U.S. patent application number 12/171221 was filed with the patent office on 2010-01-14 for hoisery article with a user-adjustable tension retaining component.
This patent application is currently assigned to Mr. Edward Etkin. Invention is credited to Piuter Nisimov.
Application Number | 20100005567 12/171221 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41503777 |
Filed Date | 2010-01-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100005567 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nisimov; Piuter |
January 14, 2010 |
HOISERY ARTICLE WITH A USER-ADJUSTABLE TENSION RETAINING
COMPONENT
Abstract
The present invention provides a hosiery article (such as socks,
stockings, hose, leggings, panty hose, etc.) that includes a novel
configurable retaining component with a range of various levels of
tension and compression forces that are selectable and adjustable
by a user. Advantageously, when the inventive hosiery articles are
worn, the user (e.g., the wearer) is able to adjust the level of
tension and compression force exerted by each article as the
circumference of their lower limbs changes throughout the day
and/or in response to one or more environmental factors, and/or in
response to one or more physical and/or health conditions. As a
result, the user is always able to maintain their desired balance
between appearance and comfort of the worn novel hosiery articles.
Furthermore, because each worn novel hosiery article is
independently adjustable, users can configure different levels of
compression force and tension for each retaining component of each
worn article to maintained desired levels of comfort and an
aesthetically pleasing appearance even when the wearer's limbs each
swell to a different size. In an alternate embodiment of the
invention, at least a portion of each retaining component may be
provided with one or more decorative elements. In yet another
embodiment of the invention, the novel hosiery article may include
a retaining component at least a portion of which is removable and
replaceable by the user.
Inventors: |
Nisimov; Piuter; (Brooklyn,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
EDWARD ETKIN, ESQ.
Law Office of Edward Etkin, PC, 228 West End Avenue, Suite A
Brooklyn
NY
11235
US
|
Assignee: |
Etkin; Mr. Edward
Brooklyn
NY
|
Family ID: |
41503777 |
Appl. No.: |
12/171221 |
Filed: |
July 10, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/240 ;
2/239 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41B 11/125
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/240 ;
2/239 |
International
Class: |
A41B 11/00 20060101
A41B011/00; A43B 17/00 20060101 A43B017/00 |
Claims
1. A hosiery article, sized and configured to be worn on a
predefined region of a user's lower limb comprising the user's leg,
ankle, and foot, the limb region having a predetermined portion of
a diameter that varies between a first diameter value and a second
diameter value over a period of time, the article comprising: an
article body composed of a flexible material, comprising a lower
region for receiving the user's foot, a middle region, positioned
above the lower region, for receiving at least the user's ankle,
and an upper region of a third diameter, positioned above the
middle region for receiving a predetermined portion of the user's
leg; a configurable tension retaining component, positioned within
said upper article region and connected to said article body,
operable to exert a tension force on a proximal region of the
user's leg, that is sufficient to at least partially retain said
upper region of said article proximal to a predetermined position
thereupon selected by the user when placing the article on the
user's lower limb, wherein said tension retaining component is
further operable by the user to selectively change said tension
force exerted thereby on said proximal leg region, by adjusting
said third diameter to a user-determined diameter value within a
predetermined range between a fourth diameter and a fifth diameter,
such that the user is thereby empowered to alter said tension force
exerted on at least a portion of the leg thereof, to maintain a
desired user-determined level of comfort in wearing the article, in
response to a change in the diameter value of the predetermined
potion of the users limb region.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to hosiery articles,
and more particularly to hosiery articles with tension retaining
components operable to maintain a worn hosiery article at a
predetermined desired height.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Various hosiery articles (such as socks, stockings, panty
hose, etc.) have been integral wardrobe elements for centuries. The
broad range of hosiery articles comprises a number of categories
(socks, stockings, leggings, panty hose, etc.), with corresponding
sub-categories (sport socks, dress socks, winter socks, knee-high
socks, etc.). In view of the generally conical shape of both lower
and upper human legs, all hosiery articles have at least one
component in common--a retaining component responsible for
maintaining the position of each worn article at an appropriate
height on the leg. For many years, the most common retaining
components included ribbons, ties, suspenders (garters, sock
suspenders, etc.), and equivalents thereof.
