Embodiments of the present disclosure relate generally to the field of footwear, and more particularly to performance footwear, such as socks, to help in the prevention of bruising, blisters, and moisture accumulation.
The repetitive motion of the foot while running and exercising can cause problems such as bruising (e.g., from impact), blisters (e.g., from friction, heat, and sweat or moisture), and other irritations. Conventional performance socks provide impact protection with cushioned soles. However, the cushion is usually sizeable, and covers large areas, for instance the entire sole of the sock, adding to weight and restricting ventilation. Ventilation panels may be incorporated into the sock, but these usually cover the entire top surface of the foot, which is an area that is covered by the shoe tongue and not particularly open for ventilation.
Embodiments will be readily understood by the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Embodiments are illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope. Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
Various operations may be described as multiple discrete operations in turn, in a manner that may be helpful in understanding embodiments; however, the order of description should not be construed to imply that these operations are order dependent.
The description may use perspective-based descriptions such as up/down, back/front, and top/bottom. Such descriptions are merely used to facilitate the discussion and are not intended to restrict the application of disclosed embodiments.
The terms “coupled” and “connected,” along with their derivatives, may be used. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. Rather, in particular embodiments, “connected” may be used to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with each other. “Coupled” may mean that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact. However, “coupled” may also mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still cooperate or interact with each other.
For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “NB” or in the form “A and/or B” means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “at least one of A, B, and C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B), (A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C). For the purposes of the description, a phrase in the form “(A)B” means (B) or (AB) that is, A is an optional element.
The description may use the terms “embodiment” or “embodiments,” which may each refer to one or more of the same or different embodiments. Furthermore, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments, are synonymous.
Embodiments of the present disclosure may be directed to performance socks that may help prevent irritation and injury to the foot during exercise, such as running, walking, and other impact-generating activities. In various embodiments, dynamic cushion socks are provided that may include independent cushioning segments in the midfoot region that allow for improved impact cushioning, while also reducing weight and improving ventilation. In some embodiments, the independent cushioning segments may move individually, and may adapt and/or map to a natural footstrike zone of a foot and/or terrain conditions. In various embodiments, the independent cushioning segments may allow the sole to be more open than that of conventional performance socks, which may in turn increase ventilation along the footbed. In particular embodiments, the independent cushioning segments also may reduce the weight of the sock.
Various embodiments may provide enhanced cushioning in the heel and/or toe zones, which may provide impact protection for high-impact activities, and also may provide extra durability in high wear zones. Further embodiments of the present disclosure also may include ventilation areas on the sock upper that may be shaped and placed to maximize airflow within shoes, and/or reduce or alleviate friction in flex zones. Still further embodiments may include a medial cuff tab that may protect the medial ankle bone (e.g., the malleolus) from injury.
In various embodiments, the midfoot region 18 may include one or more cushioning segments 24 that may anatomically map to a natural footstrike of the wearer. In various embodiments, the cushioning segments 24 may be positioned on the sole portion 14 of the sock, and each cushioning segment 24 may move and react individually and dynamically to adapt to the wearer's footstrike and/or the terrain. In some embodiments, the cushioning segments 24 also may be separated and oriented in such a way as to provide channels that can direct moisture and heat away from the foot bed sole region and toward the outer and upper portion of the sock. Such positioning may enhance the ventilation of the sock and in turn help reduce irritation due to moisture build up in the strike zones of the foot.
In the illustrated embodiment, the cushioning segments 24 and/or cushioning 22 may be knit from the same type of yarn that makes up the rest of the sock 10, for instance a facial yarn, such as one made from CoolMax™, merino wool, nylon fibers, polyester fibers, Cocona™, bamboo fibers, acrylic fibers, ThermoCool™ fibers, tetra-channel polyester fibers, activated carbon particles, carbon fibers, or another yarn selected to have moisture-wicking properties. In other embodiments, cushioning segments 24 and/or cushioning 22 may be knit from a different type of yarn that makes up the rest of the sock 10. In other examples, cushioning 22 and/or cushioning segments 24 may include an elastomeric material, for instance rubber or other polymers, that may be woven or knit into place, or that may be applied by other application techniques.
In some examples, the body of sock 10 may be knit using a stockinette stitch (also known as a simple knit stitch), reverse stockinette stitch (also known as a simple purl stitch), rib stitch, or combination thereof, for example, and cushioning segments 24 and/or cushioning 22 may be knit using a different stitch, for instance a terry cushion stitch.
