HOISERY ARTICLE WITH A USER-ADJUSTABLE TENSION RETAINING COMPONENT

Abstract

The present invention provides a hosiery article (such as socks, stockings, hose, leggings, panty hose, etc.) that includes a novel configurable retaining component with a range of various levels of tension and compression forces that are selectable and adjustable by a user. Advantageously, when the inventive hosiery articles are worn, the user (e.g., the wearer) is able to adjust the level of tension and compression force exerted by each article as the circumference of their lower limbs changes throughout the day and/or in response to one or more environmental factors, and/or in response to one or more physical and/or health conditions. As a result, the user is always able to maintain their desired balance between appearance and comfort of the worn novel hosiery articles. Furthermore, because each worn novel hosiery article is independently adjustable, users can configure different levels of compression force and tension for each retaining component of each worn article to maintained desired levels of comfort and an aesthetically pleasing appearance even when the wearer's limbs each swell to a different size. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of each retaining component may be provided with one or more decorative elements. In yet another embodiment of the invention, the novel hosiery article may include a retaining component at least a portion of which is removable and replaceable by the user.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to hosiery articles, and more particularly to hosiery articles with tension retaining components operable to maintain a worn hosiery article at a predetermined desired height.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various hosiery articles (such as socks, stockings, panty hose, etc.) have been integral wardrobe elements for centuries. The broad range of hosiery articles comprises a number of categories (socks, stockings, leggings, panty hose, etc.), with corresponding sub-categories (sport socks, dress socks, winter socks, knee-high socks, etc.). In view of the generally conical shape of both lower and upper human legs, all hosiery articles have at least one component in common—a retaining component responsible for maintaining the position of each worn article at an appropriate height on the leg. For many years, the most common retaining components included ribbons, ties, suspenders (garters, sock suspenders, etc.), and equivalents thereof.

However, with the advent of elastic fabrics in the past several decades, the most common retaining component in the majority of modern hosiery items has been a section of elastic material (e.g., stretchable, incorporating one or more rubber bands, etc.), disposed near the top portion of the article, and sized and configured to compress and grip a portion of the wearer's leg proximal to the top of the article to generate sufficient tension to retain the article at a desired height on the wearer's leg. Referring now to a prior art FIG. 7, a typical hosiery article 500 (e.g., a sock) is shown. The hosiery article 500 includes a lower section 502 and a retaining component 504 (for example an elastic compression band). The article 500 is worn on a wearer's leg 520 (a first portion of which, 520a is above the top portion of the article 500, and a second portion of which, 520b, is disposed within the retaining component 504. When the article 500 is worn, the retaining component 504 exerts a predefined level of compression forces 605 on the leg portion 520b causing the article 500 to remain in the desired position on the wearers lower leg. While in theory, the compression-based approach seemed to provide a good and versatile solution, in practice, the preconfigured compression-based retaining component suffers from a number of serious and, in some cases, potentially dangerous disadvantages.

First, it is a well documented fact that people's lower extremities typically swell up as a day progresses into the afternoon and evening. While such swelling is common in even healthy individuals, a number of environmental factors (e.g., temperature, humidity, barometric pressure), as well as certain physical and health conditions, such as high blood pressure, pregnancy, fluid retention, edema, certain cardiac conditions, previous fractures and other limb trauma, and old age, can cause swelling at any time of day or night, and may also significantly increase the extent to which the lower limbs swell in the evening.

Unfortunately, because virtually all previously known hosiery articles have retaining components preconfigured with predetermined tension and compression forces in a relatively small region, an increased level of lower limb swelling can lead to a dangerous level of lower vascular system compression for the wearer, which in turn may result in decreased lower limb circulation causing significant discomfort to the wearer, and with potentially dangerous consequences for wearers having circulation-related health conditions (e.g., blood pressure imbalances, diabetes, cardiac conditions, disorders of the lower extremities, etc.). Prolonged disruption of lower limb circulation is especially devastating for neuropathy-prone individuals (diabetics, etc.).

