US2623374A

US2623374A - Article of hosiery

Info

Publication number: US2623374A
Application number: US233343A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jane K Hinchman
Original assignee: INTERWOVEN STOCKING CO
Current assignee: INTERWOVEN STOCKING CO
Priority date: 1951-06-25
Filing date: 1951-06-25
Publication date: 1952-12-30
Anticipated expiration: 1969-12-30

Description

Dec. 30, 1952 J. K. HINCHMAN 2,623,374

ARTICLE 0F HOSIERY Filed June 25, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET l HTTO/WVEY Dec. 30, 1952 J. K. HlNcl-IMAN 2,523,374

oF HosIERY Filed June 25, 1951 2 sHEETs--SHEET 2 T TURA/EY Patented Dec. 30, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12,623,374 ARTICLE F HOSIERY Jens `Hin,clnmalt Columbus, Ohio, assignvr t9 interwoven 'Stocking Company, yNew Brunswick, "N271 la corporation of New Jersey Application June `25, 1951i, HSerial No. `233,343 warms (G1Va- 1an The present invention srelates to knitted articles of footwear and particularly to socks ntended for sport and ,zinformal wear.

Women who play golfer tennis, or who engage actively inothersports. `have found that, if they Wear the usualshort socks or anklets, the `calves of their Alegs become tanned While their ankles stay White, being coveredby the socks. ",1`heren sulting contrast between the tanned and untanned portions of the legs presents an unattractive appearance at times when the legs are bare or when sheer stockings are Worn. While stocking feet are available which are intended to be worn inside the shoes and have no leg 0I ankle portion, these have been found unsatisfactory for sportswear since the ,heel portions of such stocking feet tend to Work down and become uncomfortable. An effort has been made .to overcome this tendency by stiiiening the heel portions of such stocking feet but the stiiiening material renders the stocking feet uncomfortable and also interferes with laundering.

It is an object of the present invention to `overcome these objections and provide socks which cover only the portions of the `feet that are inside the shoes, leaving the ankles Well as the calves bare, and which, at the same time, resist the tendency of t-he heel portions to slip down despite the activity incidental to sportswear. In accordance with the invention, thesock comprises a sole portion, a toe portion and a heel portion having substantially the same height as the ,heel portions of the shoes with which the socks are to be worn and a heel tabwhich projects upwardly from the back ofthe heel portion of the sock with a fold line provided between the tab and the heel `portion vfor-,folding the Vtab down over the outside of the heel portion of the shoe. The tab is formed of heavier fabric than other pore tions of the sockinorderto havesuflicient weight or body to stay neatly in place and to prevent the heel portion of the sock from working down. Thus, in the preferred. embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, the tabs are` formed of rib knit vfabric v while other portions of the sock are -io-rmed of plainknitiabric. The line of transition -from plain fabric to rib `fabric provides aiold line whichfacilitates vfoldingthe tab down over the outside of the heel portion of the shoe and cooperates with the tab in keeping the heel portionl of `lther sock -irom .slipping down.. Heavier yarn canbelusedinltlietab togive it additional body and weight. Yarnchanges may also be made to providedemcorative effects in the tabportion.

The nature `and advantages of the invention will be more fully 4underStQod from the following description of preferred embodiments `nf `the invention shown by Way of example in the accompanying drawings, lin which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a `knitted article in accordance with the invention shown in position on the wearers foot with the heel tab projecting upwardly before it has nbeen `folded dov/n.

Fig. 2 is a perspective View showing the heel tab folded `down over the outside of the heel portion of the shoe.

Fig. 3l is a side elevation ci the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 with portions of the heel and. ofthe sock broken away and shown in section.

Fig. 4 is anenlarged `stitch diagram of a smail portion of the fabric at the junction of the heel portion and the tab, the fabric being shown from the outside with the heel tab projecting upward- 1y, as shown in Fig. l.

Figs. 5 and 6 are stitch .diagrams similar to Fig. 4 but showing modifications.

Fig. '7 is a rear elevation showing a further modi-cation of the heel tab.

The knitted article of footwear shown in Figs. 1 to 4, which, for convenience, is herein referred to Va-s a s-ock,'- comprises a foot portion l2 having a toe portion i3, a heel portion le, a sole portion vI5 and sideportions I6 extending from the toe portion to the heel portion and instep portiony l1 that extends part `way from the toe portion to theheel portion, the remainder oi the top of the article being open. IIhe height of the heel portion `I4 is substantially equal to the height of the heel portion of a shoe with which the soci: is to be worn such as the shoe illustrated at' It in Figs. 2 and 3. The height of the side portions i6 and the length of the Vinstep portion H are such that the portions of the foot covered by the sock are substantially cc-extensive with the portions enclosed in the shoe, although, preferably, the edges of the side portions I6 and the instep portion l1 are usufliciently inside the shoe that they are not visible.

