Athletic sock

Abstract

Aspects herein are directed to a knit sock having a leg portion and an integrally knit ankle welt extending around a circumference of the leg portion and positioned at a lower end of the leg portion. The knit sock further includes an integrally knit tab located at a back aspect of the ankle welt.

1 . A knit sock comprising:
 a collar having a perimeter edge around an opening for receiving a wearer's foot;   a leg portion extending from the collar;   a foot portion extending from the leg portion and terminating at a toe end; and   a heel portion positioned between the leg portion and the foot portion, the heel portion having an Achilles section and a plantar section;   wherein at least the Achilles section comprises a knit structure having an alternating pattern comprising a first number of knit courses knit with terry loops and a second number of knit courses knit without terry loops.   
     
     
         2 . The knit sock of  claim 1 , wherein the first number of knit courses and the second number of knit courses extend from a lateral side to a medial side of the Achilles section. 
     
     
         3 . The knit sock of  claim 2 , wherein the first number of knit courses greater than the second number of knit courses. 
     
     
         4 . The knit sock of  claim 3 , wherein the ratio of the first number of knit courses to the second number of knit courses is about 2:1. 
     
     
         5 . The knit sock of  claim 1 , wherein the plantar section includes a first plurality of integrally knit grip strips that extend from a lateral side to a medial side of the plantar section. 
     
     
         6 . The knit sock of  claim 5 , wherein the first plurality of integrally knit grip strips comprises terry loops. 
     
     
         7 . The knit sock of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a second plurality of integrally knit grip strips located on a lateral side of the foot portion; and   a third plurality of integrally knit grip strips located on a medial side of the foot portion.   
     
     
         8 . The knit sock of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a fourth plurality of integrally knit grip strips located on a dorsal side of the toe end of the knit sock; and   a fifth plurality of integrally knit grip strips located on a plantar side of the toe end of the knit sock.   
     
     
         9 . The knit sock of  claim 8 , wherein the integrally knit grip strips are knit with a yarn comprising filaments having a diameter from about 25 nanometers to about 350 nanometers. 
     
     
         10 . The knit sock of  claim 6 , wherein the integrally knit grip strips are knit with a grip yarn. 
     
     
         11 . The knit sock of  claim 10 , wherein the second number of knit courses comprises an elastic yarn. 
     
     
         12 . A knit sock comprising:
 a collar having a perimeter edge around an opening for receiving a wearer's foot;   a leg portion extending from the collar;   a foot portion extending from the leg portion and terminating at a toe end; and   a heel portion positioned between the leg portion and the foot portion, the heel portion having an Achilles section and a plantar section;   wherein:
 the Achilles section comprises a first knit structure having an alternating pattern comprising a first number of knit courses knit with terry loops and a second number of knit courses knit without terry loops; and 
 the plantar section comprises a second knit structure having an alternating pattern comprising a third number of knit courses knit with terry loops and a fourth number of knit courses knit without terry loops. 
   
     
     
         13 . The knit sock of  claim 12 , wherein the third set of knit courses comprises a first body yarn and a first plating yarn. 
     
     
         14 . The knit sock of  claim 13 , wherein the fourth set of knit courses comprises a second body yarn and a second plating yarn. 
     
     
         15 . The knit sock of  claim 14 , wherein the first body yarn and the second body yarn are a different type of yarn. 
     
     
         16 . The knit sock of  claim 15 , wherein the second body yarn and the second plating yarn comprise an elastic yarn. 
     
     
         17 . A knit sock comprising:
 a collar having a perimeter edge around an opening for receiving a wearer's foot;   a leg portion extending from the collar;   a foot portion extending from the leg portion and terminating at a toe end; and   a heel portion positioned between the leg portion and the foot portion, the heel portion having an Achilles section and a plantar section;   wherein:
 the Achilles section comprises a knit structure having an alternating pattern comprising a first number of knit courses knit with terry loops and a second number of knit courses knit without terry loops; 
 the plantar section comprises a second knit structure having an alternating pattern comprising a third number of knit courses knit with terry loops and a fourth number of knit courses knit without terry loops; 
 the first number of knit courses is knit with a first body yarn and a first plated yarn, 
 the second number of knit courses is knit with a second body yarn and a second plated yarn; 
 the third number of knit courses is knit with a third body yarn and a third plated yarn; and 
 the fourth number of knit courses is knit with a fourth body yarn and a fourth plated yarn. 
   
     
     
         18 . The knit sock of  claim 17 , wherein the first plating yarn, the second plating yarn, the third plating yarn and the fourth plating yarn comprise an elastic yarn. 
     
     
         19 . The knit sock of  claim 18 , wherein the first body yarn is different than the second body yarn. 
     
     
         20 . The knit sock of  claim 19 , wherein the third body yarn is a grip yarn.