U.S. patent application number 11/651896 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-17 for tights-type leg support garment.
This patent application is currently assigned to Wacoal Corp.. Invention is credited to Takako Fujii, Makoto Oyama.
Application Number | 20070111868 11/651896 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18630966 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070111868 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fujii; Takako ; et
al. |
May 17, 2007 |
Tights-type leg support garment
Abstract
A leg support garment of a tights type that has stretchability
and is applied in close contact with the human body so as to
support the legs is provided with a stretchable part having a
relatively great straining force. The stretchable part having a
relatively great straining force includes a stretchable portion (A)
having a relatively great straining force that substantially covers
the ligamentum collateralle on a medial side of the knee joint of
the human body, and on a superior side of the knee joint, extends
through a length of not less than 1/4 of that of the thigh, along
at least one selected from the musculus group consisting of the
musculus sartorius, the musculus semitendinosus, the musculus
semimembranosus, and the musculus gracilis. Thus, it is possible to
provide a leg support garment that is capable of effectively
protecting the knees and stably maintaining the knee joints without
decreasing the degree of freedom of the movement of the knee
joints, that provides a good feeling when worn, and that is useful
for preventing and reducing gonalgia of the knees, and further, for
preventing injuries to the ligamentum collateralle medialis caused
by sports or the like.
Inventors: |
Fujii; Takako; (Kyoto,
JP) ; Oyama; Makoto; (Kyoto, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DARBY & DARBY P.C.
P. O. BOX 5257
NEW YORK
NY
10150-5257
US
|
Assignee: |
Wacoal Corp.
Kyoto-shi
JP
|
Family ID: |
18630966 |
Appl. No.: |
11/651896 |
Filed: |
January 9, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10030367 |
Jan 2, 2002 |
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PCT/JP01/03303 |
Apr 18, 2001 |
|
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11651896 |
Jan 9, 2007 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/124 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 1/08 20130101; A41B
2400/38 20130101; A41D 31/18 20190201 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/124 |
International
Class: |
A63B 21/02 20060101
A63B021/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 20, 2000 |
JP |
JP 2000-120095 |
Claims
1-31. (canceled)
32. A leg support garment of a tights type that has stretchability
and is applied in close contact with the human body so as to
support the legs, the leg support garment comprising a stretchable
part having a relatively great straining force, wherein the
stretchable part having a relatively great straining force includes
a stretchable portion (A) having a relatively great straining force
that: substantially covers the ligamentum collateralle on a medial
side of the knee joint of the human body; and on a superior side of
the knee joint, extends through a length of not less than 1/2 of
that of the thigh, along at least one selected from the musculus
group consisting of the musculus semitendinosus, the musculus
semimembranosus, and the musculus gracilis, wherein the portion (A)
is either a stretchable portion (A2) having a relatively great
straining force or a stretchable portion (A3) having a relatively
great straining force, the portion (A2) being a stretchable portion
having a relatively great straining force that: substantially
covers the ligamentum collateralle on the medial side of the knee
joint of the human body; extends approximately along a vicinity of
a periphery of the patella on a medial side thereof so as to
surround the patella through not less than approximately 1/4 of the
periphery of the patella and to cover at least a part of an
inferior region of the patella, and reaches a side of the musculus
gastrocnemius and/or the musculus soleus on the medial side; and on
a superior side of the knee joint, extends approximately along at
least one selected from the musculus group consisting of the
musculus semitendinosus, the musculus semimembranosus, and the
musculus gracilis, and reaches a vicinity below the crotch or the
sulcus gluteus, the portion (A3) being a stretchable portion having
a relatively great straining force that: substantially covers the
ligamentum collateralle on the medial side of the knee joint of the
human body; extends approximately along a vicinity of a periphery
of the patella on a medial side thereof so as to surround the
patella through not less than approximately 1/4 of the periphery of
the patella and to cover at least a part of an inferior region of
the patella, and reaches a side of the musculus gastrocnemius
and/or the musculus soleus on the medial side; and on a superior
side of the knee joint, extends from a medial side to a lateral
side of the thigh via a posterior side thereof approximately along
the musculus semitendinosus and/or the musculus semimembranosus to
a vicinity of the trochanter major, passing over the musculus
biceps femoris obliquely.
33. The leg support garment according to claim 32, being a garment
of a tights type that has a length capable of covering at least a
range from a waistline to a superior side of the ankle.
34. The leg support garment according to claim 32, wherein the
portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A2) having a
relatively great straining force is a stretchable portion (A2-1)
having a relatively great straining force that further covers at
least a part of a superior region of the patella by extending
thereto approximately from a vicinity of the periphery of the
patella on the medial side of the patella.
35. The leg support garment according to claim 32, wherein the
portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A3) having a
relatively great straining force is a stretchable portion (A3-1)
having a relatively great straining force that further covers at
least a part of a superior region of the patella by extending
thereto approximately from a vicinity of the periphery of the
patella on the medial side of the patella.
36. The leg support garment according to claim 32, wherein the
stretchable part having a relatively great straining force further
includes a stretchable portion (B) having a relatively great
straining force that: extends from a side part of the waist
approximately along the tractus iliotibialis via a vicinity of the
trochanter major, then, approximately along the tractus
iliotibialis to a lateral side of the patella; covers at least a
part of an inferior region of the patella, or at least a part of
inferior and superior regions of the patella; and passes a side of
the musculus gastrocnemius and/or the musculus soleus on a lateral
side of the same.
37. The leg support garment according to claim 33, wherein: the
portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A) having a
relatively great straining force is a stretchable portion (A2-2)
having a relatively great straining force that: substantially
covers the ligamentum collateralle on the medial side of the knee
joint of the human body; extends approximately along a vicinity of
a periphery of the patella on a medial side thereof; surrounds the
patella through at least approximately 1/2 or more of the periphery
of the patella so as to cover at least a part of inferior and
superior regions of the patella, and reaches a side of the musculus
gastrocnemius and/or the musculus soleus on the medial side; and on
a superior side of the knee joint, extends approximately along at
least one selected from the musculus group consisting of the
musculus semitendinosus, the musculus semimembranosus, and the
musculus gracilis, and reaches a vicinity below the crotch and a
vicinity of the sulcus gluteus; and, the stretchable part having a
relatively great straining force further includes a stretchable
portion (B') having a relatively great straining force that:
extends from a side part of the waist approximately along the
tractus iliotibialis via a vicinity of the trochanter major, then,
approximately along the tractus iliotibialis to a lateral side of
the patella; surrounds the patella through approximately 1/2 or
more of the periphery of the patella so as to cover at least a part
of inferior and superior regions of the patella; and passes a side
of the musculus gastrocnemius and/or the musculus soleus on the
lateral side.
38. The leg support garment according to claim 37, wherein: the
stretchable portion (A2-2) having a relatively great straining
force includes two portions projecting toward the lateral side and
covering a part of the inferior region and a part of the superior
region of the patella, respectively; the stretchable portion (B')
having a relatively great straining force includes two portions
projecting toward the medial side and covering a part of the
inferior region and a part of the superior region of the patella,
respectively; said two projecting portions of the stretchable
portion (A2-2) having a relatively great straining force are
arranged at positions opposite to said two projecting portions of
the stretchable portion (B') having a relatively great straining
force, respectively, the positions being slightly shifted to the
inferior side from positions of said two portions of the
stretchable portion (B') having a relatively great straining force,
respectively; and when viewed from the front, the portion of the
stretchable portion (A2-2) having a relatively great straining
force that covers the inferior region of the patella has a
relatively greater area.
39. The leg support garment according to claim 32, being a garment
of a tights type that has a length capable of covering at least a
range from a waistline to an inferior side of the knee.
40. The leg support garment according to claim 39, wherein the
portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A) having a
relatively great straining force is a stretchable portion (A.sup.2
2) having a relatively great straining force that: substantially
covers the ligamentum collateralle on the medial side of the knee
joint of the human body; extends approximately along a vicinity of
a periphery of the patella on a medial side thereof so as to
surround the patella through not less than approximately 1/4 of the
periphery of the patella and to cover at least a part of an
inferior region of the patella, and reaches a side of a superior
part of the musculus gastrocnemius on the medial side; and on a
superior side of the knee joint, extends approximately along at
least one selected from the musculus group consisting of the
musculus semitendinosus, the musculus semimembranosus, and the
musculus gracilis, and reaches a vicinity below the crotch or of
the sulcus gluteus.
41. The leg support garment according to claim 40, wherein the
portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A.sup.22) having a
relatively great straining force is a stretchable portion
(A.sup.22-1) having a relatively great straining force that further
covers at least a part of a superior region of the patella by
extending thereto approximately from a vicinity of the periphery of
the patella on the medial side of the patella.
42. The leg support garment according to claim 39, wherein the
portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A) having a
relatively great straining force is a stretchable portion
(A.sup.23) having a relatively great straining force that:
substantially covers the ligamentum collateralle on the medial side
of the knee joint of the human body; extends approximately along a
vicinity of a periphery of the patella on a medial side thereof so
as to surround the patella through not less than approximately 1/4
of the periphery of the patella and to cover at least a part of an
inferior region of the patella, and reaches a side of a superior
part of the musculus gastrocnemius on the medial side; and on a
superior side of the knee joint, extends from a medial side to a
lateral side of the thigh via a posterior side thereof
approximately along the musculus semitendinosus and/or the musculus
semimembranosus to a vicinity of the trochanter major, passing over
the musculus biceps femoris obliquely.
43. The leg support garment according to claim 42, wherein the
portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A.sup.23) having a
relatively great straining force is a stretchable portion
(A.sup.23-1) having a relatively great straining force that further
covers at least a part of a superior region of the patella by
extending thereto approximately from a vicinity of the periphery of
the patella on the medial side of the patella.
44. The leg support garment according to claim 40, wherein the
stretchable part having a relatively great straining force further
includes a stretchable portion (B.sup.2) having a relatively great
straining force that: extends from a side part of the waist
approximately along the tractus iliotibialis via a vicinity of the
trochanter major, then, approximately along the tractus
iliotibialis to a lateral side of the patella; covers at least a
part of an inferior region of the patella, or at least a part of
inferior and superior regions of the patella; and reaches a side of
a superior part of the musculus gastrocnemius on the lateral
side.
45. The leg support garment according to claim 39, wherein: the
portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A) having a
relatively great straining force is a stretchable portion
(A.sup.22') having a relatively great straining force that:
substantially covers the ligamentum collateralle on the medial side
of the knee joint of the human body; extends approximately along a
vicinity of a periphery of the patella on a medial side thereof;
surrounds the patella through at least approximately 1/2 or more of
the periphery of the patella so as to cover at least a part of
inferior and superior regions of the patella, and reaches a side of
a superior part of the musculus gastrocnemius on the medial side;
and on a superior side of the knee joint, extends approximately
along at least one selected from the musculus group consisting of
the musculus semitendinosus, the musculus semimembranosus, and the
musculus gracilis, and reaches a vicinity below the crotch and a
vicinity of the sulcus gluteus; and the stretchable part having a
relatively great straining force further includes a stretchable
portion (B.sup.2') having a relatively great straining force that:
extends from a side part of the waist approximately along the
tractus iliotibialis via a vicinity of the trochanter major, then,
approximately along the tractus iliotibialis to a lateral side of
the patella; surrounds the patella through approximately 1/2 or
more of the periphery of the patella so as to cover at least a part
of inferior and superior regions of the patella; and reaches a side
of a superior part of the musculus gastrocnemius on the lateral
side.
46. The leg support garment according to claim 45, wherein: the
stretchable portion (A.sup.22') having a relatively great straining
force includes two portions projecting toward the lateral side and
covering a part of the inferior region and apart of the superior
region of the patella, respectively; the stretchable portion
(B.sup.2') having a relatively great straining force includes two
portions projecting toward the medial side and covering a part of
the inferior region and a part of the superior region of the
patella, respectively; said two projecting portions of the
stretchable portion (A.sup.22') having a relatively great straining
force are arranged at positions opposite to said two projecting
portions of the stretchable portion (B.sup.2') having a relatively
great straining force, respectively, the positions being slightly
shifted to the inferior side from positions of said two portions of
the stretchable portion (B.sup.2') having a relatively great
straining force, respectively; and a vertex of the portion of the
stretchable portion (A.sup.22') having a relatively great straining
force that covers the inferior region of the patella is positioned
at center of the patella, or slightly on a lateral side from the
center.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a tights-type leg support
garment, and particularly relates to a stretchable leg support
garment in which stretchable portions having relatively great
straining forces are provided at specific positions.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Among parts of the human body, the knees tend to have
orthopedic troubles most often, due to declines with age of muscles
and ligaments that support the knees, injuries to the knees in
sports, etc.
[0003] Recently, care of injuries to the knees and protection of
the knees have been carried out by applying a taping treatment or a
corset to a part of the human body that requires the same,
occasionally.
[0004] However, the taping treatment is difficult to carry out for
oneself, and it is necessary to ask the others, specifically the
specialists, to conduct the same since the taping treatment
requires skills that are not available from inexperienced persons.
Therefore, it involves inconvenience in application and removal.
Besides, long period application of the same should be avoided,
since it could cause skin disorders. Furthermore, the taping
treatment fixes the knee joint, thereby decreasing the degree of
freedom of the movement of the knee joint. On the other hand, in
the case where a corset is employed, the degree of freedom of the
movement of the knee joint likewise decreases significantly, since
a corset does not provide sufficient freedom to the patella.
[0005] Recently, various garments that support specific muscles
have been proposed (JP 4(1922)-343868 A, JP 4(1992)-57902 A, JP
4(1992)-50302 A, JP 8(1996)-81807 A, JP 9(1997)-241906 A, JP
10(1998)-280209 A, etc.).
[0006] Such garments having muscle-supporting functions are
generally provided with stretchable portions having relatively
great straining forces at positions over or beside muscles to be
supported.
[0007] However, these garments having muscle-supporting functions
are designed not particularly from the viewpoint of the protection
of the knees.
[0008] As to the human body, even taking a standing position causes
the knees to warp. More specifically, a force causing the legs to
bend convexly with the medial side of each knee joint being a
vertex is applied to the legs, thereby applying more tension to the
ligamentum collateralle of each knee joint on the medial side
thereof (the ligamentum collateralle on the medial side is
hereinafter referred to as ligamentum collateralle medialis). The
ligamentum collateralle medialis is covered with tendons on
inferior sides of the musculus sartorius, the musculus
semitendinosus, the musculus semimembraneous, and the musculus
gracilis, thereby being protected. However, if these muscles
fatigue or become weaken with age, it is impossible to resist
against the foregoing force with only the ligaments, and hence, the
knees are made unstable.
[0009] Meanwhile, few studies have been made on garments for
supporting the ligamentum collateralle medialis of the knee joint
of the human body. Statistics, however, show that there are
considerably many cases of disorders to the ligamentum collateralle
medialis of the knee joint, among the disorders of the knee joint.
Therefore, it has been found that, with a view to providing
sufficient support to the knees while securing the freedom of the
movement of the knees, studies should be focused on the ligamentum
collateralle medialis.
[0010] The ligamentum collateralle medialis is located at a
position slightly posterior to the medial side of each knee joint,
extending between the vicinity of an inferior end of the os femoris
and the vicinity of a superior end of the tibia. On the lateral
side of the knee joint, opposite to the ligamentum collateralle
medialis, the ligamentum collateralle lateralis is located,
extending between the vicinity of the inferior end of the os
femoris and the vicinity of a superior end of the fibra. It should
be noted, however, that cases of disorders of the ligamentum
collateralle lateralis are significantly less than cases of
disorders of the ligamentum collateralle medialis; namely, cases of
disorder of the ligamentum collateralle medialis are many. This is
because that the ligamentum collateralle medialis has a small
tensile strength as compared with that of the ligamentum
collateralle lateralis, and hence, exhibits a small degree of
extension before fracture. In other words, the ligamentum
collateralle medialis is inferior to the ligamentum collateralle
lateralis in strength and elasticity.
[0011] As described above, the ligamentum collateralle medialis is
covered with tendons on inferior sides of the musculus sartorius,
the musculus semitendinosus, the musculus semimembraneous, and the
musculus gracilis, and is located at a position slightly posterior
to the medial side of the knee joint. Therefore, there has been no
muscle support garment that is focused on and actually intended to
provide the support of the ligamentum collateralle medialis.
[0012] The inventors of the present invention made studies
centering on the support of the ligamentum collateralle medialis
and aimed to providing a leg support garment that is capable of
effectively protecting the knees and stably maintaining the knee
joints without decreasing the degree of freedom of the movement of
the knee joints, that provides a good feeling when worn, and that
is useful for preventing and reducing gonalgia caused by the
instability of the knees, and further, for preventing injuries to
the ligamentum collateralle medialis caused by sports or the
like.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] With the foregoing in mind, the present invention is to
provide a leg support garment as described below. It should be
noted that the following description includes auxiliary headings in
brackets < > at the top of respective sections of
descriptions corresponding to claims, but these are provided merely
for conveniences in referring to the contents of the present
invention, and do not limit the present invention at all.
<Tights-type Leg Support Garment in General>
[0014] (1) A leg support garment of a tights type that has
stretchability and is applied in close contact of the human body so
as to support the legs, the leg support garment comprising a
stretchable part having a relatively great straining force,
[0015] wherein the stretchable part having a relatively great
straining force includes a stretchable portion (A) having a
relatively great straining force that: [0016] substantially covers
the ligamentum collateralle on a medial side of the knee joint of
the human body; and [0017] on a superior side of the knee joint,
extends through a length of not less than 1/4 of that of the thigh,
along at least one selected from the musculus group consisting of
the musculus sartorius, the musculus semitendinosus, the musculus
semimembranosus, and the musculus gracilis.
[0018] In the leg support garment of a tights type of the present
invention, the stretchable portion (A) having a relatively great
straining force supports the ligamentum collateralle medialis, and
further, on the superior side of the knee joint, supports at least
one selected from the musculus group consisting of the musculus
sartorius, the musculus semitendinosus, the musculus
semimembranosus, and the musculus gracilis that are located over
the ligamentum collateralle medialis and extend upward. Therefore,
a power of pulling up the stretchable portion having a relatively
great straining force that supports the ligamentum collateralle
medialis is produced by the portion extending upward in the
stretchable portion (A) having a relatively great straining force,
thereby increasing the power of supporting the ligamentum
collateralle medialis. Further, at least one of the musculus
sartorius, the musculus semitendinosus, the musculus
semimembranosus, and the musculus gracilis that support the knee
joint in cooperation with the ligamentum collateralle medialis is
also supported by the stretchable portion having a relatively great
straining force. Therefore, the combined actions of these make it
possible to provide a leg support garment that is capable of
protecting the knees and stably maintaining the knee joints without
decreasing the degree of freedom of the movement of the knee
joints, that provides a good feeling when worn, and that is useful
for preventing and reducing gonalgia caused by the instability of
the knees, and further, for preventing injuries to the ligamentum
collateralle medialis caused by sports or the like.
[0019] (2.) A leg support garment of a tights type that has
stretchability and is applied in close contact with the surface of
the human body so as to support the legs, the leg support garment
comprising a stretchable part having a relatively great straining
force,
[0020] wherein the stretchable part having a relatively great
straining force includes a stretchable portion (A) having a
relatively great straining force that: [0021] substantially covers
the ligamentum collateralle on a medial side of the knee joint of
the human body; and [0022] on a superior side of the knee joint,
extends through a length of not less than 1/2 of that of the thigh,
along at least one selected from the musculus group consisting of
the musculus sartorius, the musculus semitendinosus, the musculus
semimembranosus, and the musculus gracilis.
[0023] In the leg support garment of a tights type of the present
invention, a length of a portion covering the thigh is set to be
not less than 1/2 of the length of the thigh. Therefore, the power
of pulling the stretchable portion having a relatively great
straining force that supports the ligamentum collateralle medialis,
described in the above item (1), is exerted more intensely where
the portion extends upward to the superior part of the thigh.
Consequently, this provides a leg support garment in which the
power of supporting the ligamentum collateralle medialis is
improved, which is preferable.
<Tights-type Leg Support Garment Having a Length from Waistline
to Superior Side of Ankle>
[0024] (3) The leg support garment according to the above item (1)
or (2), being a garment of a tights type that has a length capable
of covering at least a range from a waistline to a superior side of
the ankle.
[0025] According to the foregoing preferable embodiment of the
present invention, the leg support garment has a length capable of
covering at least a range from a waistline to a superior side of
the ankle. Therefore, the power of pulling the stretchable portion
having a relatively great straining force that supports the
ligamentum collateralle medialis, described in the above item (1),
is exerted further more intensely where the portion extends upward
to the superior part of the thigh. Consequently, this provides a
leg support garment in which the power of supporting the ligamentum
collateralle medialis is improved, which is preferable. Besides,
since it is a tights-type garment, it is easy to wear, and suitable
as sports wear.
[0026] (4) The leg support garment according to the above item (3),
wherein:
[0027] the portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A) having
a relatively great straining force is a stretchable portion (A1)
having a relatively great straining force that: [0028]
substantially covers the ligamentum collateralle on the medial side
of the knee joint of the human body; [0029] extends approximately
along a vicinity of a periphery of the patella on a medial side
thereof so as to surround the patella through not less than
approximately 1/4 of the periphery of the patella and to cover at
least a part of an inferior region of the patella, and reaches a
side of the musculus gastrocnemius and/or the musculus soleus on
the medial side; and [0030] on a superior side of the knee joint,
extends from a medial side to a lateral side of the thigh via an
anterior side thereof approximately along the musculus sartorius to
a vicinity of the trochanter major, passing a superior part of the
musculus rectus femoris.
[0031] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portion having a relatively
great straining force covers a portion of an inferior region of the
patella so as to support the patella as if pulling up the same from
the inferior side, thereby improving the stability of the knee
joint. The portion further supports the musculus sartorius and
extends from the medial side to the lateral side of the thigh
obliquely and spirally toward the vicinity of the trochanter major,
thereby increasing the power for pulling the stretchable portion
having a relatively great straining force that supports the
ligamentum collateralle medialis. This makes it possible to provide
a leg support garment having an increased power for supporting the
ligamentum collateralle medialis, and hence, this is preferable.
Furthermore, this provides the support to the musculus sartorius
that complements the function of the ligamentum collateralle
medialis as well, which is also preferable.
[0032] (5) The leg support garment according to the above item (4),
wherein the portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A1)
having a relatively great straining force further includes a
stretchable portion (A1-1) having a relatively great straining
force that extends from a vicinity of the trochanter major to a
vicinity of the waist along the tractus iliotibialis.
[0033] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portion (A1-1) having a
relatively great straining force is further provided, which extends
from the vicinity of the trochanter major to the waist along the
tractus iliotibialis. Therefore, the function of the item (4) is
enhanced further, as well as the function of intensely pressing the
trochanter major is enhanced also, thereby improving the connection
between the caput ossis femoris and the acetabulum. This is
preferable since further providing a function of enhancing the
stability of the hip joint.
[0034] (6) The leg support garment according to the above item (4)
or (5), wherein the portion expressed as the stretchable portion
(A1) having a relatively great straining force further covers at
least a part of a superior region of the patella by extending
thereto approximately from a vicinity of the periphery of the
patella on the medial side of the patella.
[0035] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portion (A1) having a relatively
great straining force also covers at least a part of the superior
region of the patella. Therefore, the knee joint is supported
therefrom as well as from the inferior region of the patella,
thereby allowing more stability of the knee joint to be achieved,
which is preferable.
[0036] (7) The leg support garment according to any one of the
above items (4) to (6), wherein the portion expressed as the
stretchable portion (A1) having a relatively great straining force
further includes a stretchable portion (A1-2) having a relatively
great straining force that extends obliquely upward from a side of
the musculus gastrocnemius on the medial side through a vicinity of
the periphery of the patella on the inferior side of the patella to
a lateral side of the patella.
[0037] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the periphery of the patella is covered from a
side of the musculus gastrocnemius on the medial side, i.e., from
the inferior medial side, and a power of pulling up the same in an
obliquely upward direction is exerted thereto. Therefore, this
provides more stability of the knee joint, and hence, the present
embodiment is preferable.
