SINGLE-LEG TIGHT

Abstract

A tight including a leg section configured to cover a first one of a user's legs, and a waist section configured to cover the user's waist, the waist section comprising an engaged side connected to the leg section, and a disengaged side configured to admit a second one of the user's legs therethrough, and an opening disposed in a crotch region, the opening comprising a first portion disposed in the waist section.

Claims

1. A tight, comprising: a leg section configured to cover a first one of a user's legs; a waist section configured to cover the user's waist, the waist section comprising an engaged side connected to the leg section, and a disengaged side configured to admit a second one of the user's legs therethrough; and an opening disposed in a crotch region, the opening comprising a first portion disposed in the waist section.

2. The tight of claim 1, wherein the opening further comprises a second portion disposed in the leg section.

3. The tight of claim 1, wherein the waist section is further configured to cover the user's hip on the engaged side.

4. The tight of claim 1, wherein the leg section is further configured to cover the user's hip on the engaged side.

5. The tight of claim 1, wherein the tight is configured to fit either of the user's legs.

6. The tight of claim 1, wherein the leg section is joined to the waist section at an angle.

7. The tight of claim 1, wherein the waist section extends as far down the user's leg as the opening.

8. The tight of claim 1, wherein the waist section is integrated with the leg section to be made of the same material.

9. The tight of claim 1, further comprising a border between the waist section and the leg section.

10. The tight of claim 1, wherein the waist section is configured to compress the user's body to a greater degree than the leg section.

11. The tight of claim 10, wherein the waist section comprises a more substantial material than the leg section, the more substantial material applying a greater degree of compression to the user's body than the leg section.

12. The tight of claim 11, wherein the waist section comprises the more substantial material in a waistband portion of the waist section and around the opening disposed at the crotch region.

13. The tight of claim 1, further comprising a waistband disposed at a top of the waist section, the waistband being configured to exert a greater degree of compression on the user than the waist section.

14. The tight of claim 1, wherein the waist section narrows in width from a top of the tight towards the leg section.

15. A method of fabricating a tight, the method comprising: forming a leg section configured to cover a first one of a user's legs; forming a waist section configured to cover the user's waist, the waist section comprising an engaged side connected to the leg section, and a disengaged side being configured to admit a second one of the user's legs therethrough; and forming an opening in a crotch region, the opening comprising a first portion disposed in the waist section.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein forming the leg section comprises forming a toe structure configured to cover a user's toes, a calf structure configured to cover a user's calf, a thigh structure configured to cover a user's thigh, and a top structure configured to reinforce the leg section, wherein the toe structure, calf structure, thigh structure, and top structure are formed in order.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein forming the waist section comprises forming an open waist section and a waistband in order, the open waist section having a variable width across its height and further including the opening in the crotch region.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising forming a closed waist section after forming the open waist section and before forming the waistband, the closed waist section having a uniform width across its height.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising forming the leg section and the waist section from one or more preselected yarns; and adjusting dimensions of the leg section and the waist section according to the one or more preselected yarns.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer-readable codes to perform the method of claim 15.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] These and/or other features and utilities of the present general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

[0032] FIG. 1A illustrates a single-leg tight according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

[0033] FIG. 1B illustrates two single-leg tights used in conjunction according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

[0034] FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate designs of a single-leg tight, singly and in conjunction with each other to cover two legs, according to other exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept;

[0035] FIG. 3A illustrates a pair of single-leg tights according to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

[0036] FIG. 3B illustrates a pair of single-leg tights used in conjunction according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

[0037] FIG. 4A illustrates a detail view of a single-leg tight with a regular rise construction according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

[0038] FIG. 4B illustrates a detail view of a single-leg tight with a high-rise construction according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

[0039] FIG. 4C illustrates a detail view of a single-leg tight with a low-rise construction according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept; and

[0040] FIG. 4D illustrates a detail view of a single-leg tight with a regular-rise construction and a footless design according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTIVE CONCEPT

[0041] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present general inventive concept while referring to the figures. Also, while describing the present general inventive concept, detailed descriptions about related well-known functions or configurations that may diminish the clarity of the points of the present general inventive concept are omitted.

[0042] Expressions such as at least one of, when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire list of elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list.

[0043] All terms including descriptive or technical terms which are used herein should be construed as having meanings that are obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art. However, certain terms may have different meanings according to an intention of one of ordinary skill in the art, case precedents, or the appearance of new technologies. Also, some terms may be arbitrarily selected by the applicant, and in this case, the meaning of the selected terms will be described in detail in the detailed description of the invention. Thus, the terms used herein have to be defined based on the meaning of the terms together with the description throughout the specification.

[0044] Also, when a part includes or comprises an element, unless there is a particular description contrary thereto, the part can further include other elements, not excluding the other elements.

[0045] Hereinafter, one or more exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept will be described in detail with reference to accompanying drawings.

