Abstract:
A leg wear apparatus including at least one side portion having first and second ends and positioned between front and rear portions, where the first end of the at least one side portion is attached to a waistband. The leg wear includes at least one leg portion that expands along a leg of a wearer, wherein the at least one leg portion is attached to the second end of the at least one side portion. The leg wear further includes a sleeve that expands along a thigh of the wearer, where the sleeve is attached to the at least one leg portion. The sleeve may extend upwards along the thigh to permit placement of a brace over the leg of the wearer. The sleeve may further extend downwards along the thigh and compress the brace against the thigh.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Prov. App. No. 61/808,476, filed Apr. 4, 2013, titled “LEG WEAR WITH INTEGRAL BRACE SLEEVE,” which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    For sports and other activities requiring movement, it is not uncommon for a participant to don a knee brace, such as a ligament brace, either to protect an existing injury or as a preventative measure. Such knee braces are commercially available, for example, from Ossur. 
         [0003]    One problem with these knee braces is that they tend to slip during intense phases of activity. Accordingly, a separate compression sleeve is often worn over the brace and at least part of the upper leg in order to support the brace. However, the participant often also wears separate legwear such as long pants or shorts that includes protective padding around the upper leg. In such a case, the sleeve may not fit properly around the brace and padding and/or the sleeve may tend to pull the padding downwardly along with the brace. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Embodiments include leg wear including an integral sleeve adapted to be positioned over a knee brace. The leg wear more particularly includes a waistband configured to expand along a waist of a wearer. The leg wear includes a front portion having first and second ends, where the first end of the front portion is attached to the waistband. The leg wear includes a rear portion having first and second ends. The first end of the rear portion is attached to the waistband, and the second end of the rear portion is attached to the second end of the front portion. The leg wear includes at least one side portion having first and second ends and positioned between the front and rear portions. The first end of the at least one side portion is attached to the waistband. The leg wear further includes at least one leg portion configured to expand along a leg of the wearer. The at least one leg portion is attached to the second end of the at least one side portion. The leg wear also includes a sleeve configured to expand along a thigh of the wearer, which is attached to an upper portion of the at least one leg portion. The sleeve is configured to extend upwards along the thigh to permit placement of a brace over the leg of the wearer. The sleeve is further configured to extend downwards along the thigh and compress the brace against the thigh. In certain embodiments, the sleeve may include protective padding positioned along the upper thigh of the wearer. 
         [0005]    While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1A  illustrates a perspective view of the lower half of a wearer donning legwear including an integral brace sleeve, according to some embodiments. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1B  illustrates a perspective view of the lower half of a wearer donning legwear including an integral brace sleeve extended downward over a brace, according to some embodiments. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  illustrates a rear view of the legwear shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B , according to some embodiments. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  illustrates a side view of the legwear similar to that shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  including a cuff, according to some embodiments. 
           [0010]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  illustrate a perspective view of the legwear with shortened leg portions, according to some embodiments. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  illustrates a rear view of the legwear with shortened leg portions, according to some embodiments. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  illustrates a side view of the legwear with shortened leg portions, according to some embodiments. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  illustrates another embodiment of the present invention in which the brace sleeve includes impact protection on an outer portion of the thigh, according to some embodiments. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  illustrates another embodiment of the present invention in which the brace sleeve includes impact protection an inner portion of the thigh, according to some embodiments. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  illustrates an example legwear with protective layers located on the side portions, according to some embodiments. 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  illustrates an example legwear with a protective layer located on the front portion, according to some embodiments. 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  illustrates an example leg wear with a protective layer located on the rear portion, according to some embodiments. 
       
    
    
       [0018]    While multiple embodiments are disclosed, still other embodiments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which shows and describes illustrative embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and detailed description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0019]    Various embodiments are directed to legwear having an integral brace sleeve.  FIGS. 1A and 1B  show a front view of an example legwear  10 , and  FIG. 2  shows a rear view of the example legwear  10 . In some embodiments, the legwear  10  includes a waistband  12 , a front portion  14 , side portions  16  and  18 , and a rear portion  20 . As illustrated in  FIGS. 1A ,  1 B, and  2 , the legwear  10  may be positioned on a lower body of a wearer wearing the legwear  10 . According to some embodiments, the waistband  12  is configured to expand over the waist of the wearer. In some embodiments, as shown, the front portion  14  and rear portion  20  may be a single piece attached to the waistband  12  forming a loop. In other embodiments, the front  14  and rear  20  portions may be separate pieces each having one end that attaches to the waist band  12 , and each having another end that may be attached and detached from each other. The front  14  and rear  20  portions are attached to the waistband  12  via any desired method such as conventional stitching. In other embodiments, the front  14  and rear  20  portions are detachable from the waistband  12 . 
