AU2005323916B2

AU2005323916B2 - Sock for maintaining a module protecting one zone of the foot

Info

Publication number: AU2005323916B2
Application number: AU2005323916A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Jean-Claude Millet
Original assignee: Millet Innovation SA
Current assignee: Millet Innovation SA
Priority date: 2004-12-28
Filing date: 2005-11-25
Publication date: 2011-09-01
Anticipated expiration: 2025-11-25
Also published as: AU2005323916A1; CA2591877A1; US20080229482A1; EP1860962A1; FR2879899A1; CN100591228C; RU2007129030A; CN101090648A; WO2006072678A1; FR2879899B1

Abstract

The invention concerns an elastic sock (1) for maintaining at least one module protecting a zone of the foot, comprising a tubular part (2) designed to cover the ankle, a front part (3) designed to cover the foot and the heel. The invention is characterized in that the sock comprises an opening (4) in a zone of the sock corresponding to the curve of the foot, so that it can be pulled on by first pulling on the tubular part (2) around the ankle and in passing the foot in the opening (4), then in pulling on the front part (3) around the foot after having fitted on the foot at least one protective module (10).

Description

SOCK FOR MAINTAINING A MODULE PROTECTING ONE ZONE OF THE FOOT The present invention relates to holding a protection module on the foot for protecting one zone of the foot. Foot protection modules, also referred to as 5 "protection interfaces", are commonly used products. They are for example small plates of silicone gel of a few centimeters square, for example a composition of silicone gel marketed by the applicant under the name Epith6lium 26*. 10 The foot has a shock-absorbing layer called the footpad, which is capable of supporting up to eight times the weight of the body. The footpad enables the mechanical "load" imposed by the weight of the body to be spread. Now, many patients suffer from a temperature 15 rise, wart-corns or pain as a result of inevitable wear of the natural footpad with age. Thus, such protection modules enable the pain to be relieved and all the painful zones of the foot affected by hyper-pressure (wart-corns, corns, soft corns, hallux valgus) or 20 suffering skin trauma (irritation, chapping, plantar warts, etc.) to be protected. However, holding one or more protection modules on the foot is problematic. After placing a module on the foot at the desired location, the module must not move 25 when the sock is put on. Now, as the module is generally moderately adhesive, it is pulled backwards, then rolls up or the corners turn up when the sock is pulled on. This is a general problem and affects all the parts of the foot.

2 Furthermore, providing a very adhesive module, covered with a thin layer of glue in addition to the thick layer of silicone gel which guarantees the distribution of the load over the zone of the foot to be protected, is incompatible with the properties sought for 5 such a module. So as to avoid adding such an adhesive layer, the protection modules are generally equipped with holding means made of elastic fabric. However, such holding means form a layer of material inside the shoe in addition to the layer formed by the sock and affect the 10 comfort of the foot in the shoe. Various "special" socks described herein hold the protection modules at all parts of the foot. The present invention provides a combination comprising an elastic sock and at least one separate silicone protection module 15 for protecting a zone of the foot, the elastic sock being provided to hold the at least one separate protection module and the elastic sock on the foot, the elastic sock comprising a tubular part shaped to cover the ankle, a front part intended to cover at least the toes of the foot and the heel of the foot, and an opening in a 20 region of the sock corresponding to the curve of the foot, the opening generally extending transversely from one side of the foot to an opposed side of the foot across a top side of the foot and exposing portions of a right side of the foot, a left side of the foot and the top side of the foot when the elastic sock is in a use 25 position and in a rest position, so that the sock in use is pulled on by first pulling on the tubular part around the ankle and by putting the foot into the opening, then by pulling on the front part around the foot after having arranged the or each protection module on the foot. 30 According to one embodiment, the sock comprises an elastane polyamide material. According to one embodiment, the front part comprises a knitted or sewn zone which passes along a part corresponding to the left or right edge of the foot.

