Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to socks, more particularly to biomechanical socks.

Background

Pronation is a natural motion of the foot during walking and running. It facilitates a shock absorbing effect during the early stance phase as it rotates the medial bones in the midtarsal region of the foot inward and downward unlocking Chopart joint (midtarsal joints of the foot) for adapting the ground reaction force of the body and uneven surfaces.

Excessive STJ (subtalar joint or lower ankle joint) calcaneal eversion occurs in overpronation causing foot and ankle roll too far and long downward and inward and foot is not anymore capable providing the rigid lever during the push off. As the result, it causes abnormal push off from the medial part of the 1 ^st metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint and phalange during the gait. If the foot remains pronated during any part of push off, it is considered abnormal.

Athletic socks have been developed to provide a reduction of plantar pressure, reduced impact shock, reduced incidence of friction blisters. Synthetic fiber composition has improved physical features of the athletic socks such as water resistance, wicking, cushion, weight and resiliency over the cotton socks. Elastic compression of the socks has shown to improve venous insufficiency and reduce muscle soreness after sports activities.

Traditionally, orthopedic socks, a.k.a. orthotic socks, have been used for reducing swelling in the feet, ankles, calves and the associated pain and suffering by exerting light or moderate pressure or compression on the limbs of the user. Individuals with a foot or toe deformity, a problematic foot injury or a neurological illness affecting the feet can benefit from orthotic socks. Especially people suffering from chronic venous insufficiency may obtain help by using compression socks or stockings.

However, no socks have been developed for biomechanical purposes, for example, for controlling or correcting abnormal movements of the foot, such as overpronation.

Summary

Now there has been invented an improved sock, by which the above problems are at least alleviated. An aspect of the invention includes a sock which is characterized by what is stated in the independent claim. Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

The scope of protection sought for various embodiments of the invention is set out by the independent claims. The embodiments and features, if any, described in this specification that do not fall under the scope of the independent claims are to be interpreted as examples useful for understanding various embodiments of the invention.

According to an aspect, there is provided a sock comprising a foot part made of a textile, wherein the foot part comprises at least one inset integrated with the textile at least partly in a sole of the foot part, said inset providing increased thickness to a thickness of surrounding parts of the textile, wherein at least one inset is located in one or more of the following areas:

- an area covering at least an innermost metatarsal bone of a wearer;

- an area covering at least an outermost metatarsal bone of the wearer;

- an area covering at least in an inner and medial area of a heel bone of the wearer;

- an area covering at least an outer and lateral part of a heel bone of the wearer. According to an embodiment, the inset is a flat-shaped post.

According to an embodiment, the inset is wedge-shaped.

According to an embodiment, the sock comprises a rearfoot medial wedge.

According to an embodiment, the sock comprises a rearfoot lateral wedge.

According to an embodiment, the sock comprises a forefoot medial wedge.

According to an embodiment, the sock comprises a forefoot lateral wedge.

According to an embodiment, the sock comprises a uniform inset extending at least from an inner heel area of the wearer to an area covering at least an innermost metatarsal bone of the wearer.

According to an embodiment, said at least one inset is made by knitting a structure of increased thickness into the textile.

According to an embodiment, said at least one inset is knit on top of the foot part.

According to an embodiment, said at least one inset is knit inside the foot part.

According to an embodiment, said at least one inset is made by injection molding.

According to an embodiment, said at least one inset is made by 3D printing. According to an embodiment, said at least one inset is made by laminating.

According to an embodiment, a material of said at least one inset comprise an open or closed cell foam or a thermoplastic rubber.

According to an embodiment, said at least one inset is stitched or sewed on top of the foot part.

According to an embodiment, a material of the textile of the foot part comprises one or more of nylon, elastane or polypropene.

Description of the Drawings

In the following, various embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings, in which

Fig. 1 shows an example of an orthopedic sock according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figs. 2a - 2d show various examples of insets implemented as wedge- shaped according to some embodiments of the invention; and

Fig. 3 shows an illustration of the wedges of the sock according to an embodiment of the invention in relation to a structure of a foot.

Detailed Description of the Example Embodiments

In the following, several embodiments of the invention will be described by referring to a sock or an orthopedic (orthotic) sock. It is to be noted, however, that the different embodiments have applications in any foot clothing, thereby also covering, for example, stockings and any other type of hosiery. A sock according to an aspect comprises a foot part made of a textile, wherein the foot part comprises at least one inset integrated with the textile at least partly in a sole of the foot part, said inset providing increased thickness to a thickness of surrounding parts of the textile, wherein at least one inset is located in one or more of the following areas:

- an area covering at least an innermost metatarsal bone of a wearer;

- an area covering at least an outermost metatarsal bone of the wearer;

- an area covering at least in an inner and medial area of a heel bone of the wearer

- an area covering at least an outer and lateral part of a heel bone of the wearer.

