubular product with known sewing, linking or seamless closure methods.

The weaves used in the aforesaid bands and areas are represented in Figures 3-8 by means of the following representation.

For each rank corresponding to a machine feed, the normal or "unloaded" link is represented with an X, the retained link is represented with a dot and the bridle is represented with an empty space.

The production of the tubular product can start from the formation of the cuff 9 in a manner known per se and not of interest to the present invention.

Subsequently, the leg band is formed with the weave 6, which can be obtained exclusively by making all the needles of the cylinder work only with the first and second feed.

In particular, a first row made with the first elastane yarn can consist of two contiguous bridles and a normal knit repeated along the entire first row, while a subsequent second row made with the second elastane yarn preferably in vanisé with the polyamide yarn it can consist of two normal stitches and a retained stitch, repeated throughout the second row.

In practice, in correspondence with the first feed the selection of the needles can be 2: 1 i.e. with two contiguous needles in the out-of-work position and the subsequent needle in the unloading position, while in the second feed the selection of the needles is always 2: 1 but with the aforesaid two contiguous needles which are brought to the unloading position while the aforesaid subsequent needle is brought to the semi-rising position.

In the preferred embodiment described here, the circular hosiery machine used has a bed of 400 needles. Therefore, the above 2: 1 selections are repeated on the 400 needles.

After a certain number of revolutions of the cylinder, the formation of the ankle band and in particular of the stiffening zones 5 begins by two diametrically opposite arcs of cylinders needles, for example of about 110 needles each, while the remaining needles continue to make mesh corresponding to the weave 6.

The intertwining of the lateral stiffening zones 5 is formed by four rows of stitches repeated along the knitted columns of these lateral regions. In practice, the four rows comprise a first row of knitting made with the first yarn in elastane, a second row of knitting of said second yarn in elastane, preferably in vanisé with the polyamide yarn, and a third and fourth row of knitting composed from the respective third and fourth less extensible yarn fed respectively by the third and fourth feed, which we have seen to be preferably made of polyamide.

While the first rank of the lateral stiffening zones 5 has a weave corresponding to that of the first rank of the leg band 6, the second rank comprises a normal stitch, a plurality of contiguous retained stitches, preferably three contiguous retained stitches, another stitch normal and another point withheld. The third and fourth rows of links each comprise, repeatedly, a plurality of contiguous bridles which alternate with at least one normal link, a further bridle and a further normal link. However, the needle selections are substantially reversed in the fourth feed with respect to those of the third, thus obtaining the weave 5 shown in figure 4. In particular, the contiguous bridles are three and are arranged, along the fourth row, on the same knitting columns. of the three retained points of the second rank.

After a certain number of revolutions of the cylinder, the formation of the heel band begins and in particular the formation of the lateral stiffening zones 5 is continued with a smaller number of needles, for example 100, and the neck zones are produced with the remaining needles. 4 and heel 7.

The heel area 7 can in particular be obtained, for example, with 140 needles and using all four feeds. In correspondence with the third and fourth feeds, a normal stitch is made with all the needles in the heel area. On the other hand, in the first fall the selection is 1: 1 and such as to obtain a normal stitch alternating with a bridle over the entire first row of the heel area, while in the second fall the selection is 1: 1 and is such as to obtain a normal stitch alternating with a point held along the entire second row of the heel area (figure 5).

The intertwining of the neck area 4 can, on the other hand, be obtained with a lower number of needles than those which knit the lateral stiffening areas 5 and the heel area 7, for example with 60 needles. In the illustrated embodiment, the fourth fall is excluded in the neck area 4, while the first and third fall have a 3: 1 and 1: 3 selection, respectively, with three contiguous bridles and a normal link. In correspondence with the second feed, however, all the needles are brought into the unloading position.

The foot band comprises, repeated along the knitted columns, a first knit row of the first elastane yarn and a second knit row of the second elastane yarn, while the third and fourth feed are excluded.

In the sole area 3, the first row comprises, repeatedly, a plurality of contiguous bridles, in particular four contiguous bridles. The second rank, on the other hand, comprises a plurality of contiguous retained stitches, in particular two retained stitches, which are arranged on columns of mesh at least in part different from those of the bridle of the first row. The contiguous bridles of the first rank alternate with at least two normal links, while the contiguous retained points of the second rank alternate with four normal links, preferably so that the latter are on the same column of mesh as the bridles of the first rank.

In practice, to obtain the sole area 3, a part of the needles of the cylinder (for example 140 needles) in correspondence with the first feed and at each revolution of the cylinder, a 2: 4 selection is made, bringing at least one needle to the unloading position , or preferably two contiguous needles, of a first group 31 of six contiguous needles and bringing the remaining plurality of contiguous needles into the out-of-work position, in particular the four contiguous needles of the six making up the first group. The remaining needles of those which produce the sole region 3 are also operated like those of the aforesaid first group.

