Abstract:
In order to provide a method for producing an article of clothing, which comprises a textile main body and functional elements arranged on the textile main body, which offers a large degree of design freedom with regard to the geometry of the functional elements and ensures good adhesion of the functional elements to the textile main body, it is proposed that the method comprises the following:
       producing the textile main body;   providing a shaped part having at least one functional-element recess for accommodating a functional-element starting material;   introducing the functional-element starting material into the at least one functional-element recess;   bringing the shaped part, which is provided with the functional-element starting material, and the textile main body into contact;   producing at least one functional element connected to the textile main body in a substance-to-substance bonded manner from the functional-element starting material.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation application of PCT/EP2015/054756 filed on Mar. 6, 2015, the entire specification of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a method for producing an article of clothing which comprises a textile main body and functional elements arranged on the textile main body. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    It is known to produce knops of a silicone material on the bottom of the sole region of children&#39;s socks by means of a silk-screen printing process. 
         [0004]    When using a silk-screen printing process however, the geometries attainable for the functional elements are very much limited. Furthermore, the adherence of the functional elements to the textile main body produced by silk-screen printing on a textile main body is barely sufficient. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing an article of clothing that comprises a textile main body and functional elements arranged on the textile main body which offers a large degree of freedom in regard to the geometry of the functional elements and ensures good adherence of the functional elements to the textile main body. 
         [0006]    In accordance with the invention, this object is achieved by a method for producing an article of clothing that comprises a textile main body and functional elements arranged on the textile main body which comprises the following:
       producing the textile main body;   providing a shaped part having at least one recess for a functional element for accommodating a functional-element starting material;   introducing the functional-element starting material into the at least one recess for a functional element;   bringing the shaped part which is provided with the functional-element starting material and the textile main body into contact;   producing at least one functional element that is connected to the textile main body by a substance-to-substance bond from the functional-element starting material.       
 
         [0012]    Thus, the concept underlying the present invention is to define the geometry of at least one of the functional elements that is to be produced by the design of a recess for the functional element in a shaped part, wherein the recess for the functional element is at least partially complementary to the functional element that is produced with the help of the recess for the functional element. 
         [0013]    In particular, the substance-to-substance bond between the functional element and the textile main body can be produced in that the functional-element starting material penetrates into the textile main body due to the process of bringing the shaped part and the textile main body into contact and subsequently, preferably under the effect of a raised pressure and/or a raised temperature, it sets. 
         [0014]    The functional elements preferably form a stimulus inducing structure of the article of clothing which, in the worn state, causes a sensory stimulating effect on certain parts of the wearer&#39;s body such as a proprioceptive stimulation of the musculature for example. 
         [0015]    In a preferred embodiment of the method in accordance with the invention, the textile main body is produced by knitting or weaving. 
         [0016]    In particular, provision may be made for a region of the textile main body upon which at least one functional element is arranged to be in the form of a tuck-stitch knitted fabric. 
         [0017]    Furthermore, provision is preferably made for at least one functional element to be produced in a compression region of the article of clothing in which, in the worn state, the article of clothing exerts a compressive effect on the body of the wearer of the article of clothing. 
         [0018]    In particular, provision may be made for at least one functional element to be produced in a compression region of the textile main body of the article of clothing in which, in the worn state of the article of clothing, the textile main body exerts a compressive effect on the body of the wearer of the article of clothing. 
         [0019]    Such a compression region can be formed, in particular, in that an elastic thread or a plurality of elastic threads are worked into the textile main body. 
         [0020]    Preferably, at least two different types of functional elements are arranged in the same compression region of the article of clothing, said functional elements differing from one another in regard to the shape thereof and/or the height and/or the diameter thereof and/or the degree of hardness thereof and in particular, in regard to the Shore A-hardness thereof. 
         [0021]    Furthermore, provision is preferably made for at least one functional element to comprise a synthetic material, preferably, to be formed substantially entirely of a synthetic material. 
         [0022]    In particular, such a synthetic material can be an elastomeric material such as a silicone material for example and in particular, a two-component material. 
         [0023]    It is especially expedient if at least one functional element has a Shore A-hardness of at least approximately 40. 
         [0024]    Furthermore, it is expedient if at least one functional element has a Shore A-hardness of at most approximately 100. 
         [0025]    Hereby, the Shore A-hardness can be determined in accordance with DIN 53505 or DIN EN ISO 868. 
         [0026]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is made for at least two functional elements to be produced which have different degrees of Shore A-hardness. 
         [0027]    In particular, at least two functional elements can be produced from different functional-element starting materials which have different degrees of Shore A-hardness after setting. 
         [0028]    Preferably, the difference in the degrees of Shore A-hardness of the two functional elements amounts to at least approximately 10, especially preferred, at least approximately 20 and in particular, at least approximately 30. 