         [0020]    The side portions  16  and  18  each may be attached to the waistband  12  via any desired method such as conventional stitching. In some embodiments, the side portions  16  and  18  may be detachable from the waistband  12 . In some embodiments, spacing is provided between the front portion  14  and each of side portions  16  and  18 , and spacing is provided between the rear portion  20  and each of side portions  16  and  18 . In some embodiments, the spacings are spanned by separate pieces of material. In other embodiments, the waist band  12 , front portion  14 , side portions  16  and  18 , and rear portion  20  are formed of a single piece of material that is stitched to form a pair shorts. 
         [0021]    In some embodiments, as shown, the legwear  10  includes leg portions  22  and  24  that are configured to expand over the wearer&#39;s legs. The wearer may don a knee brace  26  over either leg portion  22  and  24 . Each leg portion  22  and  24  optionally extends below the wearer&#39;s knee. In some embodiments, each leg portion  22  and  24  is attached to side portions  16  and  18 , respectively, via any desired method such as conventional stitching. In some embodiments, each leg portion  22  and  24  is detachable from side portions  16  and  18 , respectively. Accordingly, in one example, a wearer may don the leg wear  10  on their lower body by sliding there legs between the front  14  and rear  20  portions and fitting the waistband  12  around their waist. The wearer may subsequently slide leg portions  22  and  24  over their legs and attach the leg portions to side portions  16  and  18 , respectively. As another example, where the leg portions  22  and  24  are already attached to the side portions  16  and  18 , respectively, the wearer may put on the legwear  10  by simultaneously sliding their legs between the front  14  and rear  20  portions and the leg portions  22  and  24 . The wearer may subsequently place the knee brace  26  over either leg portion  22  and  24  after putting on the legwear  10 . 
         [0022]    Also shown, in some embodiments, the legwear  10  includes integral brace sleeves  30  and  32 . In some embodiments, the brace sleeves  30  and  32  are attached over and around an upper region of each leg portion  22  and  24 , respectively, and are configured to be positioned over the wearer&#39;s thighs. The brace sleeves  30  and  32  may be attached to the leg portions  22  and  24 , respectively, via conventional stitching that extends at least partially around the front portion  14 , one side portion  16  or  18 , rear portion  20  and optionally around the inner thigh of the wearer. In some embodiments, the sleeve  30  is stitched along its entire perimeter. In some embodiments, the sleeve  30  is stitched at a higher position adjacent the wearer&#39;s outer thigh than the wearer&#39;s inner thigh. In another embodiment, certain regions are not stitched to the legwear  10 . In alternative embodiments, brace sleeves  30  and  32  may include one or more snap buttons with corresponding fasteners on the side portions  16  and  18 , respectively, and leg portions  22  and  24 , respectively. Accordingly, the brace sleeves  30  and  32  may be fastened to at least the side portions  16  and  18 , respectively, by snapping the buttons on the braces sleeves  30  and  32  over corresponding fasteners on the side portions  16  and  18 , respectively. 
         [0023]    In some embodiments, the brace sleeves  30  and  32  may extend downwardly to a point generally at or above the knee of the wearer such that the brace  26  is at least partially covered and secured by the sleeves  30  or  32 . As an example,  FIG. 1A  illustrates brace sleeve  30  attached to leg portion  16  and extended upward showing an inner surface of the brace sleeve  30 . In this position, the wearer may place the knee brace  26  over the leg portion  22 .  FIG. 1B  illustrates the brace sleeve  30  extended downward where the brace sleeve  30  is at least partially covering the knee brace  26  showing an outer surface of the brace sleeve  30 . When the brace sleeve  30  is extended downward as illustrated in  FIG. 1B , the brace sleeve  30  applies compression to the knee brace  26 , which provides additional support of the knee brace against the wearer&#39;s body. 
         [0024]    The legwear  10  may be formed from any desired synthetic or natural materials. In some embodiments, the legwear  10  is formed from a compression material such as Neoprene, Lycra, or similar synthetic material. The sleeve  30  can be formed from the same material as the rest of the legwear  10  or it may be formed from a different material having a different compression characteristic. In some embodiments the leg portions  22  and  24  and the inner surfaces of the brace sleeves  30  and  32  may have ridged surfaces. Accordingly, the ridged surface on leg portion  22  prevents slippage of the knee brace  26 . Similarly, when the brace sleeve  30  is rolled downward and at least partially covers the knee brace  26 , the ridged surface on the inner portion surface of the brace sleeve  30  prevents slippage of the knee brace  26 . 
