Legwear for massage and compression

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a leg garment suitable for massaging and compressing body areas of a wearer.

[0002] Clothing and compression elements can be found in US2018279694, US7945970, and US8172782. Compression clothing is typically understood as special sportswear that fits tightly and has a positive effect on the body. Compression clothing exerts pressure on the muscles and veins, ensuring better and faster blood flow. This improved and faster blood flow pumps more oxygen to the muscles. Compression and / or massage are also used, among other things, as a therapeutic measure for lymphedema, usually through compression stockings.

[0003] A disadvantage of the current state of the art is that compression garments exert a uniform pressure and thus a uniform compression on the wearer's body or body parts. However, this can compromise comfort, as pressure is also exerted on parts of the body where compression is perceived as uncomfortable.

[0004] Another disadvantage is that compression garments typically lead to increased sweating in the wearer due to their tight fit against the skin. This is because the tight fit of compression garments restricts ventilation of the skin.

[0005] The invention aims to provide a leg garment that reduces or even eliminates the aforementioned disadvantages. Therefore, it is an object of the invention to provide a garment for the leg area that provides both the necessary compression and, at the same time, a high level of comfort for the wearer.

[0006] It is a further object of the invention to provide a leg garment which simultaneously has a good massage effect and a supportive effect.

[0007] All the stated tasks are solved by the legwear according to the invention.

[0008] The invention is based on the finding that the above-mentioned objects can be achieved by a legwear item, wherein the legwear item comprises or consists of three or more different fabric materials, in particular three or more functionally different fabric materials, in particular three functionally different fabric materials, namely a first fabric material, a second fabric material, and a third fabric material. Functionally different means that the respective fabric materials differ from one another in their compression properties, their stretch properties, their square meter weight, their air permeability, their surface structure, their fiber properties, and / or their yarn properties. The three or more fabric materials are therefore different.

[0009] The invention therefore provides a leg garment, preferably made of three or more different fabric materials, comprising or consisting of a waistband, a front part, a back part, two side parts, two back of the knee parts and two calf parts, wherein the front part, the side parts and the back part are each connected to the waistband, characterized in that the two side parts, the back part and the two calf parts each comprise a first fabric material for massaging and compressing leg areas of a wearer, that the front part and the back of the knee parts each comprise a second fabric material, and that the waistband comprises a third fabric material, wherein the first fabric material has a higher compression than the second fabric material.

[0010] The legwear according to the invention has numerous advantages. The three or more functionally different fabric materials are specifically processed in the legwear according to the invention on different body regions and act there according to their functionality. Typically, the legwear comprises no more than five or no more than four functionally different fabric materials. The legwear exerts compression by means of the first fabric material only on those parts of the wearer's legs where it is necessary or desired. These areas are known to women as "problem zones," such as the outer thighs and the buttocks. The compression not only exerts a massage and compression on these parts of the wearer's legs, but the preferably raised structure of the first fabric material, for example, in the form of nubs, also has a massaging effect.The massaging effect is particularly noticeable when the wearer moves, causing the raised structure to move to a certain extent over the wearer's skin, thus exerting a massaging effect. Furthermore, the compression also has a beneficial "shaping" or supporting effect on the wearer's outer thighs and buttocks. Smaller dents on the skin surface of the thighs and buttocks, caused, for example, by cellulite, are smoothed or concealed with the legwear according to the invention. When worn, the legwear according to the invention thus not only provides a massage and compression effect, but also an aesthetic effect for the wearer. For the reasons mentioned above, the first fabric material can therefore also be referred to as a compression material.

[0011] The first fabric, or compression material, is primarily used to cover the large muscle groups in the wearer's legs, applying pressure or compression to them and simultaneously supporting them. These large muscle groups are located on the wearer's outer thighs, buttocks, and calves.

[0012] At the remaining parts of the legs, the second fabric of the legwear exerts less compression than the first fabric, and the third fabric exerts less compression than the second fabric, or no compression at all. For the second fabric, this applies to the back of the knees or the front. Compression or pressure in these areas is perceived as uncomfortable and would therefore reduce comfort. In this respect, the second fabric can also be referred to as a comfort material. Preferably, the second fabric is more breathable than the first fabric.