[0038] (8) The leg support garment according to any one of the
above items (4) to (7), wherein the stretchable part having a
relatively great straining force further includes a stretchable
portion (B) having a relatively great straining force that: [0039]
extends from a vicinity of the trochanter major downward
approximately along the tractus iliotibialis to a lateral side of
the patella; [0040] covers at least a part of the inferior region
of the patella extending from the lateral side thereof; and [0041]
passes a side of the musculus gastrocnemius and/or the musculus
soleus on the lateral side.
[0042] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portion (B) having a relatively
great straining force is further provided. Therefore, the knee and
leg are supported from the both sides at the femoral region and the
lower leg region, and further, the musculus gastrocnemius and/or
the musculus soleus are supported from their sides without
hindering their actions. Furthermore, the function of pressing the
trochanter major is enhanced further, thereby improving the
connection between the caput ossis femoris and the acetabulum.
Therefore, this reinforces a function of enhancing the stability of
the hip joint.
[0043] (9) The leg support garment according to the above item (3),
wherein the portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A) having
a relatively great straining force is a stretchable portion (A2)
having a relatively great straining force that: [0044]
substantially covers the ligamentum collateralle on the medial side
of the knee joint of the human body; [0045] extends approximately
along a vicinity of a periphery of the patella on a medial side
thereof so as to surround the patella through not less than
approximately 1/4 of the periphery of the patella and to cover at
least a part of an inferior region of the patella, and reaches a
side of the musculus gastrocnemius and/or the musculus soleus on
the medial side; and [0046] on a superior side of the knee joint,
extends approximately along at least one selected from the musculus
group consisting of the musculus semitendinosus, the musculus
semimembranosus, and the musculus gracilis, and reaches a vicinity
below the crotch or of the sulcus gluteus.
[0047] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portion having a relatively
great straining force covers at least a part of the inferior region
of the patella, thereby supporting the patella as if pulling up the
patella from the inferior side thereof As a result, the stability
of the knee joint is improved. Furthermore, at least one of the
musculus semitendinosus, the musculus semimembranosus, and the
musculus gracilis that are located on the medial side of the thigh,
thereby increasing the power of pulling the stretchable portion
having a relatively great straining force that supports the
ligamentum collateralle medialis. Consequently, a leg support
garment with an increased power for supporting the ligamentum
collateralle medialis is provided, which is preferable.
Furthermore, at least one of the musculus semitendinosus, the
musculus semimembranosus, and the musculus gracilis that complement
the function of the ligamentum collateralle medialis is supported,
which is also preferable.
[0048] (10) The leg support garment according to the above item
(9), wherein the portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A2)
having a relatively great straining force is a stretchable portion
(A2-1) having a relatively great straining force that further
covers at least a part of a superior region of the patella by
extending thereto approximately from a vicinity of the periphery of
the patella on the medial side of the patella.
[0049] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portion (A2) having a relatively
great straining force also covers at least a part of the superior
region of the patella. Therefore, the knee joint is supported
therefrom as well as from the inferior region of the patella,
thereby allowing more stability of the knee joint to be achieved,
which is preferable.
[0050] (11) The leg support garment according to the above item
(3), wherein the portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A)
having a relatively great straining force is a stretchable portion
(A3) having a relatively great straining force that: [0051]
substantially covers the ligamentum collateralle on the medial side
of the knee joint of the human body; [0052] extends approximately
along a vicinity of a periphery of the patella on a medial side
thereof so as to surround the patella through not less than
approximately 1/4 of the periphery of the patella and to cover at
least a part of an inferior region of the patella, and reaches a
side of the musculus gastrocnemius and/or the musculus soleus on
the medial side; and [0053] on a superior side of the knee joint,
extends from a medial side to a lateral side of the thigh via a
posterior side thereof approximately along the musculus
semitendinosus and/or the musculus semimembranosus to a vicinity of
the trochanter major, passing over the musculus biceps femoris
obliquely.
[0054] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portion having a relatively
great straining force is provided, which extends from the side of
the musculus gastrocnemius and/or the musculus soleus on the medial
side upwards, then passes the thigh obliquely in a spiral form from
the medial side to the lateral side thereof via the posterior side
thereof, and reaches the vicinity of the trochanter major.
Therefore, it is possible to support the patella as if pulling up
the same from the inferior side thereof, thereby improving the
stability of the knee joint. Furthermore, it is also possible to
increase the power of pulling the stretchable portion having a
relatively great straining force that supports the ligamentum
collateralle medialis. Consequently, a leg support garment with an
increased power for supporting the ligamentum collateralle medialis
is provided, which is preferable. Furthermore, the musculus
semitendinosus and/or the musculus semimembranosus that complements
the function of the ligamentum collateralle medialis is supported,
which is preferable.
[0055] (12) The leg support garment according to the above item
(11), wherein the portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A3)
having a relatively great straining force is a stretchable portion
(A3-1) having a relatively great straining force that further
covers at least a part of a superior region of the patella by
extending thereto approximately from a vicinity of the periphery of
the patella on the medial side of the patella.
[0056] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portion (A3) having a relatively
great straining force also covers at least a part of the superior
region of the patella. Therefore, the knee joint is supported
therefrom as well as from the inferior region of the patella,
thereby allowing more stability of the knee joint to be achieved,
which is preferable.
[0057] (13) The leg support garment according to any one of the
above items (9) to (12), wherein the stretchable part having a
relatively great straining force further includes a stretchable
portion (B) having a relatively great straining force that: [0058]
extends from a side part of the waist approximately along the
tractus iliotibialis via a vicinity of the trochanter major, then,
approximately along the tractus iliotibialis to a lateral side of
the patella; [0059] covers at least a part of an inferior region of
the patella, or at least a part of inferior land superior regions
of the patella; and [0060] passes a side of the musculus
gastrocnemius and/or the musculus soleus on a lateral side of the
same.
[0061] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portion (B) having a relatively
great straining force is further provided. Therefore, the knee and
leg are supported from the both sides at the femoral region and the
lower leg region, and further, the musculus gastrocnemius and/or
the musculus soleus are supported from their sides without
hindering their actions. Furthermore, the function of pressing the
trochanter major is enhanced further, thereby improving the
connection between the caput ossis femoris and the acetabulum.
Therefore, this reinforces a function of enhancing the stability of
the hip joint.
[0062] (14) The leg support garment according to any one of the
above items (4) to (8), wherein the portion expressed as the
stretchable portion (A) having a relatively great straining force
is the stretchable portion (A1) having a relatively great straining
force, and further includes, on a superior side of a
knee-joint-part of the stretchable portion (A1) having a relatively
great straining force, a stretchable portion (A2') having a
relatively great straining force that extends approximately along
at least one selected from the musculus group consisting of the
musculus semitendinosus, the musculus semimembranosus, and the
musculus gracilis to a vicinity of the crotch or a vicinity of the
sulcus gluteus.
[0063] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portion having a relatively
great straining force is present in a spiral form, extending
obliquely from the medial side to the lateral side of the thigh,
and then, to the trochanter major. In addition, the stretchable
portion (A2') having a relatively great straining force that
branches therefrom on the superior side of the knee joint is
present also, extending through the thigh approximately along at
least one selected from the musculus group consisting of the
musculus semitendinosus, the musculus semimembranosus, and the
musculus gracilis to the vicinity of the crotch or the vicinity of
the sulcus gluteus. The actions of these in combination further
increase the power of pulling the stretchable portion having a
relatively great straining force that supports the ligamentum
collateralle medialis. Consequently, a leg support garment with an
increased power for supporting the ligamentum collateralle medialis
is provided, which is preferable. Furthermore, along with the
musculus sartorius that complements the function of the ligamentum
collateralle medialis, at least one selected from the musculus
group consisting of the musculus semitendinosus, the musculus
semimembranosus, and the musculus gracilis is also supported, which
is preferable. Furthermore, the stretchable portion having a
relatively great straining force that is provided from the vicinity
of the trochanter major to the vicinity of the waist along the
tractus iliotibialis provides a function of pressing the trochanter
major, thereby improving the connection between the caput ossis
femoris and the acetabulum. Therefore, this further provides a
function of enhancing the stability of the hip joint, which is
preferable.
[0064] (15) The leg support garment according to the above item
(3), wherein:
[0065] the portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A) having
a relatively great straining force is a stretchable portion (A2')
having a relatively great straining force that: [0066]
substantially covers the ligamentum collateralle on the medial side
of the knee joint of the human body; [0067] extends approximately
along a vicinity of a periphery of the patella on a medial side
thereof; [0068] surrounds the patella through at least
approximately 1/2 or more of the periphery of the patella so as to
cover at least a part of inferior and superior regions of the
patella, and reaches a side of the musculus gastrocnemius and/or
the musculus soleus on the medial side; and [0069] on a superior
side of the knee joint, extends approximately along at least one
selected from the musculus group consisting of the musculus
semitendinosus, the musculus semimembranosus, and the musculus
gracilis, and reaches a vicinity below the crotch and a vicinity of
the sulcus gluteus; and,
[0070] the stretchable part having a relatively great straining
force further includes a stretchable portion (B') having a
relatively great straining force that: [0071] extends from a side
part of the waist approximately along the tractus iliotibialis via
a vicinity of the trochanter major, then, approximately along the
tractus iliotibialis to a lateral side of the patella; [0072]
surrounds the patella through approximately 1/2 or more of the
periphery of the patella so as to cover at least a part of inferior
and superior regions of the patella; and [0073] passes a side of
the musculus gastrocnemius and/or the musculus soleus on the
lateral side.
[0074] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portions having relatively great
straining forces supports the knee and leg from both sides in the
femoral region and the lower leg region, without hindering the
action of the musculus vastus lateralis and the musculus vastus
medialis on the anterior side of the thigh. Further, the foregoing
embodiment allows the knee joint to be supported as if wrapped from
the surrounding, thereby providing more support to the knee joint.
Besides, the function of pressing the trochanter major is
reinforced, thereby further improving the connection between the
caput ossis femoris and the acetabulum. Therefore, the function of
enhancing the stability of the hip joint is reinforced, which is
preferable.
[0075] (16) The leg support garment according to the above item
(15), wherein:
[0076] the stretchable portion (A2') having a relatively great
straining force includes two portions projecting toward the lateral
side and covering a part of the inferior region and a part of the
superior region of the patella, respectively;
[0077] the stretchable portion (B') having a relatively great
straining force includes two portions projecting toward the medial
side and covering a part of the inferior region and a part of the
superior region of the patella, respectively;
[0078] said two projecting portions of the stretchable portion
(A2') having a relatively great straining force are arranged at
positions opposite to said two projecting portions of the
stretchable portion (B') having a relatively great straining force,
respectively, the positions being slightly shifted to the inferior
side from positions of said two portions of the stretchable portion
(B') having a relatively great straining force, respectively;
[0079] and
[0080] when viewed from the front, the portion of the stretchable
portion (A2') having a relatively great straining force that covers
the inferior region of the patella has a relatively greater
area.
[0081] According to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the function described in the above item (15) is
achieved. Meanwhile, in the lower leg region, on the medial side,
the muscles are fewer and the tibia is in contact with the surface
of the body, whereas on the lateral side of the lower leg region,
the musculus gastrocnemius is on the lateral side of the fibula.
Therefore, the foregoing embodiment provides the support of the
knee joint as if pulling the medial side thereof having fewer
muscles more intensely from the inferior side, thereby reinforcing
the support of the ligamentum collateralle medialis, which is
preferable.
[0082] (17) The leg support garment according to any one of the
items (2) to (16), wherein the stretchable part having a relatively
great straining force further includes:
[0083] a stretchable portion (C) having a relatively great
straining force that, on the posterior side of the human body,
covers a region extending from a certain position in a range from
the vertebrae lumbales to the os sacrum, through an approximately
middle part of the musculus gluteus maximus at right and left,
approximately in a direction along muscular fibers of the musculus
gluteus maximus via the top of the bulge of the hip or the vicinity
of the same to at least the vicinity of trochanter major; and
[0084] a stretchable portion (D) having a relatively great
straining force that, on the anterior side of the human body,
covers a region extending from a position on the musculus rectus
abdominis in the hypogastric region, obliquely downward
approximately in a direction along muscular fibers of the musculus
obliquus internus abdominis at right and left to the vicinity of
the trochanter major.
[0085] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portion (C) having a relatively
great straining force is provided, which provides the firm support
of the musculus gluteus maximus in the muscular fiber direction
thereof Thus, it can play a large role in supporting the rotating
motion of the hips, preventing a decrease in the rotating angle of
the hips, and stabilizing the pelvis in anterior-posterior
direction. For an elderly person, it is effective in preventing
falling down. Furthermore, it can play a large role in extending
the hip joint in anterior-posterior direction when running,
jumping, and climbing up a slope. Besides, the stretchable portion
(D) having a relatively great straining force is provided, which
supports a part of the musculus rectus abdominis and the musculus
obliquus internus abdominis, thereby providing functions of
reducing lumbar lordosis, maintaining good posture, making youthful
figure, and preventing generation of pains such as lumbar
pains.
<Tights-type Leg Support Garment Having a Length from Waistline
to Inferior Side of Knee>
[0086] (18) The leg support garment according to the above item (1)
or (2), being a garment of a tights type that has a length capable
of covering at least a range from a waistline to an inferior side
of the knee.
[0087] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the leg support garment has a length capable of
covering at least a range from the waistline to the inferior side
of the knee. Therefore, the power of pulling the stretchable
portion having a relatively great straining force that supports the
ligamentum collateralle medialis, described in the above item (1),
is exerted more intensely where the portion extends upward to the
superior part of the thigh. Consequently, this provides a leg
support garment in which the power of supporting the ligamentum
collateralle medialis is improved, which is preferable. Moreover,
since it is a tights-type garment, it is easy to wear, and suitable
as sports wear. Particularly, it is suitably worn in high
temperature areas or in the hot season. Meanwhile, "having a length
capable of covering at least a range to the inferior side of the
knee" described above means that the garment reaches at least the
inferior end of the patella or a position below the same, and
preferably, the garment has a hem line at a position at least 3 cm
to 5 cm below the inferior end of the patella.
[0088] (19) The leg support garment according to the above item
(18), wherein:
[0089] the portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A) having
a relatively great straining force is a stretchable portion
(A.sup.21) having a relatively great straining force that: [0090]
substantially covers the ligamentum collateralle on the medial side
of the knee joint of the human body; [0091] extends approximately
along a vicinity of a periphery of the patella on a medial side
thereof so as to surround the patella through not less than
approximately 1/4 of the periphery of the patella and to cover at
least a part of an inferior region of the patella, and reaches a
side of a superior part of the musculus gastrocnemius on the medial
side; and [0092] on a superior side of the knee joint, extends from
a medial side to a lateral side of the thigh via an anterior side
thereof approximately along the musculus sartorius to a vicinity of
the trochanter major, passing a superior part of the musculus
rectus femoris.
[0093] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portion having a relatively
great straining force covers a portion of an inferior region of the
patella so as to support the patella as if pulling up the same from
the inferior side, thereby improving the stability of the knee
joint. The portion further supports the musculus sartorius and
extends from the medial side to the lateral side of the thigh
obliquely and spirally toward the vicinity of the trochanter major,
thereby increasing the power for pulling the stretchable portion
having a relatively great straining force that supports the
ligamentum collateralle medialis. This makes it possible to provide
a leg support garment having an increased power for supporting the
ligamentum collateralle medialis, and hence, this is preferable.
Furthermore, this provides the support to the musculus sartorius
that complements the function of the ligamentum collateralle
medialis as well, which is also preferable.
[0094] (20) The leg support garment according to the above item
(19), wherein the portion expressed as the stretchable portion
(A.sup.21) having a relatively great straining force further
includes a stretchable portion (A.sup.21-1) having a relatively
great straining force that extends from a vicinity of the
trochanter major to a vicinity of the waist along the tractus
iliotibialis.
[0095] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portion (A.sup.21-1) having a
relatively great straining force is further provided, which extends
from the vicinity of the trochanter major to the waist along the
tractus iliotibialis. Therefore, the function of the item (19) is
enhanced further, as well as the function of intensely pressing the
trochanter major is enhanced also, thereby improving the connection
between the caput ossis femoris and the acetabulum. This is
preferable since further providing a function of enhancing the
stability of the hip joint.
[0096] (21) The leg support garment according to the above item
(19) or (20), wherein the portion expressed as the stretchable
portion (A.sup.21) having a relatively great straining force
further covers at least a part of a superior region of the patella
by extending thereto approximately from a vicinity of the periphery
of the patella on the medial side of the patella.
[0097] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portion (A.sup.21) having a
relatively great straining force also covers at least a part of the
superior region of the patella. Therefore, the knee joint is
supported therefrom as well as from the inferior region of the
patella, thereby allowing more stability of the knee joint to be
achieved, which is preferable.
[0098] (22) The leg support garment according to any one of the
above items (19) to (20), wherein the stretchable part having a
relatively great straining force further includes a stretchable
portion (B.sup.2) having a relatively great straining force that:
[0099] extends from a vicinity of the trochanter major downward
approximately along the tractus iliotibialis to a lateral side of
the patella; [0100] covers at least a part of the inferior region
of the patella extending from the lateral side thereof; and [0101]
reaches a side of a superior part of the musculus gastrocnemius on
the lateral side.
[0102] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portion (B.sup.2) having a
relatively great straining force is further provided. Therefore,
the knee is supported from the both sides, whereby the support of
the knee is reinforced. Furthermore, the function of pressing the
trochanter major is enhanced further, thereby improving the
connection between the caput ossis femoris and the acetabulum.
Therefore, this reinforces a function of enhancing the stability of
the hip joint.
[0103] (23) The leg support garment according to the above item
(18), wherein the portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A)
having a relatively great straining force is a stretchable portion
(A.sup.22) having a relatively great straining force that: [0104]
substantially covers the ligamentum collateralle on the medial side
of the knee joint of the human body; [0105] extends approximately
along a vicinity of a periphery of the patella on a medial side
thereof so as to surround the patella through not less than
approximately 1/4 of the periphery of the patella and to cover at
least a part of an inferior region of the patella, and reaches a
side of a superior part of the musculus gastrocnemius on the medial
side; and [0106] on a superior side of the knee joint, extends
approximately along at least one selected from the musculus group
consisting of the musculus semitendinosus, the musculus
semimembranosus, and the musculus gracilis, and reaches a vicinity
below the crotch or of the sulcus gluteus.
[0107] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portion having a relatively
great straining force covers at least a part of the inferior region
of the patella, thereby supporting the patella as if pulling up the
patella from the inferior side thereof. As a result, the stability
of the knee joint is improved. Furthermore, at least one of the
musculus semitendinosus, the musculus semimembranosus, and the
musculus gracilis that are located on the medial side of the thigh,
thereby increasing the power of pulling the stretchable portion
having a relatively great straining force that supports the
ligamentum collateralle medialis. Consequently, a leg support
garment with an increased power for supporting the ligamentum
collateralle medialis is provided, which is preferable.
Furthermore, at least one of the musculus semitendinosus, the
musculus semimembranosus, and the musculus gracilis that complement
the function of the ligamentum collateralle medialis is supported,
which is preferable.
[0108] (24) The leg support garment according to the above item
(23), wherein the portion expressed as the stretchable portion
(A.sup.22) having a relatively great straining force is a
stretchable portion (A.sup.22-1) having a relatively great
straining force that further covers at least a part of a superior
region of the patella by extending thereto approximately from a
vicinity of the periphery of the patella on the medial side of the
patella.
[0109] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portion (A.sup.22) having a
relatively great straining force also covers at least a part of the
superior region of the patella. Therefore, the knee joint is
supported therefrom as well as from the inferior region of the
patella, thereby allowing more stability of the knee joint to be
achieved, which is preferable.
[0110] (25) The leg support garment according to the above item
(18), wherein the portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A)
having a relatively great straining force is a stretchable portion
(A.sup.23) having a relatively great straining force that: [0111]
substantially covers the ligamentum collateralle on the medial side
of the knee joint of the human body; [0112] extends approximately
along a vicinity of a periphery of the patella on a medial side
thereof so as to surround the patella through not less than
approximately 1/4 of the periphery of the patella and to cover at
least a part of an inferior region of the patella, and reaches a
side of a superior part of the musculus gastrocnemius on the medial
side; and [0113] on a superior side of the knee joint, extends from
a medial side to a lateral side of the thigh via a posterior side
thereof approximately along the musculus semitendinosus and/or the
musculus semimembranosus to a vicinity of the trochanter major,
passing over the musculus biceps femoris obliquely.
[0114] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portion having a relatively
great straining force is present, extending from the medial side to
the lateral side of the thigh via the posterior side thereof
obliquely and spirally toward the vicinity of the trochanter major,
thereby supporting the patella as if pulling up the same from the
inferior side, and improving the stability of the knee joint.
Furthermore, the power of pulling the stretchable portion having a
relatively great straining force that supports the ligamentum
collateralle medialis is increased. This makes it possible to
provide a leg support garment having an increased power for
supporting the ligamentum collateralle medialis, and hence, this is
preferable. Furthermore, this provides the support to the musculus
semitendinosus and/or the musculus semimembranosus that complements
the function of the ligamentum collateralle medialis as well, which
is also preferable.
[0115] (26) The leg support garment according to the above item
(25), wherein the portion expressed as the stretchable portion
(A.sup.23) having a relatively great straining force is a
stretchable portion (A.sup.23-1) having a relatively great
straining force that further covers at least a part of a superior
region of the patella by extending thereto approximately from a
vicinity of the periphery of the patella on the medial side of the
patella.
[0116] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portion (A.sup.33) having a
relatively great straining force also covers at least a part of the
superior region of the patella. Therefore, the knee joint is
supported therefrom as well as from the inferior region of the
patella, thereby allowing more stability of the knee, which is
preferable.
[0117] (27) The leg support garment according to any one of the
above items (23) to (26), wherein the stretchable part having a
relatively great straining force further includes a stretchable
portion (B.sup.2) having a relatively great straining force that:
[0118] extends from a side part of the waist approximately along
the tractus iliotibialis via a vicinity of the trochanter major,
then, approximately along the tractus iliotibialis to a lateral
side of the patella; [0119] covers at least a part of an inferior
region of the patella, or at least a part of inferior and superior
regions of the patella; and [0120] reaches a side of a superior
part of the musculus gastrocnemius on the lateral side.
[0121] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portions (B.sup.2) having
relatively great straining forces are further provided. Therefore,
the knee is supported from both of the sides, whereby the support
of the knee is reinforced. Besides, the function of pressing the
trochanter major is reinforced, thereby further improving the
connection between the caput ossis femoris and the acetabulum.
Therefore, the function of enhancing the stability of the hip joint
is reinforced.
[0122] (28) The leg support garment according to any one of the
above items (19) to (22), wherein the portion expressed as the
stretchable portion (A) having a relatively great straining force
is the stretchable portion (A.sup.21) having a relatively great
straining force, and further includes, on a superior side of a
knee-joint-part of the stretchable portion (A.sup.21) having a
relatively great straining force, a stretchable portion (A.sup.22')
having a relatively great straining force that extends
approximately along at least one selected from the musculus group
consisting of the musculus semitendinosus, the musculus
semimembranosus, and the musculus gracilis to a vicinity of the
crotch or a vicinity of the sulcus gluteus.
[0123] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portions having relatively great
straining forces are present in a spiral form, extending obliquely
from the medial side to the lateral side of the thigh, then, to the
trochanter major. In addition, the stretchable portion (A.sup.22')
having a relatively great straining force that branches therefrom
on the superior side of the knee joint is present, extending
through the thigh approximately along at least one selected from
the musculus group consisting of the musculus semitendinosus, the
musculus semimembranosus, and the musculus gracilis to the vicinity
of the crotch or the sulcus gluteus. The actions of these in
combination increases the power of pulling the stretchable portion
having a relatively great straining force that supports the
ligamentum collateralle medialis. Consequently, a leg support
garment with an increased power for supporting the ligamentum
collateralle medialis is provided, which is preferable.
Furthermore, along with the musculus sartorius that complements the
function of the ligamentum collateralle medialis, at least one
selected from the musculus group consisting of the musculus
semitendinosus, the musculus semimembranosus, and the musculus
gracilis is also supported, which is preferable. Furthermore, the
stretchable portion having a relatively great straining force that
is provided from the vicinity of the trochanter major to the
vicinity of the waist along the tractus iliotibialis provides a
function of pressing the trochanter major, thereby improving the
connection between the caput ossis femoris and the acetabulum.
