KNITTED FABRIC AND GARMENT

Abstract

 An object of the present invention is to provide knitted fabric capable of minimizing the return of moisture, which has moved to a first side, to a second side opposite to the first side. The knitted fabric according to the present invention includes a first region in which front yarn AT is disposed on a first side and back yarn BT is disposed on a second side opposite to the first side. The back yarn has lower water absorbency than the front yarn and is hydrophobic or water repellent. Note that, in this knitted fabric, it is preferable that the first region is made up of a plating knit structure knitted with the front yarn and the back yarn.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to knitted fabric. The present invention also relates to a garment formed from the knitted fabric.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In the past, the following technique was proposed (see, for example, JP2011-256495A): "water-absorbent fabric made of a multi-layer knit or woven fabric including a surface layer and a back layer, wherein the surface layer is made of hydrophilic yarn, the back layer is made of a mixture of hydrophobic yarn and hydrophilic yarn, and when water droplets are dropped on the back surface of the fabric, the water is instantly absorbed and diffused into the surface layer."

Prior Art Document

[0003] Patent Document 1: JP 2011-256495A

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

[0004]  Incidentally, when the above-mentioned water-absorbent fabric is used for, for example, wear (e.g., clothing, hats, gloves, legwear, or the like), it absorbs moisture, such as sweat and insensible perspiration from the skin, from the back layer side (skin side). However, in the above-mentioned water-absorbent fabric, there is a risk that the moisture that has moved to the surface layer side may return to the back layer side.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide knitted fabric capable of minimizing the return of moisture, which has moved to a first side, to a second side opposite to the first side.

SOLUTION TO PROBLEM

[0006] Knitted fabric according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a first region in which front yarn is disposed on a first side and back yarn is disposed on a second side opposite to the first side. The back yarn has lower water absorbency than the front yarn and is hydrophobic or water repellent.

[0007] To the above configuration makes it possible to move as much of the absorbed moisture as possible from the second side to the first side, thus minimizing the return of the moisture, which has moved to the first side, to the second side.

[0008] Knitted fabric according to a second aspect of the present invention is the knitted fabric according to the first aspect, in which the first region is made up of a plating knit structure knitted with front yarn and back yarn.

[0009] The above configuration allows the front yarn to be efficiently disposed on the first side, and the back yarn to be efficiently disposed on the second side.

[0010] Knitted fabric according to a third aspect of the present invention is the knitted fabric according to the first or second aspect, in which stitches of a knitted structure knitted with the front yarn are smaller than stitches of a knitted structure knitted with the back yarn.

[0011] The above configuration allows for efficiently absorbing moisture from the second side even when the back yarn has high water repellency. In addition, utilizing the tendency for moisture to move from a knitting structure with large stitches to a knitting structure with small stitches and the water absorbency of the front yarn causes absorbed moisture to move from the second side to the first side, thereby preventing moisture that has moved to the first side from returning to the second side.

[0012] Knitted fabric according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the knitted fabric according to the first or second aspect, in which stitches of a knitted structure knitted with the front yarn are larger than stitches of a knitted structure knitted with the back yarn.

[0013] The above configuration allows for efficiently absorbing moisture from the second side by utilizing the capillary phenomenon even when water-repellent yarn is used as the back yarn. In addition, after moving the moisture from the second side to the first side by utilizing the water absorption property of the front yarn, the moisture moved to the first side can be efficiently exposed to the outside air and evaporated.

[0014] Knitted fabric according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the knitted fabric according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, further including a second region in which the front yarn is disposed on the second side and the back yarn is disposed on the first side.

[0015] The above configuration allows for efficiently absorbing moisture in the second region.

[0016] Knitted fabric according to a sixth aspect of the present invention is the knitted fabric according to the fifth aspect, in which the second region is made up of a miss-knit structure of the front yarn and a knit structure of the back yarn.

[0017] The above configuration makes it is possible to improve the permeability in the second region as much as possible.

[0018] Knitted fabric according to a seventh aspect of the present invention is the knitted fabric according to the fifth aspect, in which the second region is made up of a combination of a tuck knit structure, a miss-knit structure of the front yarn, and a knit structure of the back yarn.

[0019] According to the above configuration, when the second side of the knitted fabric is in contact with a person's skin in a state in which the knitted fabric is capable of absorbing moisture such as sweat and insensible perspiration, the contact point between the second region and the skin can be reduced as much as possible, thus minimizing the feeling of wetness in the knitted fabric for the person.

[0020] Knitted fabric according to an eighth aspect of the present invention is the knitted fabric according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, in which the first region includes a region made up of a tuck knit structure.

[0021] According to the above configuration, when the second side of the knitted fabric is in contact with a person's skin in a state in which the knitted fabric is capable of absorbing moisture such as sweat and insensible perspiration, the contact point between the second region and the skin can be reduced as much as possible, thus minimizing the feeling of wetness in the knitted fabric for the person.

[0022] A garment according to a ninth aspect of the present invention is formed with knitted fabric comprising a first region in which front yarn is disposed on a side opposite to a skin side and back yarn is disposed on the skin side. The back yarn has lower water absorbency than the front yarn and is hydrophobic or water repellent.

[0023] The above configuration allows for moving moisture, such as absorbed sweat and insensible perspiration, as much as possible from the skin side to the opposite side of the skin side (i.e., the outside), thereby minimizing the return of the moisture, which has moved to the opposite side of the skin side, to the skin side. Note that examples of the garment include clothes, hats, gloves, leg wear (such as socks, tabi, stockings, tights, or the like), or the like.

