Nether Patents (Class 66/177)
  • Patent number: 12102153
    Abstract: A machine for manufacturing boxers starting from a first and a second tubular fabric includes a separating station configured for separating a fabric element from the second tubular fabric. The machine includes a handling station configured for defining an operating configuration in which the first tubular fabric defines an operating area, and a moving device configured for placing the fabric element inside the operating area. The machine further comprises a sewing station configured for receiving the incoming tubular fabric and the fabric element placed in the operating area and for sewing longitudinal edges the fabric element to edge segments of an end of the first tubular fabric so as to obtain a boxer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: SANTONI S.P.A.
    Inventors: Stefano Paterlini, Andrea Lonati
  • Patent number: 12096811
    Abstract: A tennis garment includes a seamless tubular waistband including a top end and a bottom end, a liner short coupled to the waistband, and a skirt coupled to one or both of the waistband and the liner short. The waistband includes at least first, second and third compression regions between the top end and the bottom end. The first, second and third compression regions have first, second and third compression levels, respectively. The first compression region is at or adjacent to the top end. The third compression region is positioned toward the bottom end, and the second compression region being positioned between the first and third compression regions. The third compression level is greater than the second compression level, and the second compression level is greater than the first compression level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2024
    Assignee: Wilson Sporting Goods Co.
    Inventor: Joelle Michaeloff
  • Patent number: 11399576
    Abstract: A gussetless dance tight is disclosed. The gussetless dance tight comprises a legwear portion created from a single tube without any vertical seams. The legwear portion comprises an upper portion, two leg portions, and a transition between the two leg portions where the two leg portions meet. The legwear portion comprises a higher density area at the transition. The higher density area transitions to the upper portion using circular knitting without a gather stitch. The gussetless dance tight also comprises a waistband coupled to the upper portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: DREW LAYNE, LLC
    Inventor: Keri Suffolk
  • Patent number: 11365494
    Abstract: A knitted component may include a first side and an opposite second side and a first tubular knit structure having a first portion on the first side and a second portion on the second side, where the first portion is at least partially formed with a first yarn and where the second portion is at least partially formed with a different second yarn, and where the first yarn includes a thermoplastic polymer material with a melting point of about 200° C. or less. The knitted component may further include a fused surface region on the first side of the knitted component formed with the thermoplastic polymer material of the first yarn. The knitted component may further include an inlaid strand extending through a passage formed by the first tubular knit structure between the first portion and the second portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: William C. McFarland, II, Leah M. Resneck, Nikita A. Troufanov
  • Patent number: 11313057
    Abstract: In one aspect, an upper for an article of footwear may include a knit element, a collar area configured to form an ankle opening, and a cuff in the collar area. The cuff may be at least partially formed by the knit element and may include a ribbed knit structure of the knit element. In another aspect, an upper for an article of footwear may include a knit element with a first area, the first area including a first side and a second side opposite the first side. The first side may be formed of at least 30% more material than the second side such that the first area is configured to curve convexly away from the first side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Roberto Zavala
  • Patent number: 11006697
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure, an upper, and a tensile strand. The upper is coupled to the sole structure and has a medial portion, a lateral portion, an interior surface, and an exterior surface. The tensile strand has a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion disposed between the first and second portions. The first and second portions are disposed adjacent the interior surface of the upper and have a first cross-sectional profile that is flat. The third portion extends from the exterior surface of the upper and has a second cross-sectional profile that is rounded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Aaron A C Cooper
  • Patent number: 11001947
    Abstract: An article with heat-treatable thermoplastic yarn includes various features. The article may include knit structures that at least partially affect rigidity in a zone that includes thermoplastic yarn. In addition, the article may include knit structures that at least partially affect elasticity in a zone that that includes thermoplastic yarn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Hannah R. Amis, Dallas Lund, Amy Lyttle
  • Patent number: 10787756
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a knitted garment includes obtaining customer data regarding at least one customizable garment parameter and applying at least one sequencing module to the customer data to generate a pattern for a customized garment according to the at least one customizable garment parameter. The at least one sequencing module includes a radial symmetry module that includes applying a first transfer sequence to a first section of stitches including executing an underlapping transfer of stitches from successive pairs of needles in the second bed to successive single needles in the first bed, respectively, and applying a second transfer sequence to a second section of stitches including executing an overlapping transfer of stitches from successive pairs of needles in the second bed to successive single needles in the first bed, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: Bolt Threads Inc.
