EP2014183B1 - Long sock containing a muff fitted with a vertical elastic band - Google Patents

Abstract

The sock (1) has a foot (3) and a sleeve (4) or a rod extending the foot. The sleeve has an elastic band (18) extending parallel to a main direction of the sleeve by having the width lesser than perimeter of the sleeve. The band is fabricated in a cloth e.g. spandex, that is elastic than the cloth in which rest of the sleeve is fabricated. The band extends in a region corresponding to upper half of the sleeve.

Description

The invention relates to a high sock, comprising a foot and a sleeve or rod extending this foot. It is intended to be worn by a person, the foot of the sock surrounding the foot of the person, the sleeve surrounding the ankle and the entire calf.

US Patent 6536051 and DE-U-8701834 disclose such socks.

This sock may have a height such that the sleeve is located below the knee, above the knee, or even in the upper thigh. It can thus constitute a knee high, a stocking or a leggings.

Known socks generally include a sleeve extended by a circular band, also called tourniquet, which is resilient to hold the sleeve in position so that it does not descend along the calf and ankle.

The sleeve is all the better maintained as the elastic band tightly tightens the leg, between the calf and the knee, so that this headband is generally reinforced throughout its height with highly elastic strands such as rubber strands.

It follows that the headband exerts a constraining effort, or contention, which disrupts the blood circulation in the leg, which causes an unpleasant sensation favoring moreover the appearance of varicose veins.

The object of the invention is to provide a sock in which the sleeve is held in position without significant restraining effect.

For this purpose, the invention relates to a sock high, mid-low, or low, comprising a foot and a sleeve or rod extending this foot, characterized in that the sleeve comprises an elastic strip extending parallel to the direction main sleeve with a width less than the perimeter of the sleeve, this band being made of a fabric more elastic than the fabric in which the rest of the sleeve is manufactured.

With this elastic band, the sleeve grips the calf by exerting on it a force which is distributed on a surface corresponding to the perimeter of the calf and extending over the entire height corresponding to the elastic band, instead of being concentrated only at the upper end of the sleeve.

The invention also relates to a sock as defined above, wherein the elastic band is woven according to a so-called Jersey point forming ribs parallel to the main direction of the sleeve so as to have a transverse elasticity much greater than its longitudinal elasticity .

The invention also relates to a sock as defined above, wherein the elastic band extends in a region corresponding to the upper half of the sleeve.

The invention also relates to a sock as defined above, wherein the elastic band extends over the entire height of the sleeve.

The invention also relates to a sock as defined above, wherein the elastic band comprises elastane and wherein the remainder of the sleeve is devoid of elastane.

The invention also relates to a sock as defined above, comprising a circular strip extending the open end of the sleeve, and wherein this strip comprises a first half-band and a second half-band, the first half-band being intended to be folded over the second half-band, these half bands being provided with complementary reliefs that fit into each other when the half-bands are folded over one another.

The invention also relates to a sock as defined above, wherein the complementary reliefs are formed by ribs located at the first half-band and at the second half-band.

The invention also relates to a sock as defined above, wherein the elastic band extends from the heel into the strip extending the end of the sleeve.

• La figure 1 est une vue latérale montrant la chaussette selon l'invention portée par une personne ;
• La figure 2 est une vue latérale de la chaussette selon l'invention représentée seule ;
• La figure 3 est une vue arrière de la chaussette selon l'invention représentée seule ;
• La figure 4 est une vue arrière de la chaussette selon l'invention portée, par une personne ;
• La figure 5 est une vue de la chaussette selon l'invention selon une coupe transversale à la direction principale du manchon et à hauteur de la bande élastique ;
• La figure 6 est une vue en coupe du bandeau terminant le manchon de la chaussette selon l'invention ;
• La figure 7 est une vue arrière d'une variante de la chaussette selon l'invention représentée seule ;
• La figure 8 est une arrière de la chaussette selon la variante de la figure 7 portée par une personne.

The invention will now be described in more detail and with reference to the appended figures.

• The figure 1 is a side view showing the sock according to the invention worn by a person;
• The figure 2 is a side view of the sock according to the invention shown alone;
• The figure 3 is a rear view of the sock according to the invention shown alone;
• The figure 4 is a rear view of the sock according to the invention worn by a person;
• The figure 5 is a view of the sock according to the invention in a cross section to the main direction of the sleeve and at the height of the elastic band;
• The figure 6 is a sectional view of the strip ending the sleeve of the sock according to the invention;
• The figure 7 is a rear view of a variant of the sock according to the invention shown alone;
• The figure 8 is a back of the sock according to the variant of the figure 7 carried by a person.

