GB2530171A

GB2530171A - Non-slip knitted garment

Info

Publication number: GB2530171A
Application number: GB1514609.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Phillip Mark Smith
Original assignee: Roy Lowe & Sons Ltd
Current assignee: ROY LOWE & SONS LIMITED,
Priority date: 2014-08-15
Filing date: 2015-08-17
Publication date: 2016-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 2035-08-17
Also published as: GB2529243A; GB2530171B; GB201414509D0; GB201514609D0

Abstract

A sock or tight fitting garment, comprises at least a portion which has, as a laid-in yarn, a non-slip fibre 1. The non-slip fibre is intended to be in contact with the wearers skin in use. In the case of a sock the portion comprises the foot section, and the non-slip fibre may be laid-in throughout the circumference of the inside of the foot section. The portion may alternatively or additionally comprise the leg section. On the garment inside face the non-slip fibres may overly and may protrude further than other yarns, such as a backing, of the knitted fabric. Preferably a major portion of the length fibre is in contact with the users skin. The laying-in pattern may be varied to suit the garment portion. The laid-in fibre may overly the majority of stitches, such as three out of four or four out of five, along a course of the knit. The fibre may comprise silocone rubber such a polysiloxane or polydimethylsiloxane. The fibre may comprise a non-slip coating or a grip enhancing texture. The garment may be a glove or stretch-fit sportswear.

Description

NON-SLIP KNITTED GARMENT

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to stretch-fit knitted garments, such as sports socks.

Background to the Invention

Significant movement between a sock and the wearer's foot may cause the fabric of the sock to twist or bunch up, causing discomfort to the wearer, and may cause chafing, blistering, or bmising due to excessive movement or insufficient support ofthe wearer's foot within a shoe. During fast-paced or endurance sports and other demanding physical activity, a wearer may perform sub-optimally as a result of limited grip, and may suffer discomfort or injury as a result of excessive rubbing or insufficient support within the shoe.

Sports socks are generally elasticated to provide a comfortable stretch fit. The knitted fabric may be formed of a facing yarn and an elasticated backing yarn, the latter of which is typically an elastane core wrapped with a harder-wearing fibre such as nylon.

I 5 The stitched structure of the knit, and the relative extents to which the yarns are stretched during knitting, can produce a knitted fabric wherein the backing yarn tensions the fabric arid contacts the skin, such as around the leg where the sock would otherwise be prone to falling down. Thus, the sock grips the wearer's skin as a result of the tightness of fit and the rouglmess of the backing yarn, which will generally keep the sock safely and comfortably in place on the wearer's foot, However, in fast-paced or endurance sports, it may be desirable to thrther enhance the quality of grip so as to optimise the wearer's performance, minimise damage to the wearer's skin, and/or enhance the level of support provided by the shoe.

Objects ofthe invention therefore include the provision of a sock that overcomes some or all of the aforementioned problems, that provides improved grip and stability relative to the wearer's foot, that facilitates fine motor control for optimal performance during fast-paced sports, and/orthat helps to minimise discomfort and damageto the skin and joints of the foot during strenuous exercise or endurance sport.

Summary of the Invention

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a knitted sock comprising a heel, a toe, and a foot section, wherein the knitted fabric of a main portion of the sock includes, as a laid-in yarn, a fibre formed of a slip-resistant material and arranged to be in contact with a wearer's skin while the sock is being worn, and wherein the main portion comprises the foot section.

The fibre may be laid in within the foot section of the sock, and may be laid in throughout the main portion of the sock, such as throughout the foot section. The main portion of the sock may comprise a leg section of the sock, such as wherein the fibre is laid-in within the leg section of the sock.

The fibre may be laid in throughout a circumference of the inside of the sock, so as to frilly encompass a circumference of a wearer's foot. The fibre may be laid in so that: * on an inside face of the sock, a major proportion of the fibre overlies the other yarn(s) of the knitted fabric; * on an inside face of the sock, the fibre overlies a backing yarn of the knitted fabric; * on an inside face of the sock, the fibre protrudes further than the other yarn(s) of the knitted fabric; * along a major proportion of its length, the fibre is exposed for contact with a wearer's skin; and/or * along a substantial proportion of its length, the fibre is held in contact with a wearer's skin while the sock is being worn.

