KNITTED FABRIC ARTICLE

Abstract

Knitted fabric article having a leg or arm section to be pulled over at least a section of a leg or arm, wherein at least one manually grippable pulling element is provided on the inside of the leg or arm section.

Claims

1. A knitted fabric article having a leg or arm section to be pulled over at least a section of a leg or arm, characterized in that at least one manually grippable pulling element is provided on the inside of the leg or arm section.

2. The knitted fabric article as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the pulling element is designed to extend annularly around the inner circumference, or in that at least one, preferably two, local pulling elements arranged opposite to one another on the inner circumference are provided.

3. The knitted fabric article as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the pulling element or elements are knitted elements, or in that the pulling element or elements are made of a flexible, flat material, comprising a plastic material.

4. The knitted fabric article as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the knitted pulling element or elements are knitted in one piece with the leg or arm section, or in that the knitted pulling element or elements or the pulling element or elements consisting of the flexible flat material are sewn or adhesively bonded on the leg or arm section.

5. The knitted fabric article as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least the leg or arm section is designed to be compressive, at least in sections.

6. The knitted fabric article as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pulling element is designed to extend annularly around the circumference, characterized in that the pulling element is also compressive, or in that the pulling element is not compressive.

7. The knitted fabric article as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that both the annular pulling element and the leg or arm section is compressive in the overlapping area with the pulling element, or in that only the leg or arm section is compressive in the overlapping area.

8. The knitted fabric article as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the compressive pulling element and the leg or arm section, which is compressive in the overlapping area, are at least approximately equally compressive, or in that they are differently compressive.

9. The knitted fabric article as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the compressive annular pulling element is arranged in area B or B1 according to DIN 58133.

10. The knitted fabric article as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least one further pulling element is provided along the leg or arm section at at least one inside length position.

11. The knitted fabric article as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that padding increasing the thickness of the knitted fabric is knitted in at least in sections on the inside of the leg or arm section.

12. The knitted fabric article as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that at least one optical marking, which indicates the location of the heel or hand section that is turned inside out in the basic position, is provided on the inside of the leg or arm section or on the pulling element.

13. The knitted fabric article as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the pulling element is embodied in a different color than the leg or arm section.

14. The knitted fabric article as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it is a calf stocking, a half-thigh stocking, thigh-length stocking, or tights, optionally comprising a foot section, which is closed or open, adjoining the leg section, or in that it is a half armsleeve or an armsleeve, optionally comprising a hand section adjoining the arm section, which is open or closed.

15. A method for putting on a knitted fabric article as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the knitted fabric article located in the basic position, in which the leg or arm section, having its inside facing outward, is turned inside out and possibly slipped over the foot or hand section, is pulled over the foot or the hand by pulling on the at least one pulling element, after which the leg or arm section is pulled further over the leg or arm into the wearing position either by gripping and pulling on an edge section of the leg or arm section, or is pulled further over the leg or arm by gripping and pulling on at least one further pulling element and then is pulled into the wearing position by gripping and pulling on an edge section of the leg or arm section.

Description

[0032] Further advantages and details of the present invention result from the exemplary embodiments described hereinafter and in reference to the drawings. In the figures:

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a knitted fabric article according to the invention in the form of a calf stocking in the basic position having the leg section turned inside out,

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the knitted fabric article from FIG. 1,

[0035] FIG. 3 shows the knitted fabric article from FIG. 1 in the pulled-off form,

[0036] FIG. 4 the knitted fabric article from FIG. 3 in a side view,

[0037] FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial view of a knitted fabric article according to the invention in the area of the arrangement of an annular pulling element which is knitted in one piece with the leg section,

[0038] FIG. 6 shows a partial view of a knitted fabric article according to the invention in the area of a pulling element arranged on the leg section, which is connected to the leg section as a separate pulling element,

[0039] FIG. 7 shows a further partial view of a knitted fabric article according to the invention having a local pulling element,

[0040] FIG. 8 shows a side view of a knitted fabric article in the form of a long thigh-length stocking having two pulling elements located at different longitudinal positions, and

[0041] FIG. 9 shows a side view of a knitted fabric article in the form of an armsleeve.