[0024] A garment according to a tenth aspect of the present invention is the garment according to the ninth aspect, in which the first region is made up of a plating knit structure knitted with the front yarn and the back yarn.

[0025] The above configuration allows the front yarn to be efficiently disposed on the side opposite to the skin side, and the back yarn to be efficiently disposed on the skin side.

[0026] A garment according to an eleventh aspect of the present invention is the garment according to the ninth or tenth aspect, and includes an interdigital space covering portion that covers an interdigital space of a sole of a foot, an arch covering portion that covers an arch of the sole of the foot, and a hallux ball covering portion that covers a ball of the hallux of the sole.
The knitted fabric further includes a second region in which the front yarn is disposed on the skin side and the back yarn is disposed on the opposite side to the skin side. The second region is positioned in the interdigital space covering portion. The second region is positioned in the arch covering portion. Either the first region or the second region is positioned in the hallux ball covering portion. Examples of the garment include leg wear such as socks, tabi socks, stockings, tights, or the like.

[0027] The above configuration allows for efficiently absorbing moisture such as sweat and insensible perspiration in the interdigital space covering portion and the arch covering portion. Furthermore, when the first region is positioned in the hallux ball covering portion, it is possible to minimize the return of moisture, which has moved to the opposite side of the skin, to the skin side, whereas when the second region is positioned in the hallux ball covering portion, it is possible to efficiently absorb moisture such as sweat and insensible perspiration.

[0028] A garment according to a twelfth aspect of the present invention is the garment according to the eleventh aspect, wherein the second region includes a miss-knit region made up of a miss-knit structure of the front yarn and a knit structure of the back yarn, and a combination region made up of a structure combining a tuck knit structure, a miss-knit structure of the front yarn and a knit structure of the back yarn. The first region includes a tuck region made up of a tuck knit structure. Either the miss-knit region or the combination region is positioned in the interdigital space covering portion. Either the miss-knit region or the combination region is positioned in the arch covering portion. Either the combination region or the tuck region is positioned in the hallux ball covering portion.

[0029] According to the above configuration, when the miss-knit region is positioned in the interdigital space covering portion and the arch covering portion, it is possible to improve permeability as much as possible, whereas when the combination region is positioned in the interdigital space covering portion and the arch covering portion, the contact points between the skin and each part of the interdigital space covering portion and the arch covering portion can be reduced as much as possible, thereby minimizing the feeling of wetness of the clothing for the person. Furthermore, in the hallux ball covering portion, the contact points between the hallux ball covering portion and the skin can be reduced as much as possible, thereby minimizing the feeling of wetness of the clothing for the person.

[0030] A garment according to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention is the garment according to the ninth or tenth aspect, and includes a heel covering portion that covers the heel of the sole of the foot, a hypothenar eminence covering portion that covers a hypothenar eminence of the sole of the foot, a hallux ball covering portion that covers a ball of the hallux of the sole, and a hallux covering portion that covers a hallux of the sole of the foot.
The knitted fabric further includes a second region in which the front yarn is disposed on the skin side and the back yarn is disposed on the opposite side to the skin side. Either the first region or the second region is positioned in the heel covering portion, the hypothenar eminence covering portion, the hallux ball covering portion, and the hallux covering portion. Note that examples of the garment include leg wear such as socks, tabi socks, stockings, tights, and the like.

[0031] According to the above configuration, when the first region is positioned in the heel covering portion, the hypothenar eminence covering portion, the hallux ball covering portion, and the hallux covering portion, it is possible to minimize the return of moisture, which has moved to the opposite side to the skin, to the skin side, whereas when the second region is positioned in the heel covering portion, the hypothenar eminence covering portion, the hallux ball covering portion, and the hallux covering portion, it is possible to efficiently absorb moisture such as sweat and insensible perspiration.

[0032] A garment according to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention is the garment according to the thirteenth aspect, in which the second region includes a combination region made up of a structure in which a tuck knit structure, a miss-knit structure of the front yarn, and a knit structure of the back yarn are combined. The first region includes a tuck region made up of a tuck knit structure. Either the combination region or the tuck region is positioned in the heel covering portion, the hypothenar eminence covering portion, the hallux ball covering portion, and the hallux covering portion.

[0033] The above configuration allows for reducing as much as possible the contact points between the skin and each part of the heel covering portion, the hypothenar eminence covering portion, the hallux ball covering portion, and the hallux covering portion, thereby minimizing the feeling of wetness of the clothing for the person.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0034] 

