ATHLETIC SOCK OR ATHLETIC BANDAGE

Abstract

An athletic sock or bandage made of a base textile comprises a tubular stocking leg having a collar, on which compression elements are arranged over the course of the stocking leg, which have a structure, yarn thickness, or yarn material differing from the base textile. At least two opposing helices are used as the compression elements, which are embodied circumferentially around the stocking leg from the foot arch in the direction of the collar, and which cross at least once and are connected to the base textile in that the knitting pattern or the yarn of the helices is fastened to the base textile to provide stabilizing support. At least one additional cushion is formed on the base textile on a front side of the athletic sock or bandage along a shin region, which protrudes from the collar to a foot arch and at least partially overlaps the crossing helices.

Claims

1. An athletic sock or athletic bandage made of a warp knit or weft knit base textile, having a tubular stocking leg extending from a stocking collar to a foot arch region, on which compression means are arranged over the course of the stocking leg, which have a structure, yarn thickness, or yarn material differing from the base textile, wherein at least two opposing helices are used as the compression means, which are embodied circumferentially around the stocking leg from the foot arch region in the direction of the stocking collar, and which cross at least once and are connected to the base textile in that the knitting pattern or the yarn of the helices is fastened to the base textile, wherein at least one additional cushion is knitted into the base textile on a front side of the athletic sock or the athletic bandage along a shin region, which protrudes from the stocking collar to a foot arch region and at least partially overlaps the circumferential crossing helices or replaces them along its extension on the front side.

2. The athletic sock or athletic bandage as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of additional cushions are arranged on a rear side of the athletic sock or the athletic bandage between the helices along a calf region on the base textile between crossing points of the helices.

3. The athletic sock or athletic bandage as claimed in claim 1, wherein both helices have more than 1.5 full turns, in particular more than two full turns, over the course around the stocking leg.

4. The athletic sock or athletic bandage as claimed in claim 1, wherein both helices have different pitch heights, as the height during a full turn of each helix, along their course.

5. The athletic sock or athletic bandage as claimed in claim 1, wherein both helices have more than three crossing points along their courses.

6. The athletic sock or athletic bandage as claimed in claim 1, wherein a pitch height, as the height during a full revolution of each helix, corresponds to at least one-fourth of the length between the edge of the stocking collar and the lower edge of an end of the stocking leg or the stocking sole opposite to the stocking collar.

7. The athletic sock or athletic bandage as claimed in claim 1, wherein both helices begin at a common starting point.

8. The athletic sock or athletic bandage as claimed in claim 1, wherein both helices end in a common end point.

9. An athletic sock or athletic bandage made of a warp knit or weft knit base textile, having a tubular stocking leg extending from a stocking collar to a foot arch region, on which compression means are arranged over the course of the stocking leg, which have a structure, yarn thickness, or yarn material differing from the base textile, wherein at least two opposing helices are used as the compression means, which are embodied circumferentially around the stocking leg from the foot arch region in the direction of the stocking collar, and which cross at least once and are connected to the base textile in that the knitting pattern or the yarn of the helices is fastened to the base textile, wherein a plurality of additional cushions is arranged distributed on a rear side of the athletic sock or the athletic bandage along a calf region between the helices along the calf region on the base textile between crossing points of the helices.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] A preferred exemplary embodiment of the subject matter of the invention is described hereinafter in conjunction with the appended drawings.

[0015] FIG. 1 shows a perspective schematic view of an athletic sock, on the basis of the example of a compression stocking having compression means from the front, while

[0016] FIG. 1b shows a 3D illustration according to FIG. 1a with the focal point of compression means on the front and rear sides and

[0017] FIGS. 1c to 1g show schematic views of various compression stockings having different numbers of, or differently arranged, compression means.

[0018] FIG. 2a shows a view of a compression stocking having compression means and additional cushions in the worn state, drawn over a lower leg, while

[0019] FIG. 2b shows a compression stocking according to FIG. 2a in the flatly designed non-worn state after removal from the warp knitting or weft knitting machine.

DESCRIPTION

[0020] In the following, an athletic sock 1 is described as an example on the basis of the example of an athletic sock 1 or compression stocking 1 made of a base textile, preferably for the use of a user during athletic activity, during which longer stockings or knee stockings are worn.

[0021] The compression stocking 1 or the base textile is produced from a warp knit or weft knit textile and comprises here a supporting envelope made of a warp knit base textile 10. From a stocking collar 11, the compression stocking 1 extends in a stocking leg 12, which forms a calf region 120 and an ankle region 121. The calf region 120 and the angle region 121 are each at the height of the corresponding foot regions when the compression stocking 1 of a user is worn. On the side of the stocking leg 12 facing away from the stocking collar 11, a foot arch region 14, a toe region 16, a stocking sole 15, and a heel region 13 adjoin, wherein all compression stocking parts form a compression stocking 1, which encloses a lower leg and is closed toward the stocking sole 15. However, compression stockings 1 which are open on the side opposite to the stocking collar 11 would also be conceivable.

