Self-Supporting Stocking

Abstract

Self-supporting stocking comprising a body (10) made of elastic fabric and deformable both in a lengthwise longitudinal direction X-X and in a widthwise transverse direction Y-Y and with at least one top end (10a) which is open and at least one support element (20) for attaching to the user's body, wherein said at least one support element (20) has a multilayer form with a very small thickness and comprises an outer layer (21) and an inner layer (22) of silicone material which in turn has an inner surface lined with a biocompatible adhesive layer (23) for attaching to the user's skin.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Italian Patent Application No. MI2013A000917 filed on Jun. 4, 2013, the entire contents of which are hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The present subject relates to a self-supporting stocking with multilayer support element having an inner layer of silicone material lined with a biocompatible adhesive layer for attaching to a user's skin.

BACKGROUND

In the female and male hosiery sector different techniques for supporting different products designed to facilitate wearability are known. Among these, the most widespread techniques envisage the introduction into the product of elastic elements which, as a result of their tension, widen when the products are put on and contract gripping the associated part of the body, typically the legs or the abdomen. The most common examples of these products are male stockings and female tights. Other means for supporting products to be worn consist of external accessories, such as garters or suspender belts, which, when detached from the stocking article, are formed by clips joined to an elastic element which is arranged in position above the free edge of the stocking and supports it by means of friction against the leg. Also known are self-supporting stockings provided with stitched fabric trimming bands which have silicone components applied to them internally in various ways so as to prevent the stocking from slipping by means of friction with the skin.

It is known that these techniques, based on an elastic structure, result in the products being uncomfortable. In addition, the support in some cases proves to be of limited effectiveness, in particular in the case of self-supporting stockings, which use fabric trimming bands to which the silicone strips are applied. Since the trimming bands are rigid, they work well only for a small minority of women who have a specific thigh circumference to leg length ratio.

SUMMARY

The technical problem which is posed therefore is to provide self-supporting stockings which are able to overcome the drawbacks arising from the use of these known techniques, so as to obtain comfortable products with a highly efficient supporting action.

In connection with this problem it is also required that the stocking should be aesthetically pleasing, without parts which when in contact with clothing are prominent and hence visible externally, being at the same time easy and inexpensive to produce and assemble and also able to be used by end users in a simple and intuitive manner without the need for specific operations.

These results and others are achieved according to the present subject matter by a self-supporting stocking according to the characteristic features described herein.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further details may be obtained from the following description of a non-limiting example of an embodiment of the present subject matter, provided with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a front view of a self-supporting stocking according to aspects of the present subject matter;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-section along the plane indicated by II-II in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of stockings according to FIG. 1 when worn on the legs of a user;

FIG. 4 shows a front view similar to that of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 shows a rear view similar to that of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 shows a side view of a further example of a self-supporting stocking according to aspects of the present subject matter when worn on the legs of a user.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown in FIG. 1 a pair of reference directions, i.e. longitudinal direction X-X, corresponding to the length of the stocking, and transverse direction Y-Y, corresponding to the width of the stocking, as well as a conventional inner part directed towards the inside of the stocking and towards the skin of the user and outer part opposite thereto, are assumed solely for the sake of easier description and without a limiting meaning.

Based on these reference directions a self-supporting stocking according to the present subject matter can include a body 10 made of elastic material, which is deformable both lengthwise in the longitudinal direction X-X and widthwise in the transverse direction Y-Y. The body 10 can have an open top end 10a and, in the example shown, a bottom end 10b, which is closed so as to fit over also the foot of the user. According to the present subject matter it is envisaged that the body 10 of the stocking can have fixed thereto at least one support element 20, which can be fastened to the body 10 at one end 10c of the open top edge 10a. The support element 20 can have a very small and therefore substantially flat thickness and can include (e.g., FIG. 2) an outer layer 21 made of material similar to that of the body 10 of the stocking and an inner layer 22 of silicone material, which in turn can have an inner surface lined with a biocompatible adhesive layer 23.

