WO2015004094A1 - Foot-covering garment and manufacturing method - Google Patents
Foot-covering garment and manufacturing method Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2015004094A1 WO2015004094A1 PCT/EP2014/064514 EP2014064514W WO2015004094A1 WO 2015004094 A1 WO2015004094 A1 WO 2015004094A1 EP 2014064514 W EP2014064514 W EP 2014064514W WO 2015004094 A1 WO2015004094 A1 WO 2015004094A1
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- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- needles
- ribs
- main thread
- garment
- foot
- Prior art date
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Classifications
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
- D04B—KNITTING
- D04B1/00—Weft knitting processes for the production of fabrics or articles not dependent on the use of particular machines; Fabrics or articles defined by such processes
- D04B1/22—Weft knitting processes for the production of fabrics or articles not dependent on the use of particular machines; Fabrics or articles defined by such processes specially adapted for knitting goods of particular configuration
- D04B1/24—Weft knitting processes for the production of fabrics or articles not dependent on the use of particular machines; Fabrics or articles defined by such processes specially adapted for knitting goods of particular configuration wearing apparel
- D04B1/26—Weft knitting processes for the production of fabrics or articles not dependent on the use of particular machines; Fabrics or articles defined by such processes specially adapted for knitting goods of particular configuration wearing apparel stockings
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
- D04B—KNITTING
- D04B1/00—Weft knitting processes for the production of fabrics or articles not dependent on the use of particular machines; Fabrics or articles defined by such processes
- D04B1/10—Patterned fabrics or articles
- D04B1/102—Patterned fabrics or articles with stitch pattern
- D04B1/106—Patterned fabrics or articles with stitch pattern at a selvedge, e.g. hems or turned welts
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
- D04B—KNITTING
- D04B1/00—Weft knitting processes for the production of fabrics or articles not dependent on the use of particular machines; Fabrics or articles defined by such processes
- D04B1/10—Patterned fabrics or articles
- D04B1/102—Patterned fabrics or articles with stitch pattern
- D04B1/108—Gussets, e.g. pouches or heel or toe portions
Definitions
- the present invention relates in general to the field of hoses, and similar garments, and relates in particular to a garment having the shape of a foot-covering sock of the type known in Italy with the name of 'fantasmino'.
- the invention further relates to a method for manufacturing such a garment on circular machines for hosiery and laiitwear.
- Foot-covering garments are known to be fitted on the foot in order to become substantially not visible once a shoe has been put on.
- 'foot- covering garment' and 'under-foot sock' a garment is referred that is adapted to cover the toe, sole and heel portions only of a wearer's foot, as well as part of the lateral portion thereof, allowing the instep and the ankle to be uncovered.
- Such garments generally comprise a toe portion, a sole portion, two lateral portions and a heel portion. Usually, at least the toe and heel portions have then a top elastic edge in order to correctly hold the garment on the foot when worn.
- the foot-covering garment is preferably made on circular machines for hosiery and laiitwear and can be realized as a whole, that is to say free from seams to carry out outside the same machine at the toe or heel portion, and free from seams for fastening elastic portions.
- EP 0632972 by the same inventor of the present patent Application, relates to a foot-covering garment having two opposite parts having the shape of pouch heel and integrally joined to a middle area, and having an elastic edge realized and knitted with the two heel-shaped parts. Therefore such a garment can provide for the presence of an elastic band at the whole edge thereof which defines the opening through which the foot can be inserted into the garment itself.
- EP 0632972 also relates to a method for manufacturing such a garment integrally on a circular machine for hosiery. The garment configuration and method thereof, however, are limited in connection with the size of the garment itself. Indeed the need of realizing a closed-loop elastic band at the afore described edge limits the extent of the middle portion and therefore the whole length of the garment.
- the foot-covering garment In order to fit to large sizes, over number 42, the foot-covering garment has to be realized of an elastic material which thus makes it extensible.
- this is a limit of the selection of usable yarns; for example natural fibers such as cotton, which are little extensible by nature, have to be unavoidably excluded.
- the elastic edge is little comfortable for the user, as made until now.
- the elastic edge is generally realized as a whole with a garment portion, by knitting an elastic thread with the thread which composes the remaining of the garment to form a drawstring having a thickness larger than the remaining of the garment. In use, the shoe presses such a drawstring against the user foot, causing bothersome signs on the skin.
- EP 1133245 puts forward a garment having a sole, a partial upper foot region, a heel, and a toe.
- the opening for the insertion of the foot is provided in a middle position between toe and sole, at the partial upper foot region.
- the length of such a partial upper foot region can vary according to the needs to allow the realization of garments of different size.
- the elastic edge is provided at toe and heel; on the contrary, at the partial upper foot region no elastic edge is provided in order to reduce as much as possible the extent of the elastic edge and minimize the bother the elastic edge causes.
- the elastic edge is essential and it could not get rid of it, at least in the heel and toe portions to aid the shaping of the garment and the related fitting to the foot, once worn.
- the elastic edge corresponding to the heel is needed to prevent the under-foot garment from being removed due to the friction with the rear part of the shoe during walking, whereas the elastic edge in the toe portion is needed to hold such a portion correctly drawn over the foot.
- colour consistency is often not obtained between the stretch yarn used to realize the elastic edge and the yarns composing the remaining of the garment, especially when these are natural yarns.
- the yarns in fact, have different properties according to their nature and thus absorb colour differently, resulting in different shades at the end of the dying process. Accordingly, the elastic edge can have a colour shade different with respect to the remaining of the garment with a little pleasant appearance.
- the present invention has been conceived just with the aim of compensating for the drawbacks of the laiown art by putting forward a foot-covering garment provided with extremely comfortable containing elements in place of the conventional elastic edge.