Therefore, this further provides a function of enhancing the
stability of the hip joint, which is preferable.
[0124] (29) The leg support garment according to the above item
(18), wherein:
[0125] the portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A) having
a relatively great straining force is a stretchable portion
(A.sup.22') having a relatively great straining force that: [0126]
substantially covers the ligamentum collateralle on the medial side
of the knee joint of the human body; [0127] extends approximately
along a vicinity of a periphery of the patella on a medial side
thereof; [0128] surrounds the patella through at least
approximately 1/2 or more of the periphery of the patella so as to
cover at least a part of inferior and superior regions of the
patella, and reaches a side of a superior part of the musculus
gastrocnemius on the medial side; and [0129] on a superior side of
the knee joint, extends approximately along at least one selected
from the musculus group consisting of the musculus semitendinosus,
the musculus semimembranosus, and the musculus gracilis, and
reaches a vicinity below the crotch and a vicinity of the sulcus
gluteus; and,
[0130] the stretchable part having a relatively great straining
force further includes a stretchable portion (B.sup.2') having a
relatively great straining force that: [0131] extends from a side
part of the waist approximately along the tractus iliotibialis via
a vicinity of the trochanter major, then, approximately along the
tractus iliotibialis to a lateral side of the patella; [0132]
surrounds the patella through approximately 1/2 or more of the
periphery of the patella so as to cover at least a part of inferior
and superior regions of the patella; and [0133] reaches a side of a
superior part of the musculus gastrocnemius on the lateral
side.
[0134] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portions having relatively great
straining forces support the knee and leg from both sides in the
femoral region and the lower leg region, without hindering the
action of the musculus vastus lateralis and the musculus vastus
medialis on the anterior side of the thigh. Further, the knee joint
is supported as if wrapped from the surrounding, whereby further
support of the knee joint is provided. Besides, the function of
pressing the trochanter major is reinforced, thereby further
improving the connection between the caput ossis femoris and the
acetabulum. Therefore, the function of enhancing the stability of
the hip joint is reinforced, which is preferable.
[0135] (30) The leg support garment according to the item (29),
wherein:
[0136] the stretchable portion (A.sup.22') having a relatively
great straining force includes two portions projecting toward the
lateral side and covering a part of the inferior region and a part
of the superior region of the patella, respectively;
[0137] the stretchable portion (B.sup.2') having a relatively great
straining force includes two portions projecting toward the medial
side and covering a part of the inferior region and a part of the
superior region of the patella, respectively;
[0138] said two projecting portions of the stretchable portion
(A.sup.22') having a relatively great straining force are arranged
at positions opposite to said two projecting portions of the
stretchable portion (B.sup.2') having a relatively great straining
force, respectively, the positions being slightly shifted to the
inferior side from positions of said two portions of the
stretchable portion (B.sup.2') having a relatively great straining
force, respectively;
[0139] and
[0140] a vertex of the portion of the stretchable portion
(A.sup.22') having a relatively great straining force that covers
the inferior region of the patella is positioned at center of the
patella, or slightly on a lateral side from the center.
[0141] According to the preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the function described in the above item (29) is
achieved. Meanwhile, in the lower leg region, on the medial side,
the muscles are fewer and the tibia is in contact with the surface
of the body, whereas on the lateral side of the lower leg region,
the musculus gastrocnemius is on the lateral side of the fibula.
Therefore, the foregoing embodiment provides the support of the
knee joint as if pulling the medial side thereof having fewer
muscles more intensely from the inferior side, thereby reinforcing
the support of the ligamentum collateralle medialis, which is
preferable.
[0142] (31) The leg support garment according to any one of the
above items (18) to (30), wherein the stretchable part having a
relatively great straining force further includes:
[0143] a stretchable portion (C) having a relatively great
straining force that, on the posterior side of the human body,
covers a region extending from a certain position in a range from
the vertebrae lumbales to the os sacrum, through an approximately
middle part of the musculus gluteus maximus at right and left,
approximately in a direction along muscular fibers of the musculus
gluteus maximus via the top of the bulge of the hip or the vicinity
of the same to at least the vicinity of trochanter major; and
[0144] a stretchable portion (D) having a relatively great
straining force that, on the anterior side of the human body,
covers a region extending from a position on the musculus rectus
abdominis in the hypogastric region, obliquely downward
approximately in a direction along muscular fibers of the musculus
obliquus internus abdominis at right and left to the vicinity of
the trochanter major.
[0145] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portion (C) having a relatively
great straining force is provided, which provides the firm support
of the musculus gluteus maximus in the muscular fiber direction
thereof. Thus, it can play a large role in supporting the rotating
motion of the hips, preventing a decrease in the rotating angle of
the hips, and stabilizing the pelvis in anterior-posterior
direction. For an elderly person, it is effective in preventing
falling down. Furthermore, it can play a large role in extending
the hip joint in anterior-posterior direction when running,
jumping, and climbing up a slope. Besides, the stretchable portion
(D) having a relatively great straining force is provided, which
supports a part of the musculus rectus abdominis and the musculus
obliquus internus abdominis, thereby providing functions of
reducing lumbar lordosis, maintaining good posture, making youthful
figure, and preventing generation of pains such as lumbar
pains.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0146] FIG. 1 is a rear view illustrating an embodiment of a
tights-type leg support garment of the present invention having a
length from a waistline to a superior side of the ankle (long
tights type).
[0147] FIG. 2 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 1.
[0148] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support garment
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 2.
[0149] FIG. 4 is a right-side view of the leg support garment shown
in FIG. 2.
[0150] FIG. 5 is a rear view illustrating another embodiment of a
long-tights-type leg support garment of the present invention.
[0151] FIG. 6 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 5
[0152] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support garment
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 6.
[0153] FIG. 8 is a right-side view of the leg support garment shown
in FIG. 6.
[0154] FIG. 9 is a rear view illustrating still another embodiment
of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention.
[0155] FIG. 10 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 9
[0156] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support garment
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 10.
[0157] FIG. 12 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 10.
[0158] FIG. 13 is a rear view illustrating still another embodiment
of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention.
[0159] FIG. 14 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 13
[0160] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support garment
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 14.
[0161] FIG. 16 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 14.
[0162] FIG. 17 is a rear view illustrating still another embodiment
of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention.
[0163] FIG. 18 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 17
[0164] FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support garment
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 18.
[0165] FIG. 20 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 18.
[0166] FIG. 21 is a rear view illustrating still another embodiment
of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention.
[0167] FIG. 22 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 21
[0168] FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support garment
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 22.
[0169] FIG. 24 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 22.
[0170] FIG. 25 is a rear view illustrating still another embodiment
of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention.
[0171] FIG. 26 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 25
[0172] FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support garment
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 26.
[0173] FIG. 28 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 26.
[0174] FIG. 29 is a rear view illustrating still another embodiment
of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention.
[0175] FIG. 30 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 29
[0176] FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support garment
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 30.
[0177] FIG. 32 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 30.
[0178] FIG. 33 is a rear view illustrating still another embodiment
of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention.
[0179] FIG. 34 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 33
[0180] FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support garment
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 34.
[0181] FIG. 36 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 34.
[0182] FIG. 37 is a rear view illustrating still another embodiment
of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention.
[0183] FIG. 38 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 37
[0184] FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support garment
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 38.
[0185] FIG. 40 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 38.
[0186] FIG. 41 is a rear view illustrating still another embodiment
of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention.
[0187] FIG. 42 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 41
[0188] FIG. 43 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support garment
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 42.
[0189] FIG. 44 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 42.
[0190] FIG. 45 is a rear view illustrating still another embodiment
of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention.
[0191] FIG. 46 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 45
[0192] FIG. 47 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support garment
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 46.
[0193] FIG. 48 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 46.
[0194] FIG. 49 is a rear view illustrating still another embodiment
of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention.
[0195] FIG. 50 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 49
[0196] FIG. 51 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support garment
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 50.
[0197] FIG. 52 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 50.
[0198] FIG. 53 is a rear view illustrating still another embodiment
of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention.
[0199] FIG. 54 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 53
[0200] FIG. 55 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support garment
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 54.
[0201] FIG. 56 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 54.
[0202] FIG. 57 is a rear view illustrating still another embodiment
of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention.
[0203] FIG. 58 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 57
[0204] FIG. 59 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support garment
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 58.
[0205] FIG. 60 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 58.
[0206] FIG. 61 is a rear view illustrating still another embodiment
of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention.
[0207] FIG. 62 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 61
[0208] FIG. 63 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support garment
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 62.
[0209] FIG. 64 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 62.
[0210] FIG. 65 is a rear view illustrating still another embodiment
of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention.
[0211] FIG. 66 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 65
[0212] FIG. 67 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support garment
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 66.
[0213] FIG. 68 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 66.
[0214] FIG. 69 is a rear view illustrating still another embodiment
of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention.
[0215] FIG. 70 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 69
[0216] FIG. 71 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support garment
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 70.
[0217] FIG. 72 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 70.
[0218] FIG. 73 is a rear view illustrating still another embodiment
of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention.
[0219] FIG. 74 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 73
[0220] FIG. 75 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support garment
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 74.
[0221] FIG. 76 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 74.
[0222] FIG. 77 is a rear view illustrating still another embodiment
of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention.
[0223] FIG. 78 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 77
[0224] FIG. 79 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support garment
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 78.
[0225] FIG. 80 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 78.
[0226] FIG. 81 is a rear view illustrating still another embodiment
of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention.
[0227] FIG. 82 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 81
[0228] FIG. 83 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support garment
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 82.
[0229] FIG. 84 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 82.
[0230] FIG. 85 is a rear view illustrating still another embodiment
of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention.
[0231] FIG. 86 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 85
[0232] FIG. 87 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support garment
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 86.
[0233] FIG. 88 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 86.
[0234] FIG. 89 is a rear view illustrating an embodiment of a
semi-long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention.
[0235] FIG. 90 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 89.
[0236] FIG. 91 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support garment
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 90.
[0237] FIG. 92 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 90.
[0238] FIG. 93 is a rear view illustrating another embodiment of a
semi-long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention.
[0239] FIG. 94 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 93.
[0240] FIG. 95 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support garment
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 94.
[0241] FIG. 96 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 94.
[0242] FIG. 97 is a rear view illustrating still another embodiment
of a semi-long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention.
[0243] FIG. 98 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 97.
[0244] FIG. 99 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support garment
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 98.
[0245] FIG. 100 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 98.
[0246] FIG. 101 is a rear view illustrating still another
embodiment of a semi-long-tights-type leg support garment of the
present invention.
[0247] FIG. 102 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 101.
[0248] FIG. 103 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support
garment taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 102.
[0249] FIG. 104 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 102.
[0250] FIG. 105 is a rear view illustrating still another
embodiment of a semi-long-tights-type leg support garment of the
present invention.
[0251] FIG. 106 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 105.
[0252] FIG. 107 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support
garment taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 106.
[0253] FIG. 108 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 106.
[0254] FIG. 109 is a rear view illustrating still another
embodiment of a semi-long-tights-type leg support garment of the
present invention.
[0255] FIG. 110 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 109.
[0256] FIG. 111 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support
garment taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 110.
[0257] FIG. 112 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 110.
[0258] FIG. 113 is a rear view illustrating still another
embodiment of a semi-long-tights-type leg support garment of the
present invention.
[0259] FIG. 114 is a front view of the leg support garment shown in
FIG. 113.
[0260] FIG. 115 is a cross-sectional view of the leg support
garment taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 114.
[0261] FIG. 116 is a right-side view of the leg support garment
shown in FIG. 114.
[0262] FIG. 117 is a view showing a position of a sewing line for a
main body of a garment according to an embodiment; the view is
obtained by drawing, on FIG. 7, a sewing line for a main body of a
garment whose leg part is formed in a cylindrical form.
[0263] FIG. 118 is a view showing a position of a sewing line for a
main body of a garment according to another embodiment; the view is
obtained by drawing, on FIG. 8, a sewing line for a main body of a
garment whose leg part is formed in a cylindrical form.
[0264] FIG. 119 is a view showing a position of a sewing line for a
main body of a garment according to still another embodiment; the
view is obtained by drawing, on FIG. 80, a sewing line for a main
body of a garment whose leg part is formed in a cylindrical
form.
[0265] FIG. 120 is a cross-sectional conceptual process view
illustrating the cut-boss knitting technique in the circular
knitting.
[0266] FIG. 121 is a cross-sectional conceptual process view
illustrating the cut-boss knitting technique in the circular
knitting.
[0267] FIG. 122 is a cross-sectional conceptual view of a
circular-knitting fabric obtained by the cut-boss knitting
technique.
[0268] FIG. 123 is a view illustrating, in its right half and left
half, a skeleton system and a muscle system of a leg part of the
human body viewed from the anterior side, respectively.
[0269] FIG. 124 is a view illustrating, in its left half and right
half, a skeleton system and a muscle system of a leg part of the
human body viewed from the posterior side, respectively.
[0270] FIG. 125 is a view illustrating a muscle system, partially a
skeleton system, of the right-side leg of the human body viewed
from the lateral side.
[0271] FIG. 126 is a view illustrating a muscle system, partially a
skeleton system, of the right-side leg of the human body viewed
from the medial side.
[0272] FIG. 127 is a partial rear view of the skeleton and
ligaments in the vicinity of the knee joint viewed from the
posterior side.
[0273] FIG. 128 is a partial side view of the skeleton and
ligaments in the vicinity of the knee joint viewed from the medial
side.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0274] The following description will depict specific embodiments
of the present invention, while referring to the drawings. In the
description of the present invention, a position in a leg support
garment of the present invention where a stretchable portion having
a relatively great straining force is provided is occasionally
explained using names of parts of the human body, and names of
muscles and bones. For easier understanding, first of all, the
following description will explain positions of bones and muscles
of the human body used in descriptions of the positions where
stretchable portions having great straining forces are placed and
the like.
[0275] In FIG. 123, a right half thereof is a view illustrating a
skeleton system of a leg part of the human body viewed from the
anterior side, and a left half thereof is a view illustrating a
muscle system of a leg part of the human body viewed from the
anterior side. In FIG. 124, a left half thereof is a view
illustrating a skeleton system of a leg part of the human body
viewed from the posterior side, and a right half thereof is a view
illustrating a muscle system of a leg part of the human body viewed
from the posterior side, respectively. FIG. 125 is a view
illustrating a muscle system, partially a skeleton system, of the
right-side leg of the human body viewed from the lateral side. FIG.
126 is a view illustrating a muscle system, partially a skeleton
system, of the right-side leg of the human body viewed from the
medial side. It should be noted that descriptions of muscles and
bones that are unnecessary for describing the present invention are
omitted in FIGS. 123 to 126.
[0276] In FIGS. 123 to 126, 701 denotes the musculus gluteus
medius; 702 denotes the musculus gluteus maximus; 703 denotes the
trochanter major; 704 denotes the musculus vastus lateralis; 705
denotes the tractus iliotibialis; 706 denotes the musculus adductor
magnus; 707 denotes the musculus semimembranosus; 708 denotes the
musculus semitendinosus; 709 denotes the musculus bicipitis
femoris; 710 denotes the musculus gracilis; 711 denotes the
musculus sartorius; 712 denotes the musculus vastus medialis; 713
denotes the condylus lateralis of the os femoris; 714 denotes the
condylus medialis of the os femoris; 715 denotes the patella part
(the patella); 716 denotes the musculus tibialis anterior; 717
denotes the tibia; 718 denotes the musculus soleus (718a denotes
the musculus soleus on the lateral side, and 718b denotes the
musculus soleus on the medial side); 719 denotes the musculus
gastrocnemius (719a denotes the musculus gastrocnemius on the
lateral side, and 719b denotes the musculus gastrocnemius on the
medial side); 720 denotes the musculus peroneus longus; 721 denotes
the lateral malleolus (the malleolus lateralis); 722 denotes the
medial malleolus (the malleolus medialis); 723 denotes the musculus
rectus femoris; 724 denotes the os femoris; 725 denotes the fibula;
726 denotes the caput fibulae; 727 denotes the caput ossis femoris;
728 denotes the acetabulum; and 729 denotes the os sacrum. It
should be noted that the vertebrae lumbales include the first
through fifth lumber vertebras, though not shown, which are located
on the superior side of the os sacrum 729. Though not shown, the
musculus rectus abdominis is located at the center of the abdomen
region, vertically from a superior part of the abdomen region on
the inferior side of the thorax to the hypogastric region. Though
not shown, the musculus obliquus externus abdominis is located at
each of the right and left sides of the musculus rectus abdominis,
and its muscular fibers are directed in an obliquely upward
direction toward each side. Further, though not shown, the musculus
obliquus internus abdominis is located substantially on the dorsal
side of the musculus rectus abdominis and each musculus obliquus
externus abdominis, and its muscular fibers are directed
approximately in an obliquely downward direction toward each of the
right and left sides from the center front line.
[0277] For descriptions of the ligamentum collateralle medialis and
the like, a part of the skeleton and the ligaments in the vicinity
of the knee joint is shown in FIGS. 127 and 128.
[0278] FIG. 127 is a rear view of the knee joint viewed from the
dorsal side, and an arrow A indicates the medial side of the body
while an arrow B indicates the lateral side of the body. FIG. 128
is a side view of the knee joint viewed from the medial side (the
arrow A side), and an arrow D indicates the anterior side of the
body while an arrow E indicates the posterior side of the body.
FIG. 128 illustrates a state in which the knee is bent. 800 denotes
the ligamentum collateralle medialis. 801 denotes the ligamentum
collateralle lateralis. 803 denotes the condylus medialis of the
tibia. 804 denotes the condylus lateralis of the fibula. 805
denotes the meniscus medialis. 806 denotes the meniscus lateralis.
807 denotes the ligamentum cruciatus posterior. 709' denotes a part
of the tendon of the musculus biceps femoris, and the muscle on the
superior side of the same is not shown.
[0279] As explicit from these drawings, the ligamentum collateralle
medialis is located at a position slightly posterior to the medial
side of the knee joint, extending between the vicinity of the
inferior end of the os femoris and the vicinity of the superior end
of the tibia.
[0280] It should be noted that the positions, shapes, and sizes of
the bones and muscles vary slightly with the individual body, and
the foregoing muscle and skeleton charts illustrate a mere typical
example.
[0281] The directions of the muscular fibers are lengthwise
directions of thin lines drawn in the muscles shown in the
drawings, and these directions of the muscular fibers are
directions in which the muscles contract. It should be noted that
that the positions, shapes, and sizes of the bones and muscles vary
slightly with the individual body, and the foregoing muscle and
skeleton charts illustrate a mere typical example.
[0282] Since, as described above, the positions, shapes, and sizes
of the bones and muscles vary slightly with the individual body and
the body itself varies in size, there is no harm even if the
positions on a garment of stretchable portions having relatively
great straining forces and those having relatively small straining
forces are shifted slightly from the predetermined specified
positions, respectively, as long as they are in ranges such that
the objects of the present invention can be achieved.
[0283] The following description will explain specific embodiments
of a leg support garment of the present invention while referring
to drawings, to make the present invention easily understood.
However, the leg support garment of the present invention is not
limited to those shown in the drawings.
[0284] Furthermore, in the following description, the positions of
stretchable portions having relatively great straining forces and
the like in the leg support garment of the present invention are
described using names of muscles, ligaments, tendons, and bones.
This intends to describe a position of a stretchable portion having
a relatively great straining force or the like in a simpler manner,
using names of muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones, etc. of the
body, so as to indicate that the portion is to pass over, or in the
vicinity of, a portion where the muscles, bones, and the like are
located. In the garment other than the stretchable portions having
relatively great straining forces, only specific small portions
such as seam lines and others are made of portions having
particularly small stretchability or no stretchability, and most
portions of the garment are made of fabrics having stretchability
and straining forces relatively smaller than those of the
stretchable portions having relatively great straining forces. The
matters described above apply to the other embodiments described
below.
[0285] In the present invention, "the stretchable portion having a
relatively great straining force substantially covers the
ligamentum collateralle on the medial side of the knee joint" means
that the portion may not necessarily cover the entirety of the
ligamentum collateralle medialis, but may cover a majority of the
same. More specifically, it means that, on the superior side of the
knee joint, substantially the entirety of the ligamentum
collateralle medialis is covered with the stretchable portion
having a relatively great straining force, while on the inferior
side of the knee joint, only a part of the ligamentum collateralle
medialis to a position corresponding to an inferior end of the
patella is covered with the stretchable portion having a relatively
great straining force.
[0286] Furthermore, in the drawings illustrating the embodiments of
the garment of the present invention, if FIGS. 1 to 4 are taken as
an example, 1 schematically denotes a position where the patella is
located; it does not indicate a size of the patella. It also is
used to indicate a central position of the knee joint. It should be
noted that in a rear view of the garment according to the
embodiment of the present invention also, the marking of the
position of the patella facilitates the understanding of the
garment of the present invention in the descriptions with reference
to the drawings. Therefore, the position of the patella is
indicated with a circle of a broken line. In a cross-sectional view
taken on an A-A' line and a side view also, the position of the
patella is indicated with a half-circle.
[0287] FIG. 1 is a rear view of an embodiment of a tights-type leg
support garment having a length capable of covering a range from a
waistline to the superior side of the ankle according to the
present invention (a long-type garment of this kind is hereinafter
referred to as "long-tights-type garment" also). FIG. 2 is a front
view of the same. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the same
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is a side view of the
garment obtained when seen from the right side viewed in the front
view (in this case, FIG. 2). Such a side view obtained when seen
from the right side viewed in the front view is hereinafter
referred to as the right-side view simply.
[0288] The long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 includes a stretchable part having
a relatively great straining force, which includes a portion 2
expressed as the stretchable portion (A) having a relatively great
straining force that is composed of a stretchable portion (A1) 121
having a relatively great straining force. The stretchable portion
(A1) 121 having a relatively great straining force substantially
covers the ligamentum collateralle 3 on the medial side of the knee
joint of the human body, extends approximately along the vicinity
of a periphery of the patella 1 on the medial side thereof so as to
surround the patella 1 through not less than approximately 1/4
(here, approximately 1.7/4) of the periphery of the patella 1 and
to cover a part of an inferior region 4 of the patella 1, reaches a
side 5 of the musculus gastrocnemius and the musculus soleus on the
medial side, and on the superior side of the knee joint, extends
from the medial side to the lateral side of the thigh via the
anterior side thereof approximately along the musculus sartorius 6
toward the vicinity of the trochanter major 8, passing a superior
part 7 of the musculus rectus femoris.
[0289] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portion 121 having a relatively
great straining force covers a portion 4 of a part of an inferior
region of the patella 1 so as to support the patella 1 as if
pulling up the same from the inferior side, thereby improving the
stability of the knee joint. The portion 121 further supports the
musculus sartorius 6 and extends from the medial side to the
lateral side of the thigh obliquely and spirally toward the
vicinity of the trochanter major 8, thereby increasing the power
for pulling the stretchable portion having a relatively great
straining force that supports the ligamentum collateralle medialis
3. This makes it possible to provide a leg support garment having
an increased power for supporting the ligamentum collateralle
medialis 3, and hence, this is preferable. Furthermore, this
provides the support to the musculus sartorius 6 that complements
the function of the ligamentum collateralle medialis 3 as well,
which is also preferable.
[0290] FIGS. 5 to 8 are views illustrating another embodiment of a
long-tights-type leg support garment of the present invention. FIG.
5 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 6 is a front view of the same,
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the same taken along an A-A'
line in FIG. 6, and FIG. 8 is a right-side view of the same.
[0291] The present embodiment differs from the embodiment shown in
FIGS. 1 to 4 in the aspect that the portion 121 in the embodiment
shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, which is expressed as the stretchable
portion (A1) having a relatively great straining force, further
includes a stretchable portion (A1-1) 122 having a relatively great
straining force that extends from the vicinity of the trochanter
major 8 to the vicinity of the waist 10 along the tractus
iliotibialis 9. Therefore, the same portions as those in the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 are designated with the same
reference numerals unless otherwise specified, and descriptions of
the same are omitted. In the descriptions below as well, as to the
embodiments shown in the drawings, the same portions as those in
the other embodiments previously shown in the drawings are
designated with the same reference numerals, and descriptions of
the same are omitted.
