EP1074652A1 - Knitted sock having a relaxing effect - Google Patents

Abstract

The sock is made so that stitches (10) of increased thickness are produced at predetermined points on its sole (8) to stimulate the sole of the wearer's foot. The thickened stitches are produced by picking up the stitches of between 3 and 12 successive rows of knitting and are positioned so that they lie in alternating rows across the foot. They can be made from the same yarn as the rest of the sock or can incorporate a special yarn, especially of a metal and plastic fibre able to retain permanent magnetic charges.

Description

The present invention relates to a sock knitted with a relaxing effect.

In the context of the invention, the term "sock" must be taken in a broad sense, that is to say including both short socks and knee-high socks long stem.

It has already been proposed to arrange on the surface inner and / or outer sole of a sock knitted, a plurality of extra stitches intended to act on predetermined areas of the soles of the feet of the wearer of said sock, as for example described in document EP-A-0348 023. These points in extra thickness of the known sock are made in plastic or ceramic powder, or powder magnetized, and have the effect of stimulating the circulation of blood in the soles of the wearer's feet. The use of added protrusions provides the advantage of being able to choose a distribution predetermined of these protrusions on the surface of the sole, but on the other hand has a disadvantage considerable in that an additional operation is necessary for the manufacture of the sock, after knitting thereof.

We also know from document EP-A-0 845 553 a knitted footwear with patterns in relief produced by knitting, in the form beads arranged in zigzags. Such an article does not does not have the aforementioned drawback, insofar as the zigzag beads are knitted together time than the rest of the sock but its design however remains dependent on a geometric arrangement concerning the entire width of the sole, such layout that cannot in particular favor areas point of the arch of the wearer compared to directly adjacent areas. We know that acupuncture points well known as having been illustrated on very old oriental maps, can do the object of a localized stimulation corresponding to the zones soles of the feet with a beneficial effect on the whole body. The previous approach of carrying out embossed beads therefore deliberately departs from a arrangement of extra points due to the lineage continuous zigzag beads, giving an effect different relaxing.

The technological background of the invention is also illustrated by documents US-A-4 149 274 (non-slip medical sock), GB-A-877 060 (sole sock with locally more open structure for form air pockets), and EP-A-0 808 927 (sole of sock designed to absorb moisture).

The invention aims to design a new type of knitted sock without the disadvantages and / or limitations mentioned above, i.e. retaining the approach of an arrangement of extra points, everything by avoiding their realization within the framework of an operation additional manufacturing.

This problem is solved in accordance with the invention thanks to a knitted sock with at least the sole presents a plurality of points in excess thickness intended for act on predetermined areas of the soles of the feet wearer of said sock, the extra stitches being loaded stitches relating to several rows knitted successively.

This effect of charged stitches, obtained by passing repeated thread on one or more predetermined needles circular loom, without knitting the thread on this or these needles which thus remain inactive when receiving the thread without knitting, allows you to get stitches extra thickness perfectly effective in stimulating areas soles of the feet. This mesh effect charged is very different from the bead effect chosen for the realization of zigzag patterns in the Document EP-A-0 845 553 cited above, where the relief is produced at from the mesh hooking system, in a way similar to that commonly used for the hosiery tights. Unlike this technique known, where the thread floats each time at the level of raised beads, with a de facto limited thickness, the charged stitches present in the knitted sock according to the invention make stitches in excess thickness of which essentially localized action is very effective.

Preferably, the charged meshes relate to 3 to 12 successive rows, and in particular 6 or 7 rows successive. This gives a good distribution of extra stitches along the sole, while being able to choose the density of the thread at the points in extra thickness, without risk of breakage of the needle or needles affected by the effect of charges.

At least some of the loaded meshes may be simple, or alternatively multiple, in particular double, to form thicker points.

More preferably, the charged meshes are arranged periodically on the row group successive concerned. In particular, the layout periodic of the charged meshes is chosen so that, on each row concerned, two loaded stitches adjacent are separated by 4 to 12 non-knitted stitches loaded. In particular, it will be advantageous to choose a periodic arrangement such as two charged meshes adjacent to the same row are separated by 5 to 7 uncharged knitted stitches.