A number of solutions to the above problems have been attempted with very mixed results. For example, certain hosiery articles are offered with reduced compression force retaining elements that promise to minimize the negative impact on lower limb vascular system. However, this solution results in a significantly reduced effectiveness of the retaining component, causing the hosiery articles to constantly slip and slide down the wearer's leg (this problem is particularly prevalent with socks) which negatively impacts the wearer's appearance and personal comfort. Another set of attempted solutions, aimed more particularly at individuals with lower limb circulation problems (diabetics, etc.), took a different approach—rather than utilizing a relatively small retaining component at the top of the article, entire upper sections of such articles served as “distributed” retaining components that spread the compression force throughout a significant portion of the lower limb, to thereby reduce the risk of cutting off lower circulation. However, such approaches are likewise flawed. First, extended retaining components with distributed compression forces also result in the articles being more prone to slippage when worn. Furthermore, even with distributed retaining components, any significant level of lower limb swelling can still cause extreme discomfort to the wearer, even if it does not rise to the level of a health risk.

Finally, the most significant and previously insurmountable flaw of the commonly known hosiery articles is the fact that all purchased articles come in pairs, and include retaining components configured with equal predefined levels of tension/compression forces in each article of the pair. However, many individuals, especially those suffering from a prior orthopedic lower limb trauma, may have different levels of swelling in each lower limb. In such a case, any work set of hosiery articles will cause either significant discomfort as one of the articles inflicts a greater level of pressure on the limb, or if the wearer chooses to prioritize comfort, one of the hosiery articles will have a higher tendency than the other to slip down the wearer's leg.

It would thus be desirable to provide a novel and versatile hosiery article that includes a retaining component having user-adjustable levels of compression force/tension. It would also be desirable to provide a novel and versatile hosiery article with a configurable retaining component that is very easy to utilize by anyone at any time to increase or to decrease, at various increments, the level of compression force exerted thereby on the wearer's leg to achieve a desired balance between a pleasing appearance and the wearer's comfort. It would further be desirable to provide a pair of novel and versatile hosiery articles where each article includes the user-configurable retaining component that may configured be independently from one another.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding or similar elements throughout the various figures:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of an inventive hosiery article with a user-adjustable tension component;

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a second exemplary embodiment of an inventive hosiery article with a user-adjustable tension component;

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of the inventive user-adjustable tension component of the hosiery article of FIGS. 1 or 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a second exemplary embodiment of the inventive user-adjustable tension component of the hosiery article of FIGS. 1 or 2;

FIG. 5 is a diagram of a third exemplary embodiment of the inventive user-adjustable tension component of the hosiery article of FIGS. 1 or 2;

FIG. 6 is a diagram of a fourth exemplary embodiment of the inventive user-adjustable tension component of the hosiery article of FIGS. 1 or 2;

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of a releasable retaining adjustment element of the inventive user-adjustable tension component of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of a releasable retaining adjustment element of the inventive user-adjustable tension component of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 9 is a diagram of a prior art previously known hosiery article with a conventional tension component.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention addresses the flaws and disadvantages of previously known hosiery articles (such as socks, stockings, hose, leggings, panty hose, etc.), by providing a novel hosiery article that includes an inventive configurable retaining component with a range of various levels of tension and compression forces selectable and adjustable by a user. Advantageously, when the inventive hosiery articles are worn, the user (e.g., the wearer) is able to selectively adjust the level of tension and compression force exerted by each article, as the circumference of their lower limbs changes throughout the day, and/or in response to one or more environmental factors, and/or one or more physical and/or health conditions. As a result, the user is always able to maintain a desired predetermined balance between appearance and comfort of the worn novel hosiery articles.

Furthermore, because each worn novel hosiery article is independently adjustable, users can configure different levels of compression force and tension for each retaining component of each worn article to maintained desired levels of comfort and an aesthetically pleasing appearance even when the wearer's limbs each swell to a different size. In an alternate embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of each retaining component may be provided with one or more decorative elements.