[0022] The compression stocking 1 is preferably produced in one piece as much as possible from a warp knit base textile on a knitting machine. However, multiple knitted parts can also be produced and subsequently connected to form a compression stocking 1. The schematic view according to FIG. 1a is shown from the direction of a textile front side S, while a textile rear side R is partially concealed. A central extension line of the compression stocking 1 is indicated by a dashed line here, which extends through the middle of the textile front side S from the foot arch region 14 to the stocking collar 11. The stocking collar 11 is typically produced in a knitting pattern and/or yarn differing from the warp knit base textile 10.

[0023] The compression stockings described here are advantageously usable in the field of winter sports, sport hunting, or other activities during which longer or knee stockings are advantageous. A compression effect and a muscle-supporting effect are continuously achieved. The stability of the lower leg in the compression stocking 1, and thus the performance of the foot, are improved by the muscle-supporting effect. In spite of the use of such compression means 2, the blood circulation is not disadvantageously changed, since sufficiently many regions of the lower leg are still compressed little or not at all.

[0024] Compression means 2 are arranged along the compression stocking 1. These compression means 2 are designed here in the form of multiple opposing helices 20, 21 or spirals, which enclose the stocking leg 12 in a left-handed or right-handed manner. The helices 20, 21 are wound circumferentially around the stocking leg 12 in the direction of the stocking collar 11 at least from the ankle region 120 and cross at least once.

[0025] The compression means 2 are preferably formed by at least two helices 20, 21 crossing multiple times having different turn directions, as shown here.

[0026] In addition to an increased compression effect, a muscle-supporting or holding effect could also be achieved here. The helices 20, 21 are preferably embodied with warp knit or weft knit textile differing from the warp knit base textile 10 or comprise a different material than the yarn of the warp knit base textile 10.

[0027] FIG. 1b shows a compression stocking 1, which comprises along its outer circumference along the stocking leg 12 a first helix 20, which is left-handed here, and a second helix 21, which is embodied right-handed here. The different circumferential directions of the turns are marked by arrows.

[0028] Although the stocking leg 12 is not cylindrical, but rather conical, the term helix is used here since the compression means 2 turn like a spiral, curved around the approximately cylindrical stocking leg 12. Each helix 20, 21 starts respectively from a starting point A and encloses the stocking leg 12 here approximately two times until an end point E. Along the helices 20, 21, the turns thus cross twice at a first crossing point S1 and a second crossing point S2. The crossing points S1, S2 are arranged here on the textile front side S and are located along the central extension line of the compression stocking 1. Due to the different turn directions of the helices 20, 21, the two helices also accordingly cross at two crossing points on the textile rear side R.

[0029] To achieve a compression, as is known in the field of the compression means on the basis of the warp knit textiles to a person skilled in the art, the helices 20, 21 are defined by different yarns, yarn thicknesses, formed or fastened protrusions, and/or suitable knitting patterns and have a band-like character. The helices 20, 21 are incorporated directly during the production of the compression stocking 1 here into the warp knit base textile 10, for example by a knitting machine.

[0030] In modifications, more than two helices 20, 21 can be used, of which only some are opposing and can be arranged offset in the longitudinal direction of the stocking leg 12. Thus, one left-handed and n (n>1) right-handed helices or vice versa could be arranged offset in the longitudinal direction.

[0031] In general, the various helices 20, 21 can each originate from the same starting point A and/or end at the same end point E.

[0032] It is advantageous if both helices 20, 21 or all helices have more than 1.5 full turns, in particular more than two full turns around the stocking leg 12. The muscle fixing effect is thus enhanced.

[0033] The blood flow through the veins back to the heart is assisted and the lower leg muscles are fixed by the helices 20, 21, whereby the stability of the lower leg is enhanced.

[0034] The slopes of the helices 20, 21 can be made identical or slightly differing. The pitch height, as the height of a full turn of a helix around the stocking leg 12, can accordingly be designed identically or slightly differing, wherein multiple crossing points of the helices 20, 21 are supposed to occur. If the pitch height corresponds to at least one-fourth of the length between the edge of the stocking collar 11 and the lower edge of the stocking sole 15, an optimum supporting effect can unfold with optimum compression effect simultaneously.

[0035] A very good supporting effect is achieved if the at least two helices 20, 21 have more than two crossing points S1 along their courses, wherein the crossing points S1 can be arranged on the textile front side S and/or the textile rear side R.

[0036] Since the radius of curvature of the stocking leg 12 is not constant due to the slight conicity of the stocking leg 12, the curvature of the helices 20, 21 is also not constant. During production of a compression stocking on a knitting machine, the selected knitting pattern of the warp knit base textile 10 and the warp knit textile can be adapted accordingly in the region of the helices 20, 21, however.

[0037] As shown in the compression stockings 1 according to FIGS. 1c to 1g, two helices 20, 21 can be arranged crossing on the textile front side S and the textile rear side R or three helices 20, 20′, 21, 21′ are selected circumferentially around the shaft 12, as shown in FIGS. 1d and 1e, wherein the helices intersect on the inner side or the outer side of the leg 12. Optionally, four helices can also be selected, of which two pairs each cross, as shown in FIGS. 1f and 1g, wherein crossing points can also be arranged on the textile front side S and/or textile rear side R and/or the leg inner side and/or the leg outer side.

