U.S. patent application number 11/766830 was filed with the patent office on 2008-09-25 for sock for maintaining a module protecting one zone of the foot.
This patent application is currently assigned to MILLET INNOVATION. Invention is credited to Jean-Claude MILLET.
Application Number | 20080229482 11/766830 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34953170 |
Filed Date | 2008-09-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080229482 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MILLET; Jean-Claude |
September 25, 2008 |
SOCK FOR MAINTAINING A MODULE PROTECTING ONE ZONE OF THE FOOT
Abstract
An elastic sock (1) is provided for maintaining at least one
protection module for protecting one zone of a foot. The sock
includes a tubular part (2) shaped to cover the ankle, a front part
(3) shaped to cover the foot and heel, and an opening (4) in a
region of the sock corresponding to the curve of the foot. The sock
can be pulled on by first pulling on the tubular part (2) around
the ankle and by putting the foot into the opening (4), then by
pulling on the front part (3) around the foot after having arranged
at least one protection module (10) on the foot.
Inventors: |
MILLET; Jean-Claude; (Etoile
sur Rhone, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PANITCH SCHWARZE BELISARIO & NADEL LLP
ONE COMMERCE SQUARE, 2005 MARKET STREET, SUITE 2200
PHILADELPHIA
PA
19103
US
|
Assignee: |
MILLET INNOVATION
Loriol Sur Drome
FR
|
Family ID: |
34953170 |
Appl. No.: |
11/766830 |
Filed: |
June 22, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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PCT/FR05/02926 |
Nov 25, 2005 |
|
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11766830 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/240 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41B 11/003 20130101;
A41B 2400/60 20130101; A61F 15/004 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/240 |
International
Class: |
A43B 17/00 20060101
A43B017/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 28, 2004 |
FR |
0413974 |
Claims
1. An elastic sock for holding at least one protection module for
protecting a zone of a human or animal foot, the sock comprising a
tubular part shaped to cover an ankle, a front part intended to
cover the foot and a heel of the foot, and an opening in a region
of the sock corresponding to a curve of the foot, such that the
sock can be pulled on by first pulling on the tubular part around
the ankle and by putting the foot into the opening, then by pulling
on the front part around the foot after having arranged the at
least one protection module on the foot.
2. The sock according to claim 1, comprising an elastane polyamide
material.
3. The sock according to claim 1, wherein the front part comprises
a knitted or sewn zone (6) which passes along a part corresponding
to a left or right edge of the foot.
4. The sock according to claim 1, wherein the tubular part
comprises a knitted or sewn zone (5) which extends at the front of
the ankle when pulled on.
5. The sock according to claim 1, wherein the protection module is
fitted into the sock.
6. The sock according to claim 5, wherein the protection module is
arranged in a material which is knitted or sewn to the sock.
7. A combination of a sock according to claim 1 and a protection
module comprising a thin sheet of moisture-absorbing material,
shaped to cover all or part of the foot and covered with the
sock.
8. A method for holding on a human or animal foot at least one
protection module for protecting a zone of the foot, the method
comprising: providing an elastic sock comprising a tubular part
shaped to cover an ankle of the foot, a front part shaped to cover
the foot and heel of the foot, and an opening in a region of the
sock corresponding to a curve of the foot; pulling the tubular part
on around the ankle by putting the foot into the opening; arranging
the at least one protection module on the foot; and pulling the
front part on around the foot.
9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the sock comprises an
elastane polyamide material.
10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the protection module
is fitted into the sock.
11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the protection module
is arranged in a material which is knitted or sewn to the sock.
12. The method according to claim 8, wherein the protection module
comprises a thin sheet of moisture-absorbing material, covering all
or part of the foot and covered with the sock.
13. A method for treating or protecting a zone of a human or animal
foot, the method comprising: providing an elastic sock comprising a
tubular part shaped to cover an ankle of the foot, a front part
shaped to cover the foot and heel of the foot, and an opening in a
region of the sock corresponding to a curve of the foot; pulling
the tubular part on around the ankle by putting the foot into the
opening; arranging the at least one treatment or protection module
on the foot; pulling the front part on around the foot; and holding
the at least one treatment or protection module on the foot by the
front part of the sock.
14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the sock comprises an
elastane polyamide material.
15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the protection module
is fitted into the sock.
16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the protection module
is arranged in a material which is knitted or sewn to the sock.
17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the treatment or
protection module comprises a thin sheet of moisture-absorbing
material, covering all or part of the foot and covered with the
sock.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a Continuation of International
Application No. PCT/FR2005/002926, filed Nov. 25, 2005, which was
published in the French language on Jul. 13, 2006, under
International Publication No. WO 2006/072678 A1 and the disclosure
of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to holding a protection module
on the foot for protecting one zone of the foot.
