Sock with functional biomechanical, circulatory and neurological efficacy

Abstract

A sock or similar garment includes a foot part and a leg part, the foot part being designed to overlap the foot of a user and the leg part being designed to overlap at least part of the leg up to below the knee. Optionally, the foot part is closed by a toe part. The sock has, in one or more areas of its surface extension, one or more structural modification elements of at least one layer of the knitting that forms the wall of the stock. Those modification elements may be applied with different techniques, for example, printed with silk-screen, or incorporated or intertwined into or on the structure of the sock's mesh, and are configured to enhance the functionality of the leg and foot according to biomechanical, circulatory and neurological aspects, harmonizing those effects with each other, obtaining therapeutic efficacy and providing prevention and performance enhancement.

Claims

1. A sock Sock comprising: a foot part; and a leg part, the foot part being designed to overlap a foot of a user and the leg part being designed to overlap at least one part or an entire part of the a leg up to below a knee, optionally the foot part being closed by a toe part, said sock presenting in one or more areas of a surface extension of said sock a structural modification element of a layer of mesh, which forms a wall of said sock, the structural modification element being applied and/or incorporated and/or intertwined on or in a structure of said mesh, wherein the structural modification elements consists of a thickening element of the wall of the sock that extends substantially over an entire plantar vault or along an entire Lejart insole and/or along an entire triangle of the plantar vault.

2. The sock according to claim 1, wherein said thickening element extends, optionally without interruption, up to an area of insertion of an Achilles tendon.

3. The sock according to claim 1, wherein: the leg part presents alternatively: a length such as to overlap a calf part ending below the knee, the thickening element extending, optionally without interruption, up to a calf area, where the thickening element divides into two branches that diverge each other towards a lateral leg area; or a length such as to overlap only the a part of the leg under the calf, ending the thickening modification element before a bifurcation into two divergent branches.

4. The sock according to claim 3, wherein the two divergent branches of said thickening element after the bifurcation extend respectively upwards and so as to follow a conformation of the calf muscles, so that a branch of the bifurcation is located at a medial twin muscle and another branch of the bifurcation at a level of the a lateral twin muscle.

5. The sock according to claim 3, wherein said thickening element is constituted by a continuous band of material having a predetermined width and a predetermined thickness, said band of material extending seamlessly from the an anterior end of an arch of the foot, at an extremity towards metatarsals, up to an opposite end to ends of the two divergent branches of the bifurcation when said thickening element extends up to and along the calf area.

6. The sock according to claim 1, wherein the thickening element is formed by a band or a strip of material associated with a knitted wall of the stocking in an area intended to overlap the anatomical areas at the vault of the foot, the Lejart insole, and/or an triangle of the vault, an area of insertion of an Achilles tendon, a material of the thickening element having a lower extensibility than an extensibility of a remaining wall of the sock.

7. The sock according to claim 6, wherein said band or strip of material is applied to an outside of a knitted fabric that forms the wall of the sock.

8. The sock according claim 1, wherein a knitted fabric wall of the sock is made according to one or more of the following alternatives: an elasticized fabric and/or having various or a fabric made from a plurality of knitting processes so to obtain a compression effect, preferably of graduated compression effect; a fabric that has different types of weaves distributed on the an extension of the a knit and which locally modify its thickness and/or stiffness in particular has thickness or stiffness modifications with reference to its extensibility and shape memory of the fabric, or to the an elastic return force in the condition when not subjected to tension extension; or weaves of the mesh that generate a breathable effect.

9. The sock according to claim 8, wherein the thickening element or the knitted fabric have a perforated or micro-perforated structure that allows a desired level of transpiration.

10. The sock according to claim 1, wherein the sock is tubular and a pre-formed area of the sock corresponding to a heel is missing.

11. The sock according to claim 1, wherein the thickening element is provided with at a lateral extension towards an inner side of the foot and in correspondence with a plantar arch area, the lateral extension being configured as a lateral flap of said thickening element which coincides with an area of a medial cuneiform and/or of a scaphoid and which has an arched profile with extrados outwards with respect to thickening element.

12. The sock according to claim 1, wherein said thickening element provided with a lateral extension towards an external side of the foot, and has an arched profile with the-extrados outwards with respect to said thickening element.