         [0029]    Furthermore, provision is preferably made for at least two functional elements to be produced which are of different heights. 
         [0030]    Herein, the height of a functional element is to be understood as being the extent thereof perpendicularly to a major face of the textile main body and in particular, perpendicular to an inner surface of the textile main body facing the wearer&#39;s body in the worn state of the article of leg clothing. 
         [0031]    Preferably, the difference between the heights of the two functional elements amounts to at least approximately 0.5 mm, especially preferred, to at least approximately 1 mm and in particular, to at least approximately 2 mm such as at least approximately 3 mm for example. 
         [0032]    In a preferred embodiment of the method in accordance with the invention, provision is made for an auxiliary filling element to be arranged on the shaped part whilst the functional-element starting material is being introduced into the at least one recess for a functional element, wherein the auxiliary filling element is removed from the shaped part before bringing the shaped part and the textile main body into contact. 
         [0033]    In this way, the effect is achieved that, after the removal of the auxiliary filling element, the functional-element starting material that has been filled into the recess for a functional element protrudes from the recess for the functional element by an excessive amount, wherein the effect of the excess of functional-element starting material is that an adequate amount of functional-element starting material will penetrate into the textile main body so as to establish a firm, permanent substance-to-substance bond with the textile main body. 
         [0034]    Preferably, provision is made for the auxiliary filling element to comprise at least one filling opening which is associated with one of the recesses for functional elements in the shaped part that is to be filled with functional-element starting material. 
         [0035]    Preferably, the filling opening is also filled with the functional-element starting material at the same time as the process of introducing the functional-element starting material into the recess for the functional element. 
         [0036]    The excess amount of functional-element starting material remaining after the removal of the auxiliary filling element from the shaped part substantially corresponds to the thickness of the auxiliary filling element. 
         [0037]    The auxiliary filling element is preferably in the form of a planar element having a thickness of at least approximately 0.04 mm and in particular, of at least approximately 0.08 mm. 
         [0038]    Furthermore, provision is preferably made for the auxiliary filling element to be in the form of a planar element having a thickness of at most approximately 0.7 mm and in particular, of at most approximately 0.35 mm. 
         [0039]    In particular, the auxiliary filling element can be in the form of a foil or a screen. 
         [0040]    Furthermore, the present invention relates to an article of clothing which comprises a textile main body and functional elements arranged on the textile main body. 
         [0041]    The further object of the present invention is to produce such an article of clothing wherein the functional elements exert an especially effective stimulus-inducing effect and in particular, a proprioceptive stimulating effect on the wearer of the article of clothing. 
         [0042]    In accordance with the invention, this object is achieved in the case of an article of clothing in accordance with the first part of claim  13  in that the article of clothing comprises at least two functional elements which have mutually differing heights and/or a mutually differing degree of Shore A-hardness. 
         [0043]    Preferably, the functional elements of mutually differing heights and/or mutually differing degrees of Shore A-hardness are arranged in a compression region of the article of clothing whereat, in the worn state, the article of clothing exerts a compressive effect on the body of the wearer of the article of clothing. 
         [0044]    Due to the fact that the at least two different functional elements have mutually differing heights and/or mutually differing degrees of Shore A hardness, these different functional elements can exert differing amounts of pressure on the tissue of the wearer which rests against the functional elements in the worn state of the article of clothing. 
         [0045]    Hereby, it is desirable that this pressure be experienced not only by receptors in the wearer&#39;s skin, but also by receptors in the more deeply lying fascicular layer, the so-called superficial fascia, which is located in the subcutaneous tissue, so that these lower-lying receptors can also be stimulated by the functional elements. 
         [0046]    Since the superficial fascia can be located at different depths in the tissue depending upon the subcutaneous fatty tissue of the wearer, the functional elements are preferably formed in such a way that they differ from each other as regards to height, diameter and/or hardness. 
         [0047]    Due to the different designs, the functional elements produce a higher or lower pressure in dependence on how far the superficial fascia is located below the skin. 
         [0048]    It has proven to be especially expedient for at least one functional element to have a substantially conical section and in particular, to comprise a conical section or a section in the form of a frustum of a cone. 
         [0049]    Furthermore, it is also possible to form the functional element such that it is substantially conical in its entirety. 
         [0050]    In principle however, the functional element could also be entirely or partly in the form of a pyramid, a hemisphere, a cube or a cylinder. 
         [0051]    The differing geometries and degrees of hardness of the various functional elements of the article of clothing and the different types of pressure that are obtainable thereby offer the further advantage that the stimulus inducing structure, which is formed by the functional elements and/or the compression region of the article of clothing in which the functional elements are arranged, presses on parts of the body of the wearer of the article of clothing with a different pressure in dependence upon whether the wearer&#39;s body has a convex curvature at the bearing surface of the stimulus inducing structure or the compression region, such as the calf musculature, the so-called muscle belly for example, or a concave curvature such as that in the region of the ankle bones, the so-called malleoli for example. 