- Another object of the invention is to put forward an aesthetically pleasing garment that is substantially homogeneously coloured in all its parts.
- the knit foot-covering garment comprises a heel portion, a toe portion, a middle portion located between the heel portion and the toe portion and an opening between said heel portion, said middle portion and said toe portion for the insertion of a user foot.
- the foot- covering garment comprises a first containing portion seamlessly knitted as a whole with the heel portion and/or a second containing portion seamlessly knitted as a whole with the toe portion.
- the first and/or second containing portion comprises a plurality of ribs, which are defined by stitches of a main thread, which extend substantially parallel one to the other between the upper end of the heel portion or toe portion respectively and the edge of said opening, the distance between two adjacent ribs corresponding to at least two stitches of the heel portion or toe portion respectively; said main thread extending also substantially transversely to said ribs and being laiitted at the same ribs, and not laiitted between two adjacent ribs in order to define portions of main thread, named floating portions.
- the containing portion has the shape of a band, composed of a plurality of knit ribs spaced out by floating portions, and ensures a minimal extensibility to allow the insertion of the user foot, but is less extensible than the knit composing the remaining part of the garment and, therefore, exerts a containing function also in absence of the elastic band.
- the floating portions composing the containing band have a smaller thickness, and thus are more comfortable than a conventional elastic edge, in which the elastic thread is laiitted with the thread composing the remaining part of the garment. Additionally, the portions having floating threads are soft when contacting the skin, with a sponge-like effect.
- the ribs extend substantially orthogonally both at the upper end of the heel portion or toe portion respectively and at the edge of the opening and the portions of main thread defining the floating portions extend substantially in parallel to the upper end of the heel portion or toe portion respectively and the edge of the opening.
- This configuration assures to be able to widen adequately the containing portion in order to aid the foot insertion and hold the containing portion in contact with the foot once the garment has been worn.
- each rib extends for a length of at least ten stitches in a direction orthogonal or anyway transversal to both the upper end of the heel portion and the edge of said opening.
- This in order to have a containing portion of a height adequate to hold the garment correctly on the foot once the latter has been put on and while the wearer is moving.
- the first containing band or edge tampers in a larger area of the heel, better distributing the pressure and resulting this way more comfortable than conventional elastic edges.
- the second containing band in fact, holds the under-foot garment correctly drawn over the upper part of the foot.
- each rib extends longitudinally for one stitch of the heel portion and the distance between two adjoining ribs is equal to seven stitches of the heel portion or toe portion respectively.
- first containing portion and/or the second containing portion further comprise/comprises one or more elastic threads different from the main thread, and which are laiitted at the ribs and not laiitted between two adjoining ribs at the floating portions.
- the insertion of the elastic thread can be particularly valuable especially for the first containing band at the level of the heel portion, since the latter is mostly stressed by the shoe during the user movements.
- the elastic thread is laiitted in the ribs and floating for at least two stitches between two adjoining ribs and thus the bother caused by the same is minimized, thereby reducing the areas pressing on the skin maximally.
- the elastic thread is laiitted in the ribs only and thus for short lengths of the containing portion; on the contrary it is hidden by the main thread in the floating portions thereby minimizing possible inhomogeneities deriving from different colour shades between main thread and elastic thread as a consequence of the dying process.
- the invention relates to a method according to claim 6 for manufacturing seamlessly and wholly the foot-covering garment comprising a heel portion, a toe portion and a middle portion located between the heel portion and the toe portion on a circular machine for knitwear or hosiery, provided with needles and one cylinder which is able to be selectively and rotationally activated in continuous motion and reciprocating motion.
- the method comprises the steps of knitting a main thread with a part of the needles of the rotating cylinder activated in reciprocating motion, to realize the heel portion or the toe portion of the foot-covering garment; knitting with the reciprocating motion of the rotating cylinder, in order to realize the middle portion of the foot-covering garment; subsequently, knitting with reciprocating motion of the rotating cylinder, to realize the toe portion or the heel portion respectively of the foot-covering garment; and before the first step and/or after the last step proceeding by knitting the main thread with part of the cylinder needles, said part being in its turn subdivided in groups of active needles, each composed of one or more knitting needles, and groups of inactive needles, each composed of at least two not-knitting needles, wherein the groups of active needles and the groups of inactive needles are alternate in a circumferential direction on the rotating cylinder activated in reciprocating motion, so as to obtain stitches alternate with portions of the not-knitted main thread; reiterating the preceding step to
- active needles needles controlled to take at least one main thread and to knit it for stitching are referred to, whereas the expression “inactive needles” refers to needles kept idle, that is in such a position to not take any thread and thus not carry out any stitching. Therefore, at each group of inactive needles, the main thread will be not-knitted, that is to say floating between the last stitch made by the group of active needles preceding the group of inactive needles and the first stitch made by the group of active needles following the group of inactive needles.
- the whole garment completed with the containing portion or band by means of a circular machine for hosiery or laiitwear, with a succession of steps carried out by alternately knitting, the foot-covering garment resulting as a whole and thus seamless for the jointing of the parts composing it, i.e. toe portion, middle portion, heel portion and first and/or second containing portion.
- the first and/or second containing portion has a plurality of ribs spaced out by floating portions having the length of at least two stitches.
- the second containing portion is useful to hold the end part of the toe portion drawn over the user foot, preventing it from bending due to the friction with the shoe.
- the steps needed for the realization of the first and/or second containing portions are carried out by realizing the stitches with a constant shed in the main thread.
- the groups of active needles are each composed of a needle and the groups of inactive needles are each composed of at least seven needles, in order to form floating portions with a length corresponding to at least seven stitches.
- This configuration provides a high comfort grade to the garment, while resulting however particularly suitable to give the right holding grade to the first and/or second containing portions.