    Inventors: Myrrhia Rae Resneck, Mitchell Joseph Heinrich
  • Patent number: 10569044
    Abstract: A headgear or headgear segments are manufactured to shape thereby producing little or no waste material. Techniques such as knitting, braiding, crocheting, and 3D printing can be used produce the headgear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: ResMed PTY LTD
    Inventors: Jessica Lea Dunn, Justin John Formica, Anthony Paul Barbara
  • Patent number: 10455868
    Abstract: The invention provides a compression garment (50) for clothing a body part, such as a lower torso and the legs. The body part includes a muscle ridge, such as a lateral edge of the gluteus maximus (49). Compression garment (50) has first and second panels of stretchable material joined by a seam (32). At least part of the seam (32) is adapted to correspond to at least part of the muscle ridge, being at the edge of the gluteus maximus (49). The invention also provides a method of manufacturing a compression garment, using an algorithm to calculate size changes to produce desired compression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Skins International Trading AG
    Inventors: Bradley T. Duffy, Susan K. Duffy
  • Patent number: 10415162
    Abstract: A knitted sleeve for routing and protecting elongate members and method of construction thereof are provided. The sleeve includes an elongate, knitted wall having a circumferentially continuous, tubular outer periphery extending along a central axis between opposite open ends. The wall includes knitted shrinkable yarn and knitted non-shrinkable yarn. The shrinkable yarn provides the wall with an ability to be radially constricted from a first, diametrically enlarged state to a second, diametrically shrunken state, wherein said shrinkable yarn and said non-shrinkable yarn are knit in alternating groups of courses with one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Federal-Mogul Powertrain LLC
    Inventors: Zhong Huai Zhang, Xiaodan Qiu, Linwood Ludy, Ali Khosroshahi, Leigh Krauser
  • Patent number: 10400369
    Abstract: The subject matter of this specification can be embodied in, among other things, a garment that includes a body having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The body has an anterior knit region having a first knitting pattern configured to stretch across a portion of a wearer's abdominal area, a second knitting pattern configured to stretch across a portion of a wearer's chest area, a posterior knit region having the first knitting pattern configured to stretch about a portion of the wearer's back, a first lateral knit region having a third knitting pattern different from the first knitting pattern configured to stretch about a portion of the wearer's left lateral area, and a second lateral knit region having the third knitting pattern configured to stretch about a portion of the wearer's right lateral area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: HBI Branded Apparel Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Heinz Altmann, Carmelo Padin
  • Patent number: 10383388
    Abstract: An article of footwear includes a sole structure and an upper that is attached to the sole structure. The upper includes a knitted component with a compression member that is configured to apply compression to the wearer. The knitted component also includes a selection element that is configured for selecting and changing the amount of compression applied by the compression member. The selection element is spaced away from the sole structure. The selection element includes a first area and a second area. The first area is configured to move relative to the second area between an unsecured position and a secured position to change the amount of compression applied by the compression member. The first area is spaced away from the second area in the unsecured position, and the first area is attached to the second area in the secured position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel A. Podhajny
  • Patent number: 10351979
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides an upper for an article of footwear. The upper may include a knit element defining a portion of at least one of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper. The interior surface may define a void. A tongue and the knit element may have a common yarn, and the tongue may extend through a throat area of the upper. The tongue may comprise a lateral edge, a medial edge, and a forward portion. At least one of the lateral edge, the medial edge, and the forward portion may be unsecured to the knit element. The tongue may be secured to the knit element at least at one of the lateral edge, the medial edge, and the forward portion of the throat area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Daniel A. Podhajny, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Daren P. Tatler, Bruce Huffa
  • Patent number: 10221509
    Abstract: According to the invention, a garment (1) is produced, comprising two leg pieces (3, 5) and a body, wherein the body (7) comprises two side pockets (17, 19) of fabric and preferably a central portion (15) between the two side pockets. The body is produced with a plurality of feeds of yarns. Moreover, the pockets are formed with reciprocating motion and the central portion with continuous motion of the needle cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2019
    Assignee: GOLDEN LADY COMPANY S.P.A.