FIG. 1 is a side view of a sock according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a region knitted with plating knitting of water-absorbent front yarn and water-repellent back yarn in a sock according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the skin side.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a region knitted with plating knitting of water-absorbent front yarn and water-repellent back yarn in a sock according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the side opposite to the skin side.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a knit structure of a region obtained by miss-knitting with water-absorbent front yarn and knitting with water-repellent back yarn. In this figure, the solid lines indicate the water-absorbent front yarn and the dashed lines indicate the water-repellent back yarn, with part of the water-repellent back yarn being omitted.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a region obtained by miss-knitting with water-absorbent front yarn and knitting with water-repellent back yarn, viewed from the skin side.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of the knitting structure of a region knitted with a combination of tuck knitting, miss-knitting of water-absorbent front yarn, and knitting of water-repellent back yarn. In this figure, the solid lines indicate the water-absorbent front yarn and the dashed lines indicate the water-repellent back yarn, with part of the water-repellent back yarn being omitted.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a region knitted with a combination of tuck knitting, miss-knitting of water-absorbent front yarn, and knitting of water-repellent back yarn, viewed from the skin side.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a knitting structure of a region knitted by tuck-knitting. In this figure, the solid lines indicate the water-absorbent front yarn and the dashed lines indicate the water-repellent back yarn, with part of the water-repellent back yarn being omitted.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a region knitted with tuck-knitting, viewed from the skin side.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example in which the fineness of the water-absorbent front yarn is greater than the fineness of the water-repellent back yarn.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing an example in which the number of water-absorbent front yarns per course is greater than the number of water-repellent back yarns per course.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing an example in which the fineness of the water-absorbent front yarn is smaller than the fineness of the water-repellent back yarn.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example in which the number of water-absorbent front yarns per course is less than the number of water-repellent back yarns per course.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing an example in which the number of filaments in the water-absorbent front yarn is greater than the number of filaments in the water-repellent back yarn.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0035] 

1 Sock (garment)

101 Front toe covering portion (hallux covering portion)

102 Rear toe covering portion (interdigital space covering portion)

112a First lower foot covering portion (hallux ball covering portion, hypothenar eminence covering portion)

112b Second lower foot covering portion (arch covering portion)

120 Heel covering portion

AT Water-absorbent front yarn (front yarn)

BT Water-repellent front yarn (back yarn)

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

<Configuration of Garment according to Embodiment of the Present Invention>

[0036] A garment according to an embodiment of the present invention includes, for example, clothes, hats, gloves, leg wear (for example, socks, tabi socks, stockings, tights, or the like), or the like. An example of the wear according to an embodiment of the present invention is a sock 1 shown in FIG. 1. The sock 1 will be described in detail below.

[0037] As shown in FIG. 1, a sock 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is mainly includes a toe covering portion 100, a foot covering portion 110, a heel covering portion 120, an ankle covering portion 130, and a sock opening portion 140.
These portions will be described in detail below.

[0038] For convenience of explanation, the up-down direction and the front-rear direction are defined in FIG. 1. Hereinafter, the sock 1 may be described using these directions.

(1) Toe covering portion

[0039] The toe covering portion 100 is a pouch-shaped portion for covering the toes, and as shown in FIG. 1, is formed of a front toe covering portion 101, a rear toe covering portion 102, and the like. These portions will be described in detail below.

(1-1) Front toe covering portion

[0040] The front toe covering portion 101 is a portion for covering the toes, and is positioned in front of the rear toe covering portion 102 as shown in FIG. 1. The front toe covering portion 101 includes a region (hereinafter referred to as the "plating region") that is knitted with plating knitting (additional yarn knitting) of water-absorbent front yarn AT and water-repellent back yarn BT that has water repellency and lower water absorbency than the water-absorbent front yarn AT. In other words, a region having a plating knit structure knitted with water-absorbent front yarn AT and water-repellent back yarn BT is positioned in the front toe covering portion 101. Furthermore, using plating knitting allows the water-absorbent front yarn AT to be efficiently positioned on the side opposite to the skin side (i.e., the front side) (see FIG. 3) and allows the water-repellent back yarn BT to be efficiently positioned on the skin side (i.e., the back side) (see FIG. 2). In addition, the pattern on the skin side of the knitted region is a horizontal stripe pattern with the water-repellent back yarn BT running horizontally (see FIG. 2), and the pattern on the opposite side of the skin side of the region is a vertical stripe pattern with the water-absorbent front yarn AT running vertically so that the stitches are connected in a roughly V-shape (see FIG. 3). When knitted, the horizontal stripes (see FIG. 2) where the water-repellent back yarn BT runs horizontally on the skin side are made up of coarsely knitted stitches formed by needle loops, whereas the vertical stripes (see FIG. 3) where the water-absorbent front yarn AT runs vertically so that the stitches are connected in a roughly V-shape on the opposite side to the skin side are made up of finely knitted stitches formed by sinker loops. Note that examples of the water-absorbent front yarn AT include a hydrophilic yarn, a hydrophobic yarn that has been subjected to a hydrophilic treatment, a hydrophobic yarn with enhanced water absorbency, a highly water-absorbent and hygroscopic yarn, or the like. Examples of hydrophilic yarns include (1) natural fiber yarn such as cotton, hemp, Japanese paper, silk, or the like, (2) regenerated fiber yarn made of regenerated cellulose fibers such as rayon, polynosic, cupra, lyocell, or the like, or protein fibers using chitin, chitosan, casein, or the like, (3) semi-synthetic fiber yarn made of acetate fibers such as acetate, triacetate or the like, and (4) synthetic fiber yarn having hydrophilic groups such as nylon or the like. Examples of hydrophilic-treated yarns for hydrophobic yarns include yarns to which hydroxyl groups, carboxyl groups, or the like have been added to synthetic fiber yarns that do not have hydrophilic groups, such as polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, acrylic, or the like. Examples of hydrophobic yarns with enhanced water absorbency include multifilament yarns, modified cross-section yarns, or the like. Examples of yarns that have high water absorption and hygroscopicity include cellulosic fibers , such as Japanese paper, rayon, acetate, or the like, and silk yarn or the like. Note that the water-absorbent front yarn AT should not be limited to the above-mentioned yarns. Examples of the water-repellent back yarn BT include yarn that has elasticity and is covered around elastic core yarn by water-repellent covered yarn, yarn having elasticity such as a synthetic fiber that does not have hydrophilic groups, or the like. Here, the elastic core yarn is, for example, polyurethane or the like. Examples of water-repellent covered yarn include yarn obtained by applying water-repellent treatment to hydrophobic covered yarn (e.g., long-fiber yarn made of polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, etc., or short-fiber yarn made of polyester, etc.). Note that covered yarn obtained by applying water-repellent treatment to hydrophilic long-fiber yarn such as nylon or short-fiber yarn such as cotton or rayon may be used to cover elastic core yarn. Examples of methods of covering the covered yarn around core yarn with elasticity include a method of winding the covered yarn spirally around the core yarn. When the covered yarn is spirally wound around the core yarn, the covered yarn is wound, for example, one or more times with an S twist (right-handed) or Z twist (left-handed). In addition, water-repellent treatment may be further applied to yarn in which elastic core yarn is covered with water-repellent covered yarn. In addition, in the spinning process, water-repellent treatment may be applied to core spun yarn, which is made by covering elastic core yarn with short fibers or the like. Furthermore, water-repellent treatment may be applied to ply-twisted yarn made by twisting elastic yarn with another yarn. Examples of elastic yarns such as synthetic fibers without hydrophilic groups include yarns (woolly polyester, woolly nylon, etc.) that have been subjected to a shrink process in which hydrophobic yarns are false-twisted, heat-set, and untwisted, and side-by-side conjugate yarns in which multiple fibers, at least one of which is water-repellent and has different thermal shrinkage rates, are bonded together and heat-treated to be spirally shrunk. Note that water-repellent back yarn BT should not be limited to the above-mentioned yarns. The front toe covering portion 101 can be knitted by reciprocating rotary knitting.

