Textiles: knitting – Fabrics or articles – Articles
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-08
2001-01-16
Falik, Andy (Department: 3741)
Textiles: knitting
Fabrics or articles
Articles
C066S177000, C002S239000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173589
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to foot covers of the type worn by women and girls under low-cut shoes when not wearing socks, panty hose or individual full length stockings. The foot cover generally lies below the upper perimeter of the shoe and is therefore hidden from view. Such foot covers are made from highly stretchable yarn and are thus sold in a single size, the amount of stretch being sufficient to accommodate all sizes.
Several prior art designs are known. These include styles with are cut and sewn from knitted fabric with sewn-in upper rims. These older styles have the disadvantage of being expensive to manufacture, since they require a significant amount of skilled labor. In addition, the sewn-in rim can burrow into the skin of the foot when worn under a shoe. Other styles include a knitted tubular structure which is symmetrical, and has an integrally-knitted top rim and a symmetrical foot-hugging body portion. The body portion is closed by a long seam along the bottom opposite the rim. See, U.S. Pat. No. RE 26,667 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,600,909.
Known prior art tubular-knitted foot covers thus include a relatively long bottom seam which lies directly beneath the bottom of the foot and may be uncomfortable when the wearer is standing.
The invention according to this application provides a simple knitted structure which can be knitted on conventional knitting machines and converted to a foot cover with minimal labor, and which has a bottom which is completely devoid of any seams.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a foot cover which can be knitted on conventional knitting machines.
It is another object of the invention to provide a foot cover which can be manufactured with minimal labor.
It is another object of the invention to provide a foot cover which has a bottom which is completely devoid of seams.
It is another object of the invention to provide a method of manufacturing a foot cover which achieves a product as described above.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in the preferred embodiments disclosed below by providing a method of forming a knitted foot cover, comprising the steps of forming a seamless knitted tube having first and second opposed tubular band portions on opposite ends thereof knitted with at least some elastic yarns, and an intermediate tubular body portion integrally-formed with the band portions. The body portion has a first panel extending along the length of the body portion between the first and second band portions having a first predetermined relatively high tension, The body portion also has a second panel extending along the length of the body portion between the first and second band portions having a second predetermined relatively low tension, the relatively different tensions of the first panel and the second panel forming the tube into a curved shape along its longitudinal axis. The method also includes the step of cutting through the first panel and the first and second band portions of the tube along a relatively straight cut line between the first and second band portions to form respective first and second free ends on each of the two band portions, and then joining the first free end of the first band portion and an adjacent length of the first panel to the first free end of the second band and an opposing adjacent length of the first panel, and joining the second free end of the second band portion and an adjacent length of the panel to the second free end of the second band and an opposing adjacent length of the first panel to form a foot cover having an elongated shape for being fitted on and hugging only the lower portion of the foot with the joined first and second bands positioned on the asymmetrical portion of the foot below the ankle.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the first panel comprises between 10 and 30 percent of the circumference of the knitted tube.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the knitted tube is knitted of synthetic yarns.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the body portion of the knitted tube is knitted of cotton yarns and the first and second band portions are knitted of elastic yarns.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the first and second band portions are knitted of elastic yarns selected from the group consisting of spandex, synthetic latex and rubber.
Preferably, the step of knitting the tube comprises the step of knitting the tube on a circular knitting machine.
Preferably, the step of knitting the tube comprises the step of knitting the tube on a knitting machine having a 4 inch diameter and 400 needles.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the step of joining the first and second free ends comprises the step of sewing the free ends together with sewing stitches.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the step of the cutting through the first panel and the first and second band portions of the tube comprises cutting with a sharp blade.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the step of the cutting through the first panel and the first and second band portions of the tube comprises cutting with a hot wire.
The knitted foot cover according to the invention comprises a tubular knitted body portion, first and second opposed band portions, each of the first and second band portions formed from a segment of respective tubular knitted band portions containing at least some elastic yarns, and first and second seams closing respective edges of the first and second opposed band portions to each other to define a single band having an elongated shape for being fitted in a stretched condition onto and hugging only the lower portion of the foot with the joined first and second bands positioned on the asymmetrical portion of the foot below the ankle, one of the seams extending along the top of the foot in substantial alignment with the longitudinal axis of the toes, and the other of the seams extending along the back of the heel substantially along the longitudinal axis of the Achilles tendon.
According to one preferred embodiment of the invention, the body portion is knitted of synthetic yarns.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the body portion is knitted of cotton yarns.
According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, body portion has an elongation of at least 100 percent.
A blank for forming a knitted foot cover comprises a seamless knitted tube having first and second opposed tubular band portions on opposite ends thereof knitted with at least some elastic yarns, an intermediate tubular body portion integrally-formed with the band portions. The body portion has a first panel extending along the length of the body portion between the first and second band portions with a first predetermined relatively high tension. The body portion has a second panel extending along the length of the body portion between the first and second band portions having a second predetermined relatively low tension, the relatively different tensions of the first panel and the second panel forming the tube into a curved shape along its longitudinal axis.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 26667 (1969-09-01), Sarbo
patent: 3241340 (1966-03-01), Knohl
patent: 3600909 (1971-08-01), Kaplan
patent: 3733860 (1973-05-01), Engelhard
patent: 4663946 (1987-05-01), Wright
patent: 5020164 (1991-06-01), Edwards
patent: 5784721 (1998-07-01), Huff
Hayes, Jr. Teddy B.
Kaplan Samuel
Adams, Schwartz & Evans P.A.
Falik Andy
Highland Mills, Inc.
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