[0046] FIG. 1A illustrates a single-leg tight 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept. As illustrated therein, the tight 10 may include a leg section 100 and a waist section 200 which may be made of one or more preselected materials, for example one or more yarns which are stitched into the desired shapes. The leg section 100 may cover at least part of a user's first leg when worn, while leaving their second leg uncovered. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the leg section 100 may extend from a user's foot to partially or completely up their thigh. According to different exemplary embodiments, the leg section 100 may extend up to the user's hip, as illustrated for example in FIG. 1A. The waist section 200 may be attached to the leg section 100, and may include a waistband 210 which goes around the user's waist when the tight 10 is worn. The waistband 210 may be a separate structure, or may be integrated with the waist portion 200 and form an upper edge thereof, according to different exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept.

[0047] The leg section 100 may have any dimensions suitable to cover a desired portion of a user's leg between the foot and the hip. Similarly, the waist section 200 may have any dimensions suitable to encircle a user's body, for example their waist, and extend down the user's body to connect to the leg section 100. Different tights 10 may have different dimensions for either or both of the leg section 100 and the waist section 200, to accommodate users with differently-sized bodies. The tight 10 may be sized to fit snugly around the user's leg and waist, for example with compression. According to some exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the waist section 200 may extend above the user's waist to encircle part of the user's abdomen. According to other exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the waist section 200 may end below the user's waist, to encircle, e.g., the user's hips. Regardless of the dimensions of the waist section 200, the tight 10 may be configured to fit snugly onto the user's body to stay in place during regular use.

[0048] The leg section 100 may be shaped to match the contours of a human user's leg and foot, similar to a tube sock. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, a foot portion of the leg section 100 may have no distinct heel section for a user's foot, and may further have no distinct toes, similar to a sock. According to other exemplary embodiments the leg section 100 may have defined heel and/or toes to accommodate the shape of the human user's foot. The shape of the leg section 100 may be created through increases and decreases of compression, stitches, needle sizes, and the like. For example, by changing the number, width, or type of stitches, the shape of the tight 10 may be controlled. Exemplary embodiments of a tight 10 including these different stitches are provided below with reference to FIGS. 4A-4D. Furthermore, by controlling the type of yarn or material used, as well as the type, size, tightness, and number of stitches used, different parts of the tight 10 may be formed with different elastic qualities, resulting in different compression, sheerness, and comfort levels, as will be described in greater detail below.

[0049] The leg section 100 may be made of material which may be pulled taut over the user's leg when worn to form a smooth surface free of wrinkles or folds, and remain taut on the user's body without sagging or bunching up as the user moves. The material itself may be resilient and have elastic qualities, meaning it may stretch around the user's body when worn, and shrink to a smaller size than the user's body when it is not being worn. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept the leg section 100 may include one or more of polyamide (e.g., Nylon), elastane (e.g., Lycra or spandex), and polyethylene. According to other exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept the leg section 100 may be made of a jersey material. Alternatively, or in addition, the material of the leg section 100 may be made with a construction technique that imparts elastic qualities, for example knit stitches including but not limited to jersey, rib, and interlock stitches. For the purposes of this application, stitches such as jersey, rib, and interlock may refer to a material or textile structure created by the identified pattern of stitching. A single garment, for example tight 10, may include multiple textile structures made of different stitches. A jersey textile structure may be made of knit stitches. A rib textile structure may be made of knit and purl stitches, varying by the pattern, for example 11, 22, and 31, describing the ratio of knit to purl stitches. An interlock textile structure may include knit and purl stitches in such a way that the stitches are opposite each other, effectively interlocking rows of stitches together.

[0050] Due to the elastic qualities from either the type of material or the construction, the leg section 100 may stretch around the user's body when being put on, and subsequently may apply compression to the user's body while being worn, by virtue of the leg section trying to resume a smaller size. This compression may help hold the tight 10 in place on the user's body.

[0051] According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the material of the leg section 100 may be made in any desired opacity, color, or pattern, for example to match different skin tones or provide a desired appearance. For example the material of the leg section 100 may be a continuous unbroken surface, or may be made in a pattern including holes such as fishnet or lace. The material of the leg section 100 may be any desired denier, a term used to denote the thickness of individual threads or filaments in a fabric or textile structure. Higher-denier materials tend to be stronger and more durable, while lower-denier materials tend to be softer and smoother. The material of the leg section 100 may be relatively more delicate than that of the waist section 200. The material of the leg section 100 may also be more stretchy, meaning it is less resistant to stretching, than the waist section 200, such that the leg section 100 may more readily stretch around and conform to the shape of the user's leg. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the material of the leg section 100 may be selected to provide a more comfortable feel on the user's leg than the material of the waist section 200, for example by using a lower denier material.

[0052] Similar to the leg section 100, the waist section 200 may also be made in any desired opacity, color, pattern, or denier. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the waist section 200 may include the waistband 210, an engaged side 220, and a disengaged side 230. The engaged side 220 may be attached to or formed with the leg section 100, such that the waist section 200 may support the leg section 100 on the user's body. The disengaged side 230 may be configured to admit the user's other leg therethrough, for example by being open on the bottom. In this context, the user's other leg refers to the user's second leg, i.e., the leg not in the leg section 100.

[0053] The waist section 200 may include the upper edge or waistband 210 of the waist section 200, and may encircle a user's waist or abdomen, as illustrated for example in FIG. 1A. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, illustrated for example in FIGS. 2A-2D, the waist section 200 may also completely or partially cover other parts of the user's body, including for example the user's pelvic region, as well as the buttock and/or hip area of the covered leg.