[0038] A compression stocking 1 is shown in FIG. 2a, which in addition to the above-described embodiment of the circumferential compression means 2, comprises additional cushions P, P′, P″, P′″, wherein optionally at least one additional cushion is fastened or formed on the warp knit base textile 10 or is integrated into the warp knit base textile 10. Two cushions P are attached in the region of the foot arch region 14 of the compression stocking 1 here. However, cushions P′ along the calf region 120, cushions P″ in the ankle region 121, and/or cushions P′″ in the region of the shin are also appropriate for use in the athletic field. A partially planar pressure is additionally generated by the cushions P, P′, P″, P′″.

[0039] The cushion P′″ is preferably arranged along a front side of the compression stocking 1, a shin region here, from the stocking collar 11 to the foot arch region 14 protruding on the warp knit base textile 10. The cushion P′″ can overlap the circumferential compression means 2, so that the crossing helices 20, 21 are not recognizable in the shin region, since they are covered by the cushion P′″. The compression effect of the helices 20, 21 is also additionally strengthened by this cushion P′″.

[0040] In a view according to FIG. 2b of a compression stocking 1 in the folded state, three crossing points S1, S2, S3 are visible on the textile front side S here along the intersecting helices 20, 21. The helices 20, 21 are arranged above the cushion P and the foot arch region 14 extending in the direction of stocking collar 11, wherein the helices 20, 21 do not penetrate into the stocking collar 11. The stocking collar 11 is embodied having a different knitting pattern and/or a different colored yarn than the warp knit base textile 10.

[0041] Multiple cushions P′ are preferably distributed between the intersecting helices 20, 21 in the calf region 120, i.e., arranged between the crossing points of the helices 20, 21.

[0042] The design of the helices 20, 21 is embodied band-shaped here, wherein the thickness varies along the turns. However, it is also possible to embody a constant thickness in the entire turn course. The helices 20, 21 are embodied having a different structure, i.e., preferably having a knitting pattern differing from the warp knit base textile 10. A different yarn, in particular a thicker and/or more flexible yarn, can optionally be selected for the helices 20, 21 than for the warp knit base textile 10. Ribbed structures in the longitudinal direction of the helices 20, 21 or perpendicular thereto can be selected along the helices 20, 21, whereby the compression means 2 can strongly increase the pressure locally on the uppermost skin layer. Since due to the use of warp knit textiles, which generally have a high degree of elasticity, an elastic warp knit base textile and elastic helices 20, 21 are producible, the use of flexible yarn is not absolutely necessary, but is possible. The circumference of the helices 20, 21 can preferably be embodied at the height of the ankle, i.e., enclosing the joint regions 121, of the lower leg of the wearer. An increased support then takes place in the region of the ankle.

[0043] Instead of a compression stocking 1, an athletic sock 1 according to the invention having a tubular leg 12 is also used as a bandage for the region of the elbow or knee joints. The leg 12 comprises at least one first side, instead of a stocking sole 15, and a collar 11 on the opposite side. The tubular leg 12 accordingly extends between this first side and the stocking sole 15. The at least two helices 20, 21 are arranged circumferentially around the leg 12 and crossing at least once, wherein the helices 20, 21 are connected to the base textile 10, having a different knitting pattern or different yarn than the base textile 10. The helices 20, 21 are preferably exclusively arranged extending along the length of the athletic sock 1 or the athletic bandage between the foot arch region 14 and a knee region.

[0044] The helices 20, 21 have a different knitting pattern and/or different yarn, which are fastened, in particular fastened by knitting, on the base textile 10. The compression means 20, 21 are preferably also warp knitted or weft knitted in during the warp knitting or weft knitting process of the base textile 10, so that the leg 12 forms a closed tubular envelope. If the athletic textile 1 is embodied as a bandage, a first side is then provided opposite to the collar 11 instead of a stocking sole 15. The leg 12 then extends between the first side and the collar 11 and the compression means 2 extend along the leg 12. The cushions P, P′, P″, P′″ are also knitted into the base textile 10 and are located isolated or congruently adjacent to the helices 20, 21 or overlap them. The cushions P, P′, P″, P′″ can be produced from thicker yarn, a special knitting pattern, and/or a mixture thereof. The supporting effect of the helices 20, 21 is optimized accordingly by the cushions.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0045] 1 athletic sock or athletic bandage/compression stocking made of base textile [0046] 10 base textile/warp knit base textile/weft knit base textile (first knitting pattern) [0047] 11 collar/stocking collar, elastically knitted [0048] 12 leg/stocking leg [0049] 120 calf region [0050] 121 joint region/ankle region [0051] 13 heel region [0052] 14 foot arch region [0053] 15 stocking sole [0054] 16 total region [0055] S textile front side [0056] R textile rear side [0057] 2 compression means (helices here, at least two helices) [0058] 20 first helix [0059] 21 second helix [0060] A starting point [0061] S1, S2, S3 crossing points [0062] E end point [0063] P cushion