[0013] The third fabric material will be used for the waistband of the legwear item according to the invention. The third fabric material preferably has a velvety surface.

[0014] The third fabric material differs from the second fabric material in its elasticity; in particular, the third fabric material has greater elasticity and / or a softer or more velvety surface than the second fabric material. The third fabric material thus offers the highest level of comfort of all three or more fabric materials used in the legwear. In particular, the third fabric material offers greater comfort than both the second fabric material and the first fabric material.

[0015] The legwear according to the invention comprises several parts, namely a waistband, a front part, a back part, two side parts, two back of the knee parts, and two calf parts. Preferably, the legwear according to the invention consists of a waistband, a front part, a back part, two side parts, two back of the knee parts, and two calf parts.

[0016] For the purposes of this application, the following definitions are used. The directional and positional terms "proximal" and "distal" refer to "located toward the body center" and "located away from the body center," respectively. For example, if a part of the legwear according to the invention has a proximal end and a distal end, then, when the legwear is worn, the proximal end of the part is located closer to or toward the wearer's torso, while the distal end of the part is located closer to or toward the wearer's foot.

[0017] The waistband of the legwear rests on the wearer's lower abdomen, waist, and lower back when worn. The third fabric material, i.e. the fabric material offering the highest level of comfort, is used for the waistband. The waistband has an upper waistband edge and a lower waistband edge. The upper waistband edge is positioned proximally, and the lower waistband edge distally. The width of the waistband, i.e. the distance between the upper and lower waistband edges, is preferably between 0.5 cm and 15 cm, more preferably between 2 cm and 12 cm. The waistband of the legwear is preferably constructed in one piece, or alternatively in two pieces. If the waistband is constructed in two pieces, the waistband preferably comprises a front waistband part and a back waistband part, wherein the front waistband part is connected to the back waistband part laterally in the area of ​​the wearer's hips and / or waist when the legwear is worn.

[0018] The front and back of the waistband refer to the area of ​​the waistband that rests on the wearer's stomach and back, respectively, when the legwear is worn. The side of the waistband refers to the area of ​​the waistband that rests on the wearer's side when the pants are worn.

[0019] "One-piece" in the context of this application means that the respective part consists of a single, continuous piece of fabric. "Two-piece" in the context of this application means that the respective part consists of two interconnected pieces of the same fabric. The joining can be achieved by sewing, needling, gluing, or other techniques known in the textile industry that permanently bond the two pieces together.

[0020] The third fabric material preferably has a velvety surface, i.e., the third fabric material comprises or consists of a woven fabric with a hair cover of upstanding threads or fibers that typically form a 1 to 3 mm high pile. Velvet is known in the art. The third fabric material is preferably used in a turned-over configuration as a waistband. The third fabric material preferably comprises stretch material, preferably multiway stretch material, or moleskin. A multiway stretch material can be easily stretched in all directions. Moleskin is a cotton fabric and is also known as English leather.

[0021] The legwear further comprises two side panels, namely a left side panel and a right side panel, with both the left and right side panels each having a proximal end and a distal end. The two side panels are each connected to the waistband, preferably to the lower edge of the waistband, by their proximal ends. When the legwear is worn, the left side panel rests on the wearer's left leg, and the right side panel rests on the wearer's right leg, respectively, thus covering the muscle groups on the wearer's outer thighs.

[0022] When the legwear item is worn, the two side parts preferably extend from a lateral region of the waistband across the outer thigh region to an outer lateral knee region of the wearer, more preferably from a lateral region of the lower waistband edge across the outer thigh region to at least one lateral knee region of the wearer. The two side parts are preferably connected by their respective distal ends to the respective front parts, more preferably to the respective front parts and simultaneously to the respective back of the knee parts.

[0023] Preferably, the two side parts each have a band-like shape and / or the two side parts are each formed in one piece.

[0024] The legwear further comprises a front part, the front part having a proximal end and a distal end. The comfort material, i.e., the second fabric material, is used for the front part.