[0292] Since the foregoing preferred embodiment of the present
invention further includes the stretchable portion (A1-1) 122
having a relatively great straining force, which extends from the
vicinity of the trochanter major 8 to the waist 10 along the
tractus iliotibialis 9, the same function as that explained with
reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 is enhanced further, as well as the
function of intensely pressing the trochanter major 8 is enhanced
also, thereby improving the connection between the caput ossis
femoris and the acetabulum. This is preferable since further
providing a function of enhancing the stability of the hip
joint.
[0293] Next, FIGS. 9 to 12 are views illustrating still another
embodiment of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention. FIG. 9 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 10 is a front
view of the same, FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the same
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 10, and FIG. 12 is a right-side
view of the same.
[0294] The garment of the present embodiment is a garment as a
modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 8; namely, the
portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A1) 121 having a
relatively great straining force further covers at least a part of
a superior region 11 of the patella 1 by extending thereto
approximately from a peripheral region of the patella 1 on the
medial side of the patella 1.
[0295] With the foregoing preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the same function as that explained with reference to
FIGS. 5 to 8 is exhibited. Besides, since the stretchable portion
(A1) 121 having a relatively great straining force also covers at
least a part of the superior region 11 of the patella 1, the knee
joint is supported therefrom as well as from the inferior region 4
of the patella 1. Therefore, it allows more stability of the knee
joint to be achieved, which is preferable.
[0296] Next, FIGS. 13 to 16 are views illustrating still another
embodiment of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention. FIG. 13 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 14 is a front
view of the same, FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the same
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 14, and FIG. 16 is a right-side
view of the same.
[0297] The garment of the present embodiment is a garment as a
modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4; namely, the
portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A1) 121 having a
relatively great straining force further includes a stretchable
portion (A1-2) 123 having a relatively great straining force. The
stretchable portion (A1-2) 123 having a relatively great straining
force extends obliquely upward from a side of the musculus
gastrocnemius on the medial side through the vicinity of a
periphery 12 of the patella on the inferior side of the patella to
the lateral side 13 of the patella 1.
[0298] With the foregoing preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the same function as that explained with reference to
FIGS. 1 to 4 is exhibited. Besides, the periphery of the patella 1
is covered from a side of the musculus gastrocnemius on the medial
side, i.e., from the inferior medial side, and a power of pulling
up the same in an obliquely upward direction is exerted thereto.
Therefore, this provides more stability of the knee joint, and
hence, the present embodiment is preferable.
[0299] Next, FIGS. 17 to 20 are views illustrating still another
embodiment of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention. FIG. 17 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 18 is a front
view of the same, FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view of the same
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 18, and FIG. 20 is a right-side
view of the same.
[0300] The garment of the present embodiment is a garment as a
modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 8; namely, to
the garment shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, a stretchable portion (B) having
a relatively great straining force as described below is added.
Namely, the garment further includes a stretchable portion (B) 124
having a relatively great straining force. The stretchable 143 (B)
124 having a relatively great straining force extends from a
vicinity of the trochanter major 8 downward approximately along the
tractus iliotibialis 9 to the lateral side of the patella 1, covers
a part of an inferior region 14 of the patella extending from the
lateral side thereof, and passes a side 15 of the musculus
gastrocnemius and the musculus soleus on the lateral side, thereby
reaching the superior side 16 of the malleolus lateralis. The upper
stretchable portion (A1-1) 122 having a relatively greater
straining force has a slightly greater width as compared with that
shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, at a position where the stretchable portion
(B) 124 having a relatively great straining force and the
stretchable portion (A1) 121 having a relatively great straining
force are united therewith.
[0301] With the foregoing preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the same function as that explained with reference to
FIGS. 5 to 8 is exhibited. Besides, since the stretchable portion
(B) 124 having a relatively great straining force is further
provided, the knee and leg are supported from the both sides at the
femoral region and the lower leg region, and further, the musculus
gastrocnemius and the musculus soleus are supported from their
sides without hindering their actions. Furthermore, the function of
pressing the trochanter major 8 is enhanced further, thereby
improving the connection between the caput ossis femoris and the
acetabulum. Therefore, this reinforces a function of enhancing the
stability of the hip joint.
[0302] Next, FIGS. 21 to 24 are views illustrating still another
embodiment of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention. FIG. 21 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 22 is a front
view of the same, FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view of the same
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 22, and FIG. 24 is a right-side
view of the same.
[0303] The garment of the present embodiment is a leg support
garment in which the portion expressed as the stretchable portion
(A) having a relatively great straining force is composed of a
stretchable portion (A2) 130 having a relatively great straining
force. The stretchable portion (A2) 130 having a relatively great
straining force substantially covers the ligamentum collateralle 3
on the medial side of the knee joint of the human body, and extends
approximately along a vicinity of a periphery of the patella 1 on
the medial side thereof so as to surround the patella 1 through not
less than approximately 1/4 of the periphery of the patella 1 and
to cover a part of an inferior region 4 of the patella 1. Then, it
reaches a side 5 of the musculus gastrocnemius and the musculus
soleus on the medial side. Furthermore, on the superior side of the
knee joint, the stretchable portion (A2) having a relatively great
straining force extends through the thigh approximately along the
musculus semitendinosus 21 to the vicinity of the sulcus gluteus
22.
[0304] The foregoing preferred embodiment allows the stretchable
portion 130 having a relatively great straining force to cover a
part of the inferior region 4 of the patella 1, thereby support the
patella 1 as if pulling up the patella 1 from the inferior side
thereof As a result, the stability of the knee joint is improved.
Furthermore, the embodiment allows the portion 130 to support the
musculus semitendinosus 21 that is located on the medial side of
the thigh, thereby increasing the power of pulling the stretchable
portion having a relatively great straining force that supports the
ligamentum collateralle medialis 3. Consequently, a leg support
garment with an increased power for supporting the ligamentum
collateralle medialis 3 is provided, which is preferable.
Furthermore, the musculus semitendinosus that complements the
function of the ligamentum collateralle medialis is supported,
which is also preferable.
[0305] Next, FIGS. 25 to 28 are views illustrating still another
embodiment of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention. FIG. 25 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 26 is a front
view of the same, FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of the same
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 26, and FIG. 28 is a right-side
view of the same.
[0306] The garment of the present embodiment is a leg support
garment in which the portion expressed as the stretchable portion
(A) having a relatively great straining force is composed of a
stretchable portion (A2) 131 having a relatively great straining
force. The stretchable portion (A2) 131 having a relatively great
straining force substantially covers the ligamentum collateralle 3
on the medial side of the knee joint of the human body, and extends
approximately along a vicinity of a periphery of the patella 1 on
the medial side thereof so as to surround the patella 1 through not
less than approximately 1/4 of the periphery of the patella 1 and
to cover a part of an inferior region 4 of the patella 1. Then, it
reaches a side 5 of the musculus gastrocnemius and the musculus
soleus on the medial side. Furthermore, on the superior side of the
knee joint, the portion (A2) 131 passes through the thigh
approximately along the musculus gracilis 23, and reaches the
vicinity of the crotch 24.
[0307] The foregoing preferred embodiment allows the stretchable
portion 131 having a relatively great straining force to cover a
part of the inferior region 4 of the patella 1, thereby support the
patella 1 as if pulling up the patella 1 from the inferior side
thereof. As a result, the stability of the knee joint is improved.
Furthermore, the embodiment allows the portion 131 to support the
musculus gracilis 23 that is located on the medial side of the
thigh, thereby increasing the power of pulling the stretchable
portion having a relatively great straining force that supports the
ligamentum collateralle medialis 3. Consequently, a leg support
garment with an increased power for supporting the ligamentum
collateralle medialis 3 is provided, which is preferable.
Furthermore, the musculus gracilis that complements the function of
the ligamentum collateralle medialis is supported, which is
preferable.
[0308] Next, FIGS. 29 to 32 are views illustrating still another
embodiment of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention. FIG. 29 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 30 is a front
view of the same, FIG. 31 is a cross-sectional view of the same
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 30, and FIG. 32 is a right-side
view of the same.
[0309] The garment of the present embodiment is a leg support
garment in which the portion expressed as the stretchable portion
(A) having a relatively great straining force is composed of the
stretchable portion (A2) 132 having a relatively great straining
force. The stretchable portion (A2) 132 substantially covers the
ligamentum collateralle 3 on the medial side of the knee joint of
the human body, and extends approximately along the vicinity of a
periphery of the patella 1 on the medial side thereof so as to
surround the patella 1 through not less than approximately 1/4 of
the periphery of the patella 1 and to cover a part of an inferior
region 4 of the patella 1. Then, it reaches a side 5 of the
musculus gastrocnemius and the musculus soleus on the medial side.
Further, on the superior side of the knee joint, the portion (A2)
132 passes through the thigh approximately along both 25 of the
musculus semitendinosus and the musculus gracilis, and reaches the
vicinity of the crotch 24 and the vicinity of the sulcus glutenus
22.
[0310] The foregoing preferred embodiment allows the stretchable
portion 132 having a relatively great straining force to cover a
part of the inferior region 4 of the patella 1, thereby support the
patella 1 as if pulling up the patella 1 from the inferior side
thereof As a result, the stability of the knee joint is improved.
Furthermore, the embodiment allows the portion 132 to support both
25 of the musculus semitendinosus and the musculus gracilis that
are located on the medial side of the thigh, thereby increasing the
power of pulling the stretchable portion having a relatively great
straining force that supports the ligamentum collateralle medialis
3. Consequently, a leg support garment with an increased power for
supporting the ligamentum collateralle medialis 3 is provided,
which is preferable. Furthermore, both of the musculus
semitendinosus and the musculus gracilis that complement the
function of the ligamentum collateralle medialis are supported,
which is also preferable.
[0311] Next, FIGS. 33 to 36 are views illustrating still another
embodiment of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention. FIG. 33 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 34 is a front
view of the same, FIG. 35 is a cross-sectional view of the same
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 34, and FIG. 36 is a right-side
view of the same.
[0312] The garment of the present embodiment is a leg support
garment in which the portion expressed as the stretchable portion
(A) having a relatively great straining force is composed of a
stretchable portion (A3) 133 having a relatively great straining
force. The stretchable portion (A3) 133 having a relatively great
straining force substantially covers the ligamentum collateralle 3
on the medial side of the knee joint of the human body, and extends
approximately along a vicinity of a periphery of the patella 1 on
the medial side thereof so as to surround the patella through not
less than approximately 1/4 of the periphery of the patella 1 and
to cover a part of an inferior region 4 of the patella 1. Then, it
reaches a side 5 of the musculus gastrocnemius and the musculus
soleus on the medial side. Further, on the superior side of the
knee joint, the portion (A3) 133 extends upward from the medial
side to the lateral side of the thigh via the posterior side
thereof approximately along the musculus semitendinosus and the
musculus semimembranosus 26 to a vicinity of the trochanter major
8, passing over the musculus biceps femoris 27 obliquely.
[0313] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment, the
stretchable portion (A3) 133 having a relatively great straining
force is provided, which extends from the side 5 of the musculus
gastrocnemius and the musculus soleus on the medial side upwards,
then passes the thigh obliquely in a spiral form from the medial
side to the lateral side thereof via the posterior side thereof,
and reaches the vicinity of the trochanter major 8. Therefore, it
is possible to support the patella 1 as if pulling up the same from
the inferior side thereof, thereby improving the stability of the
knee joint. Furthermore, it is also possible to increase the power
of pulling the stretchable portion having a relatively great
straining force that supports the ligamentum collateralle medialis
3. Consequently, a leg support garment with an increased power for
supporting the ligamentum collateralle medialis 3 is provided,
which is preferable. Furthermore, both of the musculus
semitendinosus and the musculus semimembranosus that complement the
function of the ligamentum collateralle medialis are supported,
which is preferable.
[0314] Next, FIGS. 37 to 40 are views illustrating still another
embodiment of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention. FIG. 37 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 38 is a front
view of the same, FIG. 39 is a cross-sectional view of the same
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 38, and FIG. 40 is a right-side
view of the same.
[0315] The garment of the present embodiment has characteristics of
both the garment shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 and that of FIGS. 21 to 24.
More specifically, the portion expressed as the stretchable portion
(A) having a relatively great straining force includes a
stretchable portion (A) 121 having a relatively great straining
force and a stretchable portion (A1-1) 122 having a relatively
great straining force, as well as a stretchable portion (A2') 140
having a relatively great straining force. The stretchable portion
(A) 121 having a relatively great straining force substantially
covers the ligamentum collateralle 3 on the medial side of the knee
joint of the human body, extends approximately along the vicinity
of a periphery of the patella 1 on the medial side thereof so as to
surround the patella 1 through not less than approximately 1/4
(here, approximately 1.7/4) of the periphery of the patella 1 and
to cover a part of an inferior region 4 of the patella 1, reaches a
side 5 of the musculus gastrocnemius and the musculus soleus on the
medial side, and on the superior side of the knee joint, extends
from the medial side to the lateral side of the thigh via the
anterior side thereof approximately along the musculus sartorius 6
to a superior region 7 of the musculus rectus femoris and the
vicinity of the trochanter major 8 [(A1) 122]. The stretchable
portion (A1-1) 122 having a relatively great straining force
extends from the vicinity of the trochanter major 8 along the
tractus iliotibialis 9 to the vicinity of the waist 10. On the
superior side of the knee-joint-part of the stretchable portion (A)
121 having a relatively great straining force, the stretchable
portion (A2') 140 having a relatively great straining force is also
arranged extending from a divergence point 31 through the thigh
approximately along the musculus semitendinosus 21 to the vicinity
of the sulcus gluteus 22.
[0316] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portions (A1) 121 and (A1-1) 122
having relatively great straining forces are present in a spiral
form, extending obliquely from the medial side to the lateral side
of the thigh, then, over the trochanter major 8 to the vicinity of
the waist 10. In addition, the stretchable portion (A2') 140 having
a relatively great straining force that branches therefrom on the
superior side of the knee joint is present also, extending through
the thigh approximately along the musculus semitendinosus 21 to the
vicinity of the sulcus gluteus 22. The actions of these in
combination further increase the power of pulling the stretchable
portion having a relatively great straining force that supports the
ligamentum collateralle medialis 3. Consequently, a leg support
garment with an increased power for supporting the ligamentum
collateralle medialis 3 is provided, which is preferable.
Furthermore, not only the musculus sartorius 6 but also the
musculus semitendinosus 21 that complement the function of the
ligamentum collateralle medialis 3 are supported, which is
preferable. Furthermore, the stretchable portion (A1-1) 122 having
a relatively great straining force that is provided from the
vicinity of the trochanter major 8 to the vicinity of the waist 10
along the tractus iliotibialis 9 provides a function of pressing
the trochanter major, thereby improving the connection between the
caput ossis femoris and the acetabulum. Therefore, this further
provides a function of enhancing the stability of the hip joint,
which is preferable.
[0317] Next, FIGS. 41 to 44 are views illustrating still another
embodiment of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention. FIG. 41 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 42 is a front
view of the same, FIG. 43 is a cross-sectional view of the same
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 42, and FIG. 44 is a right-side
view of the same.
[0318] The garment of the present embodiment has characteristics of
both the garment shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 and that of FIGS. 25 to 28.
More specifically, a portion expressed as the stretchable portion
(A) having a relatively great straining force includes a
stretchable portion (A) 121 having a relatively great straining
force and a stretchable portion (A1-1) 122 having a relatively
great straining force, as well as a stretchable portion (A2') 141
having a relatively great straining force. The stretchable portion
(A) 121 having a relatively great straining force substantially
covers the ligamentum collateralle 3 on the medial side of the knee
joint of the human body, extends approximately along the vicinity
of a periphery of the patella 1 on the medial side thereof so as to
surround the patella 1 through not less than approximately 1/4
(here, approximately 1.7/4) of the periphery of the patella 1 and
to cover a part of an inferior region 4 of the patella 1, reaches a
side 5 of the musculus gastrocnemius and the musculus soleus on the
medial side, and on the superior side of the knee joint, extends
from the medial side to the lateral side of the thigh via the
anterior side thereof approximately along the musculus sartorius 6
to a superior region 7 of the musculus rectus femoris and the
vicinity of the trochanter major 8. The stretchable portion (A1-1)
122 having a relatively great straining force extends from the
vicinity of the trochanter major 8 along the tractus iliotibialis 9
to the vicinity of the waist 10. On the superior side of the
knee-joint-part of the stretchable portion (A) 121 having a
relatively great straining force, the stretchable portion (A2') 141
having a relatively great straining force is also arranged
extending from a divergence point 31 through the thigh
approximately along the musculus gracilis 23 to the vicinity of the
crotch 24.
[0319] According to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, the stretchable portions (A1) 121 and (A1-1) 122
having relatively great straining forces are present in a spiral
form, extending obliquely from the medial side to the lateral side
of the thigh, then, over the trochanter major 8 to the vicinity of
the waist 10. In addition, the stretchable portion (A2') 141 having
a relatively great straining force that branches therefrom on the
superior side of the knee joint is present, extending through the
thigh approximately along the musculus gracilis 23 to the vicinity
of the crotch 24. The actions of these in combination increases the
power of pulling the stretchable portion having a relatively great
straining force that supports the ligamentum collateralle medialis
3. Consequently, a leg support garment with an increased power for
supporting the ligamentum collateralle medialis 3 is provided,
which is preferable. Furthermore, not only the musculus sartorius 6
but also the musculus gracilis 23 that complement the function of
the ligamentum collateralle medialis 3 are also supported, which is
preferable. Furthermore, the stretchable portion (A1-1) 122 having
a relatively great straining force that is provided from the
vicinity of the trochanter major 8 to the vicinity of the waist 10
along the tractus iliotibialis 9 provides a function of pressing
the trochanter major, thereby improving the connection between the
caput ossis femoris and the acetabulum. Therefore, this further
provides a function of enhancing the stability of the hip joint,
which is preferable.
[0320] Next, FIGS. 45 to 48 are views illustrating still another
embodiment of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention. FIG. 45 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 46 is a front
view of the same, FIG. 47 is a cross-sectional view of the same
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 46, and FIG. 48 is a right-side
view of the same.
[0321] The garment of the present embodiment is a leg support
garment in which the portion expressed as the stretchable portion
(A) having a relatively great straining force is a stretchable
portion (A2') 142 having a relatively great straining force, and
the stretchable part having a relatively great straining force
further includes a stretchable portion (B') 143 having a relatively
great straining force. The stretchable portion (A2') 142 having a
relatively great straining force substantially covers the
ligamentum collateralle 3 on the medial side of the knee joint of
the human body, extends approximately along a vicinity of a
periphery of the patella 1 on the medial side thereof so as to
surround the patella 1 through at least more than approximately 1/2
of the periphery of the patella 1 and to cover a part of inferior
and superior regions 4 and 11 of the patella, and reaches a side 5
of the musculus gastrocnemius and the musculus soleus on the medial
side. Further, on the superior side of the knee joint, in the
femoral region, the stretchable portion (A2') 142 having a
relatively great straining force extends approximately along the
musculus semitendinosus and the musculus gracilis, and reaches the
vicinity below the crotch 24 and a vicinity of the sulcus gluteus
22. The stretchable portion (B') 143 having a relatively great
straining force extends from a side part of the waist 10
approximately along the tractus iliotibialis 9 via a vicinity of
the trochanter major 8, then, approximately along the tractus
iliotibialis 9 to the lateral side of the patella 1, surrounds the
patella 1 through approximately 1/2 or more of the periphery of the
patella 1 so as to cover a part of an inferior region 32 and a
superior region 33 of the patella 1, and passes a side 15 of the
musculus gastrocnemius and the musculus soleus on the lateral
side.
[0322] In the foregoing embodiment, two portions 4 and 11 of the
stretchable portion (A2') 142 having relatively great straining
forces project toward the medial side therefrom and cover a part of
the inferior region 4 and a part of the superior region 11 of the
patella 1, respectively. Besides, two portions 32 and 33 of the
stretchable portion (B') 143 having relatively great straining
forces project toward the lateral side therefrom and cover a part
of the inferior region 32 and a part of the superior region 33 of
the patella 1, respectively. Here, the two portions 4 and 11 of the
stretchable portion (A2') 142 having a relatively great straining
force are arranged opposite to the two portions 32 and 33 of the
stretchable portion (B') 143 having a relatively great straining
force, respectively, and at positions slightly shifted to the
inferior side from positions of the portions 32 and 33 of the
stretchable portion (B') 143 having a relatively great straining
force, respectively. Furthermore, when viewed from the front, the
portion covering the inferior region 4 of the patella 1, of the
stretchable portion (A2') 142 having a relatively great straining
force, has a relatively greater area.
[0323] The foregoing preferred embodiment allows the stretchable
portions having relatively great straining forces to support the
knee and leg from both sides in the femoral region and the lower
leg region, without hindering the action of the musculus vastus
lateralis and the musculus vastus medialis on the anterior side of
the thigh, :and further, allows the knee joint to be supported as
if wrapped from the surrounding, thereby providing further support
of the knee joint. Besides, the function of pressing the trochanter
major 8 is reinforced, thereby further improving the connection
between the caput ossis femoris and the acetabulum. Therefore, the
function of enhancing the stability of the hip joint is reinforced,
which is preferable.
[0324] Furthermore, in the lower leg region, on the medial side,
the muscles are fewer and the tibia is in contact with the surface
of the body. On the other hand, on the lateral side of the lower
leg region, the musculus gastrocnemius is on the lateral side of
the fibula. Therefore, the foregoing embodiment provides the
support of the knee joint as if pulling the medial side thereof
having fewer muscles more intensely from the inferior side, thereby
reinforcing the support of the ligamentum collateralle medialis,
which is preferable.
[0325] As described above, in the foregoing embodiment, as to the
two portions 4 and 11 of the stretchable portion (A2') 142 having a
relatively great straining force that project to the lateral side
and cover a part of the inferior region 4 and a part of the
superior region 11 of the patella 1, respectively, and the two
portions 32 and 33 of the stretchable portion (B') 143 having a
relatively great straining force that project to the medial side
and cover a part of the inferior region 32 and a part of the
superior region 33 of the patella 1, respectively, the position of
the projecting portion 4 is slightly inferior to the position of
the projecting portion 32, and the position of the projecting
portion 11 is slightly inferior to the position of the projecting
portion 32. Therefore, this provides the support of the knee joint
as if pulling the medial side thereof having fewer muscles more
intensely from the inferior side, thereby reinforcing the support
of the ligamentum collateralle medialis, which is preferable.
However, the projecting portion 4 may be at a position as high as
the position of the projecting portion 32, or the projecting
portion 11 may be at a position as high as a position of the
projecting portion 33. Besides, the two portions 4 and 11
projecting toward the lateral side may further extend over the
central line of the anterior side of the leg toward the lateral
side, while the portions 32 and 33 opposite thereto may further
extend over the central line of the anterior side of the leg toward
the medial side. Alternatively, the projecting portions 4 and 32
may be connected with each other, and likewise, the projecting
portions 11 and 33 may be connected with each other. Furthermore,
the projecting portion 4 may be located at a position shifted
slightly to the superior side of the projecting portion 32, while
the projecting portion 11 may be located at a position shifted
slightly to the superior side of the projecting portion 33.
[0326] Next, FIGS. 49 to 52 are views illustrating still another
embodiment of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention. FIG. 49 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 50 is a front
view of the same, FIG. 51 is a cross-sectional view of the same
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 50, and FIG. 52 is a right-side
view of the same.
[0327] The garment of the present embodiment is a garment as a
modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 to 20; namely, to
the garment shown in FIGS. 17 to 20, stretchable portions having
relatively great straining forces obtained by modifying a
stretchable portion (C) having a relatively great straining force
and a stretchable portion (D) having a relatively great straining
force, respectively, are added as described below. Therefore, the
same portions as those in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 to 20
are designated with the same reference numerals, and descriptions
of the same are omitted. However, the portions substantially the
same as those shown in FIGS. 17 to 20 still have a slight
difference. Namely, the stretchable portion (B) 124 having a
relatively great straining force shown in FIGS. 17 to 20 reaches to
the superior side 16 of the malleolus lateralis, while a
stretchable portion (B) 124' having a relatively great straining
force shown in FIGS. 49 to 52 reaches only the side 15 of the
musculus gastrocnemius and the musculus soleus on the lateral side,
and does not reach the superior side 16 of the malleolus
lateralis.
