Leg cover and cover body

Abstract

A leg cover 1 according to the present disclosure covers a lower portion of a leg L from above a knee without constricting the leg L. The leg cover 1 includes: a cover member 100 having a tubular shape and configured such that the portion of the leg L is inserted therethrough, the cover member 100 covering the leg L without constricting the leg L; a supporter 300 to be worn on the knee K or above the knee and configured to retain the cover member 100; and a shape-retaining member 200 provided in the cover member 100, the shape-retaining member 200 having a tapered cylindrical shape.

Description

Leg cover and cover body

[0001] The present invention relates to a leg cover and a cover body.

[0002] In recent years, as an item of leg fashion, there is a leg cover that covers the part from above the knees to the heels of the legs. The leg cover covers the part while being separated from the body and without constricting the body, and prevents the exposure of the shape of the legs.

[0003] The leg cover is formed in a tubular shape with a length from above the knees to the heels of the legs, and is worn by being locked to a supporter worn on the legs. A plurality of button holes are provided on the outer surface of the leg cover, and a plurality of buttons are provided on the circumference of the outer surface of the supporter. The leg cover is worn by first wearing the supporter above the knees of the legs, then inserting the leg cover up to the part above the knees of the legs, and finally locking the buttons of the supporter and the button holes of the leg cover. The leg cover has the advantage that in the worn state, a beautiful shape can be realized while maintaining an appropriate gap between the leg cover and the leg without the upper part of the leg cover narrowing, and it is difficult to slip off.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a supporter having a plurality of buttons attached to the knees or above the knees, to which a leg cover is attached, and a button hole into which the button provided on the supporter is inserted is provided on the lower inner surface near the upper end of the leg cover.

[0005] Registered Utility Model No. 3164938

[0006] However, as shown in FIG. 7, the leg cover described in the conventional Patent Document 1 may not be able to keep the opening at the upper end circular due to the relaxation of the upper end. In addition, due to the movement of the legs, a roll may occur at the upper end, and the supporter may be visible. Also, wrinkles or slack of the fabric may occur due to the concentrated load of the fabric around the part locked to the supporter. Further, due to the influence of the wrinkles and slack of the fabric generated at these upper ends, wrinkles and slack may occur in the entire leg cover.

[0007] On the other hand, attempting to reinforce the leg covers by adding a lining to prevent these issues would result in the shape of the lining showing through to the surface of the leg covers, negatively impacting their appearance, making it impossible to use a lining.

[0008] The above problem is particularly noticeable when the leg covers are made from stretchy knit fabrics or thin fabrics. This limits the range of fabric choices for leg covers and restricts the variety of leg covers available.

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a leg cover that can maintain a circular shape at the upper end opening, regardless of the material and without adversely affecting the appearance of the outer surface.

[0010] As a result of diligent experimentation, the inventors have discovered that by providing a tapered cylindrical shape-retaining member to the cover member, the characteristic shape of the cover member can be maintained without adversely affecting the appearance of the front side of the cover member.

[0011] The leg cover according to this disclosure is a leg cover that covers the portion of the leg from above the knee down without constricting the leg, and includes a cover member which is cylindrical and through which the portion of the leg is inserted and covers the leg without constricting it, a supporter which is attached to or above the knee of the leg and locks the cover member, and a shape-retaining member which is provided inside the cover member and has a tapered cylindrical shape.

[0012] The cover body according to this disclosure is a cover body used in a leg cover, and includes a cylindrical cover member through which the aforementioned portion of the leg is inserted and which covers the leg without constricting it, and a tapered cylindrical shape retaining member provided inside the cover member, wherein when folded, the upper end of the cover member forms an upwardly convex arc.

[0013] According to this disclosure, the leg cover has a tapered cylindrical shape, allowing it to maintain its shape on its own. Therefore, the cylindrical cover member equipped with this shape-retaining member can maintain its shape. Furthermore, by providing the shape-retaining member on the inside of the upper end of the leg cover, it is possible to maintain the circular shape of the opening at the upper end. Moreover, by providing the shape-retaining member with the smaller diameter end facing downwards and fixing it to the cover member only at the larger diameter end, the shape of the part of the shape-retaining member other than the larger diameter end does not protrude from the surface of the cover member, thus avoiding adverse effects on the appearance of the outer surface of the cover member. In addition, the cover body can be worn by fastening it to a supporter attached to the knee or above the knee to constitute a leg cover, thereby achieving similar effects.

