Shaped foot coverlet and method for its manufacture on circular stocking knitting machines

Abstract

The present invention pertains to a knitted foot coverlet or protective stocking, having in an integral shape, a pocket ( 10 ) that is overlapped by an elastic border ( 11 ) intended to cover the heel of a foot, a tiptoe portion ( 15 ) to cover the tiptoe of the foot, middle zones ( 12, 13 ) to cover parts of the foot between the heel and the tiptoe. These include a middle section ( 12 ) of constant width, continuing to the pocket ( 10 ) of the heel and intended to cover the foot at the hollow as well as a knitted tubular portion ( 13 ) between the middle section and tiptoe, intended to cover a remaining part of the plantar aspect and at least a part of the dorsal aspect of the foot. The present invention also pertains to a method for manufacturing the article on a circular stocking knitting machine.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A knitted foot coverlet or protective stocking, comprising: 
 an integrally shaped pocket that is overlapped by an elastic border intended to cover the heel of a foot;    a tiptoe portion intended to cover the tiptoe of the foot;    middle zones to cover the parts of the foot between the heel and tiptoe, said middle zones including a middle section of constant width continuing to said pocket, said middle section of constant width being intended to cover a part of the plantar aspect and the sides of the foot at the hollow of same, and a knitted tubular portion between said middle section and said tiptoe, said knitted tubular portion being intended to cover a remaining part of the plantar aspect and at least a part of the dorsal aspect of the foot.    
     
     
         2 . A foot coverlet or protective stocking in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said knitted tubular portion has an initial elastic border.  
     
     
         3 . A foot coverlet or protective stocking in accordance with the  claim 2 , wherein said initial elastic border has an angular width so as to extend on the dorsal aspect of the foot.  
     
     
         4 . A foot coverlet or protective stocking in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein said initial elastic border is annular to extend all around the foot.  
     
     
         5 . A foot coverlet or protective stocking in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein said initial elastic border has a limited angular width.  
     
     
         6 . A foot coverlet or protective stocking in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said pocket for the heel, said middle section, said knitted tubular portion and said tiptoe portion all consist of a same knit type.  
     
     
         7 . A foot coverlet or protective stocking in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein said pocket for the heel, said middle section, said knitted tubular portion and said tiptoe portion all consist of a same knit type.  
     
     
         8 . A foot coverlet or protective stocking in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said middle section and said knitted tubular portion consist of a different type of knit from that forming said pocket of the heel and said tiptoe portion.  
     
     
         9 . A foot coverlet or protective stocking in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said middle section and said tubular portion are formed with a ribbed knit.  
     
     
         9 . A foot coverlet or protective stocking in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein said middle section is formed with a ribbed knit and at least a part of said tubular portion that covers said dorsal aspect of said foot is formed with a dropped-stitch, open or designed knit.  
     
     
         10 . A knitted foot coverlet or protective stocking, having in an integral shape a pocket that is overlapped by an elastic border intended to cover the heel of a foot, a tiptoe portion to cover the tiptoe of the foot, middle zones to cover the parts of the foot between the heel and tiptoe, said middle zones comprising a middle section of constant width continuing to said pocket of the heel and intended to cover a part of the plantar aspect and the sides of the foot at the hollow of same, and a knitted tubular portion between said middle section and said tiptoe, intended to cover a remaining part of the plantar aspect and at least a part of the dorsal aspect of the foot, said knitted tubular portion having an initial elastic border having an angular width so as to extend at least on the dorsal aspect of the foot.  
     
     
         11 . A method for manufacturing a knitted foot coverlet or protective stocking having in an integral shape a pocket that is overlapped by an elastic border intended to cover the heel of a foot, a tiptoe portion to cover the tiptoe of the foot, middle zones to cover the parts of the foot between the heel and tiptoe, said middle zones comprising a middle section of constant width continuing to said pocket of the heel and intended to cover a part of the plantar aspect and the sides of the foot at the hollow of same, and a knitted tubular portion between said middle section and said tiptoe, intended to cover a remaining part of the plantar aspect and at least a part of the dorsal aspect of the foot, said knitted tubular portion having an initial elastic border having an angular width so as to extend at least on the dorsal aspect of the foot, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a circular stocking knitting machine having a cylinder with needles capable either of continuous rotary motion or of alternating rotary motion;    knitting the semiannular initial elastic border followed by the pocket with alternating rotary motion with selectively controlled needles on one section of the circumference of the cylinder;    forming the middle section of knitted rows of constant width knitted with alternating rotary motion and with the needles on at least half of the circumference of the cylinder;    forming the knitted tubular portion of knitted rows knitted with continuous rotary motion with the needles on the entire circumference of the cylinder, with the inoperative needles on the cylinder during the knitting of the middle section being put into operation at the start of the tubular portion;    forming the closed or open tiptoe portion knitted according to a usual procedure, continuing to the tubular portion.    
     
     
         12 . A method in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein the knitted tubular portion is started after the manufacture of the middle section, with the elastic border at least in the part intended to cover the dorsal aspect of the foot.  
     
     
         13 . A method in accordance with the  claim 11 , wherein the knitting corresponding to the middle section and/or the tubular portion is of the same type or a different type from that forming the pocket of the heel and the tiptoe.  
     
     
         14 . A method in accordance with the  claim 12 , wherein the knitting corresponding to the middle section and/or the tubular portion is of the same type or a different type from that forming the pocket of the heel and the tiptoe.