In correspondence with the second feed and at each revolution of the cylinder during the production of the sole area 3, a 4: 2 selection is made in which the needles of the first group which in the first feed were in the unloading position are brought to the half-up position, while the contiguous needles of the first group which were in the out-of-work position in correspondence with the first feed are brought to the unloading position.

In the back region 2, the first row of the foot band comprises, repeatedly, a number of contiguous bridles which is lower than that of the contiguous bridles of the sole region 3, for example two contiguous bridles. The second row of the foot band, in the back region, further comprises a number of retained points lower than that of the retained points of the insole region 3, for example a single retained point.

The selection of the needles at the first and second feeds and in the back area 2 can be 2: 1, i.e. two bridles and a normal stitch repeated along the first row, and two normal stitches and a retained stitch repeated along the second row.

In practice, in order to obtain the back region 2, the remaining part of the needles of the cylinder which do not form the sole region 3, for example 260 needles, is actuated. In correspondence with the first feed and at each revolution of the cylinder, a number of needles, contiguous to each other and belonging to a second group 21 of contiguous needles (which is less than the number of contiguous needles of the first group, are brought into the out-of-work position 31 which are in the out-of-work position at the first feed), for example two contiguous needles. The remaining number of needles of the second group 21 (which is less than the number of needles of the first group 31 which are in the unloading position of the sole region 3 at the first feed) is also brought to the unloading position.

Again in order to obtain the back area 2, in correspondence with the second feed and at each revolution of the cylinder, the (two) contiguous needles of the second group 21, which were out of work at said first feed, are brought into the unloading position and are the remaining needles of the second group (for example, a single needle) which were in the unloading position in correspondence with the first feed, were brought to the half-up position.

The interweaving of the insole area remains the same also in the toe band, there is a fore-toe area 1 which presents a different weave than the back area 2.

In particular, the weave of the fore-toe zone 1 comprises the first rank with a 1: 1 selection with a normal link and a bridle, while the second rank has a 2: 4 selection identical to that of the second rank of the sole zone, but with two contiguous retained stitches and four contiguous normal stitches.

Instead, the third and fourth falls are excluded, as in the whole foot band.

The tip zone 8 is instead obtained by excluding one between the third and fourth feeds, for example the third feed.

The needles are all brought to the unloading position at the first feed, while at the second feed the selection is 1: 1 with a normal stitch and a bridle. This inverted selection is also made in correspondence with the fourth fall.

In practice it has been found that the invention achieves the intended aim and objects by producing a sock which, thanks to the interweaving of the insole area and the high denier elastomer yarn used, allows the toe of the sock to be preloaded downwards and to maintain thus the back of the foot moved away from the user's leg.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept; moreover, all the details can be replaced by other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials employed, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

Where the characteristics and techniques mentioned in any claim are followed by reference marks, these marks have been affixed for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and consequently these reference marks have no limiting effect on the interpretation of each identified element. by way of example by such reference marks.

Claims (12)