(1-2) Rear toe covering portion

[0041] The rear toe covering portion 102 is a portion for covering the interdigital space of the toe, and extends rearward from the rear end of the front toe covering portion 101 as shown in FIG. 1. The rear toe covering portion 102 includes a region (hereinafter referred to as the "miss-knit region") knitted with miss-knitting (floating knitting) of the water-absorbent front yarn AT and knitted (flat knitting, plain knitting) of the water-repellent back yarn BT. In other words, the rear toe covering portion 102 includes a region having a miss-knit structure of the water-absorbent front yarn AT and a knit structure of the water-repellent back yarn BT. In the miss-knit region, as shown in FIG. 4, the water-absorbent front yarn AT is floated on the back of the knitted fabric by skipping one or more stitches in the wale direction, whereas the water-repellent back yarn BT is not skipped in the wale direction. In the miss-knit region, as shown in FIG. 5, the water-absorbent front yarn AT (black yarn in FIG. 5) is disposed on the skin side, and the water-repellent back yarn BT is disposed on the opposite side to the skin side. Note that, in the miss-knit region, the knitted fabric can be made relatively thin, which improves permeability as much as possible. In addition, in the miss-knit region, using yarn that does not contain elastic yarn as the water-repellent back yarn BT causes the water-absorbent front yarn AT to be floated on the back of the knitted fabric, thereby preventing the thin stitches formed by the water-repellent back yarn BT from shrinking. The rear toe covering portion 102 can be knitted by circumferential knitting.

[0042] In addition, the rear toe covering portion 102 may not have a miss-knit region, but may have a region knitted with a combination of tuck knitting, miss-knitting of the water-absorbent front yarn AT, and knitting of the water-repellent back yarn BT (hereinafter referred to as a "combination region"). In other words, the rear toe covering portion 102 may have a region formed of a knitting structure that combines a tuck knitting structure, a miss-knitting structure of the water-absorbent front yarn AT, and a knitting structure of the water-repellent back yarn BT. In the combination region, as shown in FIG. 6, the water-absorbent front yarn AT is skipped by one or more stitches in the course direction and is skipped by one or more stitches in the wale direction to be floated on the back of the knitted fabric, whereas the water-repellent back yarn BT is skipped by one or more stitches in the course direction and is not skipped in the wale direction. In the combination region, as shown in FIG. 7, the water-absorbent front yarn AT (black yarn in FIG. 7) is disposed on the skin side, and the water-repellent back yarn BT is disposed on the opposite side to the skin side. Note that, in the combination region, the knitted fabric can be made relatively thin, which improves permeability as much as possible. Furthermore, in the combination region, the contact points with the skin can be reduced as much as possible, thereby minimizing the feeling of wetness in the sock 1 for the wearer.

(2) Foot covering portion

[0043] The foot covering portion 110 has a cylindrical shape and, as shown in FIG. 1 , extends rearward from the rear end of the rear toe covering portion 102 of the toe covering portion 100 and is continuous with the ankle covering portion 130 via the heel covering portion 120. As shown in FIG. 1, the foot covering portion 110 is formed of an upper foot covering portion 111, a lower foot covering portion 112, and the like. These portions will be described in detail below. The foot covering portion 110 can be knitted by circumferential knitting.

(2-1) Upper foot covering portion

[0044] The upper foot covering portion 111 is a portion for covering the instep of the foot, and is positioned above the lower foot covering portion 112 as shown in FIG. 1. Additionally, a plating region is positioned in the upper foot covering portion 111 .