In the figure 1 , a high sock 1 according to the invention is worn by a leg 2 of a person. It mainly comprises a foot 3 which surrounds the foot of the person, and a sleeve 4, also called rod, which surrounds a lower part of the leg 2 including the ankle 6 and the entire calf 7, to an area 8 located between the knee 9 and the calf 7.

The foot 3 of the sock corresponds to a zone extending from a front part marked by 11 and corresponding to a toe reinforcement, to a rear part, marked by 12, and corresponding to a heel reinforcement.

As shown by Figures 1 and 2 , this foot 3 here comprises a lower part or sole 13 and an upper part called instep 14 which are assembled to one another but which are also assembled with the toe reinforcement 11 and with the heel reinforcement 12 .

The sleeve 4 which extends in a direction AX comprises an open free end 16 which is extended by a circular strip 17, the circular strip 17 thus defining the opening by which the foot is threaded into the sock.

The sleeve 4 is made of a first inelastic material such as a 100% cotton fabric, and it comprises an elastic band 18 which extends parallel to the axis AX, and which is highly elastic transversely, that is to say say in the direction perpendicular to the axis AX.

These two parts made of two different fabrics can be made with the same threads, during the same weaving operation, but being woven differently so as to have different elastic properties.

The elastic band 18 constitutes an anatomical adapter: it allows the sleeve 4 to be circumferentially elastic to adapt to the diameter of the calf on which the sock is threaded, while this sleeve is mainly made of a low elastic fabric.

From the point of view of dimensions, this band has a width L of the order of 3 to 5 cm when it is at rest as in the figure 3 , this width that can extend up to 8 to 10 cm when the sock is worn as in the figure 4 .

As regards the height H of this band, it may be 8 to 15 cm, which corresponds to the example of the figures in which the band extends in the upper half of the sleeve 4.

But this band may also be provided on a higher height H, extending over the entire height of the sleeve 4, from the heel 12 to the circular strip 17. It then has a contour corresponding to that shown in the line. discontinuous in the Figures 1 and 2 .

It can also extend upwards into the circular band 17, as shown in FIGS. Figures 7 and 8 .

This elastic band 18 is advantageously knitted according to a so-called Jersey mesh so as to form knitted ribs at the place and upside down. The succession of several of these coasts 19, seen in section as in the figure 5 , is an accordion shape corresponding to a succession of battlements.

In other words, the elastic band is knitted to have ribs such that a raised portion 21 on one side of this band corresponds to a recessed portion 22 on the other side of the band.

This band 18 is thus elastic transversely, by bending of its ribs, as schematically illustrated in FIG. figure 5 , so that it can extend transversely without contracting longitudinally along the axis AX. This elastic band 18 can be manufactured with the same fibers as the rest of the sleeve 4, being integrated in the main knitting of the sleeve, by providing, for example, particular ribs of the sleeve 4 at the level of the band 18.

Both the elastic band and the sleeve may have ribs, in which case the pitch separating two consecutive ribs from the elastic band is much less than the pitch separating two consecutive ribs from the rest of the sleeve, so that the band 18 is transversely much more elastic than the rest of the sleeve.

The band 18 can be made with the same fibers as the rest of the sleeve, but it can also be made with different fibers. For example, elastane may be incorporated into the fibers of the elastic band to increase elasticity, the remainder of the sleeve being free of elastane.

With this elastic band, the sleeve 4 very closely matches the shape of the leg and in particular the shape of the calf of the person wearing the sock. This is schematically illustrated on the figure 5 which illustrates the diameter variation of the sleeve that can be provided by the elastic band 18.

This band is an anatomical adapter that allows the sock to marry spontaneously different calf morphologies, which vary greatly from one person to another for the same size. This adaptability is obtained while having a sock manufactured mainly in a substantially inelastic fabric.

The circular band 17 which is located at the open end of the sleeve comprises a first half-band 23 extending the sleeve 4, and a second half-band 24 extending the first half-band 23.

Each half-band comprises ribs, marked respectively by 26 for the first half-band, and by 27 for the second half-band. These ribs 26 and 27 are rectilinear and parallel to each other by extending in the direction AX. They are spaced from each other with a constant pitch P, which is the same for the first half-band 23 and the second half-band 24.