    Inventors: Nerino Grassi, Paolo Conti
  • Patent number: 9982374
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for producing a knitted article with two leg pieces and one body on a circular knitting machine with at least one circular needle bed. The method comprises the following steps: a) knitting a first leg piece (3) with continuous motion; b) knitting a first pocket (17) of fabric with continuous motion, starting from an end course (23) of the first leg piece (3); c) knitting a central part (15) of said body with continuous motion; d) knitting a second pocket of fabric (19) with continuous motion starting from the central part of the body up to a start course (29) of a second leg piece (5); e) knitting the second leg piece (5) with continuous motion starting from the start course.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: GOLDEN LADY COMPANY S.P.A.
    Inventors: Nerino Grassi, Paolo Conti
  • Publication number: 20150143855
    Abstract: A pair of pants has a main pants portion knitted from a yarn which is comprised of rayon, nylon and spandex extending from an elastic waistband fabricated of polyester and rubber. The main pants portion of the pants can be sized so that said fabric is in a stretched condition about the buttocks and thighs of a wearer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: PETER J. NYGARD
  • Patent number: 9032763
    Abstract: Methods of manufacturing a knitted component for an article of footwear that include knitting an upper with an integral knit tongue during a knitting process on a knitting machine are described. The knitting process forms the integral knit tongue of unitary knit construction with the upper so that the integral knit tongue extends through a throat area of the knitted component. The integral knit tongue can include raised elements formed of unitary knit construction with the tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian Meir, Daniel A. Podhajny, Daren P. Tatler
  • Publication number: 20150107307
    Abstract: Provided is a footwear that excels in productivity and shape retaining property. Footwear 1 is knitted seamlessly with a flat knitting machine having at least a pair of a front and a back needle bed and includes a base knit fabric portion 2 having a mixed section 20 knitted using a first knitting yarn and a second knitting yarn interwoven along the first knitting yarn. The first knitting yarn configuring the mixed section 20 of the footwear 1 is a knitting yarn that is not a heat-fusible yarn, and the second knitting yarn is a heat-fusible yarn having thermal adhesiveness and heat-shrinkable properties. The second knitting yarn preferably has a configuration including a core made from a material that contracts by heat, and a sheath made from a material having a lower fusing point than the core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: SHIMA SEKI MFG., LTD.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Kosui, Takashi Kino, Yohji Hamada
  • Patent number: 9010157
    Abstract: An article of footwear including a knitted component having a monofilament knit element with peripheral knit portions is described. The knitted component includes a monofilament knit element formed by knitting with a monofilament strand. The monofilament knit element is formed of unitary knit construction with the remaining portions of the knitted component, including peripheral portions that are knit using a natural or synthetic twisted fiber yarn. An inlaid tensile element can extend through the knitted component, including portions of the monofilament knit element. The monofilament knit element may be knitted with a monofilament strand according to a variety of knit structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel A. Podhajny
  • Patent number: 9003836
    Abstract: A knitted component including a knit element and a gusseted tongue is incorporated into an upper of an article of footwear. The knit element defines a portion of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper, with the interior surface defining a void for receiving a foot. The knit element and the gusseted tongue are formed together as a knitted component during a knitting process as a one-piece element. The gusseted tongue is formed of unitary knit construction with the knit element and is joined with the knit element in an instep area of the upper. The knitting process includes steps of forming portions of the knitted component, transferring portions of the knitted component to opposite needle beds, shifting needle beds along a lateral direction to cause portions to overlap, and joining the overlapped portions by knitting to form the gusseted tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel A. Podhajny
  • Patent number: 8997530
    Abstract: An article of footwear including a full monofilament upper is described. The full monofilament upper incorporates a knitted component including a monofilament knit element. The monofilament knit element is formed by knitting with a monofilament strand. The monofilament knit element is formed of unitary knit construction with the remaining portions of the knitted component, including peripheral portions that are knit using a natural or synthetic twisted fiber yarn. An inlaid tensile element can extend through the knitted component, including portions of the monofilament knit element. The monofilament knit element may be knitted with a monofilament strand according to a variety of knit structures. A fusible strand may be knit with the monofilament knit element. Upon heating, the fusible strand can combine and surround the monofilament strand within the monofilament knit element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel A. Podhajny
  • Patent number: 8997529