The support element 20 therefore can have a multilayer structure with the various layers 21, 22, and 23, which are bonded together by means of the known hot-gluing techniques or the like. The biocompatible adhesive layer 23 can have a coefficient of adhesion in contact with the skin, which is less than that in contact with the outer layer 21 so as to allow repeated application/separation without an unpleasant sensation of pain when detached from the skin. According to alternative forms of application the support element 20 may also be attached to the body 10 of the stocking by means of irreversible fasteners such as stitches 24 (FIG. 2) or by means of reversible fastenings such as Velcro connections, automatic buttons or hooks, which are able to allow removal and replacement of the support element 20 in the event of a reduction in the adhesion coefficient, without having to eliminate also the entire stocking which may be still used. As shown in FIGS. 3-5, according to a particular embodiment of the elastic body 110 of the stocking its open top end 110a is shaped so as to have the outer part 111 which is longer than the inner part 112 so that, when the stocking is worn, the outer part 111 with the support element 20 is positioned higher up on the side la of the user 1 where the support element 20 is attached, while the inner part remains lower, at the height of the groin on the inner leg.

FIG. 6 shows instead a further example embodiment of the stocking 210 according to the present subject matter which, in this case, can have a conventional length as far as the thigh and can have its free end which encircles the thigh uniformly. Although shown in an example embodiment for a woman's self-supporting stocking, it is envisaged that the stocking body may also have a smaller length corresponding to that of man's stocking or knee-high sock (not shown). It is also envisaged that the bottom end 10b of the stocking may be open instead of being closed in a foot shape, for forms where the length of the stocking body is limited to the calf or the ankle.

It is therefore clear how the self-supporting stocking according to the present subject matter can offer numerous advantages since the elimination of the elastic elements results in stockings able to be individually supported simply and safely as well as be adapted in a comfortable manner to any user independently of the proportions of the user's legs. In addition, the support element 20 may not show up under the outer clothing and hence may not be noticed externally, resulting in an aesthetically pleasing finish. Owing to the interchangeability of the support element 20 it is moreover possible to use the same stocking also in the event of a reduction in the coefficient of adhesion to the skin.

It is also envisaged that the support element 20 may be designed with suitable dimensions depending on the different sizes and proportions of the user.

Although described in connection with a number of example embodiments and a number of preferred example embodiments of the present subject matter, it is understood that the scope of protection of the present disclosure is determined solely by any issued claims.

Claims

1. A self-supporting stocking comprising:

a body made of elastic fabric and deformable both in a lengthwise longitudinal direction X-X and in a widthwise transverse direction Y-Y and with at least one top end, which is open, and at least one support element for attaching to a user's body,

wherein said at least one support element has a multilayer form and comprises an outer layer and an inner layer of silicone material which in turn has an inner surface lined with a biocompatible adhesive layer for attaching to a user's skin.

2. The self-supporting stocking according to claim 1, wherein the outer layer, the inner layer, and the biocompatible adhesive layer are fixed together by glue.

3. The self-supporting stocking according to claim 1, wherein the outer layer, the inner layer, and the biocompatible adhesive layer are fixed together by means of stitching.

4. The self-supporting stocking according to claim 2, wherein the biocompatible adhesive layer has a coefficient of adhesion in contact with skin that is less than that in contact with the outer layer.

5. The self-supporting stocking according to claim 1, wherein the at least one support element is attached to the body of the stocking by means of irreversible fastening means.

6. The self-supporting stocking according to claim 1, wherein the at least one support element is attached to the body of the stocking by means of reversible fastening means.

7. The self-supporting stocking according to claim 1, wherein the at least one top end, which is open, has an outer part which is longer than an inner part.

8. The self-supporting stocking according to claim 7, wherein the inner part of the at least one top end, which is open, is arranged in a region of a groin on an inner thigh.

9. The self-supporting stocking according to claim 7, wherein the outer part of the at least one top end, which is open, is longer so that the at least one support element is positioned on a side of a user.

10. The self-supporting stocking according to claim 1, wherein the body has a shorter length corresponding to a men's stocking or knee-high sock.

11. The self-supporting stocking according to claim 1, wherein the body of the stocking has a bottom end closed in a foot shape or open for forms where a length of the body extends to a calf or an ankle of a user.