[0042] FIG. 1, and also the side view according to FIG. 2, shows a knitted fabric article 1 according to the invention in its basic position turned inside out, which is knitted as a circular knitted fabric on a circular knitting machine or as a flat knitted fabric on a flat knitting machine as a one-piece knitted fabric article. It comprises, see also FIGS. 3 and 4, which show the knitted fabric article 1 in the pulled-off position, a tubular leg section 2 and a foot section 3 directly adjoining thereon. The leg section 2 preferably extends over the ankle to just before the heel, on which the foot section 3 adjoins. This is shown by way of example via the dashed dividing line 4 in FIG. 4. At the upper end of the leg section 2, a shoulder 5 is knitted on, which can be pulled, inter alia, to put on the knitted fabric article 1 in the longitudinal direction.

[0043] The knitted fabric article 1 is, for example, a compressive knitted fabric article in which the basic knitted fabric that forms the leg section 2 and the foot section 3 and is knitted from at least one basic knitted thread is equipped with a compressive property at least in sections and at least in the leg section 2. Of course, the entire knitted fabric article 1 can be compressive both in the leg section 2 and in the foot section 3. This is imparted by introducing an elastic thread into the basic knitted fabric, for example as a weft thread, which opposes the stretching in the circumferential direction with a resistance, so that a compression pressure can be applied to the underlying, overlapped fabric. The compression of the knitted fabric article 1, in particular in the leg section 2 (or in the arm section in the case of an armsleeve) can be determined using an appropriate measuring device, as specified for example in DIN 58133 or the comparable quality assurance RAL-GZ 387/1 Medizinische Kompressionsstrmpfe [Medical compression stockings] of the German Institute for Quality Assurance and Labeling e.V. This measurement is preferably determined using the HOSY or HOSYcan testing device, which is used in particular for the compression pressure measurement on compression textiles, in particular medical compression textiles, from the Hohenstein Textile Testing Institute GmbH & Co. KG. This applies to all exemplary embodiments described.

[0044] Putting on such a knitted fabric article 1 or stocking, in particular if it is compressive, causes great difficulties for older people or people having restricted mobility. Because of the anatomically knitted basic shape of the leg and foot sections and the resulting narrow diameter transition area from the leg to the foot section, it is sometimes difficult to pull the stocking over the heel area in particular. This problem is all the greater when the stocking has compressive properties adjacent to or also in the transition to the foot section 3.

[0045] In order to make it easier to put on, at least one pulling element 7 is arranged on the inside 6 of the leg section 2 and is used to pull the knitted fabric article 1 longitudinally. FIGS. 1 and 2 show the knitted fabric article 1 in the basic position in which the knitted fabric article is located before being put on. In this, the leg section 2 is slipped over the foot section 3 so that the inside 6 of the leg section 2 is on the outside. In the basic form shown, the pulling element 7 is exposed, so it can be gripped with two hands without problems.

[0046] The pulling element 7 is designed here as an annular, circumferential pulling element 7, which is firmly fastened at a lower end 8 on the inside 6 of the leg section 3, while the pulling element 7 is otherwise free or loose, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, where the pulling element 7 is shown guided slightly inwards.

[0047] As shown in FIG. 1, an optical marking 18, for example a knitted-in thread or an imprint or the like, is provided on the outside of the pulling element 7, which preferably has a different color than the leg section 2 and the foot section 3. This optical marking 18 shows where the upper side 9 of the foot part 3 is, so that the user can orient himself thereon and bring the knitted fabric article 1 into a correct position relative to the foot or leg, respectively. This is because, as FIGS. 1-4 show, the foot section 3 naturally also has an anatomical shape corresponding to the foot, in that a corresponding heel section 10 on the one hand and a corresponding toe section 11 on the other hand are provided thereon. Correct positioning relative to the foot can now take place via this optical marking 18, so that the foot can be slipped correctly into the foot section 3.