    Abstract: An article of footwear including a knitted component having a monofilament knit element with peripheral knit portions is described. The knitted component includes a monofilament knit element formed by knitting with a monofilament strand. The monofilament knit element is formed of unitary knit construction with the remaining portions of the knitted component, including peripheral portions that are knit using a natural or synthetic twisted fiber yarn. An inlaid tensile element can extend through the knitted component, including portions of the monofilament knit element. The monofilament knit element may be knitted with a monofilament strand according to a variety of knit structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel A. Podhajny
  • Patent number: 8973410
    Abstract: A knitted component including a knit element and a gusseted tongue is incorporated into an upper of an article of footwear. The knit element defines a portion of an exterior surface of the upper and an opposite interior surface of the upper, with the interior surface defining a void for receiving a foot. The knit element and the gusseted tongue are formed together as a knitted component during a knitting process as a one-piece element. The gusseted tongue is formed of unitary knit construction with the knit element and is joined with the knit element in an instep area of the upper. The knitting process includes steps of forming portions of the knitted component, transferring portions of the knitted component to opposite needle beds, shifting needle beds along a lateral direction to cause portions to overlap, and joining the overlapped portions by knitting to form the gusseted tongue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel A. Podhajny
  • Patent number: 8959959
    Abstract: An article of footwear including a full monofilament upper is described. The full monofilament upper incorporates a knitted component including a monofilament knit element. The monofilament knit element is formed by knitting with a monofilament strand. The monofilament knit element is formed of unitary knit construction with the remaining portions of the knitted component, including peripheral portions that are knit using a natural or synthetic twisted fiber yarn. An inlaid tensile element can extend through the knitted component, including portions of the monofilament knit element. The monofilament knit element may be knitted with a monofilament strand according to a variety of knit structures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel A. Podhajny
  • Publication number: 20150020288
    Abstract: An article of clothing is provided having a plurality of accesses for accessing, when the clothing is worn by a wearer, the area below the clothing without removing the clothing. In one example, the article of clothing is an upper-body garment with two arm accesses, an anterior torso access, and two side torso accesses. In another example, the article of clothing is a lower-body garment with two leg accesses, two knee accesses, and two hip accesses. In one example, each access is opened or closed by an incremental fastening device such as a one-way or two-way zipper.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventor: Bimla Picot
  • Publication number: 20140352173
    Abstract: An article of footwear incorporates a textile upper. The upper comprises a knitted component. The knitted component may be warp knitted. The knitted component has an outer side and an inner side that can have different knit configurations. The knitted component can also incorporate portions of a single layer construction and portions of a double layer construction. The double layer construction forms pockets on portions of the knitted component. Inserts can be placed into the pockets to provide support, stability, or other desired properties to the portions of the knitted component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Inventors: Thomas G. Bell, Bhupesh Dua, Julie Huffman, Amy Lyttle
  • Publication number: 20140338403
    Abstract: A sock includes a foot section and a toe section both formed of knitted fabric, the toe section being provided in the form of a bag having a predetermined shape by mutual joining of circumferential edges of the knitted fabric. A knitted portion of the fabric covers a lateral face of the vicinity of a base of the toe section. A big-toe side end edge of fabric covers at least one of the sole portion and instep portion of the toe section and wraps around to the other on the toe base side and a big-toe side join line joining them is located within the plane of the other. The toe section consists of a big toe bag and a four-toe bag. The big-toe bag, which cover the base of the body-center side lateral face of the big toe includes a knitted portion of a knitted fabric is present.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventor: Noriyoshi Yoshimura
  • Publication number: 20140317833
    Abstract: There is provided herein, a sock comprising a toe and/or a heel area, wherein said toe area is divided to at least two sub-areas, wherein a borderline between at least two adjacent sub-areas is essentially vertical. There is also provided, a method for manufacturing a sock comprising forming a toe and/or a heel area divided to at least two sub-areas, wherein a borderline between at least two adjacent sub-areas is essentially vertical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Applicant: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth T. Craig, Donna L. Marchant, Avi Cohen, David Maiul
  • Publication number: 20140283560
    Abstract: A single-purpose tick-repelling forearm and leg covering apparel for the prevention of tick bites includes a substantially tubular, stretchable, wearable covering, with cuffs at both ends, made of knitted or woven ixodicidally-treated textile, with long-lasting repellency, which is easily slipped on, used by the wearer as a puttee or sleeve for covering bare or clothed legs or forearms for repelling or killing ticks and therefore preventing tick bites. The apparel includes a substantially tubular, stretchable covering that has been treated with tick repellent, and has proximal and distal cuffs for holding the covering in place on the forearm or leg of the wearer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Inventors: John W. Patton, Kristen T. Patton
