EP3436627A1 - Compression item with an additional function - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a compression item (10) comprising a knitted fabric of at least one stitch yarn forming stitches and at least one weft yarn, and having an inner face for coming into contact with the skin of a user of said item. The weft yarn is arranged to as to perform the compression function. The item (10) comprises a region (32) in which the weft yarn is inserted into some of the stitches and passes over the inner face of other stitches so as to form floats on the inner face of said region (32). The weft yarn is arranged so as to perform an anti-slip function, as well as the compression function, by its nature and/or by a treatment of said weft yarn and by interaction with the skin of the user at least in said region (32).

Description

 Compression article with additional function

The present invention relates to a compression article comprising a knit of at least one mesh thread forming stitches and at least one weft thread and having an internal face intended to be in contact with the skin of a user of said article at least the weft yarn being made at least partially of elastic material, said weft yarn being arranged to perform the compression function of said compression article.

 Such a compression article is for example a stocking, a tights, a tight-fitting boxer or leggings, a corsair, a compression sock, a knee pad, an elbow pad, a sports sleeve for the shin, the thigh or the arm or any other type of compression article.

 WO 2012/028795 A1 discloses a compression orthosis comprising an embossed zone comprising a first type of meshes formed of knitting yarns and in which elastic weft threads are inserted in all the stitches and a second type of meshes formed of yarns. knitting and wherein elastic weft yarns form floats of at least two needles, i.e. weft yarns are not inserted into all meshes.

 Such a type of orthosis serves essentially to ensure the compression of a limb for example in the context of the treatment or prevention of venous pathologies.

 The compression function is provided by the weft yarn, which is generally a wrapped yarn, comprising a core yarn and optionally one or more covering yarns wrapped around the core yarn, that is to say wound around the yarn. soul thread.

 Such articles, however, are not entirely satisfactory because they may have poor wear resistance or discomfort generated by localized overpressure.

 An object of the invention is therefore to increase the utility and / or comfort of a compression article.

 For this purpose the invention relates to a compression article of the aforementioned type, wherein the article comprises a zone, in which the weft thread is inserted in some of the stitches and passes on the inner face of other stitches so that forming weft floats on the inner face of said zone, and the weft yarn is arranged to perform at least one anti-slip function, in addition to the compression function, by its nature and / or by a treatment of said weft yarn and by interaction with the skin of the user at least in said zone.

The weft yarn, intended to be in contact with the skin of the user, makes it possible in particular to perform an anti-slip function in addition to its function of compression. This additional function can thus be used to improve the comfort of the patient wearing the compression article. The contribution of this function is improved in the area where the weft yarn forms weft floats because the contact area between the weft yarn and the skin of the patient is increased in this area.

 A compression article according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following features, taken alone or in any technically possible combination:

 the method comprises a main zone in which the weft yarn is inserted into all the stitches and at least one secondary zone in which the weft yarn is inserted into some of the stitches and passes without insertion onto the inside face of other stitches. so as to form weft floats on the inner face of said secondary zone;

 the method comprises a main zone, in which the weft yarn is inserted in some of the stitches and passes without insertion on the internal face of other stitches, and at least one secondary zone in which the weft yarn is inserted into some of the stitches; meshes and passes without insertion on the inner face of other meshes so as to form weft floats on the internal face of said secondary zone, the floats of the secondary zone having a dimension greater than or equal to the floats of the main zone ;

 the secondary zone extends at least partially over an end portion of the compression article;

 the weft yarn comprises an elastane or silicone core;

 the weft yarn is a bare thread;

 the weft thread comprises at least one cover thread extending over a core thread, the cover thread being arranged to produce at least one anti-slip function, in addition to the compression function, by its nature and / or by treatment of said cover wire and by interaction with the skin of the user at least in said area;

 - the cover wire is wrapped around the core wire;

 the compression article comprises a single thickness of knit at least in the zone; and

 the weft yarn is arranged to perform one or more additional functions, in addition to the compression and anti-slip functions, the additional function being one or more of the following functions:

 A bacteriostatic or antifungal function,

 · A thermoregulation function,

• a function of absorption of moisture, • a refreshing function,

 • a thermal insulation function, and

 • a moisturizing function.

 The invention will be better understood on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended figures in which:

 FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a compression article according to one embodiment of the invention,

 FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a double guiped yarn, and

 FIGS. 3 and 4 are block diagrams of an area of the compression article of FIG. 1 according to several embodiments of the invention.

