EP1893044B1 - Sock - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a sock, in particular for use during sports, said sock comprising cushioned sections. A ventilation channel (16), which is preferably positioned between at least two parallel cushioned sections (21), is situated on the dorsum of the foot (17).

Description

The invention relates to a sock, in particular for use in sports activities, which has a padding in some areas.

In particular, when a person moves a lot and quickly, for example, during sports activities, his feet are housed in sturdy shoes. The footwear serves on the one hand to cushion shocks and for firm fixation of the foot, on the other hand to prevent injuries to the sole by the occurrence of sharp bumps or objects on the floor.

The movement heats up the body. For heat regulation, the body releases sweat to cool off due to evaporative coldness. A thermo-regulating sock that favors evaporation is in itself US 5,724,836 A known. Within the footwear, however, this evaporation is inhibited. This causes the foot to heat up within the footwear, causing the body to react with increased perspiration. The increased perspiration is absorbed by socks worn in the shoes, causing the foot to become moist and soften the skin. As a result, the protective effect of the cornea on the foot is reduced, increasing blistering is the result. The foot is no longer resilient.

Shoes are provided with membrane fabric to aid in the evaporation of perspiration generated within the footwear. However, it has been shown that in this way a discharge of the humid climate within the shoe is possible only to an insufficient extent. Also, the use of membrane surfaces is possible only to a limited extent, since otherwise the stability of the footwear is at risk.

The invention aims to remedy this situation. The invention is based on the object to provide a sock, which allows adequate air conditioning of the shoe and thus ensures a dry skin of the foot even during sports activities. According to the invention, this object is achieved in that a climate channel is arranged on the back of the foot.

With the invention, a sock is created, which allows adequate air conditioning of the shoe and thus ensures a dry skin of the foot even during sports activities. When rolling the foot, a changing overpressure or negative pressure effect is effected between the back of the foot and the tongue, whereby the air exchange is promoted via the air conditioning duct.

Advantageously, the air conditioning channel between at least two mutually parallel padding is provided. As a result, an additional gap height is caused to the surrounding shoe, which causes an improvement in the air circulation and thus the evaporation of moisture.

Preferably, the padding is bead-like arranged in the position on both sides of the tongue of the upper part of a shoe, so that the air conditioning channel is positioned directly under the tongue. This ensures optimum air exchange via the air conditioning duct. Advantageously, the air duct is made of flat mesh, preferably jacquard.

In an embodiment of the invention, an air gap is formed between the air conditioning duct of the sock and the tongue of a shoe in the rest position. As a result, the overpressure or negative pressure effect when rolling the foot is reinforced.

In a further embodiment of the invention, a climate channel is provided on the inside and / or outside of the sock, which extends from the appearance area to the waistband of the sock. As a result, the over- or under-pressure effect, which is noticeable when rolling the foot to a lesser extent laterally of the footwear used for removing the moist air from the shoe. As a result, the air conditioning is promoted within the shoe in addition.

In a further development of the invention, the longitudinal sides of the air conditioning duct are connected to each other via at least one bandage which crosses the area of occurrence. As a result, the position of the air duct is fixed on the back of the foot and it is avoided wrinkling of the sock on the instep. Through the bandage, the climate channel is fixed tightly on the back of the foot. As a result, a support of the metatarsal area is also effected. Preferably, the bandage is made of spandex.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the air conditioning duct extends over the entire surface of the foot. This causes optimal dehumidification of the foot.

Figur 1

die Darstellung einer Socke in der Seitenansicht;

Figur 2

die vereinfachte Darstellung eines Schuhs in Seitenansicht;

Figur 3

die in Figur dargestellte Socke in Kombination mit dem in Figur 2 dargestellten Schuh;

Figur 4

den Schnitt entlang der Linie IV in Figur 3 in vergrößerter Darstellung und

Figur 5

die Darstellung einer Socke in der Seitenansicht in einer anderen Ausbildung;

Figur 6

die Darstellung der Socke aus Figur 5 in der Draufsicht und

Figur 7

die Darstellung eines Sockenpaares in der Ansicht von un- ten.

