Patent Description:
<CIT> describes a double-faced knitted structure having on one or both faces a plurality of irregular puckers produced by knitting on a knitting machine having a pair of opposed needle beds. At least two ends of non-contractible yarns are knitted on said needle beds to produce at least two knitted courses and at least one end of a contractible yarn is laid-in between the faces of said double-faced knitted structure and is intermittently attached to the knitted structure along the length of said two courses.

The subject matter of this disclosure is described in detail herein with reference to the attached figures.

The claimed invention is defined by independent claim <NUM>. Specific embodiments of the claimed invention are defined in the dependent claims. Subject matter is described throughout this disclosure in detail and with specificity in order to meet statutory requirements. But the aspects described throughout this disclosure are intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive, and the description itself is not intended necessarily to limit the scope of the claims.

This disclosure describes an upper-torso garment having various elements that contribute to the operation of the article, both independently of, and in combination with, one another. For example, the upper-torso garment includes one or more portions constructed with a tubular-jacquard knit structure. In an aspect of the disclosure, the manner in which one or more yarn strands are interlooped and transferred between front and back courses in accordance with the tubular-jacquard knit structure affects the properties of the upper-torso garment. Other elements may also affect the properties of the garment, including (but not limited to) the yarn composition and size, additional knit structures, and stitch size, which will be described in more detail in other parts of this disclosure. Among other things, the tubular-jacquard knit structure and other elements may contribute to a fit and shape of the garment, as well as to textile properties, such as elongation, compression, breathability, elasticity, stability, support, and the like.

Referring initially to <FIG>, an exemplary upper-torso garment <NUM> is depicted, and in this description, "upper-torso garment" describes any garment configured to cover an upper-torso of a wearer. The illustrated upper-torso garment <NUM> is a bra, and the style of bra depicted is sometimes referred to as a sports bra, athletic bra, or other similar designation. And in other aspects of this disclosure, an upper-torso garment may include various other types of garments for a female or male, including a strapless bra, a camisole, a base-layer shirt, a singlet, a racing suit, and the like.

When describing various aspects of the upper-torso garment <NUM>, relative terms may be used to aid in understanding relative positions. For instance, the upper-torso garment <NUM> may be divided into a left side <NUM> and a right side <NUM>. In addition, the upper-torso garment <NUM> may include a posterior portion <NUM>, which typically covers at least part of a wearer's back when the upper-torso garment <NUM> is in an in-use state, and an anterior portion <NUM> that typically covers at least part of a wearer's chest in the in-use state.

Furthermore, the upper-torso garment <NUM> includes various parts that may also be referred to when describing aspects of the disclosure. For instance, the upper-torso garment <NUM> includes shoulder straps <NUM> and <NUM>, as well as arm holes <NUM> and <NUM> and a neckline <NUM>, which generally forms a perimeter around a neck-receiving aperture. In addition, the upper-torso garment <NUM> includes a breast-covering portion <NUM> on the left side <NUM> and a breast-covering portion <NUM> on the right side <NUM>, and a center bridge <NUM> is positioned between the breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM>. The upper-torso garment <NUM> also includes a series of encapsulation regions 35A, 35B, 35C, 35D, 35E, and 35F that form a perimeter around at least a portion of the breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM>. In some instances, the combination of the breast-covering portions, the center bridge, and the encapsulation regions may collectively form a chest-covering portion.

Moreover, the upper-torso garment <NUM> includes an upper-chest portion <NUM>, a left underarm portion <NUM>, a right underarm portion <NUM>, a left wing <NUM>, and a right wing <NUM>. The posterior portion <NUM> includes a racerback-style rear panel having a main trunk <NUM> with rear straps <NUM> and <NUM>. The trunk <NUM> and the rear straps <NUM> and <NUM> generally form a "T" shape or a "Y" shape, and the straps <NUM> and <NUM> connect with the shoulder straps <NUM> and <NUM>. A chest band <NUM> extends circumferentially beneath the breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM> and the wings <NUM> and <NUM> and wraps entirely around to the posterior portion <NUM>. The chest band <NUM> is illustrated without any clasp or other releasable connector, which might be included in an alternative aspect. These relative regions and parts are not necessarily intended to demarcate precise areas of the upper-torso garment <NUM>, and they are provided for explanatory and illustrative purposes. However, the upper-torso garment <NUM> may include structural elements, such as seams or transition zones, that provide logical divisions or demarcation.

The upper-torso garment <NUM> may include other parts, regions, and portions that are not necessarily denoted in <FIG>, such as a cradle region, underwire, and the like. In addition, as indicated above, the bra-style, upper-torso garment <NUM> depicted in <FIG> is merely illustrative of type of upper-torso garment, and in other aspects of this disclosure, an upper-torso garment may have sleeves, an abdomen-covering portion, a lumbar-covering portion, integral shorts or pants (e.g., such as in a unitard), and the like.

In an aspect of this disclosure, the upper-torso garment <NUM> includes a knit-textile region, and as used in this disclosure, "knit-textile region" generally refers to at least a portion of the upper-torso garment <NUM> constructed of one or more yarn strands that are interlooped with one another. For instance, in <FIG> an exemplary knit-textile region <NUM> is identified, and additional details of the knit-textile region <NUM> are further depicted in a magnified view <NUM>, which illustrates an exemplary knit structure <NUM>. As depicted by the partially exploded view <NUM>, the knit structure <NUM> includes courses of interlooped front stitches <NUM> and courses of interlooped back stitches <NUM>.

The knit textile region <NUM> is identified in <FIG> for illustrative purposes to allow for the depiction and explanation of knit structures, and in other aspects of this disclosure, the upper-torso garment <NUM> includes one or more other knit-textile regions that are larger than the region <NUM> and/or are positioned in other regions and parts of the upper-torso garment <NUM>. For example, at least some of the anterior portion of the upper-torso garment <NUM> may include one or more knit structures, including the chest band <NUM>, breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM>, center bridge <NUM>, encapsulating bands 35A-F underarm portions <NUM> and <NUM>, wings <NUM> and <NUM>, straps <NUM> and <NUM>, and any combination thereof. These parts of the upper-torso garment <NUM> may be integrally knit as a continuous knit panel or may be separate knit panels.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, the breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM> each include a knit textile region <NUM> and <NUM>. The breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM> include various features that may identify the breast-covering portions. For example, the breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM> are generally positioned superior to the chest band <NUM> and inferior to the straps <NUM> and <NUM>. In addition, the breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM> are generally on the anterior side of the upper-torso garment <NUM>, between the underarm portions <NUM> and <NUM> and between the wings <NUM> and <NUM>. Furthermore, as suggested by <FIG>, the breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM> may be separated by a center bridge <NUM> and may be bordered on one or more sides by an encapsulation regions 35A-F. And in some other aspects, the center bridge <NUM> may be omitted, such that the breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM> form a single breast-covering portion that spans the anterior side from left-side wings and underarm portions to the right-side wings and underarm portions. Likewise, the thickness of the encapsulation regions 35A-F may be reduced, or the encapsulating regions may be omitted in other aspects of the disclosure. As illustrated by the side views of <FIG>, the breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM> are dome-shaped and include a convex exterior surface <NUM>, and as such include a concave interior surface that is not viewable in the perspectives shown in <FIG>.

The breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM> may cover and possibly contact a chest region of the wearer when the upper-torso garment <NUM> is in an in-use state, such as when donned by a human or mannequin. Furthermore, the breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM> may provide compressive support to respective breast tissue of a wearer. The size and shape of the breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM> depicted in <FIG> is illustrative of one aspect of the subject matter described herein, and in other aspects, the size and shape may be varied.

In a further aspect of this disclosure, the knit textile regions <NUM> and <NUM> include a tubular-jacquard knit structure. Referring to <FIG> a schematic is depicted that illustrates some features of an exemplary tubular-jacquard knit structure <NUM>. The tubular-jacquard knit structure <NUM> includes a plurality of front-stitch courses <NUM> and a plurality of back-stitch courses <NUM>, which are constructed of a first yarn strand <NUM> and a second yarn strand <NUM>. Furthermore, <FIG> depicts that one of the front-stitch courses <NUM> intermittently interlocks with one of the back-stitch courses <NUM> by way of the first yarn strand <NUM> extending from the front-stitch course <NUM> to the back-stitch course <NUM>. In addition, at a location corresponding with the first yarn strand <NUM> extending to the back-stitch course <NUM>, the second yarn strand <NUM> extends from the back-stitch course <NUM> to the front-stitch course <NUM>.

In accordance with an aspect of this disclosure, this structure in which the first yarn strand <NUM> extends from the front-stitch course <NUM> to the back-stitch course <NUM> and the second yarn strand <NUM> extends from the back-stitch course <NUM> to the front-stitch course <NUM> is referred to as an "interlocking cross over," which is identified by reference numeral <NUM>. In <FIG>, another interlocking cross over <NUM> is illustrated in which the first yarn strand <NUM> extends from the back-stitch course <NUM> to the front-stitch course <NUM>, and the second yarn strand <NUM> extends from the front-stitch course <NUM> to the back-stitch course <NUM>.

In accordance with an aspect of this disclosure, interlocking cross overs separate a front-stitch course into subsets of, or sub-quantities of, front stitches. For example, the interlocking cross overs <NUM> and <NUM> divide the front-stitch course <NUM> into a first quantity of front stitches <NUM>, a second quantity of front stitches <NUM>, and a third quantity of front stitches <NUM>. Likewise, the back-stitch course <NUM> is divided into a first quantity of back stitches <NUM>, a second quantity of back stitches <NUM>, and a third quantity of back stitches <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the first yarn strand <NUM> is depicted having a different appearance than the second yarn strand <NUM>. For example, the first yarn strand <NUM> may be a different color than the second yarn strand <NUM>. In an aspect of this disclosure, the difference in appearance between the two yarn strands <NUM> and <NUM> results in a striping pattern when the first and second yarn strands intermittently switch back and forth between the front course and the back course, such as the illustrative striping patterns in <FIG> in the breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM>, underarm portions <NUM> and <NUM>, and wings <NUM> and <NUM>. The upper-torso garment <NUM> in <FIG> is merely exemplary of one striping pattern that might be achieved, and in other aspects, an upper-torso garment might have a different pattern. In addition, the first yarn strand and the second yarn strand might have the same or similar appearance, such that a visual striping pattern is not created by the switching back and forth of the first yarn strand and the second yarn strand between the front and back courses.

Referring now to <FIG>, an exemplary knit diagram <NUM> is depicted corresponding with the tubular-jacquard knit structure <NUM> of <FIG>. The knit diagram <NUM> includes a plurality of columns and rows. Each column represents a needle position and each row represents a yarn strand. The rows alternate between a first yarn strand and a second yarn stand, which are used to form the tubular-jacquard knit. Within each row, the stitch type is designated, together with an indication of whether the stitch is on the front bed or the back bed. A stitch notation beneath the "yarn" is on the front bed, and a stitch notation above the "yarn" is on the back bed. For example, a row 212C designates stitch type and stitch location for a first yarn strand <NUM> at ten needle positions A-J. The stitch notation <NUM> designates a stitch on the front bed, and the stitch notation <NUM> designates a stitch on the back bed. As such, the line segment <NUM> would correspond with the transfer from the front bed to the back bed.

Continuing with <FIG>, each of the rows 212A-C prescribes knit structures for the first yarn strand <NUM>, and the alternating rows 214A-C prescribe knit structures for a second yarn strand <NUM>. The rows 212A and 212B prescribe ten stitches with the first yarn strand <NUM> on the front side of the knit structure, and the rows 214A and 214B prescribe ten stitches with the second yarn strand <NUM> on the back side of the knit structure. These rows 212A, 212B, 214A and 214B correspond with the first two front-stitch courses and the first two back-stitch courses in <FIG>.

As previously described, row 212C designates stitches for the first yarn strand <NUM>, which corresponds with the first yarn strand <NUM> of <FIG>. As such, the row 212C sequentially designates three stitches on the front side, a transfer to the back side (i.e., line segment <NUM>), five stitches on the back side, a transfer to the front side (i.e., line segment <NUM>), and two stitches on the front side. Row 214C designates stitches for the second yarn strand <NUM>, which corresponds with the second yarn strand <NUM> of <FIG>, and as such, the row 214C sequentially designates three stitches on the back side, a transfer to the front side (i.e., line segment <NUM>), five stitches on the front side, a transfer to the back side (i.e., line segment <NUM>), and two stitches on the back side. When executed, the transfers designated by <NUM> and <NUM> translate into the interlocking cross over <NUM>, and the transfers designated by <NUM> and <NUM> translate into the interlocking cross over <NUM>. Accordingly, the combination of the stiches prescribed by the rows 212C and 214C translate to the front-stitch course <NUM> of <FIG> and the back-stitch course <NUM> of <FIG>.

As described with respect to <FIG>, interlocking cross overs separate a course into subsets of stitches. For example, in <FIG> the transfers <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> separate the interlocked course into a first quantity of front stitches <NUM>, a second quantity of front stitches <NUM>, a third quantity of front stitches <NUM>, a first quantity of back stitches <NUM>, a second quantity of back stitches <NUM>, and a third quantity of back stitches <NUM>.

To further illustrate an exemplary tubular-jacquard knit structure <NUM>, <FIG> includes another schematic of a front-stitch course <NUM> and a back-stitch course <NUM>, which provide an alternative visual representation of the front-stitch course <NUM> and the back-stitch course <NUM> depicted in <FIG>. The front-stitch course <NUM> and the back-stitch course <NUM> are formed of a first yarn strand <NUM> and a second yarn strand <NUM>, and the first-stitch course <NUM> is intermittently interlocked with the back-stitch course <NUM> to form an interlocked course <NUM>. The interlocked course <NUM> includes an interlocking cross over <NUM> of the yarn strands <NUM> and <NUM> that corresponds with the interlocking cross over <NUM> (<FIG>) and another interlocking cross over <NUM> that corresponds with the interlocking cross over <NUM> (<FIG>).