 Figure 1 shows a compression article 10. The article shown is a compression sock, but the invention also applies to any other compression article, such as a knee, a stocking or a tights, a sleeve offering a compression, a sports sleeve or other. The article has, for example, a medical application, in the field of sport or otherwise. In the remainder of the description, for reasons of simplicity, only a compression sock will be described, the teachings of the invention applying similarly to any other compression article.

 The compression article 10 has a substantially tubular shape of knitted fabric. It includes, for example, a first portion 12 closed at one end for wrapping the foot of a user and a second portion 14 open at one end provided to surround the ankle and calf.

 Conventionally, the end portions 16 of the first portion 12 of the compression article 10 provided to be located at the front and rear ends of the foot are reinforced.

 Alternatively, the compression article 10 is open at a front end of the user's foot.

 The compression article 10 comprises a knit having an inner face intended to be in contact with the skin of a user and an outer face visible from outside the compression article.

 The knit comprises at least one mesh yarn 20 forming meshes 22 and at least one weft yarn 24.

The compression article 10 has, for example, a weft yarn 24 every three rows of stitches 22. Alternatively, the compression article has a weft thread all the rows of stitches.

 In one embodiment, the mesh yarn 20 comprises an elastic yarn, for example elastane or silicone. The wire is bare, covered with one or two son, for example polyamide, or gimped by a pulsed air technique.

 The meshes are, for example, made with a jersey structure. Such a structure being known, it will not be described in more detail here. However, it is understood that the stitches could have another type of structure, such as a ribbed knitted structure on a double cylinder loom, for example.

 The weft yarn 24 is made at least partly of elastic material.

 The term "elastic" means a material that can undergo an elongation of at least 30% in at least one direction when it is stretched and return to its original length in the absence of stretching applied to the wire.

 The weft yarn 24 comprises, for example, a core 26 of elastic material. In one embodiment, the weft yarn 24 is naked.

 In a variant, the weft thread 24 comprises at least one cover thread 28 extending on the web 26.

 The cover wire 28 is wrapped around the core 26. The cover wire 28 is, for example, helically wound around the core 26 or intertwined with the core by a pulsed air technique, commonly called "air jet ". According to one embodiment, the weft yarn is a double wrapped yarn, that is to say a yarn wrapped with two covering yarns wound in two reverse winding directions around the core yarn, as shown in FIG. figure 2.

 The weft yarn 24 has a mean titration strictly greater than 200 dtex, more particularly strictly greater than 300 dtex, this unit being defined such that 10 km of a yarn having a titration equal to n dtex has a weight of n grams, the wire not being elongated.

 In known manner, the weft yarn 24 is arranged to perform the compression function of the compression article 10, in particular by virtue of the elasticity of the core of the weft yarn. The compression article 10 compresses a limb of the user once the compression article 10 is in place. Typically, this compression article 10 is designed to produce an ankle pressure greater than

13 hPa.

Article 10 comprises at least one zone 32, various embodiments of which are shown in Figures 3 and 4, wherein the weft yarn 24 is inserted in some of the meshes 22 and passes without insertion on the inner face of other meshes 22. The weft yarn 24 thus forms floats 34 on the inner face of the zone 32, that is to say that the floats 34 are in contact with the skin of the user when the compression article is worn. . The floats 34 are defined by the portions of the weft thread that are not inserted into the stitches 22. The weft yarn 24 thus forms fillers with the stitches 22.

 According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the meshes 22 in which the different weft threads are inserted are offset in a transverse direction Y perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X in which each weft yarn extends, for example from two or three stitches. The floats are thus not aligned along columns in the transverse direction Y.

 Floats are, for example, staggered every two or three rows.

 This makes it possible to avoid having a point of weakness. Indeed, when the floats are aligned in the transverse direction Y, the user may tear a set of aligned floats, for example, if a slender object is inserted in a column of floats. When the floats are not aligned, an elongated object can not be easily inserted into a plurality of floats.

 Alternatively, according to the embodiment shown in Figure 4, the mesh 22 in which are inserted the different weft son are aligned in the transverse direction Y, so that the floats form columns in the transverse direction Y. This allows in particular to propose model variants according to the interaction with the skin of the desired user and to facilitate donning.

 The zone 32 has a single knit thickness, that is to say that the knit forms both the inner face and the outer face of the zone 32 and that it is not folded on itself in the zone 32.