  • Patent number: 8650916
    Abstract: Flat knitting allows production of textile structures (e.g., for use in footwear uppers) of a final desired shape such that textile cutting steps can be avoided. Flat knitted elements also can be formed directly in desired three dimensional shapes, which can help avoid the need to use additional support structures (e.g., in footwear construction). By selectively placing multiple different yarns and/or stitch patterns at multiple different locations in the overall structure during the knitting process, flat knitted products may have multiple different physical properties (e.g., different stretchability, different moisture management capabilities, etc.) at multiple different locations or zones within a single, unitary construction (e.g., different properties at different zones or locations within a single footwear structure). Additionally, flat knitting can be used to produce pockets, tunnels, or other layered structures in the final product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Edward Nathaniel Thomas
  • Patent number: 8621891
    Abstract: Articles of footwear may have an upper that includes a knit element and a tongue. The knit element defines a portion of an exterior surface and an opposite interior surface of the upper, with the interior surface defining a void for receiving a foot. The tongue is formed of unitary knit construction with the knit element and extends through a throat area of the upper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Benjamin A. Shaffer, Bruce Huffa
  • Patent number: 8590345
    Abstract: Articles of footwear include a textile upper member with an exterior constructed from knitted textile material, the exterior including a region with stability ribs and a second unribbed region. The region(s) having stability ribs may be located, for example: along a lateral midfoot side of the upper member; along a forefoot portion of the upper member; and/or along a medial midfoot side of the upper member. Other articles of footwear include an upper member having exterior and interior textile elements joined together in a stitchless manner at the foot-receiving opening of the upper member. The exterior surface of this upper member also may include one or more regions with stability structures. The stitchless textile engagement techniques can provide a smooth, non-bulky, and breathable joint that does not require thick layers of textile material in contact with or adjacent the wearer's foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Susan L. Sokolowski, Susanne Amalie Wolf-Hochdoerffer
  • Publication number: 20130186150
    Abstract: This article of elastic knitted lingerie has a briefs part (12) intended to cover the abdomen and buttocks of a subject, said briefs part (12) being made of a base knit and having a silicone-based resin deposited on the base knit in the form of a network of lines (21, 22) and extending in one and/or the other of the two regions formed respectively by a first, approximately triangular zone at the front of the briefs (12), having its tip at the bottom and its base at the top, and a second zone at the rear of the briefs, formed by a substantially vertical region to the sides of the buttocks and a substantially horizontal region beneath the buttocks.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2011
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventors: Gilles Roger Pilawa, Laurent Massotte
  • Patent number: 8448474
    Abstract: Articles of footwear may have an upper that includes a knit element and a tongue. The knit element defines a portion of an exterior surface and an opposite interior surface of the upper, with the interior surface defining a void for receiving a foot. The tongue is formed of unitary knit construction with the knit element and extends through a throat area of the upper. Methods of manufacturing a knitted component for an article of footwear may include knitting a tongue. The tongue is held on needles of a knitting machine. A first portion of a knit element is formed with the knitting machine while the tongue is held on the needles. The tongue is then joined to the first portion of the knit element. Additionally, a second portion of the knit element is formed with the knitting machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: NIKE, Inc.
    Inventors: Daren P. Tatler, Daniel A. Podhajny
  • Patent number: 8365557
    Abstract: The method comprises the phases of: knitting at least one part (5 A, 5B) of the body (1) with reciprocating motion of the two cylinders of a double-cylinder machine; —knitting the leg pieces (9 A, 9B) with a continuous rotational motion of the two cylinders (11, 13), a first leg piece being knitted by a first of said cylinders and a second leg piece being knitted by a second of said cylinders. It is provided for an arc of needles (C) to be maintained temporarily inactive on each of said two cylinders while knitting said at least one part (5 A, 5B) of the body (1) with reciprocating motion. Furthermore, it is provided that the temporarily inactive needles are set to work at the end of the knitting of said at least one part (5 A, 5B) of the body (1) with reciprocating motion, thus forming an interknitting line (CC) for joining the two leg pieces (9 A, 9B), then continuing the knitting with continuous rotary motion with all the needles (15) of both the cylinders (11, 13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Golden Lady Company S.p.A.