Furthermore, <FIG> illustratively depicts that the interlocking cross overs <NUM> and <NUM> divide the interlocked course into a first quantity of front stitches <NUM>, a second quantity of front stitches <NUM>, a third quantity of front stitches <NUM>, a first quantity of back stitches <NUM>, a second quantity of back stitches <NUM>, and a third quantity of back stitches <NUM>. Within the interlocked course <NUM>, the combination of the interlocking cross overs <NUM> and <NUM>, the second quantity of front stitches <NUM>, and the second quantity of back stitches <NUM> substantially partition off a space <NUM> between the two courses <NUM> and <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the knit structure <NUM> operates in various manners when subjected to a force. For example, when a force is applied in a direction (e.g., 342A, 342B, or 342C) that intersects the interlocked course <NUM>, the knit structure <NUM> elongates in a direction (e.g., 344A and 344B) aligned with the interlocked course <NUM>. In addition, when the force is removed, the knit structure <NUM> returns to its resting state. In one aspect of the disclosure, the interlocking cross overs <NUM> and <NUM> contribute to this property of the knit structure <NUM> by way of the first yarn strand <NUM> and the second yarn strand <NUM> mechanically altering from a first state (e.g., <FIG>) that is more bent or curved to a second state (e.g., <FIG>) that is straighter. In this sense, interlocking cross overs <NUM> and <NUM> function similar to expansion joints between the subsets of stitches.

When a knit-textile region having the knit structure <NUM> is constructed into the upper-torso garment <NUM>, a force might be applied to the knit structure in various contexts. For example, a force might be applied in a direction that intersects the interlocked course <NUM> when the upper-torso garment is donned and a portion of the wearer (e.g., breast tissue) presses against the knit-textile region. As such, the knit-textile region mechanically stretches or elongates to fit the wearer and may provide a compressive force against the wearer.

In an aspect of the present disclosure, a density of interlocking cross overs (e.g., number of interlocking cross overs in a given knit region) included among a knit textile region is selected to achieve an amount of mechanical stretch and elongation and compressive force against a wearer's tissue (e.g., breast tissue). That is, a first interlocked course that includes more interlocking cross overs among a given number of stitches will elongate more than a second interlocked course with a fewer number of interlocking cross overs in the given number of stitches when the first and second interlocked courses are subjected to the same force. As such, the second interlocked course may provide more compression than the first interlocked course under the same conditions (e.g., garment size and wearer dimensions), and the first interlocked course may mechanically elongate more than the second interlocked course. Applying these principles, an aspect of the present disclosure includes an upper-torso garment including one or more tubular-jacquard knit structures, which provide a respective amount of elongation based at least in part on the density of interlocking cross overs.

Referring to <FIG> a knit diagram <NUM> depicts a plurality of first-strand rows 712A-G that represent stitches formed with a first yarn strand <NUM> and a plurality of second-strand rows 714A-G that prescribe stitches formed with a second yarn strand <NUM>. In addition, the knit diagram <NUM> includes a plurality of consecutively arranged needle positions (A - AA). When executed, a corresponding first-strand row (e.g., 712A) and a corresponding second-strand row (e.g., 714A) translate into a front-stitch course and back-stitch course, which include a density of interlocking cross overs. <FIG> includes a magnified view of a portion of the knit diagram <NUM>, including the first-yarn rows 712A-B, the second-yarn rows 714A-B, and the subset of needle positions H - Y.

The first-strand stitches designated in the first-strand row 712A intermittently interlock with the second-strand stitches designated in the second-strand row 714A to form an interlocked course 720A. In addition, the interlocked course 720A includes an intra-course knit sequence that repeats along the interlocked course 720A. The intra-course knit sequence that repeats is outlined by a box 722A (<FIG>), and the repeating instances of the intra-course knit sequence are outlined by boxes 722B and 722C. <FIG> also illustrates the repeating intra-course knit sequences outlined by the boxes 722B and 722C. In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, the structure of the intra-course knit sequence, as well as the repeating instances, contribute to the density of interlocking cross overs within the interlocked course.

Referring to <FIG>, the intra-course knit sequence (identified by the box 722B) includes a first quantity of front stitches <NUM> formed by the first yarn strand <NUM> and a first quantity of back stitches <NUM> formed by the second yarn strand <NUM>. Furthermore, between the needle positions M and N, the first yarn strand <NUM> transfers from the front bed to the back bed, and the second yarn strand <NUM> transfers from the back bed to the front bed. The first yarn strand <NUM> then forms a second quantity of back stitches <NUM>, and the second yarn strand <NUM> forms a second quantity of front stitches <NUM>. The first yarn strand <NUM> and the second yarn strand <NUM> then cross back over after the second quantity of front stitches <NUM> and the second quantity of back stitches <NUM> and between the needle positions P and Q. The intra-course knit sequence then repeats at least once in the interlocked course after the crossing back over between the needle positions P and Q.

In the exemplary knit diagram <NUM>, the quantity of front stitches in the intra-course knit sequence is eight (e.g., front stitches provided from needles I to P), and the quantity of back stitches in the intra-course knit sequence is eight. In addition, there is a single interlocking cross over among those eight front stitches and eight back stitches, prior to a second interlocking cross over initiating the repeating instance of the intra-course knit sequence. The intra-course knit sequence depicted in <FIG> and <FIG> is merely exemplary of one aspect of the present disclosure, in which a knit textile region formed according to the structure prescribed by the knit diagram <NUM> includes an amount of elongation and compression properties resulting at least in part from the repeating pattern of eight front stitches, eight back stitches, and an interlocking cross over among the eight front and back stitches. And in other aspects of the disclosure, each respective intra-course knit sequence includes a quantity of front stitches equal to or greater than <NUM> and less than or equal to <NUM> and a quantity of back stitches equal to or greater than <NUM> and less than or equal to <NUM>. The quantity of front stitches and back stitches in a repeating sequence may be selected and tuned based at least in part on an amount of compression to be provided by a knit textile region that will include the repeating sequence.

In <FIG> and <FIG>, the knit diagram <NUM> depicts notations for a plurality of interlocked courses 720A, 720B, and 720C, and each interlocked course includes its own respective intra-course knit sequence (e.g., 722A, 722D, and 722E) that repeats along the respective interlocked course. In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, the first quantity of front stiches, the first quantity of back stitches, the second quantity of front stitches, and the second quantity of back stitches are all consistent among each of the respective intra-course knit sequences. For example, the interlocked course 720A includes an intra-course knit sequence 722A having five front stitches in a first quantity of front stitches <NUM>, five back stitches in a first quantity of back stitches <NUM>, three front stitches in a second quantity of front stitches <NUM>, and three back stitches in a second quantity of back stitches <NUM>. In a consistent manner, another interlocked course 720B includes an intra-course knit sequence (identified by box 722D) having five front stitches in a first quantity of front stitches <NUM>, five back stitches in a first quantity of back stitches <NUM>, three front stitches in a second quantity of front stitches <NUM>, and three back stitches in a second quantity of back stitches <NUM>.

In knit structures in which the respective intra-course knit sequences (e.g., the sequence in box 722A and the sequence in the box 722D), each of which is positioned in a respective interlocked course, include an equivalent number of stitches in each of the front and back stitch subsets, various arrangements may be implemented. For example, in <FIG> and <FIG>, the interlocking cross overs of the interlocked courses 722A and 722B are positioned between the same pairs of needle positions M and N in adjacent interlooped courses. In addition, in all of the intra-course knit sequences 722A, 722D, and 722E the total number of front stitches and the total number of back stitches in a given intra-course knit sequence (i.e., eight front stitches and eight back stitches) are divided to create subsets having different quantities of stitches in the subsets (i.e., five stitches in one of the front-stitch subsets and three stitches in the other front-stitch subset).