The above is accomplished by providing the novel retaining component with at least one user-adjustable tensioning sub-component, at least partially circumferentially disposed around the user's leg proximal to the top of the inventive hosiery article, that includes at least one releasable selective adjustment element that may be placed by the user within a selected range of desired positions, each position corresponding to a higher or lower magnitude of tension and compression forces exerted by the retaining component on the user's leg proximal to the position of the component. Each selective adjustment element itself may be fully or partially composed of a flexible material (e.g., nylon webbing or equivalent), and optionally may comprise one or more portions having elastic properties. In various embodiments of the present invention, the selective adjustment element may be at least partially attached to one or more other elements of the corresponding novel configurable retaining component, or alternately, it may be removable and/or replaceable by the user.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention addresses the flaws and disadvantages of previously known hosiery articles (such as socks, stockings, hose, leggings, panty hose, etc.), by providing a novel hosiery article that includes an inventive user-configurable retaining component with a range of various levels of tension and compression forces selectable and adjustable by a user. When a pair of inventive hosiery articles are worn, the user is further able to independently select and adjust the tension and compression force levels of each configurable retaining component thereof.

It should be noted that while the various exemplary embodiments of the inventive hosiery article are shown and described with reference to a sock or to a stocking, the inventive hosiery article may be implemented as any hosiery article, including but not being limited to: leggings, panty hose, knee-highs, specialty sports socks, etc., as a matter of design choice without departing from the spirit of the invention. In addition, in the various drawing figures and accompanying descriptions herein, various hosiery article shapes, elements, components and features that may be provided in accordance with the present invention, are shown by way of example only, and shall not serve as a limitation on what type, size or configuration of shapes, elements, components and features of an hosiery article may be provided.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a first exemplary embodiment of the inventive hosiery article 10 is shown. By way of example only, the article 10 may be a dress or a sport sock, having a sock body 12, with a lower portion 14, a middle portion 16 (of a height A), and an upper section 18 of a height B, culminating at the article 10 top 22. Preferably, a novel configurable and user adjustable retaining component 20, of a height C is disposed within the article upper section 18 a distance D away from the article top 22. A wearer's leg, when the article 10 is worn, is shown in two parts—a leg portion 30a above the article top 22, and a leg portion 30b, disposed within the article upper section 18. As noted above, it should be understood that for a variety of reasons, the diameter of the leg portion 30b may change throughout the day between diameters D-1 and D-2 at the point of the article top 22 (at which position, the diameter of the article 10 itself is D-3).

In accordance with the present invention, the user may selectively change, at any desired or convenient time, the diameter of the retaining component 20 within a predefined range of diameters from diameter D-4 to diameter D-5, for example in response to changes in the diameter of the wearer's leg between D-1 and D-2. Advantageously, decreasing the diameter of the component 20 from D-5 toward D-4, increases the tension and compression forces exerted thereby on the wearer leg portion 30b, while increasing the diameter from D-4 toward D-5, reduces the tension and compression forces. Accordingly, the user is able to individually change the tension and compression forces exerted on each of his legs by each corresponding worn novel article, for example to relive the discomfort caused by swelling of one or both of the lower extremities.

While only a single retaining component 20 is shown, in an alternate embodiment of the present invention, two or more proximal retaining components, of similar configuration to the component 20, may be utilized in conjunction with one another.

It should be noted, that the present invention contemplates any configuration and/or construction of the component 20, that enables a user to change and maintain its diameter, and thus to adjust the resulting tension and compression forces exerted thereby on the wearer's leg. Therefore, any component, or component set, with such capabilities may be readily utilized as a matter of design choice, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Several advantageous exemplary embodiments of such novel retaining components are shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, and described in greater detail below in connection therewith.

Referring now to FIG. 2, a different type of hosiery article, such as a stocking, is shown by way of example as an article 40. The article 40 may include an elongated body 42, with a middle and lower portion 48, and an upper section 44. Preferably, a novel configurable and user adjustable retaining component 46a is disposed within the article upper section 44. A wearer's leg, when the article 40 is worn, is shown in two parts—leg portion 50a above the article 40 top, and a leg portion 50b, disposed within the upper section 44. Other than the relative sizes of its various portions, in a first exemplary embodiment thereof, the article 40 of FIG. 2 operates in a manner quite similar to the inventive article 10 of FIG. 1.

