Leg garments and related methods

Abstract

A leg garment, comprising a flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part forming at least one foot part, with at least one first functional zone which is knitted into the basic knitted fabric part and which is formed to accommodate a heel of a foot, wherein the flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part is sewn together by means of a longitudinal seam to form a tubular knitted fabric, wherein at least one first functional zone is knitted into the basic knitted fabric part in such a manner that in the worn state of the leg garment, the longitudinal seam connecting the basic knitted fabric part is arranged outside the sole of the foot at least in a heel area.

Claims

1. A compressive leg garment, comprising: a flat-knitted basic fabric part knitted on a knitting machine forming at least one foot part comprising a longitudinal length and a transverse width, with at least one first functional zone formed to accommodate a heel of a foot that is knitted into the flat-knitted basic fabric part; and wherein the at least one first functional zone comprises a plurality of successive knitted gussets formed by successive partial stitch courses, wherein the flat-knitted basic fabric part is formed by a right-right weave, or by a half tubular weave, each of the right-right weave and the half tubular weave having an inserted weft thread, wherein each of the successive partial stitch courses is arranged between transverse edges of the flat-knitted basic fabric part and within the transverse width, wherein the flat-knitted basic fabric part is a single continuous flat-knitted basic fabric with two transverse edges sewn together by means of a single longitudinal seam to form a tubular knitted fabric to form the compressive leg garment with a foot shape having a heel area, wherein the at least one first functional zone is knitted into the flat-knitted basic fabric part in such a manner that in a worn state of the leg garment, the longitudinal seam connecting the flat-knitted basic fabric part is arranged outside of a heel area of the foot, wherein the single longitudinal seam comprises the only longitudinal seam positioned outside of the heel area, forming the compressive leg garment of a single piece of the flat knitted fabric part, wherein the heel area is free of irritation inducing elements of the basic knitted fabric part, and wherein the flat-knitted basic fabric part has a gradual compression curve in a longitudinal direction of the tubular knitted fabric of the leg garment such that the compressive leg garment exerts compression on a limb in its worn state, and wherein compressive pressures generated by the flat-knitted basic fabric part are between 10 and 60 mmHg in an ankle area of the leg garment and between 5 and 50 mmHg in a calf region.

2. The compressive leg garment according to claim 1, wherein in the worn state of the leg garment, the longitudinal seam extends medially or laterally on a side of the foot and/or extends over an upper side of the foot.

3. The compressive leg garment according to claim 1, wherein the flat-knitted basic fabric part additionally forms a toe part, wherein the toe part is sewn together by means of a transverse seam to form a closed toe cap.

4. The compressive leg garment according to claim 3, wherein the longitudinal seam of the foot part and the transverse seam of the toe part are formed as a continuous seam.

5. The compressive leg garment according to claim 1, wherein the flat-knitted basic fabric part additionally forms a lower leg part, and wherein in the worn state of the leg garment, the single longitudinal seam extends medially or laterally on a side of a lower leg and/or extends over a front side of the lower leg along a shinbone.

6. The compressive leg garment according to claim 5, wherein the flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part additionally forms a thigh part, wherein in the worn state of the leg garment, the single longitudinal seam extends medially or laterally on a side of a thigh or extends over a front side of the thigh.

7. The compressive leg garment according to claim 6, wherein the flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part additionally forms an abdominal part, wherein in the worn state of the leg garment, the single longitudinal seam extends on a side of a pelvis or extends over a front side of the pelvis.

8. The compressive leg garment according to claim 1, wherein the flat-knitted basic fabric part has at least one second functional zone which is knitted into the flat-knitted basic fabric part and which has a higher elasticity in a longitudinal and/or transverse direction compared to areas of the flat-knitted basic fabric part outside of the at least one second functional zone.

9. The compressive leg garment according to claim 1, wherein two knitted fabric edges of the flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part, which extend between a knitted fabric beginning and a knitted fabric end and are opposite one another, are formed symmetrically with respect to one another.

10. The compressive leg garment according to claim 1, wherein two knitted fabric edges of the flat-knitted basic fabric part, which extend between a knitted fabric beginning and a knitted fabric end and are situated opposite one another, are asymmetrical to one another.

11. The compressive leg garment according to claim 1, wherein the leg garment is formed in one piece or in multiple pieces.

12. The compressive leg garment according to claim 1, wherein the leg garment is a footlet, a sock, a stocking, a calf stocking, a pantyhose, a foot bandage, or a knitted part of a foot orthosis.

13. The compressive leg garment according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of the gussets are not divided by the two transverse edges of the flat-knitted basic fabric.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the following, the invention is explained by means of several exemplary embodiments and in connection with the attached drawings.

