The invention relates to a heat-regulating sock (1) with padding in certain areas, worn especially for leisure sports such as jogging, in line skating, skiing and similar. The aim of the invention is to especially provide a means of conducting sweat out of the shoe, to the outside. To this end, the inventive sock has at least one integrated airway (3) extending from the sole (2) to the top of the sock, said airway (3) consisting of heat-regulating netted fabric.

The invention relates to a climate-adjusting sock with padding provided in
 various areas, particularly for use in types of leisure sport activities
 such as jogging, in-line skating, skiing or the like, of the type that has
 become known from the patent documents EP-A 0 606 140, DE 906 201, DE-A
 196 18 919, DE-U 87 01 834, or DE-U 90 03 341, for example.
 In all cases in which the human feet are accommodated in comparatively
 dense footwear, an increased accumulation of sweat is brought about.
 Beyond normal movements, an accumulation of sweat that is above the
 average is brought about in types of running movements that strongly
 stress the feet, such as hiking, football playing, jogging, or the like,
 as well as during sports cycling. Effort is thus made to make socks that
 promote the best possible transport of the accumulation of sweat away to
 the outside available to wearers of shoes.
 This requirement for the drawing of the sweat out of and away from the shoe
 is a particular goal of the present invention, one which is achieved, in
 accordance with the invention, by means of at least one integrated air
 channel of a climate-adjusting net-type knit fabric which extends from the
 sole of the foot up to the band.
 A climate channel of an adjusting, net-type knit fabric has the advantage
 that only about 60% of the surface of the skin is covered, so that the
 greatest portion of the moisture arising can evaporate through the
 uncovered portion of the skin, while the rest can be absorbed by the
 fabric. In addition, such a fabric can also serve for the conveying of the
 sweat moisture from the area of the soles of the shoe into an area of the
 sock in which a free evaporation is possible.
 It is provided, in this configuration, that an air channel is provided on
 both outer sides of the sock, that is to say, on the outer side and on the
 inner side of the leg of the wearer of the sock.
 The invention provides that the sock is provided, at least in the area of
 the instep, with a padded cushion or padding of climate-adjusting fabric,
 whereby such a padded cushion can serve for the reduction of the pressure
 points in the area of the laces of the shoe, since the stresses that arise
 can be distributed over a large surface, and the climate-adjusting fabric
 serves for the airing of the skin and the transport of the moisture of the
 sweat away, whereby these fabrics can have different thicknesses,
 depending on the purpose of use of the sock.
 It should be noted at this point that ski socks that use different fabrics
 in the direct area of the foot, on the one hand, and in the lower calf
 area, on the other, for example, are already known. It is also known to
 provide padded cushions or reinforcements in the area of the shins, in
 order to achieve a better padding in the ski boot or in the football shoe,
 for example.
 Further advantages and specific details of the invention proceed from the
 other sub-claims, whereby paddings of climate-adjusting fabrics can also
 be provided in the area of the calf, for example, which can be arranged in
 rod-shaped, arched, helical, or in other ways, such as a calf-shaped
 structure or the like.
 One exceptional feature of the sock in accordance with the invention can,
 in an additional configuration, also consist of the fact that it is
 equipped, in an integrated X-cross support band, with an elastic fabric
 band, whereby this elastic fabric band consists of climate-adjusting
 fabric.
 For the formation of an anatomically-shaped bed of the foot which takes the
 differing stresses on the sole of the human foot into consideration, the
 invention provides for padded cushions or paddings in the area of the
 toes, the ball of the foot, and/or the heel.
 In addition, it can be advantageous to provide a corrugated stretch fabric
 in the area of the instep, at least in some areas, also with
 climate-adjusting fabrics of the type of corrugated knit fabric. In this
 type of knit fabric, the fabric does not lie completely on the skin, as
 the result of which more air can reach the skin. At the same time, it is
 brought about, through the type of corrugated knit fabric, that the fabric
 has a higher elasticity and thereby prevents the formation of folds within
 the sock, as well as the sliding of the foot within the sock or shoe,
 which leads to the fact that the formation of blisters comes about less
 frequently.

The sock in accordance with the invention, which is designated as a whole
 by (1), has an air channel (3) proceeding from the sole of the foot, which
 channel is indicated by the arrow (2) and extends up to the band (4), and
 is formed of climate-adjusting net-type knit fabric. Through this air
 channel (3), moisture is drawn off from the area of the sole of the foot
 in an upward direction. Such a type of air channel (3) can also be
 provided on the sock, which is not discussed in further detail here.
