COMPRESSION SOCK

• US 20080249454A1
• Filed: 04/02/2008
• Published: 10/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bare Feet, Inc., For Bare Feet, Inc.
• Original Assignee: For Bare Feet, Inc.
• Inventors: Mills, Karl
• Application Number:
  US12/061,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20080249454A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/63
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/08 Elastic stockings; for contracting aneurisms
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/265 Surgical stockings of unspecified knit construction and reinforced A41B11/02; of unspecified knit construction and elastic A61F13/08

Abstract

A novel stocking is disclosed having an advantageous combination of static and graduated compression regions to provide beneficial circulation for individuals having compromised circulation and for athletes. Because the stockings compression is graduated to generally comply with muscle contours, the stockings can be easily placed on the foot and removed and substantially improve the circulation of those with a variety of circulatory problems. During exercise, improved circulation facilitates the removal of metabolites such as carbon dioxide and lactic acid from muscle tissue in the leg and increases oxygenation of the same muscle tissue. The novel stockings are constructed from a novel knit fabric comprising a taut elastic material providing sufficient stretch to allow the stockings to be easily placed on a foot. The elastic material is further responsible for static and/or graduated compression in selected regions of a stocking. The second material can be elastic or non-elastic and is incorporated in to the knit material in a relaxed state to allow movement in a stretching direction without the second material being substantially stretched. A method for producing the novel stocking is also provided.

Claims

1. A sock comprising an ankle region and a calf region;

the ankle and calf regions collectively having at least two segments, each segment capable of exerting a compressive force when the sock is worn, and each segment having;

(a) a first compressive force “

c₁” and

a second compressive force “

c₂”

, separated by a distance “

d”

;

(b) an angle of compression [ac] defined by the equation

$a<br><br><br><br>c=\frac{-\left(c_2-c_1\right)}{d}$

wherein;

(i) the at least two segments have different angles of compression adapted to provide different range of compressive forces over each segment, (ii) within each segment, the compressive force is maximum proximate the ankle region, and (iii) the ankle and calf regions are constructed from a material having a first taut elastic component and a second relaxed component, adapted to provide a one way circumferential stretch.

2. The sock of claim 1, wherein the angle of compression for the ankle region “

ac¹”

is zero, providing static compression to that region and the angle of compression for the calf region is greater than zero.

3. The sock of claim 2, further having an interior hydrophobic wicking layer.

4. The sock of claim 1, wherein the calf region further comprises a first calf segment having an angle of compression “

ac²” and

a second calf segment having an angle of compression “

ac³”

, the first calf segment, proximate the ankle region has an angle of compression greater than zero, and ac² is greater than ac³.

5. The sock of claim 4, wherein ac² is zero, providing static compression for the second calf segment.

6. The sock of claim 4, wherein ac³ is greater than zero and less than ac², providing graduated compression for the second calf segment.

7. The sock of claim 4, wherein the sock is a knee sock.

8. The sock of claim 4, wherein the sock is a tube sock.

9. The sock of claim 4, further having an interior hydrophobic wicking layer.

10. The sock of claim 1, wherein:

(a) the calf region comprises a first calf segment proximate the ankle region and having an angle of compression “

ac²”

, a second calf segment proximate the first calf segment and having an angle of compression “

ac³”

, and a third calf segment proximate the second calf segment and having an angle of compression “

ac⁴” and

(b) ac³>

ac² and ac⁴>

ac¹.

11. The sock of claim 10, wherein the sock is a knee sock.

12. The sock of claim 10, wherein the sock is a tube sock.

13. The sock of claim 10, further having an interior hydrophobic wicking layer.

14. The sock of claim 1, wherein:

(a) the calf region comprises a first calf segment proximate the ankle region and having an angle of compression “

ac²”

, a second calf segment proximate the first calf segment and having an angle of compression “

ac³”

, and a third calf segment proximate the second calf segment and having an angle of compression “

ac⁴” and

(b) ac³>

ac² and ac⁴=ac¹=0.

15. The sock of claim 14, wherein the sock is a knee sock.

16. The sock of claim 14, wherein the sock is a tube sock.

17. The sock of claim 14, further having an interior hydrophobic wicking layer.

18. The sock of claim 1, wherein the relaxed component is an elastic component.

19. The sock of claim 1, wherein the relaxed component is a synthetic fiber.

20. The sock of claim 1, wherein the relaxed component is a natural fiber.

21. The sock of claim 1, wherein the relaxed component is a fiber derived from a natural product.