GB2342846A

GB2342846A - A garment

Info

Publication number: GB2342846A
Application number: GB9822969A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Ratcliffe
Original assignee: Courtaulds Textiles Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: Courtaulds Textiles Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 1998-10-21
Filing date: 1998-10-21
Publication date: 2000-04-26
Anticipated expiration: 2018-10-21
Also published as: GB2342846B; GB9822969D0

Abstract

A garment is formed from one or more tubular fabric assemblies, each tubular assembly comprising an inner layer 12 of tubular fabric located inside and extending longitudinally along an outer layer 14 of tubular fabric, the inner and outer layers being circumferentially connected to one another at or adjacent to one longitudinal end of the tubular assembly. The inner and outer layers may be integrally knitted as successive tubular portions 21,26, optionally with a turned welt 18 at their junction and the portion 26 is then inserted within the portion 21. The garment may be a sock or a body garment with a liner or two such assemblies may be seamed together to form pantyhose with an inner garment part. The outer layer may be sufficiently transparent to reveal a decorative inner layer.

Description

A GARMENT The present invention relates to a garment construction and to a process for constructing a garment.

In particular the invention relates to a construction of hose such as for example socks or pantyhose or body garments such as lingerie.

Hose are commonly produced from fabric created by knitting a man-made yarn such as a polyamide. Whilst such fabric is hard wearing it is recognised that it is not particularly comfortable when in contact with the skin of the wearer. It is common therefore, with garments such as pantyhose, for the wearer to wear a further garment, such as briefs, underneath the pantyhose in order to give added comfort.

It is desirable therefore to provide a construction of pantyhose having an integral liner, at least in the body portion of the pantyhose, which obviates the need to wear a pair of briefs beneath the pantyhose.

Similarly with hose such as socks or half hose, it is desirable to provide at least the foot portion of the hose with a liner having different wear characteristics so as to improve the comfort of the socks when worn.

With body garments, it is desirable for the body garment to have an outer desired appearance but to have an under portion which performs a different function, such as for example giving support.

The present invention is generally aimed at providing a garment construction and process for making a garment which enables the garment to have an outer layer integrally connected to an inner layer, the inner and outer layers preferably having different physical characteristics.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is'provided a garment formed from one or more tubular fabric assemblies, each tubular assembly comprising an inner layer of tubular fabric located inside and extending longitudinally along an outer layer of tubular fabric, the inner and outer layers being circumferentially connected to one another at or adjacent to one longitudinal end of the tubular assembly.

Preferably the inner and outer layers comprise knitted fabric and preferably the circumferential connection is formed by knitted stitches to thereby define an integral connection.

Preferably the inner and outer layers are knit from different yarns and/or are knitted so as to have different physical characteristics. For example the outer layer may be knit so as to have a sheer semi-transparent appearance whereas the inner layer may be knit so as to have an opaque decorative appearance which is visible through the outer layer.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a hose formed from one of said tubular assemblies, the opposite longitudinal end of the tubular assembly being closed by a sewn seam.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a pantyhose including a pair of said tubular assemblies joined together.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a process for producing a garment, the process including the step of producing a tubular precursor tube comprising at least two successive tubular portions connected to one another by a circumferential connection located intermediate the ends of the precursor tube, the two tubular portions being constructed to enable one tubular portion to be inserted into the other tubular portion so as to extend longitudinally therealong from said circumferential connection.

Various aspects of the present invention are hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of a sock according to one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a sectional view of the sock of Figure 1 taken along line II-II ; Figures 3a & 3b schematically illustrate process steps for the formation of the sock shown in Figure 1 ; Figure 4 is a schematic front view of a pantyhose according to another embodiment of the present invention; Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of the pantyhose shown in Figure 4; and Figures 6a, 6b & 6c schematically illustrate process steps for the formation of the pantyhose shown in Figure 4.

Referring initially to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a sock 10. The sock 10 is of elongate tubular form and includes an inner tubular layer 12 and an outer tubular layer 14. The tubular layers 12,14 are circumferentially connected to one another at location 16.

Preferably the inner and outer layers 12,14 are circularly knitted in succession on a circular knitting machine and the circumferential connection is preferably formed by jointly knitting the inner and outer layers 12,14 with one another over a desired number of courses. The desired number of courses is preferably equal.

Preferably as shown, a turned welt 18 is knitted which is joined to the inner and outer layers at the location 16.

The inner and outer layers 12,14 are closed at the opposite end by a sewn seam 19.

As indicated in Figures 3a and 3b, the sock 10 is preferably constructed by initially circularly knitting a precursor tube 20.

The tube 20 is knit so as to initially form a first tubular portion 21 which extends from one end 23 to location 16.

At location 16, the turned welt 18 is knit in a conventional manner.

A second tubular portion 26 is then knitted extending from location 16 to the opposite end 28.

The precursor tube 20 is now cast off the knitting machine.

The second tubular portion 26 is now inserted into the first tubular portion 21 so as to extend longitudinally therealong. In so doing, the first tubular portion 21 now defines the outer layer 14 and the second tubular portion now defines the inner tubular layer 12 (Figure 3b).

To complete the construction of the sock 10, the toe end is closed off by the sewn seam 19 which is formed on a toe-closing machine in a conventional manner.

For forming a sock 10 which may be used as a boot sock, it is desirable that the outer layer 14 is knitted from a man-made yarn such as a polyamide yarn and that the inner layer 12 is knitted form a moisture absorbing yarn such as cotton or a mixture of yarns including cotton.

