Sock and process for the production thereof

Abstract

An ankle length sock having an opening welt positioned in the vicinity of an ankle of a wearer, and having an elastic welt provided at the opening welt is provided. The sock may include a compression area with high elasticity and high compressive force disposed laterally in a diagonal direction in an area extending from behind an arch portion to an Achilles tendon portion above a heel portion. A size control course with a knitted fabric increased by 4-20 courses may be disposed between the compression area and the heel portion. An additional pocket may be interknit with 2-24 courses by reverse knitting, repeatedly alternating normal rotation and reverse rotation of the circular knitting machine cylinder, at a position on the sole portion side between the size control course and the compression area.

1 . A sock having an ankle length with an opening welt positioned in the vicinity of an ankle of a wearer, and having an elastic welt provided at the opening welt, the sock comprising:
 a compression area with high elasticity and high compressive force disposed laterally in a diagonal direction in an area extending from behind an arch portion to an Achilles tendon portion above a heel portion.   
   
   
       2 . A sock according to  claim 1 , further comprising a size control course with a knitted fabric increased by 4-20 courses disposed between the compression area and the heel portion. 
   
   
       3 . A sock according to  claim 2 , further comprising an additional pocket interknitted with 2-24 courses by reverse knitting, repeatedly alternating normal rotation and reverse rotation of the circular knitting machine cylinder, at a position on the sole portion side between the size control course and the compression area. 
   
   
       4 . A sock according to  claim 1 , wherein the tensile retention force of the compression area is between about 4.5 Newtons to about 5.5 Newtons. 
   
   
       5 . A process for producing a sock using a circular knitting machine, the process comprising:
 course knitting an elastic welt and an ankle portion using normal knitting with normal rotation of a circular knitting machine cylinder;   course knitting the instep side of the toe portion by reverse knitting, repeatedly alternating normal rotation and reverse rotation of the circular knitting machine cylinder, and decreasing a number of stitches;   course knitting a sole side of the toe portion by reverse knitting and increasing the number of stitches; and   inlaying elastic yarns while knitting ground yarns when course knitting the compression area by normal knitting.   
   
   
       6 . The process according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 course knitting the compression area;   knitting the additional pocket with 2-24 courses by reverse knitting;   knitting the size control course with 4-20 courses by normal knitting;   knitting a heel portion by reverse knitting with a half needle on the opposite side from the half needle of the cylinder used when knitting the additional pocket; and   seaming the opening upon completion of knitting, so that the seamed opening is positioned on the sole side of the heel portion.