[0328] The other aspects are substantially the same as those of the
embodiment of the garment shown in FIGS. 17 to 20, and stretchable
portions having relatively great straining forces described below
are further provided.
[0329] There are provided a stretchable portion (C) 145 having a
relatively great straining force and a stretchable portion 146
having a relatively great straining force. The stretchable portion
(C) 145 having a relatively great straining force includes right
and left parts that are connected at a position 35 corresponding to
the fourth lumbar vertebra to the os sacrum on the posterior side
of the human body, and covers a region extending from the foregoing
position 35, through an approximately middle part of the musculus
gluteus maximus at right and left, approximately in a direction
along muscular fibers of the musculus gluteus maximus via the top
of the bulge of the hip or the vicinity of the same to at least the
vicinity of trochanter major. The stretchable portion 146 having a
relatively great straining force includes right and left parts that
are connected approximately in the vicinity of the posterior
central position of the waist, and covers a region extending from
the vicinity of the posterior central position of the waist to at
least the flank at right and left, in contact with a part of the
musculus latissimus dorsi, the musculus gluteus medius, and the
musculus obliquus externus abdominis. Therefore, the stretchable
portion (C) 145 having a relatively great straining force provides
the firm support of the musculus gluteus maximus in the muscular
fiber direction thereof. Thus, it can play a large role in
supporting the rotating motion of the hips, preventing a decrease
in the rotating angle of the hips, and stabilizing the pelvis in
anterior-posterior direction. For an elderly person, it is
effective in preventing falling down. Furthermore, it can play a
large role in extending the hip joint in anterior-posterior
direction when running, jumping, and climbing up a slope. Moreover,
the stretchable portion 146 having a relatively great straining
force provides the firmer support of a region from the posterior
central position of the waist to the musculus latissimus dorsi, the
musculus gluteus medius, and the musculus obliquus externus
abdominis at right and left. Consequently, a function for
complementing the function of preventing backward inclination of
the pelvis and keeping a stable position of the pelvis is
displayed.
[0330] Furthermore, the garment of the present embodiment includes
a stretchable portion (D) 147 having a relatively great straining
force and a stretchable portion 148 having a relatively great
straining force. The stretchable portion (D) 147 having a
relatively great straining force includes right and left parts that
are connected with each other on the musculus rectus abdominis 36
in the abdominal region, and covers a region extending from a
position on the musculus rectus abdominis in the hypogastric
region, obliquely downward approximately in a direction along
muscular fibers of the musculus obliquus internus abdominis to the
vicinity of the trochanter major 8 at right and left. The
stretchable portion 148 having a relatively great straining force
includes light and left parts that are connected with each other on
the musculus rectus abdominis 36 in the hypogastric region, and
covers a region extending from a position on the musculus rectus
abdominis 36, obliquely upward approximately in a direction along
muscular fibers of the musculus obliquus externus abdominis to at
least the flank.
[0331] Therefore, the stretchable portion (D) 147 having a
relatively great straining force supports a part of the musculus
rectus abdominis and the musculus obliquus internus abdominis,
thereby providing functions of reducing lumbar lordosis,
maintaining good posture, making youthful figure, and preventing
generation of pains such as lumbar pains. Furthermore, the
stretchable portion 148 having a relatively great straining force
supports a part of the musculus rectus abdominis and the musculus
obliquus externus abdominis, thereby providing functions of
reducing lumbar lordosis, maintaining good posture, making youthful
figure, and preventing generation of pains such as lumbar
pains.
[0332] It should be noted that such portions (C) 145, 146, (D) 147,
and 148 are applicable to the stretchable part having a relatively
great straining force in the other embodiments as required.
[0333] Next, FIGS. 53 to 56 are views illustrating still another
embodiment of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention. FIG. 53 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 54 is a front
view of the same, FIG. 55 is a cross-sectional view of the same
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 54, and FIG. 56 is a right-side
view of the same.
[0334] In the garment of the present embodiment is substantially
the same as the leg support garment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 in the
aspect of the stretchable portion having a relatively great
straining force that extends upward from the ligamentum
collateralle 3 on the medial side of the knee joint, but differs
from the garment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 in the aspect of the
stretchable portion having a relatively great straining force that
extends downward therefrom. More specifically, the portion 2
expressed as the stretchable portion (A) having a relatively great
straining force that substantially covers the ligamentum
collateralle 3 on the medial side of the knee joint of the human
body, and extends approximately along a vicinity of a periphery of
the patella 1 on the medial side thereof so as to surround the
patella through not less than approximately 1/4 (here,
approximately 1.7/4) of the periphery of the patella 1 and to cover
a part of an inferior region 4 of the patella 1. On the other hand,
a stretchable portion 150 having a relatively great straining force
that extends downward therefrom extends obliquely through the
anterior side of the lower leg region to the lateral side in a
direction toward the malleolus lateralis 16'. The stretchable
portion 150 having a relatively great straining force, on the
superior side of the knee joint, extends from the medial side to
the lateral side of the thigh via the anterior side thereof
approximately along the musculus sartorius 6 to a vicinity of the
trochanter major 8, passing a superior part 7 of the musculus
rectus femoris.
[0335] Therefore, the portion on the superior side of the knee
joint displays the same function as that in the case of FIGS. 1 to
4, and the straining force is exerted to both of the superior and
inferior parts of the ligamentum collateralle medialis 3 so as to
pull up the same obliquely outward. Therefore, this provides the
firmer support of the ligamentum collateralle medialis 3.
[0336] Next, FIGS. 57 to 60 are views illustrating still another
embodiment of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention. FIG. 57 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 58 is a front
view of the same, FIG. 59 is a cross-sectional view of the same
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 58, and FIG. 60 is a right-side
view of the same.
[0337] The garment of the present embodiment resembles the garment
shown in FIGS. 13 to 16 in the aspect that a stretchable portion
151 having a relatively great straining force surrounds the
inferior side of the patella 1. The former differs from the latter
in the following aspect. Namely, the stretchable portion having a
relatively great straining force extends obliquely upward from a
side of the musculus gastrocnemius on the medial side through the
vicinity 12 of the inferior side of the patella, further upward via
the lateral side 13 of the patella 1 along the musculus vastus
lateralis 37 and the tractus iliotibialis 9, and join in at a
junction point 38 with a stretchable portion having a relatively
great straining force that extends from the medial side to the
lateral side of the thigh via the anterior side thereof
approximately along the musculus sartorius 6 to a vicinity of the
trochanter major 8, passing a superior part 7 of the musculus
rectus femoris, and further, along the tractus iliotibialis 9 to
the vicinity of the waist 10.
[0338] The foregoing embodiment allows the garment to display the
same function as that of the garment shown in FIGS. 13 to 16, and
to provide more stable support of the knee joint. Besides, as
compared with the garment shown in FIGS. 13 to 16, the garment of
the present embodiment further includes the stretchable portion
having a relatively great straining force that extends from the
vicinity of the trochanter major 8 along the tractus iliotibialis 9
to the vicinity of the waist 10. Therefore, the function of
intensely pressing the trochanter major 8 is enhanced also, thereby
improving the connection between the caput ossis femoris and the
acetabulum. Therefore, this further provides a function of
enhancing the stability of the hip joint. Thus, the present
embodiment is preferable.
[0339] Next, FIGS. 61 to 64 are views illustrating still another
embodiment of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention. FIG. 61 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 62 is a front
view of the same, FIG. 63 is a cross-sectional view of the same
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 62, and FIG. 64 is a right-side
view of the same.
[0340] The garment of the present embodiment is a modification of
the embodiment shown in FIGS. 57 to 60; namely, the stretchable
portion 151 having a relatively great straining force in the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 57 to 60 further includes a stretchable
portion 152 having a relatively great straining force that extends
from a junction position 39 downward, passes a side of the musculus
gastrocnemius and the musculus soleus on the lateral side, then
reaches the superior side 16 of the malleolus lateralis.
[0341] With the foregoing embodiment, the same function as that of
the garment shown in FIGS. 57 to 60 is displayed, and further, the
musculus gastrocnemius and the musculus soleus are supported from
their sides without hindering their actions. Thus, the foregoing
embodiment is preferable.
[0342] Next, FIGS. 65 to 68 are views illustrating still another
embodiment of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention. FIG. 65 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 66 is a front
view of the same, FIG. 67 is a cross-sectional view of the same
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 66, and FIG. 68 is a right-side
view of the same.
[0343] The garment of the present embodiment is a modification of
the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 to 16. This is characterized in
that a stretchable portion 153 having a relative great straining
force completely surrounds the patella 1. This further enhances the
stability of the knee. It should be noted that the other aspects
other than the stretchable portion 153 having a relative great
straining force are the same as those of the stretchable part
having a relatively great straining force shown in FIGS. 13 to
16.
[0344] The foregoing embodiment allows the garment to display the
same function as that of the garment shown in FIGS. 13 to 16, and
further provides the more stable support of the knee joint.
[0345] Next, FIGS. 69 to 72 are views illustrating still another
embodiment of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention. FIG. 69 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 70 is a front
view of the same, FIG. 71 is a cross-sectional view of the same
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 70, and FIG. 72 is a right-side
view of the same.
[0346] The garment according to the present embodiment is a
modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. The garment
of the present embodiment has the following characteristic common
to the leg support garment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. The portion 2
expressed as the stretchable portion (A) having a relatively great
straining force that is composed of a stretchable portion (A1) 121
having a relatively great straining force. The stretchable portion
(A1) 121 having a relatively great straining force substantially
covers the ligamentum collateralle 3 on the medial side of the knee
joint of the human body, extends approximately along the vicinity
of a periphery of the patella 1 on the medial side thereof so as to
surround the patella 1 through not less than approximately 1/4
(here, approximately 1.7/4) of the periphery of the patella 1 and
to cover a part of an inferior region 4 of the patella 1, reaches a
side 5 of the musculus gastrocnemius and the musculus soleus on the
medial side, and on the superior side of the knee joint, extends
from the medial side to the lateral side of the thigh via the
anterior side thereof approximately along the musculus sartorius 6
toward the vicinity of the trochanter major 8, passing a superior
part 7 of the musculus rectus femoris. In the present embodiment,
however, a triangle-shaped stretchable portion 154 having a
relatively great straining force is further provided on the lateral
inferior side of the patella 1, and the vertex of the projecting
portion 4 having a relatively great straining force covering the
inferior region of the patella 1 of the stretchable portion 121
having a relatively great straining force is in contact with a
vertex 40 of the stretchable portion 154 having a relatively great
straining force at a position on the inferior side of the patella 1
so as to support the knee from the right, left, and inferior sides.
Therefore, the same function as that of the leg support garment
shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 is exhibited, while the function of
supporting the knee from the inferior side is reinforced. It should
be noted that the projecting portion 4 of the stretchable portion
having a relatively great straining force that covers the inferior
region 4 of the patella 1 and the stretchable portion 154 having a
relatively great straining force may overlap each other, rather
than only with the vertex of the former and the vertex 40 of the
latter being in contact with each other.
[0347] Next, FIGS. 73 to 76 are views illustrating still another
embodiment of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention. FIG. 73 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 74 is a front
view of the same, FIG. 75 is a cross-sectional view of the same
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 74, and FIG. 76 is a right-side
view of the same.
[0348] The garment of the present embodiment is a garment as a
modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 8; namely, the
portion 2 expressed as the stretchable portion (A) having a
relatively great straining force includes a stretchable portion
122' having a relatively great straining force that resembles a
combination of the stretchable portions 121 and 122 having
relatively great straining forces. The stretchable portion 122'
substantially covers the ligamentum collateralle 3 on the medial
side of the knee joint of the human body, extends approximately
along the vicinity of a periphery of the patella 1 on the medial
side thereof so as to surround the patella 1 through not less than
approximately 1/4 (here, approximately 1.7/4) of the periphery of
the patella 1 and to cover a part of an inferior region 4 of the
patella 1, and reaches a side 5 of the musculus gastrocnemius and
the musculus soleus on the medial side. Then, from the side 5 of
the musculus gastrocnemius and the musculus soleus on the medial
side, the portion 122' passes a side 41 of an inferior part of the
musculus gastrocnemius and the musculus soleus on the medial side
to a superior side 42 of the malleolus medialis. On the superior
side of the knee joint, the portion 122' extends from the medial
side to the lateral side of the thigh via the anterior side thereof
approximately along the musculus sartorius 6 toward the vicinity of
the trochanter major 8, passing a superior part 7 of the musculus
rectus femoris. Further, the portion 122' extends therefrom along
the tractus iliotibialis 9 to the vicinity of the waist 10. The
stretchable portion 122' having the relatively great straining
force slightly differs from the combination of the stretchable
portions 121 and 122 having relatively great straining forces in
the aspect that the former further extends from the side 5 of the
musculus gastrocnemius and the musculus soleus via the inferior
side 41 of the musculus gastrocnemius and the musculus soleus to
the superior side 42 of the malleolus medialis.
[0349] In the present embodiment, furthermore, a stretchable
portion 155 having a relatively great straining force is provided,
which extends from the superior side of the patella 1 via the
lateral side thereof, covers an inferior region 32 of the patella,
and further, passes a side 43 of the musculus gastrocnemius and the
musculus soleus on the lateral side downward to a superior side 16
of the malleolus lateralis.
[0350] Therefore, the same function as that of the garment of the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 is displayed, and further, since
the foregoing garment supports the knee joint from the medial and
lateral sides, it provides the more stable support of the knee
joint. Moreover, since the stretchable portions having relatively
great straining forces passes along both the medial and lateral
sides of the musculus gastrocnemius and the musculus soleus, they
support these musculus without hindering their actions. Thus, the
foregoing embodiment is preferable.
[0351] Next, FIGS. 77 to 80 are views illustrating still another
embodiment of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention. FIG. 77 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 78 is a front
view of the same, FIG. 79 is a cross-sectional view of the same
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 78, and FIG. 80 is a right-side
view of the same.
[0352] The garment of the present embodiment is a garment as a
modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 9 to 12; namely, the
portion 2 expressed as the stretchable portion (A) having a
relatively great straining force includes a stretchable portion 156
having a relatively great straining force that resembles a
combination of the stretchable portions 121 and 122 having
relatively great straining forces. The stretchable portion 156
having a relatively great straining force substantially covers the
ligamentum collateralle 3 on the medial side of the knee joint of
the human body, extends approximately along the vicinity of a
periphery of the patella 1 on the medial side thereof so as to
surround the patella 1 through not less than approximately 1/4
(here, approximately 1.7/4) of the periphery of the patella 1 and
to cover a part of an inferior region 4 and a superior region 11 of
the patella 1. Then, from a side 5 of the musculus gastrocnemius
and the musculus soleus on the medial side, the portion 156 extends
via a side 41 of an inferior part of the musculus gastrocnemius and
the musculus soleus on the medial side to a superior side 42 of the
malleolus medialis. On the superior side of the knee joint, the
portion 156 extends from the medial side to the lateral side of the
thigh via the anterior side thereof approximately along the
musculus sartorius 6 toward the vicinity of the trochanter major 8,
passing a superior part 7 of the musculus rectus femoris. Further,
the portion 156 extends therefrom along the tractus iliotibialis 9
to the vicinity of the waist 10. The stretchable portion 156 having
the relatively great straining force slightly differs from the
combination of the stretchable portions 121 and 122 having
relatively great straining forces in the aspect that the medial
inferior part of the former extends from the side 5 of the musculus
gastrocnemius and the musculus soleus via a side 41 of an inferior
part of the musculus gastrocnemius and the musculus soleus to a
superior side 42 of the malleolus medialis.
[0353] Moreover, the garment of the present embodiment greatly
differs from the garment shown in FIGS. 9 to 12 in the aspect that
the stretchable portion 156 having a relatively great straining
force branches out at a divergence point 44 and further covers a
region extending therefrom downward along a lateral side of the leg
to the malleolus lateralis 16. More specifically, the stretchable
portion 156 having a relatively great straining force further
extends from the divergence point 44 approximately along the
tractus iliotibialis 9 to the lateral side of the patella 1, then,
approximately along a vicinity of a periphery of the patella 1 on a
lateral side thereof so as to surround the patella through
approximately 1/2 or more of the periphery of the patella and to
cover a part of and inferior region 32 and a superior region 33 of
the patella 1. Then, it extends downward along a side 43 of the
musculus gastrocnemius and the musculus soleus on the lateral side
to the superior side 16 of the malleolus lateralis.
[0354] The foregoing preferred embodiment of the present invention
allows the same function as that of the garment of the embodiment
shown in FIGS. 9 to 12 to be displayed. Further, the power for
pulling the stretchable portion having a relatively great straining
force that supports the ligamentum collateralle medialis 3 is
further increased, whereby the power for supporting the ligamentum
collateralle medialis 3 is increased. Besides, since the knee joint
is supported from both of the medial and lateral sides, this
provides the more stable support of the knee joint. Moreover, since
the stretchable portion having a relatively great straining force
passes both of the medial and lateral sides of the musculus
gastrocnemius and the musculus soleus, these muscles are supported
without hindering their activities. Thus, the present embodiment is
preferable.
[0355] Next, FIGS. 81 to 84 are views illustrating still another
embodiment of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention. FIG. 81 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 82 is a front
view of the same, FIG. 83 is a cross-sectional view of the same
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 82, and FIG. 84 is a right-side
view of the same.
[0356] The garment of the present embodiment is a garment as a
modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 to 20; namely, in
the garment of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 to 20, the
stretchable portion (A) 121 having a relatively great straining
force and the stretchable portion 124' (B) having a relatively
great straining force are in contact with each other at a position
on the inferior side of the patella. Therefore, the same portions
as those shown in FIGS. 17 to 20 are designated with the same
reference numerals in the drawings and descriptions of the same are
omitted. However, substantially the same portions as those shown in
FIGS. 17 to 20 still have slight differences; namely, the
stretchable portion (B) 124 having a relatively great straining
force reaches to the superior side 16 of the malleolus lateralis,
while the stretchable portion (B) 124' having a relatively great
straining force of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 81 to 84 stops at
a side 15 of the musculus gastrocnemius and the musculus soleus on
the lateral side, not reaching the superior side 16 of the
malleolus lateralis.
[0357] The aspects other than the above are substantially the same
as those of the garment of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 to
20.
[0358] More specifically, a vertex of a projecting portion 4 of the
stretchable portion 121 having a relatively great straining force
that covers a part of the inferior region of the patella 1 and a
vertex of a projecting portion 14 of the stretchable portion 124'
having a relatively great straining force that covers a part of the
inferior region of the patella 1 are in contact with each other at
a position on the inferior side of the patella 1, so as to support
the knee from the right, left, and inferior sides of the same.
Therefore, the same function as that of the leg support garment
shown in FIGS. 17 to 20 is displayed, and the function of
supporting the knee from the inferior side is reinforced.
[0359] Next, FIGS. 85 to 88 are views illustrating still another
embodiment of a long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention. FIG. 85 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 86 is a front
view of the same, FIG. 87 is a cross-sectional view of the same
taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 86, and FIG. 88 is a right-side
view of the same.
[0360] The garment of the present embodiment is a garment as a
modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 81 to 84; namely, in
the garment of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 81 to 84, the
stretchable portion (A) 121 having a relatively great straining
force and the stretchable portion (B) 124' having a relatively
great straining force are coupled with each other in a slightly
wide range on the inferior side of the patella, rather than in
point contact with each other. Therefore, the same portions as
those of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 81 to 84 are designated with
the same reference numerals in the drawings and descriptions of the
same are omitted.
[0361] More specifically, a portion 4 of the stretchable portion
121 having a relatively great straining force that covers a part of
the inferior region of the patella 1 and a portion 14 of the
stretchable portion 124' having a relatively great straining force
that covers a part of the inferior region of the patella 1 are
coupled with each other at a position on the inferior side of the
patella 1, so as to support the knee from the right, left, and
inferior sides of the same. Therefore, the same function as that of
the leg support garment shown in FIGS. 81 to 84 is displayed, and
the function of supporting the knee from the inferior side is
further reinforced.
[0362] It should be noted that in the case of the present
embodiment, in the case where the stretchable part having a
relatively great straining force is formed by laminating
stretchable fabrics in predetermined shapes on a garment main body
and sewing them, or the like, the coupling between the portion 4 of
the stretchable portion 121 having a relatively great straining
force that covers a part of the inferior region of the patella 1
and the portion 14 of the stretchable portion 124' having a
relatively great straining force that covers a part of the inferior
region of the patella 1 may be achieved by forming the same with
one piece of fabric in which the stretchable portions 121 and 124'
having relatively great straining forces are continuously provided,
so that the coupling therebetween has been achieved beforehand.
Alternatively, the stretchable portions 121 and 124' having
relatively great straining forces may be made of separate pieces of
fabrics, respectively, and portions of the fabrics corresponding to
the portions 4 and 14 may be overlapped and sewn so that the
coupling therebetween is achieved.
[0363] So far the present invention has been described with
reference to specific examples of the long-tights-type leg support
garment, but any design of a garment in which an upper body part is
added to the long-tights-type leg support garment of the present
invention as required is not excluded from the present invention at
all, as long as the object of the present invention is not
inhibited.
[0364] The following description will explain embodiments of a
tights-type leg support garment having a length capable of covering
a range from a waistline to the inferior side of the knee (a
garment of this kind is hereinafter referred to as
"semi-long-tights-type garment" also) while referring to the
drawings. Meanwhile, "having a length capable of covering at least
a range to the inferior side of the knee" described above means
that the garment reaches at least the inferior end of the patella
or a position below the same, and preferably, the garment has a hem
line at a position at least 3 3 cm to 5 cm below the inferior end
of the patella. Furthermore, though not particularly limited, the
garment preferably has its lowest end at a middle position of the
lower leg below the knee or above the same. However, the present
invention does not exclude any garment having a hemline at a
position below the same.
[0365] FIGS. 89 to 92 are views illustrating an embodiment of a
semi-long-tights-type leg support garment of the present invention.
FIG. 89 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 90 is a front view of the
same, FIG. 91 is a cross-sectional view of the same taken along an
A-A' line in FIG. 90, and FIG. 92 is a right-side view of the
same.
[0366] The garment of the present embodiment is equivalent to a
semi-long-tights-type leg support garment obtained by, from the
long-tights-type leg support garment shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, cutting
away a part lower than a position of the portion 4 of the
stretchable portion 121 having a relatively great straining force
that covers the inferior region of the patella 1.
[0367] More specifically, a portion 2 expressed as the stretchable
portion (A) having a relatively great straining force includes a
stretchable portion (A.sup.21) 121a having a relatively great
straining force and a stretchable portion (A.sup.21-1) 122a having
a relatively great straining force. The stretchable portion
(A.sup.21) 121a having a relatively great straining force
substantially covers the ligamentum collateralle 3 on the medial
side of the knee joint of the human body, extends approximately
along the vicinity of a periphery of the patella 1 on the medial
side thereof so as to surround the patella 1 through not less than
approximately 1/4 (here, approximately 1.7/4) of the periphery of
the patella 1 and to cover a part of an inferior region 4 of the
patella 1, and on the superior side of the knee joint, extends from
the medial side to the lateral side of the thigh via the anterior
side thereof approximately along the musculus sartorius 6 toward
the vicinity of the trochanter major 8, passing a superior part 7
of the musculus rectus femoris. The stretchable portion
(A.sup.21-1) 122a having a relatively great straining force extends
from the vicinity of the trochanter major 8 to the vicinity of the
waist 10 along the tractus iliotibialis 9. The lower end of the
hemline in the present embodiment is at a position 5 cm lower than
the inferior end of the patella (the semi-long-tights-type garments
of the embodiments described below have the same hem line
positions, unless otherwise specified).
[0368] The semi-long-tights-type leg support garment shown in FIGS.