[0014] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the leg cover being worn according to an embodiment of this disclosure. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the shape-retaining member according to this embodiment. Figure 3 is a diagram showing a curved flat rubber member according to this embodiment. Figure 4 is a diagram showing the shape-retaining member being fixed to the cover member according to this embodiment. Figure 5 is a side view showing the leg cover being locked to the supporter according to this embodiment. Figure 6 is a diagram showing the cover body in a folded state according to this embodiment. Figure 7 is a diagram showing the leg cover being worn according to the prior art. Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating a leg cover according to a comparative example. Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating a leg cover according to a comparative example.

[0015] Hereinafter, embodiments of the leg cover according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 6. Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the leg cover according to the embodiment of the present disclosure in a worn state. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the shape-retaining member according to this embodiment. Figure 3 is a diagram showing the curved flat rubber member according to this embodiment. Figure 4 is a diagram showing the shape-retaining member according to this embodiment being fixed to the cover member. Figure 5 is a side view showing the leg cover being locked to the supporter according to this embodiment. Figure 6 is a diagram showing the cover body according to this embodiment in a folded state. In the following description, the vertical direction of the leg cover in Figure 1 may be referred to as the "vertical direction," and the direction of the leg cover around the leg may be referred to as the "circumferential direction." Also, in the following description, the short side of the flat rubber member in Figure 3 may be referred to as the "width direction," and the long side may be referred to as the "length direction."

[0016] <Leg Cover> As shown in Figure 1, the leg cover 1 covers the portion of the leg from above the knee down, keeping it away from the body. That is, when standing upright, there is a gap between the cover member 100 and the body. Also, the cover member 100 does not constrict the leg, and the shape of the leg does not show through the outer surface 106 of the cover member 100. The leg cover 1 includes the cover member 100, the shape-retaining member 200, and the supporter 300. The cover member 100 and the shape-retaining member 200 constitute the cover body 10. The leg cover 1 is worn by inserting the leg L into the cover body 10 and securing it to the supporter 300 attached above the knee K. The leg cover 1 is worn, for example, when wearing short pants. In the following description, the cover member 100 and the shape-retaining member 200 will be described first, followed by the overall structure of the cover member 10, and then the supporter 300 will be described.

[0017] <Cover Member> The cover member 100 is cylindrical through which the leg L is inserted and covers the leg L without constricting it. The cover member 100 has a length from above the knee K of the leg to the heel U and foot F. The cover member 100 is formed from a sheet-like material into a cylindrical shape, and each end 102, 104 of the cylindrical shape is open. The cover member 100 is formed by sewing the ends of two pieces of fabric together. However, the cover member 100 may also be formed from a single piece of fabric.

[0018] The cover member 100 is preferably cylindrical in shape. The cover member 100 is not limited to having a uniform diameter in the vertical direction, and its diameter may change depending on its position in the vertical direction. For example, the upper end 102 and lower end 104 of the cover member 100 may have larger diameters than the other parts.

[0019] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the cover member 100 has a plurality of buttonholes 110 on the circumference of its outer surface 106. The buttonholes 110 engage with buttons 310 attached to the supporter 300. The buttonholes 110 are elongated in the vertical direction of the cylindrical shape. Three buttonholes 110 are provided at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction. The plurality of buttonholes 110 are provided at the same height in the vertical direction of the cover member 100. Here, the upper end of the elongated shape of the buttonhole 110 is provided at a position where it coincides with or partially overlaps with the lower end of the shape-retaining member 200 on the cover member 100. The position and number of buttonholes 110 can be changed to suit ease of use and design, as long as it does not impair the function of the leg cover 1.

[0020] The cover member 100 is not limited to buttonholes 110, and may also be provided with hook-and-loop fasteners. In this case, the hook-and-loop fasteners of the cover member 100 will be fastened to the hook-and-loop fasteners provided on the supporter 300.