[0003] However, with the advent of elastic fabrics in the past
several decades, the most common retaining component in the
majority of modern hosiery items has been a section of elastic
material (e.g., stretchable, incorporating one or more rubber
bands, etc.), disposed near the top portion of the article, and
sized and configured to compress and grip a portion of the wearer's
leg proximal to the top of the article to generate sufficient
tension to retain the article at a desired height on the wearer's
leg. Referring now to a prior art FIG. 7, a typical hosiery article
500 (e.g., a sock) is shown. The hosiery article 500 includes a
lower section 502 and a retaining component 504 (for example an
elastic compression band). The article 500 is worn on a wearer's
leg 520 (a first portion of which, 520a is above the top portion of
the article 500, and a second portion of which, 520b, is disposed
within the retaining component 504. When the article 500 is worn,
the retaining component 504 exerts a predefined level of
compression forces 605 on the leg portion 520b causing the article
500 to remain in the desired position on the wearers lower leg.
While in theory, the compression-based approach seemed to provide a
good and versatile solution, in practice, the preconfigured
compression-based retaining component suffers from a number of
serious and, in some cases, potentially dangerous
disadvantages.
[0004] First, it is a well documented fact that people's lower
extremities typically swell up as a day progresses into the
afternoon and evening. While such swelling is common in even
healthy individuals, a number of environmental factors (e.g.,
temperature, humidity, barometric pressure), as well as certain
physical and health conditions, such as high blood pressure,
pregnancy, fluid retention, edema, certain cardiac conditions,
previous fractures and other limb trauma, and old age, can cause
swelling at any time of day or night, and may also significantly
increase the extent to which the lower limbs swell in the
evening.
[0005] Unfortunately, because virtually all previously known
hosiery articles have retaining components preconfigured with
predetermined tension and compression forces in a relatively small
region, an increased level of lower limb swelling can lead to a
dangerous level of lower vascular system compression for the
wearer, which in turn may result in decreased lower limb
circulation causing significant discomfort to the wearer, and with
potentially dangerous consequences for wearers having
circulation-related health conditions (e.g., blood pressure
imbalances, diabetes, cardiac conditions, disorders of the lower
extremities, etc.). Prolonged disruption of lower limb circulation
is especially devastating for neuropathy-prone individuals
(diabetics, etc.).
[0006] A number of solutions to the above problems have been
attempted with very mixed results. For example, certain hosiery
articles are offered with reduced compression force retaining
elements that promise to minimize the negative impact on lower limb
vascular system. However, this solution results in a significantly
reduced effectiveness of the retaining component, causing the
hosiery articles to constantly slip and slide down the wearer's leg
(this problem is particularly prevalent with socks) which
negatively impacts the wearer's appearance and personal comfort.
Another set of attempted solutions, aimed more particularly at
individuals with lower limb circulation problems (diabetics, etc.),
took a different approach--rather than utilizing a relatively small
retaining component at the top of the article, entire upper
sections of such articles served as "distributed" retaining
components that spread the compression force throughout a
significant portion of the lower limb, to thereby reduce the risk
of cutting off lower circulation. However, such approaches are
likewise flawed. First, extended retaining components with
distributed compression forces also result in the articles being
more prone to slippage when worn. Furthermore, even with
distributed retaining components, any significant level of lower
limb swelling can still cause extreme discomfort to the wearer,
even if it does not rise to the level of a health risk.
[0007] Finally, the most significant and previously insurmountable
flaw of the commonly known hosiery articles is the fact that all
purchased articles come in pairs, and include retaining components
configured with equal predefined levels of tension/compression
forces in each article of the pair. However, many individuals,
especially those suffering from a prior orthopedic lower limb
trauma, may have different levels of swelling in each lower limb.