89 to 92 is, according to the foregoing preferred embodiment of the
present invention, arranged so that the stretchable portion
(A.sup.21) 121a having a relatively great straining force covers a
portion 4 of a part of an inferior region of the patella 1 so as to
support the patella 1 as if pulling up the same from the inferior
side, thereby improving the stability of the knee joint. The
portion 121a further supports the musculus sartorius 6 and extends
from the medial side to the lateral side of the thigh obliquely and
spirally toward the vicinity of the trochanter major 8, thereby
increasing the power for pulling the stretchable portion having a
relatively great straining force that supports the ligamentum
collateralle medialis 3. This makes it possible to provide a leg
support garment having an increased power for supporting the
ligamentum collateralle medialis 3, and hence, this is preferable.
Furthermore, this provides the support to the musculus sartorius 6
that complements the function of the ligamentum collateralle
medialis 3 as well, which is also preferable. Furthermore, the
portion 121a includes the stretchable portion (A.sup.21-1) 122
having a relatively great straining force, which extends upward
further from the vicinity of the trochanter major 8 to the waist 10
along the tractus iliotibialis 9. Therefore, the function of
intensely pressing the trochanter major 8 is enhanced, thereby
improving the connection between the caput ossis femoris and the
acetabulum. This is preferable since further providing a function
of enhancing the stability of the hip joint.
[0369] Next, FIGS. 93 to 96 are views illustrating another
embodiment of a semi-long-tights-type leg support garment of the
present invention. FIG. 93 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 94 is a
front view of the same, FIG. 95 is a cross-sectional view of the
same taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 94, and FIG. 96 is a
right-side view of the same.
[0370] The garment of the present embodiment is a garment as a
modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 89 to 92; namely, to
the garment shown in FIGS. 89 to 92, a stretchable portion
(B.sup.2) 124a having a relatively great straining force as
described below is added. Namely, the garment further includes a
stretchable portion (B.sup.2) 124a having a relatively great
straining force. The stretchable portion (B.sup.2) 124a having a
relatively great straining force extends from a vicinity of the
trochanter major 8 downward approximately along the tractus
iliotibialis 9 to the lateral side of the patella 1, covers a part
of an inferior region 14 of the patella extending from the lateral
side thereof.
[0371] The upper portion (A.sup.21-1) 122a having a relatively
greater straining force has a slightly greater width as compared
with that shown in FIGS. 89 to 92, at a position where the
stretchable portion (B.sup.2) 124a having a relatively great
straining force and the stretchable portion (A.sup.21) 121a having
a relatively great straining force are united therewith.
[0372] With the foregoing preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the same function as that explained with reference to
FIGS. 89 to 92 is exhibited. Besides, since the stretchable portion
(B.sup.2) 124a having a relatively great straining force is further
provided, the knee is supported from the both sides. Thus, the
function of supporting the knee joint is reinforced. Furthermore,
the function of pressing the trochanter major 8 is enhanced
further, thereby improving the connection between the caput ossis
femoris and the acetabulum. Therefore, this reinforces a function
of enhancing the stability of the hip joint.
[0373] Next, FIGS. 97 to 100 are views illustrating still another
embodiment of a semi-long-tights-type leg support garment of the
present invention. FIG. 97 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 98 is a
front view of the same, FIG. 99 is a cross-sectional view of the
same taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 98, and FIG. 100 is a
right-side view of the same.
[0374] The garment of the present embodiment is equivalent to a
semi-long-tights-type leg support garment obtained by, from the
long-tights-type leg support garment shown in FIGS. 21 to 24,
cutting away a part lower than a position of the portion 4 of the
stretchable portion 121 having a relatively great straining force
that covers the inferior region of the patella 1.
[0375] The portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A) having
a relatively great straining force is composed of a stretchable
portion (A.sup.22) 130a having a relatively great straining force.
The stretchable portion (A.sup.22) 130a having a relatively great
straining force substantially covers the ligamentum collateralle 3
on the medial side of the knee joint of the human body, and extends
approximately along a vicinity of a periphery of the patella 1 on
the medial side thereof so as to surround the patella 1 through not
less than approximately 1/4 of the periphery of the patella 1 and
to cover a part of an inferior region 4 of the patella 1, and then,
reaches a side of a superior part of the musculus gastrocnemius on
the medial side. Furthermore, on the superior side of the knee
joint, the stretchable portion (A.sup.22) 130a extends through the
thigh approximately along the musculus semitendinosus 21 to the
vicinity of the sulcus gluteus 22.
[0376] The foregoing preferred embodiment allows the stretchable
portion 130a having a relatively great straining force to cover a
part of the inferior region 4 of the patella 1, thereby support the
patella 1 as if pulling up the patella 1 from the inferior side
thereof. As a result, the stability of the knee joint is improved.
Furthermore, the embodiment allows the portion 130a to support the
musculus semitendinosus 21 that is located on the medial side of
the thigh, thereby increasing the power of pulling the stretchable
portion having a relatively great straining force that supports the
ligamentum collateralle medialis 3. Consequently, a leg support
garment with an increased power for supporting the ligamentum
collateralle medialis 3 is provided, which is preferable.
Furthermore, the musculus semitendinosus that complements the
function of the ligamentum collateralle medialis is supported,
which is also preferable.
[0377] Next, FIGS. 101 to 104 are views illustrating still another
embodiment of a semi-long-tights-type leg support garment of the
present invention. FIG. 101 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 102 is
a front view of the same, FIG. 103 is a cross-sectional view of the
same taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 102, and FIG. 104 is a
right-side view of the same.
[0378] The garment of the present embodiment is equivalent to a
semi-long-tights-type leg support garment obtained by, from the
long-tights-type leg support garment shown in FIGS. 25 to 28,
cutting away a part lower than a position of the portion 4 of the
stretchable portion 131 having a relatively great straining force
that covers the inferior region of the patella 1.
[0379] The portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A) having
a relatively great straining force is composed of a stretchable
portion 131a having a relatively great straining force. The
stretchable portion 131a having a relatively great straining force
substantially covers the ligamentum collateralle 3 on the medial
side of the knee joint of the human body, and extends approximately
along a vicinity of a periphery of the patella 1 on the medial side
thereof so as to surround the patella 1 through not less than
approximately 1/4 of the periphery of the patella 1 and to cover a
part of an inferior region 4 of the patella 1, and then, reaches a
side of a superior part of the musculus gastrocnemius on the medial
side. Furthermore, on the superior side of the knee joint, the
portion 131a passes through the thigh approximately along the
musculus gracilis 23, and reaches the vicinity of the crotch
24.
[0380] The foregoing preferred embodiment allows the stretchable
portion 131a having a relatively great straining force to cover a
part of the inferior region 4 of the patella 1, thereby support the
patella 1 as if pulling up the patella 1 from the inferior side
thereof. As a result, the stability of the knee joint is improved.
Furthermore, the embodiment allows the portion 131a to support the
musculus gracilis 23 that is located on the medial side of the
thigh, thereby increasing the power of pulling the stretchable
portion having a relatively great straining force that supports the
ligamentum collateralle medialis 3. Consequently, a leg support
garment with an increased power for supporting the ligamentum
collateralle medialis 3 is provided, which is preferable.
Furthermore, the musculus gracilis that complements the function of
the ligamentum collateralle medialis is supported, which is
preferable.
[0381] Next, FIGS. 105 to 108 are views illustrating still another
embodiment of a semi-long-tights-type leg support garment of the
present invention. FIG. 105 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 106 is
a front view of the same, FIG. 107 is a cross-sectional view of the
same taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 106, and FIG. 108 is a
right-side view of the same.
[0382] The garment of the present embodiment is equivalent to a
semi-long-tights-type leg support garment obtained by, from the
long-tights-type leg support garment shown in FIGS. 45 to 48,
cutting away a part lower than a position of the portion 32 that
covers a part of the lateral inferior region of the patella 1.
[0383] The garment of the present embodiment is a leg support
garment in which the portion expressed as the stretchable portion
(A) having a relatively great straining force is a stretchable
portion (A.sup.22') 142a having a relatively great straining force,
and the stretchable part having a relatively great straining force
further includes a stretchable portion (B.sup.2') 143a having a
relatively great straining force. The stretchable portion
(A.sup.22') 142a having a relatively great straining force
substantially covers the ligamentum collateralle 3 on the medial
side of the knee joint of the human body, extends approximately
along the vicinity of a periphery of the patella 1 on the medial
side thereof so as to surround the patella 1 through at least more
than approximately 1/2 of the periphery of the patella 1 and to
cover a part of inferior and superior regions 4 and 11 of the
patella 1, and reaches a side of a superior part of the musculus
gastrocnemius on the medial side. Further, on the superior side of
the knee joint, in the femoral region, the stretchable portion
(A.sup.22') 142a having a relatively great straining force extends
approximately along the musculus semitendinosus and the musculus
gracilis, and reaches the vicinity below the crotch 24 and a
vicinity of the sulcus gluteus 22. The stretchable portion
(B.sup.2') 143a having a relatively great straining force extends
from a side part of the waist 10 approximately along the tractus
iliotibialis 9 via a vicinity of the trochanter major 8, then,
approximately along the tractus iliotibialis 9 to the lateral side
of the patella 1, surrounds the patella 1 through approximately 1/2
or more of the periphery of the patella 1 so as to cover a part of
an inferior region 32 and a superior region 33 of the patella 1,
and reaches a side of a superior part of the musculus gastrocnemius
on the lateral side.
[0384] In the foregoing embodiment, two portions 4 and 11 of the
stretchable portion (A.sup.22') 142a having relatively great
straining forces project toward the medial side therefrom and cover
a part of the inferior region 4 and a part of the superior region
11 of the patella 1, respectively. Besides, two portions 32 and 33
of the stretchable portion (B2') 143a having relatively great
straining forces project toward the lateral side therefrom and
cover a part of the inferior region 32 and a part of the superior
region 33 of the patella 1, respectively. Here, the two portions 4
and 11 of the stretchable portion (A.sup.22') 142a having a
relatively great straining force are arranged opposite to the two
portions 32 and 33 of the stretchable portion (B.sup.2') 143a
having a relatively great straining force, respectively, and at
positions slightly shifted to the inferior side from positions of
the portions 32 and 33 of the stretchable portion (B.sup.2') 143a
having a relatively great straining force, respectively.
Furthermore, when viewed from the front, the portion covering the
inferior region 4 of the patella 1, of the stretchable portion
(A.sup.22') 142a having a relatively great straining force, has a
relatively greater area.
[0385] The foregoing preferred embodiment allows the stretchable
portions having relatively great straining forces to support the
knee and leg from both sides in the femoral region and the lower
leg region, without hindering the action of the musculus vastus
lateralis and the musculus vastus medialis on the anterior side of
the thigh, and further, allows the knee joint to be supported as if
wrapped from the surrounding, thereby providing further support of
the knee joint. Besides, the function of pressing the trochanter
major 8 is reinforced, thereby further improving the connection
between the caput ossis femoris and the acetabulum. Therefore, the
function of enhancing the stability of the hip joint is reinforced,
which is preferable.
[0386] Furthermore, in the lower leg region, on the medial side,
the muscles are fewer and the tibia is in contact with the surface
of the body. On the other hand, on the lateral side of the lower
leg region, the musculus gastrocnemius is on the lateral side of
the fibula. Therefore, the foregoing embodiment provides the
support of the knee joint as if pulling the medial side thereof
having fewer muscles more intensely from the inferior side, thereby
reinforcing the support of the ligamentum collateralle medialis,
which is preferable.
[0387] As described above, in the foregoing embodiment, as to the
two portions 4 and 11 of the stretchable portion (A.sup.22') 142a
having a relatively great straining force that project to the
lateral side and cover a part of the inferior region 4 and a part
of the superior region 11 of the patella 1, respectively, and the
two portions 32 and 33 of the stretchable portion (B.sup.2') 143a
having a relatively great straining force that project to the
medial side and cover a part of the inferior region 32 and a part
of the superior region 33 of the patella 1, respectively, the
position of the projecting portion 4 is slightly inferior to the
position of the projecting portion 32, and the position of the
projecting portion 11 is slightly inferior to the position of the
projecting portion 32. Therefore, this provides the support of the
knee joint as if pulling the medial side thereof having fewer
muscles more intensely from the inferior side, thereby reinforcing
the support of the ligamentum collateralle medialis, which is
preferable. However, the projecting portion 4 may be at a position
as high as the position of the projecting portion 32, or the
projecting portion 11 may be at a position as high as a position of
the projecting portion 33. Besides, the two portions 4 and 11
projecting toward the lateral side may further extend over the
central line of the anterior side of the leg toward the lateral
side, while the portions 32 and 33 opposite thereto may further
extend over the central line of the anterior side of the leg toward
the medial side. Alternatively, the projecting portions 4 and 32
may be connected with each other, and likewise, the projecting
portions 11 and 33 may be connected with each other. Furthermore,
the projecting portion 4 may be located at a position shifted
slightly to the superior side of the projecting portion 32, while
the projecting portion 11 may be located at a position shifted
slightly to the superior side of the projecting portion 33.
[0388] Next, FIGS. 109 to 112 are views illustrating still another
embodiment of a semi-long-tights-type leg support garment of the
present invention. FIG. 109 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 110 is
a front view of the same, FIG. 111 is a cross-sectional view of the
same taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 110, and FIG. 112 is a
right-side view of the same.
[0389] The garment of the present embodiment is a garment as a
modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 85 to 88; namely, in
the garment of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 85 to 88, the
stretchable portion (A.sup.21) 121a having a relatively great
straining force and the stretchable portion (B.sup.2) 124a having a
relatively great straining force are brought in contact with each
other at a position on the inferior side of the patella Therefore,
the same portions as those of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 85 to
88 are designated with the same reference numerals in the drawings
and descriptions of the same are omitted.
[0390] More specifically, a projecting portion 4 of the stretchable
portion 121a having a relatively great straining force that covers
a part of the inferior region of the patella 1 and a projecting
portion 14 of the stretchable portion 124a having a relatively
great straining force that covers a part of the inferior region of
the patella 1 are coupled with each other at a position on the
inferior side of the patella 1, so as to support the knee from the
right, left, and inferior sides of the same. Therefore, the same
function as that of the leg support garment shown in FIGS. 85 to 88
is displayed. Besides, since the portions denoted with 4 and 14 are
brought into contact with each other, the hems of the garment are
stably positioned on the inferior sides of the knees, and the
loosening of the garment, such as the sliding up, hardly takes
place.
[0391] Next, FIGS. 113 to 116 are views illustrating still another
embodiment of a semi-long-tights-type leg support garment of the
present invention. FIG. 113 is a rear view of the same, FIG. 114 is
a front view of the same, FIG. 115 is a cross-sectional view of the
same taken along an A-A' line in FIG. 114, and FIG. 116 is a
right-side view of the same.
[0392] The garment of the present embodiment is a garment as a
modification of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 109 to 112; namely,
in the garment of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 109 to 112, the
stretchable portion (A.sup.21) 121a having a relatively great
straining force and the stretchable portion (B.sup.2) 124a having a
relatively great straining force are coupled with each other in a
slightly wide range on the inferior side of the patella, rather
than in point contact with each other. Therefore, the same portions
as those of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 109 to 112 are designated
with the same reference numerals in the drawings and descriptions
of the same are omitted.
[0393] More specifically, a projecting portion 4 of the stretchable
portion 121a having a relatively great straining force that covers
a part of the inferior region of the patella 1 and a projecting
portion 14 of the stretchable portion 124a having a relatively
great straining force that covers a part of the inferior region of
the patella 1 are coupled with each other at a position on the
inferior side of the patella 1, so as to support the knee from the
right, left, and inferior sides of the same. Therefore, the same
function as that of the leg support garment shown in FIGS. 109 to
112 is displayed, and the function of supporting the knee from the
inferior side is further reinforced.
[0394] It should be noted that in the case of the present
embodiment, in the case where the stretchable part having a
relatively great straining force is formed by laminating
stretchable fabrics in predetermined shapes on a garment main body
and sewing them, or the like, the coupling between the portion 4 of
the stretchable portion 121a having a relatively great straining
force that covers a part of the inferior region of the patella 1
and the portion 14 of the stretchable portion 124a having a
relatively great straining force that covers a part of the inferior
region of the patella 1 may be achieved by forming the same with
one piece of fabric in which the stretchable portions 121a and 124a
having relatively great straining forces are continuously provided,
so that the coupling therebetween has been achieved beforehand.
Alternatively, the stretchable portions 121a and 124a having
relatively great straining forces may be made of separate pieces of
fabrics, respectively, and portions of the fabrics corresponding to
the portions 4 and 14 may be overlapped and sewn so that the
coupling therebetween is achieved.
[0395] So far, several embodiments of semi-long-tights-type leg
support garments have been described with reference to the
drawings. The present invention, however, is not limited to these,
and the various kinds of long-tights-type leg support garments
described above with reference to the drawings may be applied as
semi-long-tights-type garments by cutting away the portions lower
than the knee.
[0396] Furthermore, any design of a garment in which an upper body
part is added to the semi-long-tights-type leg support garment of
the present invention as required is not excluded from the present
invention at all, as long as the object of the present invention is
not inhibited. As to the ankle-length leg support garment of the
present invention, any garment of this type to which a piece of
fabric traversing the sole is attached so as to connect both sides
of the hem of each leg part is not excluded from the present
invention at all.
[0397] Meanwhile, in the long-tights-type and semi-long-tights-type
leg support garments, any seam line of the main body of the garment
preferably does not run through at least a region covering the
ligamentum collateralle in the stretchable portion having a
relatively great straining force located over the ligamentum
collateralle on the medial side of the knee joint.
[0398] More specifically, as to the leg support garment of the
present invention of any type, the long-tights-type or the
semi-long-tights-type, it is necessary to form a portion covering
the leg part into a cylindrical form, and applicable as a method
for forming the leg part into a cylindrical form is, for instance,
a method for rolling a flat fabric into a cylindrical form and
seaming a hem on one side of the fabric and a hem on the other side
of the fabric together. In the case where a fabric is thus shaped
in a cylindrical form by seaming the same, conventionally it is
usual that the sawing is carried out so that the seam line passes
the medial side of the leg part.
[0399] In the present invention, it is preferable to design the
garment so that the seam line of the main body of the garment does
not run through at least a region thereof covering the ligamentum
collateralle in the stretchable portion having a relatively great
straining force located on the ligamentum collateralle on the
medial side of the knee joint. To facilitate the understanding, the
seam line of the main body of the garment whose leg part is formed
in a cylindrical form is described below, taking concrete examples
with reference to a few of the drawings.
[0400] FIG. 117 is a drawing in which a seam line of the main body
of the garment whose leg part is formed in a cylindrical form is
drawn into FIG. 7. More specifically, FIG. 117 illustrates an
embodiment in the case where a seam line 50 of the main body of the
garment whose leg part is formed in a cylindrical form runs on a
medial side of the leg part. The garment is designed so that the
seam line 50 of the main body of the garment whose leg part is
formed in a cylindrical form passes on a hem of a part of the
stretchable portion 121 having a relatively great straining force
located over the ligamentum collateralle 3 on the medial side of
the knee joint, avoiding at least a region thereof immediately
above the ligamentum collateralle 3. Thus, the description "does
not run through at least a region covering the ligamentum
collateralle in the stretchable portion having a relatively great
straining force located on the ligamentum collateralle on the
medial side of the knee joint" is used so as to mean that the seam
line is allowed to run on the hem of the region covering the
ligamentum collateralle of the stretchable portion having a
relatively great straining force. Of course, the garment may be
designed so that the seam line passes through positions slightly
distanced from the region covering the ligamentum collateralle of
the stretchable portion having a relatively great straining force,
without running on the hem of the region of the ligamentum
collateralle at all.
[0401] Next, FIG. 118 is a view illustrating another embodiment
different from that shown in FIG. 117, for explaining a position of
the seam line of the main body of the garment. FIG. 118 is a
drawing in which the seam line of the main body of the garment
whose leg part is formed in a cylindrical form is drawn into FIG.
8. More specifically, FIG. 118 illustrates an embodiment in the
case where a seam line 51 of the main body of the garment whose leg
part is formed in a cylindrical form runs on a lateral side of the
leg part. In the case where the seam line of the main body of the
garment whose leg part is formed in a cylindrical form runs on a
lateral side of the leg part, the seam line by no means runs
through at least a region covering the ligamentum collateralle in
the stretchable portion having a relatively great straining force
located on the ligamentum collateralle on the medial side of the
knee joint. Therefore, such a seam line basically may be allowed to
run through any position as long as the position is on the lateral
side of the leg part. However, in the case where a certain
stretchable portion having a relatively great straining force
exists on the lateral side of the leg part, it is preferable to
design the garment so that, if possible, the seam line should, for
instance, pass along the hem of the same, avoiding the stretchable
portion having a relatively great straining force, or that the seam
line should be located at a position slightly distanced from the
region covering the ligamentum collateralle of the stretchable
portion having a relatively great straining force. In the example
shown in FIG. 118, the seam line 51 of the main body of the garment
whose leg part is formed in a cylindrical form is provided along
the hem on one side of the stretchable portion 121 having a
relatively great straining force in an upper part of the garment,
and then, passes through approximately the center of the side part
of the garment, slightly away from the stretchable portion 121
having a relatively great straining force, in a lower part from a
position at a distance of approximately 1/3 of the total length of
the garment from the waistline 10.
[0402] Next, FIG. 119 is a view illustrating still another
embodiment different from that shown in FIGS. 117 and 118, for
explaining a position of the seam line of the main body of the
garment. FIG. 119 is a drawing in which the seam line of the main
body of the garment whose leg part is formed in a cylindrical form
is drawn in FIG. 80. More specifically, FIG. 118 illustrates
another embodiment in the case where a seam line 52 of the main
body of the garment whose leg part is formed in a cylindrical form
runs on a lateral side of the leg part. In the example shown in
FIG. 118, the seam line 52 of the main body of the garment whose
leg part is formed in a cylindrical form is provided along a hem on
the posterior side of the stretchable portion 156 having a
relatively great straining force. By sewing the garment through the
foregoing line, the seam line runs on the hem of the stretchable
portion 156 having a relatively great straining force. Therefore,
the seam line by no means independently appears on the garment,
thereby hardly harming the appearance of the garment. Consequently,
an advantage in that the design of the garment is not impaired is
achieved. Particularly in the case where the stretchable portion
having a relatively great straining force is composed of a patch of
a fabric, the sewn portions constitute sewn portions where the
patch of the fabric and the main body of the garment are sewn
together. Therefore, the design of the garment is not impaired.
Furthermore, since the sewn portions are such commonly sewn
portions, the leg support garment of the present invention can be
formed with fewer sewn portions. The foregoing is a mere example,
but in the case where the stretchable portion having a relatively
great straining force extends on the lateral side of the leg part
of the garment, approximately from the upper end to the lower end
of the garment, it is preferable that the seam line of the main
body of the garment whose leg part is formed in a cylindrical form
is provided along the hem of the stretchable portion having a
relatively great straining force, since the aforementioned
advantages and the like can be achieved.
[0403] The foregoing description explains the seam line of the main
body of the garment in the case where the leg part thereof is
formed in a cylindrical form, while referring to a few concrete
examples, but the present invention is not limited to the concrete
examples shown in the drawings.
[0404] As described above, with the preferred embodiment of the
present invention, in which the seam line of the main body of the
garment does not run through at least a region covering the
ligamentum collateralle in the stretchable portion having a
relatively great straining force located over the ligamentum
collateralle on the medial side of the knee joint, the
insufficiency of the power for supporting the ligamentum
collateralle medialis can be avoided; the insufficiency of the
power is caused in the case where a seam line runs through at least
a region covering the ligamentum collateralle medialis in the
stretchable portion having a relatively great straining force
located over the ligamentum collateralle medialis, since the
stretchability is decreased by the seam line. Therefore, with the
preferred embodiment of the present invention, the straining force
of the stretchable portion having a great straining force located
over the ligamentum collateralle medialis is displayed
sufficiently, which is preferable.
[0405] In a garment of the present invention, a stretchable portion
having a relatively great straining force may be formed by
laminating a stretchable fabric having a predetermined shape on the
main body of the garment and sewing it, or by laminating a
stretchable fabric having a predetermined shape on the main body of
the garment and bonding it. Particularly, according to the former
method, a garment having durability can be produced easily. Of
course, a leg support garment of the present invention may be
formed by preparing stretchable portions having relatively great
straining forces and other portions as respective parts of
predetermined shapes and seaming them together. However, such
sewing is complex and takes a lot of labor.