 In the interior of the sock, the sock (1) is equipped with a padded instep
 cushion or padding (5) and, in the area of the shin, it is equipped with a
 padded shin cushion (6), whereby the corresponding contours are only
 indicated in dotted form.
 Both the padded instep cushion (5) and the padded shin cushion (6) are of
 climate-adjusting fabric, whereby different thicknesses of fabric can be
 provided here.
 The area of the Achilles tendon is also protected by means of a padded
 cushion (7). In order to prevent grazing and blisters, which can be
 brought about in this area through the friction from the upper edge of the
 shoe, this padded cushion (7) also consists of a climate-adjusting fabric.
 As is evident from the figures, the area of the calf is also provided with
 padded cushions whereby, in the example depicted, rod-type paddings (8)
 are provided. The invention is not, in any event, restricted to this form
 of configuration, and other forms, such as an arched shape or the like,
 can also be provided here.
 As can be seen from the figures, the sock (1) is also provided with an
 X-cross support band (9) which is formed of an elastic, climate-adjusting
 fabric, and which supports the locomotor apparatus in the transitional
 area between the leg and the foot.
 In order to guarantee an anatomically-formed foot bed, the sole of the sock
 is equipped with additional padded cushions or paddings (10 and 11),
 particularly in the area of the heel and in the area of the ball of the
 foot and/or in the area of the toes.
 Variants of examples of implementation of the sock in accordance with the
 invention are depicted in FIGS. 2 to 7. Thus, FIG. 2 depicts a tennis sock
 with an X-cross support band; FIG. 3 depicts a sock for everyday use,
 whereby the ankle joint is supported; FIG. 4 depicts a shoe for cyclists;
 FIG. 5 depicts the ski sock reproduced on a larger scale than in FIG. 1;
 FIG. 6 depicts a running sock; and FIG. 7 depicts a sock specially
 designed for skaters. The padded cushion fabric, the paddings, and the
 other configurations are slightly modified relative to the example of
 implementation in accordance with FIG. 1, whereby the X-cross support
 bandaging of the ankle joint, among others, is also in the foreground
 here.
 Additional support bands are depicted in FIG. 8; thus, there is a ring-type
 support band (12) above the ankle and, below that, an additional support
 bandaging (13), whereby these support bandagings can have different types
 of extension and elasticities. It is additionally depicted that a diagonal
 support bandaging (14) supporting the sole of the foot between the ball of
 the foot and the heel, which leads to an increased comfort during running
 and wearing in many cases, can be provided.
 It should be additionally noted at this point that the paddings of the sock
 can consist of hollow-core fibers which are coated with threads of wool or
 cotton. The hollow-core/plastic threads are particularly effective in
 damping shocks and pressure.
 The bed of the foot is knit from ensheathed micro-fibers, which are
 extremely supple and reduce the abrasion/skin abrasion. Depending on the
 requirements, the bed of the foot is 100% micro-fibers, even in the area
 of the toes and the heel. The Achilles tendon protective pad, which is
 made of plastic threads or compound fabric and threads or other materials,
 serves to protect the Achilles tendon. In order to achieve a high
 stability, the support bands are also woven, or knit, from non-elastic and
 elastic threads.
 The net-type fabric/knit fabric within the `Air Channel` consists of
 climate-adjusting hollow-core plastic threads, which are also ensheathed
 by other plastic, wool and/or cotton threads. A moisture-absorbing and
 moisture-transport fabric/knit fabric is brought about by this compound
 thread. The net-type knit fabric/knit fabric (`Air Channel`) does not
 completely cover the skin but, instead, depending on the requirements,
 leaves portions of the skin uncovered, so that drops of sweat can arise on
 the skin, which then drip onto the net fabric and are transported away
 from the same. An increased cold/cooling from evaporation is thereby
 brought about. Micro-fiber, polyester, and acrylic paddings within the
 different zones of the foot bring about mechanical, thermal release, or
 damping and insulation.
 The example of implementation of the invention can, of course, be further
 modified in various ways without departing from its fundamental concept.
 Thus, the sock can be formed as a left/right sock, the configuration of
 the padded cushion can diverge from the one depicted here, and the like.