- the steps needed for the realization of the first and/or second containing portion are carried out by knitting one or more elastic threads with the main thread.
- the first containing portion combined with the heel portion and/or the second containing portion combined with the toe portion of the foot-covering garment will have a still higher holding capacity. Since the elastic thread is laiitted at the ribs only, the first and/or the second containing portions are most comfortable than the elastic edges of the known art. In fact the areas with the greatest thiclaiess, in which the main thread and the elastic thread are laiitted and which can bother, are at the ribs only which compose a minimal part of the containing portion itself.
- figure 1 shows a perspective view of a foot-covering garment according to the present invention
- figure 2 shows a top view of the garment in figure 1;
- figure 3 shows a detail of the toe portion of the garment in figure 1.
- a foot-covering garment is wholly indicated and formed as a whole, that is seamlessly, which is obtained by loiitting at least one main thread.
- the foot-covering garment comprises a heel portion 2, a middle portion 3, a toe portion 4 and an opening 5 positioned between the heel portion and the toe portion for allowing the insertion of a user foot.
- the foot-covering garment is provided with a first containing portion 6 realized as a whole with the heel portion.
- a containing portion has a band shape adapted to wrap the upper portion of the user heel and is composed of a plurality of ribs 7 formed by stitches of the main thread.
- the ribs extend substantially parallel one to another between the upper end 8 of the heel portion and the edge 9 of the opening 5 and are spaced apart one from another by a length corresponding to at least two stitches referring to the heel portion.
- main thread extends in a substantially transverse direction with respect to the same ribs and is laiitted at each rib, and not-knitted between two adjoining ribs, thereby defining lengths of free, or floating, main thread which form portions named floating portions 10.
- the ribs 7 extend therefore orthogonally or anyway transversely to the upper end of the heel portion and to the edge of the opening, whereas the lengths of the main thread, defining the floating portions, extend substantially parallel to the upper end of the heel portion and to the edge of the opening.
- Each rib has a length of at least ten stitches in a direction orthogonal to the upper end of the heel portion and to the edge of the opening. Such a length can however vary according to needs.
- each rib has a length of one stitch in the longitudinal direction and the distance between two adjoining ribs is equal to seven stitches of the heel portion.
- the garment can comprise a second containing portion 6' realized as a whole with the toe portion 4 and equivalent to the first containing portion 6.
- the foot-covering garment will be therefore provided with a first and a second containing portions at the end of the heel and toe portions in order to assure an optimal wearability of the garment itself.
- a knit openwork array 11, ii' is present, aesthetically very pleasant.
- Both the first and the second containing portions 6, 6' can additionally comprise one or more elastic threads, different from the main thread, which are also laiitted at the ribs 7, 7' and not laiitted between two adjoining ribs at the floating portions 10, io'.
- at least the first containing portion 6 is provided with one or more elastic threads in order to increase the holding once the foot-covering garment has been put on.
- the invention further relates to a method for manufacturing seamlessly and wholly a knit foot-covering garment l as described afore, comprising a heel portion 2, a toe portion 4 and a middle portion 3 located between the heel portion 2 and the toe portion 4 on a circular machine for knitwear or hosiery, provided with needles and one cylinder which is able to be selectively and rotationally activated in continuous motion and reciprocating motion.
- the method provides the following steps:
- step a) at the end of the step a), laiitting with the reciprocating motion of the rotating cylinder, in order to realize the middle portion 3 of the foot-covering garment 1;
- step b) at the end of the step b), laiitting with the reciprocating motion of the rotating cylinder, in order to realize the toe portion 4 or the heel portion 2 respectively of the foot-covering garment 1;
- step d) before step a) and/or at the end of the step c), laiitting the main thread with part of the cylinder needles, said part being in its turn subdivided into groups of active needles, each composed by one or more laiitting needles, and groups of inactive needles, each composed of at least two not-loiitting needles, wherein the groups of active needles and the groups of inactive needles are alternate in a circumferential direction on the rotating cylinder activated in reciprocating motion, so as to obtain stitches alternate with portions of the not-knitted main thread;
- the first containing portion 6 comprising a plurality of ribs (7), which are defined by the afore said stitches of the main thread, extending substantially parallel one to another, the distance between two adjoining ribs being equal to the length of the portions of not- knitted main thread which are interposed between the ribs, wherein said portions of not-knitted main thread define a floating portion 10.
- the foot-covering garment is entirely realized as a whole by knitting with a part of the needles of the cylinder in reciprocating motion and is composed of a succession of half-rings, also defined semi-courses.
- each semi-course composing the first and/or second containing portion is formed by an alternation of one or more adjoining stitches followed by a length of free or floating thread.
- the inactive needles are held out from any type of knitting. To each semi-course, therefore, the same needles laiit, thereby forming laiit ribs, whereas the same needles remain inactive, not taldng the thread and therefore allowing it to float in order to form the floating portions.
- all the groups of active needles are composed of the same number of needles and all the groups of inactive needles are composed of the same number of needles, in order to obtain ribs having equal width one to another and spaced with constant shed one from another by floating portions of equal width.
- the number of needles of each group of active needles is different from the number of needles of each group of inactive needles.
- the number of needles of each group of inactive needles is larger than the number of needles of each group of active needles; this way a containing portion is obtained with floating portions larger than the ribs so as to result highly comfortable.
- the groups of active needles are each composed of one needle and the groups of inactive needles are each composed of at least seven needles.
- part of the cylinder needles is selected so as to form an alternation of an active needle followed by seven inactive needles and so on, such that each group of seven inactive needles is preceded and followed by one active needle, so as to form ribs having the width of one stitch which are alternate with floating portions having a length equal to at least seven stitches.