These ribs 26, 27 visible in cross section in the figure 6 , each comprise a first and a second portion 28 and 29, each constituting a hollow portion or in relief, depending on whether it is seen from a face or from the opposite face.

As visible especially in the figure 2 the ribs 27 of the second half-band 24 are shifted by half a pitch P / 2 with respect to the ribs 26 of the first half-band 23.

When the two half-bands are unfolded, each raised portion 29 of the first half-band 23 is extended at the second half-band 24 by a corresponding hollow portion 28. And each raised portion 29 of the second half-band is extended at the first half-band by a corresponding hollow portion 28.

The ribs 26 and 27 of the first and second half-strips thus constitute complementary reliefs which become intertwined with one another when the second half-band 24 is folded over the first half-band 23 to surround it. This makes it possible to form an assembly of the tenon-mortise type, as represented in the sectional view of the figure 6 .

When the second half-band is folded down, the raised portions and the hollow portions of the second half-band are superimposed on the raised portions and the hollow portions of the first half-band.

This nesting ensures a simple and effective cohesion of the two half-bands by which they do not slide relative to each other. The band thus formed has a double thickness, so that it exerts a squeezing force of the leg substantially worth twice that exerted by the stem of the sock in the other areas, where it has only a single thickness.

With this constitution, the headband exerts a compression force which is greater than that of the rest of the stem, while remaining much lower than the effort exerted by the headband or withers known socks which is usually reinforced with gum threads.

Thus, the upper band formed of two half-water band still completes the maintenance of the sleeve of the sock, by resting on the upper calf while exerting a lower compression force than a band reinforced with rubber threads on all its height.

Optionally, the upper edge of the headband comprises one or more gum threads, extending over one to three turns, so as to prevent this edge kinks or adopts a wavy unsightly shape when the sock is not worn.

The force exerted by the headband can be further reduced by providing that the anatomical adapter extends into the first and second half headband, as in the example shown on the Figures 7 and 8 .

In this case, the ribs of the anatomical adapter are offset by half a step at the junction between the first and second half-band. Thus, after folding the first half-band on the second, the anatomical adapter parts that are supported on one another are complementary, so that they fit into one another, while like the rest of the banner.

By extending the anatomical adapter into the first and second half-band, the compression effort exerted by these half-bands is reduced, which further improves the wearing comfort of this sock.

In general, the sock according to the invention provides a distribution of the compression force, which is thus exerted on the entire height of the rod or sleeve, instead of being concentrated only at the level of the tourniquet ending this sleeve.

It follows that for the same effort of contention with a sock toggle, the pressure exerted by the sock on the leg is greatly reduced or negligible, which significantly improves comfort.

The invention is not limited to the field of the sock, and it applies to other areas of clothing, in which the part of the dressed body has significant sectional variations which it is desired that the garment fits perfectly shape.

Claims (8)

1. A high sock (1), a half stocking, or a stocking, comprising a foot (3) and a sleeve (4) or stem continuing this foot, characterized in that the sleeve (4) comprises an elastic band (18) extending parallelly to the main direction (AX) of the sleeve (4) while having a width (L) lower than the sleeve (4) perimeter, this band (18) being made of a more elastic fabric than the fabric with which the remainder of the sleeve (4) is made, and in that the elastic band (18) extends in an area corresponding to the higher half of the sleeve (4).
2. The sock according to claim 1, wherein the elastic band (18) is knitted according to a point known as a Jersey one making ribs parallel to the main direction (AX) of the sleeve (4) so as to have a transversal elasticity much higher than its longitudinal elasticity.
3. The sock according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the elastic band (18) is made with the same fibers than the remainder of sleeve (4), by being integrated into the main knitting of the sleeve.
4. The sock according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the elastic band (18) extends on all the sleeve (4) height.
5. The sock according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the elastic band (18) comprises elastane and wherein the remainder of the sleeve (4) not includes any elastane.
6. The sock according to one of claims 1 to 5, comprising a circular band (17) continuing the open end (16) of the sleeve (4), and wherein this band (17) comprises a first half band (23) and a second half band (24), the first half band (23) being intended to be folded back on the second half band (24), these half bands (23, 24) being provided with complementary shapes that engage the one in another when the half-bands (23, 24) are folded back the one on the other.
7. The sock according to claim 6, wherein the complementary shapes are formed by ribs (26, 27) located at the first half-band (23) and at the second half-band (24).
8. The sock according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the elastic band (18) extends from the heel (12) up to the band (18) continuing the end of the sleeve (4).

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