US2368714A - Wearing apparel - Google Patents

Description

G. F. LANG WEARING APPAREL Feb. 6, 1945.

Filed Feb. 4, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 6, 1945. G. F. LANG WEARING APPAREL Filed Feb. 4, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 6, 1945. s. F. LANG WEARING APPAREL Filed Feb. 4, 1941 s Sheets-sheaf 5 Patented Feb. 6, 1945 UNITED STATES RATE o ss v 23/368,714 t .v

W AE GA R L! or e F Lang, J enki t w a ApplicationFebruary 4; 1941; Serial1Nor377;288:

1 Claim, (star et The present invention relates-to certain new and useful: wearing apparel and it relates more particularly to certain new, and useful combination. garments including a knitted, leg-encasing' stocking, adapted for use with a body-encircling support and longitudinally elastic connectors -detachably interconnecting said stocking and sup port;

One of the objects of thepresent:- invention is a more comfortable and more serviceable and durable hosiery and: hosiery Lsupport whereby-hm siery; particularly; full length -stockings may, be more effectively supported and retained on. the leg with minimum strain on the knitted fabric of= the body of the: stocking and with maximum protection to the knitted fa briclof'the 'body of the stocking against damaging strains; tears and runs. Another object of' therpresent invention is to provide a) stocking for use with a suitablesupport and providingthe greatest physical comfort to the wearer as well as presenting a neat. 3113-.- Dearance.

Other objects and-purposes of the present invention are apparent in: the following detailed description and appendedr-claimand in the accom-. panying drawings. V

For th purpose of illustrating the invention, there are shown inthe accompanying drawings forms thereof which are at presentupreferred: al:-; though, it is to be understood; that, the; various instrumentalitie of-which theinventionconsists; can be variously-arranged and:organizediandzthat the invention is not limited to, the precisejan, rangements and organizations of; the; in-strumen: talities as herein shown and described;

Referring to the drawings in.-Which likere ference characters indicate like partsthroughout;

Figure 1' represents a; perspective view of "one phaseorembodiment of the: present inventioni'as it appears in actual use. i v v Figure 2 represent a fragmentar perspective view on a; somewhat enlarged scale of Y the upper; partaof the stockin-g- 'shown. in Figure 1 Figure 3 represents a fragmentaryview, inelee vation, of the! detail of the construction shown generally: at 3rin Figure 2, but on a' fuzthenenr. larged scale, i l

Figure 4 represents a verticalcross-sectional view-along the line;4+-.-4- ofi-Figure 3; showingthe snap-fastener female member, or socket-member carried by; the stocking and showing: a snap fastener malememberor knobemember carried:

' the/connector; the twomembers-beingshown dc;

tached from each other, t

fi ure a rep esentsa; v tical: cre sv sstipm viewsimilar to that shown in Figurefl; but? in whichthe twp parts; making -upthe' snap-fasten en female member J on socket-memberare disas- Sam-bled,- and with the elasticband intermediate the-two. 1 Figure 6 represents a perspective view; on an enlargedscale ofthe two parts'malging'upthe snap-fastener female member shoWninFigure S: Figure 7 representsa fragmentary; more orless schematic elevational v-iew of 'thestitch forma tion indicated generally'at |--in*Figurv2} Figure 8 representsan enlarged elevational view of the adjoining portions". of the. support; connectors, and stocking shown generally-ah 8 in Figure 1- V I Figure- 9 i represents a view similar to that of Eigure 8- butshowingthe several parts as they appear-when disassembled: i Figure- 10 represents amo-re on lessdiagram matic cross-sectional view; on an enlarged scale taken generally on thelinei NI -m oi -Figures 1 orionthe -1ine -|.0'--l0of F igure 8i T Figure 111 represents a fragmentary perspece tive: view. ofthe embodiment s'hown-inFiguret 1- but shown disassociate d from the body, of? the wearer and merely- .in: an assembled: condition:

Figure 12 represents asmoreior rlassidiagrame. matic or. schematic topmlan views-oi thei wearing apparelshown in Figurerll, taken generally? thelinev |?;?l2 oflEigureell.