[0003] Foot protection modules, also referred to as "protection
interfaces," are commonly used products. They are, for example,
small plates of silicone gel of a few centimeters square, for
example a composition of silicone gel marketed by Millet Innovation
of Luriol Sur Drome, France, under the trademark Epithelium
26.RTM..
[0004] The foot of a human has a shock-absorbing layer called the
footpad, which is capable of supporting up to eight times the
weight of the human body. The footpad enables the mechanical "load"
imposed by the weight of the body to be spread. Now, many patients
suffer from a temperature rise, wart-corns or pain as a result of
inevitable wear of the natural footpad with age. Thus, such
protection modules enable the pain to be relieved and all the
painful zones of the foot affected by hyper-pressure (wart-corns,
corns, soft corns, hallux valgus) or suffering skin trauma
(irritation, chapping, plantar warts, etc.) to be protected.
[0005] However, holding one or more protection modules on the foot
is problematic. After placing a module on the foot at the desired
location, the module must not move when the sock is put on. Now, as
the module is generally moderately adhesive, it is pulled
backwards, then rolls up or the corners turn up when the sock is
pulled on. This is a general problem and affects all the parts of
the foot.
[0006] Furthermore, providing a very adhesive module, covered with
a thin layer of glue in addition to the thick layer of silicone
gel, which guarantees the distribution of the load over the zone of
the foot to be protected, is incompatible with the properties
sought for such a module.
[0007] So as to avoid adding such an adhesive layer, the protection
modules are generally equipped with holding means made of elastic
fabric. However, such holding means form a layer of material inside
the shoe, in addition to the layer formed by the sock, and affect
the comfort of the foot in the shoe.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention solves this problem by providing a
"special" sock provided for holding the protection modules at all
parts of the foot.
[0009] More particularly, the present invention provides an elastic
sock for holding at least one protection module for protecting a
zone of the foot, comprising a tubular part intended to cover the
ankle, a front part intended to cover the foot and the heel, and an
opening in a region of the sock corresponding to the curve of the
foot, so that it can be pulled on by first pulling on the tubular
part around the ankle and by putting the foot into the opening,
then by pulling on the front part around the foot after having
arranged at least one protection module on the foot.
[0010] According to one embodiment, the sock comprises an elastane
polyamide material.
[0011] According to another embodiment, the front part comprises a
knitted or sewn zone which passes along a part corresponding to the
left or right edge of the foot.
[0012] According to a further embodiment, the tubular part
comprises a knitted or sewn zone which extends at the front of the
ankle.
[0013] According to a still further embodiment, the sock comprises
a protection module fitted into the sock.
[0014] According to another embodiment, the protection module is
arranged in a material which is knitted or sewn to the sock.
[0015] The present invention also relates to a combination of a
sock according to the present invention and of a of a protection
module comprising a thin sheet of moisture-absorbing material,
covering all or part of the foot and covered with the sock.
[0016] The present invention also relates to a method for holding
on the foot at least one protection module for protecting a zone of
the foot, comprising providing an elastic sock comprising a tubular
part intended to cover the ankle, a front part intended to cover
the foot and heel, and an opening in a region of the sock
corresponding to the curve of the foot, the tubular part being
first pulled on around the ankle by putting the foot into the
opening, the front part then being pulled on around the foot after
having arranged at least one protection module on the foot.
[0017] According to another embodiment, the method comprises
providing a sock in an elastane polyamide material.
[0018] According to a further embodiment, the sock comprises a
protection module fitted into the sock.
[0019] According to a still further embodiment, the protection
module is arranged in a material which is knitted or sewn to the
sock.
[0020] According to another embodiment, the protection module
comprises a thin sheet of moisture-absorbing material, covering all
or part of the foot and covered with the sock.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed
description of the invention, will be better understood when read
in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of
illustrating the invention, there are shown in the drawings
embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood,
however, that the invention is not limited to the precise
arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:
[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view representation of a
sock according to the present invention,
[0023] FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are schematic side view representations
similar to FIG. 1 showing an operation of pulling on the sock with
positioning of a protection module on a part of the foot, and
[0024] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of a sock of the claimed
invention pulled onto the foot, holding the protection module.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0025] As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention comprises a sock
1, which classically comprises a tubular part 2 intended to cover
the ankle and a front part 3 intended to cover the foot and heel.