Patterns oflaying in the fibre may differ between respective areas in the sock that comprise the laid-in fibre, such as wherein the laid-in fibre is incorporated into fewer courses of the knit throughout certain areas in the sock than throughout other areas in the sock. The fibre may be incorporated into at least alternate courses of the knit throughout an area in the sock, may be omitted from at least alternate courses of the knit throughout an area in the sock that comprises the laid-in fibre, may be incorporated into every course of the knit throughout an area in the sock, and may be incorporated into every course of the knit throughout an area in the sock that faces part of a wearer's foot when the sock is being worn. A greater proportion of the fibre may be exposed for skin contact within certain areas in the sock than within other areas in the sock that comprise the laid-in fibre.

For example, a greater proportion of the fibre may be exposed for skin contact with part of a wearer's foot than with other parts of the wearer's skin while the sock is being worn.

The fibre may be laid in along a course of the knit so that, inside the sock, the fibre overlies a majority of stitches along the course, For example, the fibre may overlie at least three out of four stitches along a course of the knit, such as three out of four stitches or four out of five stitches along a course of the knit.

The knitted fabric ofthe main portion may comprise a facing yarn and a backing yarn, such as an elasticated backing yarn, and one or both of the heel and the toe may consist of a facing yarn and a backing yarn, such as a reinforced backing yarn. The facing yarn(s) may comprise cotton, wool, acrylic, polyester, nylon, viscose, or any combination thereof The backing yarn(s) may comprise polyamide, polyester, elastane, or any combination thereof The sock may be knitted in a single continuous process that includes laying-in the fibre.

The fibre may consist essentially of a non-slip material, such as a synthetic rubber, selected and arranged to providing frictional sticking against a wearer's skin while the sock is being worn. The non-slip material may consist essentially of a silicon-based elastomer, namely a polysiloxane (commonly referred to as silicone or silicon rubber) such as a polydimethylsiloxane. The fibre may comprise or consist of an extruded silicone monofilament, Alternatively, or in addition, the fibre may comprise a non-slip coating and/or a grip-enhancing texture.

IS According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a stretch-fit knitted garment comprising a facing yarn and, as a laid-in yarn, a silicone fibre arranged to be in contact with a wearer's skin while the garment is being worn.

The fibre may be laid in throughout a circumference of the inside of the garment, such as throughout a circumference of a tubular section ofthe garment. The fibre may be laid in so that: * on an inside face of the garment, a major proportion ofthe fibre overlies the other yarn(s) of the knitted fabric; * on an inside face of the garment, the fibre overlies a backing yarn of the knitted fabric; * on an inside face of the garment, the fibre protrudes further than the other yarn(s) of the knitted fabric; * along a major proportion of its length, the fibre is exposed for contact with a wearer's skin; and/or * along a substantial proportion of its length, the fibre is held in contact with a wearer's skin while the garment is being worn.

The fibre may be incorporated into at least alternate courses ofthe knit throughout an area in the garment, may be omitted from at least alternate courses of the knit throughout a laid-in area in the garment, and may be incorporated into every course of the knit throughout an area in the garment.

The fibre may be laid in along a course ofthe knit so that, inside the garment, the fibre overlies a majority of stitches along the course. For example, the fibre may overlie at least three out of four stitches along a course of the knit, such as three out of four stitches or four out of five stitches along a course of the knit.

Patterns of laying in the fibre may differ between respective areas in the garment that each comprise the laid-in fibre. For example, the laid-in fibre may be incorporated into fewer courses of the knit throughout certain areas than throughout others, and/or a greater proportion of the fibre may be exposed for skin contact within certain areas in the garment than within other areas in the garment that each comprise the laid-in fibre.