Referring now to <FIG>, an alternative aspect is depicted in which a tubular-jacquard knit structure includes a first interlocked course 820A interloopedly coupled to a second interlocked course 820B. The interlocked courses are interloopedly coupled by way of the interlooping of the front-stitch courses and the interlooping of the back-stitch courses. The first and second interlocked courses 820A and 820B include respective intra-course knit sequences 822A and 822B that repeat in the respective interlocked course. Similar to the knit diagram in <FIG> and <FIG>, the first quantity of front stiches 824A and 824B, the first quantity of back stitches 826A and 826B, the second quantity of front stitches 828A and 828B, and the second quantity of back stitches 830A and 830B are all consistent among each of the respective intra-course knit sequences. And in the alternative aspect depicted in <FIG>, the crossing over <NUM> (which will form the interlocking cross over) in the first interlocked course 820A is positioned at a different needle position as the crossing over <NUM> in the second interlocked course 820B. Even though the interlocking cross overs are positioned between different pairs of adjacent needle positions, the interlocked courses 820A and 820B include a same density of interlocking cross overs among a given number of repeating intra-course knit sequences, and as such, the interlocked courses 820A and 820B have similar elongation and compression properties when constructing part of a knit textile region. For example, between <NUM> needle positions that include two sets of repeating intra-course knit sequences, both interlocked courses 820A and 820B include three interlocking cross overs.

Referring now to <FIG>, another alternative aspect is depicted in which a tubular-jacquard knit structure includes a first interlocked course 840A interloopedly coupled to a second interlocked course 840B, and the first and second interlocked courses include respective intra-course knit sequences 842A and 842B that repeat in the respective interlocked course. The knit diagram of <FIG> is similar to the knit diagram of <FIG>, since the total quantity of stitches in the respective intra-course knit sequences are the same (i.e., eight front stitches and eight back stitches). However, the knit diagram of <FIG> is different from the knit diagram in <FIG> and <FIG>, as subsets of front and back stiches are divided differently in each of the intra-course knit sequences 842A and 842B. For example, the first quantity of front stiches 844A of the intra-course knit sequence 842A is different from the first quantity of front stitches 844B of the intra-course knit sequence 842B. Even though the front and back stitch subsets are divided differently as between the interlocked courses 840A and 840B, the interlocked courses 840A and 840B include a same density of interlocking cross overs among a given number of repeating intra-course knit sequences. For example, both interlocked courses 840A and 840B include three interlocking cross overs among two repeating instances of the respective intra-course knit sequence, which is also consistent with the knit diagrams in <FIG> and <FIG>. As such the interlocked courses 720A, 820A, and 840A may have similar elongation and compression properties when constructing knit textile regions.

Referring now to <FIG>, another alternative aspect is depicted in which a tubular-jacquard knit structure includes a first interlocked course 850A interloopedly coupled to a second interlocked course 850B, and the first and second interlocked courses include respective intra-course knit sequences 852A and 852B that repeat in the respective interlocked course. The knit diagram of <FIG> is similar to the knit diagrams of <FIG>, <FIG> in that the total quantity of stitches in the respective intra-course knit sequences are the same (i.e., eight front stitches and eight back stitches). However, the knit diagram of <FIG> is different, since in each intra-course knit sequence, the first yarn strand constructs a same number of front stitches and back stitches (i.e., four) as the second yarn strand (i.e., four). As previously indicated, when comparing the interlocked courses of <FIG> to the interlocked courses of <FIG>, <FIG>, because the total quantity of stitches in each respective intra-course knit sequence is the same (i.e., eight front stitches and eight back stitches) and the number of interlocking cross overs is the same, the interlocked courses include a same density of interlocking cross overs among a given number repeating instances of intra-course knit sequences. As such the interlocked courses 720A, 820A, 840A, and 850A may have similar elongation and compression properties when constructing knit textile regions.

<FIG> illustrates a knit diagram that is similar to <FIG>, and in each intra-course knit sequence 862A and 862B, the first yarn strand constructs a same number of front stitches and back stitches (i.e., four) as the second yarn strand (i.e., four). But in contrast to knit sequences 852A and 852B of <FIG>, the intra-course knit sequences 862A and 862B include respective interlocking cross overs at between different pairs of adjacent needles. However, for the same reasons described with respect to <FIG>, the elongation and compression properties may be similar, since the density of interlocking cross overs is similar.

The various intra-course knit sequences illustrated by, and described with respect to, <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> include eight front stitches and eight back stitches, and a single interlocking cross over among the eight front and back stitches. In addition, an interlocking cross over is positioned immediately prior to the intra-course knit sequence and immediately after the intra-course knit sequence. In this sense, the intra-course knit sequence is book-ended by interlocking cross overs. The illustration of eight front and back stitches is exemplary of one aspect of the disclosure, and in other aspects, the intra-course knit sequences in the knit textile regions <NUM> and <NUM> include a quantity of front stitches that is equal to or greater than four and is equal to or less than twelve. In these other aspects, the same principles described with respect to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> equally apply, such that the interlocking cross over of a single intra-course knit sequence may be arranged between different adjacent needle pairs to divide the front and back stitches into different sized subsets. For example, an intra-course knit sequence having twelve front stitches and twelve back stitches might be broken into two groups of six, a group of five and a group of seven, a group of four and a group of eight, etc. Further, the interlocking cross overs may be positioned between the same adjacent needle pair from one interlocked course to the next, or may be positioned at different adjacent needle pairs as between interlooped courses.

The various knit structures prescribed by <FIG> include a density of interlocking cross overs among a defined quantity of stitches (e.g., a defined set of needle positions). For example, each knit structure in <FIG> includes two front-stitch courses, each having a quantity of <NUM> front stitches between the needle positions H and T, and two back-stitch courses, each having <NUM> back stitches between the needle positions H and T. Further, the quantity of front stitches combined with the quantity of back stitches yields a quantity of <NUM> stitches. As such, a ratio can describe a quantity of interlocking cross overs relative to a number of stitches in a defined knit textile region. For instance, in each of the knit sequences described by the knit diagrams of <FIG> that include two courses having <NUM> needle positions, the ratio of the quantity of interlocking cross overs to the quantity of stitches is <NUM>:<NUM>. As such, in one aspect of the present disclosure, a ratio of interlocking cross overs to a quantity of stitches may be used to assess and tune an amount of elongation in a knit textile zone.

As indicated above, <FIG> are merely examples of some different intra-course knit sequences having a quantity of eight front stitches and eight back stitches, and in other instances, the intra-course knit sequences may include from four to twelve stitches. Applying the same rationale of characterizing a knit textile region by a ratio of interlocking cross overs to stitches, in one aspect of the present disclosure, the ratio is in a range of about <NUM>:<NUM> to about <NUM>:<NUM>.

In accordance with other aspects of the present disclosure, other properties of a knit textile region (e.g., <NUM> and <NUM>) contribute in-part to an amount of elongation and compression provided by the knit textile region, in addition to the tubular-jacquard knit structure. For example, in one aspect, both the front yarn strand and the back yarn strand include a non-elastic yarn type (also sometimes referred to as a non-stretch yarn), which includes an amount of elasticity that provides a maximum stretch of less than <NUM>% under load prior to returning to a non-stretched state when the load is removed. In a further aspect, the non-elastic yarn type of the first yarn strand and the second yarn strand provides a maximum stretch of less than <NUM>%. Examples of non-elastic yarn types include nylon and polyester. In one aspect of the disclosure, both the first yarn strand and the second yarn strand include two ends of nylon <NUM>/78D/<NUM> (i.e., <NUM> ply where each ply is <NUM> decitex with <NUM> filaments). In contrast, elastic yarn types provide a maximum stretch greater than <NUM>% under load prior to returning to a non-stretched state when the load is removed, and some elastic yarns provide a maximum stretch of about <NUM>%. Examples of elastic yarns include spandex, elastane, lycra, and the like.

