GB2274471A

GB2274471A - Self-supporting hosiery

Info

Publication number: GB2274471A
Application number: GB9301615A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Timothy Roger Phillip Hall
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-01-26
Filing date: 1993-01-26
Publication date: 1994-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 2013-01-26
Also published as: GB2274471B; GB9301615D0

Abstract

A sock fabricated from a non-elasticated yarn has a ribbed lower or ankle portion (5) and an upper or shin part (6) which is a combination in lattice form of trapezoidal regions (13) of plain knit, annular hands (12, 11 and 8) of ribbed knitting and groups (7) of ribbed knitting extending from the ankle portion (5) to an upper welt (9). The combination of the resilience of the groups (7) when stretched on the shin of a wearer and the frictional contact of the plain knit regions (13) held taut thereby prevents the sock falling down. <IMAGE>

Description

SEEF-SUPPORrIN HOSIERY This invention relates to self-supporting hosiery generally and more particularly although not exclusively to self-supporting shin length socks.

Seamless circular knitting of hosiery is a well known and much practised art. The common form of sock knitted on 84, 96 or 168 needle machines is a ribbed sock in which up to 50 courses of knit are in the form of elasticated ribbing in which elasticated yarn is used in conjunction with the non-elasticated yarn used elsewhere in the sock. This form of sock requires that the calf region of the sock can stretch more than other regions thereof and that the resilience of the elasticated yarn causes this region to grip the calf of the user so as to prevent the sock falling down.

A disadvantage of such socks is that the elasticated region may be uncomfortable to a user especially if they have larger than average calf muscles. Consequently, it has been long desired to have socks which have non-elasticated calf regions. One solution has been to provide the sock with elastic thread only in a thin band of the upper welt. This is particularly suitable for silk socks which are generally plain knit.

However this solution akin, to using a rubber band, causes greater constriction of the shin albeit in a more localised area than would elasticated ribbing. A similar solution with the same attendant disadvantages is described in UK Patent Specification No. 764,910 wherein an area of plain knit is provided in the calf region of the sock inbetween an upper elasticated welt and a lower ribbed portion of the sock.

U.K. Patent Specification No 841 309 discloses a sock in which upper and lower ribbed portions are separated by an annular area of plain knit.

U.K. Patent Specification No. 2 225 005 discloses a non-elasticated sock in which two annular areas of plain knit are disposed between an upper ribbed welt and a lower ribbed ankle portion of the sock. The form of the calf region of this sock is frustoconical compared with the generally cylindrical ankle region. The finished product when packaged appears to be a neatly formed sock from the ankle down, but is somewhat dishevelled in the calf region. This is because the ribbed knitted sections are to a limited extent resiliently elastic and tend to compress circumferentially the adjoining areas of plain knit giving them an unattractive winkled appearance.The sock may perform weli and have a good appearance when worn but the ruffled appearance of the calf region when the sock is not worn is likely to deter a purchaser.

It is an object of the invention to provide hosiery, suitably in the form of a sock, fabricated fran non-elasticated yarn which overcomes sate of the perceived disadvantages of the aforerrrentioned prior art constructions.

According to the invention an article of hosiery knit from nonelasticated yarn comprises an article of hosiery knit from non-elasticated yarn comprising a seamless circular formrfitting and self-supporting top part extending upwardly of a lower ribbed portion, with said top part having a top welt finishing a narrow upper ribbed portion and having a plurality of the ribs of the lower portion extending upwardly through the top part to provide sate of the ribs of the upper portion, said sate of the ribs of the lower portion being in groups of at least two adjacent ribs separated circumferentially by regions of plain knit, the article having at least one intermediate narrow ribbed portion disposed between and spaced apart by said regions of plain knit fran the upper and lower ribbed portions.

A second intermediate narrow ribbed portion may be provided between and spaced apart by regions of plain knit fran the first intermediate portion and the lower ribbed portion.

The said some ribs may be in groups of 4 and may be 2*1 rib.

The upper ribbed portion may be of the order of 20 courses wide, the first narrow ribbed portion may be of the order of 15 courses wide and separated fran the upper portion by of the order of 25 courses of knit, and the second further narrow ribbed portion may be of the order of 10 courses wide separated by of the order of 20 courses of knit from the first narrow ribbed portion and 10 courses of knit fran the second narrow ribbed portion.

The article may be a sock wherein the top part is a shin portion and the lower portion is an ankle part of the sock.

