Sock or the like comprising sock structure with biomechanical effects particularly suitable for football. cycling and similar sports

Abstract

A sock includes a foot part and a leg part extending up to below the knee and has, in one or more areas of its surface extension, one or more structural modification elements of a layer of mesh forming the wall of the sock. Those structural modification elements may be printed, for example, screen-printed, intertwined, and/or incorporated in the structure of the mesh, and are configured to respect the functionality of the leg and foot according to biomechanical, circulatory and neurological aspects to harmonize those effects with each other and obtain therapeutic, preventive and performance-enhancing efficacy. Two embodiments are specifically configured for activities that require rapid changes of direction, such as football, rugby, basketball, tennis, or paddle, and for activities that require the transmission of intense thrusts such as cycling or golf.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sock comprising:
 a foot part; and   a leg part,   the foot part being configured to overlap a foot of a user and the leg part being configured to overlap at least one part or an entire part of the leg up to below a knee,   optionally the foot part being closed by a toe part,   said sock presenting in one or more areas of a surface extension thereof one or more structural modification elements ( 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ) of at least one layer of knitting which forms a wall of said sock, the one or more structural modification elements are being applied, incorporated, and/or intertwined on or in a structure of said knitting,   wherein the structural modification elements ( 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ) consist of one or more layers of material applied to the wall of the sock which are distributed along different areas of the sock configured to overlap anatomical parts of the foot in a worn condition with specific functions during use, and   wherein the structural modification elements have alternatively or together and in combination with a specific area, a function of support element of an anatomical part and/or a function of an element for increasing friction between the sock and a shoe and/or between the sock and the foot in order to stabilize a relative position between the foot and the shoe during execution of pushing actions and/or to support a function of other anatomical parts of the foot in carrying out typical movements of the foot.   
     
     
         2 . The sock according to  claim 1 , wherein the structural modification elements have differently configured distribution patterns and/or are configured as differently shaped modification elements also within one of the different distribution patterns, and wherein the differently shaped structural modification elements are provided at different areas of the foot and the distribution patterns and a design of the modification elements is generated according to a direction of movement and/or a mechanical action executed by an area of the foot. 
     
     
         3 . The sock according to  claim 1 , wherein different design of the structural modification elements consist at least in a different thickness of some structural modification elements from other structural modification elements at different local areas of the foot, the thickness being a dimension of the structural modification elements in a direction perpendicular or incident to a surface of the sock. 
     
     
         4 . The sock according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the structural modification elements applied to the sock consists of an anti-slip element having increased friction with respect to the knitting of the sock relative to a material of the shoe with which the sock is in contact, and said anti-slip element extends from an end of the first toe up along part or the entire first metatarsus, or up to a root (base) of the first metatarsus. 
     
     
         5 . The sock according to  claim 1 , wherein one of the structural modification elements ( 1 ) applied to the sock extends into an area of the plantar arch and/or of the metatarsal heads and has an anti-slip function. 
     
     
         6 . The sock according to  claim 1 , further comprising an element ( 5 ) modifying a sock structure which is applied in an area of the plantar arch and consisting of a layer of a material with a function of mechanical support of the plantar arch. 
     
     
         7 . The sock according to  claim 1 , further comprising an element ( 10 ) of a thermoplastic material and/or PVC, and/or silicone, applied to a material of the sock, which extends in an overlapping area of roots of the metatarsal heads. 
     
     
         8 . The sock according to  claim 1 , further comprising an element ( 4 ) applied to a material of the sock with a spiral shape in an area of a pivot point of the foot and configured to have an anti-slip function. 
     
     
         9 . The sock according to  claim 1 , further comprising elements ( 2 ,  3 ;  51 ,  52 ) applied to the sock in an area overlapping a root of the fifth metatarsal and of the first metatarsal and made of layers of material having different thicknesses. 
     
     
         10 . The sock according to one or more of the preceding  claim 1 , further comprising an element ( 7 ) applied in an area of the sock configured to overlap an ankle area and constituting a reinforcing element for stabilizing the ankle. 
     
     
         11 . The sock according to  claim 1 , further comprising a thickening element ( 5 ) applied to a heel area and extending along at least an initial part of a calf, said thickening element being constituted by a layer of reinforcing material with kinesiotape effect. 
     
     
         12 . The sock according to  claim 11 , wherein said thickening element ( 5 ) has a length sufficient to overlap a calf part ending below the knee, and wherein said thickening element extends, optionally without interruption, toward the and in an opposite direction up to an arch area of the foot passing around the heel. 
     
     
         13 . The sock according to  claim 11 , wherein said thickening element ( 5 ) consists of a continuous band or strip of material having a predetermined width and a predetermined thickness, said band extending seamlessly from a front end of an arch of the foot up to an opposite end up to a calf area and/or along the calf area, the band or strip being made of a material having a lower extensibility than a extensibility of a remaining wall of the sock. 
     
     
         14 . The sock according to  claim 1 , wherein the knitting is one or more of:
 an elasticized fabric and/or a knitting configured to obtain a compression effect; or   a knitting having different types of weaves distributed on an extension of the knitting that locally modify thickness and/or stiffness of the knitting, the knitting having extensibility, shape memory, an elastic return force in a condition not subjected to extension tension, or a knitting pattern that generates a breathable effect.   
     