In such a case, any work set of hosiery articles will cause either
significant discomfort as one of the articles inflicts a greater
level of pressure on the limb, or if the wearer chooses to
prioritize comfort, one of the hosiery articles will have a higher
tendency than the other to slip down the wearer's leg.
[0008] It would thus be desirable to provide a novel and versatile
hosiery article that includes a retaining component having
user-adjustable levels of compression force/tension. It would also
be desirable to provide a novel and versatile hosiery article with
a configurable retaining component that is very easy to utilize by
anyone at any time to increase or to decrease, at various
increments, the level of compression force exerted thereby on the
wearer's leg to achieve a desired balance between a pleasing
appearance and the wearer's comfort. It would further be desirable
to provide a pair of novel and versatile hosiery articles where
each article includes the user-configurable retaining component
that may configured be independently from one another.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] In the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote
corresponding or similar elements throughout the various
figures:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of an
inventive hosiery article with a user-adjustable tension
component;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a diagram of a second exemplary embodiment of an
inventive hosiery article with a user-adjustable tension
component;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of the
inventive user-adjustable tension component of the hosiery article
of FIGS. 1 or 2;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a diagram of a second exemplary embodiment of the
inventive user-adjustable tension component of the hosiery article
of FIGS. 1 or 2;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a diagram of a third exemplary embodiment of the
inventive user-adjustable tension component of the hosiery article
of FIGS. 1 or 2;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a diagram of a fourth exemplary embodiment of the
inventive user-adjustable tension component of the hosiery article
of FIGS. 1 or 2;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of a
releasable retaining adjustment element of the inventive
user-adjustable tension component of FIG. 3;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of a
releasable retaining adjustment element of the inventive
user-adjustable tension component of FIG. 3; and
[0018] FIG. 9 is a diagram of a prior art previously known hosiery
article with a conventional tension component.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0019] The present invention addresses the flaws and disadvantages
of previously known hosiery articles (such as socks, stockings,
hose, leggings, panty hose, etc.), by providing a novel hosiery
article that includes an inventive configurable retaining component
with a range of various levels of tension and compression forces
selectable and adjustable by a user. Advantageously, when the
inventive hosiery articles are worn, the user (e.g., the wearer) is
able to selectively adjust the level of tension and compression
force exerted by each article, as the circumference of their lower
limbs changes throughout the day, and/or in response to one or more
environmental factors, and/or one or more physical and/or health
conditions. As a result, the user is always able to maintain a
desired predetermined balance between appearance and comfort of the
worn novel hosiery articles.
[0020] Furthermore, because each worn novel hosiery article is
independently adjustable, users can configure different levels of
compression force and tension for each retaining component of each
worn article to maintained desired levels of comfort and an
aesthetically pleasing appearance even when the wearer's limbs each
swell to a different size. In an alternate embodiment of the
invention, at least a portion of each retaining component may be
provided with one or more decorative elements.
[0021] The above is accomplished by providing the novel retaining
component with at least one user-adjustable tensioning
sub-component, at least partially circumferentially disposed around
the user's leg proximal to the top of the inventive hosiery
article, that includes at least one releasable selective adjustment
element that may be placed by the user within a selected range of
desired positions, each position corresponding to a higher or lower
magnitude of tension and compression forces exerted by the
retaining component on the user's leg proximal to the position of
the component. Each selective adjustment element itself may be
fully or partially composed of a flexible material (e.g., nylon
webbing or equivalent), and optionally may comprise one or more
portions having elastic properties. In various embodiments of the
present invention, the selective adjustment element may be at least
partially attached to one or more other elements of the
corresponding novel configurable retaining component, or
alternately, it may be removable and/or replaceable by the
user.