[0054] According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the disengaged side 230 of the waist section 200 may extend as far down the user's body as the engaged side 220, or alternatively the disengaged side 230 of the waist section 200 may cover more or less of the user's body than the engaged side 220. As illustrated for example in FIGS. 2B and 2D, the disengaged side 230 of the waist section 200 may extend down to the user's hip, while the engaged side 220 may extend past the hip and further down the user's leg. FIGS. 1A and 2C illustrate exemplary embodiments where the waist section 200 is symmetrical, i.e., it may cover as much of the user's body on the disengaged side 230 as it does on the engaged side 220.

[0055] Similarly to the leg section 100, the waist section 200 may be made of a material with elastic qualities, including for example one or more of polyamide (e.g., Nylon), elastane (e.g., Lycra or spandex), and polyethylene. The waist section 200 may also be made with a construction technique such as knitting which imparts elastic qualities. For example, the waist section 200 may include stitches including but not limited to jersey, rib, and interlock stitches to create the desired degree of elasticity. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the waist section 200 may be made of a stronger or more substantial material than the leg section 100, meaning it may be more resistant to stretching, slipping down, tearing, or the like, and may apply a higher degree of compression to the user's body than the material of the leg section 100. This higher degree of compression may keep the waist section 200, as well as the leg section 100 attached thereto, in place on the user's body. The degree of compression applied by the waist section 200 may be greater than a compression applied to the user's body by the leg section 100, without being too tight or uncomfortable on the user, and may provide support to keep the tight 10 in place on the user's body. Furthermore, the higher degree of compression may keep the edges of waist section 200 flat against the user's body, without rolling or curling up. Alternatively, or in addition to the higher compression, the edges of the waist section 200 may be finished or reinforced to prevent rolling, curling, fraying, or unraveling. This finishing or reinforcement may include different or additional stitches from the rest of the tight 10, for example selvage stitches, flat-knit stitches, or double-knit stitches, including for example rib stitch, garter stitch, moss stitch, seed stitch, or double stockinette stitch. The finishing or reinforcement may also include what is called bind-off knitting, in which the yarn is knit through all open loops at an edge to close them. It will be understood that these are non-limiting examples, and that other stitches may be used without departing from the present general inventive concept.

[0056] The material of the waist section 200 may be made more substantial by enhancing at least one of its strength, tightness, thickness, flatness, and/or durability relative to the leg section 100. A more substantial material, such as the material of the waist section 200, may be thicker than that of the leg section 100, or may be the same thickness as the leg section 100, but use a stronger construction technique, for example with a tighter-gauge knit (e.g., a double-knit such as interlock or rib knit), ribbing, more threads, or the like. It will be understood that the knits and other techniques of strengthening the material mentioned here are only examples, and that other exemplary embodiments may include other structures or knits which strengthen the material without departing from the present general inventive concept. According to some exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the material of the waist section 200 may be the same material as the leg section 100, but made thicker or more substantial with, e.g., extra layers or plys of the material, denser construction, etc. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept, the leg section 100 may be made from a single ply of material, such as jersey material, and the waist section 200 may be made from two or more plys of the same material layered on top of one another. According to other exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, described below with reference to FIGS. 4A-4D, different portions of the leg section 100 or waist section 200 may use varying numbers of plys or different materials.

[0057] As illustrated in FIGS. 2A-2D, according to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept the entire waist section 200 may be made of the more substantial material. According to other exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept the waist section 200 may be only partially made of the more substantial material.

[0058] The waist section 200 may be configured to secure the tight 10 to the user's waist or abdomen, such that the tight 10 may stay in place on the user's body, without moving around or needing to be readjusted with regular use. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the waist section 200 of regular rise may start at the user's waist or just above their hips. According to other exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the waist section 200 may be high waisted or high rise, meaning it may start significantly above the user's hips, for example above their navel. According to other exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the waist section 200 may be low rise, meaning it may start below the user's waist, for example around their hips.

[0059] According to other exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the rise of the tight 10 may not refer to the position of the waistband 210 when worn. Instead the rise may refer to how much the waist portion 200 covers the user's hips on the disengaged side 230. A high rise tight 10 may include a waist portion 200 which exposes a relatively large amount of the user's hip on the disengaged side 230, while the waist portion 200 of a low rise tight 10 may cover relatively more of the user's hip of the disengaged side 230. A waist portion 200 of a regular rise tight 10 may cover something between the high and low rises on the disengaged side 230.

[0060] The waistband 210 may traverse across the user's abdomen to secure the waist section 200 to the user's body. The waistband 210 may include an upper edge of the waist section 200, and may be integrated into the waist section 200, i.e., the waistband 210 may be a part of the waist section 200 and made of the same material as the rest of the waist section 200. Examples of such embodiments are illustrated in FIGS. 2C-2D, in which the waistband 210 is not a distinct component, but instead just the upper edge of the waist section 200. In such exemplary embodiments the waistband 210 may be defined by, e.g., different stitches or different thickness from the rest of the waist section 200 to give the desired tightness, strength, and level of elasticity. Alternatively, according to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the waistband 210 may be a separate component, as illustrated for example in FIGS. 1A and 2A-2B. It will be understood that these are provided only as examples, and that any exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept may include or omit a separate waistband 210.