The first and second aspects ofthe invention may incorporate any combination of one another's features,

Detailed Description of the Invention

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figures 1 and 2 are schematic views of knitted fabrics with a laid-in non-slip fibre; Figure 3 is an image of such a fabric, with laid-in fibres shown in black; and Figure 4 is a representation of part of a sock comprising such a fabric, in use, A sock according to an embodiment of the invention is knitted so that, in addition to the face and backing yarns, an extra fibre is laid in throughout a main portion of the sock, such as throughout a foot section of the sock, so that the extra fibre is exposed for contact with the wearer's skin on the inside of the sock, The extra fibre has grip-enhancing properties, such as a textured surface, and a frictionally sticky' non-slip substance or coating, such as a rubbery or gummy material. In certain embodiments, the laid-in fibre is formed of a synthetic rubber, such as a silicone elastomer. In a preferred embodiment, the fibre is an extruded monofilament of a polydimethylsiloxane elastomer having a linear density around 1600 dtex and a diameter around 0.2 mm, although different fibre sizes may of course be appropriate depending on the kind of fabric, The silicone filament has an elongation at break of around 1000% and a tenacity ofonly around I eN/tex or less, rendering it a rather poor substitute for traditional elastic fibre materials such as elastane(400-700%, 5-10 cN/tex) and natural rubber (200-500%, 2-4 cN/tex) since a significantly bulkier silicone fibre would be needed to achieve a given elastic strength and tightness of fit. To offset this disadvantage, the fibre is preferably laid-in over an elasticated backing yarn, such as a covered elastane yarn, In one embodiment, as generally indicated in Figures 1 and 2, the silicone fibre (1) is laid-in along a course (row) of stitches in the knitted fabric so that it sits over a majority of stitches along the course (2). The respective holding stitches (3) that lock the fibre in place are separated by three or four intervening stitches (5) across which the silicone fibre is overlaid, so that the ratio of holding stitches (3) to overlaid stitches (5) is 1:3 or 1:4. In other words, three in four stitches (as shown), or four in five stitches, are partially covered by the silicone fibre (1). This pattern may be repeated along the full length of the course (2), i.e. around a fill circumference of the inside of the sock.

Alternatively, or in addition, the pattern may be varied in different areas in the sock so that the exposed proportion ofthe fibre varies to suit the level ofgrip required in different areas in the sock.

IS In Figure I, the fibre is laid-in along adjacent courses so that every course (2) incorporates the laid-in fibre. In Figure 2, the fibre is laid-in along alternate courses only.

Either pattern may be repeated throughout a length of the sock, such as throughout the foot section, Alternatively, or in addition, the pattern of adjacent and alternating courses may be varied in different areas in the sock so that the proportion of courses that incorporate the fibre varies to suit the level of grip required in different areas in the soclc In Figure 3, a sample of fabric is shown in which laid-in fibres (1) are shown in black, This is for illustration purposes since, in reality, the silicone fibres are preferably colourless and translucent, and thus would not significantly affect the appearance of the fabric. As shown in Figure 3, exposed parts of the fibre form ioops (7) of differing sizes according to the tautness or slackness of the fibre relative to other yarns of the knitted fabric. The tension applied to the fibre during knitting can thus be used to directly influence the tautness of the fibre while the sock is being worn, the proportion of the fibre's length that is exposed for contact with a wearer's skin, and/or the prominence of each protruding loop (7) of the fibre. This pattern may thus be varied in different areas in the sock so that the tautness, the exposed proportion ofthe fibre (1), arid/or the projection of each exposed loop (7) ofthe fibre, varies to suit the level of grip required in different areas in the sock.

In an embodiment partially illustrated in Figure 4, the sock comprises a turned or straight rib top (9). A leg section (1]) and a foot section (not shown) form a main portion of the sock, The main portion is made up of three fibres/yarns: a facing yarn, a backing yarn, and the laid-in non-slip fibre as discussed above.

The facing yarn comprises cotton, wool, acrylic, polyester, nylon, viscose, or any I 5 combination thereof' and may be treated to provide antifungal and/or antibacterial characteristics or to enhance its thermal properties. The backing yarn is preferably an elasticated yarn, such as elastane covered in polyamide and/or polyester.

As generally indicated in Figure 4, the laid-in non-slip fibre (1) is arranged to lie over the other fibres/yarns, so that it is interposed between the knitted fabric and the wearer's skin (13), along a major proportion of its length.

