US20190281901A1

US20190281901A1 - Thermal transfer footwear; sock or stocking

Info

Publication number: US20190281901A1
Application number: US15/924,506
Authority: US
Inventors: Luke Jacobson; Karina Jacobson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-03-19
Filing date: 2018-03-19
Publication date: 2019-09-19

Abstract

The product relates to a heat-regulating sock (1) with heat-conducting materials in certain areas. In one example embodiment the device may provide a means of conducting heat in and around the foot and leg. Heat can be intentionally transferred from one area of the foot to another, from an area of the leg to an area of the foot, from an area of leg to an area of the foot, from the foot to the localized atmosphere, or from the localized atmosphere to the foot. To this end, the inventive sock has at least one thermally conductive material (2) touching a portion of the foot or leg, in one or multiple locations, and conducting heat towards other regions of the foot or away from the contacted area of the foot with one or more additional materials insulating the conductive material.

Description

The product relates to a thermal transferring sock with heat-conducting materials in certain areas. In one example embodiment the device may provide a means of conducting heat in and around the foot and leg. Heat can be intentionally transferred from one area of the foot to another, from an area of the leg to an area of the foot, from an area of leg to an area of the foot, from the foot to the localized atmosphere, or from the localized atmosphere to the foot.

BACKGROUND

Socks are generally worn to provide additional comfort to the foot and to protect the foot from the localized environment. Often, in an effort to provide foot comfort, side effects can be incurred. Inclusive to this are locations of the foot or lower leg becoming warmer than desired. Contrastingly, locations of the foot or leg may be cold while other areas are wanner than the cold area. Therefore a need exists for a sock to transfer heat from one portion of the leg or foot to another area of the leg or foot. A contrasting need may exist for the sock to transfer heat away from the foot or leg to the surrounding ambient, or from the surrounding ambient to the foot or leg.
One use case is in the application where the sock wearer is also wearing a pair of boots. In cold weather, the lower portion of the foot and toes often become cold. The cold may be the result of restrictive blood flow from the non-sock footwear, or from the transfer of colder temperatures from outside the footwear. In either case, the portion of the sock between the lower leg and upper foot and the boot often has more insulation and is therefore warmer than the lower foot. It would not be an exception to have the location on the lower leg generating excess heat, to the point of inducing sweat. In the example of this inventive sock, the heat conductive portion of the sock contacting the skin on the lower leg transfers heat from the warmer portion of the lower leg to the colder portion of the foot.
Several design iterations are possible for transferring heat from the warm portion of the foot/leg to the colder portion of the foot/leg. In one case, the heat transfer material may remain in contact with the skin as heat is transferred along the sock; from the lower leg to the upper foot, over the ankle and mid-foot, and continuing on to the toes. In this embodiment; the other constituents of the sock would be heat insulators between the footwear and the conductive material to which the escapement of heat is prevented.
A second design purposes the heat conductive material contacts the hot area of the foot/leg, is insulated from the foot/leg between the hot and cold sections, and again contacts the cold portion of the leg/foot. The intermediate portion of the sock is constructed of a heat-insulating material to prevent the loss of heat from the sock and heat conductive portions of the sock. In this embodiment the design consists of three or more layers of sock where one insulated layer is always external to all other layers of the sock.
A third unique example of the embodiment of the design of this sock is utilized to transfer heat away from hot portions of the foot/leg. In one example the sock wearer is also wearing footwear external to the sock in which the temperature of the foot/leg is warmer than the localized external environment. The heat transfer materials in the sock would be oriented in such that the heat conductive material would contact the lower portion of the foot, between the shoe and skin. The heat conductive material would follow the contour of the sock out of the shoe and transition from contacting the skin to being exposed to the external environment and insulated from the skin of the lower leg. One or more layers of heat insulating material would be between the heat conducting material and the skin. In this way, heat can be transferred through the conductive material away from the foot to the localized environment.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE IDEA

