Running tight with preconfigured compression zones and integrated structure patterns

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10645978-B2
Application number	US-201615151928-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 11, 2016
Priority date	May 22, 2015
Publication date	May 12, 2020
Grant date	May 12, 2020

Abstract

A running tight having preconfigured compression zones with integrated structure patterns is provided herein. The compression zones may have differing compression forces where zones having a higher compression force are located at the thigh area and calf area of the tight, and zones having a lower compression force are located at the waist area and knee area of the tight. The integrated structure patterns modify the compression forces of the zones in the areas where the patterns are located in order to further customize the compressive properties of the running tight.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A running tight having a planar inner-facing surface, the running tight comprising:
a plurality of compression zones, each compression zone of the plurality of compression zones having an integrated structure pattern comprising a plurality of offset areas extending inwardly from an outer-facing surface of the running tight and delineating and defining a plurality of structures, the plurality of offset areas comprising a shorter length knit stitch having a shorter length as compared to a length of a knit stitch used to from the plurality of structures, wherein the plurality of offset areas within the integrated structure pattern has a higher modulus of elasticity value as compared to remaining areas within the respective compression zone without the integrated structure pattern, the plurality of compression zones comprising:
a first compression zone having a first modulus of elasticity value within a predefined range, the first compression zone located at an upper portion of the running tight, wherein the plurality of structures within the first compression zone include a series of vertically oriented parallel lines and a series of diamond shapes located adjacent to and below the series of vertically oriented parallel lines, the series of vertically oriented parallel lines and the series of diamond shapes located at lateral margins of the running tight;
a second compression zone having a second modulus of elasticity value within a predefined range, the second compression zone located adjacent to and inferior to the first compression zone, wherein the plurality of structures within the second compression zone include a series of diamond shapes that extend over an anterior portion of the running tight;
a third compression zone having a third modulus of elasticity value within a predefined range, the third compression zone located adjacent to and inferior to the second compression zone, wherein the plurality of structures within the third compression zone include a series of diamond shapes that extend over the anterior portion of the running tight; and
a fourth compression zone having a fourth modulus of elasticity value within a predefined range, the fourth compression zone located adjacent to and inferior to the third compression zone, wherein the plurality of structures within the fourth compression zone include a series of diamond shapes and a series of vertically oriented parallel lines located adjacent to and below the series of diamond shapes, the series of diamond shapes and the series of vertically oriented parallel lines extending over a posterior portion of the running tight.

2. The running tight of claim 1 , wherein the first modulus of elasticity value is equal to the third modulus of elasticity value.

3. The running tight of claim 2 , wherein the second modulus of elasticity value is equal to the fourth modulus of elasticity value.

4. The running tight of claim 3 , wherein the first and third modulus of elasticity values are less than the second and fourth modulus of elasticity values.

5. The running tight of claim 1 , wherein:
the first compression zone is located over a lower torso area of a wearer when the running tight is in an as-worn configuration;
the second compression zone is located over a thigh area of the wearer when the running tight is in the as-worn configuration;
the third compression zone is located over a knee area of the wearer when the running tight is in the as-worn configuration; and
the fourth compression zone is located over a calf area of the wearer when the running tight is in the as-worn configuration.

6. The running tight of claim 1 , further comprising a first transition zone between the first compression zone and the second compression zone, wherein the first transition zone has a modulus of elasticity value that is between the first modulus of elasticity value and the second modulus of elasticity value.

7. The running tight of claim 6 , further comprising a second transition zone between the second compression zone and the third compression zone, wherein the second transition zone has a modulus of elasticity value that is between the second modulus of elasticity value and the third modulus of elasticity value.

8. The running tight of claim 7 , further comprising a third transition zone between the third compression zone and the fourth compression zone, wherein the third transition zone has a modulus of elasticity value that is between the third modulus of elasticity value and the fourth modulus of elasticity value.

9. The running tight of claim 1 , wherein the series of diamond shapes in the second compression zone comprise an extension of the series of diamond shapes in the first compression zone.

10. The running tight of claim 1 , wherein the series of diamond shapes in the third compression zone comprise an extension of the series of diamond shapes in the second compression zone.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Kehler Alyse
• Maheshwari Richa
• Ranalli Christopher J
• Staub Andrea J
• Vaughan Heidi A

Classifications

• D10B2501/021

  Hosiery; Panti-hose · CPC title

• D10B2501/02

  Underwear · CPC title

• D04B21/207

  Wearing apparel or garment blanks · CPC title

• D04B21/18

  incorporating elastic threads · CPC title

• A41D13/0015

  Sports garments other than provided for in groups A41D13/0007 - A41D13/088 · CPC title