[0061] The waistband 210 may be configured to apply a greater degree of compression to the user's body than the rest of the tight 10, for example by being made smaller than a size of an intended wearer, and/or by being made of a more substantial material than the rest of the waist section 200. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the waistband 210 may be made of a different material than the waist section 200, or alternatively may be made of the same material as the waist section 200, but made more substantial, for example made thicker or denser than the rest of the waist section 200 through adding extra plys or using different stitches, as described above.

[0062] According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the tight 10 may be made for a specific body size or shape, similar to many garments that come in different sizes. According to exemplary embodiments, some or all of the tight 10 may be made smaller than the intended body size or body shape. As a result, the tight 10 may apply increased compression on the user's body, since the tight 10 will be stretched to a larger size when worn. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the waistband 210, the waist section 200, and/or the leg section 100 may be made smaller than the intended body size or shape in this manner. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, part or all of the tight 10, for example the leg section 100, may be made as a compression tight or support tight, which may improve circulation in a user's body by applying graduated compression to the user's muscles.

[0063] According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the tight 10 may further include an opening 300 at the user's intimate area or crotch region, corresponding to the lower part of their pelvic region between their legs. The opening 300 may extend across the disengaged side 230 to allow the user's other leg, i.e., the leg not in the leg section 100, to pass through the waist section 200. The opening 300 may be located solely in the waist section 200, or alternatively may include both part of the waist section 200 and part of the leg section 100, for example exposing part of a user's inner thigh. In the exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept illustrated in FIG. 1A, the opening 300 may be divided into a first portion 310 corresponding to the part of opening 300 that is located in the waist section 200, and a second portion 320 corresponding to the part of opening 300 that is located in the leg section 100. It will be understood that the size of the opening 300, as well as the sizes of first and second portions 310 and 320, may vary depending on the exemplary embodiment. According to some exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the opening 300 may be entirely disposed in the waist section 200, i.e., there may be no second portion 320. Exemplary embodiments of this are shown in FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2D, in which the opening 300 only includes the first portion 310. It will be understood that the drawings only show exemplary embodiments of the first portion 310 and second portion 320, and are not meant to be limiting.

[0064] The opening 300 may have a size and shape to allow a user to use the restroom without removing the tight 10. As such, the tight 10 may experience less wear and tear from normal use, and furthermore there may be less risk of soiling the tight 10. Still further, the opening 300 may allow breathability of the user's crotch region, which may reduce the incidence of yeast infections.

[0065] Edges of the tight 10, for example the waistband 210 and the border of the opening 300, may be finished or made more substantial so that the edges of the tight 10 may lay flat on the user's body without curling. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the waistband 210 and the edge of the opening 300 may be finished, reinforced, and/or made more substantial than the rest of the tight 10 with any of the techniques described above, for example by using different stitches or a tighter-gauge knit (e.g., double-knit like interlock or rib knit), fine ribbing, or more threads. This reinforcement may extend a predetermined amount past the opening 300. For example, the reinforcement may extend by a predetermined amount down the leg section 100, as illustrated in FIGS. 2B, 3A, and 3B. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the edge of the opening 300 may be more substantial than the leg section 100 but not as substantial as the waist section 200. According to other exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the edge of the opening 300 may be the same material as the waist section 200, and having the same thickness and strength as the rest of the waist section 200. According to other exemplary embodiments, only part of the edge of the opening 300 may be made of the same material as the waist section 200. For example, if the opening 300 extends over part of the waist section 200 and part of the leg section 100, first portion 310 may be made of the material of the waist section 200, and second portion 320 may be made of the same material as the leg section 100. The edges of either or both of portions 310 and 320 may be reinforced or finished, for example with stitching, to be thicker or otherwise more substantial than the leg section 100 or waist section 200. If the edge of the opening 300 is reinforced in this way, the edge may lie flat against the user's body when the tight 10 is worn.

[0066] According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the edge of the opening 300 may have elastic qualities, meaning it may stretch and expand in size to stretch around the user's body when the tight 10 is put on, after which the elasticity may hold the opening 300 in its shape and provide compression to the user's body. As such, the opening 300 may maintain its shape while the tight 10 is being worn, so that the tight 10 may stay in place on the user's leg.

[0067] According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the tight 10 may also be made reversible, i.e., the leg section 100 and waist section 200 may be shaped such that the tight 10 can fit on either of the user's legs. For example, the portion of the leg section 100 that covers a user's foot may be made similar to a tube sock, i.e., lack a defined heel portion, such that it can be worn on either foot. Furthermore, the opening 300 may have a shape such that it is identical on front and back sides of the tight 10, thereby allowing the tight 10 to be worn on either of the user's legs while leaving the user's crotch region exposed through opening 300.