When the first yarn strand and the second yarn strand include a non-elastic yarn type, an amount of elongation of the knit textile panel is achievable with the mechanical elongation provided by the interlocking cross overs. Absent this aspect of the disclosure in which non-elastic yarn types are utilized, other solutions may include more elastic yarn types to achieve an amount of elongation.

In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, the stitch length may also contribute to an amount of elongation provided by a knit textile region, in addition to the elongation properties provided by the tubular-jacquard knit structure. For example, the stitch length of the front and back stitches of the knit textile regions might be in a range of about <NUM> to about <NUM>. And in one aspect of the present disclosure, the stitch length is <NUM>. These stitch lengths are merely exemplary of one aspect of the disclosure, and in other aspects, smaller or larger stitch lengths may be used.

The structures that are depicted in <FIG> and that might be incorporated into various knit regions of the upper-torso garment include a tubular-jacquard knit structure constructed with a first yarn strand and a second yarn strand. In addition, each of the knit structures of <FIG>, as well as the knit-textile regions (e.g., <NUM> and <NUM>) of the upper-torso garment into which they are incorporated, may include additional, integrally-knit structures. For example, referring to <FIG> a tubular-jacquard knit structure <NUM> is depicted having a plurality of front-stitch courses and a plurality of back-stitch courses. In addition, the front-stitch courses 912A and 912B are intermittently interlocked with the back-stitch courses 914A and 914B, similar to the tubular-jacquard knit structures described with respect to <FIG>. As such, the front-stitch course 912A and the back-stitch course 914A form an interlocked course. According to another aspect of the present disclosure, each interlocked course further comprises a course of interlock tuck stitches that further binds a respective front-stitch course 912A to a respective back-stitch course 914B by interlooping with every other front stitch and every other back stitch. As depicted in <FIG>, a third yarn strand <NUM> forms a tuck stitch <NUM> in the back-stitch course 914A and then transfers to the front-stich course 912A to form another tuck stitch <NUM>. Further, the third yarn strand <NUM> transfers back and forth between the front-stitch course 912A and the back-stitch course 914A in a sinuous manner to form a tuck stitch at every other front stitch and every other back stitch. To avoid overcrowding the illustrative in <FIG>, other courses of interlock tuck stitches are not depicted (e.g., in the course formed by the front-stitch course 912B and the back-stitch course 914B), but in other aspects of the disclosure, other courses of interlock tuck stitches might bind the front-stitch course 912B with the back-stitch course 914B, as well as the other front and back courses. Furthermore, the other course of interlock tuck stitches may be offset from the course of interlocking tuck stitches that bind the front-stitch course 912A with the back-stitch course 914A.

Referring to <FIG>, a knit diagram <NUM> depicts knit notations that, when executed, would result in a knit structure similar to the tubular-jacquard knit structure <NUM> of <FIG>. For example, the knit diagram <NUM> depicts a row <NUM> that prescribes knit structures for the third yarn strand <NUM>. As described with respect to <FIG>, the row indicates that the third yarn strand <NUM> forms a tuck stitch <NUM> on the back side, and then the third yarn strand <NUM> transfers <NUM> to the front side. The third yarn strand <NUM> then forms a tuck stitch <NUM> on the front side and transfers <NUM> to the back side. This pattern repeats as the third yarn strand <NUM> transfers back and forth between the front side and the back side while tuck stitching at every other front stitch and every other back stitch.

<FIG> provides another illustrative schematic of a tubular-jacquard knit structure <NUM> that corresponds with the front-stitch course 912A and the back-stitch course 912B in <FIG> and that includes a first yarn strand <NUM>, a second yarn strand <NUM>, and a third yarn strand <NUM>. The first yarn strand <NUM> and the second yarn strand <NUM> are knit to form a structure similar to the knit structure <NUM> of <FIG>, including a front-stitch course <NUM> and a back-stitch course <NUM> that intermittently interlock to form an interlocked course. In addition, the third yarn strand <NUM> binds the front-stitch course <NUM> and the back-stitch course <NUM> by constructing a series of interlock tuck stitches at every other front stitch and every other back stitch.

To further illustrate how courses of interlocking tuck stitches might be constructed into a knit textile panel, another knit diagram <NUM> is illustrated in <FIG>. The knit diagram <NUM> is similar to the knit diagram <NUM> of <FIG> in some respects. For example, the knit diagram <NUM> depicts a series of first-yarn rows 1212A-1212E showing stitch types and location for a first yarn strand <NUM> and a series of second-yarn rows 1214A-1214E showing stitch type and location for a second yarn strand <NUM>. In addition, similar to <FIG>, the first yarn strand <NUM> and the second yarn strand <NUM> construct similar interlocked courses with a repeating intra-course knit sequence having eight front stitches, eight back stitches, and a single interlocking cross over among the eight front and back stitches. In addition, the knit diagram <NUM> further depicts a series of third-yarn rows 1220A-1220E that prescribe interlocking tuck stitches in each course that alternate from the front bed to the back bed and that are constructed at every other front stitch and every other back stitch. Furthermore, the knit diagram <NUM> indicates that the consecutive courses of interlocking tuck stitches (e.g., 1220A and 1220B) are offset from one another. As such, the needles in course 1220A that are skipped and don't include a tuck stitch will include a tuck stitch in the immediately consecutive course 1220B.

The knit diagram <NUM> of <FIG> is exemplary of one knit structure that includes an interlocking tuck binder. In other aspects of the present disclosure, each of the various knit structures depicted in <FIG> may also be supplemented to include offset courses of interlocking tuck stitches. Furthermore, each of the additional possible knit combinations described with respect to <FIG> may also include offset courses of interlocking tuck stitches, including intra-course knit sequences with at least four front stiches and back stitches and less than or equal to twelve front stitches and back stitches. In a further aspect, tubular-jacquard knit structures with an interlock tuck binder may include smaller or larger subsets of front and back stitches, as described in other parts of this disclosure.

In a further aspect, the third yarn strand that is used to construct the interlocking tuck stitches includes properties similar to the first yarn strand and the second yarn strand. For example, the third yarn strand includes a non-elastic yarn type (also sometimes referred to as a non-stretch yarn), which includes an amount of elasticity that provides a maximum stretch of less than <NUM>% under load prior to returning to a non-stretched state when the load is removed. In a further aspect, the non-elastic yarn type of the first yarn strand and the second yarn strand provides a maximum stretch of less than <NUM>%. Examples of non-elastic yarn types include nylon and polyester. In one aspect of the disclosure, the third yarn strand include two ends of nylon <NUM>/78D/<NUM> (i.e., <NUM> ply where each ply is <NUM> decitex with <NUM> filaments).

