Moisture channel socks

Abstract

A sock ( 1 ) comprising a foot section ( 2 ) with a sole portion ( 2 a ) and an instep portion ( 2 b ), and a leg section ( 3 ) connected to or integrally formed with the foot section ( 2 ), the leg section ( 3 ) including a heel portion ( 3 b ) and an ankle portion ( 3 a ). The foot and leg sections ( 2,3 ) are formed with or from hydrophobic material, the foot section ( 2 ) has a plurality of moisture collection channels ( 4 ) formed with or from hydrophilic material, the moisture collection channels ( 4 ) are spaced apart from each other and are distributed over at least part of the sole portion ( 2 a ) with hydrophobic portions between adjacent moisture collection channels ( 4 ), the moisture collection channels ( 4 ) extend from the sole portion ( 2 a ) towards the instep portion ( 2 b ) and are connected to an evaporation zone ( 6,7 ) at the leg section ( 3 ), and the moisture collection channels ( 4 ) are formed in a flat knit structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sock comprising
 a foot section with a sole portion and an instep portion, and   a leg section connected to or integrally formed with the foot section, the leg section including a heel portion and an ankle portion,   wherein the foot and leg sections are formed with or from hydrophobic material,   wherein the foot section has a plurality of moisture collection channels formed with or from hydrophilic material,   wherein the moisture collection channels are spaced apart from each other and are distributed over at least part of the sole portion with hydrophobic portions between adjacent moisture collection channels,   wherein the moisture collection channels extend from the sole portion towards the instep portion and are connected to an evaporation zone at the leg section, and   wherein the moisture collection channels are formed in a flat knit structure.   
     
     
         2 . The sock according to  claim 1 , wherein the moisture collection channels are formed in the flat knit structure in the material of the sock. 
     
     
         3 . The sock according to  claim 1 , wherein plural moisture collection channels are connected to the evaporation zone through one or more moisture transport channel(s) formed with or from hydrophilic material. 
     
     
         4 . The sock according to  claim 3 , wherein the moisture transport channel(s) is/are formed in a flat knit structure in the material of the sock. 
     
     
         5 . The sock according to  claim 3 , wherein the moisture transport channel(s) has/have one or more portions with expanded width, preferably in the direction of extension toward the leg section. 
     
     
         6 . The sock according to  claim 3 , wherein the one or more moisture transport channel(s) extend(s) in a longitudinal direction of the foot section and are/is located lateral of a central portion of the instep portion. 
     
     
         7 . The sock according to  claim 1 , wherein the moisture collection channels and, if provided, preferably the moisture transport channel(s) are generally strip-shaped. 
     
     
         8 . The sock according to  claim 7 , wherein the moisture collection channels have a width of 2 stitches or 2 mm to 4 stitches or 4 mm, with the hydrophobic portions between adjacent moisture collection channels having preferably 3 to 5 times that width. 
     
     
         9 . The sock according to  claim 1 , wherein a base layer of the material of the foot and preferably the leg section of the sock made with or from hydrophobic material is made in a single layer construction, preferably in a terry construction and more preferably with the terry piles located on the side facing the foot of the wearer. 
     
     
         10 . The sock according to  claim 1 , wherein the evaporation zone is located at and/or around the ankle portion of the leg section. 
     
     
         11 . The sock according to  claim 1 , wherein the evaporation zone includes an evaporation window which has a mesh construction and is made with hydrophilic material. 
     
     
         12 . The sock according to  claim 11 , wherein the evaporation window includes drop stitch stripes forming mesh stripes. 
     
     
         13 . The sock according to  claim 2 , wherein plural moisture collection channels are connected to the evaporation zone through one or more moisture transport channel(s) formed with or from hydrophilic material. 
     
     
         14 . The sock according to  claim 4 , wherein the moisture transport channel(s) has/have one or more portions with expanded width, preferably in the direction of extension toward the leg section. 
     
     
         15 . The sock according to  claim 4 , wherein the one or more moisture transport channel(s) extend(s) in a longitudinal direction of the foot section and are/is located lateral of a central portion of the instep portion. 
     
     
         16 . The sock according to  claim 5 , wherein the one or more moisture transport channel(s) extend(s) in a longitudinal direction of the foot section and are/is located lateral of a central portion of the instep portion.