- a knit openwork array 11, ii' is present, aesthetically very pleasant. Indeed, after the formation of the heel portion, groups of previously active needles are made inactive in order to compose the groups of inactive needles needed for forming the first containing portion. Consequently to the passage between the heel portion and the first containing portion, the previously active needles become inactive and stop laiitting by forming the afore said knit open works. The same occurs also for the second containing portion.
- the steps needed for the realization of the first containing portion 6 can be carried out by laiitting one or more elastic threads along with the main thread.
- the second containing portion 6' can be realized too by adding at least one elastic thread.
- the method for the manufacturing of the foot-covering garment can be carried out starting from the realization of the first containing portion, to carry on with the realization of the heel portion, proceed with the middle portion, and end with the realization of the toe portion.
- the method can further provide all the steps needed for realizing a second containing portion following the realization of the toe portion.
- the method can provide all the steps needed for realizing a foot-covering garment having all the afore described features.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
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- Outer Garments And Coats (AREA)
- Details Of Garments (AREA)
- Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)
Abstract
The present invention relates to a knit foot-covering garment, as well as a method for manufacturing thereof on circular machines for hosiery and knitwear. The foot-covering garment comprises a heel portion, a toe portion, a middle portion located between the heel portion and the toe portion and an opening between said heel portion, said middle portion and said toe portion for the insertion of a user foot. According to the invention, the foot-covering garment further comprises a first containing portion seamlessly knitted as a whole with the heel portion and/or a second containing portion seamlessly knitted as a whole with the toe portion. The first and/or second containing portion comprises a plurality of ribs, which are defined by stitches of a main thread, substantially extending parallel one to another, the main thread also substantially extending transversely to said ribs and being knitted at the same ribs, and not-knitted between two adjoining ribs in order to define portions of main thread named floating portions.
Description
Foot-covering garment and manufacturing method
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to the field of hoses, and similar garments, and relates in particular to a garment having the shape of a foot-covering sock of the type known in Italy with the name of 'fantasmino'.
The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing such a garment on circular machines for hosiery and laiitwear.
STATE OF THE ART
Foot-covering garments are known to be fitted on the foot in order to become substantially not visible once a shoe has been put on. With the terms 'foot- covering garment' and 'under-foot sock' a garment is referred that is adapted to cover the toe, sole and heel portions only of a wearer's foot, as well as part of the lateral portion thereof, allowing the instep and the ankle to be uncovered.
Such garments generally comprise a toe portion, a sole portion, two lateral portions and a heel portion. Usually, at least the toe and heel portions have then a top elastic edge in order to correctly hold the garment on the foot when worn.
The foot-covering garment is preferably made on circular machines for hosiery and laiitwear and can be realized as a whole, that is to say free from seams to carry out outside the same machine at the toe or heel portion, and free from seams for fastening elastic portions.
EP 0632972, by the same inventor of the present patent Application, relates to a foot-covering garment having two opposite parts having the shape of pouch heel and integrally joined to a middle area, and having an elastic edge realized and knitted with the two heel-shaped parts. Therefore such a garment can provide for the presence of an elastic band at the whole edge thereof which defines the opening through which the foot can be inserted into the garment itself. EP 0632972
also relates to a method for manufacturing such a garment integrally on a circular machine for hosiery. The garment configuration and method thereof, however, are limited in connection with the size of the garment itself. Indeed the need of realizing a closed-loop elastic band at the afore described edge limits the extent of the middle portion and therefore the whole length of the garment. In order to fit to large sizes, over number 42, the foot-covering garment has to be realized of an elastic material which thus makes it extensible. However, this is a limit of the selection of usable yarns; for example natural fibers such as cotton, which are little extensible by nature, have to be unavoidably excluded.
The elastic edge is little comfortable for the user, as made until now. The elastic edge is generally realized as a whole with a garment portion, by knitting an elastic thread with the thread which composes the remaining of the garment to form a drawstring having a thickness larger than the remaining of the garment. In use, the shoe presses such a drawstring against the user foot, causing bothersome signs on the skin.
In order to obviate such drawbacks, EP 1133245 puts forward a garment having a sole, a partial upper foot region, a heel, and a toe. The opening for the insertion of the foot is provided in a middle position between toe and sole, at the partial upper foot region. The length of such a partial upper foot region can vary according to the needs to allow the realization of garments of different size. The elastic edge is provided at toe and heel; on the contrary, at the partial upper foot region no elastic edge is provided in order to reduce as much as possible the extent of the elastic edge and minimize the bother the elastic edge causes.
On the other hand, the elastic edge is essential and it could not get rid of it, at least in the heel and toe portions to aid the shaping of the garment and the related fitting to the foot, once worn. Indeed, the elastic edge corresponding to the heel is needed to prevent the under-foot garment from being removed due to the friction with the rear part of the shoe during walking, whereas the elastic edge in the toe portion is needed to hold such a portion correctly drawn over the foot.
Additionally, in case of foot-covering garments to be dyed, in the dying process colour consistency is often not obtained between the stretch yarn used to realize the elastic edge and the yarns composing the remaining of the garment, especially when these are natural yarns. The yarns, in fact, have different properties according to their nature and thus absorb colour differently, resulting in different shades at the end of the dying process. Accordingly, the elastic edge can have a colour shade different with respect to the remaining of the garment with a little pleasant appearance. OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been conceived just with the aim of compensating for the drawbacks of the laiown art by putting forward a foot-covering garment provided with extremely comfortable containing elements in place of the conventional elastic edge.
Another object of the invention is to put forward an aesthetically pleasing garment that is substantially homogeneously coloured in all its parts.
Such objects are achieved with a knit foot-covering garment according to claim 1.
