A FOOTLET AS WELL AS A METHOD FOR PRODUCING SUCH A FOOTLET

Abstract

A footlet is provided with a heel portion formed by knitting, a toe portion, and a middle portion located between the heel portion and the toe portion. The middle portion comprises lateral sides that extend between the heel portion and the toe portion on either side. The heel portion is provided with a knitted elastic band forming an edge, which is provided with an anti-slip element applied thereto on a side facing the toe portion. The anti-slip element has been applied to the elastic band after the knitting of at least the elastic band.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A footlet provided with a heel portion formed by knitting, a toe portion, and a middle portion located between the heel portion and the toe portion, which middle portion comprises lateral sides that extend between the heel portion and the toe portion on either side, wherein the heel portion is provided with a knitted elastic band forming an edge, characterised in that the elastic band of the heel portion is provided with an anti-slip element applied thereto on a side facing the toe portion, which anti-slip element has been applied to the elastic band after the knitting of at least the elastic band.

17. A footlet according to claim 16, characterised in that only the elastic band of the heel portion is provided with an anti-slip element applied thereto on a side facing the toe portion.

18. A footlet according to claim 16, characterised in that the elastic band is folded in two, with the elastic band comprising a first band portion facing the toe portion and a second band portion remote from the toe portion, wherein the first band portion facing the toe portion is provided with the anti-slip element.

19. A footlet according to claim 16 or 17, characterised in that the anti-slip element comprises silicones.

20. A footlet according to claim 16 or 17, characterised in that the anti-slip element is strip-shaped.

21. A footlet according to claim 16 or 17, characterised in that the anti-slip element comprises a number of spaced-apart anti-slip parts.

22. A footlet according to claim 16 or 17, characterised in that the anti-slip parts are spaced 5-10 mm apart.

23. A footlet according to claim 16 or 17, characterised in that the anti-slip parts are block-shaped or strip-shaped.

24. A footlet according to claim 16 or 17, characterised in that the anti-slip element extends along a length of 2-7 cm over the elastic band.

25. A footlet according to claim 16 or 17, characterised in that the anti-slip element extends over the elastic band over a width of 2-6 mm transversely to the length.

26. A footlet according to claim 16 or 17, characterised in that the footlet is entirely made by reciprocating knitting and that subsequently the anti-slip element is applied to the elastic band.

27. A method for producing a footlet according to claim 16, characterised in that after at least the elastic band of the heel portion has been knitted, the elastic band is provided with an anti-slip element applied thereto on a side facing the toe portion.

28. A method according to claim 27, characterised in that the anti-slip element is applied to the elastic band by means of screen-printing, template printing, heat transfer or by means of a dispenser.

29. A method according to claim 27, characterised in that a stretching force is applied the elastic band prior to the application of the anti-slip element, as a result of which the elastic band is stretched from a starting length to a length 1.5-3 times greater than the starting length, and that subsequently the anti-slip element is applied, after which the stretching force is released.

30. A method according to claim 27, characterised in that the footlet is entirely made by reciprocating knitting, after which the anti-slip element is applied to the elastic band.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0048] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to a drawing, in which:

[0049] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a footlet according to the invention;

[0050] FIG. 2 is a side view of the footlet of FIG. 1 present on a person's foot, on which foot a shoe is worn; and

[0051] FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are partial cross-sectional views of various embodiments of a heel portion of a footlet according to the invention;

[0052] FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 are partial inside views of various embodiments of a heel portion of a footlet according to the invention.

[0053] Like parts are indicated by the same reference numerals in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a footlet 1 according to the invention made on a knitting machine with reciprocating knitting movements only.

[0055] The footlet 1 is provided with a heel portion 2, a middle portion 4 connected to the heel portion 2 via lines 3 formed by knitting, and a toe portion 6 connected to the middle portion 4 via lines 5 formed by knitting. The desired shape of the footlet 1 can be obtained by increasing and decreasing during the reciprocating knitting process. The middle portion 4 comprises lateral sides 7, 8 that extend between the heel portion 2 and the toe portion 6 on either side. The footlet 1 is further provided with a first elastic band 9 located adjacent the heel portion 2 and a second elastic band 10 located adjacent the toe portion 6. A method for manufacturing such a footlet 1 is described in WO2008072048A1.

[0056] FIG. 2 shows a person's foot 11 fitted with the footlet 1 of FIG. 1. The heel portion 2 is laid around the heel of the foot 11 here. The toe portion 6 lies over the toes of the foot 11. The middle portion 4 extends with a bottom portion 12 along the lower side of the foot 11 and with lateral portions 13, 14 along the lateral sides of the foot 11. The foot 11 with the footlet 1 present thereon is worn in a shoe 15, only part of which is shown for reasons of clarity.

[0057] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of the footlet 1 in which the heel portion 2 is provided with a knitted folded elastic band 16. The elastic band 16 is folded in two, such that the elastic band 16 comprises a first band portion 17 facing the toe portion 6 and a second band portion 18 remote from the toe portion 6. When knitting of the elastic band 16 takes place, the second band portion 18 is knitted first and after that the first band portion 17. Once the first elastic band 17 has been knitted, the end 19 of the second band portion 18 is joined to the end 20 of the first band portion 17 by knitting. Then the remaining portion of the heel portion 2 and the footlet 1 is knitted.