In an alternate exemplary embodiment thereof, the article 40 may also comprise a second user adjustable retaining component 46b, that may be positioned within the middle and lower potion 48, close to, but not within the upper section 44. This additional retaining component 46b is particularly useful for embodiments of the article 40, in which the body 42 is so long, that a user-adjustable retaining feature in addition to the retaining component 46a and that is positioned at a significant distance therefrom, is desirable or warranted. It should be noted that the retaining component 46b may be of the same, or of a different type, and/or configuration, as the retaining component 46a, as a matter of design choice or necessity, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a first exemplary embodiment of an inventive user-adjustable configurable retaining component 100 (such as may be used as the adjustable retaining component 20 of FIG. 1, and/or as the adjustable retaining components 46a, 46b of FIG. 2) is shown as utilized in a hosiery article 120a that is worn on a user's leg 30b. The retaining component 100 includes an elongated cylindrical body 102 of a height H1a, which in one embodiment of the invention may be an integral part of the hosiery article 120a (such as of the section 18 of the hosiery article 10 of FIG. 1), or it may be applied to the surface of the hosiery article 120a (for example by being stitched thereon) and composed of the same, or of a different material, than the article. Preferably, the retaining component 100 is capable of being adjusted, as described in greater detail below, between diameters D6 (smaller) and D7 (larger), which by way of example, approximately correspond to diameters D4 to D5 shown in FIG. 1.

The retaining component 100 also comprises an elongated sleeve element 104 of a height H2a that, in combination with the body 102, forms at least a partially circumferential internal sleeve 102-104 of a height H3a in the retaining component 100. As noted above with respect to the body 102, the sleeve element 104 may either be an integral part of the hosiery article 120a, or alternately it may be applied (e.g., stitched) onto the surface thereof, or mounted on the body 102 directly. The sleeve 102-104 comprises a first open slit 104a and a second open slit 104b. A flat elongated releasable retaining adjustment (hereinafter “RRA”) element 106, of a height smaller than H3a, and that is preferably at least partially resilient, is positioned within the sleeve 102-104, and includes, at the respective ends thereof, two connecting elements 108a and 108b, sized and configured to emerge from respective slits 104a and 104b. For example, the element 108a may be of a length L1a-1, while the element 108b may be of a length L1a-2.

Each connecting element 108a, 108 may include an optional corresponding grip element 110a, 110b at its respective edge to assist a user in gripping the ends thereof. The grip elements 110a, 110b may each be an additional strip, or a folded over and stitched portion, of the same material as the RRA element 106, or they may be made from a different material (e.g., a strip of rubber, etc.).

Preferably, the retaining component 100 also includes a releasable adjustable attachment sub-component 112-116a-116b easily operable by the user to set a desired diameter of the component 100 that is in the range between diameters D6 and D7, and that achieves a balance between comfort and retaining effectiveness that is desirable to the user. In one embodiment of the invention, the subcomponent 112-116a-116b, comprises a first releasable attachment region 112, of a length L2a, positioned on the surface of the body 102 facing outward from the user's leg 30b, and a pair of second releasable attachment regions 116a, 116b (each of a length smaller than L1a-1 and L1a-2, respectively) positioned on the respective inner surfaces of the connecting elements 108a and 108b that face the first releasable attachment region 112. Preferably, when the first (112) and second (116a, 116b) releasable regions are placed into contact with one another, they form a releasable connection, that, depending on how far towards one another the elements 108a and 108b have been pulled by the user prior to their contact with the first releasable attachment region 112, determine the resulting diameter of the retaining component 100 desired by the user. The specific type of the first and second releasable attachment regions that may be utilized in accordance with the present invention, as well as the relative magnitudes of L1a-1, L1a-2, and L2a, may be selected as a matter of design choice without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, the first region 112 may comprise hook material, while the second regions 116a, 116b comprise loop material (or vice versa). Alternately, the first region 112 may comprise a male connector, while the second regions 116a, 116b comprise a plurality of matching female connectors at predefined intervals (or vice versa). In another example, the first region 112 may comprise a button hole, while the second regions 116a, 116b comprise a plurality of matching buttons at predefined intervals (or vice versa).

