Compression garment and elastic yarn

Abstract

A compression garment having a tubular section of knitted fabric. The knitted fabric comprises an elastic yarn having a core comprising a single monofilament of elastomeric material with a circular cross-section and a titer of greater than (10) dtex. A sheath surrounds the core, the sheath comprising one or more cover yarns wound about the core.

Description

Compression Garment and Elastic YarnField of the invention

[0001] The present disclosure relates to compression garments of the type worn for applying pressure to a body part. The disclosure relates in particular to improved elastic yarns that may be suitable for use in such garments.Background art

[0002] Compression garments may be used for a variety of purposes including both medical and non-medical indications. One significant area of use is for the avoidance or treatment of oedema, varicose veins and venous insufficiency. They may also be required after certain surgical procedures and injuries, in particular burn injuries. Such compression garments may be, but are not limited to, compression stockings, compression gloves, compression leggings and compression arm sleeves. These garments are primarily produced as knitted fabrics on a flat or circular knitting machine, using at least one elastic yarn or thread to provide good elastic characteristics.

[0003] The elastic yarns may be integrated into the compression garment as knitting yarns or inlay yarns or both. They may be present throughout the garment or only at particular locations where compression is required. Examples of how such yarns may be integrated into a compression garment are given in WO2019221722 and US2008171959A1.

[0004] Elastic yarns that are presently used in such garments may be covered yarns or bare yarns. The most commonly used elastic yarns are those known as spandex or elastane, available under a range of different brands. Elastane and spandex are equivalent terms and are used interchangeably in the following to refer to conventional elastic filamentary material. Covered spandex combines a spandex core with a wound cover, usually of polyamide, cotton or polyester. High titer covered spandex may be used as inlay yarns, running circumferentially around the garment. Low titer covered spandex may be used in the knit, either alone or mixed with other non-elastic yarns, to provide elasticity both in the circumferential direction and in the longitudinal direction of the garment.

[0005] Although conventional compression garments using covered spandex yarns have gained wide acceptance, users may experience discomfort when required to wear such garments for extended periods, especially for garments of higher compression classes. Additionally, conventional compression materials are sometimes experienced as stiff andinhibiting.

[0006] It would be desirable to identify and implement compression garments and elastic yarns that could at least partially overcome such discomfort and improve on a wearer’s experience.Summary of the invention

[0007] The present disclosure provides a compression garment in accordance with claim 1 and an elastic yarn according to claim 20. Further embodiments are set out in the dependent claims and in the following description.

[0008] Accordingly, the disclosure concerns a compression garment having a tubular section of knitted fabric, wherein the knitted fabric comprises an elastic yarn having a monofilament core of elastomeric material having a circular cross-section and a titer of greater than 10 dtex, and a sheath surrounding the core, the sheath comprising one or more cover yarns. The cover yarns can be e.g. wound about the core.

[0009] On investigation of the causes of discomfort and other drawbacks of existing garments, it has surprisingly been found that conventional elastic yarns have cores of elastane material exhibiting a multifilament structure. These individual filaments are partially fused together during the production process to form a single core of complex cross-section. In this manner an adequate titer may be achieved e.g. by combining 4 filaments of 11 dtex into a single strand of 44 dtex. In this context, the term strand is used to reflect the fact that the filaments may form a single core but are only lightly fused together. Thus, even though covered spandex is sometimes depicted as having a round core, this is merely schematic and does not represent the reality of the situation as explained further below and depicted in the figures.

[0010] The fusing is at least partially a consequence of the production technique whereby the individual filaments are produced by a dry-spinning process involving the evaporation of solvent subsequent to extrusion. During this evaporation process, the still tacky elastane filaments partially fuse together. Additionally, due to the evaporation of solvent at the surface of the elastane filaments, the resulting surface of the filaments is rough and non-uniform.

[0011] The core of the prior art is subsequently covered by a sheath formed of one or more cover yarns, which are wound around the core. Due to the non-uniform and non-circular shape of the prior art core and the relatively rough surface of the filaments, the cover yarns may assume a relatively immobile position with respect to the core. For some purposes,this relatively ‘stable’ yarn structure may be advantageous. Nevertheless, it has now been found that in the context of knitted compression garments, this can lead to excessive stiffness and inadequate flexibility as mentioned above.

