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  Therapeutic sock for diabeticsUSPTO Application #: 20070283483Title: Therapeutic sock for diabetics Abstract: A sock for diabetics that is anti-microbial and allows for wound detection is provided. The sock has a colored cuff section, a colored calf section attached to the cuff section, a colored ankle section attached to the calf section, and a foot section. The foot section has a colored top section and a white bottom section, where the bottom section includes a heel section, an instep section and a toe section. The toe section has a seamless toe and the foot section includes a plurality of materials wherein at least one of the materials incorporates silver coated fibers. (end of abstract)
Agent: Mark S. Leonardo, Esq. Brown Rudnick Berlack Israels LLP - Boston, MA, US Inventor: Alan M. Jacober USPTO Applicaton #: 20070283483 - Class: 002239000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Apparel, Head Coverings, Stockings The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070283483. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
RELATED APPLICATION INFORMATION [0001] This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/785,159, filed in the U.S. on Mar. 23, 2006. FIELD OF INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to therapeutic socks and particularly to therapeutic socks for diabetics that increase circulation, allow for early detection of wounds and are anti-microbial. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] People with diabetes are prone to many foot disorders because of complications associated with diabetes. These complications are neuropathy, retinopathy and poor blood circulation. Neuropathy or nerve damage can cause numbness in the extremities including the legs, feet and toes. This numbness makes it difficult for person to discover wounds or irritation. If these injuries go unnoticed they can become infected or with further deterioration of limbs. Circulatory problems may make it difficult for an injury to heal. Diabetes related foot and leg problems include, but are not limited to: infections and ulcers and a blocked artery in the calf. Diabetes can also cause charcot foot, which is a deformity that develops as a result of loss in sensation and a broken bone that leads to the destruction of the soft tissue of the foot caused by ligament degeneration [0004] Certain medical conditions such as diabetes, for example, which cause diminished blood circulation to the legs and feet, have been treated by wearing various types of circulation enhancing stockings and footwear. One example of circulation enhancing footwear is a therapeutic sock described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,177 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This example of a therapeutic sock is used to treat arterial insufficiency, cardiac and circulatory decompensation, venous insufficiency, arthrosis and rheumatism. The sock includes a leg section, a foot section and an ankle-neck of the foot section between the foot and the leg, where at least some of the sections have an elasticized knit structure with an elasticity graduated from part to part. [0005] Certain medical patients such as diabetic patients, for example, should wear white socks because of retinopathy preventing them from detecting areas of drainage in their feet. When there is nerve damage it can be difficult to detect blood or wound secretions. Injuries that go undetected can lead to more severe injuries and/or infections. The white socks have been necessary particularly for early detection of drainage or bleeding in patients who do not have enough mobility or sight to view the bottom of their own feet or for patients that cannot feel that there is an injury or wound. [0006] Some therapeutic socks such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,177 have been made from white or un-dyed material to allow for early detection of bleeding in a patient's foot. Other therapeutic socks such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,177 have been made from dark colored or dyed materials to provide the aesthetics of a dress sock. The dark colored or dyed therapeutic socks have not been useful for drainage, retinopathy or early detection of wounds in a patient's foot. Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a therapeutic sock that allows for easy detection of wounds or bleeding while providing a knit structure that is directed to improving circulation. It would also be desirable to provide a sock that incorporates a white or non-dyed bottom section and a darker upper section to maintain the aesthetics of a dress sock. It would also be desirable to provide a sock that incorporates a material that is anti-microbial to help prevent infection of wounds and prevents odors. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] Accordingly, a therapeutic sock for diabetics that is aesthetically pleasing, anti-microbial and allows for easy detection of wounds, drainage or blood is provided. A particular embodiment of the present invention is based on a compression sock produced by Eurosocks North America, of Warwick, R.I. as particularly described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,397 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This embodiment provides long-legged sock that includes a cuff section and a calf section incorporating a first elastic thread together with a basic thread. Also provided is an ankle section incorporating the first elastic thread and a second elastic thread together with the basic thread, an instep section incorporating the second elastic thread and a third elastic thread together with the basic thread; and a foot section incorporating the third elastic thread together with the basic thread. [0008] In one embodiment according to the present disclosure, the sock has a colored cuff section, a colored calf section attached to the cuff section, a colored ankle section attached to the calf section, and a foot section. The foot section has a colored top section and a white bottom section, where the bottom section includes a heel section, an instep section and a toe section. The toe section has a seamless toe and the foot section includes a plurality of materials wherein at least one of the materials incorporates silver coated fibers. [0009] In another embodiment, the diabetic sock according to the present disclosure has cuff and colored calf sections that include silver coated fibers. Also, in another embodiment, the diabetic sock has a colored calf section that extends over a wearer's calf. [0010] In another embodiment, the colored calf section is constriction free. In yet another embodiment, the sock is made of polypropilene, spandex and nylon. Additionally, the seamless toe may include a lin-toe closure. [0011] In another embodiment, the instep section provides more constriction than the toe section and the heel section. [0012] Another sock in accordance with the present disclosure includes a colored cuff section, a colored calf section, ankle section and a white bottom section including a white heel section, a white bottom of foot section and a white toe section covering the top and bottom of a wearer's toes. The sock is knitted with at least one basic thread with the insertion of at least two elastic threads at a calf section, an ankle section, an instep section, and a toe section, having a degree of elasticity that is different from each other wherein the cuff and calf sections incorporate the first elastic thread together with the thread. The ankle section incorporates the first elastic thread and the second elastic thread with the basic thread. The instep section incorporates the second elastic thread and a third elastic thread together with the basic thread. The white toe section incorporates the third elastic thread together with the thread and the thread includes at least a portion thereof coated with silver. [0013] In another embodiment, the first elastic thread has a strength that is greater than that of the third elastic thread. And in yet another embodiment the ankle section and the instep section have vertical ribbed stitches. Additionally, the toe section may be seamless. [0014] In yet another embodiment, the calf and ankle section is constriction free. Also, the sock according to the present disclosure may be made from polypopilene, spandex and nylon. [0015] A method for manufacturing on a circular sock knitting machine a sock for diabetics according to the present disclosure is also provided. The method includes the steps of knitting from one end to the other with at least one thread having a plurality of fibers coated with silver, the knitting starting from a cuff section to terminate at the tip of the sock through a calf section, ankle section, an instep section and a tip-of-the foot section without interruption. The method also includes using in combination with at least one thread, a first elastic thread having a first degree of elasticity in the cuff section and the ankle section and a second elastic thread having a second degree of elasticity in said instep section. [0016] In another embodiment, the step of knitting includes an upper section of the sock being colored and a bottom section of the sock being white. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0017] The objects and features of the present disclosure, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The present disclosure, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objectives and advantages, may be best understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: [0018] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a graduated compression sock with the inventive coloration according to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure; and [0019] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a constriction-free embodiment of the inventive therapeutic sock according to an illustrative embodiment of the disclosure invention. Continue reading... Full patent description for Therapeutic sock for diabetics Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Therapeutic sock for diabetics patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. 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