         [0025]      FIG. 3  is a side view of legwear  110 , according to some embodiments. Legwear  110  is similar to legwear  10  and numbered similarly for similar features, such as waistband  112 , wide portion  116 , rear portion  120 , and leg portion  122 . However, legwear  110  includes a brace sleeve  130  and a cuff  131  attached to the inner surface of the brace sleeve  130 . The brace sleeve  130  and cuff  131  can have various overall heights. As shown, the cuff  131  has an overall height less than an overall height of the brace sleeve  130 . In other embodiments, the brace sleeve  130  includes more than one cuff  131 . In various embodiments, brace sleeves for both legs include cuffs. In some embodiments, cuff  131  is formed from an elastic material. The elastic material may apply additional compression to the knee brace. In further embodiments, the cuff  131  may include an anti-slip material such as silicone, for example. 
         [0026]    In some embodiments, the legwear  10  includes shortened leg portions such that the lower portions of the wearer&#39;s leg are not covered.  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B,  5 , and  6  illustrate an example legwear  10  with leg portions  20  and  22  that extend downwards just above the knee. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 4A , the leg portion  20  extends down the wearer&#39;s leg far enough to be covered by an upper portion of the knee brace, and is longer than the brace sleeve  30 . In other embodiments, the brace sleeve  30  may be longer than the shortened leg portion  20 .  FIG. 4B  illustrates the leg wear  10  with the shortened leg portion  20  and the extended brace sleeve  30  extended downwards.  FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate rear and side views, respectively, of the legwear  10  with the shortened leg portions  22  and  24 . 
         [0027]    In some embodiments, the legwear  10  includes an outer protective layer that protects the wearer&#39;s outer thigh from impact. For example,  FIG. 7  illustrates the legwear  10  with an outer protective layer  70  located on the brace sleeve  30  on the outer portion of the wearer&#39;s thigh. In some embodiments, the legwear  10  includes an inner protective layer that protects the wearer&#39;s inner thigh from impact. For example,  FIG. 8  illustrates the legwear  10  with an inner protective layer  80  located on the brace sleeve  30  on the inner portion of the wearer&#39;s thigh. In these embodiments, additional protection is provided to the wearer&#39;s upper legs without being covered by or otherwise interfering with the knee brace  26 . In some embodiments, either protective layer includes a rigid material capable of deflecting impact and/or a softer material capable of absorbing impact. The outer protective layer  70  and inner protective layer and  80  can include harder impact shields and/or padding, for example. 
         [0028]    In some embodiments, the outer protective layer  70  and inner protective layer  80  are attached to an outer surface of the brace sleeve  30  via any desired method such as conventional stitching. In other embodiments, the outer protective layer  70  and inner protective layer  80  are separate individual pieces that slide onto the brace sleeve  30 . As an example, after the wearer puts on the legwear  10 , the wearer individually slides the outer protective layer  70  and inner protective layer  80  over the brace sleeve  30 . 
         [0029]    In other embodiments, the outer protective layer  70  and inner protective layer  80  form an individual piece that slides over the brace sleeve  30  where the outer protective layer is positioned on the outer portion of the wearer&#39;s thigh, and the inner protective layer is positioned on the inner portion of the wearer&#39;s thigh. In additional embodiments, the outer protective layer  70  and inner protective layer  80  may be integrated within the brace sleeve  30  by stitching the outer surfaces of the brace sleeve  30  over the outer protective layer  70  and inner protective layer  80 . In further embodiments, the legwear  10  may include additional protective layers on or over the brace sleeve  30  that covers the back and/or front portions of the wearer&#39;s thigh. 
         [0030]    In some embodiments, the legwear  10  may include a protective layer on or over the side portion  16 .  FIG. 9  illustrates an example legwear  10  with protective layer  90  located on side portion  16 . The protective layer  90  may be attached to the outer surface of side portion  16 . As another example, the protective layers  90  may be integrated within the side portion  16  by stitching the outer surfaces of the side portions  16  over the protective layer  90 . In some embodiments, a protective layer similar to the protective layer  90  described above may attached to the side portion  18  as described above. 
         [0031]    In further embodiments, the legwear  10  may include a protective layer on or over the front portion  14 .  FIG. 10  illustrates an example legwear  10  with protective layer  100  located on the front portion  14 . The protective layer  100  may be attached to the outer surface of the front portion  14 . As another example, the protective layer  100  may be integrated within the front portion  14  by stitching the outer surfaces of the front portion  14  over the protective layer  100 . 
         [0032]    In further embodiments, the legwear  10  may include a protective layer on or over the rear portion  20 .  FIG. 11  illustrates an example legwear  10  with protective layer  105  located on the rear portion  20 . The protective layer  105  may be attached to the outer surface of the rear portion  20 . As another example, the protective layer  105  may be integrated within the rear portion  20  by stitching the outer surfaces of the rear portion  20  over the protective layer  105 . 
         [0033]    Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, while the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the above described features.