GB2463037A

GB2463037A - Self-supporting Item of Hosiery

Info

Publication number: GB2463037A
Application number: GB0815671A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Jaweed Ali Mirza
Original assignee: SOCKS DIRECT Ltd
Current assignee: SOCKS DIRECT Ltd
Priority date: 2008-08-28
Filing date: 2008-08-28
Publication date: 2010-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 2028-08-28
Also published as: GB2463037B; GB0815671D0

Abstract

A item of hosiery such as a sock 10, knitted in a non-elasticated yarn, includes a foot portion 12, a leg portion 14 knitted in a repeated ribbed pattern, and an upper portion 15 including a first part 18 which extends from the upper end 16 towards the leg portion 14, a second part 19 which extends from the first part 18 towards the leg portion 14, and a third part 20 which extends from the second part 19 towards the leg portion 14, the first part 18 being knitted in one of a 1 knitted stitch by 1 purled stitch, a 2 knitted stitch by 2 purled stitch, a 3 knitted stitch by 3 purled stitch repeated, rib pattern, or the same repeated ribbed pattern as the leg portion 14, the second part 19 being plain knitted without ribbing, and the third part 20 being knitted in a repeated rib pattern which for each repeat, has more than twice the number of knitted stitches than the first part and has more than twice the number of purled stitches than the first part.

Description

Title: Item of Hosiery

Description of Invention

The present invention relates to an item of hosiery, such as a sock, which has a foot portion in which in use, a wearer's foot is received, and a leg portion which extends around a wearer's leg, and terminates at an upper end.

Conventionally, an upper part of such an item includes elastic or the like resilient yarn in addition to the yarn from which the item ostensib'y is knitted, which additional resilient yarn is knitted or otherwise includes in the item, to maintain the item "up" during wear. Particularly but exclusively wearers with larger cross section legs, can find the elastic restricting and this can leave marks on the leg when the item of hosiery is removed. Also after washing, at least after a plurality of washes, the resilience of the elastic or other additional yarn may decrease and the item will thus be less able to stay "up" in wear, leading to wearer discomfort.

It has been proposed in GB-A-2245005 to knit a sock or stocking without using .. : additional elastic or other resilient yarn, in a particular knitting pattern. p... * .

According to a first aspect of the invention we provide an item of hosiery which I.....

includes a foot portion, a leg portion knitted in a repeated ribbed pattern, and an upper portion, the upper portion terminating at an upper end, the item being knitted in a non-elasticated yarn and the upper portion including a first part which extends from the upper end towards the leg portion, a second part which extends from the first part towards the leg portion, and a third part which extends from the second part towards the leg portion, the first part being knitted in one of a 1 knitted stitch by I purled stitch, and a 2 knitted stitches by 2 purled stitches, and a 3 knitted stitches by 3 purled stitches repeated, rib pattern, the second part being plain knitted without ribbing, and the third part being knitted in a repeated rib pattern which for each repeat, has a significantly greater number of knitted stitches than the first part and a significantly greater number of purled stitches than the first part.

By significantly greater" we mean more than twice the number.

The present invention enables an item of hosiery to be provided which enables the item to be held up on a wearer's leg, without elastication, and more efficiently than in the proposal of GB-A-2245005. Thus the item relies solely on the nature and method of knitting of the yarn from which the item is knitted, to stay "up" during wear, thereby reducing wearer discomfort.

In a preferred arrangement, in addition to the first, second and third parts, the item of hosiery includes a fourth part which extends between the third part and the leg portion, the fourth part being knitted in a rib pattern which for each repeat, has substantially the same number of knitted and purled stitches as the third part but for each repeat, with the knitted stitches of the fourth part being aligned along the item, with the purled stitches of the third part and the purled stitches of the fourth part aligned with the knitted stitches of the third part. *... * * ***.

*. : 25 Desirably, between the third part and the fourth part there is an intermediate * plain knitted part, and desirably between the fourth part and the ribbed leg ****** . . . . . * * portion, there is a further intermediate plain knitted part.

In a preferred embodiment, the first part is knitted in a 2 knitted stitches by 2 purled stitches, repeated rib pattern. The third part is preferably knitted in a repeated rib pattern which includes at least 6 and preferably at least 10 knitted stitches, by at least 6 and preferably at least 10 purled stitches. The fourth part, where provided, preferably is knitted in a repeated rib pattern which includes at least 6 and preferably at least 10 knitted stitches, by at least 6 and preferably at least 10 purled stitches, with the knitted stitches of the fourth part aligned with the purled stitches of the third part and the purled stitches of the fourth part aligned with the knitted stitches of the third part.