 According to one embodiment, the zone 32 is located, that is to say, it does not extend over the entire compression article 10. In this case, the compression article comprises a main zone 30, in which the weft yarn is inserted into all the meshes and at least one zone 32, called the secondary zone 32, in which the weft thread 10 forms the weft floats.

 Alternatively, in the main zone 30, the weft yarn is not inserted into all the meshes, so as to form floats. The size of the floats in the main zone 30 is, for example, less than or equal to the size of the floats in the zone 32.

According to one embodiment, the compression article comprises a secondary zone 32 extending at least partially on an end portion of the compression article, the end portion being located near an end of the article of compression. 10. The zone 32 may extend over all or part of the circumference of the article, that is to say, it may be provided to go around the user's limb or only part of it. of this trick.

 According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the end part is the upper part of the second part 14 surrounding the calf extending close to the open upper end of the second part 14. The secondary zone 32 is here to tubular shape and spaced less than 20 mm, preferably less than 10 mm, from the upper end of the second portion 14. The secondary zone 32 has, for example, a dimension in the transverse direction Y between 30 mm and 250 mm depending on the location of the secondary zone 32 and the nature of the compression article.

 The main zone 30 forms the remainder of the compression article 10.

 In a variant, the compression article 10 comprises a plurality of secondary zones 32 separated from one another by the main zone. The secondary zone or zones 32 are arranged at one or more locations where it is desired that the weft wire provide an additional function, in addition to the compression function, as will be described later. A secondary zone 32 is, for example, disposed at each end of the compression article 10.

 In a variant, the zone 32 presenting the floats 34 extends over the entire compression article 10, that is to say that the compression article does not then comprise a main zone.

 In the zone 32 presenting the floats 34, the weft yarn 24 is arranged to perform the compression function and at least one anti-slip function. This additional function is achieved by the nature and / or by a treatment of the weft yarn 24 and by interaction with the skin of a user in the zone 32. This function is carried out particularly efficiently by the weft floats because the weft yarn 24 has an increased contact surface with the skin of the user in these floats.

The term "anti-slip" means that the zone 32 has a particular adhesion with the skin of the user by a friction effect between the weft yarn 24 and the skin of the user. Thus, the compression article does not roll on the skin of the user or does not roll up on itself at the zone 32. The force of gravity is not sufficient to move the area 32 on the skin of the user, so that the compression article remains in place during use, for example, during a day. A user is nevertheless able to remove the compression article without having to deploy a large force. In the case of a 24 naked weft yarn, the anti-slip function is ensured by the nature and / or treatment of the weft yarn 24.

 In the case of a gimped weft thread 24, the anti-slip function is provided by the cover thread 28 extending over the web 26. The cover thread 28 is arranged to perform at least one anti-slip function , in addition to its participation in the compression function, by its nature and / or by a treatment of said cover wire 28 and by interaction with the skin of the user at least in said zone 32.

 The cover wire 28 protects the core 26. This allows in particular a better strength of the compression article. In addition, during normal use, the core 26, because of its extension around the user's limb, becomes thinner, unlike the cover wire 28. Thus, the cover wire 28 allows to maintain a important contact surface with the skin, and thus an effective anti-slip function.

 A first example of implementation is described below.

 The mesh yarn 20 comprises an elastane or silicone core and two polyamide cover yarns.

 In one example, the core has a mean titration substantially equal to 44 dtex and each cover wire has a mean titration substantially equal to 22 dtex.

 The weft yarn 24 comprises a core 26 made of elastane yarn or silicone and at least one covering yarn 28 made of elastane or silicone, for example two covering yarns wrapped around the core 26.

 According to one example, the core 26 of the weft yarn 24 has an average titration substantially equal to 285 dtex and each cover yarn 28 has an average titration substantially equal to 22 dtex.

 The contact between the weft yarn 24 made of elastane or silicone and the user's skin makes it possible, in particular, to maintain the zone 32 presenting the floats on the skin. Thus, the zone 32 prevents slippage of the compression article 10 on the skin of the user.

 This makes it possible in particular to reduce or not to make a back of the compression article, that is to say an extremal zone (proximal and / or distal) having two thicknesses of knit, or not to tighten the extremal part. (proximal and / or distal) of the compression article, to increase the compression, so as to maintain the article on the member.