The interlock tuck binder adds various properties to a knit textile region having the tubular-jacquard knit structures described in this disclosure. For example, the interlock tuck binder retains the front-stitch courses and the back-stitch courses together to yield a flatter knit textile panel that is thrown or pushed wider. Furthermore, the binder helps to facilitate a more tightly knit textile panel. For example, in one aspect the stitch length of the tuck is in a range of about <NUM> to about <NUM>. The properties conveyed by the course(s) of interlocking tuck stitches are achieved by the smaller spacing of the tuck stitches as well as the yarn composition (e.g., non-stretch) and size. The course of interlocking tuck stitches differs from some other types of additional knit structures that might be added to a knit structure, such as a spacer knit structure, which often spaces the tuck stitches further apart, utilizes a wider needle-bed spacing, and integrates a larger yarn.

Previously described portions of this disclosure related to <FIG> describe various tubular-jacquard knit structures that might construct the knit-textile regions <NUM> and <NUM> depicted in <FIG>. As previously described, these tubular-jacquard knit structures provide an amount of elongation to the knit-textile regions <NUM> and <NUM>, based at least in part on the density of interlocking cross overs, the yarn composition, the yarn size, the stitch length, or any combination thereof. Accordingly, in an aspect of the disclosure, the amount of elongation translates to a modulus of elasticity that provides an amount of support and compression to an underlying tissue (e.g., breast tissue). As such, a size of the knit-textile regions <NUM> and <NUM> may be configured to include a portion of, or all of, the breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM>, and the size may be determine in various manners, some of which may relate to a size of the upper-torso garment, the breast-covering portions, or a combination thereof. A modulus of elasticity may be determined in various manners, and in one aspect, a testing methodology specified by ASTM D <NUM>-<NUM> may be used.

An aspect of the present disclosure includes upper-torso garments having sizes and dimensions. For example, the upper-torso garment might be a bra having a chest band with a size equal to or greater than <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> inches) and equal to or less than <NUM>,<NUM> (<NUM> inches) and a cup size in a range of A to E. In addition, the bra might have a sizing of small, medium, large, x-large, etc. The breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM> may also have various sizes. For example, at a bottom perimeter edge of the breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM>, where the bottom perimeter edge meets the chest band <NUM>, the bottom perimeter edge of one of the breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM> might have a length in a range of about <NUM>,<NUM> to about <NUM>,<NUM> (about <NUM>" to about <NUM>" inches). In another aspect, the bottom perimeter edge of each of the breast-covering portions might have a number of stitches in a range of about <NUM> stitches to about <NUM> stitches. For example, the breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM> in <FIG> each include about <NUM> stiches along the bottom perimeter edge that meets the chest band <NUM>. In addition, the medial perimeter edge of each of the breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM> that interface with the center bridge <NUM> might include a length in a range of about <NUM>,<NUM> to about <NUM>,<NUM> (about <NUM>" inches to about <NUM>" inches). And in another aspect, the medial perimeter edge of each of the breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM> might include a number of courses in a range of about <NUM> to about <NUM>.

Having described some exemplary sizes and dimensions of an upper-torso garment, another aspect of the disclosure relates to the size of the knit-textile regions <NUM> and <NUM> that include a tubular-knit textile and that are positioned in the breast-covering regions <NUM> and <NUM>. This relative sizing between the knit-textile panels <NUM> and <NUM> and the breast-covering portion <NUM> and <NUM> may, at least in part, determine the extent to which the elongation properties provided by the knit-textile panel are transferred to the breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM>.

A size of a knit-textile region <NUM> and <NUM> may be determined by various metrics. For example, the knit-textile regions <NUM> and <NUM> may include a polygonal shape having measured sides, and in one aspect the knit-textile regions <NUM> and <NUM> are at least <NUM>,<NUM> by <NUM>,<NUM> square (at least <NUM>" by <NUM>" square). And in another aspect, the knit-textile panels <NUM> and <NUM> include a size that corresponds with at least some of the dimensions of the breast-covering regions <NUM> and <NUM>, such that a base perimeter edge abutting the chest band is in a range of about <NUM>,<NUM> to about <NUM>,<NUM> (about <NUM>" to about <NUM>"), and a medial edge abutting the medial region is in a range of about <NUM>, <NUM> to about <NUM>, <NUM> (about <NUM>" to about <NUM>'). These dimensions are exemplary of one aspect of the present disclosure, and in other aspects the dimensions of the knit textile region may be smaller than the range listed. These dimensions of the knit textile region may also be larger than the listed range.

In a further aspect of the disclosure, a size of the knit-textile regions <NUM> and <NUM> might be based on a number of courses and stitches. For instance, in one aspect, the knit-textile regions <NUM> and <NUM> include a quantity of interlocked courses in a range of about <NUM> courses to about <NUM> courses, each interlocked course including a front-stitch course and a back-stitch course. In a further aspect, such as when the knit-textile panel includes a size that corresponds with the medial edge of the breast-covering portion <NUM> and <NUM> each knit-textile region <NUM> and <NUM> includes a quantity of courses in a range of about <NUM> courses to about <NUM> courses. In addition, each of these courses in the quantity includes a respective intra-knit sequence that repeats along the interlocked course. Based on the size of the intra-course knit sequence (e.g., between four and twelve stitches) and based on the number of times the intra-course knit sequence repeats, another dimension of the knit textile panel can be determined based on the total number of stitches in a respective course. For example, as previously indicated, an intra-course knit sequence might have a quantity of stitches equal to or greater than four and less than or equal to twelve, and the sequence might repeat between five and ten times. Using these exemplary numbers, a width of a knit textile region might be between <NUM> stitches and <NUM> stitches. And in a further aspect, such as when the knit-textile panel includes a size that corresponds with the bottom perimeter edge of the breast-covering portion <NUM> and <NUM> each knit-textile region <NUM> and <NUM> may include a quantity of stitches in a range of about <NUM> to about <NUM>.

As described in other parts of this disclosure, a number of interlocking cross overs in a course or in a knit textile panel can be increased or decreased to change the elongation properties (e.g., modulus of elasticity). As such, according to the claimed invention, an upper-torso garment includes a first knit zone having a first modulus of elasticity and a second knit zone having a second modulus of elasticity, which is greater than the first modulus of elasticity. Furthermore, the first knit zone is constructed of a first tubular-jacquard knit structure, and the second knit zone is constructed of a second tubular-jacquard knit structure. The first and second tubular-jacquard knit structures both include a plurality of front-stitch courses that are intermittently interlocked with a plurality of back-stitch courses. However, the density of the interlocking cross overs in the second tubular-jacquard knit structure is lower than the density of the interlocking cross overs in the first tubular-jacquard knit structure, and the lower density increases the modulus of elasticity by lowering the elongation provided by the fewer number of interlocking cross overs. This aspect of the claimed invention allows different regions of the upper-torso garment to be constructed of the same yarn type, same yarn size, same stitch structures, and different zonal properties based on the density of the interlocking cross overs.

Referring now to <FIG>, the upper-torso garment <NUM> includes a first knit zone <NUM> having a first tubular-jacquard knit structure in the breast-covering portion, a second knit zone <NUM> having a second tubular-jacquard knit structure in the wing portion, and a third knit zone <NUM> having a third tubular-jacquard knit structure in the center bridge. The tubular-jacquard knit structures are represented by respective knit diagrams <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, and it is understood that the knit diagrams <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>, when executed, would construct a respective tubular-jacquard knit structure.