         [0052]    In a region of the article of clothing which rests against a convexly curved region of the wearer&#39;s body, a functional element of lesser height and/or a functional element of lower hardness will suffice in order to exert the same pressure on the tissue of the wearer as that applied using a greater height and/or a higher hardness of the functional element in a region of the article of clothing which rests against a concavely curved region of the wearer&#39;s body. 
         [0053]    Moreover, functional elements of differing heights and/or different degrees of hardness and the different types of pressure obtained thereby offer the further advantage that the stimulated receptors of the wearer of the article of clothing are restrained from switching into a habituation mode when the article of clothing is worn over a longer stretch of time. A habituation effect can occur due to constant pressure of the functional elements on the body of the wearer thereby leading to reducing stimulation of the receptors in the wearer&#39;s body which can result in a declining stimulus-inducing effect of the article of clothing. 
         [0054]    It may therefore be useful to also implement a variation in the geometry and in particular the height and the hardness of the functional elements within a region of the article of clothing resting against a concave part of the body and/or within a region of the article of clothing resting against a convex part of the body. 
         [0055]    If the article of clothing comprises a first region which rests against a concavely curved part of the wearer&#39;s body in the worn state of the article of clothing and a second region which rests against a convexly curved part of the wearer&#39;s body in the worn state of the article of clothing, wherein a first functional element is arranged in the first region of the article of clothing and a second functional element is arranged in the second region of the article of clothing, then the height of the first functional element is preferably greater than the height of the second functional element and/or the Shore A-hardness of the first functional element is larger than the Shore A-hardness of the second functional element. 
         [0056]    Hereby, the difference in heights of the functional elements preferably amounts to at least approximately 0.5 mm, especially preferred at least approximately 1 mm and in particular, at least approximately 2 mm such as at least approximately 3 mm for example. 
         [0057]    The difference in the degrees of Shore hardness hereby preferably amounts to at least approximately 10, especially preferred at least approximately 20 and in particular, at least approximately 30. 
         [0058]    The concavely curved part of the body may be an ankle bone region for example. 
         [0059]    The convexly curved part of the body may be a calf region for example. 
         [0060]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is made for at least one functional element to be in the form of a knop. 
         [0061]    For example, a functional element in the form of a knop may be entirely or partially in the form of a cone, a truncated cone, a pyramid, a hemisphere, a cube or a cylinder. 
         [0062]    Furthermore, provision may be made for the greatest extent of at least one functional element along the textile main body to be at most approximately 12 mm and in particular, at most approximately 6 mm. 
         [0063]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is made for at least one functional element to be arranged on an inner surface of the textile main body which faces the wearer&#39;s body in the worn state of the article of clothing. 
         [0064]    The method in accordance with the invention for producing an article of clothing can be carried out manually, by needlework, semi-mechanically or by machine. 
         [0065]    The most cost effective method can be selected in dependence on the quantity desired. 
         [0066]    In particular, the article of clothing in accordance with the invention may be in the form of an article of leg clothing. 
         [0067]    In particular hereby, the expression article of leg clothing covers stockings, socks and any other kind of hosiery, including tights, as well as trousers such as shorts and three-quarter length trousers for example, leggings, leg stockings (both short and long), foot and knee bandages. 
         [0068]    Furthermore, provision may be made for the article of clothing in accordance with the invention to be in the form of an article of upper body clothing. 
         [0069]    Hereby, the expression article of upper body clothing covers any article of clothing which is worn close to the body on any part of the wearer&#39;s upper body including the arms and in particular, shirts, body suits, vests, oversleeves, elbow and hand bandages. 
         [0070]    In the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, the invention is described exemplarily for the case of an article of leg clothing in the form of a stocking. 
         [0071]    Likewise however, the features disclosed in connection with this exemplary embodiment can be realised in an article of clothing which is in the form of another article of leg clothing or which is in the form of an article of upper body clothing. 