(2) In the figures:

(3) FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of the leg garment according to the invention, which has a flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part and is formed as a sock with an open tip.

(4) FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the leg garment according to the invention, which has a flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part and is formed as a stocking, in particular as a calf stocking.

(5) FIG. 3 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the leg garment according to the invention, which is also formed as a stocking, in particular as a calf stocking, as shown in FIG. 2.

(6) FIG. 4 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of the leg garment according to the invention, which is formed as a thigh stocking.

(7) FIG. 5 shows a fifth exemplary embodiment of the leg garment according to the invention, which is formed as a pantyhose.

(8) FIG. 6 shows a schematic illustration of the knitting sequence of the flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part as used to form the leg garment as shown in FIG. 1.

(9) FIG. 7 shows a schematic illustration of the knitting sequence of the flat-knitted basic fabric part, in particular a detail thereof, as shown in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(10) FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of the leg garment 1 in the form of a preferably compressive and preferably medical sock with an open tip. The leg garment 1 comprises a foot part 2, which is made from a basic knitted fabric part 3 which is flat-knitted over a plurality of stitch courses and which in turn is sewn together by means of a longitudinal seam 5 to form a tubular knitted fabric. A first functional zone 4 formed to accommodate a heel of a foot is knitted into the basic knitted fabric part 3. Here, the first functional zone 4 is knitted into the basic knitted fabric part 3 in such a manner that in the worn state of the leg garment 1, the longitudinal seam 5 connecting the basic knitted fabric part is arranged outside the sole of the foot 6, at least in a heel area. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the seam 5 runs medially on the inner side 7 of the foot of a wearer of the leg garment 1, thus on the inner side in the midfoot area 24, the heel area as well as the ankle area 22. The sole of the foot 6 thus does not have a seam connection which is disturbing for the wearer of the leg garment 1.

(11) According to this and the following exemplary embodiments, the basic knitted fabric part 3 itself is formed as a single-layer or multi-layer flat-knitted fabric. Preferably, the basic knitted fabric part 3 is formed by a right-right weave consisting of an RR knitting thread (right-right knitting thread) and an inserted weft thread, or by a half tubular weave consisting of an RR knitting thread, an RL knitting thread (right-left knitting thread) and the inserted weft thread.

(12) According to this and the following exemplary embodiments, the longitudinal seam 5, in turn, preferably has a seam tape for improved seam durability or seam strength. This is a tape-shaped textile element which is sewn together with the two knitted fabric edges of the flat-knitted fabric. Alternatively, the longitudinal seam 5 can also be formed simply as an overlapping or butt-to-butt joint.

(13) According to a preferred exemplary embodiment, the leg garment 1 is a compressive sock whose generated compressive pressures in an ankle area 22 are preferably between 10 and 60 mmHg, and in a midfoot area 24 are preferably between 10 and 50 mmHg. The basic knitted fabric 3 flat-knitted on a flat knitting machine has one or more weft threads inserted in a plurality of courses of basic knit stitches. The compressive values are measured by means of the measuring method and measuring device presented at the beginning, in particular by means of testing on the HOSY measuring device (Institut Hohenstein).

(14) FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the flat-knitted leg garment 1, which is formed as a stocking, in particular as a calf stocking. The stocking comprises a preferably compressive basic knitted fabric part 3 forming a foot part 2 and a lower leg part 12. In addition, the leg garment 1, preferably the basic knitted fabric part 3, has a toe part 10, the toe part 10 being sewn together by means of a transverse seam 11 to form a closed foot tip. The foot tip formed in this manner can thus be sewn to the basic knitted fabric part 3 or knitted integrally therewith. At the opposite end of the stocking 1, an adhesive portion 33 in the form of a preferably two-layer waistband or an adhesive band is knitted or sewn to the basic knitted fabric part 3. This serves to prevent the stocking from slipping on the wearer's leg.

(15) According to this exemplary embodiment, the longitudinal seam 5 connecting the flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part 3 runs in the basic knitted fabric part 3 due to the special arrangement of the first functional zone 4, namely the heel, and due to the formation of the basic knitted fabric part 3 itself, runs in the midfoot area 24, the ankle area 22, as well as in the calf area 23 medially on the inner side 7 of the foot and leg of a wearer of the leg garment 1. The side of the leg garment 1 facing the sole of the foot 6 of a wearer is thus free of an interfering seam connection. The calf area 23 also does not have an interfering seam connection.

(16) Preferably, the calf stocking shown is formed as a compressive leg garment 1. Here, the compressive pressures in the ankle area 22 are preferably between 10 and 60 mmHg, and in the calf area between 5 and 50 mmHg. The compressive strength preferably decreases here from the lower end in the direction of the calf muscles. Alternatively, an increasing pressure curve is also possible.