According to an embodiment, the inset is wedge-shaped.

According to another embodiment, the inset is a flat-shaped post.

Thus, either wedges or so-called posts may be used as the insets. Accordingly, a sock having biomechanical features would comprise at least one wedge/post, preferably having a stiff and hard structure, to improve a foot alignment and a pattern upon walking, running, jumping, skiing, etc.

Such a sock may preferably have two wedges/posts. A rearfoot wedge/post may be used to control an excessive eversion or inversion of calcaneus at heel strike in order to control either overpronation or supination of the foot. A forefoot wedge/post may be used to support forefoot and decrease the need for compensatory movements of STJ and midtarsal joint, such as calcaneus eversion or inversion. Such biomechanical socks may include different combinations and patterns of rearfoot and forefoot wedges/posts. Socks with wedges/posts would provide a supporting effect, and thereby reduce both a degree and velocity of abnormal movement of the foot. Therefore, they would prevent and treat a different kind of symptoms of the foot, lower limb and back such as plantar fasciitis, ankle-, knee-, hip and back pain.

Typically, a wedge-shaped inset could be used for achieving the beneficial effects. Therefore, hereinafter the term “wedge” is extensively used for describing the various embodiments. It is, however, noted that that the terms “wedge”, “inset” and "post” may be used interchangeably, and in many cases the similar effects may be obtained by using a flatshaped post.

An example of a sock having two wedges is illustrated in Figure 1 . The sock 100 comprises a foot part 102 covering a foot of the wearer. The sock 100 may also comprise a shaft 104 covering at least an ankle of the wearer, possibly at least some part of the leg of the wearer, as well. However, the sock may be implemented without any shaft 104. The foot part 102 is made of a textile, wherein the textile may comprise one or more materials. The thickness of the textile may be uniform throughout the foot part 102, but it may, as well, vary, for example providing a thicker textile layer on the sole of the sock compared to the upper parts of the sock.

The foot part comprises at least a first wedge 106 and a second wedge 108 at least partly in the sole of the foot part. Thus, upon wearing the sock, the wedges are located at least partly underneath the foot of the wearer, but they may also extend to the sides of the foot part of the sock. Both wedges have an increased thickness compared to the thickness of the textile parts surrounding them, i.e. they protrude outwards or inwards from the surface of the textile. In other words, the insets, such as the wedges, may locate on either inside surface or outside surface of the sock.

The first wedge 106 is located approximately in an area of an innermost metatarsal bone, i.e. the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint (joint of big toe), of a wearer, and the second wedge 108 may extend from an inner heel area of the wearer, but covers at least an inner and medial area of a heel bone (calcaneus) the wearer. Pronation is a natural movement of a human foot, which occurs as weight is transferred from the heel to the forefoot when walking or running and the foot naturally rolls inwards. When starting a foot movement from a standing position, pronation occurs as the foot rolls inwards and the arch of the foot flattens. Excessive STJ (subtalar joint or lower ankle joint) calcaneal eversion occurs in overpronation causing foot and ankle roll too far and long downward and inward and foot is not anymore capable providing the rigid lever during the push off. As the result, it causes abnormal push off from the medial part of the 1 ^st MTP joint and phalange during the gait. If the foot remains pronated during any part of push off, it is considered abnormal. Accordingly, if the foot rolls too much inwards, overpronation takes place and the arch of the foot flattens too much.

Now with the sock as disclosed herein, the biomechanics of a foot and thereby the problems of the overpronation can be at least partly corrected. Placing the wedges in appropriate places in the foot part of the sock, i.e. the first wedge, such as the forefoot wedge, at least in an area of an innermost metatarsal bone of a wearer, and/or the second wedge, such as the rearfoot wedge, at least in an inner and medial area of a heel bone (calcaneus) of the wearer, enables to provide further support for the foot right places, thereby correcting the biomechanics of the foot and alleviating the overpronation problems. Upon taking a step, the immediate effect of the overpronation results in the foot to roll too much inwards. Now the second wedge is configured to provide additional support for controlling an excessive eversion of calcaneus at heel strike in order to correct the overpronation of the foot. When the step movement of the foot continues, the effect known as a delayed overpronation takes place in the area of an innermost metatarsal bone, i.e. approximately the location where the big toe starts. The first wedge is located there and is configured to provide additional support for supporting the forefoot and decreasing the need for compensatory movements of STJ and midtarsal joint, such as calcaneus eversion or inversion. According to an embodiment, the sock comprises a rearfoot medial wedge.

