Abstract:
The invention relates to a sock, especially for use in sports, which comprises a foot part ( 1 ) and a leg ( 2 ), said foot part having a toe area ( 11 ) and a heel area ( 12 ) and a sole area ( 13 ) between the toe and the heel area, and which is also provided with an O-ring-type bandage ( 22 ). An O-ring-type bandage ( 22 ) is disposed in the area of the ankle joint and extends asymmetrically on the circumference of the sock.

Description:
This application is the National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2006/006537, filed Jul. 5, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention pertains to a sock, especially for use in sports activities, with a leg part and a foot part. The foot part has a toe area, a heel area, and a sole area, which is located between the toe and heel areas, the sock being provided with an O-ring bandage. 
     Especially in the case of sports activities, the human foot is usually enclosed by a sock. So that the sock will fit properly on the foot, it is known that O-ring bandages can be provided on socks or stockings (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,617,745). These, however, are arranged to extend circumferentially and symmetrically, and parallel to the longitudinal center line of the sock. 
     Running and jumping movements exert increased stress on the foot, especially in the area of the ankle. The foot has the natural function of flexing inward to damp such impacts. This function is called pronation. After the outside part of the sole has made contact with the ground, the load shifts somewhat toward the inside, so that the lengthwise arch of the foot can flatten out and thus absorb some of the impact. The human foot, however, can be formed in different ways. Feet can be divided into normal, contracted, inverted, and flat. The normal foot shows a balanced arch. During walking and running, the outside edge of the foot strikes the ground first. Then it rolls inward to absorb and to damp the impact of the foot. This is referred to as “natural pronation”. Contracted and inverted feet do not inflect inward for the most part during the landing phase, and the footprint left behind consists primarily of the forward and rear parts of the foot. This is called “underpronation” or “supination”. The natural ability of the foot to protect against impact is considerably reduced in the case of underpronation. Flat feet, furthermore, have a very low arch and leave behind a footprint consisting of the complete foot. Flat feet flex very strongly toward the inside after the landing phase. This is called overpronation. In addition, the motor apparatus in the area of the foot joints can be stressed by improper alignment of the legs, which can take either the form commonly called bowlegged or that called knock-kneed. 
     Both overpronators and underpronators, as well as people with improper alignment of the legs, suffer from the problem of insufficient natural damping. As a result, severe stress is imposed on the foot. To support the ligaments and tendons of the motor apparatus around the ankle, it is known that bandages can be placed around the foot. A bandage is wrapped horizontally around the lower area of the shin and around the ankle before the sock is pulled over the foot. This wrapping, however, does not offer satisfactory stabilization and support of the motor apparatus around the ankle, and in addition it does not take into account the special forms of stress associated with overpronation and underpronation. The bandage, furthermore, adds considerable bulk under the sock, which decreases the wearing comfort. 
     The invention proposes to provide a remedy to this situation. The invention is based on the task of creating a sock which supports the motion apparatus in the area of the ankle and which is designed specifically to deal with the special stresses which occur in association with overpronation and underpronation and also those associated with misalignment of the legs. According to the invention, this task is accomplished in that at least one O-ring bandage is provided in the area of the ankle, this bandage extending asymmetrically around the circumference of the sock. 
     The invention creates a sock, especially a sock for sports activities, which supports the motion apparatus in the area of the ankle and which deals specifically with the particular stresses associated with overpronation and underpronation and also with those associated with misalignment of the legs. For this reason, the O-ring bandage is located in the area of the ankle in such a way that it can provide a support function appropriate to the type of stress being imposed in the case in question. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the asymmetric O-ring bandage passes under the ankle on the inside of the foot and above the ankle on the outside of the foot. As a result, the ankle is supported in particular against strong forces acting outward. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the asymmetric O-ring bandage passes above the ankle on the inside of the foot and under the ankle on the outside of the foot. As a result, the ankle is supported in particular against strong forces acting outward. 
     In an elaboration of the invention, two O-ring bandages are provided. As a result, the support function provided for the ankle is improved even more. The opposing arrangement of the bandages, furthermore, creates a support function acting on both sides of the ankle. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the sock has at least one wicking channel. The wicking channel is used to optimize the temperature and humidity conditions of the foot by conducting away perspiration. To avoid excessive layers of material, the wicking channel preferably passes through the bandages. 
