Sock with gripping dots and a method of making same

Abstract

A sock construction that substantially prevents wrinkling and bunching of the sock within the shoe. The sock construction includes a multiplicity of strategically located gripping dots disposed on the interior surface of the sock which effectively resist slippage of the sock relative to the user's foot. The gripping dots are strategically positioned so as not to restrict blood flow to the foot and so as not to inhibit normal blood circulation within the foot.

1 . A gripping sock having inner and outer surfaces, an open top, a generally tubular-shaped leg section that is dimensioned to receive at least a portion of the leg of the wearer and a foot section connected to said leg section and dimensioned to receive the foot of the wearer, the foot and leg sections being constructed from a yam and being configured to stretch when the sock is donned, said foot section having a lower portion, including an inner surface having a multiplicity of yieldably deformable grip-dots constructed and arranged to prevent slippage of the sock relative to the wearers foot.  
   
   
       2 . The gripping sock as defined in  claim 1  in which said yieldably deformable grip-dots comprise a polymer emulsion.  
   
   
       3 . The gripping sock as defined in  claim 1  in which said yieldably deformable grip-dots comprise a polyvinyl chloride emulsion.  
   
   
       4 . The gripping sock as defined in  claim 1  in which said yieldably deformable grip-dots comprise a liquid vinyl.  
   
   
       5 . The gripping sock as defined in  claim 1  in which said yarn comprises natural fibers.  
   
   
       6 . The gripping sock as defined in  claim 1  in which said yarn comprises synthetic fibers.  
   
   
       7 . The gripping sock as defined in  claim 1  in which said yarn comprises synthetic fibers, which incorporate elastic filaments.  
   
   
       8 . A method of making a gripping sock comprising the steps of: 
 (a) forming a generally foot-shaped sock having first and second surfaces and a lower portion;    (b) depositing a multiplicity of dots of a gripping material on said first surface of said lower portion of said sock to form a precursor; and    (c) turning said precursor inside out to form a finished sock.    
   
   
       9 . The method as defined in  claim 8  in which said gripping material comprises a polymer emulsion.  
   
   
       10 . The method as described in  claim 8  in which said gripping material comprises a polyvinyl chloride emulsion.  
   
   
       11 . The method as described in  claim 8  in which said gripping material comprises a liquid vinyl.  
   
   
       12 . A method of making a sock using an apparatus comprising a sock positioning mandrel and a curing apparatus, said method comprising the steps of: 
 (a) forming a generally foot-shaped sock including a lower portion having first and second surfaces;    (b) positioning said generally foot-shaped sock on the mandrel to form a first assemblage wherein at least a portion of the first surface of said lower portion of said generally foot-shaped sock is in engagement with said generally planar portion of said mandrel;    (c) depositing a multiplicity of dots of a gripping material on said first surface of said lower portion of said generally foot-shaped sock to form an uncured first precursor;    (d) using the curing apparatus, curing said gripping material to form a first cured precursor; and    (e) removing said first cured precursor from the mandrel and turning said first cured precursor inside out to form a finished sock.    
   
   
       13 . The method as defined in  claim 12  in which said gripping material comprises a polymer emulsion.  
   
   
       14 . The method as described in  claim 13  in which said gripping material comprises a polyvinyl chloride emulsion.  
   
   
       15 . The method as described in  claim 13  in which said curing apparatus comprises an irradiation device for producing ultraviolet radiation.  
   
   
       16 . The method as described in  claim 13  in which said curing apparatus comprises a heating device for heating said gripping material.  
   
   
       17 . The method as defined in  claim 13  in which said polymer emulsion comprises a polyvinyl chloride emulsion.  
   
   
       18 . The method as defined in  claim 13  in which said mandrel comprises a three-dimensional article.  
   
   
       19 . The method as defined in  claim 13  in which said mandrel comprises a generally foot-shaped, planar article.  
   
   
       20 . The method as defined in  claim 13  in which said mandrel comprises a planar article having a sock gripping element.  
   
   
       21 . The method as defined in  claim 20  in which said sock gripping element is generally “V”-shaped.  
   
   
       22 . An apparatus for making a gripping sock from a sock having a foot receiving portion for engagement with the foot of the user, said apparatus comprising: 
 (a) a sock supporting mandrel comprising a generally planar support member having first and second ends, a generally planar support portion disposed intermediate said first and second ends and a sock capture element located in intermediate said first and second ends;    (b) a stencil operatively associated with said sock supporting mandrel for use in depositing a multiplicity of dots of a curable emulsion onto said foot receiving portion of said sock; and    (c) curing means for curing said curable emulsion.    
   
   
       23 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 22  in which said supporting mandrel is provided with an aperture and in which said capture element comprises a generally “V”-shaped sock capture element extending into said aperture.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 22  in which said supporting mandrel has first and second ends and a generally planar sock supporting planar portion disposed intermediate said first and second ends.  
   
   
       25 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 22  in which said first end of said supporting mandrel is tapered and in which said second end comprises a segment of reduced width.  
   
   
       24 . The apparatus as defined in  claim 22  in which said curing means comprises a radiation emitting device.