13. The sock according claim 1, wherein to a portion of fabric which forms the wall of the sock in an area of a sole of the foot, there are associated additional elements for modifying a structure of said wall, which are distributed according to a predetermined pattern, which have effects differentiated from each other in order to reproduce and support a foot propeller movement during running and walking, and which are made up alternatively or in combination of one or more of the following sock elements: at least one thickening element of the wall of the sock corresponding and coinciding with an area of a 5th metatarsal; at least one non-slip thickening element with a higher friction coefficient than a knitted fabric of the sock to increase a grip of said foot area of the sole of the foot with a shoe; or at least one anti-slip element non slip elements with greater friction than the fabric of the sock in an area of a first metatarsal, between a terminal end of the thickening element coinciding with a plantar arch and phalanges; the sock elements and corresponding application areas being made with a design such as to favor an anti-slip or greater grip action between the sock and the shoe and a helical movement of the foot during running or walking.

14. The sock according to claim 13, wherein an application area of the at least one anti-slip element includes a first area coinciding with a foot end which has at least one band or strip oriented transversely to a longitudinal extension of a phalanx, an intermediate zone which extends into a connection area of phalanges with a first metatarsal and which has one or more strips or bands of non-slip material oriented in a direction parallel to a longitudinal extension of the phalanges and a terminal zone flanked at the end of the thickening element coinciding with a foot vault which is constituted by one or more strips or bands of the non-slip material oriented transversely to the longitudinal extension of the phalanges.

15. The sock according to claim 14, wherein the intermediate zone is between a zone provided with the at least one band or strip of the non-slip material and an end of the thickening element in an area of the plantar arch and a thickening zone in correspondence with a 5th metatarsal can possibly be is provided with a distribution of disks of the non-slip material distributed according to a rectangular distribution grid.

16. The sock according to claim 13, wherein non-slip areas are provided, or areas provided with elements with a higher friction coefficient than a material of the fabric forming the sock, alternatively or in combination, in areas of the sock coinciding with an outside of an ankle and/or with a dorsal part of the foot coinciding with a tongue of the shoe.

17. The sock according to claim 1, wherein a fabric forming the sock has a different structure in different areas of the sock that are associated with predetermined anatomical areas of a leg or the foot, the different structure being obtained by applying a print of a material according to different designs and distributions and densities in the corresponding area in order to obtain an area of greater thickness and/or greater mechanical resistance to traction and of a greater elastic force of return in a condition not subjected to traction and/or an effect of shock absorption, said predetermined anatomical areas being provided to coincide with the areas of a tibial and/or peronal musculature when the sock is worn.

18. The sock according to claim 17, in which said predetermined anatomical areas have a spindle-shaped position and shape which corresponds to a shape of a muscle bundle or a group of muscle bundles of the tibial and/or peronal area.

Description

[0112] The invention will become clearer from the following description of a non-limiting executive example illustrated in the attached figures, in which:

[0113] FIGS. 1.1 to 1.4 show the human circulatory system and the effects on circulation of squeezing the veins in the calf area, the Lejart insole and the vault triangle.

[0114] FIG. 2 shows a right and left pair of socks according to the present invention in an unworn condition and with a view on the rear side of the sock.

[0115] FIG. 3 shows a front side view of the socks of the pair of socks of FIG. 2.

[0116] FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show a left sock according to FIGS. 2 and 3 in worn condition and respectively a view on the rear side and one on the front side.

[0117] FIGS. 6 to 9 show various details of the foot area of the sock according to the previous figures, in worn condition.

[0118] FIGS. 10 to 13 show various details of the leg area of the stocking according to the previous figures, in a worn condition.

[0119] FIG. 14 shows a detail of the sock on the dorsal area of the foot.

[0120] FIGS. 2 and 3 show a pair of socks according to the present invention respectively from the side corresponding to the front side of the foot and leg and from that corresponding to the rear/lower side of the foot and leg.

[0121] The illustrated sock can be made as already described above using any manufacturing process known or to be developed in the future.

[0122] In a non-limiting but preferred way, in the illustrated embodiment the sock is made in the form of a tubular garment, i.e. without a pre-shaping of the heel part in an unworn condition.