(2-2) Lower foot covering portion

[0045] As shown in FIG. 1, the lower foot covering portion 112 is positioned below the upper foot covering portion 111, and is formed of a first lower foot covering portion 112a, a second lower foot covering portion 112b, and a third lower foot covering portion 112c. These portions will be described in detail below.

(2-2-1) First lower foot covering portion

[0046] As shown in FIG. 1, the first lower foot covering portion 112a is a portion for covering the region from the hypothenar eminence to the ball of the hallux, and is positioned in front of the second lower foot covering portion 112b. Further, a region knitted with tuck knitting (hereinafter referred to as a "tuck region") is positioned in the first lower foot covering portion 112a. In other words, a region with a tuck knit structure is positioned in the first lower foot covering portion 112a. In the tuck region, as shown in FIG. 8, the water-absorbent front yarn AT and the water-repellent back yarn BT are skipped by one or more stitches in the course direction. In the tuck region, as shown in FIG. 9, the water-absorbent front yarn AT is disposed on the side opposite to the skin side, and the water-repellent back yarn BT (white yarn in FIG. 9) is disposed on the skin side. Note that, in the tuck region, the contact points with the skin can be minimized, thereby minimizing the feeling of wetness in the sock 1.

[0047] Note that the first lower foot covering portion 112a may not have the tuck region, but may have a plating region, a miss-knit region, or a combination region.

(2-2-2) Second lower foot covering portion

[0048] As shown in FIG. 1, the second lower foot covering portion 112b is a portion for covering the arch of the foot, and is positioned between the first lower foot covering portion 112a and the third lower foot covering portion 112c.
Further, a miss-knit region is positioned in the second lower foot covering portion 112b.

[0049] Note that the second lower foot covering portion 112b may have a combination region instead of the miss-knit region.

(2-2-3) Third lower foot covering portion

[0050] As shown in FIG. 1, the third lower foot covering portion 112c is positioned between the second lower foot covering portion 112b and the heel covering portion 120, and covers the part of the sole of the foot between the part covered by the second lower foot covering portion 112b and the part covered by the heel covering portion 120. A tuck region is also positioned in the third lower foot covering portion 112c. In other words, a region having a tuck knit structure is positioned in the third lower foot covering portion 112c.

[0051] Note that the third lower foot covering portion 112c may not have the tuck region, but may have a plating region, a miss-knit region, or a combination region.

(3) Heel covering portion

[0052] The heel covering portion 120 is a portion for covering the heel, and extends rearward from the rear end of the third lower foot covering portion 112c of the lower foot covering portion 112 of the foot covering portion 110 as shown in FIG. 1. Additionally, a plating region is positioned in the heel covering portion 120. In other words, a region made of a plating knit structure is positioned in the heel covering portion 120. The heel covering portion 120 can be knitted by reciprocating rotary knitting.

(4) Ankle Covering portion

[0053] The ankle covering portion 130 is a tubular portion for covering the ankle; and as shown in FIG. 1, it extends upward from the upper end of the heel covering portion 120 and is continuous with the foot covering portion 110 via the heel covering portion 120. Additionally, a plating region is positioned in the ankle covering portion 130. The ankle covering portion 130 can be knitted by circumferential knitting.

(5) Sock opening portion

[0054] As shown in FIG. 1, the sock opening portion 140 is formed on the upper side of the ankle covering portion 130. Furthermore, a plating region is positioned in the sock opening portion 140. The sock opening portion 140 can be knitted by circumferential knitting.

<Method of adjusting the stitch size of the knitted structure knitted with the water-absorbent front yarn and the stitch size of the knitted structure knitted with the water-repellent back yarn in the plating region and the tuck region>

[0055] In regions such as the plating region and tuck region of the sock 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, where the water-absorbent front yarn AT is disposed on the side opposite to the skin side and the water-repellent back yarn BT is disposed on the skin side, in order to obtain the effects described below, it is preferable to make the stitches of the knitted structure made with the water-absorbent front yarn AT smaller or larger than the stitches of the knitted structure made with the water-repellent back yarn BT. Here, a method for adjusting the stitch size of the knitted structure knitted with the water-absorbent front yarn AT and the stitch size of the knitted structure knitted with the water-repellent back yarn BT in the above-mentioned plating region and tuck region will be described with reference to FIGS. 10 to 14. In addition, in FIGS. 10 to 14, human skin is indicated by the symbol SK.

[0056] 

