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(11) | EP 3 603 428 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| published in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC |
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| (54) | SOCKS HAVING MULTIPLE TOE POUCHES |
| (57) [Problem] To enable socks each having multiple toe pouches to be used for a long period of time by delaying generation of abrasion holes caused by use. [Solution] In socks having pouches corresponding to five toes, first-toe pouches and fifth-toe pouches are knitted to substantially the same size. Second-toe pouches and fourth-toe pouches are knitted to substantially the same size. The tips of the toe pouches are disposed at substantially the same position relative to and substantially symmetrically about the axis of a direction in which the socks are worn. |
[Technical Field]
[0001] The present invention relates to socks each having multiple toe pouches, the socks allowing a change in an abrasion position where a toe pouch is abraded by an inner wall of a shoe.
[Background Art]
[0002] A typical five-toe sock has toe pouches designated to first to fifth toes of the foot wearing the sock. Hence, in a case where an abrasion position where a toe pouch is abraded by an inner wall of a shoe is to be changed, for example, the sock worn on the right foot is inverted to switch the top face and the bottom face and then worn on the left foot, thereby vertically changing the abrasion position.
[Summary of the Invention]
[Technical Problem]
[0003] An abrasion position where a toe pouch is abraded by an inner wall of a shoe is allowed to be changed in various ways, to evenly spread out the abraded regions, thereby extending the service life of the sock.
[Solution to Problem]
[0004] The configuration will now be described that allows a change in an abrasion position in various ways. A sock having five toe pouches includes a first-toe pouch and a fifth-toe pouch knitted to have substantially the same size, and a second-toe pouch and a fourth-toe pouch knitted to have substantially the same size. The toe pouches are knitted to have flat shapes such that the sock can be readily worn while the top face is disposed on the top or after the sock is inverted to switch the top face and the bottom face.
[0005] The tips of the toe pouches are disposed substantially symmetrically about and at substantially the same position relative to an axis extending along the direction in which the sock is worn. The portion that protrudes along the heel is knitted to have a large width in the horizontal direction to provide a sufficient margin.
[Advantageous Effects of the Invention]
[0006] A sock can be worn while the top face is disposed on the top. The sock can then be worn after the sock is inverted to switch the top face and the bottom face. The sock can then be worn on the other foot. Finally, the sock worn on the other foot can be inverted. This enables a change in the abrasion position where a toe pouch is abraded by an inner wall of a shoe in a total of four ways. This allows a change in position depending on the degree of abrasion of the abraded surface of the sock, to delay the formation of a hole, thereby extending the service life of the sock.
[Brief Description of the Drawings]
[0007]
[FIG. 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sock according to a first embodiment. (The sock opening is not illustrated.)
[FIG. 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a sock according to a second embodiment. (The sock opening is not illustrated.)
[FIG. 3] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a sock according to a third embodiment. (The sock opening is not illustrated.)
[FIG. 4] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a typical five-toe sock. (The sock opening is not illustrated.)
[Description of the Embodiments]
[0008] A sock having toe pouches includes a first-toe pouch and a fifth-toe pouch knitted to have substantially the same size, and a second-toe pouch and a fourth-toe pouch knitted to have substantially the same size. These pouches are disposed symmetrically about a third-toe pouch.
[First Embodiment]
[0009] FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sock having five toe pouches according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A first-toe pouch 1 and a fifth-toe pouch 5 are knitted to have substantially the same size and disposed symmetrically about a third-toe pouch 3. Furthermore, a second-toe pouch 2 and a fourth-toe pouch 4 are knitted to have substantially the same size and disposed symmetrically about the third-toe pouch 3. The tips of the toe pouches are disposed substantially symmetrically about and at substantially the same position relative to an axis extending along the direction in which the sock is worn. The portion that protrudes along the heel is knitted with a margin provided by a large width in the horizontal direction. The sock having five toe pouches has such a configuration.
[0010] An example will now be described of different wearing positions in which toes are placed in the toe pouches. In a first state, the five-toe sock illustrated in FIG. 1 is worn on the right foot such that the first toe is placed in the first-toe pouch 1, and the fifth toe is placed in the fifth-toe pouch 5. In a second state, the sock is inverted to switch the bottom face and the top face and worn on the same right foot such that the first toe is placed in the fifth-toe pouch 5 and the fifth toe is placed in the first-toe pouch 1.