[0048] In the context of putting it on, the knitted fabric article 1 is first gripped on the annular pulling element 7 and pulled with the foot section 3 over the toes and further over the foot, starting from the basic shape turned inside out according to FIGS. 1 and 2. In particular, pulling over the heel often turns out to be very difficult, in particular if the knitted fabric article 1 has compressive properties. In this case, the lower section of the leg section 2, which has a significantly reduced diameter and is quasi-adjacent to the dividing line shown in FIG. 4, has to be pulled over the heel, which is known to be relatively wide as indicated in FIG. 2 in the side view. This means that the knitted fabric article 1 or the leg section 2 has to be greatly stretched in this area, which is sometimes very difficult with a compressive knitted fabric.

[0049] However, because the annular pulling element 7 is arranged on the leg section 2, a strong direct pull can be exerted on the lower area of the leg section 2 and via this on the foot section 3 in the longitudinal direction, which significantly simplifies pulling over the heel area.

[0050] As shown in particular in FIG. 4, the annular pulling element 7 or, in principle, the pulling element or elements (multiple pulling elements can also be provided) is located at a longitudinal position of the leg section 2, which is in the vicinity of the lower end of the leg section, i.e., in the area of or adjacent to the transition to the foot section 3, if one is provided. If no foot section 3 is provided, the pulling element 7 is located in the vicinity of or adjacent to the lower edge of the leg section 2, i.e., in the vicinity of the section which is greatly reduced in diameter. The pulling element 7 is consequently located just in the area which is very narrow in diameter in comparison to the rest of the area of the leg section 2 adjoining it towards the shoulder 5 and which is in particular very difficult to pull over the heel. That is, a strong longitudinal pull can be introduced in a very directed and immediate manner into the corresponding leg section area, which is difficult to pull over, via the pulling element 7, which significantly simplifies putting it on.

[0051] If, starting from the basic position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the foot is inserted into the foot section 3 and the lower leg section area is accordingly pulled over the heel and the ankle, the shoulder 5 is gripped and the remaining leg section area of the leg section 2 is pulled up and over the calf until the stocking is completely pulled up and in the wearing position. In this position, the leg section 2 now overlaps the pulling element 7 with its inside 6, so this is located between the leg and the leg section knitted fabric.

[0052] The pulling element 7, which is designed to be annular here, can be a pulling element which, like at least the leg section 2, has compressive properties, i.e., it exerts pressure on the covered tissue. For this purpose, the pulling element 7 can also be knitted and provided with an elastic thread which causes the compression. Alternatively, the pulling element 7 can also consist of a flat material that is elastic in the circumferential direction, such as a plastic film or the like, so that a corresponding pressure acting radially inward can also be generated via this. If the leg section 2 is also equipped to be compressive, the two compressive sections overlap in the overlapping area, i.e., in which the leg section 2 lies above the pulling element 7. This means that there is a layer doubling there, made up of the pulling element 7 and the leg section 2, as well as two separate compressions which are superimposed. A overall pressure arises there, resulting from the pressure exerted via the pulling element 7 and the pressure exerted via the leg section 2.

[0053] As FIGS. 3 and 4 show, the ring-shaped pulling element 7 is preferably arranged in a B area (ankle) defined according to DIN 58133 (alternatively, it can also be arranged in the B1 area according to DIN 58133). According to DIN 58133, the highest compression pressure is to be generated in this B area if the knitted fabric article 1 is a compression stocking. A corresponding pressure can now be generated in a simple manner by superimposing the two individual compressions, wherein the pressure can be varied within a relatively wide range. This is because the greater the additional pressure component generated via the pulling element 7, the higher the local overall pressure can be set. That means that in the wearing position, a relatively high local overall pressure results. However, this high pressure provided in the wearing position does not have a disadvantageous effect when putting the article on. Because the pulling element 7 is separate from the leg section 2 when putting the article on, i.e., they do not overlap, only the pulling element 7 is to be stretched when pulling over the heel, and the corresponding leg section area only thereafter. This means that only one layer has to be stretched in each case, but not the double layer provided in the wearing position having the significantly higher overall pressure.

