Sock Having a Toes Lock Component

This patent application claims priority and benefit from U.S. 63/351,618, filed on Jun. 13, 2022, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Some embodiments are related to the field of clothing.

Clothing articles and clothes are typically formed of textile material and are worn on the body. Clothes are worn for various purposes, for example, to keep the human body warm in a cold weather, to protect the human body from rough surfaces or insects or plants, to provide a hygienic barrier between the human body and the environment, to protect the human body from ultraviolet radiation, to cover genitals, for social reasons or as fashion, or the like.

Some embodiments provide a sock having an integrally-knitted Toe Lock Toes Lock or Toes Locking component, or a Toe Locking or Toes-Region Stabilizing knitted loop Toes-Region stabilizing knitted band or component.

For example, a sock for covering at least a foot of a human wearer includes: a knitted toes-covering fabric-region, configured to cover toes of the foot; a knitted sole-covering fabric-region, configured to cover a sole of the foot; and a knitted toes-region stabilizing component, located between the knitted toes-covering fabric-region and the knitted sole-covering fabric-region. The knitted toes-region stabilizing component is configured to stabilize, and to prevent shifting or slippage of, the knitted toes-covering fabric-region in response to body movements. The knitted toes-region stabilizing component is a knitted band that is formed of a first yarn which is a High-Friction Low-Slippage yarn; the knitted toes-covering fabric-region and the knitted sole-covering fabric-region are knitted of a second, different, yarn. The first yarn has a first friction coefficient relative to human body; the second yarn has a second friction coefficient relative to human body; the first friction coefficient is greater than the second friction coefficient by at least 25 percent.

Some embodiments provide other and/or additional benefits and/or advantages.

The Applicants have realized that a sock, and particularly the sock-region that covers the toes of the foot, may sometimes move or shift of slip, particularly sideways. For example, a person wearing socks within a shoe, may run or may walk or may perform other movements (e.g., jump), which may cause the toe-covering region of the sock to shift or move sideways (e.g., to the right side and/or to the left side, when the front side is the general front direction of the foot), and/or to shift or move back and forth (e.g., cause the main body of the sock to slip forward towards the toes area), rather than staying in place.

The Applicants have realized that such movement or shifting or slippage of the toes-covering region of the sock, may be undesired to some wearers and/or may cause inconvenience to some wearers; and/or may reduce the ability of the sock (and of the toes-covering region of the sock) to directly touch and cover the toes and to hold the toes and to absorb sweat from the socks; and/or may cause a creation of an “air bubble” within the sock (e.g., an air gap between the sock's fabric and the toes themselves); and/or may be a nuisance to some wearers, particularly as they engage in athletics or sports; and/or may reduce the athletic performance of the wearer (e.g., by interfering with his/her ability to comfortably and efficiently run or jump).

The Applicants have realized that it would be beneficial to develop an innovative sock, having a movement-limiting or slippage-limiting component, and particular an integrally-knitted loop or frame or region or strip, located at or near or over or beneath or circulating (at least partially) the toes-base covering region of the sock, or encircling around the toes-base covering region of the sock; or supporting from beneath the metatarsal bones (or at least a portion thereof) and/or the bones that are at the base of the toes of the foot; and such knitted component may assist in preventing or limiting or reducing or constraining such movement or slippage or spatial shifting of the tip sock-region or the toes sock-region.

Some embodiments provide a knitted sock, having an integrally-knitted Toe Lock tab or an integrally-knitted Toe Lock region or an integrally-knitted Toe Lock frame or an integrally-knitted Toe Lock strip or an integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop or ring or band or other generally-closed and curved knitted component. In some embodiments, the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop is a fully-closed loop, in order to provide the best or highest Toe Locking capability; yet in some other embodiments, optionally, the integrally-knitted Toe Lock is a non-closed loop or curved strip or curved component, such as an almost-closed loop (e.g., encircling around 90 or 80 percent or at least 75 percent of the entirety of a closed loop), to still provide adequate Toe Locking capability.

The integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop is located near or around, or circulating near, the tip or the edge of the sock, or located near or at the sock-region that covers the base of the toes of the foot, or located at or near the sock-region that covers the toe-base region of the foot. The integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop may also be referred to as a Toes-Region Movement Stopper or as a Toes-Region Movement Limiter or as a Toes-Region Movement Constrainer or as a Toes-Region Spatial Stabilizer. The integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop may also be referred to as a Sock-Body Slippage Stopper or as a Sock-Body Slippage Limiter or as a Sock-Body Slippage Constrainer. The integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop may also be referred to as a Sock-Body Slide Stopper or as a Sock-Body Slide Limiter or as a Sock-Body Slide Constrainer.

This innovative component prevents or limits or constrains or reduces the movement of the tip of the sock, or of the toes-covering region of the sock; and particularly, it prevents or limits or constrains the sideways movement of the tip of the sock or the toes-covering region of the sock, such as sideways movement or slipping or slippage that is generally perpendicular to the longest axis of the foot or to the longest axis of the sock-portion that covers the foot).

Additionally or alternatively, this innovative component prevents or limits or constrains or reduces the slippage or the sliding of the main body of the sock (e.g., that covers the sole of the foot, or the main region of the foot that is not the toes and not the ankle) forward, or forward and backwards, or back-and-forth, or particularly in a forward slippage or sliding motion towards the toes.

In some embodiments, as demonstrated in sock, the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop has two main parts: an upper part, and a lower part. The lower part of the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop is knitted beneath the base or beneath the root of the five toes; or, at the bottom-side sock-portion that is beneath the base or beneath the root of the five toes; or, beneath the Metatarsal Bones of the foot; or, at the bottom-side sock-portion that is beneath the Metatarsal Bones of the foot. The upper part of the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop is knitted around the five toes, or is knitted to circulate the five toes, or is knitted at the top-side (or the top-facing side or the upwardly-facing side) of the toes zone of the sock such that it encircles around the five toes as demonstrated in sock. In other embodiments, as demonstrated in socks,,and/or, the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop is knitted at other locations of the sock, and/or has other particular structure as shown and as detailed herein.

The integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop is continuously and/or seamlessly knitted, at its front-side edge or at one or more of its edges, with at least a portion of the knitted toes-region or tip-region or Toes Zone of the sock; such that the Toes Zone of the sock is continuously and seamlessly connected to the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop. Additionally, the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop is continuously and seamlessly knitted, at its rear-side edge or at one or more of its edges, with the knitted main region of the sock that is intended to cover the majority of the foot and/or the sole; such that the sole-covering region of the sock is continuously and seamlessly connected to the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop.

Reference is made to, which are schematic illustrations of a sock, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.shows the top side of sock;shows the bottom side of sock. A curved thick black line indicates the integrally-knitted Toe Lock oval loop. In sock, the integrally-knitted Toe Lock oval loop is located across (or circulating) the sock-region that covers the bones of the base of the toes; or across the sock-region that covers the Proximal Phalanx Bones as well as across the sock-region that is beneath the Proximal Phalanx Bones; or circulating at the sock-region that is covering (from above and from below) the Proximal Phalanx Bones. The Applicants have realized that innovatively, this particular location of the integrally-knitted Toe Lock oval loop around (or circulating, or at) the Proximal Phalanx Bones, may provide efficient slippage limitation capabilities to the sock's main region and/or to the tip-region of the sock.

Reference is made to, which are schematic illustrations of a sock, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.shows the top side of sock;shows the bottom side of sock. A curved thick black line indicates the integrally-knitted Toe Lock oval loop. In sock, the integrally-knitted Toe Lock oval loop is located across (or circulating) the sock-region that covers the bones of the base of the toes; or across the sock-region that covers the Metatarsal Bones as well as across the sock-region that is beneath the Metatarsal Bones; or circulating at the sock-region that is covering (from above and from below) the Metatarsal Bones. The Applicants have realized that innovatively, this particular location of the integrally-knitted Toe Lock oval loop around (or circulating, or at) the Metatarsal Bones, may provide efficient slippage limitation capabilities to the sock's main region and/or to the tip-region of the sock.