Figure 2a shows a schematical example of a rearfoot medial wedge, which is located under the inner and the medial part of the calcaneus (heel) and it may extend, in longitudinal direction of the foot, from the medial part of the calcaneus up to distal part of the medial cuneiforms or less, and in transversal direction of the foot, from the proximal part of the calcaneus up to 2/3 to the lateral part or less. The thickness of the wedge may vary, for example, from 0.5 to 20 mm, preferably to 12 mm, and slope of the wedge may vary from 30 to 0.5 degrees, preferably from 20 to 0.5 degrees. Thus, especially with the low degree slope values, the wedge practically becomes a nearly flat-shaped post.

The planar shape of the rearfoot medial wedge may take various patterns: it may be, for example, a square, a shape of a half-moon, a rectangle, or a partly rounded rectangle, as shown in Figure 2a. The rearfoot medial wedge as disclosed herein may at least partly prevent the injurious effects of overpronation, calcaneus eversion, calcaneus valgus, and STJ eversion.

According to an embodiment, the sock comprises a rearfoot lateral wedge.

Figure 2b shows a schematical example of a rearfoot lateral wedge, which is located under the outer and the lateral part of the calcaneus (heel) and it may extend, in longitudinal direction of the foot, from the lateral part of the calcaneus up to distal part of the cuboideum or less, and in transversal direction of the foot, from the proximal part of the calcaneus up to 2/3 to the medial part or less.

The measures of the rearfoot lateral wedge may be similar to the rearfoot medial wedge. Thus, the thickness of the wedge may vary, for example, from 0.5 to 20 mm, preferably to 12 mm, and slope of the wedge may vary from 30 to 0.5 degrees, preferably from 20 to 0.5 degrees. Also the planar shape of the rearfoot lateral wedge may take various patterns similar to the rearfoot medial wedge: it may be, for example, a square, a shape of a half-moon, a rectangle, or a partly rounded rectangle, as shown in Figure 2b. The rearfoot lateral wedge as disclosed herein may at least partly prevent the injurious effects of oversupination, calcaneus inversion, calcaneus varus, and STJ inversion.

According to an embodiment, the sock comprises a forefoot medial wedge.

Figure 2c shows a schematical example of a forefoot medial wedge, which may be located under the 1 ^st , 2 ^nd and 3 ^rd MTP joints and/or distal parts of the metatarsal bones, but at least under the 1 ^st MTP joint, as shown with the dotted line. It may extend, in transversal direction of the foot, from the distal part of the 1 ^st , 2 ^nd and 3 ^rd metatarsal bones, or at least from the distal part of the 1 ^st metatarsal bone, covering the corresponding MTP joints and metatarsal bones.

Again, the measures of the forefoot medial wedge may be similar to the rearfoot medial/lateral wedges. Thus, the thickness of the wedge may vary, for example, from 0.5 to 20 mm, preferably to 12 mm, and slope of the wedge may vary from 30 to 0.5 degrees, preferably from 20 to 0.5 degrees. Also the planar shape of the forefoot medial wedge may take various patterns similar to the rearfoot medial/lateral wedges: it may be, for example, a square, a shape of a half-moon, a rectangle, or a partly rounded rectangle, as shown in Figure 2c. The forefoot medial wedge as disclosed herein may at least partly prevent the injurious effects of forefoot varus, overpronation, calcaneus eversion, calcaneus valgus, and STJ eversion.

According to an embodiment, the sock comprises a forefoot lateral wedge.

Figure 2d shows a schematical example of a forefoot lateral wedge, which may be located under the 5 ^th , 4 ^th , 3 ^rd and even 2 ^nd MTP joints and/or distal parts of the metatarsal bones, but at least under the 5 ^th MTP joint, as shown with the dotted line. It may extend, in transversal direction of the foot, from the distal part of the 5 ^th to 2 ^nd metatarsal bones, or at least from the distal part of the 5 ^th metatarsal bone, covering the corresponding MTP joints and metatarsal bones.

Again, the measures of the forefoot lateral wedge may be similar to the above wedges. Thus, the thickness of the wedge may vary, for example, from 0.5 to 20 mm, preferably to 12 mm, and slope of the wedge may vary from 30 to 0.5 degrees, preferably from 20 to 0.5 degrees. Also the planar shape of the forefoot lateral wedge may take similar various patterns: it may be, for example, a square, a shape of a half-moon, a rectangle, or a partly rounded rectangle, as shown in Figure 2d. The forefoot lateral wedge as disclosed herein may at least partly prevent the injurious effects of forefoot valgus, oversupination, calcaneus inversion, calcaneus varus, and STJ inversion.