[0054] FIG. 5 shows a partial view of a knitted fabric article 1 according to the invention, wherein identical reference numerals are used for identical parts. It is assumed as an example that the knitted fabric article 1 is again a calf stocking. Alternatively, this can of course be a different type of knitted fabric article, such as a half-thigh stocking, tights, or an armsleeve, with or without a foot or hand section.

[0055] A sectional view is shown through the area in which the pulling element 7, annular again here, is arranged. On the one hand, the tubular leg section 2 is shown, which consists of a basic knitted fabric made of at least one knitted fabric thread. If the leg section 2 is compressive, then an elastic thread is additionally introduced, for example as a weft thread.

[0056] In this embodiment, the pulling element 7 is also a knitted pulling element 7 which is knitted in one piece onto the leg section 2 with its end 8. This knitting on as a quasi-freely hanging, flexible and ring-shaped lobe is readily possible on both a circular knitting machine and a flat knitting machine. The pulling element 7 is either knitted from the same knitted thread as the leg section 2 and, if necessary, also equipped with a compressive effect by introducing an elastic thread. However, it is also conceivable to knit the pulling element 7 from a different, preferably thinner and possibly different colored knitted thread than the knitted thread of the leg section 2, so that ultimately the thickness of the pulling element 7 can be reduced somewhat and it does not stand out too clearly in the wearing position. Also, if it is designed to be compressive, a different elastic thread can be introduced into the pulling element 7 than in the leg section 2, via which the compression pressure of the pulling element 7 can be varied in a simple manner.

[0057] In order to prevent the pulling element 7, which is overlapped by the leg section 2, from clearly standing out in the wearing position and a corresponding, slight bead-shaped protrusion resulting, in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 5, padding 12 is provided on the inside 6 of the leg section 2, preferably in the form of a plush or a plush layer, which is also formed at the same time when the leg section 2 is knitted. This padding 12 increases the thickness of the leg section 2. As shown in FIG. 5, it extends on both sides of the pulling element 7 in the example shown and adjoins it seamlessly or at a slight distance. In the wearing position, this padding 12 now compensates for the double-layer bulge resulting from the overlap, so that no or only an insignificant corresponding peripheral edge or bead is formed.

[0058] In the embodiment according to FIG. 5, the pulling element 7 is knitted and is knitted onto the leg section 2 in one piece. In the variant according to FIG. 6, the pulling element 7, which is also annular here, is a separate element that can either be knitted from a knitted thread, can optionally also be equipped to be compressive via an elastic thread, or consists of a flat material that is elastic in the circumferential direction but is as rigid as possible in the transverse direction, in particular a plastic material. This separate pulling element 7 is now firmly connected to the inside 6 of the tubular leg section 2 in the area of the lower end 8 of the pulling element 7 via a corresponding connection 13, which is only indicated schematically in FIG. 6. This connection 13 can be a seam, for example, which means that the pulling element 7 is sewn on. Alternatively, it can also be an adhesive bond. Independently thereof, the connection 13 is to be designed in such a way that a high tensile force can be applied to the leg section 2 via the pulling element 7.

[0059] FIG. 7 shows an exemplary embodiment of a knitted fabric article 1 according to the invention in the form of a sectional partial view, in which a local pulling element 7 is arranged as the pulling element 7, which is either knitted in one piece as a knitted pulling element 7 on the inside 6 of the tubular leg section 2 with its lower end 8, or which is fastened on the inside 6 of the leg section 2 as a separate pulling element 7, which is knitted or consists of a planar section, via a connection 13, which is shown here as an example only by dashed lines. Two such local pulling elements 7, which are designed as quasi-free-standing tabs, are preferably provided diametrically opposite to one another on the inner circumference of the leg section 2. These local pulling elements 7 are preferably laterally open, i.e., designed as open tabs, which makes it possible to reach into the tab-shaped or double-layered or annular pulling element 7 with the finger and thus grip it manually very well and apply a high tensile force.