Reference is made to, which are schematic illustration of a sock, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.shows the top side of sock;shows the bottom side of sock. A curved thick black line indicates the integrally-knitted Toe Lock oval loop. In sock, the integrally-knitted Toe Lock oval loop is located across (or circulating) across the sock-region that covers both the Proximal Phalanx Bones and the Metatarsal Bones, as well as across the sock-region that is beneath the Proximal Phalanx Bones and the Metatarsal Bones; or circulating at the sock-region that is covering (from above and from below) the Proximal Phalanx Bones and the Metatarsal Bones; or circulating at the sock-region that is covering (from above and from below) at least a portion of the Proximal Phalanx Bones and also at least a portion of the Metatarsal Bones. In sock, the integrally-knitted Toe Lock oval loop is a single, continuous, unified, knitted loop that covers and circulates around at least a portion of the Proximal Phalanx Bones and also at least a portion of the Metatarsal Bones. The Applicants have realized that innovatively, this particular location of the integrally-knitted Toe Lock oval loop around (or circulating, or at) the Proximal Phalanx Bones and the Metatarsal Bones, may provide efficient slippage limitation capabilities to the sock's main region and/or to the tip-region of the sock.

Reference is made to, which are schematic illustration of a sock, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.shows the top side of sock;shows the bottom side of sock. Two separate and distinct and spaced-apart curved thick black line indicate two separate and distinct integrally-knitted Toe Lock oval loops. In sock, a first integrally-knitted Toe Lock oval loop is located across (or circulating) the Proximal Phalanx Bones (or across at least a portion of the Proximal Phalanx Bones); and a second, separate, distinct, spaced-apart integrally-knitted Toe Lock oval loop is located across (or circulating) the Metatarsal Bones (or across at least a portion of the Metatarsal Bones). In some embodiments, the first integrally-knitted Toe Lock oval loop is located above and beneath the Proximal Phalanx Bones (or at least a portion of the Proximal Phalanx Bones); and a second, separate, distinct, spaced-apart integrally-knitted Toe Lock oval loop is located above and beneath the Metatarsal Bones (or at least a portion of the Metatarsal Bones). In sock, the two integrally-knitted Toe Lock oval loops are two distinct, spaced apart, separate, knitted loops. The Applicants have realized that innovatively, these location of two separate integrally-knitted Toe Lock oval loops, one of which circulating around the Proximal Phalanx Bones, and the other one circulating round the Metatarsal Bones, may provide efficient slippage limitation capabilities to the sock's main region and/or to the tip-region of the sock.

Reference is made to, which are schematic illustration of a sock, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.shows a perspective view of the side of sock;shows the top area or the top side of sock;shows the bottom side or the bottom area of sock. A curved thick black line indicates the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop, which is implemented as a closed loop which is not oval or which is not necessarily oval.

In sock, the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop is uniquely structured in a manner that is non-symmetrical, such that (i) the top-side portion of the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop (that faces the sky, or faces upwardly), is non-symmetrical relative to (ii) the bottom-side portion of the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop (that faces the ground, or faces downwardly).

For example, the bottom-side portion of the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop (that faces the ground, or downwardly) is located beneath the Metatarsal Bones; or is located beneath the Proximal Phalanx Bones; or is located beneath both the Proximal Phalanx Bones and the Metatarsal Bones; or is located beneath at least a portion of the Metatarsal Bones and also at least a portion of the Proximal Phalanx Bones. However, the top-side portion of the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop (that faces the sky, or upwardly) encircles around the five toes: (a) it covers and touches only the side (not the top, not the bottom) of the Great Toe, or it covers and touches only the side (not the top, not the bottom) of the Distal Phalanx of the Great Toe and the Proximal Phalanx of the Great Toe, and it does not touch and does not cover the First Metatarsal bone; then, (b) it continues by covering and touching only the front-side of the three middle toes (the second, the third, and the fourth toes) or of the three Middle Phalanx bones, or by covering only the top-side above the three middle toes or above the three Middle Phalanx bones, and it does not touch and does not cover the second and third and fourth lesser Metatarsal bones; then, (c) it covers and touches only the side (not the top, not the bottom) of the smallest (fifth) Toe, or it covers and touches only the side (not the top, not the bottom) of the Fifth Phalanx (the smallest Phalanx bone), and it does not touch and does not cover the smallest lesser (fifth) Metatarsal bone. For example, the top-side portion of the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop (that faces the sky, or upwardly), connects integrally with the bottom-side portion of the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop (that faces the ground, or downwardly), at the following two locations: (I) at the external side of the connection between the First Metatarsal Bone and the Proximal Phalanx Great Toe bone; and (II) at the external side of the connection between the Fifth (smallest) Metatarsal Bone and the fifth (smallest) Distal Phalanx bone. The Applicants have realized that innovatively, this particular location and structure of the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop, may provide efficient slippage limitation capabilities to the sock's main region and/or to the tip-region of the sock.