[0012] According to the present disclosure, this disadvantage is at least partially obviated by the use of a core being a single monofilament of circular cross-section. As a result of the circular shape, the sheath will be more able to slide with respect to the core as the latter stretches, contracts and bends. In the present context, circular is also intended to include oval, elliptical and other smoothly rounded forms that achieve the same intended result of ensuring smooth sliding between the core and sheath.

[0013] In order to achieve the required compression, the core must itself be of adequate titer, since increasing the titer by providing multiple filaments is excluded. The core may have a titer of at least 10 dtex but may be more than 15 dtex, or more than 20 dtex, or more than 30 dtex, or even more than 50 dtex. Further, the core may have a titer of less than 50 dtex, or less than 40 dtex. The core can preferably have a titer of less than 30 dtex, such as less than 29 dtex, or less than 28 dtex, or less than 27 dtex, or less than 26 dtex or less than 25 dtex. In preferred embodiments, the core can have a titer of less than 30 dtex, e.g. less than 25 dtex.

[0014] In other words, the core may have a titer of e.g. more than 10 dtex and less than 50 dtex. For example, the core may have a titer of more than 10 dtex and less than 40 dtex. The core may have a titer of more than 10 dtex and less than 30 dtex, e.g. more than 15 dtex and less than 30 dtex. In further embodiments, the core can have a titer of more than 10 dtex and less than 28 dtex. The core can have a titer of e.g. more than 10 dtex and less than 25 dtex. For example, the titer may be more than 15 dtex and less than 25 dtex. It has been found that yarns with this relatively low titer are able to sufficiently contribute to the desired level of compression exerted by the compression garments of the invention. At the same time, they have a good feel and can be donned with relative ease.

[0015] The elastic yarn itself may have any suitable titer, depending upon the manner in which it is to be integrated into the garment. In particular, the elastic yarn may have a titer of between 20 dtex and 500 dtex, such as from 20 dtex to 200 dtex for a knitting yarn, such as from 50 dtex to 100 dtex or around 75 dtex. For an inlay yarn the titer may range from 50 dtex to 500 dtex such as from 100 dtex to 450 dtex or from 300 dtex to 400 dtex. In other words, the titer of the elastic yarn may be 20 dtex or more. The titer of the elastic yarn may be 200 dtex or less, such as 150 dtex or less, or 100 dtex or less.

[0016] The cover yarn may be any appropriate yarn for the purpose of forming a sheath around the core. The cover yarn may be a multifilament yarn or a monofilament yarn. Incertain embodiments, the cover yarn is a multifilament yarn. A multifilament yarn consists of two or more filaments. In embodiments, the cover yarn is inelastic. In this sense, it is understood that all filaments have a certain degree of elasticity and that inelastic is used in this sense to distinguish from elastic yarns that have an elongation to break of more than 50%, preferably more than 75%, more preferably more than 100%. The cover yarn may comprise twisted fibres, including staple fibres and filaments. Filament yarns are preferred because they offer a smoother surface and have reduced linting and pilling tendency. In embodiments, the cover yarn comprises a plurality of individual filaments such as 2 to 150 filaments or 10 to 100 filaments, which may be twisted or cabled together. For example, the cover yarn or yarns may be multifilament yarns with from 10 to 30 filaments, e.g. from 10 to 20 filaments.

[0017] The cover yarn may be adapted in titer to the size of the core. For example, the cover yarn may have a titer of more than 5 dtex, more than 10 dtex, or more than 15 dtex. In an embodiment, each cover yarn may have a titer of between 5 dtex and 100 dtex, such as between 15 dtex and 50 dtex. Optionally, each cover yarn may have a titer of between 20 dtex and 50 dtex, such as between 20 dtex and 40 dtex, or between 20 dtex and 30 dtex.

[0018] In embodiments, the sheath may comprise between 10% and 90% of the overall weight of the elastic yarn, preferably between 40% and 70% of the overall weight. Commonly, the weight of yarns is indicated in dtex (Grams per 10,000 metres of yarn).