[0022] Other objects and features of the present invention will
become apparent from the following detailed description considered
in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be
understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for
purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of
the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended
claims.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] The present invention addresses the flaws and disadvantages
of previously known hosiery articles (such as socks, stockings,
hose, leggings, panty hose, etc.), by providing a novel hosiery
article that includes an inventive user-configurable retaining
component with a range of various levels of tension and compression
forces selectable and adjustable by a user. When a pair of
inventive hosiery articles are worn, the user is further able to
independently select and adjust the tension and compression force
levels of each configurable retaining component thereof.
[0024] It should be noted that while the various exemplary
embodiments of the inventive hosiery article are shown and
described with reference to a sock or to a stocking, the inventive
hosiery article may be implemented as any hosiery article,
including but not being limited to: leggings, panty hose,
knee-highs, specialty sports socks, etc., as a matter of design
choice without departing from the spirit of the invention. In
addition, in the various drawing figures and accompanying
descriptions herein, various hosiery article shapes, elements,
components and features that may be provided in accordance with the
present invention, are shown by way of example only, and shall not
serve as a limitation on what type, size or configuration of
shapes, elements, components and features of an hosiery article may
be provided.
[0025] Referring now to FIG. 1, a first exemplary embodiment of the
inventive hosiery article 10 is shown. By way of example only, the
article 10 may be a dress or a sport sock, having a sock body 12,
with a lower portion 14, a middle portion 16 (of a height A), and
an upper section 18 of a height B, culminating at the article 10
top 22. Preferably, a novel configurable and user adjustable
retaining component 20, of a height C is disposed within the
article upper section 18 a distance D away from the article top 22.
A wearer's leg, when the article 10 is worn, is shown in two
parts--a leg portion 30a above the article top 22, and a leg
portion 30b, disposed within the article upper section 18. As noted
above, it should be understood that for a variety of reasons, the
diameter of the leg portion 30b may change throughout the day
between diameters D-1 and D-2 at the point of the article top 22
(at which position, the diameter of the article 10 itself is
D-3).
[0026] In accordance with the present invention, the user may
selectively change, at any desired or convenient time, the diameter
of the retaining component 20 within a predefined range of
diameters from diameter D-4 to diameter D-5, for example in
response to changes in the diameter of the wearer's leg between D-1
and D-2. Advantageously, decreasing the diameter of the component
20 from D-5 toward D-4, increases the tension and compression
forces exerted thereby on the wearer leg portion 30b, while
increasing the diameter from D-4 toward D-5, reduces the tension
and compression forces. Accordingly, the user is able to
individually change the tension and compression forces exerted on
each of his legs by each corresponding worn novel article, for
example to relive the discomfort caused by swelling of one or both
of the lower extremities.
[0027] While only a single retaining component 20 is shown, in an
alternate embodiment of the present invention, two or more proximal
retaining components, of similar configuration to the component 20,
may be utilized in conjunction with one another.
[0028] It should be noted, that the present invention contemplates
any configuration and/or construction of the component 20, that
enables a user to change and maintain its diameter, and thus to
adjust the resulting tension and compression forces exerted thereby
on the wearer's leg. Therefore, any component, or component set,
with such capabilities may be readily utilized as a matter of
design choice, without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Several advantageous exemplary embodiments of such novel retaining
components are shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, and described in greater
detail below in connection therewith.
[0029] Referring now to FIG. 2, a different type of hosiery
article, such as a stocking, is shown by way of example as an
article 40. The article 40 may include an elongated body 42, with a
middle and lower portion 48, and an upper section 44. Preferably, a
novel configurable and user adjustable retaining component 46a is
disposed within the article upper section 44. A wearer's leg, when
the article 40 is worn, is shown in two parts--leg portion 50a
above the article 40 top, and a leg portion 50b, disposed within
the upper section 44. Other than the relative sizes of its various
portions, in a first exemplary embodiment thereof, the article 40
of FIG. 2 operates in a manner quite similar to the inventive
article 10 of FIG. 1.