[0406] Furthermore, for example, a stretchable portion having a
relatively great straining force may be formed by stretching and
laminating a stretchable fabric having a predetermined shape on the
main body of the garment and sewing or bonding it. These methods
are favorable when applying a stronger straining force by the
stretchable portion having a relatively great straining force.
[0407] Furthermore, a stretchable portion having a relatively great
straining force may be formed by impregnating or coating a
predetermined part of the main body fabric of the garment with a
solution or emulsion of a synthetic resin or rubber having
elasticity followed by drying, or by laminating a film of a
synthetic resin or rubber having elasticity on a predetermined part
of the main body fabric of the garment. According to these methods,
a stretchable portion having a relatively great straining force can
be obtained with a relatively small thickness. As the synthetic
resin having elasticity, suitable elastic resins such as
polyurethane resins, polyester elastomer resins, etc. may be
used.
[0408] Furthermore, a stretchable portion having a relatively great
straining force may be formed by changing the knitting stitch of a
stretchable fabric that forms the main body of the garment to a
stitch with a greater straining force. According to this method,
because lamination also is not necessary, a stretchable portion
having a relatively great straining force can be formed thinner.
The definition of the method in which a stretchable portion having
a relatively great straining force is formed by changing the
knitting stitch as described also includes a method of forming a
stretchable portion having a relatively great straining force by
using, among the fiber materials forming the main body of the
garment, an elastic fiber thicker than those used in other
portions, and a method of forming the same by increasing the
density of the elastic fiber as compared with the other portions.
According to any one of these methods, because lamination also is
not necessary, a stretchable portion having a relatively great
straining force can be formed further thinner.
[0409] Furthermore, in the case where the circular-knitting fabric
is used as the fabric that forms the garment, it is possible to
form the stretchable portions having great straining forces by the
cut-boss knitting method.
[0410] Among the above-described methods for forming a stretchable
portion having a relatively great straining force, preferred are
the method of laminating a stretchable fabric having a
predetermined shape on the main body of the garment and sewing it,
and the method of stretching and laminating a stretchable fabric
having a predetermined shape on the main body of the garment and
sewing it. According to these methods, the straining force of the
stretchable fabric sewn to the main body of the garment may be
slightly smaller than, the same as, or larger than the straining
force of the stretchable fabric of the main body of the garment.
This is because lamination of a stretchable fabric on the main body
of the garment results in increased straining force in the
laminated part. The degree of the straining force of the fabric to
be laminated may be chosen as appropriate depending on the type of
the garment, intended use, preference of the wearer, etc.
[0411] Meanwhile, to facilitate the understanding, the technique
for forming the stretchable portion having a relatively great
straining force by the aforementioned cut-boss knitting method will
be described below, with reference to FIGS. 120 to 122.
[0412] FIGS. 120 to 122 are cross-sectional conceptual process
views illustrating the cut-boss knitting technique in the circular
knitting. A side indicated by a dotted arrow A is a front side of
the circular knitting fabric, and a side indicated by a dotted
arrow B is a back side of the circular knitted fabric.
[0413] First of all, as shown in FIG. 120, when a front yarn 61 and
a back yarn 62 are supplied to a circular knitting machine for
knitting, an intermediate yarn 63 is inserted between the front
yarn 61 and the back yarn 62 so that the front, intermediate, and
back yarns 61, 63, and 62 are supplied together to the circular
knitting machine so as to be knitted in a portion that is to have a
relatively greater straining force by means of the cut-boss
technique. These portions are portions between arrows 64a and 64b
and between arrows 64c and 64d (it should be noted that the
intermediate yarn 63 is indicated with an alternate long and short
dash line for conveniences sake.) In a portion to be formed as the
portion having a relatively small straining force, like the portion
between the arrows 64b and 64c, the intermediate yarn 63 is not
inserted between the front and back yarns 61 and 62 thereby floated
on the back side, so that the portion is knitted with only the
front and back yarns 61 and 62. Subsequently, the intermediate yarn
63 thus floated is cut at the positions indicated by the arrows
64a, 64b, 64c, and 64d. Consequently, as shown in FIG. 121,
portions z.sub.1 and z.sub.3 compose stretchable portions having
relatively great straining forces in which the intermediate yarn 63
is inserted, while a portion z.sub.2 composes a stretchable portion
having a relatively small straining force that is knitted with only
the front and back yarns 1 and 2.
[0414] FIG. 122 is a cross-sectional conceptual view illustrating a
circular knitting fabric obtained by the cut-boss knitting
technique. 61a is a front surface part of the circular knitting
fabric on which the front yarn 61 appears, 62a is a back surface
part of the circular knitting fabric on which the back yarn 62
appears, 63a is a reinforcing layer composed of the intermediate
yarn 63, portions z.sub.1 and z.sub.3 are stretchable portions
having relatively great straining forces, and z.sub.2 is a
stretchable portion having a relatively small straining force.
[0415] In the present invention, the stretchable portion having a
relatively great straining force and the stretchable portion having
a relatively small straining force may be formed by only the
cut-boss knitting technique as described above, or alternatively,
in addition to the foregoing technique, a technique of varying the
straining force by the stitch adjustment in each course of the
circular knitting fabric may be used in combination.
[0416] Although not particularly limited, it is preferable that a
stretchable portion having a relatively great straining force has a
straining force of 0.3 N to 4 N approximately in its length
direction. Within this range of straining force, the functions of
the present invention are exhibited effectively, and moreover
compressive feeling is not too strong, and wearing comfort is
excellent. Even if the straining force of a stretchable portion
having a relatively smaller straining force exceeds 0.3 N, it is
justified as long as the straining force is smaller than those of
any of the strong straining portions formed in the garment.
[0417] In the case where straining forces of fabrics used as a
stretchable portion having a relatively great straining force and a
stretchable portion having a relatively small straining force are
measured, the following tensile test is carried out.
[0418] A 2.5 cm.times.16.0 cm (width.times.length) sample is formed
so that the fabric warp direction (wale direction) is the
lengthwise direction of the sample. The sample is placed so that
the lengthwise direction is directed in the vertical direction, and
both ends of the sample are gripped with clips. The sample is
placed to the constant-speed extension-type tensile tester
("AUTOGRPH AG-500D" manufactured by Shimazu Corporation), with an
upper grip length and a lower grip length being set to be 2.5 cm
and 3.5 cm, respectively, and hence, a space between grips set to
be 10.0 cm. The sample is stretched at a rate of 30.+-.2 cm/min, up
to a stretching degree of 80%. Here, a stress applied to the sample
when the stretching degree is 30% is recorded as a stretching force
(unit: N) [1 gf.apprxeq.0.0098 N]. Then, the stress applied to the
sample stretched to the stretching degree of 80% is removed, and
the sample contracts toward its original length. Here, a stress
applied to the sample when the stretching degree is recovered to
approximately 30% is measured as a straining force (unit: N). The
foregoing tensile tester is set so that these values are recorded
automatically. It should be noted that each of the stretching force
and the straining force was determined by measuring two samples and
averaging the obtained values.
[0419] Here, the stretching degree (%) is a value expressed as
[(d-e)/e].times.100 where d represents a length in a stretching
direction of a fabric in a stretched state, and e represents an
original length of the sample before stretched (i.e., a space
between grips).
[0420] It should be noted that the sample to be used for the
measurement of the stretchability and the straining force
preferably has the size as described above, but if a sample of this
size cannot be cut out from the garment to be measured, a smaller
sample may be used. However, because measurement error increases as
the size of the sample decreases, it is preferable that a sample as
large as possible is cut out and measured.
[0421] The width of a stretchable portion having a relatively great
straining force in a garment of the present invention is not
particularly limited, and it may be chosen as appropriate depending
on the part where the stretchable portion having a relatively great
straining force is present, the strength of the straining force of
the material used, the means for forming the stretchable portion
having a relatively great straining force, the purpose of use of
the garment (for instance, the degree of disorder of the knee of
the wearer, the part that suffers from the disorder, the aim of
preventing disorder, and the type of the sports played), whether
the wearer is an adult or a child, etc. to the extent so that the
object of the present invention is achieved. Besides, the width
necessarily varies with the part where it is applied. Therefore, it
is difficult to specify the width numerically in general, but if
the portion has a very small width, almost in a line form, it is
useless, and the portion preferably has an average width of not
less than 2 cm, and more preferably not less than 3 cm. Normally,
the portion preferably has a width of not more than 15 cm where the
portion is widest, and more preferably not more than 13 cm.
[0422] Of course, the width of a stretchable portion having a
relatively great straining force may be partially smaller or
greater depending on the part to the extent so that the object of
the present invention is achieved.
[0423] In the present invention, the various stretchable portion
having relatively great straining forces for supporting the muscles
are mainly provided in directions approximately along the
directions of fibers of the muscles and ligaments except for
specific details. By so doing, the contraction of the muscles and
the functions of the ligaments are supported without impairing the
function of the muscles and ligaments.
[0424] Furthermore, a garment of the present invention may
preferably use, as a stretchable fabric, a polyurethane
fiber-containing power net that is a polyurethane fiber-containing
stretch raschel knitted fabric, a polyurethane fiber-containing
two-way stretch tricot knitted fabric that is a polyurethane
fiber-containing tricot knitted fabric, a polyurethane
fiber-containing circular knitting fabric, etc. Therefore, compared
with a conventional supporter using a relatively thick pile fabric
or neoprene sheet, etc., a fabric having a thickness in a range as
used when making a usual garment, e.g. from about 0.3 mm to about
0.8 mm, may be used. Thus, a garment can be provided that reduces
the wearer's appearance little such as the figure when worn, fits
well to the body, and has relatively good ventilation. The kind of
the power net includes, for example, a plane power net, satin power
net, two-way stretch raschel, "TRISKIN" (trademark of Urabe
Corporation), etc.
[0425] It is not necessary that all stretchable portions having
relatively great straining forces have the same straining force,
and they may have different straining forces depending on the
part.
[0426] The kind of fiber yarns forming the fabric of the garment is
not particularly limited, and various fiber yarns may be used, such
as various synthetic fiber yarns made of polyester, nylon, etc.,
natural fiber yarns made of cotton, wool, silk, etc., semisynthetic
fiber yarns made of rayon, etc., elastic fiber yarns made of
polyurethane, etc., mixed fiber yarns made of mixtures of at least
two kinds of these, a covering yarn, a water-absorptive quick-dry
yarn, and other processed yarns.
[0427] In the case where an elastic yarn is used, a yarn made of
elastic fibers alone may be used. However, it is more preferable to
use an elastic fiber yarn that is covered with another fiber such
as the aforementioned water-absorptive quick-dry yarn, a synthetic
fiber yarn with an excellent water-repellency, or a natural fiber
yarn, etc., depending on the purpose.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0428] As the garment of the present invention, leg support
garments that exhibit functions described below are provided.
[0429] (1) More specifically, a leg support garment of the present
invention is a leg support garment of a tights type that has
stretchability and is applied in close contact of the human body so
as to support the legs, the leg support garment comprising a
stretchable part having a relatively great straining force,
[0430] wherein the stretchable part having a relatively great
straining force includes a stretchable portion (A) having a
relatively great straining force that: [0431] substantially covers
the ligamentum collateralle on a medial side of the knee joint of
the human body; and [0432] on a superior side of the knee joint,
extends through a length of not less than 1/4 of that of the thigh,
along at least one selected from the musculus group consisting of
the musculus sartorius, the musculus semitendinosus, the musculus
semimembranosus, and the musculus gracilis.
[0433] Therefore, in the leg support garment of a tights type of
the present invention, the stretchable portion (A) having a
relatively great straining force supports the ligamentum
collateralle medialis, and further, on the superior side of the
knee joint, supports at least one selected from the musculus group
consisting of the musculus sartorius, the musculus semitendinosus,
the musculus semimembranosus, and the musculus gracilis that are
located over the ligamentum collateralle medialis and extend
upward. Therefore, a power of pulling up the stretchable portion
having a relatively great straining force that supports the
ligamentum collateralle medialis is produced by the portion
extending upward in the stretchable portion (A) having a relatively
great straining force, thereby increasing the power of supporting
the ligamentum collateralle medialis. Further, at least one of the
musculus sartorius, the musculus semitendinosus, the musculus
semimembranosus, and the musculus gracilis that support the knee
joint in cooperation with the ligamentum collateralle medialis is
also supported by the stretchable portion having a relatively great
straining force. Therefore, the combined actions of these make it
possible to provide a leg support garment that is capable of
protecting the knees and stably maintaining the knee joints without
decreasing the degree of freedom of the movement of the knee
joints, that provides a good feeling when worn, and that is useful
for preventing and reducing gonalgia caused by the instability of
the knees, and further, for preventing injuries to the ligamentum
collateralle medialis caused by sports or the like.
[0434] (2.) Furthermore, a leg support garment of a tights type is
provided that has stretchability and is applied in close contact
with the surface of the human body so as to support the legs, the
leg support garment comprising a stretchable part having a
relatively great straining force,
[0435] wherein the stretchable part having a relatively great
straining force includes a stretchable portion (A) having a
relatively great straining force that: [0436] substantially covers
the ligamentum collateralle on a medial side of the knee joint of
the human body; and [0437] on a superior side of the knee joint,
extends through a length of not less than 1/2 of that of the thigh,
along at least one selected from the musculus group consisting of
the musculus sartorius, the musculus semitendinosus, the musculus
semimembranosus, and the musculus gracilis. In the foregoing leg
support garment of a tights type of the present invention, a length
of a portion covering the thigh is set to be not less than 1/2 of
the length of the thigh. Therefore, the power of pulling the
stretchable portion having a relatively great straining force that
supports the ligamentum collateralle medialis, described in the
above item (1), is exerted more intensely where the portion extends
upward to the superior part of the thigh. Consequently, this
provides a leg support garment in which the power of supporting the
ligamentum collateralle medialis is improved, which is
preferable.
[0438] (3) The leg support garment is a leg support garment
described in the above item (1) or (2) arranged according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention in which the leg
support garment is a garment of a tights type that has a length
capable of covering at least a range from a waistline to a superior
side of the ankle. By so doing, the leg support garment has a
length capable of covering at least a range from a waistline to a
superior side of the ankle. Therefore, the power of pulling the
stretchable portion having a relatively great straining force that
supports the ligamentum collateralle medialis, described in the
above item (1), is exerted further more intensely where the portion
extends upward to the superior part of the thigh. Consequently,
this provides a leg support garment in which the power of
supporting the ligamentum collateralle medialis is improved, which
is preferable. Besides, since it is a tights-type garment, it is
easy to wear, and suitable as sports wear.
[0439] (4) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to the
above item (3) is arranged according to a preferred embodiment of
the present invention wherein:
[0440] the portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A) having
a relatively great straining force is a stretchable portion (A1)
having a relatively great straining force that: [0441]
substantially covers the ligamentum collateralle on the medial side
of the knee joint of the human body; [0442] extends approximately
along a vicinity of a periphery of the patella on a medial side
thereof so as to surround the patella through not less than
approximately 1/4 of the periphery of the patella and to cover at
least a part of an inferior region of the patella, and reaches a
side of the musculus gastrocnemius and/or the musculus soleus on
the medial side; and [0443] on a superior side of the knee joint,
extends from a medial side to a lateral side of the thigh via an
anterior side thereof approximately along the musculus sartorius to
a vicinity of the trochanter major, passing a superior part of the
musculus rectus femoris. By so doing, the stretchable portion
having a relatively great straining force covers a portion of an
inferior region of the patella so as to support the patella as if
pulling up the same from the inferior side, thereby improving the
stability of the knee joint. The portion further supports the
musculus sartorius and extends from the medial side to the lateral
side of the thigh obliquely and spirally toward the vicinity of the
trochanter major, thereby increasing the power for pulling the
stretchable portion having a relatively great straining force that
supports the ligamentum collateralle medialis. This makes it
possible to provide a leg support garment having an increased power
for supporting the ligamentum collateralle medialis, and hence,
this is preferable. Furthermore, this provides the support to the
musculus sartorius that complements the function of the ligamentum
collateralle medialis as well, which is also preferable.
[0444] (5) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to the
above item (4) is arranged according to a preferred embodiment of
the present invention wherein the portion expressed as the
stretchable portion (A1) having a relatively great straining force
further includes a stretchable portion (A1-1) having a relatively
great straining force that extends from a vicinity of the
trochanter major to a vicinity of the waist along the tractus
iliotibialis. By so doing, the stretchable portion (A1-1) having a
relatively great straining force is further provided, which extends
from the vicinity of the trochanter major to the waist along the
tractus iliotibialis. Therefore, the function of the item (4) is
enhanced further, as well as the function of intensely pressing the
trochanter major is enhanced also, thereby improving the connection
between the caput ossis femoris and the acetabulum. This is
preferable since further providing a function of enhancing the
stability of the hip joint.
[0445] (6) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to the
above item (4) or (5) is arranged according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention wherein the portion expressed
as the stretchable portion (A1) having a relatively great straining
force further covers at least a part of a superior region of the
patella by extending thereto approximately from a vicinity of the
periphery of the patella on the medial side of the patella. By so
doing, the stretchable portion (A1) having a relatively great
straining force also covers at least a part of the superior region
of the patella. Therefore, the knee joint is supported therefrom as
well as from the inferior region of the patella, thereby allowing
more stability of the knee joint to be achieved, which is
preferable.
[0446] (7) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to any
one of the above items (4) to (6) is arranged according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the portion
expressed as the stretchable portion (A1) having a relatively great
straining force further includes a stretchable portion (A1-2)
having a relatively great straining force that extends obliquely
upward from a side of the musculus gastrocnemius on the medial side
through a vicinity of the periphery of the patella on the inferior
side of the patella to a lateral side of the patella. By so doing,
the periphery of the patella is covered from a side of the musculus
gastrocnemius on the medial side, i.e., from the inferior medial
side, and a power of pulling up the same in an obliquely upward
direction is exerted thereto. Therefore, this provides more
stability of the knee joint, and hence, the present embodiment is
preferable.
[0447] (8) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to any
one of the above items (4) to (7) is arranged according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the
stretchable part having a relatively great straining force further
includes a stretchable portion (B) having a relatively great
straining force that: [0448] extends from a vicinity of the
trochanter major downward approximately along the tractus
iliotibialis to a lateral side of the patella; [0449] covers at
least a part of the inferior region of the patella extending from
the lateral side thereof; and [0450] passes a side of the musculus
gastrocnemius and/or the musculus soleus on the lateral side. By so
doing, the stretchable portion (B) having a relatively great
straining force is further provided. Therefore, the knee and leg
are supported from the both sides at the femoral region and the
lower leg region, and further, the musculus gastrocnemius and/or
the musculus soleus are supported from their sides without
hindering their actions. Furthermore, the function of pressing the
trochanter major is enhanced further, thereby improving the
connection between the caput ossis femoris and the acetabulum.
Therefore, this reinforces a function of enhancing the stability of
the hip joint.
[0451] (9) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to the
above item (3) is arranged according to a preferred embodiment of
the present invention wherein the portion expressed as the
stretchable portion (A) having a relatively great straining force
is a stretchable portion (A2) having a relatively great straining
force that: [0452] substantially covers the ligamentum collateralle
on the medial side of the knee joint of the human body; [0453]
extends approximately along a vicinity of a periphery of the
patella on a medial side thereof so as to surround the patella
through not less than approximately 1/4 of the periphery of the
patella and to cover at least a part of an inferior region of the
patella, and reaches a side of the musculus gastrocnemius and/or
the musculus soleus on the medial side; and [0454] on a superior
side of the knee joint, extends approximately along at least one
selected from the musculus group consisting of the musculus
semitendinosus, the musculus semimembranosus, and the musculus
gracilis, and reaches a vicinity below the crotch or of the sulcus
gluteus. By so doing, the stretchable portion having a relatively
great straining force covers at least a part of the inferior region
of the patella, thereby supporting the patella as if pulling up the
patella from the inferior side thereof. As a result, the stability
of the knee joint is improved. Furthermore, at least one of the
musculus semitendinosus, the musculus semimembranosus, and the
musculus gracilis that are located on the medial side of the thigh,
thereby increasing the power of pulling the stretchable portion
having a relatively great straining force that supports the
ligamentum collateralle medialis. Consequently, a leg support
garment with an increased power for supporting the ligamentum
collateralle medialis is provided, which is preferable.
Furthermore, at least one of the musculus semitendinosus, the
musculus semimembranosus, and the musculus gracilis that complement
the function of the ligamentum collateralle medialis is supported,
which is also preferable.
[0455] (10) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to the
above item (9) is arranged according to a preferred embodiment of
the present invention wherein the portion expressed as the
stretchable portion (A2) having a relatively great straining force
is a stretchable portion (A2-1) having a relatively great straining
force that further covers at least a part of a superior region of
the patella by extending thereto approximately from a vicinity of
the periphery of the patella on the medial side of the patella.
[0456] By so doing, the stretchable portion (A2) having a
relatively great straining force also covers at least a part of the
superior region of the patella. Therefore, the knee joint is
supported therefrom as well as from the inferior region of the
patella, thereby allowing more stability of the knee joint to be
achieved, which is preferable.
[0457] (11) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to the
above item (3) is arranged according to a preferred embodiment of
the present invention wherein the portion expressed as the
stretchable portion (A) having a relatively great straining force
is a stretchable portion (A3) having a relatively great straining
force that: [0458] substantially covers the ligamentum collateralle
on the medial side of the knee joint of the human body; [0459]
extends approximately along a vicinity of a periphery of the
patella on a medial side thereof so as to surround the patella
through not less than approximately 1/4 of the periphery of the
patella and to cover at least a part of an inferior region of the
patella, and reaches a side of the musculus gastrocnemius and/or
the musculus soleus on the medial side; and [0460] on a superior
side of the knee joint, extends from a medial side to a lateral
side of the thigh via a posterior side thereof approximately along
the musculus semitendinosus and/or the musculus semimembranosus to
a vicinity of the trochanter major, passing over the musculus
biceps femoris obliquely. By so doing, the stretchable portion
having a relatively great straining force is provided, which
extends from the side of the musculus gastrocnemius and/or the
musculus soleus on the medial side upwards, then passes the thigh
obliquely in a spiral form from the medial side to the lateral side
thereof via the posterior side thereof, and reaches the vicinity of
the trochanter major. Therefore, it is possible to support the
patella as if pulling up the same from the inferior side thereof,
thereby improving the stability of the knee joint. Furthermore, it
is also possible to increase the power of pulling the stretchable
portion having a relatively great straining force that supports the
ligamentum collateralle medialis. Consequently, a leg support
garment with an increased power for supporting the ligamentum
collateralle medialis is provided, which is preferable.
Furthermore, the musculus semitendinosus and/or the musculus
semimembranosus that complements the function of the ligamentum
collateralle medialis is supported, which is preferable.
[0461] (12) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to the
above item (11) is arranged according to a preferred embodiment of
the present invention wherein the portion expressed as the
stretchable portion (A3) having a relatively great straining force
is a stretchable portion (A3-1) having a relatively great straining
force that further covers at least a part of a superior region of
the patella by extending thereto approximately from a vicinity of
the periphery of the patella on the medial side of the patella. By
so doing, the stretchable portion (A3) having a relatively great
straining force also covers at least a part of the superior region
of the patella. Therefore, the knee joint is supported therefrom as
well as from the inferior region of the patella, thereby allowing
more stability of the knee joint to be achieved, which is
preferable.
[0462] (13) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to any
one of the above items (9) to (12) is arranged according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the
stretchable part having a relatively great straining force further
includes a stretchable portion (B) having a relatively great
straining force that: [0463] extends from a side part of the waist
approximately along the tractus iliotibialis via a vicinity of the
trochanter major, then, approximately along the tractus
iliotibialis to a lateral side of the patella; [0464] covers at
least a part of an inferior region of the patella, or at least a
part of inferior and superior regions of the patella; and [0465]
passes a side of the musculus gastrocnemius and/or the musculus
soleus on a lateral side of the same. By so doing, the stretchable
portion (B) having a relatively great straining force is further
provided. Therefore, the knee and leg are supported from the both
sides at the femoral region and the lower leg region, and further,
the musculus gastrocnemius and/or the musculus soleus are supported
from their sides without hindering their actions. Furthermore, the
function of pressing the trochanter major is enhanced further,
thereby improving the connection between the caput ossis femoris
and the acetabulum. Therefore, this reinforces a function of
enhancing the stability of the hip joint.