In one phase of: the; present: inuention. I? may;

provide alfullt-fashionedz sheer hose ldshavingl a. footportion 20; a legit portion.;2zli and an upper, stocking portion 2:2: which maybe a more onless distinct welt or merely an upper leg portionofi slightly heavier yarn (silk; rayon nylons on the like) than thetyam, of; whichjthe nest Oflthfimdm isiknitted. v

An uppe most, annular.- band; 23; or r atively; elastic. a-nd relatively; more durah mat r al:- s" more rlesstin e allx onne ted; wit semi-welt; like upper port o 5 s liownrifl igur 3 1; prefer to construct said annular band so th'at it has the lon i udi al cir umiereni al: elasticit butidces not have t an verse r. ie lzslesii a 1w..- rheion itudinai Q i Qu-mi rc a1 ela tic-l 2t i h a, aza- 1in para el ees e l y V913? "i959:

issqsfid strand ht. which: are immense;

1 porated into the band 23. The elastic strands are held together transversely by cotton, silk, nylon, rayon or like textile threads intertwined or interlaced therewith by weaving, braiding or knitting. The spacing between the rubber strands is such as to permit the prongs 31 of the metallic fastener or anchorage ring 36, to be hereinafter described, to pass between the rubber strands I'l Without cutting or piercing them. The construction shown in Figure 3 permits a circumferential stretchin without any diminution in the transverse width of the band 23 as would result if a braided material were used.

I prefer to connect said annular band 23 to said portion 22 by stitching indicated particularly in Figure 7; the portion 22 being placed so that its uppermost edge extends within the lowermost edge of the band 23. Stitching passing through juxtaposed points of said portion 22 and said band 23 may be formed by a threeneedle-machine through which the stocking is passed with the outer face of the band 23 uppermost. The three needles form three annular courses of chain stitches passing through said band 23 in said portion 22 and forming parallel v annular courses of loops l3, M, and I upon the inner surface of the portion 22 and forming parallel annular portions |3a, I l-a, and |5--a upon the outer surface of the band 23. Another thread 5 is shuttled back and forth through the loops |3,- l4 and I5 beneath the portion 22 to provide chain stitching passing over and through each of said loops 13,, M, and I3 and serving to anchor said loops againstbeing pulled out, as shown in Figure 7.

" I prefer to construct the lower portion of said band 23 so that it contains three longitudinally disposed elastic strands 24, 25 and 26. The-lowermost strand 26 is preferably placed at the lowermost edge of the band 23; the strand 24 being uppermost and the strand 25 being intermediate strands24 and 26. As shown in Figure '7, the row of stitches forming the loops I3 is placed just belowthe strand 24, the row of stitches forming the loops [4 isplaced along the strand 25 and the row'of stitchesforming the loop i5 is placed just above the strand 26. l :3: I have found that by attaching said band 23 to said portion. 22, in themanner above-described, it is possible to provide a simple and inexpensive connection between said band 23 and said portion 22 as well as one which is durable and which will transmit a minimum of supporter strain to the relatively less durable leg portion 2|. The elastic band 23 carries, permanently united therewith, one or more circumferentially distributed snap-fastener female members or socket members 26; these members 23 being held to the band 23 without any hole cut through said band 23 and without any sewing to the band as would tend to weaken and lessen the life of said band 23.

Said snap-fastener female member 28 includes a female engaging unit or detachable coupling unit 29 and a more or less permanent fabricanchorage unit or backing or affixing unit 35.

The female coupling or engaging unit 29 consists of a central resilient knob-receiving socket 3B and an annular,inwardly-enlarged, peripheral anchorage channel 3 I.

generally at a right angle to the plane of said ring 36, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

'In the affixing of the female socket member 28 to the fabric, the engaging unit 29' is placed on one side of the fabric (preferably the inside) of said band 23, and the backing or affixing unit is placed on the other side of said fabric with the pointed prongs 3'! extending towards the fabric. When the two units are pressed together, the prongs 31 of the backing unit 35 pass throwghthe fabric by spreading the threads apart and passing between the threads or fibres thereof, without tearing, cutting or otherwise injuring said fabric (merely pushing the threads apart from each other) and, having passed through the fabric, are bent into position and anchored within the peripheral anchorage channel 3| of the member 29. In this way, the female socket member 23 may be aifixed to the band 23 without cutting the elastic strands IT and without cutting the transverse fabric strands.