[0030] In an alternate exemplary embodiment thereof, the article 40
may also comprise a second user adjustable retaining component 46b,
that may be positioned within the middle and lower potion 48, close
to, but not within the upper section 44. This additional retaining
component 46b is particularly useful for embodiments of the article
40, in which the body 42 is so long, that a user-adjustable
retaining feature in addition to the retaining component 46a and
that is positioned at a significant distance therefrom, is
desirable or warranted. It should be noted that the retaining
component 46b may be of the same, or of a different type, and/or
configuration, as the retaining component 46a, as a matter of
design choice or necessity, without departing from the spirit of
the invention.
[0031] Referring now to FIG. 3, a first exemplary embodiment of an
inventive user-adjustable configurable retaining component 100
(such as may be used as the adjustable retaining component 20 of
FIG. 1, and/or as the adjustable retaining components 46a, 46b of
FIG. 2) is shown as utilized in a hosiery article 120a that is worn
on a user's leg 30b. The retaining component 100 includes an
elongated cylindrical body 102 of a height H1a, which in one
embodiment of the invention may be an integral part of the hosiery
article 120a (such as of the section 18 of the hosiery article 10
of FIG. 1), or it may be applied to the surface of the hosiery
article 120a (for example by being stitched thereon) and composed
of the same, or of a different material, than the article.
Preferably, the retaining component 100 is capable of being
adjusted, as described in greater detail below, between diameters
D6 (smaller) and D7 (larger), which by way of example,
approximately correspond to diameters D4 to D5 shown in FIG. 1.
[0032] The retaining component 100 also comprises an elongated
sleeve element 104 of a height H2a that, in combination with the
body 102, forms at least a partially circumferential internal
sleeve 102-104 of a height H3a in the retaining component 100. As
noted above with respect to the body 102, the sleeve element 104
may either be an integral part of the hosiery article 120a, or
alternately it may be applied (e.g., stitched) onto the surface
thereof, or mounted on the body 102 directly. The sleeve 102-104
comprises a first open slit 104a and a second open slit 104b. A
flat elongated releasable retaining adjustment (hereinafter "RRA")
element 106, of a height smaller than H3a, and that is preferably
at least partially resilient, is positioned within the sleeve
102-104, and includes, at the respective ends thereof, two
connecting elements 108a and 108b, sized and configured to emerge
from respective slits 104a and 104b. For example, the element 108a
may be of a length L1a-1, while the element 108b may be of a length
L1a-2.
[0033] Each connecting element 108a, 108 may include an optional
corresponding grip element 110a, 110b at its respective edge to
assist a user in gripping the ends thereof. The grip elements 110a,
110b may each be an additional strip, or a folded over and stitched
portion, of the same material as the RRA element 106, or they may
be made from a different material (e.g., a strip of rubber,
etc.).
[0034] Preferably, the retaining component 100 also includes a
releasable adjustable attachment sub-component 112-116a-116b easily
operable by the user to set a desired diameter of the component 100
that is in the range between diameters D6 and D7, and that achieves
a balance between comfort and retaining effectiveness that is
desirable to the user. In one embodiment of the invention, the
subcomponent 112-116a-116b, comprises a first releasable attachment
region 112, of a length L2a, positioned on the surface of the body
102 facing outward from the user's leg 30b, and a pair of second
releasable attachment regions 116a, 116b (each of a length smaller
than L1a-1 and L1a-2, respectively) positioned on the respective
inner surfaces of the connecting elements 108a and 108b that face
the first releasable attachment region 112. Preferably, when the
first (112) and second (116a, 116b) releasable regions are placed
into contact with one another, they form a releasable connection,
that, depending on how far towards one another the elements 108a
and 108b have been pulled by the user prior to their contact with
the first releasable attachment region 112, determine the resulting
diameter of the retaining component 100 desired by the user. The
specific type of the first and second releasable attachment regions
that may be utilized in accordance with the present invention, as
well as the relative magnitudes of L1a-1, L1a-2, and L2a, may be
selected as a matter of design choice without departing from the
spirit of the invention. For example, the first region 112 may
comprise hook material, while the second regions 116a, 116b
comprise loop material (or vice versa). Alternately, the first
region 112 may comprise a male connector, while the second regions
116a, 116b comprise a plurality of matching female connectors at
predefined intervals (or vice versa). In another example, the first
region 112 may comprise a button hole, while the second regions
116a, 116b comprise a plurality of matching buttons at predefined
intervals (or vice versa).