The present design provides a knit sock that can be useful in transferring heat from one portion of the foot/leg to another portion of the foot/leg or from one portion of the foot/leg to the localized environment. The sock is also useful for wearers with localized hot or cold portions of the foot and leg.
The sock of the present design can be readily expanded several times its circumference to provide ease and comfort when putting the sock onto the foot and leg of the wearer. The sock of the design can provide good heat transfer to help keep the foot of the wearer warmer than with conventional socks. The sock of the design can also provide good heat transfer to help keep the foot/leg of the wearer cooler than with conventional socks. Further, the sock is designed to prevent substantial bunching or wrinkling of the sock against the foot of the wearer, for example, when the foot bends in use. The present design can thus maximize heat transfer with the skin, which in turn can maximize heat transfer.
The sock can include a leg section and a foot section. The leg section has substantial circumferential expandability to allow it to he readily drawn over and cover at least a portion of a leg of a wearer. Because the leg section is readily expandable, it can be fitted onto the wearer with relative ease and comfort. The sock can also remain in place once fitted onto the wearer. An exemplary knit construction useful to impart the desired degree of expansion and fit is a rib knit construction, which optionally can include at least one elastic yarn interwoven with a heat transfer material or yarn.
The foot section of the sock can include a heel section, a toe section, a sole section, and an instep section. Any combination or permutation of the sections can include the heat transfer material. Construction of the foot section elements may be a combination of heat transfer material directly contacting the skin or having an insulating material between the skin and the heat transfer material.
In one embodiment of the sock may have a plurality of sandwich construction in areas of the sock. An exemplary condition for this embodiment can be used to transfer heat from the lower portion of the leg to the foot, where the heat conductive material makes direct contact with the skin in the lower leg, is plied between two insulate layers between the ankle portion and upper foot portion, and again makes direct contact with the skin; in or near the toes.
The sock may be constructed using one or more of the types of yams useful for the production of knit socks, including one or more yarns formed of synthetic or man-made fibers (including blends of different synthetic fibers), one or more yams formed of natural fibers (including blends of different natural fibers), one or more yams of metallic fibers (including blend of different metals), one or more yarns of engineered composites, and one or more yarns formed of blends of synthetic fibers, natural fibers, metallic fibers and engineered composite fibers. Yams having different properties, such as yarns formed of different types of fibers, yarns having different deniers, and the like, can also be used in combination with one another within one or more sections of the sock. For example, one or more sections of the sock can include at least two different yarns, each having a different denier and/or formed of different types of fibers. As a non-limiting example, different sections of the foot of the sock can include a first yarn of acrylic fiber having a first denier and a second yarn of metallic fibers having a second denier different from the first denier of the acrylic yarn. Advantageously, the sock can include yarns having heat conductivity properties, such as metallic yarns, organic threads, or modern manmade composite and coated materials.
The specific orientation of the heat transfer material is not limited within this application.
Insofar as the heat is transferred in and around the foot and leg, these socks provide the design to utilize conductive materials in the construction of the sock to facilitate transfer of heat. The novelty of this design lies in the utilization of thermally-conductive materials used on conjunction with traditional sock materials, including cotton, wool, linen, polyester, acrylic, manmade composites, coated traditional materials, and other fabrics; this list in not intended to be exhaustive.
A need thus exists for a sock that provides comfort through thermal regulation and the durability to withstand washing and substantial wear. None of mentioned designs or patents is seen to suggest or claim the properties as the product claimed herein.
While the product has been described in connection with specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that it is capable of further modification and development, and this application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the design and including departures from the present disclosure as come within expected or customary practice in the art to which the design pertains and as may be applied to the essential features herein set forth, and as fall within the scope of the product and the limits of the claim.

For a further understanding of the nature and objects of the present design, reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are given like reference numerals, and where:

FIG. 1 is a side, perspective view of a typical sock, illustrating the configuration and differing knits as found in a typical sock according to one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an alternative embodiment of the sock design where the leg portion of the sock is of an alternative design having less contact with the lower portion of the leg, according to one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a side, perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present design illustrating the placement of the conductive material placements and the folding over of a portion of the sock according to one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side, perspective view of an embodiment of the present design illustrating the folding of the cuff and construction of the conductive thread on the inside of the sock according to one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a detailed view of an embodiment of the design where a typical construction of a three or greater number of layers of sock construction according to one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a detailed view of an embodiment of the design where the typical construction of the sock is of two layers according to one embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a side, perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the present design illustrating the conductive layer located on the inner part of lower section of the sock and a conductive layer located on the external portion of the upper portion of the sock according to one embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a side, perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the present design illustrating the insulate layer located on the inner part of lower section, the folding over of a portion of the upper part of the sock, and a conductive portion of the sock in the folded over portion according to one embodiment.