Accordingly when knitting the precursor tube 20, the first portion 21 would be knitted with polyamide yarn. In addition, the turned welt 18 is preferably also knitted from the same yarn as portion 21 so that after dyeing, the welt 18 and outer layer 12 have a consistent appearance.

If desired, the welt 18 may incorporate an elastomeric yarn in order to provide elastication of the welt 18.

Also if desired, the second portion 26 may be knitted to incorporate elastomeric yarn in order to provide a desired amount of elastication for providing a close comfortable fit.

It will be appreciated that since tubular portions 21 and 26 are knit in succession, ie. independently of one another, it is possible to adapt entirely different knitted structures and use entirely different yarns for producing portions 21 and 26. This provides the designer with a wide choice for tailoring the performance and/or aesthetic appearance of each portion 21 and 26.

It is recognized that by knitting the inner and outer layers from different yarns or knitted structures that the amount of shrinkage in the fabric might differ after finishing treatments, such as dyeing. Accordingly, the degree of stretch in the fabrics is controlled during the knitting process such that after treatment the difference in stretch between the inner and outer layer is within predetermined ranges. For example with a sock 10, the difference in longitudinal stretch is preferably maintained within about plus or minus 2 cm and the difference in widthwise stretch is preferably maintained within plus or minus 1 cm.

In Figures 4 and 5 there is illustrated a further embodiment in the form of pantyhose 50.

The pantyhose 50 includes a body portion 51 having a waistband 52 and a pair of depending leg portions 54.

The pantyhose is formed from a pair of tubular assemblies 60 illustrated in Figure 6b. Each tubular assembly 60 includes an outer tubular layer 114 and an inner tubular layer 112 which extends partially along the outer tubular layer 114 from one end. Preferably the terminal end of the inner tubular layer 112 terminates in a turned welt 118. The turned welt 118 is formed in a conventional manner and may include elastomeric yarns in order to render it elasticated.

In order to form the pantyhose 50, each tubular assembly 60 is provided with a longitudinally extending slit 65 so as to define opposed edges 66,67 (Figure 6c). The opposed edges 66,67 of each tubular assembly are seamed together in order to join the pair of tubular assemblies together and define the body portion of the pantyhose 50.

Preferably as seen in Figure 6b the slit 65 terminates before the terminal end of the inner tubular layer 112. Accordingly as seen in Figure 5, in the pantyhose 50, the inner layer 112 has a tubular portion 112a which extends into the upper region of the associated leg portion 54.

The precursor tube 120 for forming the tubular assembly 60 is illustrated in Figure 6a and is similar to precursor tube 20. The tube 120 is circularly knitted to first create the turned welt 118 and then is knitted to form a first tubular portion 68 extending from welt 118 to location 16.

At location 16, a turned welt 18 is preferably knitted in a conventional manner; the welt 18 forming one half of the waistband 52 in the pantyhose 50.

The tube 120 is then knitted to define a second tubular portion 69 extending from location 16 to end 70. Portion 69 forms the outer layer of the body portion 51 in the pantyhose and also a leg portion 54. To form the tubular assembly 60, portion 68 is inserted into portion 69.

The tubular assemblies 60 are preferably joined together on a conventional line closing machine which produces front and rear seams 160.

Seams 160 therefore also connect the inner and outer layers 112, 114 together along edges 66,67. This assists in maintaining the relative positions of the inner and outer layers during wear. If desired, a gusset 170 may be inserted in a conventional manner. If a gusset 170 is provided, the inner and outer layers 112,114 will also be secured together by the seam securing the gusset 170 in place.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A garment formed from one or more tubular fabric assemblies, each tubular assembly comprising an inner layer of tubular fabric located inside and extending longitudinally along an outer layer of tubular fabric, the inner and outer layers being circumferentially connected to one another at or adjacent to one longitudinal end of the tubular assembly.
2. A garment according to Claim 1 wherein the inner and outer layers comprise knitted fabric and preferably the circumferential connection is formed by knitted stitches to thereby define an integral connection.
3. A garment according to Claim 2 wherein the inner and outer layers are knit from different yarns and/or are knitted so as to have different physical characteristics.
4. A garment according to Claim 3 wherein the outer layer is knit so as to have a sheer semi-transparent appearance and the inner layer is knit so as to have an opaque decorative appearance which is visible through the outer layer.
5. A garment according to any preceding claim formed from a single tubular fabric assembly to define a hose, the end of the tubular assembly opposite to said one longitudinal end being closed by a sewn seam.
6. A garment according to any of Claims 1 to 5 formed from a pair of said tubular assemblies to define a pantyhose.
7. A garment according to Claim 6 wherein said pair of tubular assemblies are joined together at said one longitudinal end to define a body portion of the pantyhose.
8. A garment according to Claim 7 wherein said outer layers define leg portions of the pantyhose depending from said body portion, the inner layer defining an inner layer for the body portion and each having a tubular portion extending into an upper region of a respective leg portion.
9. A garment according to Claim 8 wherein each tubular portion of said inner layers terminates in a turned welt.
10. A garment substantially as herein defined with reference to and as illustrated in any of the accompanying drawings.
11. A process for producing a garment, the process including the step of producing a tubular precursor tube comprising at least two successive tubular portions connected to one another by a circumferential connection located intermediate the ends of the precursor tube, the two tubular portions being constructed to enable one tubular portion to be inserted into the other tubular portion so as to extend longitudinally therealong from said circumferential connection.
12. A process for producing a garment substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.