FLAT-KNIT SUPPORT GARMENT FOR UPPER TORSO

• US 20170119063A1
• Filed: 11/02/2016
• Published: 05/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: DIAZ, JOSUE, MAHESHWARI, RICHA, MONTGOMERY, PAUL R., SEARS, LORI, STAUB, ANDREA J., TANIOS, MICHAEL, SOKOLOWSKI, SUSAN, TEMPESTA, LAURA
• Granted Patent: US 10,368,590 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A41C 3/0014 made from one piece with one or several layers
• CPC Class Codes: A41C 3/0085 with ventilation feature
• CPC Class Codes: A41C 3/08 combined with other garments with corsets A41C1/06
• CPC Class Codes: A41C 5/00 Machines, appliances, or methods for manufacturing corsets or brassieres
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/106 at a selvedge, e.g. hems or turned welts
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/108 Gussets, e.g. pouches or heel or toe portions
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 1/246 Upper torso garments, e.g. sweaters, shirts, leotards
• CPC Class Codes: D04B 35/10 Indicating, warning, or safety devices, e.g. stop motions
• CPC Class Codes: D10B 2403/032 Flat fabric of variable width, e.g. including one or more fashioned panels

Abstract

Aspects of a flat-knit support garment for an upper torso are provided. The flat-knit support garment may include a bra structure having a flat-knit bra material that includes a cup zone, a body zone, a wing zone, a strap zone, and a chestband zone. In some instances, a perimeter of the flat-knit bra comprising a neck opening and armhole openings includes a finished edge treatment corresponding to a high stretch modulus, covered yarn. Such finished edges are generated in seamless construction with the unitary, flat-knit structure of the flat-knit support garment for an upper torso. The flat-knit characteristics of the support garment for an upper torso may correspond to one or more of a flat-knit stitch sequence, a yarn type, and/or a finishing treatment.

Claims

1. A bra of unitary construction comprising:

a flat-knit textile element having flat-knit edges,

wherein the flat-knit textile element comprises at least a first bra support zone and a second bra support zone.

2. The bra of claim 1, wherein each of the first bra support zone and the second bra support zone comprises one or more of the following:

at least one yarn type;

at least a portion of at least one stitch sequence;

at least one support structure; and

at least one material treatment.

3. The bra of claim 2, wherein the first bra support zone comprises a first yarn type and the second bra support zone comprises a second yarn type, wherein the first yarn type is different from the second yarn type.

4. The bra of claim 2, wherein the first bra support zone comprises a first stitch sequence and the second bra support zone comprises a second stitch sequence, wherein at least a portion of the first stitch sequence is different from at least a portion of the second stitch sequence.

5. The bra of claim 2, wherein the at least a portion of at least one stitch type comprises a plurality of flat-knit stitches that provide at least one shaping structure.

6. The bra of claim 2, wherein the at least one support structure comprises one or more of an embroidered structure, a cable structure, a channel structure, a lockout structure, a tube structure, a pocket structure, and a hammock structure.

7. The bra of claim 1, wherein the first bra support zone corresponds to a bra cup region and the second bra support zone corresponds to a bra strap region.

8. The bra of claim 7, further comprising a third bra support zone, said third bra support zone comprising one or more of the following:

a wing zone;

a bust support zone;

a back zone;

a transitional zone;

a midline zone; and

a chestband zone.

9. A flat-knit zonal support garment for an upper torso, said support garment comprising:

a first zone formed of a first stitch sequence, said first zone comprising a plurality of flat-knit stitches and a plurality of yarns, wherein the first stitch sequence corresponds to a first stretch modulus of the first zone;

a second zone formed of a second stitch sequence, said second stitch sequence different from said first stitch sequence, wherein the second zone comprises a plurality of flat-knit stitches and a plurality of yarns, wherein the second stitch sequence corresponds to a second stretch modulus of the second zone; and

a third zone formed of a third stitch sequence and in unitary construction with both the first zone and the second zone, the third zone comprising a plurality of flat-knit stitches and a plurality of yarns, wherein the third stitch sequence corresponds to a third stretch modulus of the third zone,

wherein the unitary construction of the first zone, second zone, and third zone comprises flat-knit edges.

10. The flat-knit zonal support garment of claim 9, further comprising a fourth zone formed of a fourth stitch sequence and in unitary construction with at least the third zone, wherein the fourth zone comprises a plurality of flat-knit stitches and a plurality of yarns, wherein the fourth stitch sequence corresponds to a fourth stretch modulus of the fourth zone.

11. The flat-knit zonal support garment of claim 9 comprising at least one fit aperture for positioning the support garment on a wearer, said at least one fit aperture comprising flat-knit edges free of surrounding textile structure.

12. The flat-knit zonal support garment of claim 9, further comprising a plurality of venting apertures formed by omitting stitches in the flat-knit unitary construction.

13. The flat-knit zonal support garment of claim 9, further comprising at least one shaping structure formed by flat knitting short rows for increasing stitches in the flat-knit unitary structure.

14. The flat-knit zonal support garment of claim 9, wherein a first portion of the first zone comprises a first yarn, and a second portion of the second zone comprises a second yarn, wherein at least one row of the first portion and at least one row of the second portion are knitted in at least one common row of the flat-knit unitary construction.

15. The flat-knit zonal support garment of claim 9, wherein the support garment is assembled into a wearing configuration based on at least two seams between at least two flat-knit edges free of surrounding textile structure.

16. A knit-to-shape upper torso support garment having flat-knit edges, the garment comprising:

at least one flat-knit shaped zone corresponding to one or more of a first stitch type and a first yarn type;

at least one flat-knit support zone corresponding to one or more of a second stitch type and a second yarn type; and

at least one flat-knit lockout zone corresponding to one or more of a third stitch type and a third yarn type,

wherein the at least one flat-knit shaped zone, the at least one flat-knit support zone, and the at least one flat-knit lockout zone are flat-knitted in a unitary construction.

17. The knit-to-shape upper torso support garment of claim 16, wherein the at least one flat-knit shaped zone comprises a pair of bra cups having a dimension greater than a surrounding portion of the bra.

18. The knit-to-shape upper torso support garment of claim 16, wherein the at least one flat-knit support zone comprises one or more of a bra body, a bra back, a bra chestband, a bra midline, and a bra wing.

19. The knit-to-shape upper torso support garment of claim 16, wherein the at least one flat-knit lockout zone comprises pair of flat-knit straps constructed with flat-knit stitches having a decreased stretch modulus relative to an adjacent zone of the upper torso support garment.

20. The knit-to-shape upper torso support garment of claim 16, wherein the unitary construction of the knit-to-shape upper torso support garment comprises a stretch edge proximate a perimeter of the flat-knit, upper torso support garment, said stretch edge comprising a stretch yarn different than the first yarn type, the second yarn type, and the third yarn type.