(17) FIG. 3 shows a third exemplary embodiment of leg garment 1, which is also formed as a stocking, in particular as a calf stocking, as shown in FIG. 2. The stocking 1 also includes a lower leg part 12 and a toe part 10 in addition to a foot part 2. According to this exemplary embodiment, the toe part 10 is preferably sewn to the basic knitted fabric part 3 by means of a seam connection 39. The adhesive portion 33 is also provided. However, the calf stocking differs here in particular in that the functional zone 4 of FIG. 2, namely the preferably knitted-in heel, is incorporated into the basic knitted fabric part 3 or into the foot part 2 in such a manner that in the worn state of the leg garment 1, the longitudinal seam 5 extends in a midfoot area 24 over the upper side of the foot 9 and in an ankle area 22 as well as a calf area 23 over the front side 25 of the leg garment 1, in particular along the shinbone of a wearer. The longitudinal seam 5 meets the seam connection 39 on the upper side of the foot 9. As a result it is possible that the seam 5 as well as the seam 39 can be formed as a single seam, in particular a continuous seam. The sole of the foot 6 is thus free of seams in a rear heel area, which results in significantly improved wearing comfort.

(18) The toe part 10, in particular the formed foot tip, can also have other shapes in addition to the closed variant shown, for example an open tip or a plurality of tubular knitted fabric parts, one for each individual toe. In this case, the open or closed foot tips preferably have different pressure profiles, which are selectively combined with the pressure profiles of the foot and lower leg parts 2, 12, preferably according to the several compression classes 1 to 4 according to RAL-GZ 387.

(19) FIG. 4 shows a leg garment 1, which is formed as a thigh stocking. The thigh stocking 1 consists of a foot part 2, a lower leg part 12 and a thigh part 13, which are made from a basic knitted fabric part 3, preferably a single basic knitted fabric part 3, flat-knitted over a plurality of stitch courses. Moreover, the foot part 2 has a preferably knitted-on toe part 10. In this exemplary embodiment, an adhesive band 33 is knitted on the upper end of the thigh stocking 1 so that a secure hold of the leg garment 1, in particular on the thigh, is ensured.

(20) According to this exemplary embodiment, the longitudinal seam 5 connecting the flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part 3 extends in the basic knitted fabric part 3 due to the specific arrangement of the first functional zone 4, and, due to the formation of the basic knitted fabric part 3 itself, extends in the midfoot region 24, the ankle region 22, the calf region 23, as well as the thigh region 40 laterally on the outer side 8 of the foot and leg of a wearer of the leg garment 1. Moreover, the seam 5 extends into the toe part 10 and closes the tip of the preferably knitted-on foot tip. The flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part 3 is thus sewn together by a single and, in particular, continuous seam connection to form a closed tubular knitted fabric, which results in significant time and thus cost savings. Multiple seam connections to be made manually are no longer necessary. In addition to the significantly improved wearing comfort, in particular due to the fact that the sole of the foot 6 as well as the hollow of the knee 34 are free of a disturbing seam connection due to the lateral arrangement of the seam 5, the exemplary embodiment shown thus implies the advantage of a time- and cost-saving manufacturing option.

(21) Particularly preferably, according to this exemplary embodiment, the basic knitted fabric part 3 is formed in such a manner that the seam 5 running along the side of the thigh stocking 1 runs in particular around a sensitive ankle zone 16 of a wearer of the leg garment 1, that is, does not cross it. This is done in that the knitted fabric edges of the flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part 3 situated opposite each other and extending between a knitted fabric beginning and a knitted fabric end are asymmetrical to one another, which will be explained in more detail later in FIG. 7.

(22) Finally, FIG. 5 shows a leg garment 1 in the form of a pantyhose with an upper waistband 33. The pantyhose 1 consist of a flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part 3, which has a foot part 2, which in turn has a first functional zone 4 in the form of a heel and a toe part 10, a lower leg part 12, a thigh part 13 and an abdominal part 14. The flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part 3 is sewn together by means of a longitudinal seam 5 to form a tubular knitted fabric. The longitudinal seam 5 connecting the flat-knitted basic fabric part 3 runs in a midfoot area 24, an ankle area 22, a calf area 23 and a thigh area 40 laterally on the outer side 8 of the foot and the leg of a wearer of the leg garment 1. Also, in the abdominal part 14, which is preferably sewn to the thigh part 13 by means of a transverse seam 41, the seam 5 is arranged on the outer side 15 of the pelvis. Thus, neither in the area of the sole of the foot 6, the hollow of the knee 34 nor in a buttock area does the preferably compressive and flat-knitted leg garment 1 have a seam connection which is disturbing for the wearer of the leg garment 3 and worsens the wearing comfort.