[0123] Furthermore, again according to the illustrated executive example and in a non-limiting way, the sock is made of a knitted fabric. The yarn used can be of any type consisting of one or more natural fibers, one or more synthetic fibers and a combination of said natural and synthetic fibers.

[0124] In a preferred embodiment, the thread used is of plastic material obtained from the recycling of plastic material.

[0125] As can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 3, along the part of the fabric of the sock intended to overlap the sole of the foot and the rear side of the leg there is a band of material indicated with 1 which extends in the longitudinal direction of the tubular shape of the fabric that forms the sock. According to a characteristic of the illustrated embodiment, an end 101 of said band 1 is provided in the terminal area of the plantar arch on the side facing the end of articulation to the metatarsals.

[0126] The extension along the plantar arch is defined in such a way that the said band substantially extends over the entire Lejart sole and/or the entire triangle of the vault (as defined in FIGS. 1.3 and 1.4).

[0127] The said band extends seamlessly towards the heel, turning around the same and goes up the leg overlapping the area of insertion of the Achilles tendon and the calf, while the said band bifurcates into two terminal sections diverging from each other in a V-shape, each in the direction of an opposite side of the leg. The said two branches 201, 301 extend so as to follow the conformation of the calf muscles, that is, in particular so that one branch of the bifurcation is in correspondence with the medial twin muscle and the other branch at the level of the lateral twin muscle.

[0128] The band of material is applied by chemical/physical adhesion and/or sewing, preferably by molding and in particular by screen printing on the corresponding area of the material of the knitted fabric that forms the sock and advantageously on the external face of said fabric, i.e. the opposite face to that of contact with the foot and leg.

[0129] The band is constituted by plastic material having a greater rigidity and shape memory than the knitted fabric of the sock, preferably but not exclusively by silicone and in particular by silicone with shape memory.

[0130] By way of example and without limitation, the thickness of said band can vary from about one mm to a few tens of microns and is preferably between 30 and 70 micrometers, in particular of about 50 micrometers.

[0131] As is evident in the example illustrated, the width of the band is about a few centimeters while this width is substantially halved at the two terminal bifurcation sections 201, 301.

[0132] According to a possible embodiment variant, the thickness and/or width of said band 1 can vary along its extension both in the longitudinal direction and in the transverse direction in order to generate mechanical responses diversified by application areas, i.e. overlapping a part of the foot or leg.

[0133] According to a still further possible variant, in addition to silicone, it is possible to use one or more of the plastics materials described above and/or combinations, or mixtures thereof.

[0134] Still according to possible executive variants, the overall width of the band or strip is between 1 cm and 8 cm, more preferably between 2 cm and 6 cm to ensure correct support and sustain for the ankle joints and its soft tissues.

[0135] As already anticipated in the previous description, the combination of the action of the zones of greater thickness, i.e. of the thickening zones of the sock wall obtained by means of the thickening elements constituted by said band, allow to produce different biomechanical, vascular and neurological effects that have both therapeutic efficacy, and preparatory efficacy to preserve the foot and leg against damage from work stress, and a further efficacy to increase and/or optimize the mechanical and/or physiological functions of the foot and leg allowing to obtain better performance.

[0136] While the knitted fabric of the sock has as its first, but not the only function, the function of extending elastically adhering to the foot and the leg so as to hold the aforementioned band that forms the thickening element in the correct position, the greater rigidity, i.e. the elastic coefficient of expansion and the greater elastic resistance to bending or the greater rigidity of this band allow to obtain the following biomechanical functions:

[0137] Improved localized compression on the LEJART insole resulting in: [0138] 1) better muscle oxygenation and faster recovery; [0139] 2) less muscle fatigue and pain typical of efforts; [0140] 3) increase in muscle power; [0141] 4) better resistance; [0142] 5) reduction of the risk of injury to muscle fibers;

[0143] “Taping” and shimming function: [0144] 1) increased squeezing also in the calf area and greater muscle oxygenation; [0145] 2) decrease in vibrations with consequent lower possibility of inflammation of the Achilles tendon; [0146] 3) decrease in calf fatigue; [0147] 4) less chance of falling of the 5th metatarsal, and improvement of posture during running; [0148] 5) protection from vibrations due to contact with the ground and therefore protection against microtrauma; [0149] 6) increase of the binding on the back of the shoe and therefore increase of the stability during running; [0150] 7) unloading of the Achilles tendon with reduction of effort during running.