The female or socket member 28 on the stocking can be detachably united with a corresponding male or knob member 32 on a connector 30, by causing the knob of the male member 32 to enter and to be detachably held within the knobreceiving socket 3B 'of the female member L8. v

The knob-receiving socket 30 of said female member 28 is made slightly resilient in its periphsocket 30; the resiliency of the metal tending always to contract and restore the periphery;

' The 'malemember or knob member 32, as shown on the right-hand 'side of Figure 4," is of a modified form of construction in which the knob portion 33 is not provided with a prong-receiving peripheral anchorage channel, but instead, a

40 backing plate 38 is provided with a central tubular; portion 49 drawn therefrom or extending therefrom which cuts through the fabric (as for instance the fabricof the connector 40 in Figure 4)' and is spread out into the interior of the knob 34 of the knob portion 33 thereby permanently to hold the knob portion 33 to the fabric. w-

It is also possible to provide said band 23-with male engaging members .(not shown) which'are provided with pronged backing units and male engaging units similar in constructionto the femalemembers'28 but having a knob in place of the socket 3|]. In'such instance, of course, a female engaging unit 28 would be provided on the v engaging member on the connector 40 (to be used The backing or affixing unit 35 consists'of a relativelythin, annular ring 36 having a plurality of thin,- bent out pointed prongs 31 extending from the inner peri-phery'of said annular ring 36,

with" the female unit 28 upon the band 23) when it is desirable to avoid cutting the fabric of the connector 40. I I

Whilethe detachable coupling herein shown and described possesses certain advantages peculiar to the wearing apparel of the present in vention, and is therefore'preferred by me, yet other quick-detachable snap-type couplings may be used, provided the annular elastic band 23 is not cut or ruptured or otherwise weakened thereby and provided the fabric is gripped "or pressed between opposite pressure plates having substantial contact area with the fabric surfaces.

I prefer to knit the upper leg portion 2'2"-of the stocking of a slightly heavier yarnthan thatof the main leg portion 2|, as indicated more par-. tioularly in Figuresl, 2 and 3.'

Thus, if the main legportion of the stocking is. three-thread? or: four-threadj" (that of three-thread or four-threadsilk; rayon .on nylon); Iip-refer to knit the portion22 .-of*a,=heavierxyarn, asifor instance asixto tenthreadsilk(or rayon or nylon). V.

I prefer to construct said portion; 221 of; a heavier yarn toimake itmore durable and to minimize the, possibility of: runs or. tears on other injuries developing in the main leg portion 21: It' is. possible, however, to affix saidbandi231zdijrectly tothe main leg portion. 2l.without:, any intervening portion,22;

Byreason of thezfactthat the faster-carrying or. coupling-carrying band. 23* is. relatively more firm and more form-retaining than the'stocking' (either the leg portion ortheupper-legportion or the welt portion) and by. reason of the fact that: the fastener-carrying orv coupling-carrying band- 23: extends; continuously around the; upper periphery of the stocking-(instead ofzbeing inter! rupted or insteadof'being fragmentary), the pull of the connector-endsat one, two, three or. four pointsalong the band 23. is transmitted to the stocking with a more uniform distribution around the'circumference ofthe stocking. Thus, the upward pull at any one of the fastener or coupling points of the band 23 is not only transmitted to the stocking at that point, but is transmitted over a wide area on either side of said point, because of the relatively greater firmness or formretaining character of the band 23, and because of the fact that the band itself closely hugs the leg in a continuous annular formation and is held taut under some circumferential tension, when in use.

The body-encircling member 52, shown particularly in Figure l, is circumferentially elastic, that is, elastic in the direction of the arrows 54, namely, in the same direction in which the bands 23 are elastic.

The upper annular body-encircling member 52, with which the stocking of the present invention is adapted to be used, is preferably formed of knitted fabric with the courses disposed generally horizontally, that is, extending circumfer entially around the body (in the direction of the arrows 54) and with'wales extending generally vertically (in the direction of the arrows 58), and the member 52 may be circular knitted (that is, formed on a circular knitting machine) and may be formed on a double bank of needles with a double rib knit formation so as to increase its circumferential stretchability. By inlaying' a rubber or other elastic thread in the member, 52in more or less circular, space zones, with the elastic threads extending circumferentially and held in place by the knitted textile threads thereof, the member 52 can be made to hug the body more firmly and thus give better support forthe lower elastic bands 23 and hence to the stocking therebeneath.