[0019] The cover yarn will determine the nature of the sheath and hence the outward appearance of the elastic yarn. Depending on the position taken by the elastic yarn in the garment, this may also determine the outward appearance and texture of the garment. It may be any appropriate textile material including natural and artificial fibres, not limited to cotton, flax, jute, wool and silk, modified natural fibres such as regenerated cellulose, acetate based fibres, rayon, lyocell, modal and viscose and synthetic fibres such as polyamide, polyester, polyacrylonitrile, PVC, PE, PP, Pll and combinations thereof. In one embodiment, the cover yarn comprises polyamide, preferably PA6.6, i.e. Nylon. In embodiments, the cover yarn can consist of polyamide.

[0020] The yarn may be single-covered, double-covered or air-covered. In other words, the sheath may comprise one, two or more cover yarns. Preferably, the yarn is doublecovered. In these double-covered embodiments, two cover yarns, an inner and an outer cover yarn, are wound around the core in opposite directions. The cover yarns may be wound with a winding angle that may at least in part be determined by the relative titer of the core and the sheath. In embodiments, winding is with a winding angle of between 10degrees and 20 degrees, optionally between 14 degrees and 18 degrees.

[0021] As noted above, the advantageous qualities of the garment may be achieved by providing a core comprising a single monofilament of elastomeric material having a circular cross-section. This may be achieved using any thermoplastic material that can be smoothly extruded with a round shape of adequate titer and which maintains this shape during the post extrusion treatment of the monofilament. In preferred embodiments, the core is extruded in a melt-spinning process, without evaporation of a solvent as is the case in existing dry-spinning processes. Most preferably, the core comprises or consists of a thermoplastic elastomer such as a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). As will be understood, a thermoplastic may be melted and solidified without losing its integrity, unlike conventional elastomers, which are cross-linked and cannot usually be melted.

[0022] TPUs are particularly appropriate for the present purpose as they can readily be extruded. They act as a block-copolymer comprising long soft segments alternating with shorter hard segments linked by covalent links. The properties of the TPU can be adapted by the choice of the hard and soft segment. In a particular embodiment, the TPU is produced by a process in which a first prepolymer is obtained by reacting a polyol with a diisocyanate and having isocyanate groups (NCO groups) at both ends. A second prepolymer is obtained by reacting a polyol with a diisocyanate and a low-molecular-weight diol and having hydroxyl groups (OH groups) at both ends. The first and second prepolymers are then reacted together and the TPU filament is melt-spun from the resulting polymer. Melt spinning without prior solidification is especially preferred as it leads to filaments which can be heat set at relatively low temperatures of below 175 °C and even below 150 °C and are subsequently heat resistant against shrinkage. It is furthermore desirable that at least 50 wt%, or at least 60 wt% of the total amount of polyol used is polyether polyol.

[0023] As noted above and without wishing to be bound by theory, it is believed that the advantageous qualities of the resulting garment are a consequence of the shape of the core of the elastic yarn. Additionally, the smoothness of the core can play a role. Preferably, the core has a surface that is generally smooth and free of irregularities. In particular, for extrusion through a die head, the longitudinal profile of the core may be expected to be uniform in the direction of extrusion i.e. to remain constant without variations, in particular with no diameter variation greater than 5%, or greater than 3% or greater than 1%. Furthermore, for a circular cross-section core, the distance of the outer surface from the centre of the largest circle that fits within the core may deviate less than5%, or less than 3% or less than 1% with respect to the radius of that circle.

[0024] The garment may be constructed in generally conventional manner using conventional knitting techniques. Knitting may be performed using flat or circular knitting and may be single layer or double layer. In some embodiments, the garment is a circular knitted garment. In embodiments, the elastic yarn is a knitting yarn, which may be knitted alone such that the tubular section consists only of the elastic yarn. Alternatively, it may be knitted together with other non-elastic yarns to produce the garment. The garment may be patterned or plain. In particular, it may be patterned as described in WO2019221722, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

[0025] The garment may be a transparent or translucent garment. Such garments can favourably be worn in summer. As a result of the optimal properties of the yarn, a lighter or more open garment may be achievable, while still achieving the desired compression characteristics. The garment can, e.g., have a thickness of 1 mm or less, such as 0.8 mm or less. For example, the thickness can be from 0.3 mm to 1 mm, such as from 0.4 to 0.8 mm. It will be understood that the thickness in special areas such as heel or toe area may differ. Such a garment is particularly suitable for use in summer. The smooth surface of the used yarn gives the garment additionally a particularly good feeling during donning and wearing.