The compression article thus provides increased comfort, by eliminating a tourniquet effect that can be caused by a setback or a too narrow portion, generally provided at the end of the compression article to ensure a good maintenance of the article on the user's member. In addition, suppressing the tourniquet effect improves also the effectiveness of the compression provided by the compression article, the tourniquet effect being contrary to the desired purpose.

 The compression article has, for example, a single double-limited zone 36 limited in the main zone 30. The double-thickness zone is located at one end of the article, that is, the zone double thickness is in every point less than 20 mm, preferably less than 10 mm, from the end. Said zone 36 is, for example, between the zone 32 and the end of the article, as represented in FIG. The weft yarn 24 is inserted only on the outer face of the zone 36 and then continues in the zone 32 so as not to accumulate two weft thicknesses, which may be responsible for a tourniquet effect.

 In a particular embodiment, the weft yarn 24 is arranged to perform one or more additional functions, other than an anti-slip function. This or these additional functions are alternatively or in combination with the anti-slip function.

 The additional function is one or more of the following:

 a bacteriostatic or antifungal function,

 a thermoregulation function,

 - a function of absorption of moisture,

 - a refreshing function,

 a thermal insulation function, and

 - a moisturizing function.

 In one embodiment, the float-forming zone 32 forms a ribbed pattern of the compression article.

 The cover wire 28 of the weft yarn 24 thus makes it possible to perform additional functions with the compression article. This offers, for example, increased comfort or efficiency.

 The additional functions described above can be carried out simultaneously in the same zone 32 or separately in different zones 32. Thus, by way of example, the compression article 10 could be arranged to provide an anti-slip function in an extreme part of the compression article and a bacteriostatic or antifungal function against a weakened zone of the limb.

It should be noted that all the titrations of yarns given above have been given by way of example only and that other titrations could be envisaged, in particular according to the compression that the compression article must ensure. . The compression article described above can be made on a single cylinder loom. The creation of a mesh pattern is done by loads of the weft thread thus creating weft floats on the inner face.

 The compression article described above can be made on a double cylinder loom. The weft yarn is placed between the stitches and the stitches in a regular ribbed construction. Floats are for example obtained by forming a torsade pattern.

Claims

1. - Compression article (10) comprising a knit of at least one mesh (20) forming meshes (22) and at least one weft thread (24) and having an inner face intended to be in contact with the skin of a user of that article,  at least the weft yarn (24) being made at least partially of elastic material, said weft yarn (24) being arranged to perform the compression function of said compression article (10),  characterized in that the article (10) comprises a zone (32), in which the weft yarn (24) is inserted in some of the stitches (22) and passes on the inner face of other stitches (22) so forming floats (34) of weft yarn (24) on the inner face of said zone (32),  and in that the weft yarn (24) is arranged to perform at least one anti-slip function, in addition to the compression function, by its nature and / or by a treatment of said weft yarn (24) and by interaction with the skin of the user at least in said area (32). 2. - A compression article according to claim 1, comprising a main zone (30) in which the weft yarn (24) is inserted into all the meshes and at least one secondary zone (32) in which the weft yarn (24) ) is inserted in some of the meshes (22) and passes without insertion on the inside of other meshes (22) so as to form floats (34) of weft thread (24) on the internal face of said secondary zone ( 32). 3. A compression article according to claim 1, comprising a main zone (30), wherein the weft thread (24) is inserted in some of the stitches and passes without insertion on the inner face of other stitches, and at least a secondary zone (32) in which the weft yarn (24) is inserted in some of the stitches (22) and passes without insertion on the inside of other stitches (22) so as to form yarn floats (34) weft (24) on the inner face of said secondary zone (32), the floats of the secondary zone (32) having a dimension greater than or equal to the floats of the main zone (30). 4. The compression article of claim 2 or 3, wherein the secondary zone (32) extends at least partially on an end portion of the compression article (10). 5. A compression article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the weft yarn (28) comprises an elastane or silicone core. The compression article of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the weft yarn (24) is a bare yarn. The compression article of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the weft yarn (24) comprises at least one cover yarn (28) extending over a core yarn (26), the covering thread (28) being arranged to perform at least one anti-sliding function, in addition to the compression function, by its nature and / or by a treatment of said cover thread (28) and by interaction with the skin of the at least one user in said area (32). 8. A compression article according to any one of claims 7, wherein the cover wire (28) is wrapped around the core wire (26). The compression article of any of the preceding claims, wherein the compression article comprises a single thickness of knit at least in the region (32).