In various embodiments, cushioning 22 and cushioning segments 24 may be generally thicker than the surrounding sock material, and may project from the inside surface, the outside surface, or from both surfaces. In various embodiments, the height and material of the cushioning segments may be selected to provide the degree of cushioning desired to suit a particular user, activity, sock material, or shoe type. Similarly, in various embodiments, the spacing between the cushioning segments may be selected to provide a desired degree of venting and/or wicking that may be necessary for a particular activity, sock material, or shoe type.
In various embodiments, cushioning segments may be arranged based on an anatomical footstrike map of a gait cycle.
In various embodiments, each individual ridge of the cushioning segments 24 may be separate and independent from adjacent ridges, such that they can move independently and respond to an individual gait pattern. For instance, an individual runner who tends to pronate or overpronate may use different cushioning segments 24 than will a runner who tends to supinate. Similarly, different cushioning segments 24 may be used in response to different trail conditions.
In the example illustrated in
In some embodiments, sock 10 also may include one or more venting areas 26 that may be located generally in the upper portion 12 of sock 10, and that may be configured to allow heat and moisture to exit sock 10. In various embodiments, these venting areas 26 may be sized to maximize ventilation, while still allowing sufficient padding to be placed in higher pressure areas of the upper portion 12 of sock 10. In the illustrated embodiment, venting areas 26 may be provided on both the medial side and the lateral side of the upper portion 12 of sock 10. In various embodiments, venting areas 26 may be knit from the same material as the rest of sock 10, for instance a facial yarn (such as one made from CoolMax™, merino wool, nylon fibers, polyester fibers, Cocona™, bamboo fibers, acrylic fibers, thermocool fibers, tetra-channel polyester fibers, activated carbon particles, carbon fibers, or another yarn selected to have moisture-wicking properties) in combination with a different type of yarn, such as a plaiting yarn, for instance one made of nylon, spandex, polyester, or elastane. In some embodiments, the venting areas 26 may be knit using a looser knit, such as a mesh stitch or honeycomb stitch, to allow greater airflow and moisture wicking through venting areas 26. In some embodiments, a mesh panel may be jacquarded in place to allow for greater airflow and moisture wicking through venting areas 26.
In various embodiments, one or more flex zones 28 also may be included, for instance to help reduce fabric bunching and maximize airflow in areas prone to bunching, such as where the toe region 16 meets the midfoot region (also known as the metatarsal region of the foot) 18, and where the midfoot region 18 meets the cuff region 30. In the illustrated embodiment, the flex zones 28 may include one or more elongated regions 32 that extend toward the sides of the foot, and the elongated regions 32 may be connected by a larger central region 34. In some embodiments, elongated regions 32 may facilitate flexion while also inhibiting bunching of the fabric in the thicker areas of the sock. In various embodiments, elongated regions 32 may be generally H-shaped, which may help maximize the amount of mesh venting in the flex zones. In some embodiments, flex zones 28 may be knit from the same material as the rest of sock 10, for instance a facial yarn (such as one made from CoolMax™, merino wool, nylon fibers, polyester fibers, Cocona™, bamboo fibers, acrylic fibers, ThermoCool™ fibers, tetra-channel polyester fibers, activated carbon particles, carbon fibers, or another yarn selected to have moisture-wicking properties), in combination with a different type of yarn, such as a plaiting yarn, for instance one made of nylon, spandex, polyester or elastane. In some embodiments, flex zones 28 may be knit using a looser knit, such as a mesh stitch, to allow greater airflow and moisture wicking through the venting areas 26. Further, in some embodiments, the knit may be such that it is generally thinner than the thickness of sock 10 in order to help reduce the bunching tendency in thicker areas of sock 10.
Various embodiments also may include an arch support area 42 (see, e.g.,
In various embodiments, sock 10 also may include a cuff region 30 that may include a medial tab 36 for protecting the ankle bone (e.g., the malleolus) from scrapes, abrasions, friction, and/or impact (see, e.g.
Although a low-rise version of the sock is illustrated in
Although certain embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a wide variety of alternate and/or equivalent embodiments or implementations calculated to achieve the same purposes may be substituted for the embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope. Those with skill in the art will readily appreciate that embodiments may be implemented in a very wide variety of ways. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that embodiments be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/333,664, filed May 11, 2010, entitled “PERFORMANCE SOCK,” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61333664 | May 2010 | US |