         [0072]    Further features and advantages of the invention form the subject matter of the following description and the graphic illustration of exemplary embodiments. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0073]      FIG. 1  shows a side view of an article of clothing such as a stocking which comprises a textile main body and functional elements arranged on the main body, wherein the article of clothing is turned in such a way that the inner surface of the article of clothing facing the body of the wearer in the worn state of the article of clothing faces outwardly in this turned state so that the functional elements arranged on the inner surface of the textile main body are visible to the viewer; 
           [0074]      FIG. 2  a rear view of the article of clothing depicted in  FIG. 1 , wherein a foot part of the article of clothing is folded back relative to a shank region of the article of clothing which carries the functional elements; 
           [0075]      FIG. 3  a schematic longitudinal section through the textile main body and a row of functional elements of the article of clothing along the line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0076]      FIG. 4  a perspective illustration of a shaped part with recesses for functional elements for accommodating a functional-element starting material; 
           [0077]      FIG. 5  a perspective illustration which illustrates the placement of an auxiliary filling foil on the shaped part; 
           [0078]      FIG. 6  a perspective illustration which illustrates the process of introducing the functional-element starting material into the recesses for functional elements in the shaped part; 
           [0079]      FIG. 7  a perspective illustration which illustrates the removal of the auxiliary filling foil from the shaped part after the introduction of the functional-element starting material into the recesses for functional elements; 
           [0080]      FIG. 8  a schematic longitudinal section through the shaped part, the auxiliary filling foil arranged on the shaped part and the functional-element starting material which has been introduced into the recesses for functional elements of the shaped part and the filling openings in the auxiliary filling foil during the process of lifting-off the auxiliary filling foil; 
           [0081]      FIG. 9  a schematic diagram which illustrates the process of bringing the shaped part that is provided with the functional-element starting material and the textile main body of the article of clothing into contact; 
           [0082]      FIG. 10  a schematic diagram which illustrates the production of the functional elements connected to the textile main body by a substance-to-substance bond from the functional-element starting material in a heatable press; 
           [0083]      FIG. 11  a schematic perspective diagram which illustrates the detachment of the textile main body with the functional elements produced thereon from the shaped part; 
           [0084]      FIG. 12  a schematic illustration of a screen printing machine into which a plurality of shaped parts with recesses for functional elements are placed for the purpose of carrying out a second embodiment of a method for producing an article of clothing; and 
           [0085]      FIG. 13  a schematic perspective illustration of the screen printing machine depicted in  FIG. 12  with the shaped parts placed therein and an auxiliary filling screen laid upon the shaped parts whilst the functional-element starting material is introduced through the filling openings of the auxiliary filling screen into the recesses for functional elements in the shaped parts by means of a mechanically operated scraper blade. 
       
    
    
       [0086]    Similar or functionally equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference symbols in all of the Figures. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0087]    An article of clothing which is designated as a whole by  100  and is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  is in the form of an article of leg clothing  102  and in particular, in the form of a stocking  104  for example. 
         [0088]    The stocking  104  comprises a cuff region  106  at the upper end of the stocking  104 , a shank region  108  downwardly adjoining the cuff region  106  and a foot region  110  which encloses the foot of the wearer in the worn state and which extends downwardly and forwardly from the shank region  108 . 
         [0089]    The lower half of the foot region  110  of the stocking  104  forms a sole region  112  which comprises a lower half  114  of a heel region  116 , a lower half  118  of a toe region  120  and an intermediate region  122  which is located between the heel region  116  and the toe region  120 . 
         [0090]    The shank region  108  and the foot region  110  of the stocking  104  are preferably continuous and are formed from a ground fabric  124  which comprises one or more ground threads. The ground thread or the ground threads can be formed of any material such as a natural fibre or a chemical fibre for example. 
         [0091]    For the purposes of protecting the wearer&#39;s leg from compressive or shock loads and/or for the purposes of protecting from heat loss, the stocking  104  can be provided with one or more pads. 
         [0092]    In particular, the foot region  110  of the stocking  104  can be provided with a foot pad  126  which extends from the toe region  120  via the intermediate region  122  of the sole region  112  up to the heel region  116 . 
         [0093]    As can best be seen from  FIG. 2 , this foot pad  126  of the stocking  104  is preferably asymmetrical with respect to a longitudinal centre plane  128  of the foot region  110 . 
         [0094]    In particular, a portion of the foot region  110  of the foot pad  126  which is arranged in the region of the inner foot arch of the wearer of the stocking  104  in the worn state of the stocking  104  can be removed from the foot pad  126  on the inner side of the stocking  104 , i.e. on the side which faces the wearer&#39;s other leg in the worn state of the stocking  104 . Since the wearer of the stocking  104  does not tread on this region of the inner foot arch when walking, the outer contour of the foot pad  126  at the bottom of the foot region  110  thus substantially corresponds to the outer contour of the footfall area of the wearer of the stocking  104 . 
         [0095]    The toe region  120  provided with the foot pad  126  can likewise be asymmetrical with respect to the longitudinal centre plane  128  of the foot region  110  in order to provide better matching of the stocking  104  to the outline of the toes of the wearer of the stocking  104 . 
         [0096]    In particular, provision may be made for an inner edge section  130  of the toe region  120  that is arranged to the side of the wearer&#39;s big toe to be inclined to the longitudinal centre plane  128  of the foot region  110  at a smaller angle than an outer edge section  132  of the toe region  120  that is arranged to the side of the small toe of the wearer. 