[0021] The sheet-like material that constitutes the cover member 100 is a fabric material. The fabric material of the cover member 100 is not particularly limited, but it can be made of thick fabric materials such as denim, as well as stretchable knit fabric materials or thin fabric materials. In addition to the above, the fabric material of the cover member 100 also includes soft materials with little stiffness that have difficulty maintaining their shape on their own when formed into a tubular shape. The fabric material of the cover member 100 can be woven fabrics such as sheeting fabric or satin fabric, or knitted fabrics such as jersey fabric or smooth fabric.

[0022] The fabric material of the cover member 100 can be made from woven fabrics, knitted fabrics, lace fabrics, leather fabrics, and vinyl fabrics. Examples of woven fabrics that can be used for the fabric material of the cover member 100 include broadcloth, sheeting fabric, oxford fabric, canvas fabric, quilting fabric, twill fabric, twill weave fabric, satin fabric, and taffeta fabric. Examples of knitted fabrics that can be used for the fabric material of the cover member include jersey fabric, rib knit fabric, smooth fabric, jacquard fabric, pile fabric, rib knit fabric, cardboard fabric, pique fabric, compressed knit fabric, and lace fabric. Other materials that can be used for the fabric material of the cover member 100 include leather and vinyl materials.

[0023] <Shape-retaining member> The shape-retaining member 200 shown in Figure 2 is fixed to the upper end 102 of the cover member 100 and maintains the circular shape of the opening 103 of the upper end 102. The shape-retaining member 200 is a tapered cylindrical shape, with a large-diameter end 202 at one end and a small-diameter end 204 at the other end, which has a smaller diameter than the large-diameter end 202. The large-diameter end 202 and the small-diameter end 204 are both open. The large-diameter end 202 and the small-diameter end 204 are connected by a uniform tapered surface.

[0024] The diameter of the small-diameter end 204 of the tapered cylindrical shape of the shape-retaining member 200 is such that the leg L can be inserted through it. The diameter of the large-diameter end 202 of the shape-retaining member 200 is the same as the diameter of the inner circumference 108 at the upper end 102 of the cover member 100. The diameter of the small-diameter end 204 is smaller than the diameter of the inner circumference 108 of the cover member 100.

[0025] The shape-retaining member 200 is formed from an elastic material, specifically flat rubber. A 40 mm wide flat rubber can be used. The flat rubber can be woven or knitted. Here, "flat rubber" refers to a straight elastic cord with a rectangular cross-section that is elastic in the length direction. The flat rubber is formed by knitting multiple polyurethane threads (warp threads) arranged in the width direction with nylon thread. The polyurethane thread is a so-called polyurethane elastic thread, consisting of ether-based or ester-based polyurethane elastic fibers. Note that the shape-retaining member 200 does not necessarily have to be formed from flat rubber; a material with elasticity similar to flat rubber or a material with shape-memory properties can also be used.

[0026] The shape-retaining member 200 is formed by processing a straight flat rubber into the flat rubber member 210 shown in Figure 3, and then sewing it into a ring shape. The method for forming the shape-retaining member 200 will be described below.

[0027] First, the method for forming the flat rubber member 210 will be explained. A flat rubber member cut to a predetermined length is heated along its entire length, with only one end 212 in the width direction being heated to shrink the width end 212 to a predetermined length, while the other end 214 is double-stitched along its entire length. By stitching the other end 214, the flat rubber member is reinforced and can maintain its original length. The flat rubber member becomes shorter than its original length at one end 212, while the other end 214 remains at its original length, resulting in an overall curved shape with the one end 212 facing inward. The radius of curvature at the other end 214 of the flat rubber member 210 is approximately 21 cm. The heating temperature when heat-shrinking the flat rubber member is approximately 180°C. Heating is performed, for example, by pressing an iron onto it. In this way, the flat rubber member 210 is formed.

[0028] Next, as shown in Figure 2, the two flat rubber members 210A and 210B are connected at their ends in the longitudinal direction to form a single ring. The two flat rubber members 210A and 210B are connected at two sewn sections 220A and 220B, which are sewn together with a seam 222. Here, the two flat rubber members 210A and 210B are connected with their one ends 212 facing each other. The two connected flat rubber members 210A and 210B form a tapered cylindrical shape. When viewed from above, the two connected flat rubber members 210A and 210B form a circular shape. In this way, the shape-retaining member 200 is formed.