Advantageously, the loaded meshes will be shifted from one group to another by successive rows concerned. Preferably then, the shift is chosen for produce a staggered distribution of meshes loaded. We are then sure to scan optimally the acupuncture points on the soles of the wearer's feet sock.

In general, successive rows affected by the loaded stitches will be knitted with the same yarn as the one used for the sole and the rest of the sock. It is however possible to predict that at least some of the successive rows affected by the loaded stitches are knitted with a special yarn different from that used for the sole, in particular a metalloplastic wire capable of carrying loads permanent magnetic. There is then a good advantage known from some existing soles which have permanent magnets embedded.

Finally, although the extra points under form of charged meshes are above all provided on the sole of the knitted sock, we can predict that these extra points are also provided on the heel area and / or the toe area of said sock.

• la figure 1 illustre une chaussette tricotée conforme à l'invention, selon une représentation à plat de ladite chaussette, dont la semelle présente des points en surépaisseur réalisés sous forme de mailles chargées ;
• la figure 2 illustre à plus grande échelle le détail II de la figure 1 pour montrer à quoi ressemblent les mailles chargées (mailles sur endroit) formant les points en surépaisseur de la semelle ;
• la figure 3 est un schéma montrant une partie de zone tricotée avec une maille chargée, pour une charge sur une seule aiguille du métier circulaire, tandis que la figure 4 illustre un schéma analogue avec une charge sur deux aiguilles adjacentes;
• les figures 5a et 5b sont des schémas illustrant la mise en carte du tricot de la semelle, conformément aux deux modes de charge des figures 3 et 4, avec respectivement une charge sur une aiguille et une charge sur deux aiguilles successives du métier circulaire ;
• la figure 6 est une représentation partielle du côté semelle de la chaussette illustrant le schéma de tricotage obtenu conformément à l'exemple particulier de la mise en carte illustrée sur la figure 5a ;
• la figure 7 est une vue analogue à la précédente représentant le tricotage réalisé avec trois mailles chargées simples, avec en plus un fil spécial (en noir).

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly in the light of the description which follows and of the appended drawings, relating to a particular embodiment, with reference to the figures in which:

• FIG. 1 illustrates a knitted sock according to the invention, according to a flat representation of said sock, the sole of which has extra thick stitches produced in the form of charged stitches;
• FIG. 2 illustrates on a larger scale the detail II of FIG. 1 to show what the loaded stitches look like (stitches on the right side) forming the points in excess thickness of the sole;
• Figure 3 is a diagram showing a zone portion knitted with a charged stitch, for a load on a single needle of the circular loom, while Figure 4 illustrates a similar diagram with a load on two adjacent needles;
• FIGS. 5a and 5b are diagrams illustrating the carding of the knitting of the sole, in accordance with the two loading modes of FIGS. 3 and 4, with respectively a load on a needle and a load on two successive needles of the circular loom;
• Figure 6 is a partial representation of the sole side of the sock illustrating the knitting scheme obtained in accordance with the particular example of the carding illustrated in Figure 5a;
• Figure 7 is a view similar to the previous one showing the knitting performed with three simple charged stitches, with in addition a special thread (in black).

In Figure 1, there is a sock knitted 1 according to the invention. This sock conventionally comprises a rod 2 surmounted by a ribbing 3, and a leg portion 4 located between a zone of heel 5 and a toe zone 6. It can be seen that the zone of the top of the foot marked 7 is knitted normally, while the area below the foot or sole, noted 8, presents a plurality of extra thickness points denoted 10 which are intended to act on predetermined areas of the plant feet of the sock wearer.

In accordance with a characteristic of the invention, these extra points 10 are loaded stitches concerning several successive knitted rows. The detail in Figure 2 to better distinguish the aspect outsole of the sole thus provided with a large number of extra thickness points made up of charged stitches 10. As a guide, a sock will have approximately a hundred such charged meshes.

The effect of charged stitches will be better understood in referring to the diagrams of Figures 3 and 4.