[0026] The garment may additionally or alternatively be manufactured such that the knitted fabric comprises inlay yarns. In embodiments, the elastic yarns may be present in the garment as inlay yarns. These may be the only elastic yarns in the tubular section or may be in addition to elastic yarns forming the knit. The elastic yarns may all be of the same type, in particular the same titer. Alternatively, they may be of different types and / or titers e.g. with high titer elastic yarns provided as inlay yarns and low titer elastic yarns as knitting yarns.

[0027] The tubular section of the garment may have a length sufficient for support of the body part in question. In this sense, reference to length is intended to refer to the unstretched length prior to donning of the garment as measured in the longitudinal direction of the body part. For application to a part of a leg or arm, the tubular section may have a length of at least 15 cm or at least 20 cm or at least 30 cm. In other words, the tubular section may have a length of at least 15 cm and less than 120 cm, such as at least 15 cm and less than 100 cm. The garment may comprise a plurality of tubular sections that may be joined by angled or bifurcated joining sections corresponding to the location of joints. Such joining sections may also comprise the elastic yarn as described herein or may be constructed in different manner. Garments comprising such joining sections aree.g. pantyhose or gloves.

[0028] In embodiments, the tubular section has a proximal portion and a distal portion and a circumference of the proximal portion is greater than a circumference of the distal portion. The garment may thus taper to correspond with the dimensions of the intended body part. The taper may be constant or may be tailored to the body part according to measurements provided during a fitting procedure.

[0029] The garment may be a medical compression garment or a non-medical compression garment. In certain embodiments, the garment is a medical compression garment. In the following, reference to medical compression garments is intended to include both off-the-shelf garments and also such garments that are made to measure according to a medically accepted compression class according to the RAL Quality Mark Association for Medical Compression Stockings as pending in 2024, such as RAL-GZ 387 / 1 compression classes I to IV in the case that the garment is a stocking or pantyhose or RAL-GZ 387 / 2 I to III compression classes in the case that the garment is an arm sleeve. Non-medical compression garments include compression garments that may be used for support or for improved athletic performance. In an embodiment, a distal portion of the tubular section is adapted to exert a compression pressure when worn, of 18 mmHg or more, such as from 18 mmHg to 21 mmHg. This value at the ankle (measurement point B1 of RAL-GZ 387 / 1), generally corresponds to RAL compression class I for stockings. As explained above, the use of the disclosed elastic yarn is believed to give still greater benefits for higher compression classes II to IV.

[0030] The invention is applicable to all types of compression garments. In particular, compression garments falling within the scope of the present disclosure include stockings, tights, anklets, socks, sleeves and gloves, including parts and sections of the above. For example, the garment can be selected from the group consisting of a stocking, such as a knee-high stocking, or a thigh-high stocking; a pantyhose (i.e. a pair of tights); or an arm sleeve, such as an arm sleeve with a hand piece (i.e. a section that is adapted to at least partially cover the hand of a wearer) or an arm sleeve without a hand piece. In preferred embodiments, the garment is a stocking or sleeve, most preferably a stocking, such as a knee-high stocking.

[0031] The compression garment of the invention is suitable for use in the treatment or prevention of various diseases or conditions which require treatment or prevention with compression therapy. These diseases and conditions include diseases and conditions treated with garments according to any of RAL-GZ 387 / 1 compression classes I to IV — such as class I - in case the garment is a stocking or pantyhose; or RAL-GZ 387 / 2 I to III- such as class I - in case the garment is an arm sleeve; and / or diseases and conditions treated with garments according to Referential Technique CBCM ASQLIAL - e.g. class II.

[0032] The French standard ASQLIAL divides compression garments (orthoses) into four classes, namely class I (13 to 20 hPa, i.e. » 10 to 15 mmHg at the ankle), class II (20.1 to 27 hPa, i.e. 15 to 20 mmHg), class III (27.1 to 48 hPa, i.e. 20 to 36 mmHg) and class IV ( > 48 hPa, i.e. > 36 mmHg).

[0033] The German RAL-GZ 387 / 1 defines that the pressure value at the ankle in its compression classes is 18-21 mmHg (class I), 23-32 mmHg (class II), 34-46 mmHg (class III) and 49 or more mmHg (class IV), respectively. The German RAL-GZ 387 / 2 defines that the pressure value at the measuring point 01 (which is located above the wrist bone) is 15-21 mmHg (class I), 23-32 mmHg (class II), and 34-46 mmHg (class III), respectively.