[0029] <Structure of the Cover Body> The structure of the cover body 10 will be described below. As shown in Figure 4, the cover body 10 comprises a cover member 100 and a shape-retaining member 200. The cover body 10 has the shape-retaining member 200 inside the upper end portion 102 of the cover member 100. The cover body 10 has the shape-retaining member 200 along the cylindrical inner circumference of the cover member 100. Also, as shown in Figure 5, the cover body 10 has the shape-retaining member 200 positioned so that the large-diameter end portion 202 is on the upper end side of the cover member 100, and the small-diameter end portion 204 of the shape-retaining member 200 is on the lower end side of the cover member 100.

[0030] The large-diameter end 202 of the shape-retaining member 200 is sewn to the inside of the upper end 102 of the cover member 100. Here, the diameter of the outer circumference 206 of the large-diameter end 202 of the shape-retaining member 200 is approximately the same as the diameter of the inner circumference 108 of the upper end 102 of the cover member 100. Also, as shown in Figure 4, the shape-retaining member 200 is provided such that its upper end is located at a predetermined length below the upper end of the cover member 100. Furthermore, a seam 102a is formed at a predetermined length below the upper end of the shape-retaining member 200. Note that the shape-retaining member 200 does not necessarily have to be formed into a tapered cylindrical shape beforehand; it may be formed into a tapered cylindrical shape when it is sewn to the cover member 100 while still in the state of a curved rubber member 210.

[0031] On the other hand, the portion of the shape-retaining member 200 other than the upper end portion 202 is not sewn to the cover member 100. In other words, the leg cover 1 is fixed to the cover member 100 and the shape-retaining member 200 only at the upper ends 102 and 202. As a result, when the wearer is standing upright, the portion of the shape-retaining member 200 other than the large-diameter end portion 202 has a gap with respect to the inner circumference 108 of the cover member 100 and does not come into contact with it.

[0032] The cover body 10 can be folded by creating folds at the two seams 220. Since the shape-retaining member 200 is made of a curved rubber member 210, when folded, the upper end 102 of the leg cover 1 becomes an upward-convex arc with a radius of curvature of about 21 cm (see Figure 6).

[0033] <Effects of the Shape-Retaining Member> The effects of the leg cover 1 being equipped with a shape-retaining member 200 on the cover member 100 will be explained. Since the shape-retaining member 200 has a tapered cylindrical shape, it can maintain its shape by itself. Since the cover member 100 is equipped with a shape-retaining member 200 inside the upper end portion 102, the opening 103 of the upper end portion 102 of the cover member 100 can be kept in a circular shape.

[0034] Even if a load is applied to a part of the upper end 102 of the cover member 100 of the leg cover 1, the shape-retaining member 200, which is made of rubber, absorbs the load elastically, so the circular shape of the opening 103 can be maintained. Even if the upper end 202 of the leg cover 1 is twisted due to the wearer squatting, the shape-retaining member 200 restores it to its original shape elastically, so the circular shape of the opening 103 can be maintained.

[0035] Since the shape-retaining member 200 has a tapered cylindrical shape and is sewn to the cover member 100 only at the large-diameter end 202, the part of the shape-retaining member 200 other than the large-diameter end 202 does not come into contact with the inner circumference 108 of the cover member 100. As a result, the shape-retaining member 200 can exert its shape-retaining effect without its shape protruding from the outer surface 106 of the cover member 100.

[0036] Since the shape-retaining member 200 is made of an elastic material, it can be folded flat when not being worn. This allows it to be compactly stored or carried, and does not require a large storage space.

[0037] <Supporter> The supporter 300 fastens the cover body 10 to the leg L. The supporter 300 is worn by compressing the leg L at a position above the knee K.

[0038] The supporter 300 is a cylindrical component made of an elastic material. The supporter 300 is elastic in the circumferential direction and is worn by surrounding and compressing the leg L. The leg L is inserted into the cylindrical interior of the supporter 300 and worn in a predetermined position. Due to its elasticity, the supporter 300 adheres closely to the leg L and stays in place due to friction with the leg L.

[0039] Furthermore, the supporter 300 is not limited to a stretchable material, but may be formed from an elastic material. In this case, the supporter 300 has a substantially cylindrical shape with an opening in a part of the circumferential direction. The diameter of the supporter 300 can be adjusted by the opening, and when expanded beyond a predetermined opening, a restoring force is generated due to the elasticity of the material. The supporter 300 is fitted by inserting the leg L through it and compressing the leg L at a predetermined position.