The item of hosiery may be a sock or stocking, and may be knitted in a cotton/synthetic mix yarn, such as for example only, a 65% cotton 35% polyamide mix yarn, other examples are wool blended with Polyamide, Acrylic with Polyamide, Cotton Modal or any of these blended with Elastane (Lycra).

According to a second aspect of the invention we provide an item of hosiery which includes a foot portion, a leg portion knitted in a repeated ribbed pattern, and an upper portion, the upper portion terminating at an upper end, the item being knitted in a non-elasticated yarn and the upper portion including a first part which extends from the upper end towards the leg portion, a second part which extends from the first part towards the leg portion, and a third part which extends from the second part towards the leg portion, the first part being knitted in a repeating rib pattern which is the same as the repeating rib pattern in which the leg portion is knitted, the second part being plain knitted without * ribbing, and the third part being knitted in a repeated rib pattern which for each repeat, has a significantly greater number of knitted stitches than the first part ** and a significantly greater number of purled stitches than the first part. I...

Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the * . accompanying drawings in which FIGURE 1 is a purely illustrative side view of a sock in accordance with the present invention; FIGURE 2 is an illustrative view a specific knitting pattern.

Referring to the drawings there is shown an item of hosiery which in the example is a sock 10 which includes a foot portion 12 in which in use, a wearer's foot is received, a leg portion 14 which extends around a wearer's leg, and an upper portion 15 which terminates at an upper end 16.

The leg portion 14 is knitted in a repeating ribbed pattern of knitted and purled stitches, in the example a 2 X 2 pattern, although the ribbed patterning is only illustrated in figure 1 over an area I 4a of the leg portion 14, adjacent the upper portion 15. In figure 2, two of the (adjacent) ribs provided by rows of purled stitches, are indicated at Ri and R2, and two of the knitted stitch columns provided by rows of knitted stitches between two pairs of the ribs are indicated at KI and K2.

As is well established in the art of knitting socks, the foot portion 12 is knitted in part, in a repeating ribbed pattern of knitted and purled stitches which is a continuation of the ribbed pattern of the leg portion 14, but a part of the foot portion 12 indicated at 12a in the drawing, which in use is beneath the wearer's foot, and around the wearer's toes, is in the example, plain knitted, i.e. without ribbing, but may as desired including ribbing.

The upper portion 15 of the sock 10 is knitted without the inclusion of any yarn additional to that from which the sock 10 generally is knitted, and specifically without any elasticated or other resilient yarn, but nevertheless, the upper portion 15 is knitted in a repeating pattern such that in use the sock will stay "up" without such elastic or the like.

The upper portion 15 includes a first part 18 which extends from the upper end 16 towards the leg portion 14, a second part 19 which extends from the first part 18 towards the leg portion 14, and a third part 20 which extends from the second part 19 towards the leg portion, and in the example, a fourth part 21 which extends between the third part 20 and the leg portion 14.

The first part 18 is knitted in a 2 knitted stitch by 2 purled stitch repeated, rib pattern. However the first part 18 may be knitted instead in any one of a I knitted stitch by I purled stitch, and a 3 knitted stitch by 3 purled stitch repeated rib pattern if desired.

In the example, the first part 18 is knitted in a 2 knitted stitch by 2 purled stitch repeated rib pattern and the leg portion 14 and rib patterned part of the foot portion 12 are knitted in a 2 knitted stitch by 2 purled stitch repeated rib pattern. Thus in the generality, the first part 18 of the upper portion 15 matches the rib patterned knitting of the leg portion 14.

The second part 19 is plain knitted with plain rows of stitches, without ribbing.

The third part 20 of the upper portion 15 is knitted in a repeated rib pattern which for each repeat, has a significantly greater number of knitted stitches than the first part 18 and a significantly greater number of purled stitches than the first part 18.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the third part 20 is knitted in a S...

repeated rib pattern which includes 11 knitted stitches, interposed with 11 purled stitches i.e. there are an equal number of knitted and purled stitches in . each repeat, and in this example at least five times as many knitted and purled stitches in each repeat than knitted and purled stitches respectively in each *.5. repeated rib pattern of the first part 18 of the upper portion 15.

In the generality, preferably the third part 20 is knitted to have at least three times as many knitted and purled stitches in each repeat, than in each repeat of the rib pattern of the first part 18, i.e. at least 6 and preferably at least 10 knitted stitches.

The fourth part 21, which is provided in the illustrated embodiment but from the perspective of the invention is optional, is knitted in a repeated rib pattern which corresponds to the repeating rib pattern of the third part 20, but with the knitted stitches of the fourth part 21 aligned with the purled stitches of the third part 20 and the purled stitches of the fourth part 21 aligned with the knitted stitches of the third part 20. In the generality the fourth part 21 includes at least 6 and preferably at least 10 knitted stitches, by at least 6 and preferably at least 10 purled stitches.