3 According to one embodiment, the tubular part comprises a knitted or sewn zone which extends at the front of the ankle. According to one embodiment, the sock comprises a protection module fitted into the sock. 5 According to one embodiment, the protection module is arranged in a material which is knitted or sewn to the sock. The present invention also relates to a combination of a sock and of a protection module comprising a thin sheet of moisture absorbing material, covering all or part of the foot and covered 10 with the sock. The present invention also provides a method for holding on the foot at least one separate silicone gel protection module for protecting a zone of the foot, characterized in that it comprises providing an elastic sock comprising a tubular part shaped to cover 15 the ankle of the foot, a front part shaped to cover at least the toes of the foot and heel of the foot, and an opening in a region of the sock corresponding to the curve of the foot, the opening generally extending transversely from one side of the foot to an opposed side of the foot across a top side of the foot and exposing 20 portions of a right side of the foot, a left side of the foot and the top side of the foot when the elastic sock is in a use position and in a rest position; the tubular part of the sock being first pulled on around the ankle by putting the foot into the opening, the front part then being pulled on around the foot after having 25 arranged the or each module on the foot.

3a According to one embodiment, the method comprises providing a sock in an elastane polyamide material. According to one embodiment, the sock comprises a protection module fitted into the sock. 5 According to one embodiment, the protection module is arranged in a material which is knitted or sewn to the sock. According to one embodiment, the protection module comprises a thin sheet of moisture-absorbing material, 10 covering all or part of the foot and covered with the sock. These and other advantages and features of the present invention shall be presented in greater detail in the following description of an example of an 4 embodiment of the present invention, given in relation with, but not limited to the following figures, in which: - Figure 1 schematically represents a sock according to the present invention, 5 - Figures 2, 3 and 4 show an operation of pulling on the sock with positioning of a protection module on a part of the foot, and - Figure 5 represents the sock pulled onto the foot, holding the protection module. 10 As shown in Figure 1, the present invention consists in a sock 1 which classically comprises a tubular part 2 intended to cover the ankle and a front part 3 intended to cover the foot and heel. The sock 1 has the particular feature of having an opening 4 on the 15 top of the front part 3, in a region corresponding to the top of the foot referred to as the curve. The sock 1 is made up of an elastic material, either woven or otherwise, for example an elastane polyamide. The tubular part 2 which covers the ankle may 20 comprise a knitted or sewn seam 5. In this case, the seam 5 is preferably arranged in line with the top of the foot, i.e. at the front of the tube 2. Furthermore, the top of the front part 3 can be a knitted or sewn piece. In this case, the front part 3 may comprise a knitted or 25 sewn seam 6, which delimits the piece. The seam 6 is preferably arranged laterally, i.e. in the zone which runs along the right edge and/or the left edge of the foot and extends over approximately one third of the front part 3 of the sock. 30 The opening 4 enables the front part 3 of the sock 1 to be put on by making a movement from back to front, instead of making a movement from front to back as is the case with a classic sock. The opening 4 on the curve indeed enables only the tubular part 2 of the sock to be 35 pulled on around the ankle, by putting the foot through 5 the opening 4, before placing the front part 3 of the sock. One or more protection modules can then be arranged on any parts of the foot. These modules are generally slightly adhesive by nature (modules made of 5 silicone gel) although not sufficiently to prevent them from rolling up or tearing off when a normal sock is pulled on, as stated above. They are capable of being subject to "hyper-pressure" or friction. Therefore, one begins by arranging the modules located the furthest at 10 the back of the foot and, as their are put in, they are covered with the sock 1 while making sure (which is possible thanks to the elasticity of the fabric) that the fabric is applied perpendicularly to the foot and not tangentially. 15 The arrangement of the sock 1 and of a protection module 10 is shown on Figures 2 to 5. On Figures 2 and 3, the tubular part 2 is pulled on up to the ankle (with the seam outwards) by putting the foot through the opening 4. The protection module 10 is then arranged on 20 the foot at the desired location, here below the ankle bone, and stays in place quite easily by adhesion. As shown by Figure 4, the front part 3 is then pulled forwards (arrow 11), by elasticity, thus covering the module 10, until it passes the tip of the foot. It is 25 then turned down over the foot (arrow 12) and is released, such that the tip of the sock is put in place at the end of the foot. As represented in Figure 5, the module 10 is then held by the sock 1, with reasonable tightening of the ankle and a reasonable tension between 30 the back of the foot and the tip. Thanks to the present invention, protection modules are not moved at the time of pulling on the sock and remain in place for a long time, including when doing sport.