[0068] In practice, a user may put the tight 10 on by first holding the waistband 210 and aligning the tight 10 with their body, i.e., they line up the engaged side 220 and leg section 100 with the leg they want to wear the tight 10 on. The disengaged side 230 may be pointing to the opposite side of the user's body, i.e., pointing at the leg not intended to go in the leg section 100. The user may gather the leg section 100 from the top of the waist section 200 down to the toe, then place their toes into the gathered toe area and pull the leg section 100 up over their heel and then up the rest of their leg. The user may fit both of their own legs through the waist section 200 so that one leg goes through the engaged side 220 and the other leg goes through the disengaged side 230. The user may pull the waist section 200 up so that the top edge or waistband 210 sits around their abdomen, for example around their waist. The user may ensure the tight 10 sits smoothly on their body, that no part of the tight 10 is twisted, and that the waistband 210 is secure around their waist.

[0069] If the user wishes to wear a tight 10 on each leg, for example as illustrated in FIG. 1B, then after fitting their first leg into a first tight 10a as per the above process, the user may repeat the process with a second tight 10b for their second leg. Tight 10b may be identical in construction to tight 10a, but with engaged side 220, disengaged side 230, and leg section 100 reversed, i.e., located on opposite sides from those of tight 10a. If the tight 10 is reversible, then second tight 10b may be identical to tight 10a, but physically turned around such that the engaged side 220 lines up with the user's other leg. To put tight 10b on over tight 10a, the user may fit both legs through the waist section 200 of the second tight 10b, and may then overlap the waist section 200 of the second tight 10b with that of the first tight 10a. Visually, the two tights 10a, 10b may appear to be a single crotchless two-legged tight, since the waist sections 200 are layered on top of each other on the user's body. Layered waist sections 200 may apply more compression to the user's body than a single tight 10 would, providing more support to both tights 10 when both are worn at the same time. The additional compression may also create a slimming effect on the user's body. It will also be understood that tights 10a and 10b can be put on in reverse order, i.e., a user may put on tight 10b first, and then put tight 10a on over tight 10b, similarly to the process described above.

[0070] When a single tight 10 is worn it may define an inverted L-shape, with the tight 10 covering an outer surface of the user's leg, and the waist section 200 extending approximately perpendicular from the leg section 100 when the user stands up straight. An example of this inverted L-shape is illustrated in FIG. 1A. If the user wears a tight 10 on each leg, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, the two tights 10a, 10b may form an inverted U-shape, going across the user's waist/midsection and down each leg.

[0071] The exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B include a leg section 100 that extends to cover the user's hip on the engaged side 220, providing maximum size for the attractive sheer leg section 100 while still supporting the tight 10 at the waist section 200. However, exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept are not limited only to this configuration. FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate designs of a single-leg tight 10, singly and as pairs to cover two legs, according to other exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept. As illustrated therein, the waist section 200 may have different configurations according to different exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept. In FIGS. 2A-2D, the tights 10a, 10b are illustrated being worn with tight 10a under tight 10b, similarly to what was described above with regard to FIGS. 1A-1B. Dashed lines indicate the border of waist section 200 of tight 10a, which is worn under tight 10b in the exemplary embodiment illustrated.

[0072] FIG. 2A illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a tight 10 in which the waist section 200 goes around the user's waist and extends past their hip joint to cover their hip on the engaged side 220. Since the waist section 200 is larger relative to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1B, the configuration illustrated in FIG. 2A may offer relatively more support, securing the tight 10 more strongly to the user's body with the enlarged waist section 200, helping to prevent the tight 10 from moving on the user's body when the user moves. The enlarged waist section 200 may also provide a slimming effect on the user, for example if the waist section 200 is made of relatively more substantial material that applies a greater degree of compression to the user's body than the leg section 100. The exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2A may furthermore still include an opening 300 which may be similar in size to the opening 300 of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1A-1B.

[0073] According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the tight 10 may include a border 240, which may form a transition region between the leg section 100 and the waist section 200. In some exemplary embodiments the border 240 may be relatively small. In other exemplary embodiments the border 240 may be enlarged to reinforce the connection between the waist section 200 and leg section 100 and to provide a desired visual appearance. FIG. 2A illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept including a waist section 200 which includes an enlarged border 240 with the leg section 100. The border 240 may be connected to the leg section 100, and may include ribbing or other stitches to serve as a transition between the material of the leg section 100 and the material of the waist section 200. In other exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the border 240 may be omitted and the leg section 100 may be directly connected to the waist section 200. The border 240 may also be omitted if the leg section 100 is integrated with the waist section 200, as described below with reference to FIGS. 3A-3B. The border 240 may also include part of the opening 300, for example if the opening 300 extends between the waist section 200 and leg section 100.

[0074] FIG. 2B illustrates another exemplary embodiment which includes a relatively smaller opening 300 than that of FIG. 2A. The smaller opening 300 may allow the waist section 200 more coverage on the user's body, which may thereby provide a slimming effect and further increased support for the tight 10, beyond that offered by the exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 2A. FIG. 2B also illustrates an opening 300 with the edge reinforced using any of the methods described above, for example adding extra plys, different stitches, etc. As shown therein the reinforcement, illustrated as a thicker line, may extend a predetermined distance down the user's leg, and may include part of the border 240.