[0466] (14) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to any
one of the above items (4) to (8) is arranged according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the portion
expressed as the stretchable portion (A) having a relatively great
straining force is the stretchable portion (A1) having a relatively
great straining force, and further includes, on a superior side of
a knee-joint-part of the stretchable portion (A1) having a
relatively great straining force, a stretchable portion (A2')
having a relatively great straining force that extends
approximately along at least one selected from the musculus group
consisting of the musculus semitendinosus, the musculus
semimembranosus, and the musculus gracilis to a vicinity of the
crotch or a vicinity of the sulcus gluteus. By so doing, the
stretchable portion having a relatively great straining force is
present in a spiral form, extending obliquely from the medial side
to the lateral side of the thigh, and then, to the trochanter
major. In addition, the stretchable portion (A2') having a
relatively great straining force that branches therefrom on the
superior side of the knee joint is present also, extending through
the thigh approximately along at least one selected from the
musculus group consisting of the musculus semitendinosus, the
musculus semimembranosus, and the musculus gracilis to the vicinity
of the crotch or the vicinity of the sulcus gluteus. The actions of
these in combination further increase the power of pulling the
stretchable portion having a relatively great straining force that
supports the ligamentum collateralle medialis. Consequently, a leg
support garment with an increased power for supporting the
ligamentum collateralle medialis is provided, which is preferable.
Furthermore, along with the musculus sartorius that complements the
function of the ligamentum collateralle medialis, at least one
selected from the musculus group consisting of the musculus
semitendinosus, the musculus semimembranosus, and the musculus
gracilis is also supported, which is preferable. Furthermore, the
stretchable portion having a relatively great straining force that
is provided from the vicinity of the trochanter major to the
vicinity of the waist along the tractus iliotibialis provides a
function of pressing the trochanter major, thereby improving the
connection between the caput ossis femoris and the acetabulum.
Therefore, this further provides a function of enhancing the
stability of the hip joint, which is preferable.
[0467] (15) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to the
above item (3) is arranged according to a preferred embodiment of
the present invention wherein:
[0468] the portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A) having
a relatively great straining force is a stretchable portion (A2')
having a relatively great straining force that: [0469]
substantially covers the ligamentum collateralle on the medial side
of the knee joint of the human body; [0470] extends approximately
along a vicinity of a periphery of the patella on a medial side
thereof; [0471] surrounds the patella through at least
approximately 1/2 or more of the periphery of the patella so as to
cover at least a part of inferior and superior regions of the
patella, and reaches a side of the musculus gastrocnemius and/or
the musculus soleus on the medial side; and [0472] on a superior
side of the knee joint, extends approximately along at least one
selected from the musculus group consisting of the musculus
semitendinosus, the musculus semimembranosus, and the musculus
gracilis, and reaches a vicinity below the crotch and a vicinity of
the sulcus gluteus; and,
[0473] the stretchable part having a relatively great straining
force further includes a stretchable portion (B') having a
relatively great straining force that: [0474] extends from a side
part of the waist approximately along the tractus iliotibialis via
a vicinity of the trochanter major, then, approximately along the
tractus iliotibialis to a lateral side of the patella; [0475]
surrounds the patella through approximately 1/2 or more of the
periphery of the patella so as to cover at least a part of inferior
and superior regions of the patella; and [0476] passes a side of
the musculus gastrocnemius and/or the musculus soleus oh the
lateral side. By so doing, the stretchable portions having
relatively great straining forces supports the knee and leg from
both sides in the femoral region and the lower leg region, without
hindering the action of the musculus vastus lateralis and the
musculus vastus medialis on the anterior side of the thigh.
Further, the foregoing embodiment allows the knee joint to be
supported as if wrapped from the surrounding, thereby providing
more support to the knee joint. Besides, the function of pressing
the trochanter major is reinforced, thereby further improving the
connection between the caput ossis femoris and the acetabulum.
Therefore, the function of enhancing the stability of the hip joint
is reinforced, which is preferable.
[0477] (16) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to the
above item (15) is arranged according to a preferred embodiment of
the present invention wherein:
[0478] the stretchable portion (A2') having a relatively great
straining force includes two portions projecting toward the lateral
side and covering a part of the inferior region and a part of the
superior region of the patella, respectively;
[0479] the stretchable portion (B') having a relatively great
straining force includes two portions projecting toward the medial
side and covering a part of the inferior region and a part of the
superior region of the patella, respectively;
[0480] said two projecting portions of the stretchable portion
(A2') having a relatively great straining force are arranged at
positions opposite to said two projecting portions of the
stretchable portion (B') having a relatively great straining force,
respectively, the positions being slightly shifted to the inferior
side from positions of said two portions of the stretchable portion
(B') having a relatively great straining force, respectively;
[0481] and
[0482] when viewed from the front, the portion of the stretchable
portion (A2') having a relatively great straining force that covers
the inferior region of the patella has a relatively greater
area.
[0483] By so doing, the function described in the above item (15)
is achieved. Meanwhile, in the lower leg region, on the medial
side, the muscles are fewer and the tibia is in contact with the
surface of the body, whereas on the lateral side of the lower leg
region, the musculus gastrocnemius is on the lateral side of the
fibula. Therefore, the foregoing embodiment provides the support of
the knee joint as if pulling the medial side thereof having fewer
muscles more intensely from the inferior side, thereby reinforcing
the support of the ligamentum collateralle medialis, which is
preferable.
[0484] (17) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to any
one of the items (2) to (16) is arranged according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention wherein the stretchable part
having a relatively great straining force further includes:
[0485] a stretchable portion (C) having a relatively great
straining force that, on the posterior side of the human body,
covers a region extending from a certain position in a range from
the vertebrae lumbales to the os sacrum, through an approximately
middle part of the musculus gluteus maximus at right and left,
approximately in a direction along muscular fibers of the musculus
gluteus maximus via the top of the bulge of the hip or the vicinity
of the same to at least the vicinity of trochanter major; and
[0486] a stretchable portion (D) having a relatively great
straining force that, on the anterior side of the human body,
covers a region extending from a position on the musculus rectus
abdominis in the hypogastric region, obliquely downward
approximately in a direction along muscular fibers of the musculus
obliquus internus abdominis at right and left to the vicinity of
the trochanter major.
[0487] By so doing, the stretchable portion (C) having a relatively
great straining force is provided, which provides the firm support
of the musculus gluteus maximus in the muscular fiber direction
thereof. Thus, it can play a large role in supporting the rotating
motion of the hips, preventing a decrease in the rotating angle of
the hips, and stabilizing the pelvis in anterior-posterior
direction. For an elderly person, it is effective in preventing
falling down. Furthermore, it can play a large role in extending
the hip joint in anterior-posterior direction when running,
jumping, and climbing up a slope. Besides, the stretchable portion
(D) having a relatively great straining force is provided, which
supports a part of the musculus rectus abdominis and the musculus
obliquus internus abdominis, thereby providing functions of
reducing lumbar lordosis, maintaining good posture, making youthful
figure, and preventing generation of pains such as lumbar
pains.
[0488] (18) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to the
above item (1) or (2) is arranged according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention wherein the leg support garment
is a garment of a tights type that has a length capable of covering
at least a range from a waistline to an inferior side of the knee.
By so doing, the leg support garment has a length capable of
covering at least a range from the waistline to the inferior side
of the knee. Therefore, the power of pulling the stretchable
portion having a relatively great straining force that supports the
ligamentum collateralle medialis, described in the above item (1),
is exerted more intensely where the portion extends upward to the
superior part of the thigh. Consequently, this provides a leg
support garment in which the power of supporting the ligamentum
collateralle medialis is improved, which is preferable. Moreover,
since it is a tights-type garment, it is easy to wear, and suitable
as sports wear. Particularly, it is suitably worn in high
temperature areas or in the hot season.
[0489] (19) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to the
above item (18) is arranged according to a preferred embodiment of
the present invention wherein:
[0490] the portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A) having
a relatively great straining force is a stretchable portion
(A.sup.21) having a relatively great straining force that: [0491]
substantially covers the ligamentum collateralle on the medial side
of the knee joint of the human body; [0492] extends approximately
along a vicinity of a periphery of the patella on a medial side
thereof so as to surround the patella through not less than
approximately 1/4 of the periphery of the patella and to cover at
least a part of an inferior region of the patella, and reaches a
side of a superior part of the musculus gastrocnemius on the medial
side; and [0493] on a superior side of the knee joint, extends from
a medial side to a lateral side of the thigh via an anterior side
thereof approximately along the musculus sartorius to a vicinity of
the trochanter major, passing a superior part of the musculus
rectus femoris. By so doing, the stretchable portion having a
relatively great straining force covers a portion of an inferior
region of the patella so as to support the patella as if pulling up
the same from the inferior side, thereby improving the stability of
the knee joint. The portion further supports the musculus sartorius
and extends from the medial side to the lateral side of the thigh
obliquely and spirally toward the vicinity of the trochanter major,
thereby increasing the power for pulling the stretchable portion
having a relatively great straining force that supports the
ligamentum collateralle medialis. This makes it possible to provide
a leg support garment having an increased power for supporting the
ligamentum collateralle medialis, and hence, this is preferable.
Furthermore, this provides the support to the musculus sartorius
that complements the function of the ligamentum collateralle
medialis as well, which is also preferable.
[0494] (20) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to the
above item (19) is arranged according to a preferred embodiment of
the present invention wherein the portion expressed as the
stretchable portion (A.sup.21) having a relatively great straining
force further includes a stretchable portion (A.sup.21-1) having a
relatively great straining force that extends from a vicinity of
the trochanter major to a vicinity of the waist along the tractus
iliotibialis. By so doing, the stretchable portion (A.sup.21-1)
having a relatively great straining force is further provided,
which extends from the vicinity of the trochanter major to the
waist along the tractus iliotibialis. Therefore, the function of
the item (19) is enhanced further, as well as the function of
intensely pressing the trochanter major is enhanced also, thereby
improving the connection between the caput ossis femoris and the
acetabulum. This is preferable since further providing a function
of enhancing the stability of the hip joint.
[0495] (21) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to the
above item (19) or (20) is arranged according to a preferred
embodiment of the present invention wherein the portion expressed
as the stretchable portion (A.sup.21) having a relatively great
straining force further covers at least a part of a superior region
of the patella by extending thereto approximately from a vicinity
of the periphery of the patella on the medial side of the patella.
By so doing, the stretchable portion (A.sup.21) having a relatively
great straining force also covers at least a part of the superior
region of the patella. Therefore, the knee joint is supported
therefrom as well as from the inferior region of the patella,
thereby allowing more stability of the knee joint to be achieved,
which is preferable.
[0496] (22) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to any
one of the above items (19) to (20) is arranged according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the
stretchable part having a relatively great straining force further
includes a stretchable portion (B.sup.2) having a relatively great
straining force that: [0497] extends from a vicinity of the
trochanter major downward approximately along the tractus
iliotibialis to a lateral side of the patella; [0498] covers at
least a part of the inferior region of the patella extending from
the lateral side thereof; and [0499] reaches a side of a superior
part of the musculus gastrocnemius on the lateral side. By so
doing, the stretchable portion (B.sup.2) having a relatively great
straining force is further provided. Therefore, the knee is
supported from the both sides, whereby the support of the knee is
reinforced. Furthermore, the function of pressing the trochanter
major is enhanced further, thereby improving the connection between
the caput ossis femoris and the acetabulum. Therefore, this
reinforces a function of enhancing the stability of the hip
joint.
[0500] (23) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to the
above item (18) is arranged according to a preferred embodiment of
the present invention wherein the portion expressed as the
stretchable portion (A) having a relatively great straining force
is a stretchable portion (A.sup.22) having a relatively great
straining force that: [0501] substantially covers the ligamentum
collateralle on the medial side of the knee joint of the human
body; [0502] extends approximately along a vicinity of a periphery
of the patella on a medial side thereof so as to surround the
patella through not less than approximately 1/4 of the periphery of
the patella and to cover at least a part of an inferior region of
the patella, and reaches a side of a superior part of the musculus
gastrocnemius on the medial side; and [0503] on a superior side of
the knee joint, extends approximately along at least one selected
from the musculus group consisting of the musculus semitendinosus,
the musculus semimembranosus, and the musculus gracilis, and
reaches a vicinity below the crotch or of the sulcus gluteus. By so
doing, the stretchable portion having a relatively great straining
force covers at least a part of the inferior region of the patella,
thereby supporting the patella as if pulling up the patella from
the inferior side thereof. As a result, the stability of the knee
joint is improved. Furthermore, at least one of the musculus
semitendinosus, the musculus semimembranosus, and the musculus
gracilis that are located on the medial side of the thigh, thereby
increasing the power of pulling the stretchable portion having a
relatively great straining force that supports the ligamentum
collateralle medialis. Consequently, a leg support garment with an
increased power for supporting the ligamentum collateralle medialis
is provided, which is preferable. Furthermore, at least one of the
musculus semitendinosus, the musculus semimembranosus, and the
musculus gracilis that complement the function of the ligamentum
collateralle medialis is supported, which is preferable.
[0504] (24) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to the
above item (23) is arrange according to a preferred embodiment of
the present invention wherein the portion expressed as the
stretchable portion (A.sup.22) having a relatively great straining
force is a stretchable portion (A.sup.22-1) having a relatively
great straining force that further covers at least a part of a
superior region of the patella by extending thereto approximately
from a vicinity of the periphery of the patella on the medial side
of the patella.
[0505] By so doing, the stretchable portion (A.sup.22) having a
relatively great straining force also covers at least a part of the
superior region of the patella. Therefore, the knee joint is
supported therefrom as well as from the inferior region of the
patella, thereby allowing more stability of the knee joint to be
achieved, which is preferable.
[0506] (25) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to the
above item (18) is arranged according to a preferred embodiment of
the present invention wherein the portion expressed as the
stretchable portion (A) having a relatively great straining force
is a stretchable portion (A.sup.23) having a relatively great
straining force that: [0507] substantially covers the ligamentum
collateralle on the medial side of the knee joint of the human
body; [0508] extends approximately along a vicinity of a periphery
of the patella on a medial side thereof so as to surround the
patella through not less than approximately 1/4 of the periphery of
the patella and to cover at least a part of an inferior region of
the patella, and reaches a side of a superior part of the musculus
gastrocnemius on the medial side; and [0509] on a superior side of
the knee joint, extends from a medial side to a lateral side of the
thigh via a posterior side thereof approximately along the musculus
semitendinosus and/or the musculus semimembranosus to a vicinity of
the trochanter major, passing over the musculus biceps femoris
obliquely. By so doing, the stretchable portion having a relatively
great straining force is present, extending from the medial side to
the lateral side of the thigh via the posterior side thereof
obliquely and spirally toward the vicinity of the trochanter major,
thereby supporting the patella as if pulling up the same from the
inferior side, and improving the stability of the knee joint.
Furthermore, the power of pulling the stretchable portion having a
relatively great straining force that supports the ligamentum
collateralle medialis is increased. This makes it possible to
provide a leg support garment having an increased power for
supporting the ligamentum collateralle medialis, and hence, this is
preferable. Furthermore, this provides the support to the musculus
semitendinosus and/or the musculus semimembranosus that complements
the function of the ligamentum collateralle medialis as well, which
is also preferable.
[0510] (26) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to the
above item (25) is arranged according to a preferred embodiment of
the present invention wherein the portion expressed as the
stretchable portion (A.sup.23) having a relatively great straining
force is a stretchable portion (A.sup.23-1) having a relatively
great straining force that further covers at least a part of a
superior region of the patella by extending thereto approximately
from a vicinity of the periphery of the patella on the medial side
of the patella.
[0511] By so doing, the stretchable portion (A.sup.33) having a
relatively great straining force also covers at least a part of the
superior region of the patella. Therefore, the knee joint is
supported therefrom as well as from the inferior region of the
patella, thereby allowing more stability of the knee, which is
preferable.
[0512] (27) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to any
one of the above items (23) to (26) is arranged according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the
stretchable part having a relatively great straining force further
includes a stretchable portion (B.sup.2) having a relatively great
straining force that: [0513] extends from a side part of the waist
approximately along the tractus iliotibialis via a vicinity of the
trochanter major, then, approximately along the tractus
iliotibialis to a lateral side of the patella; [0514] covers at
least a part of an inferior region of the patella, or at least a
part of inferior and superior regions of the patella; and [0515]
reaches a side of a superior part of the musculus gastrocnemius on
the lateral side. By so doing, the stretchable portions (B.sup.2)
having relatively great straining forces are further provided.
Therefore, the knee is supported from both of the sides, whereby
the support of the knee is reinforced. Besides, the function of
pressing the trochanter major is reinforced, thereby further
improving the connection between the caput ossis femoris and the
acetabulum. Therefore, the function of enhancing the stability of
the hip joint is reinforced.
[0516] (28) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to any
one of the above items (19) to (22) is arranged according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the portion
expressed as the stretchable portion (A) having a relatively great
straining force is the stretchable portion (A.sup.21) having a
relatively great straining force, and further includes, on a
superior side of a knee-joint-part of the stretchable portion
(A.sup.21) having a relatively great straining force, a stretchable
portion (A.sup.22') having a relatively great straining force that
extends approximately along at least one selected from the musculus
group consisting of the musculus semitendinosus, the musculus
semimembranosus, and the musculus gracilis to a vicinity of the
crotch or a vicinity of the sulcus gluteus.
[0517] By so doing, the stretchable portions having relatively
great straining forces are present in a spiral form, extending
obliquely from the medial side to the lateral side of the thigh,
then, to the trochanter major. In addition, the stretchable portion
(A.sup.22') having a relatively great straining force that branches
therefrom on the superior side of the knee joint is present,
extending through the thigh approximately along at least one
selected from the musculus group consisting of the musculus
semitendinosus, the musculus semimembranosus, and the musculus
gracilis to the vicinity of the crotch or the sulcus gluteus. The
actions of these in combination increases the power of pulling the
stretchable portion having a relatively great straining force that
supports the ligamentum collateralle medialis. Consequently, a leg
support garment with an increased power for supporting the
ligamentum collateralle medialis is provided, which is preferable.
Furthermore, along with the musculus sartorius that complements the
function of the ligamentum collateralle medialis, at least one
selected from the musculus group consisting of the musculus
semitendinosus, the musculus semimembranosus, and the musculus
gracilis is also supported, which is preferable. Furthermore, the
stretchable portion having a relatively great 'straining force that
is provided from the vicinity of the trochanter major to the
vicinity of the waist along the tractus iliotibialis provides a
function of pressing the trochanter major, thereby improving the
connection between the caput ossis femoris and the acetabulum.
Therefore, this further provides a function of enhancing the
stability of the hip joint, which is preferable.
[0518] (29) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to the
above item (18) is arranged according to a preferred embodiment of
the present invention wherein:
[0519] the portion expressed as the stretchable portion (A) having
a relatively great straining force is a stretchable portion
(A.sup.22') having a relatively great straining force that: [0520]
substantially covers the ligamentum collateralle on the medial side
of the knee joint of the human body; [0521] extends approximately
along a vicinity of a periphery of the patella on a medial side
thereof; [0522] surrounds the patella through at least
approximately 1/2 or more of the periphery of the patella so as to
cover at least a part of inferior and superior regions of the
patella, and reaches a side of a superior part of the musculus
gastrocnemius on the medial side; and [0523] on a superior side of
the knee joint, extends approximately along at least one selected
from the musculus group consisting of the musculus semitendinosus,
the musculus semimembranosus, and the musculus gracilis, and
reaches a vicinity below the crotch and a vicinity of the sulcus
gluteus; and,
[0524] the stretchable part having a relatively great straining
force further includes a stretchable portion (B.sup.2') having a
relatively great straining force that: [0525] extends from a side
part of the waist approximately along the tractus iliotibialis via
a vicinity of the trochanter major, then, approximately along the
tractus iliotibialis to a lateral side of the patella; [0526]
surrounds the patella through approximately 1/2 or more of the
periphery of the patella so as to cover at least a part of inferior
and superior regions of the patella; and [0527] reaches a side of a
superior part of the musculus gastrocnemius on the lateral side. By
so doing, the stretchable portions having relatively great
straining forces support the knee and leg from both sides in the
femoral region and the lower leg region, without hindering the
action of the musculus vastus lateralis and the musculus vastus
medialis on the anterior side of the thigh. Further, the knee joint
is supported as if wrapped from the surrounding, whereby further
support of the knee joint is provided. Besides, the function of
pressing the trochanter major is reinforced, thereby further
improving the connection between the caput ossis femoris and the
acetabulum. Therefore, the function of enhancing the stability of
the hip joint is reinforced, which is preferable.
[0528] (30) Furthermore, the :leg support garment according to the
item (29) is arranged according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention wherein:
[0529] the stretchable portion (A.sup.22') having a relatively
great straining force includes two portions projecting toward the
lateral side and covering a part of the inferior region and a part
of the superior region of the patella, respectively;
[0530] the stretchable portion (B.sup.2') having a relatively great
straining force includes two portions projecting toward the medial
side and covering a part of the inferior region and a part of the
superior region of the patella, respectively;
[0531] said two projecting portions of the stretchable portion
(A.sup.22') having a relatively great straining force are arranged
at positions opposite to said two projecting portions of the
stretchable portion (B.sup.2') having a relatively great straining
force, respectively, the positions being slightly shifted to the
inferior side from positions of said two portions of the
stretchable portion (B.sup.2') having a relatively great straining
force, respectively;
[0532] and
[0533] a vertex of the portion of the stretchable portion
(A.sup.22') having a relatively great straining force that covers
the inferior region of the patella is positioned at center of the
patella, or slightly on a lateral side from the center. By so
doing, the function described in the above item (29) is achieved.
Meanwhile, in the lower leg region, on the medial side, the muscles
are fewer and the tibia is in contact with the surface of the body,
whereas on the lateral side of the lower leg region, the musculus
gastrocnemius is on the lateral side of the fibula. Therefore, the
foregoing embodiment provides the support of the knee joint as if
pulling the medial side thereof having fewer muscles more intensely
from the inferior side, thereby reinforcing the support of the
ligamentum collateralle medialis, which is preferable.
[0534] (31) Furthermore, the leg support garment according to any
one of the above items (18) to (30) is arranged according to a
preferred embodiment of the present invention wherein the
stretchable part having a relatively great straining force further
includes:
[0535] a stretchable portion (C) having a relatively great
straining force that, on the posterior side of the human body,
covers a region extending from a certain position in a range from
the vertebrae lumbales to the os sacrum, through an approximately
middle part of the musculus gluteus maximus at right and left,
approximately in a direction along muscular fibers of the musculus
gluteus maximus via the top of the bulge of the hip or the vicinity
of the same to at least the vicinity of trochanter major; and
[0536] a stretchable portion (D) having a relatively great
straining force that, on the anterior side of the human body,
covers a region extending from a position on the musculus rectus
abdominis in the hypogastric region, obliquely downward
approximately in a direction along muscular fibers of the musculus
obliquus internus abdominis at right and left to the vicinity of
the trochanter major.
[0537] By so doing, the stretchable portion (C) having a relatively
great straining force is provided, which provides the firm support
of the musculus gluteus maximus in the muscular fiber direction
thereof Thus, it can play a large role in supporting the rotating
motion of the hips, preventing a decrease in the rotating angle of
the hips, and stabilizing the pelvis in anterior-posterior
direction. For an elderly person, it is effective in preventing
falling down. Furthermore, it can play a large role in extending
the hip joint in anterior-posterior direction when running,
jumping, and climbing up a slope. Besides, the stretchable portion
(D) having a relatively great straining force is provided, which
supports a part of the musculus rectus abdominis and the musculus
obliquus internus abdominis, thereby providing functions of
reducing lumbar lordosis, maintaining good posture, making youthful
figure, and preventing generation of pains such as lumbar
pains.
[0538] As described above, the leg support garments of the present
invention are advantageously used as leg support garments such as
long tights for sports, semi-long tights for sports, etc., that are
capable of effectively protecting the knees and stably maintaining
the knee joints without decreasing the degree of freedom of the
movement of the knee joints, that provides a good feeling when
worn, and that is useful for preventing and reducing gonalgia of
the knees, and further, for preventing injuries to the ligamentum
collateralle medialis caused by sports or the like.
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