[0151] The provision of the band on the external face of the knitted fabric, or on the face of said fabric opposite to the one adhering to the foot and the leg and the absence of seams, allows to avoid internal contact areas that can generate abrasions and/or blisters.

[0152] The use of an application by printing and in particular by screen printing allows the creation of a lighter sock with consequent less sweating of the foot, consequently decreasing the possibility of skin maceration effects.

[0153] With reference to perspiration, the illustrated embodiment shows, by way of non-limitative way, the openings passing through the layer of material which form the material band 1. Said openings indicated with 601 are distributed according to a predetermined pattern along the surface extension of the band 1 and guarantee a perspiration effect of sweat.

[0154] With reference to yet another feature, the band 1 has in its terminal area intended to overlap the Lejart insole two opposite lateral extensions 701, 801. One of these extends from the lateral edge of the band 1 towards the inner side of the foot and the other towards the outside. The first extension 701 towards the inner side of the foot overlaps the area of the plantar arch and more precisely in the median area of the plantar arch with reference to the longitudinal extension of the same and provides a supporting effect of the plantar arch.

[0155] The opposite extension and facing the outer side of the foot indicated with 801 overlaps the area of the root of the 5th metatarsal and provides a support effect of the said root of the 5th metatarsal.

[0156] According to another characteristic of the present embodiment, a thickening element indicated with 2 is provided in the area of the 5th metatarsal.

[0157] This thickening element can be constituted by a layer of material similar to that of the band 1 and can have a thickness similar to that of the band 1, according to one or more of the previous embodiments and variants described. However, the thickness of said element 2 and the type of material, or the corresponding mechanical characteristics, are not required to be identical to those of the material of the band 1.

[0158] This thickening element 2 helps to modify the thicknesses under the sole of the foot in a differentiated way and to reproduce or follow or favor the foot propeller movement that the foot performs during running or walking.

[0159] Without this constituting a limitation, the preferred executive example shows in combination with the said thickening element 2 associated with the 5th metatarsal an area provided with anti-slip material on the opposite side of the foot, i.e. in correspondence with the first metatarsal.

[0160] The said area is indicated with 3 and in the illustrated embodiment extends from the end of the band 1 to the tip of the foot.

[0161] According to one feature, said zone provided with anti-slip material extends for substantially the entire width of the band 1 at the end thereof while it moves towards the inner side of the foot, narrowing towards the first metatarsal and then coinciding with the first phalanx towards the end of the foot.

[0162] In said anti-slip zone 2, on the outer side of the knitted fabric of the sock, a material which has a higher coefficient of friction with respect to the fabric of the sock, relative to the shoe, is applied, preferably, but not limited to by means of molding, in particular by screen printing. This material with a higher coefficient of friction is applied discontinuously on the fabric of the sock, i.e. in different areas separated from each other which have a specific shape and specific dimensions, as well as a specific relative position according to a predetermined design.

[0163] In order to harmonize the effect of greater adhesion or gripping of said areas with the foot helix movement, the material in area 3 is applied with different distribution patterns in three successive areas starting from the end of the band 1 towards the tip of the foot.

[0164] The preferred distribution design provides that directly adjacent to the end of the band 1 the anti-slip material is applied in the form of strips 103 substantially parallel and oriented in a transverse direction to the longitudinal axis of the foot. In the area coinciding with the first phalanx, the said strips of non-slip material 203 are instead always oriented parallel to each other in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis of the foot, while in the end zone, i.e. on the tip of the foot, the said strips of anti-slip material 303 they are again oriented transversely to the longitudinal axis of the foot and substantially parallel to those 103 of the one directly adjacent to the end of the band 1.

[0165] The remaining part of the insole may consist only of the material of the fabric that forms the sock or it may also include elements of non-slip material that are distributed in the form of small dots or pois equidistant from each other.