Other developments and refinements of the invention are specified in the subclaims. An embodiment of the invention is in the Drawings are shown and will be described in detail below. Show it:

FIG. 1

the representation of a sock in the side view;

FIG. 2

the simplified representation of a shoe in side view;

FIG. 3

the sock shown in Figure in combination with the in FIG. 2 illustrated shoe;

FIG. 4

the section along the line IV in FIG. 3 in an enlarged view and

FIG. 5

the representation of a sock in the side view in another embodiment;

FIG. 6

the representation of the sock FIG. 5 in plan view and

FIG. 7

the representation of a pair of socks in the view from below.

The sock, generally designated 1, has a toe area 11, a heel area 12, and an access area 13 located between the toe and heel areas. The areas 11, 12 and 13 can, as in the embodiment of the FIGS. 1 and 3 shown to be made of padding reinforced material. The use of material combinations such as virgin wool with Elastofaserwerkstoffen, such as elastane, is possible.

At the foot of the sock, a shaft connects, which in the embodiment of the FIGS. 1 and 3 extends over the calf. Also, a conclusion of the sock above or below the padding of the ankle is possible. At the end facing away from the foot part of the shaft is provided with a collar 14. From the collar 14 is in the embodiment, a climate channel 15, which extends into the appearance area 13 and is formed from climate-regulating net knitted fabric. The air conditioning duct 15 helps to drain moisture upwards from the entrance area. Such a climate channel 15 can be provided both on the inside leg and on the outside of the leg or on both sides of the sock.

On the spine 17 of the sock also designated 16 air conditioning channel is provided. The air conditioning duct 16 extends from the toe area 11 to above the ankle. A continuation of the air conditioning duct to the collar 14 of the sock 1 is possible. As a result, a higher effect of the air conditioning duct 16 can be achieved. The climate channel 16 is made of very flat fabric, such as net knit or jacquard fabric. As a result, a step is produced between the air conditioning duct 16 and the adjacent areas.

In the embodiment, on both sides of the air conditioning duct 16 on the back of the foot 17 of the sock 1 distance cushion 21 are also provided. The spacer pads 21 are made bead-like and extend from the toe area 11 to the ankle. The spacer pads 21 are made thicker compared to the material used on the forefoot; even more so in relation to the climate channel 16, which is made of very flat climate regulating net knit fabric.

The sock 1 is partially provided with further pads 2. In the embodiment according to FIG. 1 In the area of the heel, a spacer pad 22 is arranged on the sock 1. The shape of the spacer pad 22 is adapted to the anatomy of the foot in this area. Furthermore, a pad 23 is provided in the region of the ankle, ie in the transition between the foot part and the shaft of the sock, which has a substantially annular configuration. The annular pad 23 encloses a substantially circular surface 24. The pad 23 is formed so that it protrudes clearly over the surface 24.

The pads 2 are generally made of plastic yarn or composite fabric or yarn or similar materials. In the embodiment, the padding 2 of the sock 1 are made of hollow-core fibers which are wound with wool or cotton. The hollow-chamber plastic yarns are particularly strong shock and pressure damping. The tread area 13 may be made of microfiber knit which helps to reduce abrasion. Also in the toe and heel area 11, 12, depending on the requirement, the footbed is made of microfibre fabric.

On both sides of the air conditioning duct 16 are in the embodiment of the FIGS. 5 to 7 in each case six bandages 18 are provided, which run on the spacer pads 21 starting through the appearance area 13 and are connected to the opposite side of the air conditioning duct 16. As far as in a modification of the embodiment no spacer pads 21 are provided as a lateral boundary of the air conditioning duct 16, the bandages 18 start directly from one side of the air conditioning duct 16 and end after looping of the entrance area 13 on the other side of the air conditioning duct 16. In the embodiment, two are arranged in parallel Bandages 18 arranged on both outer sides and the center of the air conditioning duct 16, which are made of spandex. As a result, the air conditioning duct 16 is stretched evenly on the instep 17.