It is noted that while overpronation is a much more common foot problem than oversupination, the injurious effects of oversupination may also be prevented by an appropriate choice of insets (wedges) into the sock. Oversupination or excessive supination occurs when normal STJ (subtalar joint or lower ankle joint) eversion is limited during and right after the heel strike and rearfoot doesn’t roll in far enough. This prevents a normal pronation to absorb shock and adapt the uneven surface of the ground. Therefore, foot’s own shock absorption is reduced and it may eventually lead to several problems such as ankle injuries and pain, stress fractures in the feet and legs, back and hip pain.

The sock may comprise only one of said rearfoot/forefoot medial/lateral wedges, or it may comprise one rearfoot wedge (either medial/lateral) and one forefoot wedge (either medial/lateral).

Accordingly, for preventing the injurious effects of overpronation, the sock may comprise one rearfoot medial wedge and/or one forefoot medial wedge. In a similar manner, for preventing the injurious effects of oversupination, the sock may comprise one rearfoot lateral wedge and/or one forefoot lateral wedge. Figure 3 shows an exemplified illustration of the locations of the wedges of the sock in relation to the structure of a foot. Figure 3 shows the wedges from bottom of the sock and the foot, depicting how at least the first wedge preferably extends underneath the foot approximately to the second metatarsophalangeal joint (joint of the second toe), thereby providing support for the whole first metatarsophalangeal joint and the surrounding area. Both the first and the second wedges provide support for preventing the joints and the bones of the foot from deforming into a wrong position

According to an embodiment, the sock comprises only one inset extending at least from an inner heel area of the wearer to an area covering at least an innermost metatarsal bone of the wearer.

Hence, instead of two insets/wedges, one uniform inset, such as a wedge-shaped inset, may be used, which covers approximately the areas of the first and the second wedges shown in Figure 3, but also the area there between at least in the inner edge of the foot in the area of the medial longitudinal arch of the foot to provide extra support therein. The inset may also extend beyond the innermost metatarsal bone, covering at least partly one or more phalanges (toes).

According to an embodiment, said wedges are made by knitting a structure of increased thickness into the textile. Thus, by knitting the wedges directly into the same textile structure with the textile of the foot part, very durable structure of wedges can be achieved. Herein, the same size or thicker fiber materials or yarns may be used as with the textile of the foot part. Alternatively, different materials of fibers or yarns may be used, wherein even more durable structure can be achieved for the wedges.

According to an embodiment, said wedges are knit on top of the foot part. Knitting the wedges on top of the textile of the foot part may be easier in terms of manufacturing the sock. According to an embodiment, said wedges are knit inside the foot part. Knitting the wedges inside the textile of the foot part may provide a more durable structure, which is less prone to friction due to residing against the foot, and not a shoe.

According to an embodiment, said wedges are made by injection molding.

According to an embodiment, said wedges are made by 3D printing.

According to an embodiment, said wedges are made by laminating.

Thus, instead of knitting the wedges into the textile structure of the sock, the wedges can be manufactured as stand-alone wedges for further attachment to the sock. Knitting the wedges into the textile structure of the sock may be a time-consuming manufacturing phase, and therefore the manufacturing process of the socks may be made faster and more cost-effective by using separately manufactured wedges, which are then attached by some means on top surface of the textile of the sock in said appropriate locations. There are various options for manufacturing the wedges as stand-alone pieces, including at least, but not limiting to, injection molding, 3D printing or laminating.

According to an embodiment, a material of said wedges comprise an open or closed cell foam or a thermoplastic rubber. Thus, depending on whether the wedges are injection molded, 3D printed or laminated, the suitable material may be an open or closed cell foam, such as ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyurethane (PU) or neoprene. On the other hand, thermoplastic materials, such as thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) may be used. TPUs are thermoplastic elastomers composed of hard and soft segments and exhibit good elasticity, transparency, and resistance to oil, grease, and abrasion.

According to an embodiment, said wedges are stitched or sewed on top of the foot part. Regardless whether the wedges are manufactured by injection molding, 3D printing or laminating, they can attached on the top surface of the textile of the sock by stitching or sewing.

According to an embodiment, a material of the textile of the foot part comprises one or more of nylon, elastane or polypropene. These materials are well suited for the above-described manufacturing methods of the wedges, as well as for the materials of the wedges.

It is obvious that the present invention is not limited solely to the above- presented embodiments, but it can be modified within the scope of the appended claims.