In particular, the knit foot-covering garment comprises a heel portion, a toe portion, a middle portion located between the heel portion and the toe portion and an opening between said heel portion, said middle portion and said toe portion for the insertion of a user foot. According to the invention, the foot- covering garment comprises a first containing portion seamlessly knitted as a whole with the heel portion and/or a second containing portion seamlessly knitted as a whole with the toe portion. The first and/or second containing portion comprises a plurality of ribs, which are defined by stitches of a main thread, which extend substantially parallel one to the other between the upper end of the heel portion or toe portion respectively and the edge of said opening, the distance between two adjacent ribs corresponding to at least two stitches of the heel portion or toe
portion respectively; said main thread extending also substantially transversely to said ribs and being laiitted at the same ribs, and not laiitted between two adjacent ribs in order to define portions of main thread, named floating portions.
With the term 'rib' a portion composed of stitches is intended which extends between the upper end of the heel portion and the edge of said opening. With the expression 'floating portions', portions composed of lengths of free thread, that is not laiitted, are intended and comprised between the stitches of two adjacent ribs. Advantageously, the containing portion has the shape of a band, composed of a plurality of knit ribs spaced out by floating portions, and ensures a minimal extensibility to allow the insertion of the user foot, but is less extensible than the knit composing the remaining part of the garment and, therefore, exerts a containing function also in absence of the elastic band. Additionally, the floating portions composing the containing band have a smaller thickness, and thus are more comfortable than a conventional elastic edge, in which the elastic thread is laiitted with the thread composing the remaining part of the garment. Additionally, the portions having floating threads are soft when contacting the skin, with a sponge-like effect.
Advantageously, the ribs extend substantially orthogonally both at the upper end of the heel portion or toe portion respectively and at the edge of the opening and the portions of main thread defining the floating portions extend substantially in parallel to the upper end of the heel portion or toe portion respectively and the edge of the opening.
This configuration assures to be able to widen adequately the containing portion in order to aid the foot insertion and hold the containing portion in contact with the foot once the garment has been worn.
Preferably, each rib extends for a length of at least ten stitches in a direction orthogonal or anyway transversal to both the upper end of the heel portion and the edge of said opening. This in order to have a containing portion of a height adequate to hold the garment correctly on the foot once the latter has been put on and while the wearer is moving. Furthermore, in such a way the first containing
band or edge tampers in a larger area of the heel, better distributing the pressure and resulting this way more comfortable than conventional elastic edges.
The second containing band, in fact, holds the under-foot garment correctly drawn over the upper part of the foot.
Preferably, each rib extends longitudinally for one stitch of the heel portion and the distance between two adjoining ribs is equal to seven stitches of the heel portion or toe portion respectively.
In fact, it has been noted that such a configuration, in which the ribs have a width of one stitch, i.e. they extend for one stitch in a direction longitudinal with respect to the upper end of the heel portion and to the edge of said opening, and the floating portions have a length equivalent to at least seven stitches of the heel portion, is extremely comfortable for the user, still being very effective in terms of holding.
Advantageously the first containing portion and/or the second containing portion further comprise/comprises one or more elastic threads different from the main thread, and which are laiitted at the ribs and not laiitted between two adjoining ribs at the floating portions.
The insertion of the elastic thread can be particularly valuable especially for the first containing band at the level of the heel portion, since the latter is mostly stressed by the shoe during the user movements. Differently from the known art garments, however, the elastic thread is laiitted in the ribs and floating for at least two stitches between two adjoining ribs and thus the bother caused by the same is minimized, thereby reducing the areas pressing on the skin maximally.
Furthermore, the elastic thread is laiitted in the ribs only and thus for short lengths of the containing portion; on the contrary it is hidden by the main thread in the floating portions thereby minimizing possible inhomogeneities deriving from different colour shades between main thread and elastic thread as a consequence of the dying process.
In its further aspect, the invention relates to a method according to claim 6 for manufacturing seamlessly and wholly the foot-covering garment comprising a
heel portion, a toe portion and a middle portion located between the heel portion and the toe portion on a circular machine for knitwear or hosiery, provided with needles and one cylinder which is able to be selectively and rotationally activated in continuous motion and reciprocating motion.
More in detail the method comprises the steps of knitting a main thread with a part of the needles of the rotating cylinder activated in reciprocating motion, to realize the heel portion or the toe portion of the foot-covering garment; knitting with the reciprocating motion of the rotating cylinder, in order to realize the middle portion of the foot-covering garment; subsequently, knitting with reciprocating motion of the rotating cylinder, to realize the toe portion or the heel portion respectively of the foot-covering garment; and before the first step and/or after the last step proceeding by knitting the main thread with part of the cylinder needles, said part being in its turn subdivided in groups of active needles, each composed of one or more knitting needles, and groups of inactive needles, each composed of at least two not-knitting needles, wherein the groups of active needles and the groups of inactive needles are alternate in a circumferential direction on the rotating cylinder activated in reciprocating motion, so as to obtain stitches alternate with portions of the not-knitted main thread; reiterating the preceding step to realize a containing portion comprising a plurality of ribs, defined by the afore said stitches of the main thread, which substantially extend parallel one to another, the distance between two adjoining ribs being equal to the length of the portions of the not-knitted main thread interposed between the ribs, wherein said portions of not-knitted main thread define a floating portion.
With the expression "active needles", needles controlled to take at least one main thread and to knit it for stitching are referred to, whereas the expression "inactive needles" refers to needles kept idle, that is in such a position to not take any thread and thus not carry out any stitching. Therefore, at each group of inactive needles, the main thread will be not-knitted, that is to say floating between the last stitch made by the group of active needles preceding the group of inactive needles and the first stitch made by the group of active needles following
the group of inactive needles. Advantageously, it is therefore possible to obtain the whole garment completed with the containing portion or band, by means of a circular machine for hosiery or laiitwear, with a succession of steps carried out by alternately knitting, the foot-covering garment resulting as a whole and thus seamless for the jointing of the parts composing it, i.e. toe portion, middle portion, heel portion and first and/or second containing portion. The first and/or second containing portion has a plurality of ribs spaced out by floating portions having the length of at least two stitches.