[0025] When the legwear is worn, the front part preferably extends from a front region of the waistband, preferably from a front region of the lower edge of the waistband, across the crotch region, the two front thigh regions and the inner thigh region to at least one front knee region of the wearer, more preferably to at least one ankle region of the wearer. If the waistband is formed in two pieces, the front part preferably extends from a front waistband part, more preferably from a lower edge of the front waistband part, across the two front thigh regions to at least one front knee region of the wearer, more preferably to at least one ankle region of the wearer.

[0026] The front part can be constructed in one piece or in two pieces. If the front part is constructed in two pieces, the front part comprises a left front part and a right front part, which are symmetrical to each other. The left and right front parts are connected to each other along a medial line running from a crotch area of ​​the legwear to the lower waistband edge, preferably to the lower waistband edge of the front waistband part. The connection can be achieved by sewing, needling, gluing, or other techniques known in the textile industry that permanently bond the two pieces together.

[0027] The legwear further comprises a back part. The back part is preferably formed in one piece, but can also be formed in two pieces. The compression material, i.e., the first fabric material, is used for the back part to compress the wearer's gluteal muscles.

[0028] When the legwear is worn, the back part preferably extends from a rear region of the waistband, preferably from a rear region of the lower waistband edge, across a buttocks area and the two rear thigh areas of the wearer to the respective back of the knee parts of the legwear. Preferably, the back part is connected to the two back of the knee parts. In other words, the respective distal ends of the back part extend to the proximal ends of the respective back of the knee parts and are connected to them. The connection can be made by sewing, needling, gluing, or other techniques known in the textile sector that permanently join the two parts together.

[0029] The back part can be constructed in one piece or in two pieces. If the back part is constructed in two pieces, the back part comprises a left back part and a right back part, which are symmetrical to each other. The left and right back parts are connected to each other along a medial line running from a crotch area of ​​the legwear to the lower waistband edge, preferably to the lower waistband edge of the back waistband part. The connection can be achieved by sewing, needling, gluing, or other techniques known in the textile industry that permanently bond the two pieces together.

[0030] The legwear also has two popliteal parts, namely a left popliteal part and a right popliteal part, with both the left and right popliteal parts each having a proximal end and a distal end. The left and right popliteal parts are preferably symmetrical to each other. The comfort material, i.e., the second fabric material, is used for the popliteal parts.

[0031] When the legwear is worn, the left back of the knee part lies in the back of the knee of the wearer's left leg, and the right back of the knee part lies in the back of the knee of the wearer's right leg. Preferably, the two back of the knee parts each extend over the lower, rear thigh areas of the wearer and / or the two back of the knee parts each extend over the upper calf areas of the wearer.

[0032] The popliteal sections are preferably connected at their proximal end to the distal end of the back section, and at their distal end to the respective calf section. The connection can be achieved by sewing, needling, gluing, or other techniques known in the textile industry that permanently bond the two pieces together.

[0033] The legwear also has two calf sections, namely a left calf section and a right calf section, with both the left and right calf sections each having a proximal end and a distal end. The compression material, i.e., the first fabric material, is used for the calf section to compress the wearer's calf muscles.

[0034] When the legwear is worn, the left calf piece rests on the calf area of ​​the wearer's left leg, and the right calf piece rests on the calf area of ​​the wearer's right leg. Thus, the calf pieces cover and compress the wearer's respective calf muscles.

[0035] The calf sections are preferably connected at their proximal end to the distal end of the respective popliteal section. The connection can be achieved by sewing, needling, gluing, or other techniques known in the textile industry that permanently bond the two pieces together.

[0036] Preferably, the first fabric material has a raised structure, and the raised structure of the first fabric material is in direct contact with the skin of the wearer of the legwear when worn, and / or the second fabric material has a smooth structure, and the smooth structure of the second fabric material is in direct contact with the skin of the wearer of the legwear when worn. Direct contact means that the respective fabric material lies directly on the wearer's skin, i.e., there is no layer of fabric or the like between the wearer's skin and the respective fabric material.

