Double-layer sock having inverted, side-by-side toe closure seams

• US 20030033837A1
• Filed: 11/01/2002
• Published: 02/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Knit-Rite Incorporated (Thuasne Management SAS)
• Original Assignee: Knit-Rite Incorporated (Thuasne Management SAS)
• Inventors: Higgins, David B.
• Granted Patent: US 6,688,142 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 66/178R
• CPC Class Codes: A41B 11/005 Hosiery made essentially of a multi-ply construction

Abstract

A double-layer sock includes substantially coextensive, separately knitted inner and outer layers that cooperatively form a fabric receptacle dimensioned to fit over the foot and at least a portion of the leg of the wearer. The separately knitted inner and outer fabric layers are joined by sewn attachment stitches. The attachment stitches include stitching extending completely around the open leg end of the receptacle and tack stitching located within the toe sections of the layers. The layers are each preferably knit in a manner, such as by a circular knitting machine, requiring toe closure seams. The toe closure seams face toward one another in a juxtaposed relationship, such that the rib presented by each seam is overlain and concealed by the opposite fabric layer. The outer layer preferably presents inwardly facing terry loops so as to further minimize bulging created by the closure seams. A form for facilitating fabrication of a double-layer sock is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A sock comprising:

a multilayered fabric receptacle dimensioned to fit over the foot and at least a portion of the leg of the wearer,

said receptacle including an inner layer and an outer layer,

said layers being formed of separately knitted fabric elements,

at least one of the layers having a sewn closure seam that presents a rib oriented toward and overlain by the other layer.

2. A sock as claimed in claim 1,

said layers being substantially coextensive.

3. A sock as claimed in claim 2,

said receptacle presenting an upper, open leg end and an opposite, closed toe end,

said closure seam being located adjacent the toe end.

4. A sock as claimed in claim 3,

said inner and outer layers presenting generally superimposed toe sections adjacent the toe end of the receptacle and dimensioned to fit over the toes of the wearer, generally superimposed leg sections adjacent the leg end of the receptacle and dimensioned to fit over at least a portion of the leg of the wearer, and generally superimposed foot sections each extending between the respective leg and toe sections,

said closure seam being located in the toe section of said at least one of the layers.

5. A sock as claimed in claim 1,

said other layer including a section that overlies the closure seam,

said section being knitted to present terry loops that are oriented toward the rib of the closure seam.

6. A sock as claimed in claim 1,

said other layer having a sewn closure seam that presents a rib oriented toward and overlain by said at least one of the layers, whereby each of the layers has a respective one of the closure seams,

said receptacle presenting an upper, open leg end and an opposite toe end, said closure seams each being elongated and adjacent the toe end, with the ribs presented by the seams being offset relative to one another.

7. A sock as claimed in claim 1,

said layers being joined by sewn attachment stitches.

8. A sock as claimed in claim 7,

said receptacle presenting an upper, open leg end and an opposite, closed toe end,

said closure seam being located adjacent the toe end,

said attachment stitches including a top stitching extending about the leg end and tack stitching adjacent the toe end.

9. A sock comprising:

a multilayered fabric receptacle dimensioned to fit over the foot and at least a portion of the leg of the wearer,

said receptacle including an inner layer and an outer layer,

each of said layers presenting an upper, open leg end and an opposite, closed toe end,

at least one of the layers having a sewn closure seam spaced from the closed toe end that presents a rib oriented toward and overlain by the other layer.

10. A sock as claimed in claim 9,

said layers being substantially coextensive.

11. A sock as claimed in claim 10,

said closure seam being located adjacent the toe end.

12. A sock as claimed in claim 11,

said inner and outer layers presenting generally superimposed toe sections adjacent the toe ends of the layers and dimensioned to fit over the toes of the wearer, generally superimposed leg sections adjacent the leg ends of the layers and dimensioned to fit over at least a portion of the leg of the wearer, and generally superimposed foot sections each extending between the respective leg and toe sections,

said closure seam being located in the toe section of said at least one of the layers.

13. A sock as claimed in claim 9,

said other layer including a section that overlies the closure seam,

said section being knitted to present terry loops that are oriented toward the rib of the closure seam.

14. A sock as claimed in claim 9,

said other layer having a sewn closure seam that presents a rib oriented toward and overlain by said at least one of the layers, whereby each of the layers has a respective one of the closure seams,

said closure seams each being elongated and adjacent the toe end of the respective layer, with the ribs presented by the seams being offset relative to one another.

15. A sock as claimed in claim 9,

said layers being formed of separately knitted fabric elements and being joined by sewn attachment stitches.

16. A sock as claimed in claim 15,

said closure seam being located adjacent the toe end,

said attachment stitches including a top stitching extending about the leg end and tack stitching adjacent the toe end.

17. A sock comprising:

a multilayered fabric receptacle dimensioned to fit over the foot and at least a portion of the leg of the wearer,

said receptacle presenting a top, open leg end and an opposite toe end,

said receptacle including substantially coextensive, separately knitted inner and outer layers,

said inner and outer fabric layers presenting generally superimposed toe sections adjacent the toe end of the receptacle and dimensioned to fit over the toes of the wearer, generally superimposed leg sections adjacent the leg end of the receptacle and dimensioned to fit over at least a portion of the leg of the wearer, and generally superimposed foot sections each extending between the respective leg and toe sections,

said inner and outer fabric layers being joined adjacent the top end of the receptacle.

18. The sock as claimed in claim 18,

said inner and outer fabric layers being further joined at a location within the toe sections of the fabric layers.

19. A sock as claimed in claim 18,

said inner and outer layers fabric layers being joined by sewn attachment stitches,

said attachment stitches including a top stitching extending along the top end of the receptacle and a tack stitching located within the toe sections of the fabric layers.

20. A sock as claimed in claim 19,

said top stitching comprising overlapping stitches.

21. A sock as claimed in claim 19,

said top stitching extending completely around the top end of the receptacle.

22. A sock as claimed in claim 19,

said tack stitching comprising a plurality of discrete stitchings spaced apart within the toe sections of the fabric layers.

23. A sock as claimed in claim 22,

at least one of the fabric layers having a sewn closure seam extending across the toe section thereof,

said tack stitching including discrete stitchings adjacent opposite ends of the closure seam.

24. A sock as claimed in claim 23,

said tack stitching including another one of the discrete stitchings adjacent the toe end and spaced between the stitchings adjacent opposite ends of the closure seam.

25. A sock as claimed in claim 19,

said tack stitching comprising an elongated stitching row, wherein the row is generally parallel to the toe end of the receptacle.