Said member 52 is preferably formed with transverse or vertical elasticity in the direction of the arrows 58 as well as circumferential elasticity to give a two-way stretch to increase the comfort and support given to the wearer.

The member 52 may be made seamless, that is, in the form of an uninterrupted annulus.

I prefer to provide said member 52 with a plurality of downwardly-depending closed loops 55 having longitudinal elasticity in the direction of the arrows 58 and being aflixed to the lower edge of the member 52 by stitching or other suitable fastening means.

- The: connector: 48,-sisl preferablw formed with a;. loopedzportionl41 (carryingithezknob member bar 4420f: a'rigidlconnecting; memben45: the

. loops 4| and 42 being-'closedsby-istitching:14-3:.

The; rigidt member 45; as; shown. in: Figures BeandrQ; contains aslowemportion inzthe form iof a; closed loop -:ofFwhich:the1.bar-4.4 risnthe: base and contains: upperarm. 46 l which extends 1 from the loop at one end thereoffbut whichds, separated from-lthe =loop at the other: en-dLthereof; as at: 41, to permitt the insertion of said member 45 into the: loop 55l The unconnected end of the: arm 4fi'iisapreferably.turnedidoWnwardlv-and inwardly asat: I39:

When the rigid-member- 45-:is inserted within the loopa'55; -thearm 4lipasses inside the loop and comes out ongthe other side thereofso that the turned-down end I 39- encloses the loop- 55 and prevents the accidental slipping out of" the member 45 from the loop 55? Inthis-way'; the connector- 4| may-be readily; attached to ,or -detached "from-the loop 552 whendesired;

' The connector; 48 is preferably formed of ordinary fa'briewithout any-added elasticityalthough it is possible to construct said connector 40 with vertical elasticity.

Since the knob member 32 is fastened within the outer face of the loop 4|, the back face of said loop is interposed between the backing unit 35 of said member 32 and the leg of the wearer, thus preventing undesirable contact of the metal of the fastener 32 with the leg.

While I prefer to employ the loops 55, the rigid connecting member 45 and the connectors 40 to form a connection between the supporter 52 and the stocking, other methods of forming such connection are contemplated and are within the is, four for each stocking) or that said stocking could be provided with two snap fastener members 28 (front and back) instead of four. Other possibilities are apparent and are contemplated.

Thus, it is possible to provide three symmetrically disposed members 28 about the band 23 of each stocking and to provide six complementary con nectors 40 upon the'member 52.

By disposing the connectors 40 symmetrically in relation to the median plane of the stocking,

the rear seam 14 of the stocking is centered more uniformly on the leg of the wearer, that is, centered in the vertical median plane of the leg. I prefer to distribute the fastening members symmetrically about the band 23 so that either stocking may be worn on either leg; that is, so that there will be no right or left to the pai'rof stockings. I

The socket members 28 are comparatively thin so that they he more or less flush in the plane of the relatively thick materialof which the bend 23 is formed; extending therefrom only to a slight extent, as indicated particularly in the left-hand side of Figure 4. Moreover as the fabric of the band 23 is gripped or pressed'from opposite sides between substantially wide annular'pressing faces The annular elastic band 23'is preferably over-- lapped slightly at the back end of the stocking as l at 16, with the overlapping edges sewn as at 11 v and 18 and'with the back fastening member 28 transfixing the overlap 16.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiments 1 be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing de- 1 scription to indicate the scopeof the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is 1 hereby claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: r

A womans sheer full-length stocking comprising a foot portion, a sheer knitted leg por- 1 tion, an annular strain-distributing band of. relatively more durable, fabric disposed about the oragripping faces, the pull on the coupling member is better transmitted to the fabric with less strain on the individual threads." I l between the thread thereof substantially without upper periphery of'said leg portion and permanently connected therewith by stitching including a plurality of parallel annular courses-of chain stitches passing through the respective circumferentially relatively elastic and transversely or vertically relatively inelastic and being adapted to stretch circumferentially without any great diminution of its transverse or vertical di-.

inension, a plurality of snap-fastener members symmetrically disposed about and generally permanently afiixed to said annular strain-distributing band, said snap-fastener members comprising an engaging unit and a backing unit having thin prongs transfixing said band by passing cutting or tearing the threads, said prongs being permanently interlocked within said engag ing unit.

- GEORGE F. LANG.

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