The RRA element 106 may be configured to freely slide within the sleeve 102-104 (for example to facilitate its removal therefrom for cleaning and/or replacement), or in an alternate embodiment thereof, the RRA element 106 may be at least partially secured from removal from the sleeve 102-104 by at least one securing element 114a (e.g., such as stitching between a portion of the RRA element 106 and at least a portion of the sleeve 102-104) positioned a reasonable distance away from each of the slits 104a, 104b. Optionally the RRA element 116 may be secured from removal through the use of one or more additional circumferentially positioned securing elements, such as a second securing element 114b.

By way of illustrative example, in practical use of the hosiery article 120a, when the user desires to change the diameter of the retaining region thereof (i.e., by changing the diameter of the retaining component 100), the user disengages, from the region 112, and grips at least one of the elements 108a and 108b (but preferably both), and moves them in a direction corresponding to a desired increase in the hosiery article 120a retaining region diameter (i.e., away from one another), or corresponding to a decrease in the retaining region diameter (i.e., toward one another), before securing the second releasable regions 116a, 116b to the first releasable region 112 to maintain the desired adjusted hosiery article 120a retaining region diameter.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a second exemplary embodiment of an inventive user-adjustable configurable retaining component 200 (such as may be used as the adjustable retaining component 20 of FIG. 1, and/or as adjustable retaining components 46a, 46b of FIG. 2) is shown as utilized in a hosiery article 120b that is worn on a user's leg 30b. The retaining component 200 includes an elongated cylindrical body 202 of a height H1b, which in one embodiment of the invention may be an integral part of the hosiery article 120b (such as of the section 18 of the hosiery article 10 of FIG. 1), or it may be applied to the surface of the hosiery article 120b (for example by being stitched on) and composed of the same, or of a different material, than the article. Preferably, the retaining component 200 is capable of being adjusted, as described in greater detail below, between diameters D6 (smaller) and D7 (larger), which by way of example, approximately correspond to diameters D4 to D5 shown in FIG. 1.

The retaining component 200 also comprises an elongated sleeve element 204 of a height H2b that, in combination with the body 202, forms at least a partially circumferential internal sleeve 202-204 of a height H3b in the retaining component 200. As noted above with respect to the body 202, the sleeve element 204 may either be an integral part of the hosiery article 120a, or alternately it may be applied (e.g., stitched) onto the surface thereof, or mounted on the body 202 directly. The sleeve 202-204 comprises an open slit 204a in either a right or a left portion of the component 200 (depending on whether the specific hosiery article 120b is configured for use by a right-handed, or by a left-handed user).

A flat elongated releasable retaining adjustment (hereinafter “RRA”) element 206, of a height smaller than H3b, and that is preferably at least partially resilient, is positioned within the sleeve 202-204, and includes a connecting element 208 of a length L1b, sized and configured to emerge from the slit 204a. The connecting element 208 may include an optional grip element 210 at its exposed end, to assist a user in gripping the end thereof, which may be of the same configuration as elements 110a, 110b of FIG. 3.

Preferably, the retaining component 200 also includes a releasable adjustable attachment sub-component 212-216 that is easily operable by the user to set a desired diameter of the component 200 within a range between diameters D6 and D7, and that achieves a balance between comfort and retaining effectiveness that is desirable to the user. In one embodiment of the invention, the sub-component 212-216, comprises a first releasable attachment region 212, of a length L2b, positioned on the surface of the body 202 facing outward from the user's leg 30b, and a second releasable attachment region 216 (of a length smaller than L1b), positioned on the inner surface of the connecting element 208 facing the first releasable attachment region 212. Preferably, when the first (212) and second (216) releasable regions are placed into contact with one another, they form a releasable connection that, depending on how far away from the slit 204a the element 208 has been pulled by the user prior to the contact between the respective releasable regions 212, 216, determine the diameter of the retaining component 200 that is desired by the user. The specific type of the first and second releasable attachment regions 212, 216 that may be utilized in accordance with the present invention, as well as the relative magnitudes of L1b, and L2b, may be selected as a matter of design choice without departing from the spirit of the invention. Various examples of combinations of possible first and second regions 212, 216 are described above in connection with the regions 112, 116a, and 116b of FIG. 3.