[0040] The supporter 300 is provided with three buttons 310 at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction. Here, the positions of the buttons 310 correspond to the positions of the buttonholes 110 of the cover member 100. The buttons 310 are attached to the surface of the supporter 300 via cylindrical portions 312. The buttons 310 are separated from the surface of the supporter 300 by a predetermined length in the vertical direction by the cylindrical portions 312. The buttons 310 are so-called tack buttons. That is, the buttons 310 have a projection 312 that protrudes from the back surface in the center of the back surface. The projection 312 has a cylindrical shape with a diameter smaller than the button 310. The cylindrical portion 312 has a hole at the tip of the cylindrical shape. The buttons 310 are attached by driving rivets into the holes from the opposite side of the fabric of the supporter 300. Note that the supporter 300 is not limited to buttons 310, and may also be provided with hook and loop fasteners.

[0041] The following describes comparative examples. <Comparative Example 1> Figure 8 shows a leg cover with a folded lining as Comparative Example 1. In the leg cover according to Comparative Example 1, the fabric of the cover member is cut out in a shape that includes the folded lining portion, sewn into a tube shape (see Figure 8(a)), and then the lining portion is folded inward and left hanging inside (see Figure 8(b)). Figure 8(c) shows the leg cover in a worn state. As shown in Figure 8(c), even when the upper end is opened when worn, the opening at the upper end does not become circular because the lining fabric does not have enough stiffness or strength. Also, even when the upper end is rolled up, such as when the knee is bent, it does not return to its original shape and remains rolled up because the lining fabric does not have enough stiffness or strength. In addition, the load of the cover member is applied directly to the buttonholes, causing wrinkles around the buttonholes. Furthermore, wrinkles and sagging occur in the cover member between the buttonholes in the circumferential direction, causing wrinkles and sagging throughout the cover member.

[0042] <Comparative Example 2> Figure 9 shows a leg cover as Comparative Example 2, which uses a member (see Figure 9(b)) made by sewing a straight, flat elastic band (see Figure 9(a)) into a ring shape. This member is formed into a cylindrical shape without a taper. As a result, as shown in Figure 9(c), when a load is applied to a part of the upper end of the cover member, the load is not distributed throughout the entire member, causing partial sagging and distortion of the opening at the upper end, resulting in a shape that is not a perfect circle. Furthermore, the distortion of the opening causes wrinkles and sagging throughout the cover member. In addition, because the member formed from flat elastic band is cylindrical rather than tapered, the shape of the member is visible on the surface of the cover member, impairing its appearance.