[0075] FIG. 2C illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept with a waist section 200 that does not extend as far down the user's body as in FIGS. 2A and 2B, but extends further than illustrated in FIG. 1A. More specifically, FIG. 2C illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept in which the waist section 200 extends as far down the user's body as the opening 300. As a result, exemplary embodiment of tight 10 illustrated in FIG. 2C may include less curves than other exemplary embodiments, and so may use different manufacturing methods than other exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, for example the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The enlarged waist section 200 illustrated in FIG. 2C may still provide more compression and support than the waist section 200 of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1A. There is no dashed line illustrated because the border of the waist section 200 overlaps with the leg section 100, but it will be understood that when two tights 10a and 10b of this embodiment are worn together one will be worn under the other, as described above.

[0076] FIG. 2D illustrates another exemplary embodiment of a tight 10 with a waist area 200 that extends partially past a user's hips. As illustrated in FIG. 2D, according to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept the waist section 200 and the leg section 100 may be joined at an angle, such that they may overlap on the user's leg. By angling the leg section 100 and the waist section 200 in this manner, a user may gain the extra support of an enlarged waist area 200 while still keeping the leg area 100 as large as possible, thereby maximizing the desired appearance and more comfortable feel on the user's body from the material of the leg area 100.

[0077] FIG. 3A illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept where the leg section 100 and the waist section 200 are integrated, such that they are made of the same material, at the same strength and thickness. In this exemplary embodiment the waist section 200 and leg section 100 may not be distinct parts, but instead may make up the same component of the tight 10. For similar reasons, only opening 300 is illustrated in FIG. 3A, without being divided into first and second portions 310, 320. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept, the waist section 200 and leg section 100 may both be made of the relatively more delicate material of the leg section 100.

[0078] In the exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept illustrated in FIG. 3A, the waistband 210 and the edge of the opening 300 may be reinforced or finished, i.e., made more substantial and/or including additional or different stitching, such that they apply more compression to the user's body than the rest of the tight 10, and/or lay flat against the user's body. According to exemplary embodiments, most of the tight 10 may be made of a lighter, thinner material, for example a single ply of material, while the waistband 210 and the edge of the opening 300 may be reinforced, for example by using a more substantial material. According to other exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the waistband 210 and edge of the opening 300 may be made of the same material as the rest of the tight 10, but may be made more substantial with any of the techniques described above, for example with denser construction such as a tighter knit, different stitches, or adding additional plys of material. Furthermore, the shape of the tight 10 and the opening 300 may vary according to the particular exemplary embodiment. For example, the waist section 200 may be made in different configurations, similar to the different shapes of waist section 200 shown in FIGS. 1A and 2A-2D, while still being made primarily out of the relatively more delicate material of the leg section 100. The tights 10a, 10b illustrated in FIG. 3A may be easier to make than other exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, because it uses the same material for most of the garment. Furthermore, because the leg section 100 and most of the waist section 200 are made of the same relatively lighter material, the tights 10a, 10b may feel lighter and more comfortable to the user than other exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept.

[0079] FIG. 3B illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept in which the user wears two tights 10a, 10b, which are illustrated separately in FIG. 3A. The reinforced portion around the edge of opening 300 is illustrated with a solid line on one side and dashed lines on the other side because, as described above, to wear tights 10a, 10b together, the waist sections 200 of the two tights 10a, 10b overlap. The dashed lines indicate the reinforced portion of tight 10a, which in the exemplary embodiment illustrated, is worn underneath tight 10b.

[0080] Detail views of exemplary embodiments of a single-leg tight 10 according to the present general inventive concept are illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4D. FIG. 4A illustrates a single-leg tight 10 of regular rise, FIG. 4B illustrates a single-leg tight 10 of high rise, And FIG. 4C illustrates a single-leg tight 10 of low rise. FIG. 4D illustrates a single-leg tight 10 of regular rise and a footless design, meaning it lacks a portion to accommodate or cover a user's foot. Furthermore, although FIG. 4D only illustrates a tight 10 of regular rise, it will be understood that a footless design may be provided in any desired rise, including high rise and low rise. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the tight 10 may be shaped by inserting shorter rows of stitches between full-width rows of stitching on one side to add an angled height in a specific area. This technique of adding shorter rows of stitches may be called goring or short-rowing.

[0081] As illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4D, according to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept the leg section 100 may be divided into a toe structure 110 configured to cover a user's toes, a calf structure 120 configured to cover a user's calf, a thigh structure 130 configured to cover a user's thigh, and a top structure 140 configured to reinforce the leg section 100. The toe structure 110 may be the enclosed section at the end of the tight 10, and so may widen from a narrow width of, for example, about 162 stitches wide, to a wider width, for example about 260 stitches wide, adding one stitch to opposite sides of the toe structure 110 for every row of stitches. The toe structure 110 may be, for example, about 76 rows of stitches tall. The toe structure 110 may include a 70 denier spandex core and a 70 denier, 34 filament cover. The toe structure 110 may be, for example, a jersey material, and may include two or more plys for reinforcement and strength.

[0082] The calf structure 120 may maintain a consistent width, for example about 260 stitches wide, across its entire height, and may be, for example, about 940 rows of stitches tall. According to exemplary embodiments the calf structure 120 may be made of a 1-ply 70 denier spandex core with 70 denier, 34 filament cover. The calf structure 120 may be, for example, jersey material, and may be a single ply for aesthetics. Furthermore, when the tight 10 is worn a user's foot may occupy both the toe structure 110 and part of the calf section 120.