[0058] FIG. 4 shows 26 another embodiment of the footlet 1, in which the heel portion 2 is provided with a knitted, folded elastic band 26. The elastic band 26 is folded, comprising a first band portion 27 facing the toe portion 6 and a second band portion 28 remote from the toe portion 6. When knitting of the band 26 takes place, the first band portion 26 is knitted first and after that the second band portion 27. Once the second band portion 28 has been knitted, the end 29 of the first band portion 26 is joined to the end 30 of the second band portion 28 by knitting. Then the remaining portion of the heel portion 2 and the footlet 1 is knitted.

[0059] FIG. 5 shows another embodiment of the footlet 1, in which the heel portion 2 is provided with a knitted, single elastic band 36 which comprises a single elastic band portion 37.

[0060] The footlets 1 provided with elastic bands 16, 26, 36 as shown in FIG. 3, 4 and 5 have been made entirely by reciprocating knitting, so that the footlet 1 does not have any stitched seams.

[0061] The elastic bands 16, 26, 36 are each provided with an anti-slip element 41 (see FIG. 6) on a side facing the toe portion 4 (inner side). The anti-slip element 14 is made up of a layer of silicone on the inner side. The silicone is for example applied to the elastic band 16, 26, 36 by applying a stretching force to the elastic band 16, 26, 36, as a result of which the elastic band 16, 26, 36 is stretched from a starting length to a length 1.5-3 times greater than the starting length. Then a template (not shown) provided with an opening having a length of 6-7 cm, a width of 1-5 mm and a height of 0.2-0.5 mm, for example, is laid on the elastic band 16, 26, 36. Subsequently, the opening is filled with silicone. Once the silicone has bonded to the elastic band 16, 26, 36, the stretching force is released, allowing the elastic band 16, 26, 36 to return to its original starting length under the influence of its own elastic force. The anti-slip element 41 formed by the silicone will now have a length L of about 3-4 cm and a thickness and width B slightly greater than the height and the width of the opening in the template. In the case of a longer template, a greater length, for example of 7 cm or more, can be obtained.

[0062] FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the anti-slip element 51, which comprises a number of spaced-apart anti-slip parts 52. The anti-slip parts 52 have a square or rectangular shape and are spaced a distance H1 apart.

[0063] FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the anti-slip element 61, which comprises a number of spaced-apart anti-slip parts 62. The anti-slip parts 52 have a circular shape and are spaced a distance H2 apart.

[0064] Because of the configuration with spaced-apart anti-slip parts 52, 62, the amount of silicone needed for forming the anti-slip element 51, 56 is smaller than the amount needed for forming the strip-shaped anti-slip element 41.

[0065] It is also possible for the anti-slip element to comprise a number of spaced-apart anti-slip parts having a different shape, for example a triangular shape. Triangular anti-slip parts are preferably arranged with a wide side facing up, so that relatively much material of the anti-slip element will be present at the upper side of the heel portion.

[0066] It is also possible to have the anti-slip element 41, 51, 61 also extend in part over a part of the heel portion 2 that is located under the elastic band 16, 26, 36.

[0067] The elastic band 16, 26, 36 is for example made of a polyurethane, such as elastane, lycra, creora or other elastic thread or fibre, or a combination with other threads. The remaining part of the knitted portion of the footlet 1 is knitted from fibres or threads of cotton, polyamides, polypropylene or another plastic or other material, or a combination thereof.

[0068] It is also possible to form only part of the footlet 1 by means of circular knitting. This has the disadvantage, however, that stitched seams are unavoidable.

[0069] The anti-slip element for example consists of silicone marketed by CHT, Dow Corning, Alpina or other companies, for example under the name of Alpatec.

[0070] Is also possible to use materials other than silicone, for example PVC, silicone-free Faitplast With Me, etc.

[0071] It is also possible to apply the anti-slip element in translucent form or in any desired colour.

[0072] It is also possible to apply the anti-slip element in the form of individual letters, a text or an image.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0073] 1. footlet [0074] 2. heel portion [0075] 3. line formed by knitting [0076] 4. middle portion [0077] 5. line formed by knitting [0078] 6. toe portion [0079] 7. lateral side [0080] 8. lateral side [0081] 9. band [0082] 10. band [0083] 11. foot [0084] 12. bottom portion [0085] 13. lateral portion [0086] 14. lateral portion [0087] 15. shoe [0088] 16. band [0089] 17. first band portion [0090] 18. second band portion [0091] 19. end [0092] 20. end [0093] 26. band [0094] 27. first band portion [0095] 28. second band portion [0096] 29. end [0097] 30. end [0098] 36. band [0099] 37. band portion [0100] 41. anti-slip element [0101] 51. anti-slip element [0102] 52. anti-slip part [0103] 61. anti-slip element [0104] 62. anti-slip part [0105] L length [0106] B width [0107] H1 spacing [0108] H2 spacing