[0037] Preferably, the first fabric material, preferably with a raised structure, differs from the second fabric material in terms of compression, elongation, weight, fiber properties, and / or yarn properties. In particular, the first fabric material has a higher compression and / or a lower elongation than the second fabric material.

[0038] Preferably, the first fabric material, i.e., the compression material, comprises polyamide, viscose, or polyester, more preferably a combination of polyamide with 1-30% elastane or a combination of polyester with 1-30% elastane. The elastane content can be adjusted within the stated range according to the needs regarding elasticity and compression properties of the first fabric material.

[0039] Preferably, the second fabric material, i.e., the comfort material, comprises cotton or stretch material; more preferably, the second fabric material comprises pique or a multi-way stretch material. Cotton, especially pique, is breathable and therefore particularly suitable as a comfort material. A multi-way stretch material can be easily stretched in all directions.

[0040] Preferably, the raised structure of the first fabric material is in the form of nubs. The nubs are preferably arranged in a regular or irregular pattern on the fabric material. The nubs can take any shape, for example, circular nubs, triangular, square, or polygonal nubs. The nubs can be knitted or warp-knitted.

[0041] Preferably, when the leg garment is worn, each calf part extends from the respective back of the knee to the end of a trouser leg.

[0042] Preferably, the front part and the respective calf part each form a common trouser leg end, more preferably the two distal ends of the front part with the respective distal ends of the two calf parts form a common trouser leg end of the leg garment.

[0043] Preferably, the front part, the respective back of the knee part and the respective calf part each form a common trouser leg end, more preferably the two distal ends of the front part with the respective distal ends of the two back of the knee parts and with the respective distal ends of the two calf parts form a common trouser leg end of the leg garment.

[0044] The legwear item is preferably leggings or trousers. The trousers are preferably running trousers or gym trousers. The trousers, in particular running trousers or gym trousers, can be short, mid-length, or long trousers, in particular running trousers or gym trousers.

[0045] Preferably, the leg hem is positioned at the back of the wearer's knee. In this case, the trousers are designed as mid-length trousers.

[0046] Preferably, the leg ends are at the wearer's calf. In this case, the trousers are designed as mid-length trousers.

[0047] Preferably, the leg ends are at the wearer's ankle. In this case, the trousers are designed as long trousers.

[0048] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. Figure 1a side view of the legwear according to an embodiment of the invention, Figure 2 a front view of the legwear according to the embodiment of Figure 1 , Figure 3 a rear view of the legwear according to the embodiment of Figure 1 , Reference symbol

[0049] 1Legwear item 2Waistband 2Front waistband part 2bRear waistband part 3Front part 3aRight front part 3left front part 4aRight side part 4left side part 5Back part 5aRight back part 5bLeft back part 6aRight back of the knee 6bLeft back of the knee 7aRight calf part 7bLeft calf part 8Trouser leg end

[0050] The legwear (1) of the Figures 1 to 3 The exemplary embodiment of the invention shown is designed in the form of skin-tight leggings. It has a two-piece waistband (2) with a front waistband part (2a) and a rear waistband part (2b). As can be seen from Figure 1The front waistband section (2a) is sewn to the back waistband section (2b) at the side of the wearer's hips. The waistband (2) is band-shaped and, when worn, rests in the wearer's waist and hip area. The waistband width, ie, the distance between the upper and lower edges of the waistband (2), is approximately 10 cm.

[0051] The legwear item (1) further comprises a front part (3), which is designed here as a two-piece front part, namely a right front part (3a) and a left front part (3b), which are symmetrical to one another. The front part (3) extends from the lower edge of the waistband (2) across the front thigh areas and the front knee area to the wearer's ankle area.

[0052] The legwear further comprises two side panels, namely a right side panel (4a) and a left side panel (4b), which are also symmetrical to each other. The two side panels each extend from the lower edge of the waistband (2) across the side of the thigh to a side knee area of ​​the wearer.