The second containing portion is useful to hold the end part of the toe portion drawn over the user foot, preventing it from bending due to the friction with the shoe.
Preferably the steps needed for the realization of the first and/or second containing portions are carried out by realizing the stitches with a constant shed in the main thread.
This in order to obtain floating portions having the same extent in the longitudinal direction and, subsequently, ribs with equal distance there between along the whole relevant containing portion.
Advantageously, the groups of active needles are each composed of a needle and the groups of inactive needles are each composed of at least seven needles, in order to form floating portions with a length corresponding to at least seven stitches.
This configuration provides a high comfort grade to the garment, while resulting however particularly suitable to give the right holding grade to the first and/or second containing portions.
Preferably, the steps needed for the realization of the first and/or second containing portion are carried out by knitting one or more elastic threads with the main thread.
This way the first containing portion combined with the heel portion and/or the second containing portion combined with the toe portion of the foot-covering garment, will have a still higher holding capacity. Since the elastic thread is laiitted
at the ribs only, the first and/or the second containing portions are most comfortable than the elastic edges of the known art. In fact the areas with the greatest thiclaiess, in which the main thread and the elastic thread are laiitted and which can bother, are at the ribs only which compose a minimal part of the containing portion itself.
The operation of circular machines for knitwear or hosiery is indifferent starting from the manufacturing of one or the other end of the foot-covering garment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be therefore further illustrated in the following of the description made referring to the accompanying indicative and not limitative drawings, in which:
figure 1 shows a perspective view of a foot-covering garment according to the present invention;
figure 2 shows a top view of the garment in figure 1; and
figure 3 shows a detail of the toe portion of the garment in figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
In said drawings, by the numeral 1 a foot-covering garment is wholly indicated and formed as a whole, that is seamlessly, which is obtained by loiitting at least one main thread.
The foot-covering garment comprises a heel portion 2, a middle portion 3, a toe portion 4 and an opening 5 positioned between the heel portion and the toe portion for allowing the insertion of a user foot.
According to the invention the foot-covering garment is provided with a first containing portion 6 realized as a whole with the heel portion. Such a containing portion has a band shape adapted to wrap the upper portion of the user heel and is composed of a plurality of ribs 7 formed by stitches of the main thread. The ribs
extend substantially parallel one to another between the upper end 8 of the heel portion and the edge 9 of the opening 5 and are spaced apart one from another by a length corresponding to at least two stitches referring to the heel portion. Between two adjoining ribs the main thread extends in a substantially transverse direction with respect to the same ribs and is laiitted at each rib, and not-knitted between two adjoining ribs, thereby defining lengths of free, or floating, main thread which form portions named floating portions 10.
The ribs 7 extend therefore orthogonally or anyway transversely to the upper end of the heel portion and to the edge of the opening, whereas the lengths of the main thread, defining the floating portions, extend substantially parallel to the upper end of the heel portion and to the edge of the opening.
Each rib has a length of at least ten stitches in a direction orthogonal to the upper end of the heel portion and to the edge of the opening. Such a length can however vary according to needs.
In a preferred configuration each rib has a length of one stitch in the longitudinal direction and the distance between two adjoining ribs is equal to seven stitches of the heel portion.
In addition, the garment can comprise a second containing portion 6' realized as a whole with the toe portion 4 and equivalent to the first containing portion 6. According to this embodiment the foot-covering garment will be therefore provided with a first and a second containing portions at the end of the heel and toe portions in order to assure an optimal wearability of the garment itself.
At the upper portion 8 of the heel portion and/or at the upper portion 8' of the toe portion, next to the ending area of the respective floating portions 10, io', a knit openwork array 11, ii' is present, aesthetically very pleasant.
Both the first and the second containing portions 6, 6' can additionally comprise one or more elastic threads, different from the main thread, which are also laiitted at the ribs 7, 7' and not laiitted between two adjoining ribs at the floating portions 10, io'. Preferably, at least the first containing portion 6 is
provided with one or more elastic threads in order to increase the holding once the foot-covering garment has been put on.
The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing seamlessly and wholly a knit foot-covering garment l as described afore, comprising a heel portion 2, a toe portion 4 and a middle portion 3 located between the heel portion 2 and the toe portion 4 on a circular machine for knitwear or hosiery, provided with needles and one cylinder which is able to be selectively and rotationally activated in continuous motion and reciprocating motion.
In detail, the method provides the following steps:
a) knitting a main thread through part of the needles of the rotating cylinder activated in reciprocating motion, in order to realize the heel portion 2 or the toe portion 4 of the foot-covering garment 1;
b) at the end of the step a), laiitting with the reciprocating motion of the rotating cylinder, in order to realize the middle portion 3 of the foot-covering garment 1;
c) at the end of the step b), laiitting with the reciprocating motion of the rotating cylinder, in order to realize the toe portion 4 or the heel portion 2 respectively of the foot-covering garment 1;
d) before step a) and/or at the end of the step c), laiitting the main thread with part of the cylinder needles, said part being in its turn subdivided into groups of active needles, each composed by one or more laiitting needles, and groups of inactive needles, each composed of at least two not-loiitting needles, wherein the groups of active needles and the groups of inactive needles are alternate in a circumferential direction on the rotating cylinder activated in reciprocating motion, so as to obtain stitches alternate with portions of the not-knitted main thread;
e) reiterating the step d) to realize the first containing portion 6 comprising a plurality of ribs (7), which are defined by the afore said stitches of the main thread, extending substantially parallel one to another, the distance between two adjoining ribs being equal to the length of the portions of not- knitted main thread
which are interposed between the ribs, wherein said portions of not-knitted main thread define a floating portion 10.
