Girdle for tights

Abstract: A girdle (A-A1) for tights or pantyhose, in which the regions that constitute the panty and the initial portions of the stretch hose are constituted by a tuck-stitch mesh (A), formed starting from a plain background mesh so as to obtain, by combining and knitting in three dimensions particular conventional threads and elastic threads which are conveniently woven together, a mesh having alternating undulations (3,3a,4,4a,11b,11c) which are considerably in relief with respect to the plain mesh, such as to generate an adequate compression and thus a massaging and tonic action in the regions of the body contained in the girdle.

Description: The present invention relates to a girdle for tights, particularly to the region that constitutes the panty and part of the tubular regions related to the thighs, formed by a tuck-stitch mesh which is produced so as to give said mesh a high relief effect according to alternating mesh undulations on the sides of said mesh, said alternating undulations being able to produce a massaging and relaxing effect on the parts of the body that are affected by the girdle. Conventional tights, generally known as pantyhose, are constituted by a stretch mesh whose characteristics and type of thread are uniform as regards both the two long stockings and the upper part that joins the top of the two stockings to a tubular girdle which substantially constitutes the actual panty. Fabric for use as contention bandage is known from FR-A-2 588 890 wherein a stretch hose is knitted from conventional and undulating elastic threads. This fabric, however, does not form knitting having a tuck-stitch mesh with alternating three-dimensional undulations. Another bandage comprising three-dimensional undulations owing to elastic yarn knitted in one face of a double knit fabric is disclosed in EP-A-0 498 062. Again, there is no mention of a tuck-stitch mesh with alternating three-dimensional undulations. It is also well-known that the great success achieved by current tights of various sizes is due to the fact that the type of weft and the elasticity of the threads used to manufacture them produce an undisputed comfort, especially for the legs of the wearer. The constant and slight pressure that the stretch mesh applies to the parts surrounded by the stockings produces an effective support action. Moreover, current tights are usually produced with threads of different sizes, so that they are also suitable to protect from the cold; they are also produced with fabrics known as plain mesh or composite mesh and also with ribbed mesh or "pattern" mesh on automatic machines. It is evident that the various currently commercially available types of stretch pantyhose of any kind perform only support and protection for both the actual stockings and the panty connected to the top of the stockings. Accordingly, the aim of the present invention is to provide tights or pantyhose in which at least the girdle constituted by the panty and preferably also a part of the tubular regions that cover ample regions of the thighs is conceived and structured so as to produce a massaging, tonic and relaxing effect in the parts affected by the girdle, with the additional advantage of also adequately compressing the affected parts, providing them with considerable comfort during the movements of the body of the pantyhose wearer. Within the scope of this aim, an object of the present invention is to provide a girdle or panty for tights with a tuck-stitch mesh provided with regions which are highly in relief or constituted by alternating undulations on the plain base mesh and regions which are less in relief, with oblique undulations or the like, in addition to regions with plain mesh. This aim, this object and others which will become apparent hereinafter from the description that follows are achieved by a girdle for tubular stretch tights (pantyhose), in which, according to the present invention, the regions that constitute the panty and the initial portions of the stretch hose are constituted by a tuck-stitch mesh, formed starting from a plain background mesh so as to obtain, by combining and knitting in three dimensions particular conventional threads and elastic threads' which are woven together, a mesh having alternating undulations which are considerably in relief with respect to the plain mesh, such as to generate an adequate compression and thus a massaging and tonic action in the regions of the body contained in the girdle. More particularly, the girdle and the corresponding hose portions that cover part of the thighs are formed starting from two identical tubular bodies which are cut longitudinally up to the so-called crotch region and then assembled by sewing. The assembled girdle also has a tuck-stitch mesh structure with highly raised undulations at the buttocks, hips and tubular portions that adhere to the thighs, while at the front, at the abdomen, it has a tuck-stitch mesh which is less raised and has undulations which are oblique or the like only on the outer side of the fabric. Moreover, said tuck-stitch mesh girdle is completed by an upper tubular border or elastic waistband made of conventional plain stretch mesh or the like. Finally, the girdle or panty and the corresponding tubular parts that affect the thighs are provided by means of a combined use of threads of various dimensions and of elastic threads. Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, given with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are provided merely by way of non-limitative example and wherein: figure 1 is a flattened view of a complete girdle for pantyhose, executed according to the present invention; figure 1a is a sectional perspective view of a portion of tuck-stitch mesh with large alternating undulations which constitute the body of the girdle of figure 1; figure 2 is a view of the girdle of figure 1, divided into two tubular elements which are open and ready for assembly; figure 3 is a perspective view of a finished pantyhose executed according to the present invention; and figure 3a is a perspective sectional view of a tuck-stitch mesh portion which constitutes only the front part of the girdle. With reference to the above figures and as specified above, the present invention relates to the particular tuck-stitch mesh structure only of the girdle and of the initial portions of the two conventional stockings of a stretch pantyhose. The mesh structure is achieved by using conventional automatic circular hosiery knitting machines whereby, starting from a smooth-background mesh pattern, i.e., in which the needles, which are generally four, are kept simultaneously fed with thread, in order to obtain a highly raised mesh it is necessary to cause the intervention, for every two needles, of another needle which holds the mesh being formed for a certain number of turns, usually four; during said turns, the needle remains motionless and is fed and shifted with respect to the other needles, until, again by means of suitably preset patterns, the needle with held thread receives the command to perform the so-called "drop". In this manner, a mesh is obtained which has the intended effect, i.e., a tuck-stitch mesh in high relief, with undulations which are alternated or formed only on a single side of the mesh. The elasticity of the mesh is increased by the insertion, during the formation of the mesh, of conventional stretch threads 5 (figure 1). Figure 1a illustrates a portion of tuck-stitch relief mesh, generally designated by the reference letter A, which is used to form substantially all of the tubular girdle 1 and the initial part 2-2a of conventional long stockings (figures 1 and 2). Figure 1a shows the raised undulations 3-3a etcetera, which protrude from one side of the mesh A-A1, and the alternating and opposite undulations 4-4a, which protrude from the opposite side of the mesh A-A1. The tubular body that constitutes the girdle A-A1 and the corresponding portions 2-2a is obtained by means of a separate production of two identical tubular bodies A-A1 which are cut longitudinally up to the regions 6 and 6a, respectively (figure 2), which are meant to be mutually joined by the so-called crotch 10. The two bodies A-A1 and the lower parts 2-2a are assembled by conventional sewings 7-7a (figure 3) of the opposite edges 8-8a and 9-9a of the two open tubular elements and by means of the subsequent sewing of the fabric or plain-mesh crotch 10 in the lower joining region, as shown in figure 3. Also according to the invention, in the triangular region 11-11a of the girdle that relates to the front part which is in contact with the abdomen and in the narrower regions 13-13a which are meant to be sewn to each other and to the conventional waistband 12, the raised tuck-stitch mesh is provided as shown in figure 3a; in this case, the raised undulations 11b-11c etcetera are provided only on the side of the mesh that is meant to remain on the outside of the pantyhose and with an oblique orientation with respect to the undulations A; this is done to avoid excessive compression in the abdominal region. Finally, the tubular body of the girdle A-A1 has an annular border 12 made of a stretch mesh which is thicker (or heavier) than the mesh of the regions 13-13a. The resulting girdle A-A1 is then sewn in a known manner to the upper border of the socks 14-14a. In practice, it has been observed that a girdle executed according to the present invention, i.e., with a weaving of particular threads, produces a tuck-stitch mesh which can give the fabric a considerable relief with alternating undulations, with the advantage of allowing, while wearing the pantyhose and during movements of the pelvis, to produce rubbing of the raised undulated regions against the skin, thus generating localized micromassages and accordingly providing beneficial, tonic and relaxing effects. The invention as described is of course susceptible of structurally and functionally equivalent modifications and variations in its practical execution without abandoning the scope of the protection of said invention. Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims: A girdle (1) for tubular stretch tights or pantyhose, characterized in that the regions (A, A1) that constitute the panty and the initial portions (2, 2a) of the stretch hose are constituted by a tuck-stitch mesh (A, A1), comprising a plain background mesh (13) so as to obtain, by combining and knitting in three dimensions particular conventional threads and elastic threads (5) which are meshed together, a mesh having alternating undulations (3, 3a, 4, 4a) which are considerably in relief with respect to the plain mesh (13), such as to generate an adequate compression and thus a massaging and tonic action in the regions of the body contained in the girdle (1). A girdle for tights according to claim 1, characterized in that said girdle (1) and the corresponding hose portions that cover part of the thighs comprise two identical tubular bodies (A, A1) which are cut longitudinally up to the so-called crotch region (10) and are then assembled by sewing. A girdle according to claim 2, characterized in that the assembled girdle (1) additionally has a structure with a tuck-stitch mesh (A, A-1) having considerably protruding undulations (3, 3a, 4, 4a) at the buttocks, at the hips and at the tubular portions that adhere to the thighs, while in the front region (11, 11a), at least at the abdomen, it has a tuck-stitch mesh (13a) which is less raised and has oblique or similarly orientated undulations (11b, 11c) only on the outer side of the fabric. A girdle according to claim 2, characterized in that above the tubular body that constitutes the girdle (1) there is provided a waistband or annular elastic border (12) made of plain-stitch mesh.

Inventors: PINELLI ENZO, PINELLI, ENZO
Applicants: CALZIFICIO PINELLI SRL, CALZIFICIO PINELLI S.R.L.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: A41B11
IPC codes: A41B11, A41C1, D04B1