Reference is made to, which are schematic illustration of a sock, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.shows a perspective view of sock; a dark or black stripe of integrally-knitted yarn(s) is encircling, about half of it beneath and about half of it around, the toes zone or toes area or toes region, and locks-in-place or stabilizes the toes zone or toe region or toes area. Optionally, as shown in, a particular pre-defied logo or slogan or graphical element or textual element, may be integrally knitted in the Toes Lock loop; thereby enabling such Toes Lock loop to provide enhanced utility: to lock-in-place the Toes Zone, and also, to provide a useful indication of the make or model of the sock, or to provide a useful or inspiring slogan or writing (e.g., “Run Fast!”), or the like. In some embodiments, sockas shown inor in, may be a particular implementation of sockdiscussed above and/or show in.

In some embodiments, the knitting structure of sockand/or sock, may optionally be repeated as two strips or two loops, which my be parallel to each other and may be slightly spaced-apart of each other (e.g., 3 or 5 or 8 or 10 or 12 millimeters of space between such two Toes Lock loops).

In accordance with some embodiments, the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop is knitted from a special yarn, or from a special blend or mixture or combination of yarns, that may be referred to herein as: High-Friction and Low-Slippage (HFLS) Yarn. The term “HFLS Yarn”, as used herein, may include a single yarn, or a single type of yarn; or may include two or more yarns, or a plurality of yarns.

In some embodiments, the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop is knitted exclusively from the HFLS Yarn, such that the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop includes exclusively only the HFLS Yarn and no other yarn(s). In some embodiments, all the other regions or areas or zones of the sock, are knitted from a yarn that is not the HFLS Yarn; or, are knitted from a mixture or blend or combination of two or more yarns such that none of those yarns is an HFLS Yarn.

In some embodiments, the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop is knitted from a blend or mixture of yarns, such that at least 50.01% of that blend or mixture of yarns is HFLS Yarn, and not more than 49.99% of that blend or mixture of yarns is HFLS Yarn. The percentage ratio may be measured, for example, by yarn count, by fiber count, by thread count, by weight, by volume, by needle count, by feeders count, or by other suitable way to establish or ensure or measure or enforce such ratio.

In some embodiments, the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop is knitted from a blend or mixture of yarns, such that at least 66.6% of that blend or mixture of yarns is HFLS Yarn, and less than 33.4% of that blend or mixture of yarns is HFLS Yarn. In some embodiments, the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop is knitted from a blend or mixture of yarns, such that at least 75% of that blend or mixture of yarns is HFLS Yarn, and less than 25% of that blend or mixture of yarns is HFLS Yarn. In some embodiments, the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop is knitted from a blend or mixture of yarns, such that at least 75% of that blend or mixture of yarns is HFLS Yarn, and less than 25% of that blend or mixture of yarns is HFLS Yarn. In some embodiments, the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop is knitted from a blend or mixture of yarns, such that at least 80% of that blend or mixture of yarns is HFLS Yarn, and less than 20% of that blend or mixture of yarns is HFLS Yarn. In some embodiments, the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop is knitted from a blend or mixture of yarns, such that at least 85% of that blend or mixture of yarns is HFLS Yarn, and less than 15% of that blend or mixture of yarns is HFLS Yarn. In some embodiments, the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop is knitted from a blend or mixture of yarns, such that at least 90% of that blend or mixture of yarns is HFLS Yarn, and less than 10% of that blend or mixture of yarns is HFLS Yarn. In some embodiments, the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop is knitted from a blend or mixture of yarns, such that at least 95% of that blend or mixture of yarns is HFLS Yarn, and less than 5% of that blend or mixture of yarns is HFLS Yarn. In some embodiments, the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop is knitted from a blend or mixture of yarns, such that at least 98% of that blend or mixture of yarns is HFLS Yarn, and less than 2% of that blend or mixture of yarns is HFLS Yarn. In some embodiments, the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop is knitted from a blend or mixture of yarns, such that at least 99% of that blend or mixture of yarns is HFLS Yarn, and less than 1% of that blend or mixture of yarns is HFLS Yarn. In the above-mentioned implementations, the percentage ratio may be measured, for example, by yarn count, by fiber count, by thread count, by weight, by volume, by needle count, by feeders count, or by other suitable way to establish or ensure or measure or enforce such ratio.