6 In one alternative embodiment, one or more modules wrapped in fabric are fixed directly in the sock and are an integral part of the latter. The protection modules fitted into the sock can be arranged in a woven or non 5 woven material, which is knitted or sewn to the sock. The present embodiment enables for example a classic footpad protection (sewn protection module) to be used while enabling removable modules to be held by means of the sock at any other point of the foot. 10 The present invention is particularly advantageous to do sport such as walking, football, rugby, skate board, figure skating and certain combative sports. Protection modules, mainly made of Epith6lium 26*, can be placed at various zones of the foot, heel, sole, 15 ankle bone, tendon, etc. The present invention also enables protection modules to be held on parts of the foot which have hyperkeratosis to be resorbed (for example heels). Those skilled in the art will note that various 20 alternatives and embodiments of the present invention are possible, both as regards the shape of the opening 4, which can be adapted to various shapes of modules or to different morphologies of feet, and the materials used to produce the sock. 25 Various applications of the present invention may also be made, and the nature and the shape of the protection modules used are not limited to the examples described. According to one advantageous application of the 30 present invention intended for persons subject to perspiration of the feet, the protection module is a thin sheet of moisture-absorbing material, of a thickness in the order of 0.2 mm to 0.8 mm, which covers all or part of the surface of the foot. Such a thin sheet of 35 absorbing material is for example made of microporous 7 polyethylene filled with silica, for example the material available in shops under the brand name AEROSHOES*. The protection module sticks to the skin by effect of pumping the perspiration and however slides on the fabric or on 5 the material of the sock. Thus, the movements of the foot in the shoe do not cause any movement of the absorbing material in relation to the skin, which removes any friction between the skin and the absorbing material. Therefore, a combination of means forming for example an 10 anti-perspiration and anti-friction sock of the sole of the foot is obtained. In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of the invention, except where the context requires otherwise due to express language or necessary 15 implication, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising" is used in an inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude the presence or addition of further features in various embodiments of the invention. 20 It is to be understood that, if any prior art publication is referred to herein, such reference does not constitute an admission that the publication forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art, in Australia or any other country.

Claims

1. A combination comprising an elastic sock and at least one separate silicone protection module for protecting a zone of the foot, the elastic sock being provided to hold the at least one separate protection module and the elastic sock on the foot, the elastic sock comprising a tubular part shaped to cover the ankle, a front part intended to cover at least the toes of the foot and the heel of the foot, and an opening in a region of the sock corresponding to the curve of the foot, the opening generally extending transversely from one side of the foot to an opposed side of the foot across a top side of the foot and exposing portions of a right side of the foot, a left side of the foot and the top side of the foot when the elastic sock is in a use position and in a rest position, so that the sock in use is pulled on by first pulling on the tubular part around the ankle and by putting the foot into the opening, then by pulling on the front part around the foot after having arranged the or each protection module on the foot.

2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the sock comprises an elastane polyamide material.

3. A combination according to either one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the front part of the sock comprises a knitted or sewn zone which passes along a part corresponding to the left or right edge of the foot.

4. A combination-according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the tubular part of the sock comprises a knitted or sewn zone which extends at the front of the ankle.

5. A combination according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a further protection module fitted into the sock. 9

6. A combination according to claim 5, wherein the further protection module is arranged in a material which is knitted or sewn to the sock.

7. A combination according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a thin sheet of moisture-absorbing material, covering all or part of the foot and covered with the sock.

8. A method for holding on the foot at least one separate silicone gel protection module for protecting a zone of the foot, characterized in that it comprises providing an elastic sock comprising a tubular part shaped to cover the ankle of the foot, a front part shaped to cover at least the toes of the foot and heel of the foot, and an opening in a region of the sock corresponding to the curve of the foot, the opening generally extending transversely from one side of the foot to an opposed side of the foot across a top side of the foot and exposing portions of a right side of the foot, a left side of the foot and the top side of the foot when the elastic sock is in a use position and in a rest position, the tubular part of the sock being first pulled on around the ankle by putting the foot into the opening, the front part then being pulled on around the foot after having arranged the or each module on the foot.

9. Method according to claim 8, comprising providing a sock in an elastane polyamide material.

10. Method according to either of claims 8 and 9, wherein the sock further comprises a protection module fitted into the sock. 10

11. Method according to claim 10, wherein the further protection module is arranged in a material which is knitted or sewn to the sock.

12. Method according to any one of claims 8 to 11, characterized in that the protection module comprises a thin sheet of moisture-absorbing material, covering all or part of the foot and covered with the sock.

13. A combination or a method, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.