• When the stitches of the knitted structure knitted with the water-absorbent front yarn AT are made smaller than the stitches of the knitted structure knitted with the water-repellent back yarn BT. In this case, examples of adjustment methods to be employed include an adjustment method of making the fineness (thickness) of the water-absorbent front yarn AT greater than that of the water-repellent back yarn BT, and an adjustment method of making the number of water-absorbent front yarns AT per course greater than the number of water-repellent back yarns BT per course. FIG. 10 shows an example in which the fineness of the water-absorbent front yarn AT is greater than the fineness of the water-repellent back yarn BT. In FIG. 10, the water-absorbent front yarn AT has a fineness of, for example, 150 denier, and the water-repellent back yarn BT has a fineness of, for example, 75 denier. FIG. 11 shows an example in which the number of water-absorbent front yarns AT per course is greater than the number of water-repellent back yarns BT per course. In FIG. 11, the number of water-absorbent front yarns AT per course is two, and the number of water-repellent back yarns BT per course is one. Note that the number of water-absorbent front yarns AT per course may be equal to or greater than the number of water-repellent back yarns BT per course, but is preferably equal to or greater than twice the number of water-repellent back yarns BT per course. Further, the fineness of each of the water-absorbent front yarns AT, the number of which per course is two or more, may be the same or different. For example, when there are two water-absorbent front yarns AT in one course, the fineness of one water-absorbent front yarn AT and the fineness of the other water-absorbent front yarn AT may be 150 denier, or as in the example shown in FIG. 11, the fineness of one water-absorbent front yarn AT may be 150 denier and the fineness of the other water-absorbent front yarn AT may be 75 denier. Further, the fineness of each water-repellent back yarn BT, the number of which per course is two or more, may be the same or different. In this way, making the stitches of the knitted structure made with the water-absorbent front yarn AT smaller than the stitches of the knitted structure made with the water-repellent back yarn BT allows moisture such as sweat and insensible perspiration or the like to be efficiently absorbed from the skin side even when the water-repellent back yarn BT has high water repellency. In addition, utilizing the tendency for moisture to move from a knitted structure with large stitches to a knitted structure with small stitches and the water-absorbent property of the water-absorbent front yarn AT causes the absorbed moisture to be efficiently moved from the skin side to the opposite side of the skin side, thus making it possible to minimize the return of the moisture, which has moved to the opposite side of the skin side, to the skin side.

[0057] As shown in FIG. 14, the above-mentioned effect can also be obtained by making the number of filaments (long fibers) of the water-absorbent front yarn AT greater than the number of filaments of the water-repellent back yarn BT. FIG. 14 shows an example in which the number of filaments in the water-absorbent front yarn AT is greater than the number of filaments in the water-repellent back yarn BT. In FIG. 14, the water-absorbent front yarn AT is, for example, a yarn having 72 bundled filaments (i.e., the number of filaments in the water-absorbent front yarn AT is 72), and the water-repellent back yarn BT is, for example, a yarn having 36 filaments wound around a core yarn (i.e., the number of filaments in the water-repellent back yarn BT is 36).

[0058] 

• When the stitches of the knitted structure knitted with the water-absorbent front yarn AT are made larger than the stitches of the knitted structure knitted with the water-repellent back yarn BT. In this case, examples of adjustment methods to be employed include an adjustment method of making the fineness of the water-absorbent front yarn AT smaller than that of the water-repellent back yarn BT, and an adjustment method of making the number of water-absorbent front yarns AT per course smaller than the number of water-repellent back yarns BT per course. FIG. 12 shows an example in which the fineness of the water-absorbent front yarn AT is made smaller than the fineness of the water-repellent back yarn BT. In FIG. 12, the water-absorbent front yarn AT has a fineness of, for example, 75 denier, and the water-repellent back yarn BT has a fineness of, for example, 150 denier. FIG. 13 shows an example in which the number of water-absorbent front yarns AT per course is made smaller than the number of water-repellent back yarns BT per course. In FIG. 13, the number of water-absorbent front yarns AT per course is one, and the number of water-repellent back yarns BT per course is two. Note that the number of water-repellent back yarns BT per course may be equal to or greater than the number of water-absorbent front yarns AT per course, but is preferably equal to or greater than twice the number of water-absorbent front yarns AT per course. Further, the fineness of each of water-repellent back yarns BT, the number of which per course is two or more, may be the same or different. For example, when there are two water-repellent back yarns BT in one course, the fineness of one water-repellent back yarn BT and the fineness of the other water-repellent back yarn BT may be 150 denier, or as in the example shown in Figure 13, the fineness of one water-repellent back yarn BT may be 150 denier and the fineness of the other water-repellent back yarn BT may be 75 denier. Further, the fineness of each of the water-absorbent front yarns AT, the number of which per course is two or more, may be the same or different. Making the stitches of the knitted structure knitted with the water-absorbent front yarn AT larger than the stitches of the knitted structure knitted with the water-repellent back yarn BT in this manner allows for efficiently absorbing moisture from the skin side by utilizing the capillary phenomenon even when the water-repellent back yarn BT having water repellency is used as the back yarn. In addition, after the moisture is moved from the skin side to the opposite side of the skin side by utilizing the moisture absorption property of the moisture-absorbent front yarn AT, the moisture moved to the opposite side of the skin side can be efficiently evaporated by contacting with the outside air.

[0059] Although not shown, the above-mentioned effect can also be obtained by making the number of filaments in the water-absorbent front yarn AT smaller than the number of filaments in the water-repellent back yarn BT. For example, in a case in which the water-absorbent front yarn AT is yarn made of 36 bundled filaments (i.e., the number of filaments in the water-absorbent front yarn AT is 36) and the water-repellent back yarn BT is yarn made of 72 filaments wound around a core yarn (i.e., the number of filaments in the water-repellent back yarn BT is 72), the number of filaments in the water-absorbent front yarn AT will be less than the number of filaments in the water-repellent back yarn BT.

<Features of the sock according to an embodiment of the present invention>

[0060] 

(1) The sock 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention has a region in which the water-absorbent front yarn AT is disposed opposite to the skin side and the water-repellent back yarn BT is disposed on the skin side. Thus, the sock 1 allows moisture such as absorbed sweat and insensible perspiration to be moved as much as possible from the skin side to the opposite side of the skin side, thereby minimizing the return of the moisture, which has moved to the opposite side of the skin side, to the skin side.