         [0097]    A method of producing such an asymmetrical toe region  120  is described in EP 1 049 828 BI. 
         [0098]    Furthermore, a plurality of channels  134  extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal centre plane  128  of the foot region  110  can be provided within the outer contour of the foot pad  126 , the stocking  104  having a lesser degree of reinforcement in the region of said channels than in the regions of the foot pad  126  surrounding the channels  134 . 
         [0099]    In particular, provision may be made for the stocking  104  to comprise only the ground fabric  124  but no additional reinforcement threads within the region of the channels  134 . 
         [0100]    The foot pad  126  may incorporate one or more reinforcement threads which may be formed of any material. 
         [0101]    Preferably, provision is made for the reinforcement thread or threads of the foot pad  126  to form plush loops which are preferably located on the “reverse side of the goods”, i.e. on the inner surface of the stocking  104  facing the leg of the wearer when the stocking  104  is being worn. 
         [0102]    Furthermore, the stocking  104  comprises one or more compression regions  136  in which the stocking  104  exerts a compressive effect on the leg of the wearer in the worn state. 
         [0103]    In particular, this compressive effect can be obtained by working one or more elastic threads into the ground fabric  124  of the stocking  104 . 
         [0104]    In particular, the elastic thread or the elastic threads may comprise elastane. 
         [0105]    In particular, the stocking  104  can comprise a compression region  136  which extends downwardly from the top edge  138  of the shank region  108  to a lower edge  140  of the compression region  142 . 
         [0106]    Hereby, the lower edge  140  of the compression region  136  can be located above an ankle region of the stocking  104  which rests on the wearer&#39;s ankle in the worn state of the stocking  104 . However, the compression region  136  could also extend into the heel region  116 . 
         [0107]    The compressive force within the compression region  136  preferably amounts to at least approximately 10 mm Hg and/or to at most approximately 32 mm Hg, and in particular to at most approximately 25 mm Hg. 
         [0108]    The compressive force may be constant or exhibit a gradient in the compression region  136 . 
         [0109]    Thus in particular, the compression region  136  can exhibit a compression gradient wherein the compressive force decreases from bottom to top. 
         [0110]    In particular, provision may be made for the compressive force at the upper edge  138  of the compression region  136  to amount to from approximately 60% to approximately 80% of the compressive force at the lower edge  140  of the compression region  136 . 
         [0111]    The cuff region  106 , the shank region  108  and the foot region  110  which are formed from the ground fabric  124 , the foot pad  126  and the elastic threads of the compression region  136  together form a textile main body  141  of the article of clothing  100 . 
         [0112]    Moreover, the stocking  104  comprises one or more stimulus inducing zones  142  which are each provided with a stimulus inducing structure  144 . 
         [0113]    Each stimulus inducing structure  144  comprises functional elements  146  which exert a sensory stimulating effect on the wearer in the worn state of the stocking  104 . 
         [0114]    This stimulation leads to positive bodily/physiological reactions such as increased muscle activity for example and can improve the synchronization of the wearer. 
         [0115]    The functional elements  146  are in the form of raised portions which are arranged on the inner surface  148  of the textile main body  141  of the stocking  104  facing the wearer&#39;s body in the worn state of the article of clothing  100  and they are effective directly on the wearer&#39;s skin. 
         [0116]    In particular, thermoplastic or thermosetting polymers which may possibly contain additives are suitable as materials for the functional elements  146 . 
         [0117]    Silicone and PVC based plastisol have proved to be especially suitable. 
         [0118]    For the purposes of achieving effective stimulation of certain parts of the body and in particular the musculature of the wearer, it is expedient if the stimulus is locally limited and in particular is effected substantially punctiformly, preferably by means of substantially knop-like functional elements  146 . 
         [0119]    Consequently, it is expedient if the greatest extent L of the functional elements  146  along the textile main body  141  is at most approximately 12 mm and preferably at most approximately 6 mm. 
         [0120]    Furthermore, it is expedient, if the greatest extent L of the respective functional elements  146  along the textile main body  141  amounts to at least approximately 1 mm. 
         [0121]    The height H of the functional elements  146 , i.e. the extent thereof perpendicularly to the inner surface  148  of the textile main body  141  by which the functional elements  146  protrude onto the skin of the wearer, preferably amounts to at least approximately 0.5 mm and in particular to at least approximately 1 mm. 
         [0122]    Furthermore, it is expedient if the height of the functional elements  146  amounts to at most approximately 12 mm and in particular to at most approximately 6 mm. 
         [0123]    As can best be seen from  FIG. 3 , provision is preferably made for the height H of different functional elements  146  of the article of clothing  100  and in particular the stimulus inducing structure  144  thereof and/or the compression region  136  thereof to vary. 
