Abstract: An athletic garment and equipment system according to the present invention includes an athletic garment having at least one section of knitted elastomeric raised loop fabric of a preferred design. The system also includes an athletic pad, pad assembly or other athletic equipment including at least one male hook substrate piece. The section of elastomeric raised loop fabric may be stretched and fixed to the male hood substrate piece to secure the garment to the athletic pad.

Abstract: A fabric including raised members that effectively separate the wearer from the fabric base. The raised members add a third dimension of depth or thickness to a traditionally two-dimensional piece of apparel allowing the fabric base to remain separate from the wearer's body which provides greater comfort and breathability to the wearer. The raised members may be placed in useful proportion with open holes or closed spaces of the fabric enhancing the quality and functionality of the apparel.

Abstract: A fabric with an open mesh structure includes raised members that effectively separate the wearer from the fabric base. The raised members add a third dimension of depth or thickness to a traditionally two-dimensional piece of apparel allowing the fabric base to remain separate from the wearer's body which provides greater comfort and breathability to the wearer. The raised members are placed in useful proportion with the open holes and closed spaces of the fabric enhancing the quality and functionality of the apparel.

Abstract: A knitted elastomeric fabric according to the present invention includes a ground yarn, a laterally laid in yarn laid into the ground yarn and at least two elastomeric yarns laid into the ground yarn. One of the elastomeric yarns is laid into the ground yarn to form, along with the laterally laid in yarn, a base elastomeric fabric. The second elastomeric yarn is laid into the ground yarn so that at least the ground yarn, the laterally laid in yarn, and the pattern elastomeric yarn form a pattern elastomeric zone, wherein the pattern elastomeric zone and base elastomeric fabric have differing elastomeric properties. A knitted elastomeric fabric according to the present invention may also include additional yarns. For example, the fabric may include an inlaid Jacquard or lace yarn creating a lace pattern.

Abstract: A Jacquard fabric includes a Jacquard yarn plaited into a base knit structure such as, for example, a "Sleeknit" structure. The fabric may be knitted on a warp knitting machine having at least four guide bars, the frontmost guide bar being a Jacquard guide bar, with the Jacquard yarn being knitted in a knit-float-knit sequence. The two middle guide bars are, for example, fully threaded with multifilament synthetic yarns (e.g. Nylon or polyester), which knit on alternate courses and float on alternate courses. The backmost bar may be fully threaded with, for example, an elastomeric fiber (e.g. Lycra Spandex) which may be laid into the structure during knitting. In an exemplary method for producing the fabric of the present invention, the two middle guide bars knit on alternate courses, so that only one of these bars is knitting on any one course.

Abstract: A warp knit Raschel fabric having unidirectional stretch characteristics and ravel resistant laid-in elastic yarns is produced by laying in two sets of spandex yarns with a set of inelastic knitted yarns. The two sets of spandex yarns cross one another at a multiplicity of contact points. The knitted fabric is subjected to dry heat in a temperature range between 385 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit with causes the two sets of spandex yarns to fuse at the contact points.

Abstract: This invention concerns a knitted elastic fold-over edge band for use as edging for example on women's undergarments wherein the edge band would be folded lengthwise and sewn to the edge of the item of apparel, such as a brassiere, panty, etc. Half of the width of the edge band would have a soft surface created by knitting half the band width with a jersey stitch using textured yarn while the other half of the band width would be made with conventional lace construction. The soft half of the band would be adjacent the wearer's skin, thereby providing comfort, while the lace portion would be exposed on the outer surface of the item of apparel, thereby providing a decorative element. The edge band would be sewn to the garment in this manner and beauty would be enhanced since the stitches used for sewing the edge band would be less visible since they would be disguised by the lace design.