(2) In the sock 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the regions knitted with miss-knitting of the water-absorbent front yarn AT and knitting of the water-repellent back yarn BT are positioned in the rear toe covering portion 102 of the toe covering portion 100 and the second lower foot covering portion 112b of the lower foot covering portion 112 of the foot covering portion 110. This allows the sock 1 to efficiently absorb moisture such as sweat and insensible perspiration from the skin side, and to improve permeability as much as possible.

(3) In the sock 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the regions knitted with tuck knitting are positioned in the first lower foot covering portion 112a, the third lower foot covering portion 112c and the heel covering portion 120 of the lower foot covering portion 112 of the foot covering portion 110. This allows the sock 1 to reduce the points of contact between the skin and each part of the first lower foot covering portion 112a, the third lower foot covering portion 112c, and the heel covering portion 120 of the lower foot covering portion 112 of the foot covering portion 110 as much as possible, thereby minimizing the feeling of wetness of the sock 1 for the wearer.

Modifications

[0061] 

(A) In the sock 1 according to the previous embodiment, the plating region was positioned in the front toe covering portion 101 of the toe covering portion 100. However, any one of the miss-knit region, the combination region, and the tuck region may be positioned in the front toe covering portion 101 of the toe covering portion 100. Alternatively, any one of the miss-knit region, the combination region, and the tuck region may be positioned only in the portion of the front toe covering portion 101 of the toe covering portion 100 that covers the big toe.
In the sock 1 according to the previous embodiment, the plating region is positioned in the heel covering portion 120. However, any one of the miss-knit region, the combination region, and the tuck region may be positioned in the heel covering portion 120.

(B) In the sock 1 according to the previous embodiment, it is considered preferable that in the plating region and tuck region, the stitches of the knitted structure knitted with the water-absorbent front yarn AT be smaller or larger than the stitches of the knitted structure knitted with the water-repellent back yarn BT. However, in the plating region and the tuck region, the stitch size of the knitted structure knitted with the water-absorbent front yarn AT and the stitch size of the knitted structure knitted with the water-repellent back yarn BT may be the same.

(C) In the sock 1 according to the above embodiment, the water-repellent back yarn BT, which has lower water absorbency than the water-absorbent front yarn AT and has water repellency, is used as the back yarn. However, a hydrophobic back yarn, which has lower water absorbency than the water-absorbent front yarn AT and has hydrophobicity may be used as the back yarn. Examples of hydrophobic back yarns include a yarn having elasticity and in which a hydrophobic covered yarn is covered around an elastic core yarn, and a stretchable yarn such as a synthetic fiber having no hydrophilic groups. Here, the elastic core yarn is, for example, polyurethane or the like. Examples of hydrophobic covered yarns include a long fiber yarn made of polyester, polypropylene, polyethylene, or the like, or a short fiber yarn made of polyester, or the like. The method of covering the elastic core yarn with the covered yarn is, for example, a method of winding the covered yarn spirally around the core yarn or the like. When the covered yarn is spirally wound around the core yarn, the covered yarn is wound, for example, one or more times with an S twist (right-handed) or Z twist (left-handed). In addition, a water-repellent treatment may be applied to a yarn in which an elastic core yarn is covered with a hydrophobic covering yarn. Examples of elastic yarns such as synthetic fibers without hydrophilic groups include yarns (woolly polyester, woolly nylon, etc.) that have been subjected to a shrink process in which hydrophobic yarns are false-twisted, heat-set, and untwisted, side-by-side conjugate yarns in which multiple fibers, at least one of which is hydrophobic and has different thermal shrinkage rates, are bonded together and heat-treated to be spirally shrunk, yarns that have elastic properties and flexibility due to a crystal structure in which the molecules form a gentle spiral (e.g., polytrimethylene terephthalate, etc.), and the like.

(D) In the sock 1 according to the previous embodiment, the tuck region is positioned in the first lower foot covering portion 112a of the lower foot covering portion 112 of the foot covering portion 110 that covers the region from the hypothenar eminence to the ball of the hallux. However, the tuck region may be positioned only in a region of the first lower foot covering portion 112a of the lower foot covering portion 112 of the foot covering portion 110, the region covering the hypothenar eminence and the ball of the hallux.