As indicated by the knit diagram <NUM>, the first tubular jacquard knit structure includes a first plurality of front-stitch courses and a first plurality of back-stitch courses, the first plurality of front-stitch courses and the first plurality of back-stitch courses being constructed of a first yarn strand <NUM> and a second yarn strand <NUM>. Each front-stitch course of the first plurality of front-stitch courses intermittently interlocks with a back-stitch course of the first plurality of back-stitch courses to form a plurality of first interlocked courses 1324A and 1324B. Each first interlocked course 1324A and 1324B of the plurality of first interlocked courses includes a first set of consecutive needle positions <NUM> having a quantity of needles (e.g., <NUM>). In addition, each first interlocked course 1324A and 1324B includes three interlocking cross overs 1328A-1328C of the first yarn strand <NUM> and the second yarn strand <NUM> positioned among the first set of consecutive needle positions <NUM>. The first set of consecutive needle positions <NUM> are consistent throughout the plurality of first interlocked courses 1324A and 1324B.

With continued reference to <FIG>, the second tubular-jacquard knit structure shown by the knit diagram <NUM> includes a second plurality of front-stitch courses and a second plurality of back-stitch courses, the second plurality of front-stitch courses and the second plurality of back-stitch courses being constructed of a third yarn strand <NUM> and a fourth yarn strand <NUM>. Each front-stitch course of the second plurality of front-stitch courses intermittently interlocks with a back-stitch courses of the second plurality of back-stitch courses to form a plurality of second interlocked courses 1334A and 1334B, and each second interlocked course 1334A and 1334B includes a second set of consecutive needle positions <NUM> having the same quantity of needles as identified in the knit diagram <NUM> (e.g., <NUM>). The second interlocked courses includes fewer than three interlocking cross overs of the third yarn strand and the fourth yarn strand positioned among the second set of consecutive needle positions <NUM>. As such, as compared to the first tubular-jacquard knit structure, the second tubular-jacquard knit structure would exhibit both less elongation attributable to the interlocking cross overs and a higher modulus of elasticity. Accordingly, as between the two knit zones <NUM> and <NUM>, the same yarns can be carried throughout both zones, and different elongation properties can be imparted by constructing different densities of interlocking cross overs between two zones.

The third knit diagram <NUM> correlates with a third tubular-jacquard knit structure, and the interlocking cross overs that link the front-stitch courses to the back-stitch courses are spaced further apart than the number of needle positions depicted in the knit diagram <NUM>. For example, the interlocking cross overs that connect front-stitch courses and back stitch courses in the third tubular-jacquard knit structure may be positioned closer to, or along, the transition from the center bridge to the breast-covering portion, which is outside of the portion depicted by the third knit diagram <NUM>. As such, the front-stitch courses and the back-stitch courses form interlocked courses, but within the quantity of needle positions <NUM>, the third tubular-jacquard knit structure does not include any interlocking cross overs. Compared to the first tubular-jacquard knit structure and the second tubular-jacquard knit structure, the third tubular-jacquard knit structure might have the lowest amount of elongation attributable to the interlocking cross overs and the highest modulus of elasticity.

The densities of interlocking cross overs in each of the knit zones may be smaller or larger, but the knit zones still include different densities resulting in zonal differences in elongation properties. In addition, the intra-course knit sequences depicted in the diagrams may alternatively include any of the intra-course knit sequences depicted in <FIG>, the offset interlocking tuck binders described with respect to <FIG>, or may apply any of the organization principles described with respect thereto (e.g., various sized stitch subsets). For example, an interlocking cross over within an intra-course knit sequence may divide front stitches and back stitches into subsets with an equal number of stiches or with an unequal number of stitches. In addition, the interlocking cross overs in one course may either be aligned (by needle position) with interlocking cross overs in adjacent courses, or the interlocking cross overs in one course may be offset (by needle position) with interlocking cross overs in adjacent courses. Furthermore, the courses of offset interlocking tuck stitches may also be constructed into the first, second, and third tubular-jacquard knit structures, and the structures will still include zonal differences in modulus of elasticity based on differences in the respective density of interlocking cross overs.

Furthermore, the size of the knit diagrams in <FIG> is provided for illustrative purposes, including two interlocking courses with <NUM> needle positions. And in other aspects, each of the knit zones may be larger (i.e., more than two courses), such that the knit zones provide larger knit textile portions having varied elongation properties based on the tubular-jacquard knit structure. For example, each knit zone may include a number of knit courses in a range of at least forty interlocked courses and less than <NUM> interlocked courses. And in other aspects, a knit zone may include more than <NUM> interlocked courses.

In addition, other regions of the upper-torso garment may also include zones with different tubular-jacquard knit structures resulting in different modulus of elasticity. For example, the underarm zones, upper-chest region, encapsulating regions, and straps may also include a knit zone having a tubular-jacquard knit structure. Accordingly, in one aspect of the present disclosure, various portions of the upper-torso garment, including the breast-covering regions, the center bridge, the encapsulation regions, the upper-chest region, the underarm portions, and the wing portions, are each constructed of a tubular-jacquard knit structure having an interlocking tuck binder, and in each portion elongation properties may be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the number of interlocking cross overs.

Referring now to <FIG>, an aspect of the disclosure is directed to positioning tubular-jacquard knit textile regions having a lower density of interlocking cross overs around at least a portion of the breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM> in order to provide one or more encapsulating regions <NUM>, 35A, 35B, 35C, 35D, 35E, and 35F. That is, the encapsulating regions include a higher modulus of elasticity, relative to the breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM>, based on the encapsulating regions exhibiting a lower degree of elongation from a lower density of interlocking cross overs.

As a further illustrative, <FIG> includes a magnified view <NUM> showing a tubular-jacquard knit structure <NUM> positioned in the breast-covering portion. The tubular-jacquard knit region includes a plurality of front-stitch courses <NUM> consecutively interlooped with one another. The tubular-jacquard knit region also includes a plurality of back-stitch courses <NUM> consecutively interlooped with one another. The plurality of front-stitch courses and the plurality of back-stitch courses are constructed of a first yarn strand <NUM> and a second yarn strand <NUM>. Furthermore, each front-stitch course of the plurality of front-stitch courses intermittently interlocks with a back-stitch course of the plurality of back-stitch courses to form a plurality of interlocked courses (e.g., <NUM>).

Each interlocked course (e.g., <NUM>) of the plurality of interlocked courses includes a plurality of interlocking cross overs. For example, the interlocked course <NUM> includes four interlocking cross overs <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> (depicted as broken lines to avoid overcrowding in the figure). Each interlocking cross over includes the first yarn strand and the second yarn strand crossing over one another to change positions between a respective front-stitch course and a respective back-stitch course. In each interlocked course, the plurality of interlocking cross overs divide the respective front-stitch course into a plurality of front-stitch subsets and the respective back-stitch course into a plurality of back-stitch subsets, such as <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>.

As described with respect to <FIG>, a front-stitch subset (e.g., <NUM>), a back-stitch subset (e.g., <NUM>), and a pair of adjacent interlocking cross overs (e.g., <NUM> and <NUM>) at least partially partition off a space (e.g., <NUM>) between a front-stitch course and the back-stitch course, such that a knit tubular structure is formed. <FIG> represents a perspective view of a cross section taken at the reference line 15A-15A or the reference line 15B-15B in <FIG>, and for illustrative purposes, the cross section of <FIG> has been depicted relatively straight, even though the front surface of the breast-covering portion in <FIG> includes various curves. In addition, for illustrative purposes, the knit structure of <FIG> is shown without explicitly depicting an interlock tuck binder, but in other aspects, the knit structure in <FIG> may also include an interlock tuck binder.