    Inventor: Paolo Conti
  • Publication number: 20120204605
    Abstract: The method comprises the phases of: knitting at least one part (5A, 5B) of the body (1) with reciprocating motion of the two cylinders of a double-cylinder machine; -knitting the leg pieces (9A, 9B) with a continuous rotational motion of the two cylinders (11, 13), a first leg piece being knitted by a first of said cylinders and a second leg piece being knitted by a second of said cylinders. It is provided for an arc of needles (C) to be maintained temporarily inactive on each of said two cylinders while knitting said at least one part (5A, 5B) of the body (1) with reciprocating motion. Furthermore, it is provided that the temporarily inactive needles are set to work at the end of the knitting of said at least one part (5A, 5B) of the body (1) with reciprocating motion, thus forming an interknitting line (CC) for joining the two leg pieces (9A, 9B), then continuing the knitting with continuous rotary motion with all the needles (15) of both the cylinders (11, 13).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2009
    Publication date: August 16, 2012
    Inventor: Paolo Conti
  • Patent number: 8215132
    Abstract: Flat knitting allows production of textile structures (e.g., for use in footwear uppers) of a final desired shape such that textile cutting steps can be avoided. Flat knitted elements also can be formed directly in desired three dimensional shapes, which can help avoid the need to use additional support structures (e.g., in footwear construction). By selectively placing multiple different yarns and/or stitch patterns at multiple different locations in the overall structure during the knitting process, flat knitted products may have multiple different physical properties (e.g., different stretchability, different moisture management capabilities, etc.) at multiple different locations or zones within a single, unitary construction (e.g., different properties at different zones or locations within a single footwear structure). Additionally, flat knitting can be used to produce pockets, tunnels, or other layered structures in the final product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Nike, Inc.
    Inventors: Bhupesh Dua, Edward Nathaniel Thomas
  • Patent number: 8171755
    Abstract: A knit fabric comprising a knit base containing at least one thread of a material, said thread changing its electrical resistance under the influence of moisture, is provided with an incorporated moisture sensor that comprises at least two spaced apart electrically conductive electrodes. Rows or columns of stitches of the knit base are located between the electrodes. Each of the electrodes contains at least one electrically conductive thread that is knit together with the knit base and that is in electrical connection with electrical connecting means (16) that are accessible from the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Kunert Fashion GmbH & Co, KG
    Inventors: Michael Jahn, Wolfgang Von Riedheim, Claudia-Susanne Franke, Mike Oertel, Klaus Meier
  • Publication number: 20120036897
    Abstract: A circular knitted fabric for the manufacture of a garment includes a first group of courses formed of a low melting point yarn and a first yarn, and a continuing second group of courses formed of the low melting point yarn and a second yarn. The second group of courses has an elastane content greater than that of the first group of courses. The low melting point yarn fuses with the first and second yarns after heating to a temperature sufficient to melt the low melting point yarn only. The fabric, after finishing, is adapted to be cut into a garment in such a way that the first group of courses becomes a body or the first group of courses of the garment, and the second group of courses becomes an integral elastic band portion or the second group of courses-like selvedge of the garment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2011
    Publication date: February 16, 2012
    Inventors: Chi Leung CHUNG, King Hung Andrew Ko, Ka Chun Wan
  • Patent number: 7997102
    Abstract: Knitted products like slips, panties, trousers and mainly tights are closed in the crotch area (K) with at least a pair of opposed knitted-on elements (1A, 1B, 2A, 3A) passing to the crotch (K). The product can be knitted from the border of the body part via at least a pair of knitted-on elements and up to the knitting of the parts for the legs or you can knit from the parts for legs via at least a pair of knitted-on parts and it is finished with a border in the body part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Inventor: Marta Obadalova
  • Publication number: 20110048077
    Abstract: A method is provided for forming a garment, including providing a fabric layer having sonically weldable material, the fabric layer having an inner surface and at least one opening region, the opening region having a periphery and an outer free edge, placing an elastic edge band having sonically weldable material around the entire periphery of the opening region, the edge band having first and second free edges and an inner surface, securing the first free edge of the edge band to the outer free edge of the opening region with a subsonic or ultrasonic edge weld to form a finished seamless edge along the opening region, and activating an adhesive along more than half of the inner surface of the edge band to secure the edge band and second free edge to the inner surface of the fabric layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Roger D. Warren, Rick Kelley
  • Publication number: 20100319409
    Abstract: An undergarment is provided that favorably adheres to the skin and has superior shape retention. The undergarment according to the present invention is an undergarment that is comprised of a fabric having a woven structure, a knitted structure or a non-woven fabric structure, wherein the fabric contains a filament yarn A having a filament diameter of 10 to 1000 nm and a filament yarn B having a filament diameter greater than 1000 nm, and the filament yarn A is exposed on the side that contacts the skin.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: Teijin Fibers Limited