The RRA element 206 is preferably secured within said sleeve 202-204 at an end opposite of its element 208, in one embodiment of the invention, at least at a circumferential distance from the slit 204a greater than ½ of the circumference of the body 202, by at least one securing element 214 (e.g., such as stitching between a portion of the RRA element 206 and at least a portion of the sleeve 202-204).

By way of illustrative example, in practical use of the hosiery article 120b, when the user desires to change the diameter of the retaining region thereof, the user releases, from the region 212, and grips the element 208, and moves it in a direction corresponding to a desired increase in the hosiery article 120b retaining region diameter (i.e., toward the slit 204a), or corresponding to a decrease in the retaining region diameter (i.e., away from the slit 204a), before securing the second releasable region 216 to the first releasable region 212 to maintain the desired adjusted hosiery article 120b retaining region diameter.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a third exemplary embodiment of an inventive user-adjustable configurable retaining component 250 (such as may be used as the adjustable retaining component 20 of FIG. 1, and/or as adjustable retaining components 46a, 46b of FIG. 2) is shown as utilized in a hosiery article 120c that is worn on a user's leg 30b. The retaining component 250 is very similar in usage and operation to the retaining component 100 of FIG. 3, but differs in construction as described in greater detail below.

The retaining component 250 includes an elongated cylindrical body 252, which in one embodiment of the invention may be an integral part of the hosiery article 120c (such as of the section 18 of the hosiery article 10 of FIG. 1), or it may be applied to the surface of the hosiery article 120c (for example by being stitched on) and composed of the same, or of a different material, than the article. Preferably, the retaining component 250 is capable of being adjusted, as described in greater detail below, between diameters D6 (smaller) and D7 (larger), which by way of example, approximately correspond to diameters D4 to D5 shown in FIG. 1.

The main difference in construction between the retaining component 250 and the retaining component 100 of FIG. 3, is that instead of including a sleeve 102-104, slits 104a, 104b, or a RRA element 106 with connecting elements 108a, 108b emerging from respective slits 104a, 104b, as is shown in FIG. 3, the retaining component 250 only includes a pair of connecting elements 258a and 258b, that correspond to the connecting elements 108a and 108b of FIG. 3, but that are connected to the body 252 outer surface at circumferential positions 254a and 254b (for example, at positions corresponding to the slits 104a and 104b of FIG. 3). Preferably, the connecting elements 258a, 258b are at least partially resilient, and may optionally each be configured with the optional grip elements 110a and 110b.

Preferably, the retaining component 250 also includes a releasable adjustable attachment sub-component 112-116a-116b easily operable by the user to set a desired diameter of the component 250 that is in the range between diameters D6 and D7 and that achieves a balance between comfort and retaining effectiveness that is desirable to the user. Various embodiments of this sub-component 112-116a-116b are described above in connection with FIG. 1.

As with the retaining component 100 of FIG. 1, by way of illustrative example, in practical use of the hosiery article 120c, when the user desires to change the diameter of the retaining region thereof, the user disengages, from the region 112, and grips at least one of the elements 258a and 258b (but preferably both), and moves them in a direction corresponding to a desired increase in the hosiery article 120c retaining region diameter (i.e., away from one another), or corresponding to a decrease in the retaining region diameter (i.e., toward one another), before securing the second releasable regions 116a, 116b to the first releasable region 112, to maintain the desired adjusted hosiery article 120c retaining region diameter.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a fourth exemplary embodiment of an inventive user-adjustable configurable retaining component 300 (such as may be used as the adjustable retaining component 20 of FIG. 1, and/or as the adjustable retaining components 46a, 46b) is shown as being utilized in a hosiery article 120d that is worn on a user's leg 30b. The retaining component 300 is very similar in construction to the retaining component 100 of FIG. 3, but is similar to usage and operation of the retaining component 200 of FIG. 4, as described in greater detail below.