In some embodiments, all the other regions or areas or portions or zones of the sock, except for the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop, exclude any HFLS Yarn; or do not include any HFLS Yarn.

In some embodiments, optionally, one or more of the other regions or areas or portions or zones of the sock, which is not the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop, is knitted from a blend or mixture or combination of yarns, which may optionally include HFLS Yarn, but at a percentage ratio that is lower than the percentage ratio of HFLS Yarn in the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop. For example, the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop is knitted from 100% of HFLS Yarn, or from a blend of 75% of HFLS Yarn and 25% of non-HFLS Yarn; and the other regions or portions or areas or zones of the sock, are knitted from a blend of yarns that has less than 75% of HFLS Yarn.

In some embodiments, percentage of HFLS Yarn in the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop is denoted P1; for example, P1 may be 100, or 90, or 80, or 75; whereas, the percentage of HFLS Yarn in all the other regions of the socks (except for the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop) is denoted P2; for example, P2 may be 0, or 5, or 10, or 15, or 25. In accordance with some embodiments, P1 is at least two times P2; or P1 is at least three times P2; or P1 is at least four times P2.

In some embodiments, optionally, the HFLS Yarn is, or consists of, or includes, the yarn known as NANOFRONT®, available from “Teijin Frontier (U.S.A.), Inc.”.

In some embodiments, the HFLS Yarn is, or consists of, or includes, ultra-fine polyester nanofiber; wherein each fiber has a diameter of up to 1,000 nanometers, or up to 900 nanometers, or up to 800 nanometers, or up to 700 nanometers, or up to 600 nanometers, or up to 500 nanometers, or up to 400 nanometers, or a diameter in the range of 400 to 1,000 nanometers, or a diameter in the range of 500 to 900 nanometers.

In some embodiments, the HFLS Yarn is, or consists of, or includes, ultra-fine polyester nanofiber; wherein the average diameter of the fiber is 1,000 nanometers, or is 900 nanometers, or is 800 nanometers, or is 700 nanometers, or is 600 nanometers, or is 500 nanometers, or is 400 nanometers, or is in the range of 400 to 1,000 nanometers, or is in the range of 500 to 900 nanometers.

In some embodiments, the HFLS Yarn has the following properties, or some of them, or all of them: It is a yarn that comprises a filament A-1 having a single fiber diameter of 10 to 3,000 nanometers, and a fiber A-2 having a single fiber diameter that is greater than the filament A-1, wherein a binder is imparted to the yarn. In some embodiments, the binder comprises a sizing agent and/or an oiling agent. In some embodiments, the application amount of the binder is 0.1 to 15 wt % with respect to the weight of the yarn. In some embodiments, the number of filaments of the filament A-1 included in the yarn is at least 500. In some embodiments, the filament A-1 is obtained from a sea-island type composite fiber composed of a sea component and an island component by dissolving and removing the sea component. In some embodiments, after combining a sea-island type composite fiber composed of a sea component and an island component with the fiber A-2, the filament A-1 is obtained by dissolving and removing the sea component of the sea-island type composite fiber. In some embodiments, the filament A-1 is made of polyester fibers; wherein the fiber A-2 is a crimped fiber having a single-fiber diameter of at least 5 micrometer and an apparent crimp rate of not less than 2%. In some embodiments, the crimped fiber is a composite fiber in which two components are laminated in a side-by-side manner or in an eccentric core-sheath manner, or a false twist crimped processed yarn. In some embodiments, the total fineness of the yarn is in the range of 50 to 1,400 dtex (wherein 1 dtex indicates fiber fineness of 1 gram per 10,000 meters). In some embodiments, the yarn is dyed or colored. In some embodiments, the above-mentioned yarn is blended or mixed or combined with another yarn, denoted Yarn B, which is or which includes an elastic fiber. In some embodiments, the weight ratio of (A-1)+ (A-2) to B, or the ratio of the total weight of filament A-1 and fiber A-2 to the yarn B, is in the range of from 95:5 to 30:70. In some embodiments, the coefficient of friction of a front surface and/or back surface and/or side surface of the yarn (or the blend of yarns) is in the range of 0.4 to 2.5.