     Other elaborations and embodiments of the invention are stated in the other subclaims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
       Exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are described in detail below: 
         FIG. 1  shows a side view of the outside surface of a foot wearing a sock with an asymmetric O-ring bandage; 
         FIG. 2  shows a view of a pair of socks of the type according to  FIG. 1  from the rear; 
         FIG. 3  shows a different design of a sock with an asymmetric O-ring bandage; 
         FIG. 4  shows a view of a pair of socks of the type according to  FIG. 3  from the rear; 
         FIG. 5  shows another embodiment of a sock with an asymmetric O-ring bandage; 
         FIG. 6  shows a view of a pair of socks of the type according to  FIG. 5  from the rear; 
         FIG. 7  shows another design of a sock with an asymmetric O-ring bandage; and 
         FIG. 8  shows a view of a pair of socks of the type according to  FIG. 7  from the rear; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The sock selected as the exemplary embodiment ( FIG. 1 ) consists of a foot part  1  and a leg part  2 . The foot part  1  has a toe area  11 , a heel area  12 , and a sole area  13  located between the toe and heel parts. The areas  11 ,  12 , and  13  can be made of reinforced material, as shown in the exemplary embodiment. The use of material combinations such as virgin wool plus elastic fibers is also possible. 
     The leg part  2  is provided with a collar  21  at the end facing away from the foot part  1 . In the ankle area, the sock is provided with an O-ring bandage  22 , which extends asymmetrically around the circumference of the sock. The bandage  22  is made of an elastic and also a wicking fabric. Elastan, Lycra, or other materials of varying degrees of stretchability are preferably used. 
     The O-ring bandage  22  is woven all the way around together with the same fabric as that which forms the sock. In the exemplary embodiment shown here according to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the O-ring bandage  22  is asymmetric; that is, it passes under the ankle, designated “K”, on the outside of the foot and above the ankle on the inside of the foot. In this embodiment, the O-ring bandage  22  supports the ankle and the ligaments arranged around it especially against the effects of forces acting inward on the ankle. Alternatively, the asymmetric O-ring bandage  22  can be designed so that—again in asymmetric fashion—it passes above the ankle on the outside of the foot and below the ankle on the inside of the foot ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). In this embodiment, it supports the ankle and the ligaments around it especially against the effects of forces acting outward on the ankle. 
     In the case of the pair of socks shown in  FIG. 4 , in which the asymmetric O-ring bandage  22  is designed in such a way that it passes above the ankle on the outside of the foot and below the ankle on the inside of the foot, what is obtained when viewed from the rear is the form of a “V”. In contrast, what we see when we look at the pair of socks illustrated in  FIG. 2  from the rear is the shape of an “A” because of the different arrangement of the asymmetric O-ring bandages  22 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , two O-ring bandages  22  are provided in the sock, as a result of which the supporting action is increased even more. An opposing arrangement of the bandages  22  is selected, so that the bandages  22  cross each other in the area of the Achilles tendon and again in the area of the transition between the top of the foot and the shin. When the pair of socks is seen from the rear, we see that this arrangement of the O-ring bandages  22  produces the form of an “X”. As a result of this design, a support function acting on both sides of the ankle is obtained, where the ankle “K” is surrounded by the bandages  22  on both the outside and the inside. 
     In the exemplary embodiment according to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , two opposing O-ring bandages  22  are again provided. On the outside of the leg and on the inside of the leg, the bandages  22 , which are a certain distance apart here, are connected to each other by a web  24 . The webs  24  pass across the ankle “K”. The support function is thus improved yet again. In particular, a lateral support function is obtained, which does not hinder the rolling and bending of the foot during running or the like in any way, because the bandages have their narrowest points in the areas where the foot bends—the Achilles tendon and the transition from the top of the foot to the shin. 
     The sock can be provided with a wicking channel (not shown), which proceeds from the collar  21  and extends as far as the sole area  13  and is formed of mesh knit fabric with a wicking function. The wicking channel helps to carry moisture up and away from the sole area. The asymmetric O-ring bandage  22  is located over the wicking channel. A wicking channel of this type can be provided both on the outside of the leg and on the inside of the leg of the sock. 
     Inso far as socks have been mentioned in the description and in the claims, the invention is not limited to these alone; on the contrary, the term “sock” is also meant to include stockings, tights, etc. to which the invention also pertains.