`In Vaccordance with the invention, the sock is provided with a tab 2i) that `extends upwardly from the heel portion 1 4 with a fold line 2| provided between the heel portion and the tab for folding `the tab dovvnover the outside of the heel portion of the shoe, as illustrated in Fig. 2. ils illustrated in the drawings, the `tab 2o is formed of rib knitr fabric whilethe other portions ofthe sock are formedof plain knit fabric. This gives thetab greater weight `or body so that when it is turned Vdown outside the heel portion of the shoe I8, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, it will be lie neatly in place to present an attractive appearance and to hold the heel portion I4 from slipping down. The line of transition between the plain knit heel portion I4 and the rib knit tab portion 2B provides a natural fold line 2l which facilitates folding the tab down and cooperates with the tab in keeping the heel portion I4 smooth and in place. The rib knit structure of the tab portion 20 provides an inherent stiffness in a longitudinal direction. This stiffness, in cooperation with the fold line 2l, holds the tab against being drawn up over the edge of the shoe and down into the inside of the heel portion of the shoe by the tendency of the heel portion of the sock to work down. This tendency is thereby inhibited and the heel portion of the sock is kept smooth and free from Wrinkles. a The height of the heel portion I4 is substantially the sameas that of the heel portion of the shoe so that the fold line 2l coincides with the upper edge of the shoe. The tab 20 is of such length that it turns down a substantial distance over the back of the shoe but does not touch the ground. For example, the length of the tab 26 should be at least one-half the height of the heel portion I4 and not greater than the height of the heel portion.

Asmall portion of the fabric, including adjacent portions of the heel portion Ill and tab 20, is shown diagrammatically in Fig. 4. In this figure, the courses of the fabric have been designated by the letters a to g while the needle wales have been numbered I to 6. Courses a, b, c and d are rib knit courses with wales I, 2, 5 and 6 in these courses formed of outwardly facing stitches (as viewed in Fig. 4) and Wales 3 and 4 formed of inwardly facing stitches. These courses comprise a portion of the tab 20. It will be understood that, when the tab is folded down, this portion of the fabric is reversed. Courses, e, f and g are plain knit courses formed wholly of outwardly facing stitches. These courses comprise a part of the heel portion I4. The transition from rib Yto plain knit fabric provides a natural fold line between courses d and e. Since the upper edge of the shoe has thickness, the fold in actual practice is usually distributed over two or more courses. Because of the greater walewise stiffness and body of the rib knit tab portion 20, the folding occurs at the junction of the rib knit fabric with the plain fabric and in the adjacent courses of the plain fabric.

The sock in accordance with the present invention may be produced on a full-fashioned knitting machine with toe sutures and a heel structure characteristic of full-fashioned hosiery.

Preferably, however, it is produced on a coaxial cylinder circular knitting machine so as to provide a seamless article having both plain knit and rib knit portions. The machine is operated by reciprocation while knitting the tab portion 2U, heel portion I4, the rearward portion of the sole I5 together with side portions I6 and the toe pocket I3. The forward portion of the sole I5 and instep portion I 'I are produced simultaneously by circular knitting. The sock thus produced has characteristic heel gores 22, toe gores 23 and looper line 24. The upper edge 25 of the tab is finished to prevent unraveling, for example by means of a suitable Welt. The side edges 26 of the tab 20 and the upper edges 21 of the side portions I6 are selvage edges produced by reciprocation of the circular knitting machine. The edge 28 of the instep portion Il is also suitably finished, for example by Welting or overstitching. If overstitching or other edging is used, it may, if desired, be extended along part or all of the other edges of the sock.

While the tab portion 20 might, if desired, be formed of 1 x 1 rib fabric, it has been found preferable to use broader rib, such as the 2 x2 rib illustrated in Fig. 4. In a further embodiment, illustrated in Fig. 5, the tab is formed of 4 x 2 rib fabric. Thus, in courses a, b, c and d (Fig. 5), which represent the lowermost courses of the tab 20, wales l, 2, 'I and 8 are formed of outwardly facing stitches while

wales

3, 4, 5 and 6 are formed of inwardly facing stitches, it being understood thatthe fabric is reversed when the tab is folded down. Courses e and f are plain knit courses'which are followed by four courses, g, h,

e z and i, formed of 1 x 1 rib knitting. Courses lc, l,

' of rib fabric and partly of another.

etc. are plain knit courses of the heel portion I4. The two plain knit courses e and f provide a fold line between the 4 x 2 rib knit courses a, b, c, d and the section formed by the four 1 x 1 rib knit courses g, h, i and y. A second fold line is provided at the transition from the 1 x 1 rib knit section and the plain knit fabric of the heel portion represented by courses lc and l. The provision of two or more fold lines makes it possible to wear the same sock with shoes having heel portions of different heights. Moreover, 'it has been f-ound that, by interposing plain knit courses e and f between preceding and following rib knit courses, a particularly sharp and well defined fold line is provided. i

