Sock

Abstract

A sock comprising a toe section, a heel section, and a mid-section between the toe section and the heel section, wherein the mid-section has a foot bottom portion and a foot upper or instep portion, and wherein at least a part of the foot bottom portion is knit from two or more different yarn types used in an alternating sequence along the longitudinal direction of the mid-section, wherein the different yarn types have different stretch properties. By using the different yarn types in the foot bottom or sole portion between the toe and heel section in an alternating sequence along the longitudinal direction of the mid-section in combination, one can create a sock which has a higher stretch characteristic than other socks.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sock comprising
 a toe section, a heel section, and a mid-section between the toe section and the heel section,   wherein the mid-section has a foot bottom portion and a foot upper or instep portion, and   wherein at least a part of the foot bottom portion is knit from two or more different yarn types used in an alternating sequence along the longitudinal direction of the mid-section, wherein the different yarn types have different stretch properties.   
     
     
         2 . The sock according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the foot upper portion is formed with a mesh panel created by an open stitch maintained by an additional elastomeric yarn.   
     
     
         3 . The sock according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the two or more different yarn types used in the alternating sequence on the foot bottom portion form stripe-like sections extending in the width direction of the mid-section.   
     
     
         4 . The sock according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the two or more different yarn types used in the alternating sequence on the foot bottom portion form stripe-like sections extending in the width direction of the mid-section.   
     
     
         5 . The sock according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the stripe-like sections formed by the alternating sequence of the two or more different yarn types are arranged so as to extend at least over the ball of the foot and the base of the foot of a wearer.   
     
     
         6 . The sock according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the stripe-like sections formed by the different yarn types are formed over the substantially entire length of the foot bottom portion from a base of the toe section to a base of the heel section.   
     
     
         7 . The sock according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the stripe-like sections formed by the different yarn types are formed over the substantially entire length of the foot bottom portion from a base of the toe section to a base of the heel section.   
     
     
         8 . The sock according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the stripe-like sections formed by the different yarn types form one or more pattern(s) repeated along the longitudinal direction of the mid-section.   
     
     
         9 . The sock according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the two or more different yarn types include a body yarn, optionally spun or filament and not textured, and a texturized filament yarn.   
     
     
         10 . The sock according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein the texturized filament yarn is formed in conjunction with spandex and/or rubber material.   
     
     
         11 . The sock according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the body yarn is formed in conjunction with spandex and/or rubber in a lower amount than the texturized filament yarn.   
     
     
         12 . The sock according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the foot bottom portion of the sock has an overall flat knit structure or a cushioned structure with terry loops.   
     
     
         13 . The sock according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the sock has at least 110%, optionally 110%-150% and further optionally 130%-150%, stretch in the longitudinal direction of the mid-section, and at least 120% stretch in the width direction of the mid-section.   
     
     
         14 . The sock according to  claim 1 , wherein the different yarn types used in the alternating sequence also differ from each other in color and/or shade. 
     
     
         15 . The sock according to  claim 1 , wherein the sock has an ankle section. 
     
     
         16 . The sock according to  claim 15 , wherein the sock has a leg section.