[0034] It is defined in the aforementioned standards that it is advantageous to use a garment with a particular compression profile. The garment may, thus, be adapted to apply a pressure according to a predetermined compression profile. The compression profile may provide for a higher pressure at a distal part of a limb and a lower pressure at a proximal part of a limb. In other words, the compression garment of the invention may be adapted to provide pressure according to a predetermined compression profile, e.g. the garment may be adapted to provide a higher pressure at a distal part of a limb and a lower pressure at a proximal part of a limb. Thereby, surplus liquid is encouraged out of the limb and congestion is avoided.

[0035] Diseases and conditions treated with garments having class I according to RAL-GZ 387 / 1 and RAL-GZ 387 / 2 and / or class II according to Referential Technique CBCM ASQUAL can be e.g. selected from the group consisting of phlebologic diseases or conditions; tired, heavy, aching legs; minor varices without edema; mild swelling of the feet, ankles and legs; onset of pregnancy-related varices; primary or secondary lymphedema in International Society of Lymphology (ISL) stages l-lll; and lipedema.

[0036] The present invention also relates to methods for the treatment or prevention of any of the aforementioned diseases by wearing the compression garment described herein as well as to the compression garment for use in a method of treatment or prevention of any of the aforementioned diseases by wearing the compression garment.

[0037] The garment can, e.g., be a compression garment having compression class I, II, III or IV, preferably class I, according to RAL-GZ 387; and / or compression class I, II, III or IV, preferably class II, according to Referential Technique CBCM ASQUAL. In preferred embodiments, the garment is a compression garment having compression class Iaccording to RAL-GZ 387.

[0038] The garment as defined above may exhibit desirable properties. In particular it may have a feel or hand that is much softer than conventional compression garments. This is understood to be due to the smoother sliding of the core within the sheath during flexing, expansion and contraction of the elastic yarn. Furthermore, the garment may exhibit less shrinkage during washing than conventional garments. Desirably, shrinkage is less than 10% on subjecting to ten washing cycles at 40°C, preferably less than 6% or less than 5%. The washing cycle may be a cycle as defined in DIN EN 26330 / 6 A.

[0039] The improved shrinkage performance may at least partially be related to the ability to heat set the elastic yarn at lower temperatures than conventional spandex. In particular, the garment may be heat set at around 100°C, in particularly just below 100°C and above 90°C. This can take place during a dyeing process of the garment. Thus, the aforementioned reduced shrinkage is true for the garment after it has been heat set.

[0040] The present disclosure further relates to an elastic yarn for knitting a compression garment as described above or hereinafter. The elastic yarn has a core comprising a single monofilament of elastomeric material having a circular cross-section and a titer of greater than 10 dtex, such as 15 dtex, surrounded by a sheath, the sheath comprising one or more cover yarns. The terms “monofilament core” and “core comprising a single monofilament” are used interchangeably herein. They both refer to a core consisting of a single monofilament.

[0041] All of the aforementioned properties of the elastic yarn can be applied to this aspect of the invention as well. For example, the monofilament core can have a titer of greater than 10 dtex and less than 30 dtex. Each cover yarn can have a titer of between 16 dtex and 40 dtex.

[0042] The core is preferably melt-spun without the use of solvent and thus has a smooth surface with an absence of irregularities associated with solvent evaporation. It may be uniform in cross-section in the longitudinal direction and have the roundness values as discussed above. Preferably the core is an extruded or melt-spun polymer obtained by reacting a diisocyanate-terminated prepolymer with a dihydroxy-terminated prepolymer.

[0043] The yarn may be manufactured by winding the cover yarn around the core, preferably wherein the core is subjected to a pre-stress of between 2cN and 8cN, preferably between 4cN and 6cN during application of the cover yarn. Two cover yarns may be applied, wound in opposite directions.

