FOOTLET AS WELL AS METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SUCH A FOOTLET

Abstract

A footlet provided with a part manufactured on an apparatus for reciprocating knitting by knitting. The part comprises a ring-shaped opening limited by an edge and an elastic strip extending along the edge of the opening. The elastic strip comprises an elastic tape attached to the edge of the knitted part by an adhesive. During applying the elastic strip the knitted part of the ring-shaped opening is cut off at least partly along the edge so that a lateral side of the elastic strip almost coincides with a lateral side of the edge of the ring-shaped opening.

Claims

1. A footlet provided with a part manufactured on an apparatus for reciprocating knitting by knitting that comprises a ring-shaped opening limited by an edge and an elastic strip extending along the edge of the opening, wherein the elastic strip comprises an elastic tape attached to the edge of the knitted part by an adhesive, the knitted part during applying of the elastic strip being cut off at least partly along the edge of the ring-shaped opening so that a lateral side of the elastic strip almost coincides with a lateral side of the edge of the ring-shaped opening.

2. The footlet of claim 1, wherein the knitted part comprises a heel part, a toe part and a middle part located between the heel part and the toe part, which middle part comprises sides extending on both sides between the heel part and the toe part, the edge limiting the opening comprises an edge of the toe part, edges of both lateral sides of the middle part and an edge of the heel part.

3. The footlet of claim 2, wherein the elastic strap extends almost along the entire edge of the toe part, middle part and the heel part of the knitted part.

4. The footlet of claim 1, wherein the knitted part comprises a toe part, the edge limiting the opening comprising a circular edge of the toe part.

5. The footlet of claim 2, wherein the knitted part is knitted seamlessly.

6. The footlet of claim 2, wherein ends of the elastic strip overlap and are attached to each other with an adhesive.

7. The footlet of claim 1, wherein the elastic strip is manufactured of a material, which material itself comprises anti-slip features.

8. The footlet of claim 7, wherein the material comprises silicones.

9. The footlet of claim 2, wherein the elastic strip is attached to the knitted part by hot-melt as adhesive.

10. The footlet of claim 2, wherein the elastic strip has a width of 5-15 millimetres, preferably 5-10 millimetres and even more preferably about 5 millimetres.

11. The footlet of claim 1, wherein the elastic strip is provided with passages.

12. A method for manufacturing a footlet according to claim 1, a knitted part being manufactured with an apparatus for reciprocating knitting, which knitted part comprises a ring-shaped opening limited by an edge and an elastic strip extending along the edge of the opening, wherein the elastic strip comprises an elastic tape, which elastic tape is attached to an edge of the knitted part with an adhesive and the knitted part along the edge of the ring-shaped opening during applying of the elastic strip is cut off at least partly so that a lateral side of the elastic strip almost coincides with a lateral side of the edge of the ring-shaped opening.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the knitted part is knitted seamlessly.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein ends of the elastic strip overlap and are attached to each other with an adhesive.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the elastic strip is attached at the knitted part by holt-melt as adhesive.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] The invention will now be explained with the figure, in which

[0042] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the footlet according to the invention;

[0043] FIG. 2 is an enlarged detail III of an edge of the footlet of FIG. 1;

[0044] FIG. 3 is a side view of the footlet of FIG. 1 applied around the foot of a person;

[0045] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the footlet according to the invention;

[0046] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the footlet according to the invention;

[0047] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the footlet according to the invention;

[0048] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the footlet according to the invention;

[0049] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the footlet according to the invention.

[0050] Corresponding parts have been given the same reference numerals in the figures.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0051] FIG. 1 shows a footlet 1 according to the invention provided with a knitted part 2 and an elastic strip 3. The knitted part 2 is manufactured by an apparatus for reciprocating knitting by only reciprocating knitting. As a result a seamless knitted part 2 is obtained. The seamless knitted part 2 is provided with a heel part 4, a middle part 6 connected by knitting formed lines 5 with heel part 4 and a toe part 8 connected by knitting formed lines 7 with the middle part 6. By increasing and diminishing during reciprocating knitting the desired form of the knitted part 2 can be obtained. The middle part 6 comprises sides 9, 10 extending on both sides between the heel part 4 and the toe part 6. The sides 9, 10 are attached to each other by the sides 11, 12 of the heel part 4 and the toe part 8. After manufacturing of the seamlessly knitted part 2, an elastic tape 14 is attached with an adhesive along the four sides 9-12, a first end 15 extending further than a second end 16 so that the ends 15, 16 overlap over a part 17. The ends 15, 16 are attached to each other with the same adhesive as with which the elastic tape 14 is attached to the seamlessly knitted part 2. Preferably during attaching the elastic tape 14 with the adhesive the seamlessly knitted part 2 is cut off along an external lateral side 18 of the elastic tape 14 so that the lateral side 18 of the elastic tape 14 coincides with the seamlessly knitted part 2 formed by the sides 9-12. One can use one single apparatus with which the elastic strip can be applied as well as at the same time the knitted part can be cut off along the edge. The lateral side 18 limits an opening 19 through which a foot in the footlet 1 can be inserted. This is clearly visible in FIG. 2. In this FIG. 2 it is also clearly visible that with this the knitted part is cut. Because the elastic tape 14 is attached to the seamlessly knitted part 2 with adhesive, falling apart and/or unravelling is easily prevented. The elastic tape 14 is for example is wrapped on a roller and already provided with adhesive so that by unwinding the elastic tape 14 off the roller the side provided with adhesive can be pressed directly against the knitted part 2. The elastic tape 14 is preferably attached by hot-melt as adhesive to the seamlessly knitted part 2. Herewith the knitted part 2 is preferably turned inside out so that the elastic tape 14 van easily be attached to the side turned to the outside, while the side turned to the inside is supported by a work table. Herewith the elastic tape 14 van be pressed firmly against the side turned to the outside and at the same time the knitted part 2 and if desirable also the elastic tape 14 can be cut at the desired width. Furthermore the formed footlet 1 according to the invention will be turned back so that the formed elastic strip 3 is on the inner side of the footlet 1 that is turned to the foot 21.