The retaining component 300 includes an elongated cylindrical body 302, which in one embodiment of the invention may be an integral part of the hosiery article 120d (such as of the section 18 of the hosiery article 10 of FIG. 1), or it may be applied to the surface of the hosiery article 120d (for example by being stitched on) and composed of the same, or of a different material, than the article. Preferably, the retaining component 300 is capable of being adjusted, as described in greater detail below, between diameters D6 (smaller) and D7 (larger), which by way of example, approximately correspond to diameters D4 to D5 shown in FIG. 1.

Similarly to the component 100 of FIG. 1, the retaining component 300 also comprises an elongated sleeve element 104 that, in combination with the body 302, forms at least a partially circumferential internal sleeve 302-104 of a in the retaining component 300. As noted above with respect to the body 302, the sleeve element 104 may either be an integral part of the hosiery article 120d, or alternately it may be applied (e.g., stitched) onto the surface thereof, or mounted on the body 302 directly. Again, similarly to the component 100 of FIG. 3, the sleeve 302-104 comprises a first open slit 104a and a second open slit 104b. A flat elongated releasable retaining adjustment (hereinafter “RRA”) element 306, that is preferably at least partially resilient, is positioned within the sleeve 302-104, and includes two connecting elements 308a and 308b, sized and configured to emerge from respective slits 104a and 104b.

The main difference in construction between the retaining component 300 and the retaining component 100 of FIG. 1, is that instead of including a releasable adjustable attachment sub-component 112-116a-116b, the retaining component 300 includes a releasable adjustable attachment subcomponent 312-316, similarly configured to the releasable adjustable attachment sub-component 212-216 of the retaining component 200 of FIG. 4.

The releasable adjustable attachment sub-component 312-316 is preferably easily operable by the user to set a desired diameter of the component 300 that is in the range between diameters D6 and D7, and that achieves a balance between comfort and retaining effectiveness that is desirable to the user. In one embodiment of the invention, the sub-component 312-316, comprises a first releasable attachment region 312, positioned on a surface of the connecting element 308b facing outward from the user's leg 30b, and a second releasable attachment region 316, positioned on the inner surface of the connecting element 308a facing the first releasable attachment region 312. Preferably, when the connecting element 308a is pulled over the connecting element 308b, the first (312) and the second (316) releasable regions are then placed into contact with one another forming a releasable connection that, depending on how far away from the slits 304a, 304b the elements 308a, 308b have been pulled by the user prior to the contact between the respective releasable regions 312, 316, determine the diameter of the retaining component 300 that is desired by the user. The specific type of the first and second releasable attachment regions 312, 316 that may be utilized in accordance with the present invention, may be selected as a matter of design choice without departing from the spirit of the invention. Various examples of combinations of possible first and second regions 312, 316 are described above in connection with the regions 112, 116a, and 116b of FIG. 3. While the relative lengths of the connecting elements 308a and 308b maybe selected as a matter of design choice, preferably they are such to enable a substantial overlap therebetween.

Furthermore, while element 308a has been described above as having the second releasable attachment region 316 on its underside, and the element 308b has been described above as having the first releasable attachment region 312 on its surface, it should be understood that the positions of the regions 312, 316 may be readily reversed (i.e., positioning region 312 on the surface of the element 308a, while positioning region 316 on the underside of the element 308b), as a matter of design choice or convenience, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The RRA element 306 may be configured to freely slide within the sleeve 302-104 (for example to facilitate its removal therefrom for cleaning and/or replacement), or in an alternate embodiment thereof, the RRA element 306 may be at least partially secured from removal from the sleeve 302-104 by the at least one securing element 114a configured and positioned as described above in connection with FIG. 3.