The knitting machines used allow individual needle selection at laying-in needle height, so that the non-slip fibre can be laid-in with different patterns. In this manner, the extent of exposed non-slip fibre within particular areas of the sock can be varied according to the pattern formation used. In preferred embodiments, a greater extent ofthe non-slip fibre is exposed in areas that would generally be most prone to slipping or rubbing against the wearer's foot and/or that require the most grip.

The sock is knitted on a multi-feed sock knitting machine which allows the non-slip fibre to be incorporated into selected courses of the knit, such as adjacent courses or alternate courses. In preferred embodiments, more of the courses incorporate the laid-in fibre within areas of the sock that would generally be most prone to slipping or rubbing against the wearer's foot and/or that require the most grip.

The sock further comprises reciprocated heel and toe sections that are made up of a face yarn and a reinforced backing yarn. The toe is seamed either by a toe closing machine, a hand linking machine, or an automated toe closing system attached to the knitting machine, The sizing of individual sections of the sock are individually controlled, the lateral and length measurements thereof being set so as to provide optimal comfort and grip. The entire sock is knitted in a single continuous process that includes IS laying-in the non-slip fibre, the process starting from the inside of the rib top (9) and ending with the toe.

Other tight-fitting engineered knitwear may benefit from the improvements discussed above, wherever stability and grip are important, such as gloves and stretch-fit high-performance knitted sportswear, The above embodiments are described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope ofthe invention as defined in the appended claims,