<FIG> provides an illustrative schematic showing this tubular nature in more detail. That is, each interlocked course includes a plurality of side-by-side knit tubular structures, and when a plurality of interlocked courses are interloopedly connected, the more elongated knit tubular structures <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> of <FIG> are formed and arranged side-by-side, across the tubular-jacquard knit region. While all of the knit tubular structures are comprised of a respective subset of front stitches and back stitches, the quantity of stitches in those subsets affects the width of the knit tubular structure. For example, the subset of front stitches that makes up the knit tubular structure <NUM> has more stitches than the subset of front stitches that makes up the knit tubular structure <NUM>, as evidenced by the wider depiction of the knit tubular structure <NUM>.

In <FIG>, the tubular-jacquard knit region is divided into a first knit zone <NUM>, a second knit zone <NUM>, a third knit zone <NUM>, a fourth knit zone <NUM>, and a fifth knit zone <NUM>, and each knit zone includes a respective subset of knit tubular structures. In accordance with an aspect of this disclosure, the width of the knit tubular structures in each knit zone affects elongation properties of the knit zone. Furthermore, the width of the knit tubular structure is determined by the spacing of the interlocking cross overs and resulting quantity of stitches in the front-stitch subset and back-stitch subset.

In a further aspect, the first knit zone <NUM> constructs at least part of an the encapsulating region(s) 35A and/or 35B, the second knit <NUM> constructs at least part of the breast-covering portion <NUM>, the third knit zone <NUM> constructs at least part of the center bridge <NUM>, the fourth knit zone <NUM> constructs at least part of the other breast-covering portion <NUM>, and the fifth knit zone <NUM> constructs at least part of another encapsulating region(s) 35E and/or 35F. As such, the second and fourth knit zones may include subsets of front and back stitches that are smaller than the first, third, and fifth knit zones. And in one aspect of this disclosure, the knit tubular structures in the second and fourth zones includes two or more knit tubular structures, each having at least two and fewer than seven front stitches and at least two and fewer than seven back stitches. Each of the first, third, and fifth zones includes a single knit tubular structure having at least seven front stitches and at least seven back stitches.

The number of knit tubular structures in the second and fourth zones might vary depending on a location of the knit zone, and the second and forth zones are depicted with break lines to illustratively convey that the repeating pattern may have various numbers of knit tubular structures. For example, if the knit zone is aligned with the cross-section reference line 15A-15A, then the number of knit tubular structures in the second and fourth zones would be less than if the knit zone is aligned with the cross-section reference line 15B-15B. More specifically, the striping in <FIG> suggests that at line 15A-15A, the second and fourth zones might each include around <NUM>-<NUM> knit tubular structures, and that at the line 15B-15B the second and fourth zones might each include around <NUM> or <NUM> knit tubular structures. Furthermore, the number of front and back stitches in the third knit zone would increase along line 15A-15A to construct a wider knit tubular structure that would span the two breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM>.

<FIG> and <FIG> depict the knit tubular structures as being aligned with needle positions and extending substantially orthogonal to the courses. And in other aspects, the interlocking cross overs may be offset from course to course, such that a diagonal, zigzag, or other shape of knit tubular structure is formed. For example, the encapsulating bands 35A-35F extend at an angle relative to the direction of the courses to form a polygonal perimeter around the breast-covering portions <NUM> and <NUM>. In one aspect of the disclosure, the angled junctions 37A, 37B, 37C, and 37D help to impede movement of breast tissue when the upper-torso garment is worn. For example, as compared with a more curved perimeter encapsulating region, the angled junctions 37A, 37B, 37C, and 37D may impede rotational or circular movement of the breast tissue.

Furthermore, the intra-course knit sequences suggested in <FIG> and <FIG> are merely exemplary, and in other aspects, the knit tubular structures may be constructed using any of the intra-course knit sequences depicted in <FIG>, as well as the offset interlocking tuck binders described with respect to <FIG>. For example, an interlocking cross over within an intra-course knit sequence may divide front stitches and back stitches into subsets with an equal number of stiches or with an unequal number of stitches. Furthermore, courses of offset interlock tuck stitches may also be constructed into the front and back courses that form the elongated knit tubular structures, and the structures will still include zonal differences in elongation properties based on differences in the respective tube widths. For example, <FIG> provides a schematic of an interlocked course <NUM>, having similar break lines and zones <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> to that depicted in <FIG> further illustrates a third yarn strand <NUM> that forms a course of interlock tuck stitches together with the interlocked course <NUM>. As described in other portions of this disclosure, adjacent courses may also include a course of interlock tuck stitches that are offset from the course formed by the third yarn strand <NUM>.

An upper-torso garment having one or more of the aspects described in this disclosure may be constructed in various manners. For instance, a flat-bed knitting machine may be used, having a front needle bed and a back needle bed, such as a commercially available V-bed knitting machine. Knitting machines having various bed gauges may be used, and in one aspect, an <NUM> gauge bed is used to construct an upper-torso garment. Furthermore, various size needles may be used, such as <NUM> gauge, <NUM>, gauge, <NUM> gauge, etc., and in one aspect, <NUM> gauge needles are used on an <NUM> gauge needle bed.

Claim 1:
An upper-torso garment (<NUM>) comprising:
a first knit zone (<NUM>) having a first tubular-jacquard knit structure, which comprises a first plurality of front-stitch courses and a first plurality of back-stitch courses,
wherein the first plurality of front-stitch courses and the first plurality of back-stitch courses are constructed of a first yarn strand (<NUM>) and a second yarn strand (<NUM>),
wherein each front stitch course of the first plurality of front-stitch courses intermittently interlocks with a back-stitch course of the first plurality of back-stitch courses to form a plurality of first interlocked courses (1324A, 1324B), wherein each of the plurality of first interlocked courses (1324A, 1324B) includes interlocking cross overs (1328A, 1328B, 1328C), and
a second knit zone (<NUM>) having a second tubular-jacquard knit structure, which comprises a second plurality of front-stitch courses and a second plurality of back-stitch courses,
wherein the second plurality of front-stitch courses and the second plurality of back-stitch courses are constructed of a third yarn strand (<NUM>) and a fourth yarn strand (<NUM>),
wherein each front-stitch course of the second plurality of front-stitch courses intermittently interlocks with a back-stitch course of the second plurality of back-stitch courses to form a plurality of second interlocked courses (1334A, 1334B), wherein each of the plurality of second interlocked courses (1334A, 1334B) includes interlocking cross overs,
wherein interlocking cross overs in one course within the plurality of second interlocked courses (1334A, 1334B) are offset with interlocking cross overs in adjacent courses within the plurality of second interlocked courses (1334A, 1334B),
wherein a density of the interlocking cross overs in the second tubular-jacquard knit structure of the second knit zone (<NUM>) is lower than a density of the interlocking cross overs in the first tubular knit structure of the first knit zone (<NUM>) such that the first knit zone (<NUM>) has a first modulus of elasticity, and the second knit zone (<NUM>) has a second modulus of elasticity, which is greater than the first modulus of elasticity.