Moisture-management sock and shoe for creating a moisture managing environment for the feet

Claim 1

A moisture-management sock knitted of a body yarn, comprising: (a) a relatively thick multi-layer moisture-wicking panel extending from a front ankle portion of the sock to a front toe portion of the sock generally co-extensive with an area of the foot covered by the tongue of a shoe, said moisture-wicking panel including: (i) a hydrophobic wicking yarn integrated into the knitted structure of the body yarn of the sock to substantially reside adjacent to the skin of the wearer; and (ii) a hydrophilic moisture-dispersion yarn integrated into the knitted structure of the body yarn of the sock to substantially reside on an outer surface of the sock away from the skin of the wearer to receive and disperse moisture wicked away from the skin by the hydrophobic wicking yarns; (b) first and second single fabric layers defining first and second air circulation channels formed in the sock and extending along opposing sides of said moisture-wicking panel from the front ankle portion to the front portion of the sock, said single fabric layers being thinner than said thick panel; and (c) an over-toe panel comprising a relatively thin single fabric layer defining a third air circulation channel for residing substantially above the toes of the wearer, and adjacent to one end of said moisture wicking panel; said over-toe panel including a hydrophobic wicking yarn integrated into the body yarn of said sock for substantially residing in skin contact and for wicking moisture away from the skin of the wearer; whereby said first, second and third air circulation channels cooperate with each other and said thick panel to form a U-shaped air passage extending adjacent to the opposing sides and end of said relatively thick, moisture wicking panel to promote air circulation between the sock and the shoe.