By way of illustrative example, in practical use of the hosiery article 120d, when the user desires to change the diameter of the retaining region thereof, the user disengages the region 316, from the region 312, grips at least one of the elements 308a and 308b (but preferably both), and moves them in a direction corresponding to a desired increase in the hosiery article 120d retaining region diameter (i.e., away from one another), or corresponding to a decrease in the retaining region diameter (i.e., toward one another), before securing the second releasable region 316 to the first releasable region 312 to maintain the desired adjusted hosiery article 120d retaining region diameter.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a first exemplary embodiment of a selective releasable retaining adjustment (RRA) element 350 (such as the RRA element 106 of FIG. 3, or the RRA element 306 of FIG. 6), is shown. The RRA element 350 includes a body 352 comprising a resilient circumferential section 354 of a length L1c-1, with a connecting element 356a of a length L1c-2 at one end, and a connecting element 356b of a length L1c-3 at the other end. Preferably, the connecting elements 356a, 356b are composed of a non-resilient material (for example, such as nylon webbing or equivalent), but optionally may be composed of a resilient material that is the same or different from the material of the section 354. The elements 356a, 356b, correspond to elements 108a, 108b of FIG. 3, and to elements 308a, 308b of FIG. 6. Preferably, the RRA element 350 may be adjustable between diameters D6a and D7a, that are at least substantially similar to diameters D6 and D7 of FIGS. 3 and 6. The relative magnitudes of lengths L1c-1, L1c-2, and L1c-3 may be selected as a matter of design choice without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a second exemplary embodiment of a selective releasable retaining adjustment (RRA) element 400 (such as the RRA element 106 of FIG. 3, or the RRA element 306 of FIG. 6), is shown. The RRA element 400 includes a body 402 comprising a first circumferential section 404 of a length L1d-1, with a second circumferential section 406a of a length L1d-2, followed by a connecting element 408a of a length L1d-4 at one end, and a third circumferential section 406b of a length L1d-3, followed by a connecting element 408b of a length L1d-5 at the other end. The elements 408a, 408b, correspond to elements 108a, 108b of FIG. 3, and to elements 308a, 308b of FIG. 6.

In various alternate embodiments of the RRA element 400, one or more of the sections 404, 406a, 406b, and of the elements 408a, 408b, may be composed of one or more resilient materials, while the remaining sections and/or elements may be composed of a non-resilient material. For example, section 404 and elements 408a and 408b may be composed of a non-resilient material (for example, such as nylon webbing or equivalent), while sections 406a and 406b are each composed of a resilient material. Preferably, the RRA element 400 may be adjustable between diameters D6a and D7a, that are at least substantially similar to diameters D6 and D7 of FIGS. 3 and 6. The relative magnitudes of lengths L1d-1, L1d-2, L1d-3, L1d-4, and L1d-5 may be selected as a matter of design choice without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It should also be noted, that the various above-described elements and components of each embodiment of the inventive hosiery article in FIGS. 1-8 may vary in color and material composition, and may include one or more embellishments or other decorative features, as a matter of design choice and without departing from the spirit of the invention, such that the inventive hosiery articles may be readily configured as attractive fashion accessories.

Thus, while there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices and methods illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A hosiery article, sized and configured to be worn on a predefined region of a user's lower limb comprising the user's leg, ankle, and foot, the limb region having a predetermined portion of a diameter that varies between a first diameter value and a second diameter value over a period of time, the article comprising:

an article body composed of a flexible material, comprising a lower region for receiving the user's foot, a middle region, positioned above the lower region, for receiving at least the user's ankle, and an upper region of a third diameter, positioned above the middle region for receiving a predetermined portion of the user's leg;

a configurable tension retaining component, positioned within said upper article region and connected to said article body, operable to exert a tension force on a proximal region of the user's leg, that is sufficient to at least partially retain said upper region of said article proximal to a predetermined position thereupon selected by the user when placing the article on the user's lower limb, wherein said tension retaining component is further operable by the user to selectively change said tension force exerted thereby on said proximal leg region, by adjusting said third diameter to a user-determined diameter value within a predetermined range between a fourth diameter and a fifth diameter, such that the user is thereby empowered to alter said tension force exerted on at least a portion of the leg thereof, to maintain a desired user-determined level of comfort in wearing the article, in response to a change in the diameter value of the predetermined potion of the users limb region.