[0083] As illustrated in FIG. 4D, according to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept the tight 10 may be a footless design, which may omit the toe structure 110 and part of the calf structure 120, such that when worn the tight 10 ends around a user's ankle, with their foot exposed. Such a tight 10 may be open at the end of the calf structure 120, to admit the user's foot therethrough.

[0084] According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the thigh structure 130 may widen from bottom to top. In an exemplary embodiment the thigh structure 130 may be about 200 to about 210 rows of stitches tall, widening from about 260 stitches wide to about 290 stitches wide, for example by adding a stitch on the user's inner thigh every 7 rows. The thigh structure 130 may be, for example, jersey material, and may be single ply thickness for aesthetics.

[0085] The top structure 140 may reinforce the top of the leg section 100. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept the top structure 140 may be a uniform width across its entire height, for example about 12 rows of stitches tall and about 290 stitches wide. The top structure 140 may be made of 2-ply 70 denier spandex core with a 70 denier, 34 filament cover. The top structure 140 may be, for example, jersey material, and may be 2 or more plys for reinforcement and strength, and also to reinforce an outer edge of the opening 300, which may begin shortly above the top structure 140.

[0086] An end section 350 of the opening 300 may begin just above the top structure 140, and may be part of the leg section 100 or the waist section 200. The end section 350 may narrow from where it connects to the top structure 140 to where it connects to the open waist section 260, described below. This structure may create more room for the user's body, for example their leg and crotch areas, to move without disturbing or loosening the tight 10. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the end section 350 may be, for example, about 56 rows of stitches tall, and go from about 290 stitches wide to about 231 stitches wide. The end section 350 may be made of, for example, jersey material. It may include a 2-ply 70 denier spandex core and a 70 denier, 34 filament cover. The end section 350 may include a C shape knit open to the user's inner thigh, and may narrow from the bottom to the top. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept, the end section 350 may be, for example, jersey material, and may include two or more plys for reinforcement and strength.

[0087] As illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4D, the waist section 200 of the tight 10 may be divided into a closed waist section 250 and an open waist section 260.

[0088] The open waist section 260 may include the opening 300 to admit the user's leg and crotch area. As illustrated for example in FIG. 4A, the open waist section 260 may widen from a relatively narrow width suitable to go around a user's leg at the end section 350 to a relatively wider width suitable to go around a user's waist at the closed waist section 250 or the waistband 210. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the open waist section 260 may have a variable width across its height. In an exemplary embodiment the open waist section 260 may widen by 2 stitches in every row, up to a full width to go around the user's torso, for example going from about 231 stitches wide at the bottom up to about 541 stitches wide at the top. The end section 350 may connect to the open waist section 260. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the open waist section 260 may have a height between about 148 rows of stitches and about 311 rows of stitches. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept the open waist section 260 may be 232 rows tall in a regular rise configuration shown in FIG. 4A, 311 rows tall in a high rise configuration shown in FIG. 4B, and 148 rows tall in a low rise configuration shown in FIG. 4C. The open waist section 260 may have a seamless C shaped knit open to the inner thigh and top of the opposite leg to make the opening 300, and may be made of, for example, jersey or interlock stitches. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the open waist section 260 may further include a rib or interlock stitch applied for about 5-10 or more stitches on an edge of the open waist section 260 along the opening 300, to help shape the opening 300 into the desired form, reinforce the edge, and to keep the edge of the opening 300 from rolling, or curling away from the user's body. Depending on the exemplary embodiment, the open waist section 260 may include a single ply of material, or alternatively may include two or more plys for reinforcement and strength.

[0089] In exemplary embodiments including a border 240, such border 240 may be included as part of one or more of the top structure 140, end section 350, and open waist section 260. This reflects that the border 240 is a transition between the waist section 200 and leg section 100.

[0090] The closed waist section 250 corresponds to the portion of the waist section 200 between the waist band 210 and the open waist section 260. The closed waist section 250 may have a uniform width across its height. In an exemplary embodiment the closed waist section 250 may be about 541 stitches wide and between about 126 rows and about 184 rows of stitches tall. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept the closed waist section 250 may be about 126 rows tall in a regular rise configuration shown in FIG. 4A, and about 184 rows tall in a low rise configuration shown in FIG. 4C. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the closed waist section 250 may be made of, for example, jersey or interlock stitches. The closed waist section 250 may also include 2 or more plys of material, for reinforcement and strength in a high-stress area.

[0091] As illustrated for example in FIG. 4B, according to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept the closed waist section 250 may be omitted, such that the open waist section 260 connects directly to the waistband 210, or the waistband 210 is formed as an upper edge to the open waist section 260. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4B, omitting the closed waist section 250 allows the open waist section 260 to be larger and therefore have a more gradual change in width.