In Figure 3, we can see a mesh loaded 10 between two knitted stitches not loaded 11. The transformation of a mesh into charge is obtained when during training the separation between the old and the new loop does not take place. The loop thus formed then doubles the head of the previous stitch. In the diagram in Figure 2, the wire loads twice and on a single needle, i.e. that two successive rows of wire are affected by the effect of charges.

The presence of a single charged needle for each additional point 10 leads to qualifying such mesh loaded with "simple". Alternatively, we can provide that the loaded cells 10 are multiple for form thicker points. In this case, several adjacent needles are affected by the effect of fillers, which naturally gives more thickness important to the points obtained. Figure 4 illustrates this such an example, with a charged mesh 10 which is here double, that is to say that two successive needles are affected by the effect of charges.

In Figure 4, the group of successive rows concerned by the charged meshes is still constituted in two successive rows, as in the case of the figure 3. This is of course only an example intended to make clear the method of obtaining extra stitches in the form of loaded stitches according to the invention, but it is understood that large variations will be possible, as will better understood with the examples which will be described below with reference to the following figures, where seven rows successive are concerned.

Figures 5a and 5b illustrate the carding of a knitted fabric intended to constitute the sole of a sock knitted according to the invention. On these figures, the sign "V" represents a knit stitch, and the sign "" represents a charge.

In FIG. 5a, a matrix is represented with 12 columns which correspond to twelve successive needles circular loom, these needles being numbered 1 at 12. The illustrated matrix also has 26 rows successive threads numbered 1 to 26. According to this card layout, we knit five rows in solid knit on all needles, i.e. from row 1 to row 5, then knitting rows 6 to 12 is done plain on all needles except one in six needles, that is to say here needle No 3 and needle No 9. For rows 13 to 17, we resume knitting in solid knit on all needles, then for rows 18 to 24, we found knitting on all needles except one needle out of six which is then here needle No 6. The needles No 3 and No 9 thus remain inactive on the rows 6 to 12, and needle No 6 on rows 18 to 24, these needles receiving the thread seven times without making mesh, in accordance with the desired loading effect.

As is easy to understand, repetition of the matrix thus illustrated allows knitting in which the loaded links relate to seven rows successive, these loaded meshes being here simple.

In practice, the charged meshes will concern from three to twelve successive rows: if the number is less than 3, the excess thickness becomes too small to provide the desired stimulation effect, and if the number of rows exceeds 12, there is a risk of breakage of the needle which is thus loaded in excess.

It should be noted that the meshes loaded with rows 18 to 24 are offset by three columns from with the stitches loaded from rows 6 to 12. The repetition of this matrix will then produce a periodic arrangement stitches loaded on the group of seven rows successive concerned. This periodic arrangement of charged mesh is further chosen so that on each row concerned, two adjacent loaded meshes are separated by six uncharged knitted stitches. In other words, one needle in six in this example is affected by the effect of charges. It goes without saying that this does not is just an example, and we might as well opt for a loading effect for one needle in four, or one needle in eight, or one needle in ten for example. In practice, two adjacent charged meshes will be separated by four to twelve uncharged knitted stitches, and in particular five to seven non-knitted stitches loaded (five in Figure 5a, and six in Figure 5b).

The offset between the loaded mesh columns from one group to another of successive rows concerned can be chosen to produce as is the case here a staggered distribution of loaded meshes.

Figures 6 and 7 provide a better understanding the structure of the knitting thus produced.

In Figure 6, we can see the diagram of knitting of the sole according to the invention for a set of 23 needles, with illustration for 26 rows successive threads.

In this case, a knitting in plain stitch on all needles for rows 1 to 5 (group I), then a knitted knit with loads on needles No 3, No 9, No 15, No 21 for the rows 6 to 12 (group II), which thus produces four stitches loaded forming points 10 in excess thickness. Then we finds a solid knit knitting on all needles for rows 13 to 17 (group I), then at again a knit in solid knit with loads on the needles No 6, No 12, No 18 (group II) for a new formation of charged meshes offset from the first group. This offset is half a step, that is to say of three needles, we get a distribution in staggered, that is, the next group of rows at loaded stitches will be aligned in columns on the top one illustrated in figure 6.