         [0124]    A stimulus inducing structure  144  and in particular a first functional element  146   a  may have a height H 1  and a second functional element  146   b  a height of H 2 , wherein the height H 1  of the first functional element  146   a  is greater than the height H 2  of the second functional element  146   b  by the amount ΔH. 
         [0125]    Hereby, the height difference ΔH preferably amounts to at least approximately 0.5 mm, especially preferred at least approximately 1 mm and in particular, at least approximately 2 mm such as at least approximately 3 mm for example. 
         [0126]    The remaining functional elements  146  of the stimulus inducing structure  144  can be of heights H which lie between the greatest height H 1  and the smallest height H 2 . 
         [0127]    In particular, provision may be made for the height H of the functional elements  146  of a stimulus inducing structure  144  to decrease substantially constantly from one end of the stimulus inducing structure  144  up to the other end of the stimulus inducing structure  144 . 
         [0128]    If the article of clothing  100  comprises a first region which rests in the worn state of the article of clothing  100  against a concavely curved part of the wearer&#39;s body such as the ankle bone, the so-called malleolus, for example, and a second region which rests in the worn state of the article of clothing against a convexly curved part of the wearer&#39;s body such as the calf musculature, the so-called muscle belly, for example, then the height H 1  of a functional element  146  in the first region of the article of clothing  100  is preferably greater than the height H 2  of a functional element  146  in the second region of the article of clothing  100 . 
         [0129]    That is to say that a lower height for the functional element  146  in the second region of the article of clothing is sufficient to exert the same pressure on the tissue of the wearer as is exerted by a functional element of greater height in the first region. 
         [0130]    In the embodiment of an article of clothing  100  in the form of a stocking  104  that is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there are provided two stimulus inducing zones  142   a  and  142   b  wherein the stimulus inducing structures  144  thereof are respectively arranged on the left and the right of the wearer&#39;s Achilles tendon in the worn state of the stocking  104 . 
         [0131]    The stimulus inducing zones  142   a  and  142   b  are thus arranged on mutually opposite sides of an Achilles tendon region  150  of the stocking  104 . 
         [0132]    Since the lower end regions of the stimulus inducing zones  142   a,    142   b  rest on the wearer&#39;s ankle bone in the worn state of the stocking  104 , whilst the upper end regions of the stimulus inducing zones  142   a,    142   b  rest against the convexly curved calf region of the wearer in the worn state of the stocking  104 , the height H of the functional elements  146  preferably reduces from bottom to top in the stimulus inducing zones  142   a,    142   b.    
         [0133]    Preferably, the greatest extent L of the functional elements  146  along the inner surface  148  of the textile main body  141  also decreases from bottom to top in the stimulus inducing zones  142   a,    142   b.    
         [0134]    As can be see from  FIG. 3 , the greatest extent L 1  of the first functional element  146   a  along the inner surface  148  of the textile main body  141  is preferably greater than the greatest extent L 2  of the second functional element  146   b  along the inner surface  148  of the textile main body  141 . 
         [0135]    The functional elements  146  are preferably formed from a material having a Shore A-hardness of at least approximately 30 and in particular, of at least approximately 40. 
         [0136]    Furthermore, it is expedient if the Shore A-hardness of the material of the functional elements  146  amounts to at most approximately 100 and preferably to at most approximately 90. 
         [0137]    It is especially expedient if the Shore A-hardness of the material of the functional elements amounts to approximately 60. 
         [0138]    The Shore A-hardness can be determined in accordance with DIN 53505 or DIN EN ISO 868. 
         [0139]    Preferably, provision is made for different functional elements  146  of the article of clothing  100  and in particular, the stimulus inducing structure  144  and/or the compression region  136  thereof to have degrees of Shore A-hardness that differ from one another. 
         [0140]    Thus for example, provision is made for the Shore A-hardness of the material of the first functional element  146  to be greater by a value ΔS than the Shore A-hardness of the material of the second functional element  146   b  (see  FIG. 3 ), wherein ΔS preferably amounts to at least approximately 10, especially preferred to at least approximately 20 and in particular, to at least approximately 30. 
         [0141]    In the first region of the article of clothing  100  which rests against a concavely curved part of the body of the wearer in the worn state of the article of clothing  100 , the Shore A-hardness of the material of the functional elements  146  is preferably greater than it is in the second region of the article of clothing which rests against a convexly curved part of the body of the wearer in the worn state of the article of clothing. 
         [0142]    The cross sections (taken perpendicularly with respect to the height direction) of the functional elements  146  are illustrated as being substantially circular in  FIGS. 1 to 3 . 
         [0143]    In principle however, the functional elements  146  could have any other form of cross section such as a triangular cross section, a square cross section, a rectangular cross section, a polygonal cross section or an angular cross section for example. 