[0092] The waistband 210, if included, may form a top portion of the tight 10. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the waistband 210 may be a separate structure which is attached to the tight, or it may be the upper edge of the open waist section 260 or closed waist section 250, and may be formed by using different stitching or otherwise reinforcing the material. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the waistband 210 may be a uniform width across its entire height. The waistband 210 may be made in, for example, 11 rib or interlock stitches. The waistband 210 may further include an open, clean finish applied to a top edge using a bind-off such as, for example, bind-off knitting, that transfers and closes knit stitches in a tubular shape. The waistband may be, for example, about 541 stitches wide and about 100 rows of stitches tall. The waistband 210 may include 2 or more plys.

[0093] It will be understood that the number of plys and types of material described above with reference to FIGS. 4A-4D are for example only, as are the number of stitches given. Different exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept may include different materials and thickness, as well as different numbers of stitches or rows, for example depending on the material or yarn being used and/or the size of the intended user. For example, the number of stitches given above with reference to FIGS. 4A-4D may be for a Medium sized garment. The number of stitches may decrease by about zero to about 200 stitches to make a smaller garment, for example Small or Extra Small. Similarly the number of stitches may increase by about zero to about 300 stitches to make a larger garment, for example Large, Extra Large, and Double Extra Large.

[0094] According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the tight 10 may be made without seams, especially around the user's midsection, to maintain strength and prevent unwanted lines from being created on the user's skin from seams digging into the user's body.

[0095] According to an exemplary embodiment, the tight 10 may be made in a three-dimensional (3D) knitting machine. A 3D knitting machine may include, for example, a circular or flatbed knitting machine with 3D textile capabilities. Programming for a knitting machine, including circular or flatbed, may be adjusted based on the type of material or yarn being used for the tight 10. Similarly, dimensions of the tight 10 may also be adjusted depending on the type of material or yarn being used. Yarn may shrink after knitting, especially if the yarn is knit to provide higher compression. As such, the dimensions of the tight 10 may need to be adjusted to account for the level of compression desired. Different yarns may provide different levels of compression. Furthermore, different yarns may require a different number, type, or spacing of the stitches used. A total width and/or height of the stitches may also be changed to reflect the desired dimensions and compression of the tight 10. The number of stitches per inch may be calculated for each type of yarn, such that if the type of yarn is changed, the proportion of stitch quantities in the width and height may be edited to produce the same size garment in the new kind of yarn. According to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the number of stitches described above with regard to FIGS. 4A-4D may vary from about 0 to about 100 stitches depending on the type of yarn being used. Similarly, if the gauge, or number of needles per unit width, is changed, the number of stitches may also be changed. The number of stitches and rows discussed above with regard to FIGS. 4A-4D are for 16 gauge, or 16 needles per inch. If a larger gauge were used, for example 14 gauge meaning 14 needles per inch, then the number of stitches may be decreased. Conversely a smaller gauge, such as 18 gauge or 18 needles per inch, the number of stitches may be increased.

[0096] According to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept, the tight 10 may be made partially or entirely of a synthetic material similar to conventional tights, including for example one or more of polyamide (e.g., Nylon), elastane (e.g., Lycra or spandex), and polyethylene. According to other exemplary embodiments, the tight 10 may be made of thermal material, including for example cashmere, wool, and silk. A tight 10 including thermal material may help retain the user's body heat in cold environments. According to other exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the tight 10 may be partially or completely made of a jersey material, which has a predefined level of elasticity or stretchiness, without needing to add different fibers such as Spandex.

[0097] According to another exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept, the tight 10 may be partially or completely made of a different material, for example a more durable material such as Sheertex. A more durable material may more readily support the opening 300 without curling or pulling away from the user's body. Furthermore, if the tight 10 is made of a durable material, it may be used for a longer time without damage, and so may more readily be re-used or given to a new user via, e.g., a secondhand market. According to another exemplary embodiment the tight 10 may be made of recycled materials or biodegradable fibers.

[0098] Methods of fabricating a tight 10 according to exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept may include forming the parts in order, for example on a knitting machine. According to an exemplary embodiment, the tight 10 may be fabricated by forming the leg section 100 and waist section 200, as well as the opening 300 having the structure described above. Fabricating the leg section 100 may include forming the toe structure 110, calf structure 120, thigh structure 130, and top structure 140 in order, meaning starting by forming the toe structure 110 and working up through the other structures towards the waist section 200. Similarly, fabricating the waist section 200 may include forming at least the open waist section 260 and waistband 210 in order. According to other exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept, the tight 10 may be formed starting with the waistband 210, such that the waist section 200 may be formed first, followed by the leg section 100 and ending with the toe structure 110.

[0099] Exemplary embodiments of methods according to the present general inventive concept can also be embodied as computer-readable codes on a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium can include a computer-readable recording medium and a computer-readable transmission medium. The computer-readable recording medium is any data storage device that can store data as a program which can be thereafter read by a computer system. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include a semiconductor memory, a read-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), a USB memory, a memory card, a Blu-Ray disc, CD-ROMs, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, and optical data storage devices. The computer-readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer-readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. The computer-readable transmission medium can transmit carrier waves or signals (e.g. wired or wireless data transmission through the Internet). Also, functional programs, codes, and code segments to accomplish the present general inventive concept can be easily construed by programmers skilled in the art to which the present general inventive concept pertains.

[0100] Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.