Training tight with preconfigured compression zones and integrated structure patterns

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016339286-A1
Application number	US-201615151924-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 11, 2016
Priority date	May 22, 2015
Publication date	Nov 24, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

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

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A training tight comprising:
a plurality of compression zones, wherein each of the plurality of compression zones has a modulus of elasticity value within a predefined range, and wherein one or more of the plurality of compression zones has an integrated structure pattern that modifies the modulus of elasticity value of the respective compression zone.

2 . The training tight of claim 1 , wherein the training tight is warp knitted.

3 . The training tight of claim 1 , wherein the integrated structure pattern is located at preconfigured locations within the respective compression zone.

4 . The training tight of claim 3 , wherein the integrated structure pattern increases the modulus of elasticity value at the preconfigured locations.

5 . The training tight of claim 4 , wherein the integrated structure pattern comprises a plurality of areas offset from an outer-facing surface plane of the training tight, wherein the offset areas delineate and define a plurality of structures.

6 . The training tight of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of offset areas are formed using a shorter length knit stitch compared to the plurality of structures.

7 . The training tight of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of offset areas increases the modulus of elasticity value at the preconfigured locations.

8 . The training tight of claim 5 , wherein adjacent structures of the plurality of structures are spaced apart from one another by the plurality of offset areas.

9 . The training tight of claim 8 , wherein an amount of spacing between the adjacent structures further modifies the modulus of elasticity value at the preconfigured locations.

10 . The training tight of claim 8 , wherein a large space between the adjacent structures increases the modulus of elasticity value at the preconfigured locations a greater amount than a small space between the adjacent structures.

11 . A training tight 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 training tight; a second compression zone having a second modulus of elasticity value within a predefined range, the second compression zone located adjacent to and below the first compression zone; and a third compression zone having a third modulus of elasticity value within a predefined range, the third compression zone located adjacent to and below the second compression zone, wherein one or more of the first, second, and third compression zones comprises one or more integrated structure patterns that modify the modulus of elasticity value of the respective compression zone.

12 . The training tight of claim 11 , wherein the first modulus of elasticity value is greater than the second modulus of elasticity value and the third modulus of elasticity value.

13 . The training tight of claim 12 , wherein the second modulus of elasticity value is greater than the third modulus of elasticity value.

14 . The training tight of claim 11 , wherein:
the first compression zone is located over a lower torso area and a thigh area of a wearer when the training tight is in an as-worn configuration; the second compression zone is located over a knee area of the wearer when the training tight is in the as-worn configuration; and the third compression zone is located over a calf area of the wearer when the training tight is in the as-worn configuration.

15 . The training tight of claim 11 , wherein the one or more integrated structure patterns comprise a first integrated structure pattern and a second integrated structure pattern.

16 . A method of manufacturing a training tight comprising:
preparing a fabric, wherein preparing the fabric comprises:
knitting a first compression zone having a first modulus of elasticity and a first integrated knit structure pattern;
knitting a second compression zone adjacent to the first compression zone, the second compression zone having a second modulus of elasticity and a second integrated knit structure pattern; and
knitting a third compression zone adjacent to the second compression zone, the third compression zone having a third modulus of elasticity and a third integrated knit structure pattern;
cutting one or more pattern pieces from the fabric; and
affixing the one or more pattern pieces together at one or more seams to form the training tight.

17 . The method of manufacture of claim 16 , wherein the first modulus of elasticity is greater than the second modulus of elasticity and the third modulus of elasticity.

18 . The method of manufacture of claim 16 , wherein the fabric is knitted using a warp knitting process.

19 . The method of manufacture of claim 16 , wherein the first, second, and third modulus of elasticity of the first, second, and third compression zones are dependent upon at least one of a denier or diameter of an elastic yarn used to knit the first, second, and third compression zones or the type of yarn used to knit the first, second, and third compression zones.

20 . The method of manufacture of claim 16 , wherein the first, second, and third integrated knit structure patterns are integrally knitted using the same yarns as used to knit the first, second, and third compression zones respectively.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• D10B2501/02

  Underwear · CPC title

• A63B23/0238

  Spinal column (for the neck A63B23/025) · CPC title

• A41D1/08 Primary

  specially adapted for sporting purposes · CPC title

• D04B21/207

  Wearing apparel or garment blanks · CPC title

• D04B21/18

  incorporating elastic threads · CPC title