Expandable Stretch Sock

Abstract

A sock having a foot bed configured to expand at least two sizes on the National Association of Hosiery Manufacturers (NAHM) sock size measuring system while comfortably accommodating the foot of the wearer. The body portion and foot bed are mesh knit substantially entirely on the same needle cylinder using heavier body yarns, lighter denier nylon fibers and/or stronger spandex fibers than is typical for manufacturing socks.

1 . A sock to be worn on the foot of a wearer, comprising a body portion configured, the body portion including a foot bed configured to expand at least two sizes on the National Association of Hosiery Manufacturers (NAHM) sock size measuring system while comfortably accommodating the foot of the wearer. 
     
     
         2 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion and the foot bed are knit substantially entirely on the same needle cylinder. 
     
     
         3 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion and the foot bed are knit substantially entirely by mesh knitting to produce the sock with the foot bed having a broader range of fit than is typical for sock manufacture for both foot length and width. 
     
     
         4 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion and the foot bed are knit using body yarns of approximately 140 to 400 Denier fibers. 
     
     
         5 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion and the foot bed are knit using yarns of denier nylon fibers of approximately 65 to 75 Denier. 
     
     
         6 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion and the foot bed are knit using yarns of spandex fibers of approximately 20 to 40 Denier. 
     
     
         7 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the sock comfortably accommodates wearers of shoe sizes 10-13, sock sizes 7-9, and NAHM sizes 7-9. 
     
     
         8 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the sock comfortably accommodates wearers of shoe sizes 4-10, sock sizes 5-7, and NAHM sizes 5-7. 
     
     
         9 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the sock comfortably accommodates wearers of shoe sizes 000-4, sock sizes 3-5, and NAHM sizes 3-5. 
     
     
         10 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion and foot bed are knit substantially using at least one of a group consisting of: body yarns of heavier weight than is typical for manufacturing socks; lighter denier nylon fibers than is typical for manufacturing socks; and stronger spandex fibers than is typical for manufacturing socks. 
     
     
         11 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the body portion and the foot bed are mesh knit substantially entirely on the same needle cylinder. 
     
     
         12 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the body portion and foot bed are mesh knit substantially entirely on the same needle cylinder; and   the body portion and the foot bed are knit using at least one of a group consisting of: body yarns of heavier weight than is typical for manufacturing socks; lighter denier nylon fibers than is typical for manufacturing socks; and stronger spandex fibers than is typical for manufacturing socks.   
     
     
         13 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein the sock comfortably accommodates at least one of a group consisting of: shoe sizes 10-13, sock sizes 7-9, and NAHM sizes 7-9; shoe sizes 4-10, sock sizes 5-7, and NAHM sizes 5-7; and shoe sizes 000-4, sock sizes 3-5, and NAHM sizes 3-5. 
     
     
         14 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the body portion and the foot bed are mesh knit substantially entirely on the same needle cylinder; and   the sock comfortably accommodates at least one of a group consisting of: shoe sizes 10-13, sock sizes 7-9, and NAHM sizes 7-9; shoe sizes 4-10, sock sizes 5-7, and NAHM sizes 5-7; and shoe sizes 000-4, sock sizes 3-5, and NAHM sizes 3-5.   
     
     
         15 . The sock of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the body portion and the foot bed are mesh knit substantially entirely on the same needle cylinder; and   the body portion and foot bed are knit using at least one of a group consisting of: body yarns of heavier weight than is typical for manufacturing socks; lighter denier nylon fibers than is typical for manufacturing socks; and stronger spandex fibers than is typical for manufacturing socks.   
     
     
         16 . A method for manufacturing a sock to be worn on the foot of a wearer, comprising:
 selecting at least one of a group consisting of: body yarns of heavier weight than is typical for manufacturing socks; lighter denier nylon fibers than is typical for manufacturing socks; and stronger spandex fibers than is typical for manufacturing socks; and   mesh knitting a body portion and a foot bed to produce the sock,   wherein the body portion and the foot bed are configured to expand at least two sizes on the National Association of Hosiery Manufacturers (NAHM) sock size measuring system while comfortably accommodating the foot of the wearer.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the mesh knitting of the body portion and the foot bed is substantially entirely performed on the same needle cylinder. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the selection step includes: selection of body yarns of heavier weight than is typical for manufacturing socks; selection of lighter denier nylon fibers than is typical than is typical for manufacturing socks; and selection of stronger spandex fibers than is typical for manufacturing socks. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the mesh knitting of the body portion and the foot bed is substantially entirely performed on the same needle cylinder; and   the selection step includes: selection of body yarns of heavier weight than is typical for manufacturing socks; selection of lighter denier nylon fibers than is typical than is typical for manufacturing socks; and selection of stronger spandex fibers than is typical for manufacturing socks.   
     
     
         20 . A sock to be worn on the foot of a wearer, comprising:
 a body portion configured, the body portion including a foot bed configured to expand at least two sizes on the National Association of Hosiery Manufacturers (NAHM) sock size measuring system while comfortably accommodating the foot of the wearer;   wherein the body portion and the foot bed are knit substantially entirely on the same needle cylinder;   wherein the body portion and the foot bed are knit using:
 body yarns of heavier weight than is typical for manufacturing socks; 
 lighter denier nylon fibers than is typical than is typical for manufacturing socks; and 
 stronger spandex fibers than is typical for manufacturing socks; and 
   wherein the sock accommodates at least one of a group consisting of: shoe sizes 10-13, sock sizes 7-9, and NAHM sizes 7-9; shoe sizes 4-10, sock sizes 5-7, and NAHM sizes 5-7; and shoe sizes 000-4, sock sizes 3-5, and NAHM sizes 3-5.