[0052] The elastic tape 14 attached to the seamlessly knitted part 2 forms the elastic strip 3 of the footlet. The endless elastic strip 3 has a width B of 5-15 millimetres, preferably 5-10 millimetres and even more preferably about 5 millimetres. The thickness of the elastic strip 3 is relatively thin, for example 0.05-0.5 preferably about 0.1 millimetre, as a result of which there is no pinching between the foot 21, the elastic strip 3 of the footlet 1 and the shoe around. Comparatively, the thickness of an elastic strip knitted to the knitted part of the footlet according to the state of art is 1-2 millimetres.

[0053] FIG. 3 shows a foot 21 of a person that is provided with the footlet 1 of FIG. 1. The heel part 4 herewith lies around the heel of the foot 21. The toe part 8 lies herewith over the toes of the foot 21. The middle part 6 extends with a bottom part 22 over the lower part of the foot 21 en extends with lateral parts 23, 24 along the lateral sides of the foot 21.

[0054] The elastic strip 3 lies over the full circumference of the footlet 1 against the foot 21, as a result of which a good distribution of the pressure is acquired.

[0055] The elastic strip 3 is preferably made of a material, which material itself has anti-slip features. Such a material is for example silicones.

[0056] Although it is also possible that the elastic strip tape is made of a material that has little friction with the foot 21, in which case the footlet 1 only sticks around the foot 21 because of the elastic effect of the elastic strip 3. In case of a silicon elastic strip 3 the footlet 1 needs to be stretched considerably less to guarantee enough fixation on the foot 21 than in case of an elastic tape of a material that has less friction with the foot.

[0057] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a second embodiment of footlet 41 according to the invention. The footlet 41 comprises a seamlessly knitted part 2 and an elastic strip 43. The footlet 41 differs from the footlet 1 in that the elastic strip 43 comprises two elastic tapes 44, 45. The first tape 44 extends over a part of the side 10 of the middle part 6, the full side 11 of the heel part 4 and a part of the side 9 of the middle part 6. The second tape 45 extends over a part of the side 10 of the middle part 6, the full side 12 of the toe part 4 and a part of the side 9 of the middle part 6. Ends 46 of the first tape 44 are herewith at a distance A of a couple of millimetres of ends 47 of the second tape 45.

[0058] The elastic tapes 44, 45 are provided with passages 48 for ventilation of the skin of the foot 21. Furthermore diminish these passages 48 the needed amount of material of the elastic strips 44, 45. The shape of the passages 48 can be arbitrary.

[0059] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the third embodiment of a footlet 51 according to the invention. The footlet 51 comprises a seamlessly knitted part 52 and an elastic strip 53. The seamlessly knitted part 52 comprises a heel part 54, a middle part 56 connected by knitting formed line 55 with heel part 54 and a toe part 58 connected by knitting formed line 57 with the middle part 56. The toe part 58 is considerably longer than the heel part 54. Furthermore the opening 59 limited by the elastic strip 53 is considerably smaller than the opening 19 limited by the elastic tape 14 of the footlet 1. The footlet 51 is suitable for wearing in for example sneakers while the footlet 1 is suitable for wearing in ballerinas. When wearing footlet 1 in sneakers a part of the upper side of the foot that lies bare touches the inner side of the sneaker, what will be experienced as unpleasant. When wearing the footlet 51 in ballerinas, the upper side of the toe part 58 of the footlet 51 is visible, what will be experienced as undesired. The footlet 51 differs further from the footlet 1 in that the elastic strip 53 comprises two concentric elastic tapes 60, 61, that are at a distance C of each other. The elastic tapes 60, 61 are for example as wide as the distance C. The distance C is for example 3-5 millimetres.