In this example, between the third 20 and fourth parts 21 there is an intermediate part Ii of plain knitting i.e. without any ribs, and between the fourth part 21 and the leg portion 14 of the sock 10 there is a further intermediate, plain knitted part 12. The inclusion of the intermediate parts l and 12 gives the upper part 15 of the sock 10, between the first part 16 and the leg portion 14, a basket weave appearance.

In the example the sock is knitted in a cotton/synthetic mix yarn, such as for example only, a 65% cotton 35% polyamide mix yarn, other examples are wool blended with Polyamide, Acrylic with Polyamide, Cotton Modal or any of these blended with Elastane (Lycra).

Although the invention has been described in relation to an item of hosiery which is a sock 10, the invention is applicable to other knitted items of hosiery, I...

such as for example only, a stocking.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utllised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof. S. * .* * . S... * . S...

**SSsS * * S... * . ** * . * .. * S. * *.

S

Claims

CLAIMS1. An item of hosiery which includes a foot portion, a leg portion knitted in a repeated ribbed pattern, and an upper portion, the upper portion terminating at an upper end, the item being knitted in a non-elasticated yarn and the upper portion including a first part which extends from the upper end towards the leg portion, a second part which extends from the first part towards the leg portion, and a third part which extends from the second part towards the leg portion, the first part being knitted in one of a 1 knitted stitch by I purled stitch, and a 2 knitted stitch by 2 purled stitch, and a 3 knitted stitch by 3 purled stitch repeated, rib pattern, the second part being plain knitted without ribbing, and the third part being knitted in a repeated rib pattern which for each repeat, has a significantly greater number of knitted stitches than the first part and a significantly greater number of purled stitches than the first part.
2. An item according to claim I wherein for each repeat of the rib pattern there are more than twice the number of knitted stitches in the third part than the first part and more than twice the number of purled stitches in the third part than the first part. * I ****
3. An item according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the item includes in addition to the first, second and third parts, a fourth part which extends from **..the third part towards the leg portion, the fourth part being knitted in a rib pattern which for each repeat, has substantially the same number of knitted and purled stitches as the third part but for each repeat, with the knitted stitches of the fourth part being aligned along the item, with the purled stitches of the third part and the purled stitches of the fourth part aligned with the knitted stitches of the third part.
4. An item according to claim 3 wherein between the third part and the fourth part there is an intermediate plain knitted part.
5. An item according to claim 3 or claim 4 wherein between the fourth part and the ribbed leg portion, there is an intermediate plain knitted part.
6. An item according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the first part is knitted in a 2 knitted stitch by 2 purled stitch, repeated rib pattern.
7. An item according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the third part is knitted in a repeated rib pattern which includes at least 6 knitted stitches, by at least 6 purled stitches.
8. An item according to claim 7 wherein the third part is knitted in a repeating rib pattern which includes at least 10 knitted stitches, by at least 10 purled stitches.
9. An item according to any one of the preceding claims where dependent upon claim 3 wherein the fourth part is knitted in a repeated rib pattern which includes at least 6 knitted stitches, by at least 6 purled stitches, with the knitted stitches of the fourth part aligned with the purled stitches of the third part and the purled stitches of the fourth part aligned with the knitted stitches of the third part. * * ****
10. An according to any one of the preceding claims where dependent upon *..: claim 3 wherein the fourth part is knitted in a repeated rib pattern which includes at least 10 knitted stitches, by at least 10 purled stitches, with the knitted stitches of the fourth part aligned with the purled stitches of the third part and the purled stitches of the fourth part aligned with the knitted stitches ofthethird part.
11. An item of hosiery according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the item is a sock or stocking.
12. An item according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the item is knitted in a cotton/synthetic mix yarn.
13. An item of hosiery which includes a foot portion, a leg portion knitted in a repeated ribbed pattern, and an upper portion, the upper portion terminating at an upper end, the item being knitted in a non-elasticated yarn and the upper portion including a first part which extends from the upper end towards the leg portion, a second part which extends from the first part towards the leg portion, and a third part which extends from the second part towards the leg portion, the first part being knitted in a repeating rib pattern which is the same as the repeating rib pattern in which the leg portion is knitted, the second part being plain knitted without ribbing, and the third part being knitted in a repeated rib pattern which for each repeat, has a significantly greater number of knitted stitches than the first part and a significantly greater number of purled stitches than the first part.
14. An item according to claim 13 which includes any of the features of the item of any one of claims ito 12. * * S...
15. An item of hosiery substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawing.*..:
16. Any novel feature or novel combination of features described herein and/or as shown in the accompanying drawing.