As may be seen in FIG. 1, the socks as preferably used with the present design is of a thick, cushioned type, typically associated with athletics socks and the like. Such a sock typically can include a mixture of two primary types of knits—a smooth, cushioning knit and a courser knit having elastic properties for compressing the upper area above the ankle and sometimes including the ankle.
Typically, the upper area of the socks made so by the inclusion of cotton knit or the like, configured for facilitating a desirable, conforming fit, in which the sock is prevented from “sliding” down the leg of the user, remaining secure in place even during significant movements.
Referring to FIG. 1, the upper, lower leg enveloping portion 1 of the illustrated socks forms that portion covering the ankle and low leg of the wearer according to one embodiment.
In a configuration where heat is transferred from one portion of the foot or lower leg to another portion of the foot or lower leg. The sock in accordance with the design, which is designated as a whole by (1), has a conductive material (2) proceeding from the lower portion of the foot, and extends up to the band (3), and is formed of thermal conducting material. Through this conductive material (2), thermal energy is drawn off one area of the foot/leg and transferred (4) through the conductive material to another portion of the foot/leg, as depicted in FIGS. 1-4 according to one embodiment.
The thermally conductive material (2) may be arranged in such a way that it is bordered on multiple sides by a thermally insulating material (5), as show in FIG. 5 according to one embodiment.
In a configuration where heat is transferred away one portion of the foot or lower leg to the surrounding ambient environment. The sock in accordance with the design, which is designated as a whole by (1), has a conductive material (2) proceeding from the lower portion of the foot, and extends up to the band (3), and is formed of thermal conducting material. Through this conductive material (2), thermal energy is drawn off one area of the foot/leg and transferred (4) through the conductive material to an area insulated from the foot of the wearer, as depicted in FIGS. 1, 2, 7, 8 according to one embodiment.
The thermally conductive material (2) may be arranged in such a way that it is bordered on one side by a thermally insulating material (5), as show in FIG. 6 according to one embodiment.
The embodiments described herein in detail for exemplary purposes are of course subject to many different variations in structure, design, application, materials and methodology. Thus, the sock can be formed as a left/right sock, the configuration of a conductive layer can diverge from the one depicted here, and the like. Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concepts herein disclosed, and because many modifications may be made in the embodiments herein detailed in accordance with the descriptive requirements of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.wh

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A thermally-conductive sock having a foot portion with sole, an intermediate portion extending therefrom, and a band at the top thereof, comprising:

a conductive material provided in predetermined areas especially for use in various environments where the foot may become cooler than the localized environment wherein the wearer wishes to utilize the temperature differential between regions of the sock and foot and

a thermally conductive material and an insulating material knit and wound together with the thermally conductive material making direct contact with the foot.

1.1. A temperature moderating sock in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that, the thermally conductive material is formed as a thread.

1.2. A temperature moderating sock in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that, the thermally conductive material has a conductive rate of up to about 3,300 watts per meter per Kelvin (W/m*K).

1.3. A temperature moderating sock in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that, the thermally conductive material has a conductive rate of at least 100 watts per meter per Kelvin (W/m*K).

1.4. A temperature moderating sock in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that, the thermally conductive material is in contact with the wearer's epidermis in at least 1 location.

1.5. A temperature moderating sock in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that, the thermally conductive material is in contact with the wearer's epidermis in at least 2 locations and out of contact with the wearers foot in at least 1 location.

1.6. A temperature moderating sock in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that, the thermally conductive material is constructed with at least one thermally insulating material.

1.7. A temperature moderating sock in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that, the thermally conductive material is woven above, below and between one or more thermally insulating material.

1.8. A temperature moderating sock in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that, an elastic yarn or thread is interwoven with other portions of the sock.

2. A thermally-conductive sock having a foot portion with sole, an intermediate portion extending therefrom, and a band at the top thereof, comprising:

a conductive material provided in predetermined areas especially for use in various environments where the foot may become warmer than the localized environment wherein the wearer wishes to utilize the temperature differential between regions of the sock and foot, and temperature differentials between the localized environment and the sock.

2.1. A temperature moderating sock in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that, the thermally conductive material is formed as a thread.

2.2. A temperature moderating sock in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that, the thermally conductive material has a conductive rate of up to about 3,300 watts per meter per Kelvin (W/m*K).

2.3. A temperature moderating sock in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that, the thermally conductive material has a conductive rate of at least 100 watts per meter per Kelvin (W/m*K).

2.4. A temperature moderating sock in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that, the thermally conductive material is in contact with the wearer's epidermis in at least 1 location.

2.5. A temperature moderating sock in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that, the thermally conductive material is in contact with the wearer's epidermis in at least 2 locations and out of contact with the wearers foot in at least 1 location.

2.6. A temperature moderating sock in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that, the thermally conductive material is exposed to environmental conditions in at least one location.

2.7. A temperature moderating sock in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that, the thermally conductive material is constructed with at least one thermally insulating material placed between the wearer's epidermis and the thermally conductive material.

2.8. A temperature moderating sock in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that, the thermally conductive material is woven above, below and between one or more thermally insulating material.

2.9. A temperature moderating sock in accordance with claim 1 characterized in that, an elastic yarn or thread is interwoven with other portions of the sock.