[0053] The legwear item (1) further comprises a back part (5). The back part (5) is formed in two pieces and comprises a left back part (5b) and a right back part (5a). Both back parts extend from the lower edge of the waistband (2) over the wearer's buttocks to near the back of the wearer's knees. The distal ends of the back parts are sewn there to the proximal ends of the respective back of the knee parts (6a, 6b). The distal ends of the back of the knee parts (6a, 6b) are sewn to the proximal ends of the respective calf parts (7a, 7b).

[0054] Together with the two calf parts (7a, 7b), the respective front parts (3a, 4b) form the two trouser leg ends (8).

[0055] The two-piece front piece (3a, 3b) and the two back-of-the-knee pieces (6a, 6b) are made of pique, the second fabric. The quilted surface of the pique is positioned outward, while the smooth surface of the pique faces the wearer's skin.

[0056] The waistband (2) is made of a third fabric material, which in this case is a multiway stretch material with a velvety surface.

[0057] In contrast, the two side panels (4a, 4b), the two back panels (5a, 5b), and the two calf panels (7a, 7b) are made of the first fabric material, i.e., a compression material. In this case, the first fabric material is a blend of polyamide and elastane.

Claims

1. A legwear item (1) made of three or more different cloth materials and comprising a waistband (2), a front panel (3), a rear panel (5), two side panels (4a, 4b), two knee hollow panels (6a, 6b), and two calf panels (7a, 7b), the front panel (3), the side panels (4a, 4b), and the rear panel (5) each being connected to the waistband (2), characterized in that the two side panels (4a, 4b), the rear panel (5), and the two calf panels (7a, 7b) each comprise a first cloth material for massaging and compressing leg regions of a wearer, and in that the front panel (3) and the knee hollow panels (6a, 6b) each comprise a second cloth material, and in that the waistband (2) comprises a third cloth material, wherein the first cloth material has a greater compression than the second cloth material.

2. The legwear item (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first cloth material comprises a raised structure and the raised structure of the first cloth material directly contacts the skin of the wearer of the legwear item (1) in the worn state, and / or in that the second cloth material comprises a smooth structure, and the smooth structure of the second cloth material directly contacts the skin of the wearer of the legwear item (1) in the worn state.

3. The legwear item (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first cloth material comprises polyamide, viscose, or polyester, and / or in that the second cloth material comprises cotton or stretch material, preferably multiway stretch material.

4. The legwear item (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second cloth material has greater breathability than the first cloth material.

5. The legwear item (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the third cloth material comprises a velvety surface.

6. The legwear item (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first cloth material, the second cloth material, and the third cloth material differ from each other in the compression properties, stretching properties, grammage, air-permeability, surface structure, fiber properties, and / or yarn properties thereof.

7. The legwear item (1) according to any one of the claims 2 through 6, characterized in that the raised structure of the first cloth material is implemented in the form of napping.

8. The legwear item (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front panel (3) extends in the worn state from a front region of the waistband (2), across the crotch region, the two front thigh regions and inner thigh regions, to at least one respective front knee region of the wearer.

9. The legwear item (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear panel (5) extends in the worn state from a rear region of the waistband (2), across a buttocks region and the two rear thigh regions of the wearer, to the corresponding knee hollow panels (6a, 6b).

10. The legwear item (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the side panels (4a, 4b) extend in the worn state from a side region of the waistband (2), across the outer thigh region, to an outer side knee region of the wearer.

11. The legwear item (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two side panels (4a, 4b) each have a band-shaped design.

12. The legwear item (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the two side panels (4a, 4b) are each implemented as a single piece.

13. The legwear item (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front panel (3a, 3b) is implemented in two pieces and / or in that the rear panel (5a, 5b) is implemented in two pieces.

14. The legwear item (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the front panel (3) and the corresponding calf panel (7a, 7b) each form a common trouser leg hem (8), or in that the front panel (3), the corresponding knee hollow panel (6a, 6b), and the corresponding calf panel (7a, 7b) each form a common trouser leg hem (8).

15. The legwear item (1) according to claim 14, characterized in that the trouser leg hem (8) is present in the region of the calf of the wearer, or in that the trouser leg hem (8) is present in the region of the ankle of the wearer.