The invention will now be further described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates in side view a sock made in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention.

The sock illustrated is formed from a hose knit in knows fashion on a twin cylinder knitting machine with one end of the hose being tucked and sewn at seam 1 to form a toe pocket la. The toe pocket la and an adjoining sole part 2 of the hose are formed from a region of plain knit which extends to a central region of the sock to form a heel pocket 3. Coextensive with sole part 2 and heel pocket 3 a panel of 2*1 rib forms instep region 4.

Ribbing of instep 4 is contiguous with a front portion of circumferential ribbing which defines an ankle part 5 of the sock. Upwardly thereof extends a fomt-fitting and self-supporting top part 6 of the sock.

A plurality of groups 7 of ribbing extend between the ankle part 5 and an upper circumferentially ribbed portion 8 tenninating in a finishing welt 9 with each group 7 comprising four separate ribs 10.

A first intermediate circumferentinlly ribbed portion 11 is provided spaced apart from the upper portion 8 and a second intermediate portion 12 is provided between portion 11 and the ankle section 5.

Separating groups 7 and said circumferentially ribbed portions 5,12,11 & 8 are a plurality of trapezoidal regions denoted 13 of plain knit which as can clearly be seen from the illustration are in the form of three arcuate bands 13a, 13b & 13c. Band 13a separates the ankle part 5 fram the second intermediate portion 12 and is in the order of 10 courses wide. This second mtermEdiate portion 12 is in the order of 10 courses wide and is separated from the first intermediate portion 11 by band 13b which is approximately 15 courses wide. The portion 11 is about 15 courses wide and is separated fran the upper portion 8 by the band 13c which is about 25 courses wide. The welt 9 knit in conventional fashion finishes the upper portion 8 which is about 20 courses wide.

It will be appreciated by reference to the drawing that the top part 6 of the sock is frusto-conical in shape to reflect the upwardly increasing diameter of the human calf. As is normal for ribbed socks, ribbed knitting is designed to be elastic and the stitching enables it to be resilient to a limited degree. Thus, a sock can be stretched circomferentially when worn to adopt the shape of the foot and lower leg. Once removed the ribbing corrtracts and returns the sock to its original state.

Unfortunately, the resilience of ribbing of a conventional sock does not exert sufficient force on the calf of a wearer to hold the sock up.

In this invention the plurality of plain knit regions 13 closely contact the calf of the wearer and it is assumed that because of frictional contact they prevent the sock slipping down around the ankle. This close contact is facilitated by the resilience of the plurality of ribbed groups 7 which when stretched over the calf of the wearer want to contract in width. Thus, the plain regions 13 are pulled taut in the circumferential direction and better contact the skin.

In addition when the sock is removed fran the wearer the ribbed groups 7 are in a relaxed state and generally rigidify the top part 6 thereby avoiding the somewhat dishevelled appearance of prior mentioned constructions.

Claims

CIAIMS:

1. An article of hosiery knit fran non-elasticated yarn coalprising a seamless circular formvfitting and self-supporting top part extending upwardly of a lower ribbed portion, with said top part having a top welt finishing a narrow upper ribbed portion and having a plurality of the ribs of the lower portion extending upwardly through the top part to provide sate of the ribs of the upper portion, said sate of the ribs of the lower portion being in groups of at least two adjacent ribs separated circumferentially by regions of plain knit, the article having at least one intermEdiate narrow ribbed portion disposed between and spaced apart by said regions of plain knit from the upper and lower ribbed portions.

2. An article in accordance with claim 1, in which a second intermediate narrow ribbed portion is provided between and spaced apart by regions of plain knit from the first intermedlate portion and the lower ribbed portion.

3. An article in accordance with claim 1 or claim 2, in which the said sate ribs are in groups of 4.

4. An article in accordance with any one of the preceding claims in which the ribs are 2*1 rib.

5. An article in accordance with any one of claims 2 to 4, in which the upper ribbed portion is of the order of 20 courses wide, the first narrow ribbed portion is of the order of 15 courses wide and separated from the upper portion by of the order of 25 courses of knit, and the second further narrow ribbed portion is of the order of 10 courses wide separated by of the order of 20 courses of knit fran the first narrow ribbed portion and 10 courses of knit fram the second narrow ribbed portion.

6. An article as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the article is a sock wherein the top part is a shin portion and the lower portion is an ankle part of the sock.

7. An article of hosiery knit fran non-elasticated yarn substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.