Therefore, according to the method, the foot-covering garment is entirely realized as a whole by knitting with a part of the needles of the cylinder in reciprocating motion and is composed of a succession of half-rings, also defined semi-courses. In particular, each semi-course composing the first and/or second containing portion is formed by an alternation of one or more adjoining stitches followed by a length of free or floating thread. This is obtained by selecting the needles of part of the cylinder so as to form an alternation of groups of active needles composed by one or more needles held in an active position, that is adapted to take the main thread to be knitted, and of groups of inactive needles composed by at least two needles held in an inactive position, i.e. such to not take the main thread so as to not laiit. In other terms the inactive needles are held out from any type of knitting. To each semi-course, therefore, the same needles laiit, thereby forming laiit ribs, whereas the same needles remain inactive, not taldng the thread and therefore allowing it to float in order to form the floating portions.
Preferably, all the groups of active needles are composed of the same number of needles and all the groups of inactive needles are composed of the same number of needles, in order to obtain ribs having equal width one to another and spaced with constant shed one from another by floating portions of equal width. Preferably, the number of needles of each group of active needles is different from the number of needles of each group of inactive needles. Advantageously, the number of needles of each group of inactive needles is larger than the number of needles of each group of active needles; this way a containing portion is obtained with floating portions larger than the ribs so as to result highly comfortable.
In a particularly preferred configuration, the groups of active needles are each composed of one needle and the groups of inactive needles are each composed of at least seven needles. This means that part of the cylinder needles is selected so as to form an alternation of an active needle followed by seven inactive needles and so on, such that each group of seven inactive needles is preceded and followed
by one active needle, so as to form ribs having the width of one stitch which are alternate with floating portions having a length equal to at least seven stitches.
At the upper portion 8 of the heel portion 2 and/or at the upper portion 8' of the toe portion 4, next to the ending area of the respective floating portions 10, io', a knit openwork array 11, ii' is present, aesthetically very pleasant. Indeed, after the formation of the heel portion, groups of previously active needles are made inactive in order to compose the groups of inactive needles needed for forming the first containing portion. Consequently to the passage between the heel portion and the first containing portion, the previously active needles become inactive and stop laiitting by forming the afore said knit open works. The same occurs also for the second containing portion.
The steps needed for the realization of the first containing portion 6 can be carried out by laiitting one or more elastic threads along with the main thread. The second containing portion 6' can be realized too by adding at least one elastic thread.
Alternatively, the method for the manufacturing of the foot-covering garment can be carried out starting from the realization of the first containing portion, to carry on with the realization of the heel portion, proceed with the middle portion, and end with the realization of the toe portion.
The method can further provide all the steps needed for realizing a second containing portion following the realization of the toe portion.
Finally, also in this case, the method can provide all the steps needed for realizing a foot-covering garment having all the afore described features.
Claims
1. Knit foot-covering garment (1) comprising a heel portion (2), a toe portion (4) , a middle portion (3) located between the heel portion (2) and the toe portion (4) and an opening (5) between said heel portion (2), said middle portion (3) and said toe portion (4) for the insertion of an user foot, characterized in that the garment (1) comprises a first containing portion (6), seamlessly laiitted as a whole with the heel portion (2) and/or a second containing portion (6') seamlessly laiitted as a whole with the toe portion (4), which first and/or second containing portion (6, 6') comprises:
- a plurality of ribs (7, 7'), defined by stitches of a main thread, substantially extending parallel one to another between the upper end (8, 8') of the heel portion (2) or toe portion (4) respectively and the edge (9) of said opening (5), the distance between the two adjoining ribs (7, 7') corresponding to at least two stitches of the heel portion (2) or toe portion (4) respectively, and
- wherein said main thread further extends substantially transversely to said ribs (7, 7') and is laiitted at the same ribs (7, 7'), and it is not laiitted between two adjoining ribs (7, 7') in order to define portions of the main thread named floating portions (10, 10').
2. Garment (1) according to claim 1, wherein said ribs (7, 7') extend orthogonally or anyway transversely to both the upper end (8) of the heel portion (2) or toe portion (4) respectively and the edge (9, 9') of said opening (5) and the portions of the main thread which define the floating portions (10, 10') extend substantially in parallel to both the upper end of the heel portion (2) or toe portion (4) respectively and the edge (9, 9') of said opening (5).
3. Garment (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each rib (7, 7') extends for a length of at least ten stitches in a direction substantially orthogonal or
anyway transversal to both the upper end (8, 8') of the heel portion (2) or toe portion (4) respectively and the edge (9, 9') of said opening (5).
4. Garment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1-3, wherein each rib (7, 7') extends longitudinally for a stitch and the distance between two adjoining ribs (7, 7') is equal to seven stitches of the heel portion (2) or toe portion (4) respectively.
5. Garment (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1-4, wherein the first containing portion (6) and/or the second containing portion (6') further comprise/comprises one or more elastic threads, different from the main thread defining the floating portions (10, 10'), and which are knitted at the ribs (7, 7') and are not knitted between two adjoining ribs at the floating portions (10, io').