In other embodiments, the HFLS Yarn is, or consists of, or includes, a Silicone Yarn or a Silicone-based Yarn or a Silicone-containing Yarn. In some embodiments, the HFLS Yarn is, or consists of, or includes, a yarn known as Silicotex® available from “Massebeuf Textiles” of France; or a Silicone elastic yarn (e.g., C-Silicotex® or other); or a Silicone assembled yarn (e.g., A-Silicotex® or other). In some embodiments, the HFLS Yarn is, or consists of, or includes, a Silica yarn or a Silica-containing yarn or a Silica-based yarn; for example, SILTEX® silica yarn available from “Mid-Mountain Materials Incorporated” of the USA. In some embodiments, the HFLS Yarn is, or consists of, or includes, a Silicone based yarn such as MURIEL® or “MURIEL GRIP” available from “LeMur S.R.L.” of Italy. Other suitable yarns may be used.

In some embodiments, the HFLS Yarn is a combination or blend or mixture of two or more yarns; wherein at least one of the yarns provides high friction properties and/or low slippage properties and/or anti-slip properties and/or high-grip properties; whereas at least one of the yarns provides high elasticity properties and/or has high modulus. For example, the HFLS Yarn may include Spandex or Elastane, which may (in some implementations) be capable of stretching 2 or 3 or 4 or even 5 times its idle length.

In some embodiments, the sock (,,,, or) may be knitted of a yarn using an automated or semi-automated knitting machine. For example, the sock knitting process begins at the collar band, continues to the heel (or ankle) region and then the sole region (the sock-body region). Then, immediately after knitting the sole region of the sock, the knitting machine starts to reciprocally knit the bottom-side (or the bottom region) of the Toes Region of the sock, which is gradually knitted with less and less needles; while for the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop, all the knitting needles are rising up to take and use the Toe Lock yarns. After several such knitting rows, the knitting machine returns to reciprocally knitting the upper side (or the upper region) of the Toes Region of the sock. Towards the end of the knitting process, the end of the bottom-side of the Toes Region is knitted or connected to the end of the upper-side of the Toes Region.

The sock may be knitted with any Synthetic yarns, such as Nylon and/or Polyester and/or Acrylic and/or Spandex and/or other yarns, and/or man-made or non-natural yarns such as like Viscose and/or Tencel, and/or natural yarns such as Cotton and/or Wool and/or Silk, and/or using a mixture or blend of two or more yarns of the same type or of different types.

The yarns may include one or more yarns that were spun using a suitable spinning method, for example, spun yarn, Siro spun yarn, Ring spun yarn, compact, filament, or the like. The yarn(s) may have a suitable brightness level and/or color, and/or can be made from any suitable cross-section, and may be pre-dyed or pre-colored, post-dyed or post-colored, dope dyed, yarn dyed or hank dyed, or the like.

The bottom region and the upper region of the Toes Zone or the Toes Region of the sock, can be knitted via single knitting, and/or pique knitting, and/or rib knitting, and/or Terry knitting, and/or a mixture or combination of two or more different knitting structures or patterns; using one or more knitting selections, for example, 1×1, or 2×1 or 3×1, or 1×2, or 1×3, or other suitable knitting selections, or a mixture or combination of two or more different knitting selections.

In a demonstrative example, the sock is knitted with Terry knitting only in the upper side of the Toes Region (or the Toes Zone); which finally, after the toe closing, it is folded towards the bottom side for cushioning, while dropping the Terry knitting in the upper side of the Toes Zone in order to assist the spatial stabilization of the Toes Region relative to the toes.

The integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop may be knitted from Anti-Slip yarn and/or No Slippage yarn and/or a High-Friction yarn, or from ultra-fine polyester yarn or fiber (e.g., each fiber or filament of the yarn has a diameter in the range of 400 to 1,000 nanometers; or having an average fiber diameter or filament diameter in the range of 400 to 1,000 nanometers), and/or Silicon yarn, and/or high-modulus Spandex or Lycra or Elastane and/or other high-modulus yarns and/or high-elasticity yarn, and may optionally contain other materials (e.g., Synthetic yarns, Polyester, Nylon, Acrylic, and/or natural yarn, cotton, wool, silk, and/or a mixture or combination of yarns of different types).

The yarns of the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop may include one or more yarns that were spun using a suitable spinning method, for example, spun yarn, Siro spun yarn, Ring spun yarn, compact, filament, or the like. The yarn(s) of the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop may have a suitable brightness level and/or color, and/or can be made from any suitable cross-section, and may be pre-dyed or pre-colored, post-dyed or post-colored, dope dyed, yarn dyed or hank dyed, or the like. The yarns of the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop can be knitted via single knitting, and/or pique knitting, and/or rib knitting, and/or Terry knitting, and/or a mixture or combination of two or more different knitting structures or patterns; using one or more knitting selections, for example, 1×1, or 2×1 or 3×1, or 1×2, or 1×3, or other suitable knitting selections, or a mixture or combination of two or more different knitting selections.

In some embodiments, the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop may be structured to show a pre-defined logo or mark or slogan or image; for example, via knitting, coloring, dying, bonding, gluing, embossing, and/or other ways to integrate such mark or logo into or onto the yarns or the fabric of the integrally-knitted Toe Lock loop.

In a demonstrative and non-limiting example, the sock may be knitted using a circular sock-knitting machine (e.g., Lonati model GOAL G616DF3, single cylinder), having (for example) 200 needles, having 22 gauge. Other suitable makes and models can be used, with other number of needles and/or gauge values.

Optionally, a Stitch-By-Stitch knitting system or knitting structure may be used, particularly for closing the Toes Region of the sock, operating and making connection among the sock; which may be connected side-by-side near the circular sock knitting machine. Alternatively, the closing of the Toes Region of the sock may be performed by sewing, bonding, gluing, hand-made linking, manual linking, manual connecting process, manual Toes Region closing process, and/or automated or semi-automated connection process or closure process.

Reference is made to, which is a schematic illustration of a Knit Structure 700 which may be used for knitting (manually or automatically or semi-automatically, or via computer-controlled machine-based knitting) a sock with a Toes Lock loop, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments. The green area indicates that knitting lines in which all the needles (e.g., of a circular sock-knitting machine) are knitting the yarn(s); this is featured, for example, along the main body or main region of the sock (e.g., which covers beneath and above the sole of the wearer). The purple trapezoid regions indicate sock regions in which Reciprocal Knitting is performed, such that the knitting-machine cylinder of needles performs back-and-forth knitting or repeated knitting or two-way knitting. The black regions around those purple trapezoids, indicate regions in which the needles of the knitting machine do not knit; or, indicate regions where none of the needles of the knitting machine performs any knitting. The light-blue stripe indicates a region (which may include several knitting lines, and not only a single knitting line) in which all of the needles of the knitting machine raise upwardly and get the yarn(s) that are intended for performing the knitting of the Toes Lock loop. It is noted thatis only a non-limiting example of a knitting structure that may be utilized to produce or to achieve or to implement the Toes Lock integrally-knitted loop; other suitable knitting structures may be used.

In some embodiments, the HFLS Yarn, or at least one yarn in a yarn blend or yarn mixture or yarn composition that makes the HFLS Yarn, may include or may have one or more of the following chemical properties and/or physical properties and/or elasticity properties and/or mechanical properties and/or other characteristics as detailed herein:

The HFLS Yarn may be a yarn including an ultrafine filament, which has excellent handleability and elasticity and from which a high-quality fabric or fiber product can be obtained, as well as a fabric made using the yarn, and a fiber product made using the yarn or the fabric.