(23) FIG. 6 now shows in a schematic illustration the knitting sequence of the flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part 3 as used to form the leg garment 1 shown in FIG. 1. The flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part 3, in particular the foot part 2, is formed by means of at least one basic knitting thread, preferably by means of a plurality of basic knitting threads which is/are knitted in a stitch-forming manner over a plurality of knitting rows from left to right and/or from right to left in the longitudinal direction 21 of the knitted fabric. The basic knitted fabric part 3 knitted on a flat knitting machine thus forms a flat-knitted fabric which has a lower knitted fabric beginning 17, an upper knitted fabric end 18 and knitted fabric edges 19 and 20 on the left and right respectively. Preferably, at least one elastic weft thread is inserted into the basic knitted fabric part 3, preferably in each or every n-th stitch course, in order to provide the basic knitted fabric part 3 with compressive properties.

(24) In order for the longitudinal seam connecting the basic knitted fabric part 3, in particular the knitted edges 19 and 20, to be now arranged at least in a heel region outside the sole of the foot when the leg garment 1 is worn, the first functional zone 4, which is formed to accommodate a heel of a foot, is arranged substantially, thus preferably over its entire width, between the knitted fabric edges 19 and 20. The functional zone 4, at least that area of the zone 4 which in the worn state is arranged in the lower heel areathat is, that area of the heel which is associated with the sole of the footis therefore not divided by the knitted fabric edges 19 or 20. This would have the consequence that the seam runs through the functional zone 4, in particular through the heel area which is associated with the sole of the foot, which is precisely what is to be avoided according to the invention.

(25) According to the exemplary embodiment shown, the first functional zone 4 for accommodating the heel is now formed by a plurality of, preferably three, gussets 26, 27 and 28. A gusset is a substantially trapezoidal knitted fabric portion extending over multiple stitch courses. Here, the number of stitches formed decreases or increases stich course by stitch course. This results in partial stich courses of different lengths. This ultimately results in a corresponding geometrically defined portion, in particular due to the formation of several successive gussets.

(26) As can be seen in FIG. 6, the gussets 26, 27 and 28 are arranged in their entirety, thus over their entire width, between the knitted fabric edges 19 and 20. That is, the multiple gussets are not divided by the knitted fabric edges 19 and 20. Thus, with respect to a stitch course in the area of the gussets, there is only one partial stitch course, thus no second partial course separated and spaced apart from the first one, within a same stitch course. Gusset beginning and gusset end are therefore situated between the knitted fabric edges 19 and 20. Depending on where the seam is to be positioned on the foot of the wearer in the worn state of the basic knitted fabric part 3, the gussets 26, 27 and 28 are knitted into the basic knitted fabric part 3 at different distances from the knitted fabric edges 19 and 20. In the example shown, the gussets 26, 27 and 28 are arranged much closer to the left knitted fabric edge 19, which, in the worn state, results in the seam of the leg garment 1 coming to lie on the side of the foot of a wearer. For example, if the gussets are knitted centrally into the basic knitted fabric part 3, the seam will come to lie on the upper side of the foot. However, the seam is in any case arranged outside the sole of the foot of a wearer.

(27) FIG. 7 now shows a schematic illustration of the knitting process of the flat-knitted basic fabric part of the leg garment 1, in particular a section thereof, namely the foot part 2, as shown in FIG. 4. According to this exemplary embodiment, the flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part 3 with the lower knitted fabric beginning 17, the upper knitted fabric end 18 as well as the left and right knitted fabric edges 19 and 20 has several incorporated functions 4, 29, 30, 31.

(28) As explained in FIG. 7, the first functional zone 4 forms a heel and is also formed here by three gussets 26, 27, 28 that are incorporated into the basic knitted fabric part 3. In front of the first functional zone 4, a second functional zone 31 formed by a further gusset 38 is knitted into the basic knitted fabric part 3. This gusset 38 too is knitted into the basic knitted fabric part 3 over the entire width of the gusset, preferably between the two knitted fabric edges 19 and 20. This serves to form an angular forefoot area. The latter is formed by the gusset 38 arranged centrally in the knitted fabric and the gussets 26, 27 and 28 of the heel arranged offset thereto in the basic knitted fabric part 3. Furthermore, a third and fourth functional zone 29, 30 are knitted in immediately before and after the first functional zone 4. These zones are also formed by gussets 32 and 35 as well as 36 and 37. These two zones serve to reduce the number of stitches in the midfoot area, in particular in the area of the instep, so that in the worn state, there is less to no formation of wrinkles caused by the basic knitted fabric part 3.

(29) The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described, but rather comprises all embodiments that apply or include the analogical basic functional principle of the invention. Furthermore, all features of all described and illustrated exemplary embodiments can be combined with each other.