         [0144]    The functional elements  146  may be in the form of a cone, a pyramid, a hemisphere, a cube or a cylinder for example. 
         [0145]    In the case of the preferred embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the functional element  146  has a substantially cylindrical lower section  152  and an upper section  154  which is substantially conical and in particular substantially in the form of a frustum of a cone. 
         [0146]    In order for the functional elements  146  to be pressed against the wearer&#39;s body with sufficient pressure, it is expedient for the textile main body  141  to be knitted in a knitting pattern which produces a greater level of compression in the region within which the functional elements  146  are arranged. 
         [0147]    In particular, provision may be made for the knitted region of the textile main body  141  in which the functional elements  146  are arranged to be in the form of a tuck-stitch knitted fabric. 
         [0148]    Such a tuck-stitch type knitted fabric may comprise a plurality of tuck stitches extending over a plurality of rows of stitches. 
         [0149]    The previously described article of clothing  100  comprising a textile main body  141  with functional elements  146  connected thereto by a substance-to-substance bond can, for example, be produced as follows: 
         [0150]    The textile main body  141  is produced by knitting or weaving. 
         [0151]    In particular hereby, the regions of the textile main body  141  on which the functional elements  146  are intended to be arranged can be in the form of a tuck-stitch knitted fabric. 
         [0152]    For the purposes of producing the functional elements  146 , there is provided a shaped part  156  which is schematically illustrated in  FIG. 4  and which comprises recesses  158  for the functional elements that are substantially complementary to the functional elements  146  of the stimulus inducing structures  144  and are arranged in a contact surface  160  of the shaped part  156 . 
         [0153]    The recesses for the functional elements  158  differ from one another in regard to the depth thereof, the cross section thereof at the contact surface  160  and the shape thereof in a manner corresponding to the respectively associated functional element  146 . 
         [0154]    The contact surface  160  can be substantially flat. 
         [0155]    The shaped part  156  can be substantially plate-like. 
         [0156]    The shaped part  156  can be formed from a metallic material for example. 
         [0157]    The recesses for functional elements  158  can, for example, be produced by a cutting process and in particular, milling, or by etching the shaped part  156 . 
         [0158]    Apart from the recesses for functional elements  158 , the shaped part  156  can comprise further recesses  162  which do not serve for accommodating a functional-element starting material, but rather for example, for positioning the shaped part  156  during its production process or during a step in the method of producing the article of clothing  100 . 
         [0159]    As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , an auxiliary filling element  164  which comprises a respective filling opening  166  associated with each of the recesses for functional elements  158  of the shaped part  156  is arranged on the contact surface  160  of the shaped part  156 . 
         [0160]    Each filling opening  166  of the auxiliary filling element  164  corresponds in regard to the geometry and the cross section of the geometry and the cross section and in particular diameter thereof with the respectively associated recesses for functional elements  158  in the contact surface  160  of the shaped part  156 . 
         [0161]    The auxiliary filling element  164  is arranged on the shaped part  156  in such a way that the filling openings  166  of the auxiliary filling element  164  are in alignment with the recesses for functional elements  158  in the shaped part  156 . 
         [0162]    In particular, the auxiliary filling element  164  is preferably in the form of a flexible planar element such as an auxiliary filling foil  168  for example. 
         [0163]    The thickness D of this planar element is preferably at least approximately 0.04 mm and in particular, at least approximately 0.08 mm. 
         [0164]    Furthermore, the thickness D of the planar element preferably amounts to at most approximately 0.7 mm and in particular, to at most approximately 0.35 mm. 
         [0165]    A functional-element starting material  170  is now introduced through the filling openings  166  of the auxiliary filling element  164  into the recesses for functional elements  158  in the shaped part  156 , whereby the filling openings  166  are also filled with the functional-element starting material  170  up to the upper surface  172  of the auxiliary filling element  164  remote from the shaped part  156  (see  FIGS. 6 and 8 ). 
         [0166]    For example, the functional-element starting material  170  can be introduced into the recesses for the functional elements  158  and the filling openings  166  by means of a hand-held scraper blade  174 . 
         [0167]    In order to remove any of the functional-element starting material  170  protruding above the filling openings  166  of the auxiliary filling element  164 , the functional-element starting material  170  is scraped off so as to be flush with the upper surface  172  of the auxiliary filling element  164  by means of the hand-held scraper blade  174  for example. 
         [0168]    A silicone material can be used as the functional-element starting material  170  for example. 
         [0169]    A silicone material which is mixed from the components Elastosil LR 3003/60 A and Elastosil LR 3003/60 B is especially suitable. These two components are sold under the above-mentioned names by Wacker Chemie A G, Johannes Hess Strasse 24, 84489 Burghausen, Germany. 
         [0170]    Preferably thereby, equal portions of the components Elastosil LR 3003/60 A and Elastosil LR 3003/60 B are mixed with one another. 