(E) Although not mentioned in the sock 1 according to the previous embodiment, in each part of the sock 1 that can cover portions of the foot that sweat more, there may be a region where the water-absorbent front yarn AT is disposed opposite to the skin side and the water-repellent back yarn BT is disposed on the skin side, or there may be a region where the water-absorbent front yarn AT is disposed on the skin side and the water-repellent back yarn BT is disposed on the opposite side to the skin side. Note that there are two types of sweating: psychological sweating and thermal sweating. Psychological sweating is sweating caused by mental changes, whereas thermal sweating is sweating caused by high temperatures or exercise. Examples of parts of the foot that experience high amounts of perspiration due to psychological sweating include the entire bottom side (particularly the arch, big toe, or the like), the instep of the toes, the side of the inner malleolus, the side of the outer malleolus, and the like. Examples of parts of the foot that experience high amounts of perspiration due to thermal sweating include the arch of the foot, the entire instep, the side of the inner malleolus, the side of the outer malleolus, and the like. Thus, in each part of the sock 1 that can cover parts of the foot where the amount of perspiration due to psychological sweating increases (e.g., the bottom portion of the toe covering portion 100 and the lower foot covering portion 112 of the foot covering portion 110, the instep part of the toe covering portion 100, the medial malleolus part of the foot covering portion 110, and the lateral malleolus part of the foot covering portion 110, etc.), there may be either a region where the water-absorbent front yarn AT is disposed opposite to the skin side and the water-repellent back yarn BT is disposed on the skin side, or a region where the water-absorbent front yarn AT is disposed on the skin side and the water-repellent back yarn BT is disposed on the opposite side to the skin side. In addition, in each part of the sock 1 that can cover parts of the foot where the amount of perspiration due to thermal sweating increases (e.g., the second lower foot covering portion 112b of the lower foot covering portion 112 of the foot covering portion 110, the instep part of the toe covering portion 100 and the upper foot covering portion 111 of the foot covering portion 110, the medial malleolus part of the foot covering portion 110, and the lateral malleolus part of the foot covering portion 110, etc.), there may be either a region where the water-absorbent front yarn AT is disposed opposite to the skin side and the water-repellent back yarn BT is disposed on the skin side, or a region where the water-absorbent front yarn AT is disposed on the skin side and the water-repellent back yarn BT is disposed on the opposite side to the skin side. When there is a region in which the water-absorbent front yarn AT is disposed on the side opposite to the skin side and the water-repellent back yarn BT is disposed on the skin side, it is possible to minimize the return of moisture, which has moved to the side opposite to the skin side, to the skin side. When there is a region where the water-absorbent front yarn AT is disposed on the skin side and the water-repellent back yarn BT is disposed on the opposite side to the skin side, moisture can be efficiently absorbed from the skin side.

(F) In the previous embodiment, the present invention is applied to sock 1, but the present invention may also be applied to legwear other than sock 1 (e.g., tabi, stockings, tights, or the like), or to wear other than legwear (e.g., clothing, hats, gloves, or the like).

[0062] The above-described modified examples may be adopted individually or in appropriate combinations within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. Knitted fabric comprising:

a first region in which front yarn is disposed on a first side and back yarn is disposed on a second side opposite to the first side,

wherein the back yarn has lower water absorbency than the front yarn and is hydrophobic or water repellent.

2. The knitted fabric according to claim 1, wherein
the first region is made up of a plating knit structure knitted with the front yarn and the back yarn.

3. The knitted fabric according to claim 1, wherein
stitches of a knitted structure knitted with the front yarn are smaller than stitches of a knitted structure knitted with the back yarn.

4. The knitted fabric according to claim 1, wherein
stitches of a knitted structure knitted with the front yarn are larger than stitches of a knitted structure knitted with the back yarn.

5. The knitted fabric according to claim 1, wherein
a second region in which the front yarn is disposed on the second side and the back yarn is disposed on the first side.

6. The knitted fabric according to claim 5, wherein
the second region is made up of a miss-knit structure of the front yarn and a knit structure of the back yarn.

7. The knitted fabric according to claim 5, wherein
the second region is made up of a combination of a tuck knit structure, a miss-knit structure of the front yarn, and a knit structure of the back yarn.

8. The knitted fabric according to claim 1, wherein
the first region includes a region made up of a tuck knit structure.

9. A garment formed with knitted fabric comprising a first region in which front yarn is disposed on a side opposite to a skin side and back yarn is disposed on the skin side,
wherein the back yarn has lower water absorbency than the front yarn and is hydrophobic or water repellent.

10. The garment according to claim 9,
wherein the first region is made up of a plating knit structure knitted with the front yarn and the back yarn.

11. The garment according to claim 9, comprising:

an interdigital space covering portion that covers an interdigital space of a sole of a foot;

an arch covering portion that covers an arch of the sole; and

a hallux ball covering portion that covers a ball of the hallux of the sole,

wherein the knitted fabric further includes a second region in which the front yarn is disposed on the skin side and the back yarn is disposed on the opposite side to the skin side,

wherein the second region is positioned in the interdigital space covering portion,

wherein the second region is positioned in the arch covering portion, and

wherein either the first region or the second region is positioned in the hallux ball covering portion.

12. The garment according to claim 11, wherein

the second region includes a miss-knit region made up of a miss-knit structure of the front yarn and a knit structure of the back yarn, and a combination region made up of a structure combining a tuck knit structure, a miss-knit structure of the front yarn and a knit structure of the back yarn,

the first region includes a tuck region made up of a tuck knit structure;

either the miss-knit region or the combination region is positioned in the interdigital space covering portion,

either the miss-knit region or the combination region is positioned in the arch covering portion, and

either the combination region or the tuck region is positioned in the hallux ball covering portion.

13. The garment according to claim 9, further comprising:

a heel covering portion that covers a heel of the sole of the foot;

a hypothenar eminence covering portion that covers a hypothenar eminence of the sole;

a hallux ball covering portion that covers a ball of the hallux of the sole; and

a hallux covering portion that covers a hallux of the sole,

wherein the knitted fabric further includes a second region in which the front yarn is disposed on the skin side and the back yarn is disposed on the opposite side to the skin side, and

wherein either the first region or the second region is positioned in the heel covering portion, the hypothenar eminence covering portion, the hallux ball covering portion, and the hallux covering portion.

14. The garment according to claim 13, wherein

the second region includes a combination region made up of a structure in which a tuck knit structure, a miss-knit structure of the front yarn, and a knit structure of the back yarn are combined,

the first region includes a tuck region made up of a tuck knit structure, and

either the combination region or the tuck region is positioned in the heel covering portion, the hypothenar eminence covering portion, the hallux ball covering portion, and the hallux covering portion.

Drawing