[0044] In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method for the manufactureof a compression garment as described herein, comprising the step of knitting the compression garment, preferably on a circular knitting machine. Respective knitting techniques are known in the art and further description of the yarns used is provided elsewhere herein. The knitting can be done by weft-knitting techniques, in particular circular-knitting or flat-knitting, wherein circular-knitting is preferred.Brief description of the drawings

[0045] An embodiment of a compression garment according to the present disclosure will be described by way of example, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0046] Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a compression stocking according to the invention;

[0047] Fig. 2 shows a close-up view of part of the stocking of Fig. 1 at location II;

[0048] Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of one of the knitting yarns of Fig. 2;

[0049] Fig. 4A is a cross-sectional detail of the core of the yarn of Figure 3; and

[0050] Fig. 4B is cross-sectional detail of the core of a conventional elastic yarn.Description of embodiments

[0051] Different aspects of the present disclosure will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the enclosed drawings. The compression garment disclosed herein can, however be realized in many different forms, such as different sizes, shapes and compression levels, and should not be construed as being limited to the aspects set forth herein. In all figures of the following detailed description, the same reference numerals will be used to indicate the same elements.

[0052] Fig. 1 illustrates as an example a compression stocking 1 comprising a leg 2 and a foot 4. The leg 2 comprises a tubular section 6 with a proximal portion 8 adjacent the knee and a distal portion 10 at the ankle.

[0053] Fig. 2 shows an enlarged detail taken at location II in Figure 1 showing the knit used for the stocking 1. In the illustrated embodiment, this is a single jersey knit with an elastic knitting yarn 20, a non-elastic plating yarn 22 and an elastic inlay yarn 24. The elastic knitting yarn 20 is a 70 dtex, double covered spandex yarn, the non elastic plating yarn 22 is a 70 dtex cotton yarn and the inlay yarn 24 is a 300 dtex naked elastane yarn knitted every second row. It will be understood that the above structure is purely exemplary and many alternative knitting principles, patterns and yarns can be applied to achievealternative garments.

[0054] Fig. 3 shows schematically the elastic knitting yarn 20 of Fig. 2. This comprises a monofilament core 26 surrounded by a sheath 28. The core 26 is of circular cross-section and has a titer of 20 dtex. It is a melt-spun TPU available as Mobilon™ from Nisshinbo Textile Company. This core also has the advantageous heat-set and shrinkage properties described elsewhere herein. The sheath 28 has an inner cover yarn 30 and an outer cover yarn 32, both of which comprise multifilament 20 dtex polyamide. The inner and outer cover yarns 30, 32 are wound around the core in opposite directions at a winding angle of 16 degrees.

[0055] According to the present understanding, the smooth surface and circular crosssection of the core 26 ensures that it can smoothly slide within the sheath 28 allowing the elastic knitting yarn 20 to optimally perform as is the intention of covered spandex material and to give a particularly smooth feeling on the skin during donning and wearing.

[0056] This may be explained with reference to Figs 4A and 4B, which depict enlarged cross-sectional views of the melt-spun core 26 of Fig. 3 and a dry-spun core 126 of conventional spandex material having equivalent titer. As can be seen in Fig 4A, the melt-spun core 26 is uniform circular in cross-section and has a very smooth and uniform outer surface 34. The dry-spun core 126 of Fig. 4B comprises three core filaments 126A, B, C each of which has a titer of 8 dtex. These core filaments 126A, B, C are partially fused together whereby the dry-spun multifilament core 126 has a trefoil shape. Additionally, it may be observed that the individual core filaments 126A, B, C are only nominally circular in cross-section and are non-uniform both around their circumferences and in the longitudinal direction. The overall outer surface 134 of the dry-spun core 126 is thus relatively rough compared to the smooth outer surface 34 of the melt-spun core 26.ExampleShrinkage Evaluation

[0057] Knitted stocking A as described above was subject to washing according to the DIN EN 26 330 / 6 A. Stocking A exhibited shrinkage of less than 4% after 10 washing cycles in both the warp and weft (wale and row) direction.

[0058] A comparable stocking B was knitted using a conventional covered spandex having the core 126 illustrated in Fig 4B and was subjected to the same washing procedures. Stocking B exhibited shrinkage of more than 6% in both directions after 10 washing cycles.Comfort Evaluation

[0059] Stockings A and B were evaluated by a target user. After a period of use of 8 hours, stocking A was indicated as comfortable and continued wearing was acceptable. Stocking B was found to be stiff and uncomfortable and immediate removal was desired.

[0060] Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the exemplary embodiments, it is obvious to those skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted to these exemplary embodiments, but rather that modifications can be made in such a way that individual features are omitted or other combinations of the individual features presented are realized, provided that the scope of protection of the appended claims is not exceeded. The present disclosure includes any and all combinations of the individual features presented.