[0043] The effects of each aspect of the present disclosure are described below. <First aspect> The leg cover 1 according to the first aspect of the present disclosure is a leg cover 1 that covers the portion of the leg L from above the knee down without constricting the leg, and includes a cover member 100 which is cylindrical and through which the leg L is inserted and covers the leg L without constricting it, a supporter 300 which is attached to the knee or above the knee of the leg and locks the cover member 100, and a shape-retaining member 200 which is provided inside the cover member 100 and has a tapered cylindrical shape. According to the first aspect, the leg cover 1 is attached by locking the cover member 100 to the supporter 300 which is attached to the knee or above the knee of the leg L, so that the leg L can be worn without constricting it. Also, since the cover member 100 is cylindrical, the leg L can be inserted inside and the inserted leg L can be covered. The leg cover 1 covers the leg L without the cover member 100 tightening it, so the shape of the leg L does not protrude from the outer surface 106 of the cover member 100. Furthermore, the leg cover 1 is equipped with a shape-retaining member 200 inside the cover member 100 that can maintain its shape on its own due to its tapered cylindrical shape, so the shape-retaining member 200 is not visible from the outside, and the cover member 100 can maintain its shape. As a result, the leg cover 1 can be constructed regardless of the material of the cover member 100 and without adversely affecting the appearance of the outer surface 106 of the cover member 100. In addition, by providing the shape-retaining member 200 inside the upper end portion 102 of the leg cover 100, it is possible to maintain the circular shape of the opening 103 at the upper end portion 102. <Second Embodiment> In the second embodiment of the leg cover 1 of the present disclosure, the shape-retaining member 200 is provided along the inner circumference of the cover member 100, as in the first embodiment. According to the second embodiment, the leg cover 1 is provided with a shape-retaining member 200 along the inner circumference of the cover member 100, so that the cylindrical shape of the cover member 100 can be maintained by the tapered cylindrical shape of the shape-retaining member 200. <Third Embodiment> The leg cover 1 according to the third embodiment of the present disclosure is provided with a shape-retaining member 200 at the upper end portion 102 of the cylindrical shape of the cover member 100, in the first embodiment or the second embodiment.According to the third embodiment, the leg cover 1 is provided with a shape-retaining member 200 at the upper end 102 of the cover member 100, so that the opening 103 at the upper end 102 of the cover member 100 can be kept circular. <Fourth embodiment> In the fourth embodiment of the present disclosure, the leg cover 1 is provided with a shape-retaining member 200 in any one of the first to third embodiments such that the larger diameter side of the tapered cylindrical shape is at the upper end of the cover member 100, and the smaller diameter side of the shape-retaining member 200 is at the lower end of the cover member 100. According to the fourth embodiment, the leg cover 1 is provided with a shape-retaining member 200 in a manner such that the larger diameter side is at the upper end of the cover member 100, and the smaller diameter side is at the lower end of the cover member 100, so that when worn, the shape-retaining member 200 is not visible from the outside through the opening 103 at the upper end 102. Furthermore, by attaching the shape-retaining member 200 to the upper end 102 of the cover member 100 only at the large-diameter end 202, it is possible to avoid the shape of the part of the shape-retaining member 200 other than the large-diameter end 202 protruding from the outer surface 106 of the cover member 100. <Fifth Embodiment> In the fifth embodiment of the present disclosure, the leg cover 1 is fixed to the cover member 100 only at the large-diameter end 202 of the tapered cylindrical shape in any one of the first to fourth embodiments. According to the fifth embodiment, the leg cover 1 is fixed to the cover member 100 only at the large-diameter end 202 of the shape-retaining member 200, and since the part of the tapered cylindrical shape other than the large-diameter end 202 does not come into contact with the inner circumference 108 of the cover member 100, the shape-retaining member 200 does not adversely affect the outer surface 106 of the cover member 100 in any part other than the upper end 102 of the cover member 100. <Sixth Embodiment> In the sixth embodiment of the present disclosure, the leg cover 1 is fastened to the supporter 300 by one or more buttons 310 in any one of the first to fifth embodiments, and the cover member 100 is provided with a buttonhole 110 for fastening to the button 310 of the supporter 300, at a position where the upper end of the buttonhole 110 coincides with or partially overlaps with the lower end of the shape-retaining member 200.According to the sixth embodiment, the leg cover 1 is provided with a buttonhole 110 for fastening the cover member 100 to one or more buttons provided on the supporter, so that it can be fastened to the supporter 300 by the button 310. Furthermore, the cover member 100 is provided with the buttonhole 110 at a position where the upper end of the buttonhole 110 coincides with, or partially overlaps with, the lower end of the shape-retaining member 200 fixed to the cover member 100, so that the lower end of the shape-retaining member 200 can rest on the protruding portion 312 of the button 310. That is, since the shape-retaining member 200 is supported by the button 310, the load on the cover member 100 related to the shape-retaining member 200 can be received and distributed by the supporter 300 via the button 310. This makes it possible to suppress wrinkles and sagging between the upper end 102 of the cover member 100 and the buttonhole 110. <Seventh Embodiment> In the seventh embodiment of the present disclosure, the leg cover 1, in any one of the first to sixth embodiments, has a cover member 100 made of a stretchable knit material or a thin fabric. According to the seventh embodiment, even stretchable knit material or a thin fabric, which could not be used as a lining because its softness would cause the shape of the lining to show through the surface of the leg cover and negatively affect its appearance, can be used as the fabric for the cover member 100 without a lining, as the shape-retaining member 200 can maintain the circular shape of the opening 103 and does not negatively affect its appearance. This makes it possible to construct the cover member 100 from a wider range of materials and increase the variety of leg covers. <Eighth Embodiment> In the eighth embodiment of the present disclosure, the leg cover 1, in any one of the first to seventh embodiments, has a shape-retaining member 200 made of an elastic material. According to the eighth aspect, since the leg cover 1 has a shape-retaining member 200 made of an elastic material, even if a load is applied to a part of the upper end 102 of the cover member 100, the load can be absorbed by the elasticity of the shape-retaining member 200, so that the opening 103 of the cover member 100 can be kept in a circular shape. Furthermore, even if a part of the upper end 102 of the cover member 100 is bent, it can be restored to its original circular shape by the elasticity of the shape-retaining member 200.<Ninth Embodiment> In the ninth embodiment of the present disclosure, the leg cover 1 is configured such that the shape-retaining member 200 includes two curved rubber members 210. According to the ninth embodiment, since the shape-retaining member 200 of the leg cover 1 includes two curved rubber members 210, the two rubber members 210 can be sewn together at their ends in the longitudinal direction to form a ring, thereby forming a tapered cylindrical shape. <Tenth Embodiment> In the tenth embodiment of the present disclosure, the leg cover 1 is foldable flat. According to the tenth embodiment, since the shape-retaining member 200 of the leg cover 1 is made of an elastic material, it can be folded flat when not being worn. This allows it to be compactly stored or carried, and does not require a large storage space. Because the shape-retaining member 200 is a tapered cylindrical shape composed of two curved flat rubber members 210, the upper end portion 202 of the leg cover 1 becomes an upwardly convex arc, allowing it to be folded flat. <Eleventh Embodiment> The cover body according to the eleventh embodiment of the present disclosure is a cover body used for a leg cover, and includes a cover member 100 which is cylindrical and through which the aforementioned portion of the leg L is inserted, covering the leg L without tightening, and a shape-retaining member 200 which is provided inside the cover member 100 and has a tapered cylindrical shape, and in the folded state, the upper end of the cover member 100 becomes an upwardly convex arc. According to the eleventh embodiment, the cover body is worn by being fastened to a supporter 300 attached to or above the knee, thereby constituting the leg cover of the first embodiment and achieving the same effect.