     
         15 . The sock according to  claim 13 , wherein the one or more structural modification elements ( 1 ,  2 ,  3 ,  4 ,  5 ,  6 ,  7 ,  8 ,  9 ,  10 ), the band or strip of material, and/or a knitted fabric of the sock, have a perforated or micro-perforated structure that allows transpiration. 
     
     
         16 . The sock according to  claim 13 , wherein the one or more structural modification elements ( 5 ), or the band or strip, is provided with at least one lateral extension ( 51 ,  52 ) towards an inner and/or outer side of the foot and in a plantar arch area. 
     
     
         17 . The sock according to  claim 1 , further comprising additional elements associated to a part of the knitting which forms the wall of the sock in an area of the sole of the foot, the additional elements modifying a structure of said wall and being distributed according to a predetermined pattern, the additional elements having effects differentiated from each other in order to reproduce and support a foot helical movement during running and walking, the additional elements being made alternatively or in combination of one or more of the following elements:
 at least one thickening element of the wall of the sock corresponding to and coinciding with an area of the fifth metatarsal;   at least one non-slip thickening element with a higher friction coefficient than the knitting of the sock to increase a grip with the shoe; or   non-slip elements with greater friction than the knitting of the sock in an area of the first metatarsal, between a terminal end of the at least one thickening element coinciding with a plantar arch and phalanges;   the at least one thickening element being made with a design being positioned to favor an anti-slip or greater grip action between the sock and the shoe and a helical movement of the foot during running or walking.   
     
     
         18 . The sock according to  claim 1 , wherein the knitting forming the sock has a different structure in different areas of the sock associated with predetermined anatomical areas of a leg or the foot, the different structure being obtained by applying by printing a material according to different designs, distributions, and densities to obtain an area of greater thickness and/or of greater mechanical resistance to traction, and a greater elastic force of return to a condition not subjected to the traction and/or shock absorbing. 
     
     
         19 . The sock according to  claim 1 , further comprising, applied to an external face of the knitting of the sock, a combination of elements for modifying mechanical properties of the sock, the combination of elements being provided for harmonizing a dynamic behavior of the sock in relation to biomechanics of the foot during activities that require rapid changes of direction with football, rugby, tennis, basketball, or pickleball, the modification elements being structured like the structural modification elements and consisting of:
 a first anti-slip modification element with increased grip function between the sock and the shoe, the first anti-slip modification element extending up to a first metatarsal area in order to increase thrust and acceleration due to the first toe;   a second anti-slip modification element with increased grip function between the sock and the shoe, the second anti-slip modification element extending into the sole of the foot to protect against a fall of the plantar arch and metatarsal heads;   a third modification element consisting of a layer applied by screen printing and having a circular or spiral shape centered with a pivot or rotation point of the foot and made of an anti-slip material to increase grip between the sock and the shoe during a change of direction;   a fourth modification element with a function of generating a plantar compression, the fourth modification element—consisting of a tape of material with reduced elasticity compared to an elasticity of a sock material;   elements of different thickness in a root area of the first and fifth metatarsal which are made of material applied by screen printing, a thickness of the two root areas being differentiated in order to favor a breech helix;   a modification of a weave of the knitting and a fifth element applied by screen printing to the ankle area to generate a stabilization and massage function of the fifth element;   a thickening element that extends into the Achilles tendon and/or a calf area with a kinesiotape effect to support a functionality of the soleus and protect a tendon; or   a sixth element applied by screen printing on a back of the sock at a level of the tibia and/or an instep provided externally and/or internally by the wall of the sock, the sixth element being made of a material with an increased coefficient of friction to increase the grip of the sock relative to the leg and/or in relation to a shin guard that can be inserted between the leg and the sock,   wherein the modification elements are applied to the fabric of the knitting of the sock.   
     
     
         20 . The sock according to  claim 1 , further comprising, applied to an outer face of the knitting of the sock a combination of modification elements for modifying mechanical properties of the sock, the modification elements being provided for harmonizing a dynamic behavior of the sock relative to biomechanics of the foot during activities that require a transmission of a thrust and include cycling, golf, or pickleball, the modification elements being structured like the structural modification elements and consisting of:
 a first modification element with an anti-slip or increased grip function towards a material of the shoe, the modification consisting of a layer of material with a higher friction coefficient compared to the knitting of the sock, the first modification element extending over an entire sole of the foot and providing a function of optimization of the thrust avoiding dissipation of force transmission due to slipping between the foot and a shoe;   a cushion element of a thermoplastic material, PCV, and/or silicone in an area of roots of metatarsal heads which coincides with a position of the shoe cleats and which protects said heads and improves the thrust of the foot on a pedal;   a second modification element with an increased coefficient of friction towards the shoe with respect to a material coefficient of the knitting of the sock, which element extends into the area of the first metatarsal;   a compression element in a meso-foot-area consisting of a band of material applied externally to a knitting wall of the sock;   a third modification element for an arch support applied by screen printing in an arch area;   a thickening element that extends into the Achilles tendon and/or calf area with a kinesiotape effect to support a functionality of the soleus and protect a tendon; or   a fourth modification element applied by screen printing on a back of the sock that is made up of a material with an increased coefficient of friction to increase the grip of the sock relative to the shoe so as to increase a transmission of the thrust,   wherein the modification elements are applied to a knitting of the sock.