The according to the embodiment FIG. 2 illustrated and generally designated 3 shoe has a sole 31, on which a closed upper part 32 is arranged. In the worn state ( FIG. 3 ), the foot of the user is supported on the sole 31, while the remaining part of the foot is surrounded to the ankle by the upper part 32. The upper part 32 may consist of different materials. While predominantly leather has been used in the past as a material for the upper part 32, plastic fibers and plastics are predominantly used today.

The upper part 32 of the shoe 3 has a tongue 33 over which the - not shown - lacing of the shoe takes place. For this purpose, the shoe eyelets 34 are provided. The tongue 33 is provided with a padding to prevent pain in the foot of the user at a firm lacing the shoe or under a heavy load. On the side of the shoe 3 are arranged climate zones 35 which are provided at different locations and in different shapes and sizes, depending on the field of application of the shoe. The climatic zones 35 are made of membrane fabric.

The effect of the particular arrangement of Distanzpolstem 21 and air conditioning duct 16 will be described below with reference to the Figures 3 and 4 explains: In the rest position due to the different thickness of the air conditioning duct 16 to the adjacent fabric of the sock 1 and the tongue 33 of the shoe 3, an air gap 4 is formed. This effect is reinforced by the spacer pad 21 provided in the exemplary embodiment. The bandages 18 also cause the air conditioning duct 16 is stretched evenly on the instep, whereby, for example, wrinkling is prevented.

When rolling the foot of the air duct 16 is pressed against the tongue 33, whereby in this area an overpressure is generated. This overpressure causes an accelerated removal of the moist air via the air conditioning duct 16 to the outside. When the foot returns to its rest position, the air gap 4 between air-conditioning duct 16 and tongue 33 forms again, whereby a negative pressure is achieved in this area. By this negative pressure now dry outside air is transported via the air conditioning duct 16 in the shoe interior. This mutual positive or negative pressure between the tongue 33 and the air conditioning duct 16 is continuously effected while running, which leads to an optimal air conditioning of the shoe interior.

A similar effect can be achieved on the inside or outside of the shoe. When running, the distance of the shoe upper 32 to the foot changes continuously, so that a - albeit small - pumping effect is achieved in this area. This pumping effect can be utilized by an air conditioning duct 15, which is arranged laterally of the sock 1 and which extends from the access area 13 of the sock, at least above the ankle, to the additional air conditioning of the shoe interior.

Claims (7)

1. Sock (1), particularly for use in sporting activities, which sock (1) partly incorporates padding and on which sock (1) an air-conditioning channel (16) is disposed on the back of the foot (17) of the sock (1) and which sock (1) is worn in combination with a shoe (3) which incorporates an upper portion (32) with a tongue (33), characterised in that the air-conditioning channel (16) is disposed between at least two pads (21) which are arranged parallel to each other and can be arranged in a beadlike form on both sides of the tongue (33) of the upper portion (32) of the shoe (3) so that the air-conditioning channel (16) can be arranged immediately under the tongue (33) and in that an air gap (4) can be formed between the air-conditioning channel (16) of the sock (1) and the tongue (33) of the shoe (3) in the rest position.
2. Sock in accordance with claim 1, characterised in that the air-conditioning channel (16) is formed from flat netted fabric, preferably jacquard.
3. Sock in accordance with any of the aforementioned claims, characterised in that the pads (21) are made from hollow fibres spun around with wool or cotton.
4. Sock in accordance with any of the aforementioned claims, characterised in that a annular pad (23) enclosing a circular area (24) is provided in the area of the ankle.
5. Sock in accordance with any of the aforementioned claims, characterised in that the longer sides of the air-conditioning channel (16) are connected to one another by at least one strip (18) running across the tread portion (13).
6. Sock in accordance with any of the aforementioned claims, characterised in that the strip (18) is manufactured from spandex.
7. Sock in accordance with any of the aforementioned claims, characterised in that the air-conditioning channel (16) extends across the entire surface of the back of the foot (17).

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