[0011] In a third state, the sock in the first state is worn on the left foot such that the first toe of the left foot is placed in the fifth-toe pouch 5 and the fifth toe is placed in the first-toe pouch 1. In a fourth state, the sock in the third state is inverted to switch the bottom face and the top face and worn such that the first toe is placed in the first-toe pouch 1 and the fifth toe is placed in the fifth-toe pouch 5. Through these four states, the abrasion position where a toe pouch is abraded by an inner wall of a shoe can be changed in four ways.
[Second Embodiment]
[0012] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a sock according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The sock includes a pouch 6 having a size large enough to accommodate three toes of the second, third, and fourth toes, and a first-toe pouch 1 and a fifth-toe pouch 5 knitted to have the same size and disposed symmetrically on the left and right sides of the pouch 6. The portion that protrudes along the heel is knitted with a margin provided by a large width in the horizontal direction.
[0013] Since the sock has such a configuration, the first toe is placed in the first-toe pouch 1, the second, third, and fourth toes are placed in the three-toe pouch 6, and the fifth toe is placed in the fifth-toe pouch 5. Similar to the toe pouches in the first embodiment, the first-toe pouch 1 and the fifth-toe pouch 5 have the same size and are disposed symmetrically on the left and right sides of the three-toe pouch 6. Thus, the sock worn on the right foot can be vertically inverted and worn; the inverted sock can be worn on the left foot; and the sock worn on the left foot can be inverted. That is, the abrasion position where a toe pouch is abraded by an inner wall of a shoe can be changed in four ways, as in the first embodiment.
[Third Embodiment]
[0014] FIG. 3 is a plan view of a sock according to a third embodiment of the present invention including a first-toe pouch 1 and a fifth-toe pouch 8 knitted to have substantially the same size. Furthermore, a second-toe pouch 2 and a fourth-toe pouch 7 are knitted to have substantially the same size. The tips of the toe pouches are disposed asymmetrically about the axis extending along the direction in which the sock is worn but instead are arranged such that the third-toe pouch 3, the fourth-toe pouch 7, and the fifth-toe pouch 8 are retracted in this order relative to the first-toe pouch 1 and the second-toe pouch 2. The sock having five toe pouches has such a configuration. The portion that protrudes along the heel is knitted to have a large width in the horizontal direction to provide a sufficient margin.
[0015] The flexibility of the fabric allows the sock having such a configuration to be worn such that the abrasion position is changed in four different ways, as in the first embodiment, even when the third-toe pouch 3, the fourth-toe pouch 7, and the fifth-toe pouch 8 are retracted relative to the first-toe pouch 1 and the second-toe pouch 2.
[Industrial Applicability]
[0016] A sock can be worn while the top face is disposed on the top. The sock can then be worn after the sock is inverted to switch the top face and the bottom face. The sock can then be worn on the other foot. Finally, the sock worn on the other foot can be inverted. In this way, the sock can be worn such that the abrasion position where a toe pouch is abraded by an inner wall of a shoe is changed in four different ways.
[0017] This enables fine adjustment of the position of abrasion on the sock. That is, an abraded surface of the sock is allowed to be changed depending on the degree of abrasion, to delay the formation of a hole, thereby extending the service life of the sock.
[Reference Signs List]
1. A sock comprising:
a plurality of toe pouches including a first-toe pouch and a fifth-toe pouch knitted to have substantially a same size.
a plurality of toe pouches including a first-toe pouch and a fifth-toe pouch knitted to have substantially a same size.
2. The sock comprising a plurality of toe pouches according to claim 1, wherein the plurality
of toe pouches comprises five toe pouches, and the five toe pouches comprises, in
a symmetrical arrangement about a third-toe pouch, a first-toe pouch and a fifth-toe
pouch knitted to have substantially a same size and a second-toe pouch and a fourth-toe
pouch knitted to have substantially a same size.
3. The sock comprising a plurality of toe pouches according to claim 1, wherein the plurality
of toe pouches comprises three toe pouches, and the three toe pouches comprises a
three-toe pouch, a first-toe pouch, and a fifth-toe pouch, the three-toe pouch being
knitted in a central position and accommodating a second toe, a third toe, and a fourth
toe, the first-toe pouch and the fifth-toe pouch being knitted to have substantially
a same size and disposed on left and right sides of the three-toe pouch.
4. The sock comprising a plurality of toe pouches according to claim 1, wherein the plurality
of toe pouches comprises five toe pouches, the five toe pouches comprises a first-toe
pouch and a fifth-toe pouch are knitted to have substantially a size, and the fifth-toe
pouch is retracted further than the first-toe pouch relative to an axis extending
along a direction in which the sock is worn.