Claims

CLAIMS1, A knitted sock comprising a heel, a toe, arid a foot section, wherein the knitted fabric of a main portion ofthe sock includes, as a laid-in yarn, a fibre formed of a non-slip material and arranged to be in contact with a wearer's skin while the sock is being worn, and wherein the main portion comprises the foot section.
2. A sock according to claim 1 wherein the fibre is laid in within the foot section of the sock.
3 A sock according to claim I or claim 2 wherein the fibre is laid in throughout the main portion of the sock, such as throughout the foot section.
4, A sock according to any preceding claim wherein the fibre is laid in throughout a circumference of the inside of the sock, so as to frilly encompass a circumference of a wearer's foot.
5. A sock according to any preceding claim wherein the fibre is laid in so that, on an inside face of the sock, a major proportion of the fibre overlies the other yarn(s) of the knitted fabric.
6. A sock according to any preceding claim wherein the fibre is laid in so that, on an inside face of the sock, the fibre overlies a backing yarn of the knitted fabric.
7. A sock according to any preceding claim wherein the fibre is laid in so that, on an inside face of the sock, the fibre protrudes further than the other yarn(s) of the knitted fabric.
8. A sock according to any preceding claim wherein the fibre is laid in so that, along a major proportion of its length, it is exposed for contact with a wearer's skin.
9. A sock according to any preceding claim wherein the fibre is laid in so that, along a substantial proportion of its length, it is held in direct contact with a wearer's skin while the sock is being worn.
10. A sock according to any preceding claim wherein patterns of laying in the fibre differ between respective areas in the sock that comprise the laid-in fibre.
11 A sock according to claim 10 wherein the laid-in fibre is incorporated into fewer courses of the knit throughout certain areas in the sock than throughout other areas in the sock.
12. A sock according to claim 10 or claim ii wherein a greater proportion of the fibre is exposed for skin contact within certain areas in the sock than within other areas in the sock that comprise the laid-in fibre.
13. A sock according to claim 12 wherein a greater proportion ofthe fibre is exposed for skin contact with part of a wearer's foot than with other parts of the wearer's skin while the sock is being worn.
14. A sock according toy preceding claim wherein the fibre is incorporated into at least alternate courses of the knit throughout an area in the sock.
15. A sock according to any preceding claim wherein the fibre is omitted from at least alternate courses of the knit throughout an area in the sock that comprises the laid-in fibre.
16. A sock according to any preceding claim wherein the fibre is incorporated into every course of the knit throughout an area in the sock.
17. A sock according to claim 16 wherein the fibre is incorporated into every course of the knit throughout an area in the sock that tices part of a wearer's foot when the sock is being worn.
18. A sock according to any preceding claim wherein the fibre is laid in along a course of the knit so that, inside the sock, the fibre overlies a majority of stitches along the course.
19. A sock according to claim 18 wherein the fibre overlies at least three out of thur stitches along a course of the knit.
20. A sock according to claim 19 wherein the fibre overlies thur out of five stitches along a course of the knit.
21. A sock according to any preceding claim wherein the knitted fabric of the main portion comprises a ticing yarn and a backing yam.
22. A sock according to any preceding claim wherein the knitted fabric of the heel and/or the toe is formed of a facing yarn and a backing yarn.
23. A sock according to any preceding claim wherein the facing yarn comprises one or more of: cotton, wool, acrylic, polyester, nylon, and viscose.
24. A sock according to any preceding claim wherein the backing yarn comprises one or more of polyamide, polyester, and elastane.
25. A sock according to any preceding claim wherein the sock is knitted in a single continuous process.
26. A sock according to any preceding claim wherein the fibre is formed of silicone.
27. A sock according to any preceding claim wherein the fibre is an extruded silicone filament.
28. A sock according to any preceding claim wherein the fibre comprises a grip-enhancing texture.
29. A sock according to any preceding claim wherein the main portion comprises a IS leg section of the sock.
30. A sock according to any preceding claim wherein the fibre is laid in within a leg section of the sock.
31. A knitted sock substantially as herein described with reference to the appended figures.
32. A tight-fitting knitted garment comprising a facing yarn and, as a laid-in yarn, a silicone fibre arranged to be in contact with a wearer's skin while the garment is being worn.
33. A garment according to claim 32 wherein the laid-in fibre is an extruded silicone filament.
34. A garment according to daim 32 or claim 33 wherein the fibre is laid in throughout a circumference of the inside of the garment.
35. A garment according to any one of claims 32 to 34 wherein the fibre is laid in so that, on an inside face of the garment, a major proportion of the fibre overlies the other yarn(s) of the knitted fabric.
36. A garment according to any one of claims 32 to 35 wherein the fibre is laid in so that, on an inside face of the garment, the fibre overlies a backing yarn of the knitted fabric.
37. A garment according to any one of claims 32 to 36 wherein the fibre is laid in so that, on an inside face of the garment, the fibre protrudes further than the other yarn(s) of the knitted fabric.
38. A garment according to any one of claims 32 to 37 wherein the fibre, along a major proportion of its length, is exposed for contact with a wearer's skin.
39. A garment according to any one of claims 32 to 38 wherein the fibre is laid in so that, along a substantial proportion of its length, it is held in direct contact with a wearer's skin while the garment is being worn.
40. A garment according to any one of claims 32 to 39 wherein patterns of laying in the fibre differ between respective areas in the garment that each comprise the laid-in fibre.
41. A garment according to claim 40 wherein a greater proportion of the fibre is exposed for skin contact within certain areas in the garment than within other areas in the garment that comprise the laid-in fibre.
42. A garment according to any one of claims 32 to 41 wherein the fibre is incorporated into at least alternate courses of the knit throughout an area in the garment.
43, A garment according to any one of claims 32 to 42 wherein the fibre is omitted from at least alternate courses of the knit throughout a laid-in area in the garment.
44. A garment according to any one of claims 32 to 43 wherein the fibre is incorporated into every course of the knit throughout an area in the garment.
45. A garment according to any one of claims 32 to 44 wherein the fibre is laid in along a course ofthe knit so that, inside the garment, the fibre overlies a majority of stitches along the course.
46. A garment according to claim 45 wherein the fibre overlies at least three out of four stitches along a course of the knit.
47. A garment according to claim 46 wherein the fibre overlies four out of five stitches along a course of the knit.
48. A garment according to any one of claims 32 to 47 wherein the garment is knitted in a single continuous process.
49. A garment according to any one of claims 32 to 48 wherein the knitted fabric comprises a backing yarn, such as an elasticated backing yarn.
50, A garment according to claim 49 wherein the backing yarn comprises one or more of polyamide, polyester, and elastane.
51. A garment according to any one of claims 32 to 50 wherein the facing yarn comprises one or more of: cotton, wool, acrylic, polyester, nylon, and viscose.
52. A tight-fitting knitted garment substantially as herein described with reference to the appended figures.