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Soeda
  • Publication number: 20100132411
    Abstract: Knitted product of the type of briefs, knickers, but mainly tights, including the body part and leg parts, closed in the crotch area by opposite extra courses, in which at least one of the extra courses (7.1, 7.2, 7.3, 7.4) is created in the direction of the top (V1, V2, V3, V4) at first by the extending part (7.1A, 7.2A, 7.3A, 7.4A) and then by the narrowing part (7.1B, 7.2B, 7.3B, 7.4B). The method of knitting of the knitted product of the type briefs, knickers, but mainly tights, closed in the crotch area by at least one pair of opposite extra courses, where the extra courses are knitted by reverse run while in case of extra courses on leg parts, their edge links of the extending part are knitted together with the links of the last continuous line of the leg part, while in case of the extra courses on the body part, the edge links in the extending parts are knitted together with the links of the first continuous line of the body part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Inventor: Ján Ando
  • Publication number: 20090229311
    Abstract: Knitted products like slips, panties, trousers and mainly tights are closed in the crotch area (K) with at least a pair of opposed knitted-on elements (1A, 1B, 2A, 3A) passing to the crotch (K). The product can be knitted from the border of the body part via at least a pair of knitted-on elements and up to the knitting of the parts for the legs or you can knit from the parts for legs via at least a pair of knitted-on parts and it is finished with a border in the body part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Inventor: Marta Obadalova
  • Patent number: 7559216
    Abstract: A three-piece panty garment can include three panels formed from separate tubular blanks knit on a small-circumference circular knitting machine designed for making pantyhose. As a result, such a panty garment can comprise an unstretched girth that is substantially three times the circumference of a small-circumference circular knitting machine knitting cylinder. Such panty garments and methods of making such panty garments can provide larger size panty garments made on a circular knitting machine designed for making pantyhose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: HBI Branded Apparel Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Walter H. Imboden, Ronald Wayne Brown
  • Patent number: 7546751
    Abstract: Garment consisting of seamless circular-knit cotton or circular-knit polyamide (microfiber yarn) with a component of elastane, whereby the garment is provided with zones of variable elasticity (1-5), whereby compression zones of higher elasticity (4, 5), which therefore provide greater support, are knitted into the garment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Inventor: Thomas Lutz
  • Patent number: 7529596
    Abstract: A knitting method of knit pants knitted using a flat knitting machine, wherein the knitting starts at a side part on either right side or left side including a side part of a vertical rise part and a side part of a leg part and ends at a side part on the other leg side including a side part of a vertical rise part and a side part of a leg part. A front knitted fabric part and a back knitted fabric part are knitted in the following steps so that a length of the front knitted fabric part from the side to the crotch can be made shorter than a length of the back knitted fabric part from the side to the crotch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Shima Seiki Mfg., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuyoshi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 7526929
    Abstract: The invention provides tights that are capable of efficiently training the psoas major while preventing discomfort of wearing the tights due to the high elastic portions provided over an area in which no load for the psoas major is required. There are provided tights characterized in that it includes a high elastic portion that is formed in a predetermined area of a back side of the tights, which area corresponding to a region of the buttocks and the posterior thigh of the human body in which the skin of the region is stretched greatly when the femoral region of the human body is lifted, the high elastic portion being higher in elastic modulus in the height direction than the area of the back side of the tights other than the predetermined area and an area of a front side of the tights corresponding to at least the abdomen and the anterior thigh.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: ASICS Corporation
    Inventors: Yoshikuni Takamoto, Yoshie Tsuji, Mamoru Omuro
  • Patent number: 7509822
    Abstract: An article of clothing has a main body formed of high-tightness, main-body knitting fabric made of power net. The article of clothing includes front and back support pieces disposed around the waist and having no elasticity in a longitudinal direction thereof. The front support pieces are sewn to a front body at positions inside the left and right ilia of the abdominal pelvis. The back support pieces are sewn to a back body at left and right positions near the sacrum of the pelvis in central hip portions. Side waist pieces disposed between the front and back support pieces are formed by sewing high-tightness, net-like knitting fabric to the main-body knitting fabric at the top edge while leaving the bottom edge unsewn. The article of clothing has a pant-like shape with left and right leg parts that can be tightly fitted around the thighs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: NLC Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo Ishida, Shinji Hada