[0060] FIG. 8 shows a design of a knitted fabric article 1 according to the invention, here in the form of a long thigh-length stocking, again comprising a leg section 2 and a foot section 3 knitted thereon. The foot section 3 is shown here having an open toe end as an example.

[0061] Again, the knitted fabric article 1 can be a non-compressive or a compressive knitted fabric article 1, wherein the advantages of the arrangement of the pulling element or elements 7 are naturally provided in particular in the case of a compressive knitted fabric article 1. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a first pulling element 7, here again by way of example an annular pulling element 7, is fastened using its lower end 8 on the inside 6 of the tubular leg section 2, preferably in the B region, for example knitted in one piece or separately sewn on or adhesively bonded on as described above. In this design, at a second longitudinal position along the leg section 2, a further pulling element 7, annular again here as an example, is provided with its lower end 8, which of course is preferably connected in the same way as the first pulling element 7 to the inside 6 of the leg section 2, thus is also knitted on in one piece or is sewn on or adhesively bonded on as a separate pulling element 7.

[0062] This design, having pulling elements 7, 7 provided in two longitudinal positions or in two longitudinal planes, enables the long thigh-length stocking to be put on in a quasi-multistep, optimal manner. In the basic position, the leg section 2 is slipped over the foot section 3, similarly to the shorter calf stocking according to FIG. 1. Similar to FIG. 1, the first pulling element 7 is exposed at one end and can be gripped so that the foot can be inserted into the foot section 3 or the foot section 3 and the lower end of the leg section 2 can be pulled over the heel.

[0063] In the next step, the second pulling element 7, which is also exposed on the outside because it is turned inside out, is then gripped, which makes it possible to pull the area of the leg section 2, which lies between the two pulling elements 7 and 7, further over the calf and over the knee, which means that with regard to this leg section area, a longitudinal pull can again be introduced directly into the knitted fabric in an optimal manner and this area can be brought into the wearing position. Then, in the last step, the shoulder 5 is grasped and then the terminal area of the leg section 2 is pulled into the final position over the thigh.

[0064] Of course, it is conceivable to also provide pulling elements 7, 7 in more than two longitudinal positions, as of course corresponding local pulling elements 7, 7 can also be provided instead of the annular pulling elements 7, 7.

[0065] Also here, as in the designs according to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is of course the possibility of providing padding 12 on the inside 6.

[0066] Finally, FIG. 9 shows a knitted fabric article 1 in the form of an armsleeve, comprising an elongated, tubular arm section 14, having an upper end having a first shoulder 15 and a lower end here with a second shoulder 16. Instead of the second shoulder 16, as shown by dashed lines, a hand section 17 can also be knitted onto the arm section 14 in one piece. Of course, the arm section 14 and possibly also the hand section 17 are made from a basic knitted fabric made of at least one knitted thread and can optionally be equipped with a compressive property via an elastic thread.

[0067] Here, too, a pulling element 7, annular again here as an example, is fastened with its lower end 8 on the inside of the arm section 14 shown here with its outside, wherein the pulling element 7 can also be knitted on in one piece here or can be sewn on or adhesively bonded on as a separate knitted or flat-material pulling element 7. The pulling element 7 can also make putting on the article easier here, as described above for the other embodiments.

[0068] In the basic position, the arm section area shown to the right adjacent to the pulling element 7 in FIG. 9 is slipped over the arm section area shown to the left of the pulling element 7, so that the pulling element 7 is exposed and can be gripped to pull it over. After being pulled over the forearm, the shoulder 15 can then be gripped and the remaining arm section area can be pulled over the upper arm. The pulling element 7 can also have an optical marking 18 here, which indicates the correct orientation of the knitted fabric article 1 relative to the arm or hand, in particular if a hand section 17 is provided.