Fig. 6 illustrates still another fabric structure. Courses a, b, c and d, representing courses of the tab 2i), are formed of 5 X 3 rib fabric. Course e is formed wholly of outwardly facing stitches while the next course, f, is formed wholly o-f inwardly facing stitches. This, in turn, is followed by another course, y, formed wholly of outwardly facing stitches. The back portion of the heel, as represented by courses h, i, y', k and Z, is formed of mock rib fabric. In courses h, i and l, the yarn is knit at every Wale with double length loops in alternate wales 2, S, etc. In the intervening courses, i and lc, the yarn is knit only at alternate wal-es I, 3, 5, etc., being oated behind the longer loops of the next preceding courses in

wales

2, 4, 6, etc. This mock rib effect may be continued as far as desired down the back of the heel, the remaining portion of the heel and the rest of the foot portion being plain knit. Y

Fig. 7 shows another embodiment of my invention, in which the rib knit tab portion 2U is formed with a Links-Links pattern 3i] by selectively knitting inwardly facing stitches and outwardly facing stitches in the respective wales of successive courses. While several species of rib knit fabric have been shown in the drawings, including the Links-Links fabric of Fig, 7, it will be understood that still other rib combinations can be used in the tab portion and, moreover, that the tab can be made partly of one species Moreover, the several features of the embodiments shown and described are mutually interchangeable.

The sock in accordance with the present invention is intended primarily for sports or informal wear. It is accordingly of coarser gauge and is knitwith heavier yarn than would be employed for stockings or stocking feet intended for dress wear. Thus, for example, the fabric of the article of footwear in accordance with the present invention should preferably be of the order of 18l gauge and should -be knit of yarn corresponding approximately to one end of #12 wool yarn. If it is desired to use somewhat lighter yarn in the foot portion of the sock, the yarn of which the tab 20 is knit should be knit of heavier yarn in order to form a fabric of sufficient weight and body to keep the tab portion neatly in place. In knitting the article, yarn changes may be made as desired, for example, to use heavier yarn in the tab portion than in other portions of the sock or to have different portions of the tab knit of different colored yarns to provide a variety of different color effects and patterns. It will be understood that still other modifications may be made Within the scope of the appended claims.

While the article of the present invention is shown by way of example in conjunction with a closed type shoe, it can, of course, be Worn with open shoes if desired, providing there is a heel or heel strap over which the tab can be turned down.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A knitted article of footwear adapted to be worn inside a shoe having a heel portion, comprising a toe portion, a heel portion, a sole portion and side portions extending from the toe portion to the heel portion, an instep portion extending part way from the toe portion to the heel portion, the remainder of the top of the article being open, and a heel tab projecting upwardly from the rear part of the heel portion with a fold line between the tab and the heel portion for folding said tab down over the outside of the heel portion of the shoe, said tab being formed of heavier fabric than other portions of the article.

2. A knitted article of footwear adapted to be worn inside a shoe having a heel portion, comprising a toe portion, a heel portion having substantially the same height as that of the shoe with which the article is to be worn, a sole portion and side portions extending from the toe portion to the heel portion, an instep portion extending part way from the toe portion to the heel portion, the remainder of the top of the article being open, and a heel tab projecting up from the rear part of the heel portion, with a fold line between the tab and the heel portion for folding said tab down over the outside of the 6 heel portion of the shoe, said tab being formed of rib knit fabric, while other portions of the article are formed of plain knit fabric.

3. An article according to claim 2, in which the tab portion is formed of broad rib fabric.

4. An article according to claim 2, in which the tab portion is formed of Links-Links fabric.

5. A knitted article of footwear adapted to be worn inside a shoe having a heel portion, comprising a toe portion, a heel portion having substantially the same height as that of the shoe with which the article is to be worn, a sole portion and side portions extending from the toe portion to the heel portion, an instep portion extending part way from the toe portion to the heel portion, the remainder of the top of the article being open, and a heel tab projecting upwardly from the heel portion, with a fold line between the tab and the heel portion for folding the tab down outside the heel portion of the shoe, said tab being formed of rib knit fabric and said fold line comprising successive courses of stitches drawn to opposite sides of the fabric.

6. A knitted article of footwear adapted to be worn inside a shoe having a heel portion, comprising a toe portion, a heel portion having substantially the same height as that of the shoe, a sole portion extending between the toe portion and the heel portion, the upper part of the article being open, and a heel tab projecting upwardly from the back of the heel portion, with a fold line between the tab and the heel portion for folding the tab down over the outside of the heel portion of the shoe, said tab being formed of rib knit fabric, While other portions of the article are formed of plain knit fabric.

JANE K. HINCHMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,544,934 Prankard July '7, 1925 1,936,064 Mills Nov. 21, 1933 2,001,293 Wilson May 14, 1935 2,400,692 Herbert May 21, 1946