[0044] 1 Leg cover 10 Cover body 100 Cover member 102 Upper end 102a Seam 103 Opening 104 Lower end 106 Outer surface 108 Inner circumference 110 Buttonhole 200 Shape-retaining member 202 Large diameter side end (upper end) 204 Small diameter side end (lower end) 206 Outer circumference 208 Inner circumference 210 Rubber member 212 One end in the width direction 214 Other end in the width direction 216 Seam 220 Sewing part 222 Seam 300 Supporter 310 Button 312 Cylindrical part F Foot L Leg K Knee U Heel

Claims

1. A leg cover that covers the portion of the leg from above the knee down without constricting the leg, comprising: a tubular cover member through which the aforementioned portion of the leg is inserted and which covers the leg without constricting the leg; a supporter that is attached to or above the knee of the leg and locks the cover member in place; and a tapered cylindrical shape retaining member provided inside the cover member.

2. The leg cover according to claim 1, wherein the shape-retaining member is provided along the inner circumference of the cover member.

3. The leg cover according to claim 1, wherein the shape-retaining member is provided at the upper end of the cover member.

4. The leg cover according to claim 1, wherein the shape-retaining member is provided in such a orientation that the larger diameter side of the tapered cylindrical shape is on the upper end side of the cover member, and the smaller diameter side of the shape-retaining member is on the lower end side of the cover member.

5. The leg cover according to claim 1, wherein the shape-retaining member is fixed to the cover member only at the end on the larger diameter side of the tapered cylindrical shape.

6. The leg cover according to claim 1, wherein the cover member is fastened to one or more buttons provided on the supporter, and the cover member is provided with a buttonhole for fastening to the button, such that the upper end of the buttonhole coincides with or partially overlaps with the lower end of the shape-retaining member.

7. The leg cover according to claim 1, wherein the cover member is made of a stretchable knit material or a thin fabric.

8. The leg cover according to claim 1, wherein the shape-retaining member is made of an elastic material.

9. The leg cover according to claim 8, wherein the shape-retaining member comprises two curved rubber members.

10. The leg cover according to claim 8, which is foldable flat.

11. A cover body used in a leg cover, comprising a cover member that is cylindrical in shape, through which a leg is inserted, and that covers the leg without tightening it, and a shape-retaining member provided inside the cover member and having a tapered cylindrical shape, wherein when folded, the upper end of the cover member has an upwardly convex arc shape.

Images