CLAIMS 1. Training sock (10) to keep the foot on the toe, comprising a tubular knitted article in weft formed by rows and columns of knitting, said article comprising a leg band (6), an ankle band (5, 6) , a heel band (7, 5, 4) and a foot band (2, 3), said foot band being composed of a back area (2) and an insole area (3), said product being formed by means of at least a first and a second elastane yarn, the first elastane yarn having a higher count than the count of the second elastane yarn, characterized in that the first elastane yarn has a count of at least 180 deniers and preferably between 180 and 500 deniers; and by the fact that said sole area (3) is suitable for keeping the toe (1, 8) of said sock loaded towards the heel (7) of the sock. 2. Sock according to claim 1, wherein said foot band comprises, repeated along the knitted columns of the foot band, a first knit row of said first thread and a second knitted rank of said second thread in which: - in the sole area (3), the first row comprises, repeated along said first row in the sole area, a plurality of adjacent bridles and the second row comprises, repeated along said second row in the sole area (3), a plurality of contiguous retained stitches, said contiguous retained stitches being arranged on columns of links at least in part different from those of the bridle; - in the back area (2), the first row comprises, repeated along said first row in the back area, a number of adjacent bridles which is less than said plurality of bridles in the sole area, and the second row comprises a number of retained points lower than said plurality of retained points of the sole area. 3. Stocking according to claim 2, wherein in said sole area: - said contiguous bridles of said first rank are four and alternate with two normal contiguous bridles along said first rank; - said contiguous retained points of said second rank are two and alternate, along said second rank, with four contiguous normal links arranged on the columns of said bridles. Sock according to claim 2 or 3, wherein, in said back region (2): - said contiguous bridles of said first rank are two and alternate with a normal link along said first rank; - said number of contiguous retained points of said second rank is one and alternates, along said second rank, with two contiguous normal links arranged on the columns of said bridle. 5. Sock according to one or more of claims 2-4, characterized in that said ankle band (5, 6) and said heel band (7, 5, 4) comprise two opposite lateral stiffening areas (5), suitable to be respectively arranged in correspondence with the malleolus when the sock (10) is worn, said lateral stiffening zones being formed by four rows of stitches repeated along the columns of stitches of said lateral regions, said four rows comprising said first row of stitch of said first yarn and said second knitting row of said second yarn, a third and fourth knitting row of said four knitting rows being composed of a respective third and fourth yarn less extensible than said first and second yarn and preferably with percentage elongation at break less than 50%. 6. Stocking according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, in each of said lateral zones (5), said second row comprises a plurality of contiguous retained stitches, preferably three contiguous retained stitches, said third and fourth stitch rows each comprising, repeated, a plurality of contiguous bridles alternating with at least one normal link and possibly with a further bridle and a further normal link. 7. Stocking according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said second elastane yarn is plated with at least one yarn with lower extensibility, preferably with a percentage elongation at break of less than 50%. 8. Process for the preparation of a tubular weft knitted product, comprising the use of a circular knitting or hosiery machine having at least two feeds, of which at least a first feed capable of delivering a first elastane yarn and a second feed capable of delivering a second elastane thread, the first elastane thread having a higher count than the count of the second elastane thread, said circular machine further comprising a cylinder of needles which can be operated with a rotary motion around its axis relative to said at least two feeds, said needles being movable parallel to said axis to pick up the thread or threads delivered at said feeds or to be excluded from the hold of the thread or threads delivered at said feeds, said process comprising interweaving phases, according to rows and columns of knitting, at least of said first and second elastane yarn, said interweaving phases being suitable for obtaining a leg band (6), an ankle band (5, 6), a heel band (7, 5, 4) and a foot band (2, 3), said foot band comprising a back area (2) and an insole area (3), characterized in that the first elastane yarn has a count of at least 180 deniers; and by the fact that said foot band (2, 3) is obtained with the following steps: in the sole area (3), in correspondence with said first feed and at each revolution of said cylinder, take at least one needle of a first group (31) of contiguous needles to the unloading position and take a remaining one to the off-work position plurality of contiguous needles of said first group (31); in the sole area (3), in correspondence with said second feed and at each revolution of said cylinder, bring said at least one needle of said first group (31) to the half-up position and bring said plurality of contiguous needles to the unloading position said first group (31); in the back area (2), in correspondence with said first feed and at each revolution of said cylinder, bring a number of needles, contiguous to each other and belonging to a second group (21) of contiguous needles, into the out-of-work position, which is less than the number of contiguous needles of the first group (31) which are in the out-of-work position in the sole area in correspondence with the first feed, and bring to the unloading position a number of needles lower than the number of needles of said first unit (31) which are in the unloading position of the sole area in correspondence with the first feed; in the back area (2), in correspondence with said second feed and at each revolution of said cylinder, bring said number of contiguous needles of said second group (21) which are out of work at said first feed into the unloading position and bringing said number of needles of said second group (21) which are in the unloading position in correspondence of said first feed into the semi-rising position. Method according to the preceding claim, wherein said first group of needles (31) in correspondence with the first feed has a selection with two needles in the unloading position and four needles in the out-of-work position, and said first group of needles ( 31) in correspondence with the second feed has a selection with two needles in the semi-rising position and four needles in the unloading position. Method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein said second group of needles (21) at the first feed has a selection with two needles in the overwork position and one needle in the unloading position, and said second group of needles ( 21) at the second feed has a selection with two needles in the unloading position and one needle in the semi-rising position. 11. Process according to one or more of claims 8-10, wherein the interlacing step for obtaining said ankle band (5, 6) and said heel band (7, 5, 4) comprises the actuation of at least a third group of contiguous needles (51) and at least a fourth group of contiguous needles (61) to form lateral stiffening zones (5), said third and fourth group of needles being in diametrically opposite positions of said cylinder, in which the needles of said third and fourth groups are operated to also take a third and a fourth yarn from a respective third and fourth feed, said third and fourth yarns being less extensible than said first and second elastane yarns and preferably with a percentage elongation at break lower than 50 %. 12. Process according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said machine is configured in such a way that the following selections are made to obtain said lateral stiffening areas (5): - in correspondence with said first feed, the needles of said third group (51) and said fourth group (61) are operated so as to have two contiguous needles in the out-of-work position, one needle in the unloading position, two contiguous needles in position out-of-work, a needle in the unloading position, - in correspondence with said second feed, the needles of said third group and said fourth group are operated so as to have a needle in the unloading position, three contiguous needles in the semi-rising position, a needle in the unloading position, a needle in half-up position; - in correspondence with said third feed, the needles of said third group (51) and of said fourth group (61) are operated so as to have a needle in the out-of-work position, a needle in the unloading position, a needle in off-work position, one needle in unloading position, two contiguous needles in off-work position; - in correspondence with said fourth feeding, the needles of said third group (51) and of said fourth group (61) are operated so as to have a needle in the unloading position, three contiguous needles in the off-work position, a needle in the unloading position, one needle in the out-of-work position.