[0166] The different thicknesses of the thickening and non-slip zones distributed on the sole of the foot and their different coefficient of friction are such as to further improve the reproduction of the foot propeller movement thus favoring the movement of the foot during running and thus creating an aid in motion and therefore an improvement in performance;

[0167] Areas of non-slip material indicated with 4 and 5 are also provided in other parts of the sock as indicated in FIGS. 3, 5, 9, 14.

[0168] In the example shown in these areas, the anti-slip material is applied in the form of small areas or dots, so-called polka dots that are distributed evenly over an area coinciding with the outer side of the ankle and with the dorsal insole of the shoe.

[0169] As is evident in this case, the density of said areas is greater than in the area of the sole of the foot and said density can be different from area to area.

[0170] As regards the anti-slip material, this can be selected from one or more materials such as rubber, silicone, plastics and mixtures of these materials, preferably applicable by printing, in particular by screen printing.

[0171] Thanks to the aforementioned areas provided with anti-slip material, the sock according to the present invention allows to obtain various functions, including in particular: [0172] 1) less slipping of the foot in the shoe; [0173] 2) increase of proprioception with the road surface; [0174] 3) lower risk of retorts; [0175] 4) greater awareness of stability; [0176] 5) better thrust in running and walking.

[0177] Furthermore, the provision of non-slip silk-screened areas on the dorsal part and near the ankle optimizes the grip with the shoe, preventing the sock from rolling and the consequent loss of improving functions.

[0178] According to yet another innovative feature present in the illustrated example, but which can possibly also be omitted by renouncing to the corresponding functions, the fabric that forms the sock can have a different structure in different areas of the same. Said areas are preferably associated with predetermined anatomical areas of the leg or foot. These areas are indicated with 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5 in the illustrated embodiment and the structure of the same can be obtained by applying by printing, in particular by screen printing the material according to different designs and distributions and densities in the corresponding area in order to obtain a greater thickness and/or a greater mechanical resistance to traction and therefore a greater elastic force of return in the condition not subjected to traction and/or an effect of protective cushioning or damping of mechanical stresses. This material can be plastic, silicone or other polymers or mixtures thereof.

[0179] According to a particular embodiment, the said zones 7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, 7.5, of greater thickness and/or mechanical resistance and/or elastic coefficient obtained thanks to a different intertwining of the knitted fabric of the sock, are foreseen to coincide with the zones of the tibial and/or peronal musculature. The illustrated embodiment shows that said zones have a spindle-shaped position and shape that corresponds to that of a muscle bundle or a group of muscle bundles of the tibial and/or peronal area.

[0180] Furthermore, in the terminal end, the stocking has a toe 6. In the upper part, the toe is closed with an upper seam, indicated by 106.

[0181] From the foregoing it is evident that the stocking according to the present invention differs substantially from the generic stockings present in the state of the art and that they apply only some of the principles and measures set forth and present in combination in the present invention, since this application is entirely generic and not aimed at obtaining a biomechanical effect harmonized with the effects on circulatory and neurological functions thanks to a combined and functionally harmonized provision of the said devices.

[0182] It should be remembered here that the present invention refers to at least two different types of socks that differ in a different length of the quarter. It is important to note that these two alternatives are not to be considered as limiting the invention, but that the length of the quarter can vary between the said two alternatives and/or even be less or greater than that provided for by the two alternatives and that obviously, the length of the thickening element along the quarter will be determined by the length of the quarter itself, as well as the conformation of the areas indicated with 7.1 to 7.5 in the preceding claim.

[0183] In particular, one of the two embodiments provides a quarter of such a length as to substantially overlap the entire calf area and which has a thickening element like the one previously described and provided with the upper terminal bifurcation.

[0184] The other embodiment, on the other hand, provides for a leg having a shorter length and is related to a so-called American sock. In this case the leg does not extend to the calf area as well, but ends below the calf. A preferred embodiment provides that said quarter overlaps the root zone of the Achilles tendon. In this case, the thickening element will be of shorter length and will end before the bifurcations present in the thickening element associated with the sock with a longer leg and covering the calf. The zones 7.1 to 7.5 on the front side of the sock will also obviously be modified.