6. Method for manufacturing seamlessly and wholly a knit foot-covering garment (1) comprising a heel portion (2), a toe portion (4) and a middle portion (3) located between the heel portion (2) and the toe portion (4) on a circular machine for knitwear or hosiery, provided with needles and one cylinder, the latter being able to be selectively and rotationally activated in continuous motion and reciprocating motion, comprising the steps of:
a) laiitting a main thread through part of the needles of the rotating cylinder activated in reciprocating motion, in order to realize the heel portion (2) or the toe portion (4) of the foot-covering garment (1);
b) at the end of step a) laiitting with the reciprocating motion of the rotating cylinder, in order to realize the middle portion (3) of the foot-covering garment (1);
c) at the end of step b) laiitting with the reciprocating motion of the rotating cylinder, in order to realize the toe portion (4) or the heel portion (2) respectively of the foot-covering garment (1);
d) before step a) and/or at the end of step c) laiitting the main thread with part of the cylinder needles, said part being in its turn subdivided into groups of active needles, each composed of one or more laiitting needles, and groups of inactive needles, each composed of at least two not-knitting needles, wherein the groups of active needles and the groups of inactive needles are alternate in a circumferential direction on the rotating cylinder activated in reciprocating motion, so as to obtain stitches alternate with portions of the not-knitted main thread;
e) reiterating the step d) to realize a containing portion (6) comprising a plurality of ribs (7, 7'), which are defined by the afore said stitches of the main thread, extending substantially parallel one to another, the distance between the two adjoining ribs (7, 7') being equal to the length of the portions of the not- knitted main thread which are interposed between the ribs (7, 7'), wherein said portions of not-knitted main thread define a floating portion (10, 10').
7. Method according to claim 6, wherein the step d) and the step e) are carried out by realizing the stitches with a constant shed on the main thread.
8. Method according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein during the steps d) - e) said groups of active needles are each composed of one needle and said groups of inactive needles are each composed of at least seven needles, in order to form floating portions (10, 10') with a length corresponding to at least seven stitches.
9. Method according to one of claims 6-8, wherein the steps d) - e) are carried out by laiitting one or more elastic threads with the main thread.
10. Garment (1) knitted according to one of the preceding claims 6-9.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP14736792.4A EP3019653A1 (en) | 2013-07-10 | 2014-07-08 | Foot-covering garment and manufacturing method |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
IT000101A ITBS20130101A1 (en) | 2013-07-10 | 2013-07-10 | COVERED GARMENT AND MANUFACTURING METHOD |
ITBS2013A000101 | 2013-07-10 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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WO2015004094A1 true WO2015004094A1 (en) | 2015-01-15 |
Family
ID=49085080
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/EP2014/064514 WO2015004094A1 (en) | 2013-07-10 | 2014-07-08 | Foot-covering garment and manufacturing method |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP3019653A1 (en) |
IT (1) | ITBS20130101A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2015004094A1 (en) |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN107099920A (en) * | 2017-06-22 | 2017-08-29 | 宁波慈星股份有限公司 | It is integrally formed the weaving method of elastic neckline on welt |
CN107744208A (en) * | 2017-11-07 | 2018-03-02 | 保丽信(惠州)织造有限公司 | A kind of One-piece woven footwear and its weaving method suitable for thin bottom footwear |
US10227717B2 (en) | 2014-03-10 | 2019-03-12 | Steps Holding B.V. | Foot-covering garment, method for manufacturing such a foot-covering garment and a circular machine for knitwear or hosiery |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR3104259B1 (en) | 2019-12-06 | 2024-03-01 | Commissariat Energie Atomique | Device for the photo-acoustic characterization of a gaseous substance and method of manufacturing such a device |
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US2623374A (en) * | 1951-06-25 | 1952-12-30 | Interwoven Stocking Co | Article of hosiery |
US3990115A (en) * | 1976-01-22 | 1976-11-09 | Renfro Corporation | Roll top cuffless sock and method of forming same |
US4326393A (en) * | 1979-10-10 | 1982-04-27 | Brown Wooten Mills, Inc. | Decorative footlet-type sock |
EP0632972A1 (en) | 1993-07-06 | 1995-01-11 | CALZIFICIO GI-EMME di PEDRINI G. MARIO & C. S.n.c. | Foot covering inner sole or protective stocking and method of manufacture on circular stocking knitters |
EP1133245A1 (en) | 1998-10-01 | 2001-09-19 | Technology Corporation Storage | Improved footwear garment, method of manufacture and knitting machine |
-
2013
- 2013-07-10 IT IT000101A patent/ITBS20130101A1/en unknown
-
2014
- 2014-07-08 EP EP14736792.4A patent/EP3019653A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2014-07-08 WO PCT/EP2014/064514 patent/WO2015004094A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2623374A (en) * | 1951-06-25 | 1952-12-30 | Interwoven Stocking Co | Article of hosiery |
US3990115A (en) * | 1976-01-22 | 1976-11-09 | Renfro Corporation | Roll top cuffless sock and method of forming same |
US4326393A (en) * | 1979-10-10 | 1982-04-27 | Brown Wooten Mills, Inc. | Decorative footlet-type sock |
EP0632972A1 (en) | 1993-07-06 | 1995-01-11 | CALZIFICIO GI-EMME di PEDRINI G. MARIO & C. S.n.c. | Foot covering inner sole or protective stocking and method of manufacture on circular stocking knitters |
EP1133245A1 (en) | 1998-10-01 | 2001-09-19 | Technology Corporation Storage | Improved footwear garment, method of manufacture and knitting machine |
Cited By (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10227717B2 (en) | 2014-03-10 | 2019-03-12 | Steps Holding B.V. | Foot-covering garment, method for manufacturing such a foot-covering garment and a circular machine for knitwear or hosiery |
CN107099920A (en) * | 2017-06-22 | 2017-08-29 | 宁波慈星股份有限公司 | It is integrally formed the weaving method of elastic neckline on welt |
CN107744208A (en) * | 2017-11-07 | 2018-03-02 | 保丽信(惠州)织造有限公司 | A kind of One-piece woven footwear and its weaving method suitable for thin bottom footwear |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP3019653A1 (en) | 2016-05-18 |
ITBS20130101A1 (en) | 2015-01-11 |
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