[0061] Reference Signs List1 compression stocking2 leg4 foot6 tubular section8 proximal portion10 distal portion20 knitting yarn22 plating yarn24 inlay yarn26 monofilament core28 sheath30 inner cover yarn32 outer cover yarn34 outer surface126 core126A core filament A126B core filament B126C core filament C134 outer surface

Claims

Claims1. A compression garment having a tubular section comprising a knitted fabric, wherein the knitted fabric comprises an elastic yarn having a monofilament core of elastomeric material having a circular cross-section and a titer of greater than 10 dtex, and a sheath surrounding the core, the sheath comprising one or more cover yarns.

2. The garment of claim 1 , wherein the monofilament core has a titer of greater than 10 dtex and less than 30 dtex.

3. The garment of claim 1, wherein the monofilament core has a titer of more than 10 dtex and less than 25 dtex.

4. The garment of any of the preceding claims, wherein the elastic yarn has a titer of between 20 dtex and 500 dtex.

5. The garment of any of the preceding claims, wherein the cover yarn is inelastic and preferably comprises a plurality of filaments.

6. The garment of any one of the preceding claims, wherein each cover yarn has a titer of between 5 dtex and 100 dtex.

7. The garment of any of the preceding claims, wherein each cover yarn has a titer of between 16 dtex and 40 dtex.

8. The garment of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the cover yarn comprises polyamide, preferably PA6.6.

9. The garment of any one of the preceding claims, comprising two cover yarns wound around the core in opposite directions, preferably with a winding angle of between 10 degrees and 20 degrees, optionally between 14 degrees and 18 degrees.

10. The garment of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elastomeric material of the core is a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), preferably a polyether-based TPU.

11. The garment of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the core has a uniform smooth surface.

12. The garment of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the core has a surface with no diameter variation greater than 5%, or greater than 3% or greater than 1% in the longitudinal direction and / or the circumferential direction.

13. The garment of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the elastic yarn is a knitting yarn, optionally wherein the tubular section consists of the elastic yarn.

14. The garment of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the knitted fabric comprises inlay yarns, and the elastic yarn is an inlay yarn.

15. The garment of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular section has a length of at least 15 cm.

16. The garment of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tubular section has a proximal portion and a distal portion and a circumference of the proximal portion is greater than a circumference of the distal portion.

17. The garment of claim 16, wherein the distal portion is adapted to exert a compression pressure when worn, of 18 mmHg or more and / or the garment is of compression class I or higher.

18. The garment of any one of the preceding claims, the garment being a stocking, tights, an anklet, a sock, a sleeve or a glove.

19. The garment of any one of the preceding claims, wherein shrinkage is less than 10% on subjecting to a standard washing cycle in accordance with DIN EN 26 330 / 6 A at 40 °C, preferably less than 6% or less than 5%.

20. An elastic yarn for knitting a compression garment according to any one of the preceding claims, the elastic yarn having a monofilament core of elastomeric material having a circular cross-section and a titer of greater than 10 dtex, and a sheath surrounding the core, the sheath comprising one or more cover yarns.

21. The yarn of claim 20, wherein the monofilament core has a titer of greater than 10 dtex and less than 30 dtex.

22. The yarn of any of claims 20 and 21 , wherein each cover yarn has a titer of between 16 dtex and 40 dtex.

23. The yarn of any of claims 20 to 22, wherein the core is melt-spun from a polymer obtained by reacting a diisocyanate-terminated prepolymer with a dihydroxyterminated prepolymer.

24. The yarn of any of claims 20 to 23, wherein the core is subjected to a pre-stress of between 2cN and 8cN, preferably between 4cN and 6cN during application of the cover yarns.

25. The yarn of any one of claims 20 to 24, wherein the core has a uniform smooth surface with no diameter variation greater than 5%, or greater than 3% or greater than 1% in the longitudinal direction and / or the circumferential direction.

26. A method for the manufacture of a compression garment, preferably the garment according to any one of claims 1 to 19, comprising knitting the compression garment using a knitting yarn having a monofilament core of elastomeric material having a circular cross-section and a titer of greater than 10 dtex, with a sheath surrounding the core, the sheath comprising one or more cover yarns.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein knitting comprises weft knitting on a circular knitting machine.

Images