UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE
2,144,583
STOCKING
Robert E. Davis, Fort Payne, Ala., assignor to W.
B. Davis & Son, Inc., Fort Payne, Ala., a cor-
poration of Alabama
Application December 5, 1936, Serial No. 114,479
1 Claim. (Cl. 66—182)
This invention relates to hosiery, and more particularly to that type of stockings which are used by athletes, men, women, or children, and which are commonly known or referred to as :5 "sweat socks". However, as will appear later, the invention is not restricted to any particular use, as hosiery made in accordance with the principles of the present invention may be used for any purpose, or at any time, when a stocking ca
:10 pable of absorbing perspiration is desired, or where extra warmth is desired, or when a cushioning effect is desired in the toe, heel, foot sole, or any combination of these parts in a stocking, as the object and purpose of the present inven
•15 tion is to provide neat-appearing hosiery having each and all or any of the above noted characteristics.
Sweat socks are primarily employed for the purpose of absorbing perspiration, as the name
20 implies. The particular parts of the foot which perspire most profusely are the toes, heel and foot sole. This type of stocking heretofore has been composed of relatively heavy absorbent yarn throughout, including the instep, ankle, leg, and
•25 cuff portions where little or no actual or excessive perspiring occurs. This renders the article rather unsightly, undesirable and unpopular for many purposes, especially with women. Another purpose of the sweat sock is to prevent
•30 the formation of blisters on the foot while participating in some competitive sport or while indulging in some more or less violent exercise, or in hiking. Formation of blisters, or other chafing of the skin, is frequently caused by the shoe
•35 which, for the purpose of freedom of action, is usually of a more or less loose fit. The wearing of sweat socks, in addition to absorbing perspiration, is resorted to for comfortably filling the space between the shoe and the foot, with
40 out presenting any restriction to the freedom of the foot.
Sweat socks and other hosiery are subject to excessive wear at the toes and heels, due to movement of the foot in the shoe.
45 The present invention is directed toward the provision of a stocking which will fulfill all the requirements and overcome the objections above noted and which will present a neat, dressy appearance, making it possible to wear the stocking
50 on occasions where the ordinary sweat sock would be undesirable or considered improper.
The object of the present invention is attained by the use of an additional thread or yarn in the toe, heel, foot sole, or any of said portions, and
.55 which is knit into the stocking fabric at these
places in what is known as "terry stitches" or "terry loops". That is, the stocking is formed in any ordinary manner of a silk, wool, or cotton body thread or a thread composed of silk and wool or wool and cotton, etc., which gives the dressy 6 appearance to the outside of the article. In the heel, toe, or foot sole an additional thread composed of wool or cotton, or both, for example, is knit into the body of the fabric with the body thread in forming the body stitches. Between 10 the body stitch wales, the additional yarn is formed into loops which protrude inwardly from the inside face of the body of the fabric and which provide the other above noted requirements. W
The additional thread may foe of a relatively tightly twisted character, when used primarily for cushioning purposes and wherein the terry loops subsequently maintain their individuality, or the additional thread may be of a, relatively 20 loose twisted character which, in addition to providing the cushioning effect, will be of a highly absorbent nature. The cushioning and absorbing qualities may be accentuated by subjecting the terry loops to a brushing operation, whereby the 25 fibers of the yarn of adjacent terry loops will become more or less commingled or matted to provide a soft absorbent cushion in those parts of the stocking to which the extra thread is applied.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive illustrate stockings turned inside out with the terry stitches produced in various portions of the foot of the stocking. For example, Fig. 1 illustrates the terry stitches in the heel, foot-sole, lower and upper portions of the toe, and part way along the top portion of the foot;
Fig. 2 Illustrates a stocking similar to that 40 shown In Fig. 1 and wherein the terry stitches .terminate at the rear edge of the upper portion of the toe;
Fig. 3 illustrates a stocking wherein the terry stitches are eliminated from the top of the foot 45 and the upper portion of the toe;
Fig. 4 illustrates a stocking wherein the terry stitches are eliminated entirely from the toe;
Fig; 5 illustrates a stocking wherein the terry Stitches are confined solely to the heel of the 60 stocking;
Fig. 6 illustrates a stocking wherein the terry stitches are confined solely to the lower and upper toe portions of the stocking;
Fig. 7 illustrates a stocking wherein the terry 55