[0060] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a footlet 71 according to the invention. The footlet 71 comprises a knitted part 72 and an elastic strip 73. The knitted part 72 comprises a heel part 74, a middle part 76 connected by knitting formed lines 75 with heel part 74 that is tubular at a side turned away from the heel part 74. By cutting off the tubular part 78 partially folding double and a stitch processing a toe part 79 is formed that through a seam 80 is connected to the tubular part 78. The elastic strip 73 is as well as the footlet 1 provided with an elastic tape 14 that is attached to the knitted part 52 with an adhesive.

[0061] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a footlet 81 according to the invention. The footlet 81 comprises a knitted part 82 and an elastic strip 83. The elastic strip 83 limits an opening 84 in which only the anterior part of the foot, comprising the toes and a small abutting part, can be put. The elastic strip 83 that extends along the entire circumference of the opening 84 is attached to the part 82 preferably seamlessly knitted en cut off around. The knitted part 82 comprises an anterior knitted part 85 that by knitting formed lines 86 is attached to a posterior knitted part 87.

[0062] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a footlet 91 according to the invention, that differs from the footlet 81 in that the footlet 91 is provided with a complementary elastic band 92 that can be fastened around the heel of a person. Thereby undesired coming off of the footlet 91 is further prevented.

[0063] In all footlets 1, 41, 51, 71, 81, 91 the knitted part is first manufactured so that the opening 19, 59, 84 is fully formed, after which along the edge of the opening the elastic strip is attached.

[0064] Of course it is also possible to provide the footlets 1, 41, 51, 71, 81, 91 with a double produced elastic strip 53 or the footlet 51 of the single elastic tape 14. It is also possible to construct the elastic tape of more than two parallel tracks.

[0065] It is also possible to for example apply extra anti-slip elements in the heel part.

[0066] The ends 15, 16 can be positioned on any position along the sides 9-12.

[0067] The heel part 4 en the toe part 8 can be produced identical leaving it to the user which part she wishes to use as heel part 4 and toe part 8. The heel part 4 and the toe part 8 can be produced differently, the heel part 4 being adapted to the shape of the heel of the foot 21 while the toe part 8 is adapted to the toes of the foot 21.

[0068] It is also possible that the elastic strip 3, 53, 73, 83, 92 is almost endless wherein the ends 15, 16 do not overlap but being at a relatively short distance apart. Also these elastic strips can be provided with passages 48.

[0069] The knitted part of the footlet 1, 41, 51, 71, 81 is knitted of fibres or yarns of cotton, polyamides, polypropyleen or another synthetic or another material or a combination thereof.

[0070] It is also possible to manufacture the knitted part of the footlet 1, 41, 51, 71, 81 not seamlessly. However this has the disadvantage that herewith seams are inevitable.

[0071] The material with anti-slip features is for example silicones that are sold for example by CHT, Dow Corning, Alpina or other companies, for example in the name of Alpatec. It is also possible to use other materials than silicones with anti-slip features, for example PVC, silicones free Faitplast With Me etc.

[0072] It is possible to apply the anti-slip material transparent or in a desired colour.

[0073] Instead of hot-melt also another adhesive can be applied. The cutting off can be performed with a cutting tool or laser.

LIST WITH REFERENCE SIGNS

[0074] 1 footlet [0075] 2 knitted part [0076] 3 elastic strip [0077] 4 heel part [0078] 5 lines [0079] 6 middle part [0080] 7 lines [0081] 8 toe part [0082] 9 side [0083] 10 side [0084] 11 side [0085] 12 side [0086] 14 elastic tape [0087] 15 end [0088] 16 end [0089] 17 part [0090] 18 lateral side [0091] 19 opening [0092] 20 foot [0093] 22 bottom part [0094] 23 lateral part [0095] 24 lateral part [0096] 41 footlet [0097] 43 elastic strip [0098] 44 tape [0099] 45 tape [0100] 46 ends [0101] 47 ends [0102] 48 passage [0103] 51 footlet [0104] 52 knitted part [0105] 53 elastic strip [0106] 54 heel part [0107] 55 line [0108] 56 middle part [0109] 57 lines [0110] 58 toe part [0111] 59 opening [0112] 60 tape [0113] 61 tape [0114] 71 footlet [0115] 72 knitted part [0116] 73 elastic strip [0117] 74 heel part [0118] 75 lines [0119] 76 middle part [0120] 78 tubular part [0121] 79 toe part [0122] 81 footlet [0123] 82 knitted part [0124] 83 elastic strip [0125] 84 opening [0126] 85 anterior knitted part [0127] 91 footlet [0128] 92 elastic band [0129] A distance [0130] B distance [0131] C distance