Patent ID: 7895863

Claim:
Gradient compression hosiery operable to be received on the lower limb of a wearer and provide compression to the lower limb that varies along the length of the limb, said gradient compression hosiery comprising: a stocking section that extends continuously between a distal end and an open proximal end thereof, said stocking section including a tubular foot portion extending from the distal end and a tubular leg portion extending from the open proximal end, with the foot portion dimensioned to receive the foot of the wearer and the leg portion dimensioned to receive at least part of the leg of the wearer when the hosiery is donned, said stocking section being knitted at least substantially of a stretch yarn and including elastomeric threads integrated into the stretch yarn knitting, with the foot portion and leg portion being configured to be undersized relative to the foot and leg of the wearer, said stocking section presenting a gradient region that extends from a distal location adjacent the distal end to a proximal location adjacent the proximal end, with a property of the hosiery changing progressively along the gradient region to provide compression that decreases progressively from the distal location to the proximal location when the hosiery is donned, said stretch yarn comprising a core-spun yarn that includes an a pre-tensioned elastomeric core and a twisted fiber sheath, wherein the core is pre-tensioned when the sheath is twisted around the core.