The sock 1 has the particular feature of having an opening 4 on the
top of the front part 3, in a region corresponding to the top of
the foot referred to as the curve.
[0026] The sock 1 is made up of an elastic material, either woven
or otherwise, for example an elastane polyamide. The tubular part 2
which covers the ankle may comprise a knitted or sewn seam 5. In
this case, the seam 5 is preferably arranged in line with the top
of the foot, i.e., in front of the tube 2. Furthermore, the top of
the front part 3 can be a knitted or sewn piece. In this case, the
front part 3 may comprise a knitted or sewn seam 6, which delimits
the piece. The seam 6 is preferably arranged laterally, i.e., in
the zone which runs along the right edge and/or the left edge of
the foot and extends over approximately one third of the front part
3 of the sock.
[0027] The opening 4 enables the front part 3 of the sock 1 to be
put on by making a movement from back to front, instead of making a
movement from front to back as is the case with a classic sock. The
opening 4 on the curve indeed enables only the tubular part 2 of
the sock to be pulled on around the ankle, by putting the foot
through the opening 4, before placing the front part 3 of the
sock.
[0028] One or more protection modules can then be arranged on any
parts of the foot. These modules are generally slightly adhesive by
nature (modules made of silicone gel) although not sufficiently to
prevent them from rolling up or tearing off when a normal sock is
pulled on, as stated above. They are capable of being subject to
"hyper-pressure" or friction. Therefore, one begins by arranging
the modules located the furthest at the back of the foot and, as
these are put in, they are covered with the sock 1 while making
sure (which is possible thanks to the elasticity of the fabric)
that the fabric is applied perpendicularly to the foot and not
tangentially.
[0029] The arrangement of the sock 1 and of a protection module 10
is shown on FIGS. 3 to 5. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the tubular part 2 is
pulled on up to the ankle (with the seam outwards) by putting the
foot through the opening 4. The protection module 10 is then
arranged on the foot at the desired location, here below the ankle
bone, and stays in place quite easily by adhesion. As shown by FIG.
4, the front part 3 is then pulled forward (arrow 11), by
elasticity, thus covering the module 10, until it passes the tip of
the foot. It is then turned down over the foot (arrow 12) and is
released, such that the tip of the sock is put in place at the end
of the foot. As represented in FIG. 5, the module 10 is then held
by the sock 1, with reasonable tightening of the ankle and a
reasonable tension between the back of the foot and the tip.
[0030] Thanks to the present invention, protection modules are not
moved at the time of pulling on the sock and remain in place for a
long time, including when playing sports.
[0031] In one alternative embodiment, one or more modules wrapped
in fabric are fixed directly in the sock and are an integral part
of the latter. The protection modules fitted into the sock can be
arranged in a woven or non-woven material, which is knitted or sewn
to the sock. The present embodiment enables, for example, a classic
footpad protection (sewn protection module) to be used while
enabling removable modules to be held by the sock at any other
point of the foot.
[0032] The present invention is particularly advantageous for doing
sports, such as walking, football, rugby, skate-board, figure
skating, and certain combative sports.
[0033] Protection modules, mainly made of Epithelium 26' silicone
gel, can be placed at various zones of the foot, heel, sole, ankle
bone, tendon, etc.
[0034] The present invention also enables protection modules to be
held on parts of the foot which have hyperkeratosis to be resorbed
(for example heels).
[0035] Those skilled in the art will note that various alternatives
and embodiments of the present invention are possible, both as
regards the shape of the opening 4, which can be adapted to various
shapes of modules or to different morphologies of feet, and the
materials used to produce the sock.
[0036] Various applications of the present invention may also be
made, and the nature and the shape of the protection modules used
are not limited to the examples described.
[0037] According to one advantageous application of the present
invention intended for persons subject to perspiration of the feet,
the protection module is a thin sheet of moisture-absorbing
material, of a thickness in the order of 0.2 mm to 0.8 mm, which
covers all or part of the surface of the foot. Such a thin sheet of
absorbing material is, for example, made of microporous
polyethylene filled with silica, for example the material available
commercially under the brand name AEROSHOES.RTM.. The protection
module sticks to the skin by the effect of pumping the
perspiration, but slides on the fabric or on the material of the
sock. Thus, the movements of the foot in the shoe do not cause any
movement of the absorbing material in relation to the skin, which
removes any friction between the skin and the absorbing material.
Therefore, a combination of materials forming, for example, an
anti-perspiration and anti-friction sock of the sole of the foot is
obtained.
[0038] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that
changes could be made to the embodiments described above without
departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is
understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the
particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover
modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention
as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *