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US-20260123711-A1 - A BIOMECHANICAL SOCK

US20260123711A1US 20260123711 A1US20260123711 A1US 20260123711A1US-20260123711-A1

Abstract

A sock comprising a foot part made of a textile, wherein the foot part comprises at least one inset integrated with the textile at least partly in a sole of the foot part, said inset providing increased thickness to a thickness of surrounding parts of the textile, wherein at least one inset is located in one or more of the following areas: an area covering at least an innermost metatarsal bone of a wearer; an area covering at least an outermost metatarsal bone of the wearer; an area covering at least in an inner and medial area of a heel bone of the wearer; an area covering at least an outer and lateral part of a heel bone of the wearer.

Inventors

  • Erkki Hakkala

Assignees

  • FOOTBALANCE SYSTEM OY

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20220923

Claims (17)

  1. 1 . A sock comprising a foot part made of a textile, wherein the foot part comprises at least two wedge-shaped insets integrated with the textile at least partly in a sole of the foot part, said insets providing increased thickness to a thickness of surrounding parts of the textile, wherein at least a first wedge-shaped inset is located in one or more of the following areas: an area covering at least an innermost metatarsal bone of a wearer; an area covering at least an outermost metatarsal bone of the wearer; and at least a second wedge-shaped inset is located in one or more of the following areas an area covering at least in an inner and medial area of a heel bone of the wearer; an area covering at least an outer and lateral part of a heel bone of the wearer.
  2. 2 . The sock according to claim 1 , comprising a rearfoot medial wedge.
  3. 3 . The sock according to claim 1 , comprising a rearfoot lateral wedge.
  4. 4 . The sock according to claim 1 , comprising a forefoot medial wedge.
  5. 5 . The sock according to claim 1 , comprising a forefoot lateral wedge.
  6. 6 . The sock according to claim 1 , wherein said at least first or second wedge-shaped inset is made by knitting a structure of increased thickness into the textile.
  7. 7 . The sock according to claim 6 , wherein said at least first or second wedge-shaped inset is knit on top of the foot part.
  8. 8 . The sock according to claim 6 , wherein said at least first or second wedge-shaped inset is knit inside the foot part.
  9. 9 . The sock according to claim 1 , wherein said at least first or second wedge-shaped inset is made by injection molding.
  10. 10 . The sock according to claim 1 , wherein said at least first or second wedge-shaped inset is made by 3D printing.
  11. 11 . The sock according to claim 1 , wherein said at least first or second wedge-shaped inset is made by laminating.
  12. 12 . The sock according to claim 9 , wherein a material of said at least first or second wedge-shaped inset comprises an open or closed cell foam or a thermoplastic rubber.
  13. 13 . The sock according to claim 1 , wherein said at least first or second wedge-shaped inset is stitched or sewed on top of the foot part.
  14. 14 . The sock according to claim 1 , wherein a material of the textile of the foot part comprises one or more of nylon, elastane or polypropene.
  15. 15 . The sock according to claim 10 , wherein said at least first or second wedge-shaped inset is stitched or sewed on top of the foot part.
  16. 16 . The sock according to claim 11 , wherein said at least first or second wedge-shaped inset is stitched or sewed on top of the foot part.
  17. 17 . The sock according to claim 12 , wherein said at least first or second wedge-shaped inset is stitched or sewed on top of the foot part.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to socks, more particularly to biomechanical socks. BACKGROUND Pronation is a natural motion of the foot during walking and running. It facilitates a shock absorbing effect during the early stance phase as it rotates the medial bones in the midtarsal region of the foot inward and downward unlocking Chopart joint (midtarsal joints of the foot) for adapting the ground reaction force of the body and uneven surfaces. Excessive STJ (subtalar joint or lower ankle joint) calcaneal eversion occurs in overpronation causing foot and ankle roll too far and long downward and inward and foot is not anymore capable providing the rigid lever during the push off. As the result, it causes abnormal push off from the medial part of the 1st metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint and phalange during the gait. If the foot remains pronated during any part of push off, it is considered abnormal. Athletic socks have been developed to provide a reduction of plantar pressure, reduced impact shock, reduced incidence of friction blisters. Synthetic fiber composition has improved physical features of the athletic socks such as water resistance, wicking, cushion, weight and resiliency over the cotton socks. Elastic compression of the socks has shown to improve venous insufficiency and reduce muscle soreness after sports activities. Traditionally, orthopedic socks, a.k.a. orthotic socks, have been used for reducing swelling in the feet, ankles, calves and the associated pain and suffering by exerting light or moderate pressure or compression on the limbs of the user. Individuals with a foot or toe deformity, a problematic foot injury or a neurological illness affecting the feet can benefit from orthotic socks. Especially people suffering from chronic venous insufficiency may obtain help by using compression socks or stockings. However, no socks have been developed for biomechanical purposes, for example, for controlling or correcting abnormal movements of the foot, such as overpronation. SUMMARY Now there has been invented an improved sock, by which the above problems are at least alleviated. An aspect of the invention includes a sock which is characterized by what is stated in the independent claim. Various embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims. The scope of protection sought for various embodiments of the invention is set out by the independent claims. The embodiments and features, if any, described in this specification that do not fall under the scope of the independent claims are to be interpreted as examples useful for understanding various embodiments of the invention. According to an aspect, there is provided a sock comprising a foot part made of a textile, wherein the foot part comprises at least one inset integrated with the textile at least partly in a sole of the foot part, said inset providing increased thickness to a thickness of surrounding parts of the textile, wherein at least one inset is located in one or more of the following areas: an area covering at least an innermost metatarsal bone of a wearer;an area covering at least an outermost metatarsal bone of the wearer;an area covering at least in an inner and medial area of a heel bone of the wearer;an area covering at least an outer and lateral part of a heel bone of the wearer. According to an embodiment, the inset is a flat-shaped post. According to an embodiment, the inset is wedge-shaped. According to an embodiment, the sock comprises a rearfoot medial wedge. According to an embodiment, the sock comprises a rearfoot lateral wedge. According to an embodiment, the sock comprises a forefoot medial wedge. According to an embodiment, the sock comprises a forefoot lateral wedge. According to an embodiment, the sock comprises a uniform inset extending at least from an inner heel area of the wearer to an area covering at least an innermost metatarsal bone of the wearer. According to an embodiment, said at least one inset is made by knitting a structure of increased thickness into the textile. According to an embodiment, said at least one inset is knit on top of the foot part. According to an embodiment, said at least one inset is knit inside the foot part. According to an embodiment, said at least one inset is made by injection molding. According to an embodiment, said at least one inset is made by 3D printing. According to an embodiment, said at least one inset is made by laminating. According to an embodiment, a material of said at least one inset comprise an open or closed cell foam or a thermoplastic rubber. According to an embodiment, said at least one inset is stitched or sewed on top of the foot part. According to an embodiment, a material of the textile of the foot part comprises one or more of nylon, elastane or polypropene. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the following, various embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings, in which FIG