         [0171]    In order to produce functional elements  146  having different degrees of Shore A-hardness, different functional-element starting materials  170  can be introduced into the recesses for the functional elements  158 . 
         [0172]    After the process of introducing the functional-element starting material  170  into the recesses for functional elements  158  of the shaped part  156 , the auxiliary filling element  164  is removed from the shaped part  156  (see  FIG. 7 ), whereby the functional-element starting material  170  then protrudes above the recesses for the functional elements  158  by a projecting amount U. 
         [0173]    The projecting amount U corresponds to the thickness D of the auxiliary filling element  164 . 
         [0174]    Consequently, the projecting amount U preferably amounts to at least approximately 0.04 mm and in particular, to at least approximately 0.08 mm, and preferably to at most approximately 0.7 mm and in particular, to at most approximately 0.35 mm. 
         [0175]    This projecting amount U causes an adequate quantity of functional-element starting material  170  to penetrate into the textile main body  141  so as to produce a strong, permanent, substance-to-substance bond with the textile main body  141 . 
         [0176]    After removing the auxiliary filling element  164 , the shaped part  156  is arranged on the associated region of the textile main body  141 , whereby the shaped part  156  rests on the textile main body  141  over the contact surface  160  (see  FIG. 9 ). 
         [0177]    The shaped part  156  and the adjoining region of the textile main body  141  are introduced into a pressing device  176  which may be in the form of a transfer press for example (see  FIG. 10 ). 
         [0178]    The shaped part  156  and the textile main body  141  are pressed against each other by means of the pressing device  176  at a pressure of approximately 0.5 bar to approximately 1 bar for example, and preferably of approximately 0.6 bar for a pressing time of approximately 4 minutes to approximately 8 minutes, preferably approximately 6 minutes. 
         [0179]    Furthermore, the pressing device  176  is heatable so that the shaped part  156  and the textile main body  141  can be held at a pressing temperature in the region of approximately 140° C. to 200° C. and preferably of approximately 170° C. during the pressing operation. 
         [0180]    Due to the application of pressure and the pressing temperature, the functional-element starting material  170  sets and produces a strong and permanent connection to the textile main body  141 . 
         [0181]    After the pressing operation, the textile main body  141  and the shaped part  156  are cooled down for a cooling time of approximately 10 minutes for example. 
         [0182]    Subsequently, the textile main body  141  together with the functional elements  146  connected thereto by a substance-to-substance bond on the one hand and the shaped part  156  on the other are released from one another (see  FIG. 11 ). 
         [0183]    The production of the article of clothing  100  and in particular, an article of clothing in the form of a stocking  104  is thus at an end. 
         [0184]    A second embodiment of a method for producing an article of clothing  100  comprising a textile main body  141  and functional elements  146  connected to the main body  141  by a substance-to-substance bond which is illustrated in outline in  FIGS. 12 and 13  differs from the previously described first embodiment in that the process of introducing the functional-element starting material into the recesses for functional elements  158  in the shaped part  156  is not effected by means of a hand-held scraper blade  174  but rather, mechanically such as in a screen printing machine  178  for example. 
         [0185]    For this purpose, one or more shaped parts  156 , four shaped parts  156  for example, are inserted into a shaped-part receptacle  180  of a screen printing machine  178  and fixed there (see  FIG. 12 ). 
         [0186]    An auxiliary filling element  164  in the form of an auxiliary filling screen  182  is placed on the shaped parts  156 . 
         [0187]    The auxiliary filling screen  182  covers all of the shaped parts  156  arranged in the shaped-part receptacle  180  and comprises a respectively associated filling opening  166  for each of the recesses for functional elements  158  in the shaped parts  156 , the geometry of the opening corresponding to that of the respectively associated recess  158  for the functional element and being congruent therewith (see  FIG. 13 ). 
         [0188]    In this embodiment, the process of introducing the functional-element starting material into the recesses for functional elements  158  and into the filling openings  166  is effected by means of a mechanically operated scraper-blade  184  which spreads the functional-element starting material through the filling openings  166  of the auxiliary filling screen  182  into the recesses for functional elements  158  in the shaped parts  156 . 
         [0189]    After the process of machine-coating the functional-element starting material, the auxiliary filling screen  182  is removed from the shaped parts  156 . The shaped parts  156  are freed from the screen printing machine  178  and, as already described, are placed in contact with a respectively associated textile main body  141  and then pressed. 
         [0190]    In all other respects, the second embodiment of a method for producing an article of clothing  100  comprising a textile main body  141  with functional elements  146  connected thereto by a substance-to-substance bond which is illustrated in  FIGS. 12 and 13  corresponds with the first embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 4 to 11  and so to that extent reference should be made to the preceding description thereof.