Figure 7 illustrates with an enlarged scale a part of the structure of the knitted fabric thus produced, which makes it possible to clearly distinguish a set of three meshes loaded forming extra thickness points 10.

In the example of Figure 7, we recognize that these are simple charged meshes, covering seven rows successive with each time charges on a needle unique. Each group of rows concerned is separated by five rows of solidly knitted stitches. In addition, two adjacent loaded meshes are separated at each times by five uncharged knitted stitches, which corresponds to a charge effect on a needle out of six.

If we now return to Figure 5b, and that we consider the illustrated carding diagram, we notes that this is a variant in which the charging is carried out on two adjacent needles, here the needles No 3 and 4 and No 11 and 12 for the group of rows 6 to 12, and needles No 7 and No 8 for the group of rows 18 to 24. We then obtain, for each charged mesh forming the extra stitches, uen density double that previously obtained. For the rest, we find the same possibilities as for the number of successive rows concerned, as to the arrangement periodic of the meshes loaded on the group of rows successive concerned, and as for the number of meshes uncharged knitted fabrics separating two charged stitches adjacent to the same row.

In practice, the spacing between different loaded stitches forming the points in extra thickness 10, will give dimensions of about 15 mm between the meshs loaded with the same row, which corresponds approximately to six successive needles, and dimensions of approximately 25 mm from one group to another of rows concerned, which corresponds approximately to 12 rows.

The successive rows affected by the meshes loaded 10 will generally be knitted with the same yarn than the one used for the sole. It is however possible to foresee that at least some of the rows successive concerned by the meshes loaded 10 are knitted with a special thread, such as thread 15 for rows No 9 and 21 in figure 7. This special thread will be different from that used for the sole, and may in particular be a metalloplastic wire capable of carrying permanent magnetic charges. We then find the possibility of benefiting from a beneficial effect of the charges magnetic, which we already used in the context of existing soles bearing inlay magnets permanent.

Modern knitting machines are also capable of periodically injecting this metalloplastic wire and moreover, for a predetermined row, by limiting the length concerned with the width of the sole.

Finally, although the extra points constituted by the charged meshes 10 have been illustrated for sole part 8 of the sock knitted, provision may also be made for such extra points on the heel zone 5 and / or the toe zone 6 of said sock (variant not illustrated).

The invention is not limited to the modes of realization which have just been described, but includes at on the contrary any variant taking over, with means equivalent, the essential characteristics stated upper.

Claims (13)

Knitted sock, including at least the sole presents a plurality of points in excess thickness intended for act on predetermined areas of the soles of the feet wearer of said sock, characterized in that the extra stitches (10) are loaded stitches concerning several successive knitted rows. Knitted sock according to claim 1, characterized in that the charged meshes (10) relate 3 to 12 successive rows. Knitted sock according to claim 2, characterized in that the charged meshes (10) relate 6 or 7 successive rows. Knitted sock according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that some at less loaded meshes (10) are simple. Knitted sock according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that some at less of the loaded meshes (10) are multiple, in especially double, to form thicker points. Knitted sock according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the meshes loaded (10) are periodically arranged on the group of successive rows concerned. Knitted sock according to claim 6, characterized in that the periodic arrangement of the meshes loaded (10) is chosen so that on each row concerned, two loaded stitches (10) adjacent are separated by 4 to 12 knitted stitches (11) no loaded. Knitted sock according to claim 7, characterized in that two charged meshes (10) adjacent to the same row are separated by 5 to 7 knitted stitches (11) not loaded. Knitted sock according to any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the meshes loaded (10) are shifted from one group to another by successive rows concerned. Knitted sock according to claim 9, characterized in that the offset is chosen to produce staggered distribution of charged meshes (10). Knitted sock according to any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the rows successive concerned by the charged meshes (10) are knitted with the same yarn as that used for the sole. Knitted sock according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that some at less of the successive rows affected by the meshes loaded (10) are knitted with a special yarn (15) different from that used for the sole, in particular a metalloplastic wire capable of carrying loads permanent magnetic. Knitted sock according to any one of Claims 1 to 12, characterized in that points in excess thickness constituted by charged meshes (10) are also provided on the heel area (5) and / or the stitch area (6) of said sock.

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