[0035] The RRA element 106 may be configured to freely slide within
the sleeve 102-104 (for example to facilitate its removal therefrom
for cleaning and/or replacement), or in an alternate embodiment
thereof, the RRA element 106 may be at least partially secured from
removal from the sleeve 102-104 by at least one securing element
114a (e.g., such as stitching between a portion of the RRA element
106 and at least a portion of the sleeve 102-104) positioned a
reasonable distance away from each of the slits 104a, 104b.
Optionally the RRA element 116 may be secured from removal through
the use of one or more additional circumferentially positioned
securing elements, such as a second securing element 114b.
[0036] By way of illustrative example, in practical use of the
hosiery article 120a, when the user desires to change the diameter
of the retaining region thereof (i.e., by changing the diameter of
the retaining component 100), the user disengages, from the region
112, and grips at least one of the elements 108a and 108b (but
preferably both), and moves them in a direction corresponding to a
desired increase in the hosiery article 120a retaining region
diameter (i.e., away from one another), or corresponding to a
decrease in the retaining region diameter (i.e., toward one
another), before securing the second releasable regions 116a, 116b
to the first releasable region 112 to maintain the desired adjusted
hosiery article 120a retaining region diameter.
[0037] Referring now to FIG. 4, a second exemplary embodiment of an
inventive user-adjustable configurable retaining component 200
(such as may be used as the adjustable retaining component 20 of
FIG. 1, and/or as adjustable retaining components 46a, 46b of FIG.
2) is shown as utilized in a hosiery article 120b that is worn on a
user's leg 30b. The retaining component 200 includes an elongated
cylindrical body 202 of a height H1b, which in one embodiment of
the invention may be an integral part of the hosiery article 120b
(such as of the section 18 of the hosiery article 10 of FIG. 1), or
it may be applied to the surface of the hosiery article 120b (for
example by being stitched on) and composed of the same, or of a
different material, than the article. Preferably, the retaining
component 200 is capable of being adjusted, as described in greater
detail below, between diameters D6 (smaller) and D7 (larger), which
by way of example, approximately correspond to diameters D4 to D5
shown in FIG. 1.
[0038] The retaining component 200 also comprises an elongated
sleeve element 204 of a height H2b that, in combination with the
body 202, forms at least a partially circumferential internal
sleeve 202-204 of a height H3b in the retaining component 200. As
noted above with respect to the body 202, the sleeve element 204
may either be an integral part of the hosiery article 120a, or
alternately it may be applied (e.g., stitched) onto the surface
thereof, or mounted on the body 202 directly. The sleeve 202-204
comprises an open slit 204a in either a right or a left portion of
the component 200 (depending on whether the specific hosiery
article 120b is configured for use by a right-handed, or by a
left-handed user).
[0039] A flat elongated releasable retaining adjustment
(hereinafter "RRA") element 206, of a height smaller than H3b, and
that is preferably at least partially resilient, is positioned
within the sleeve 202-204, and includes a connecting element 208 of
a length L1b, sized and configured to emerge from the slit 204a.
The connecting element 208 may include an optional grip element 210
at its exposed end, to assist a user in gripping the end thereof,
which may be of the same configuration as elements 110a, 110b of
FIG. 3.
[0040] Preferably, the retaining component 200 also includes a
releasable adjustable attachment sub-component 212-216 that is
easily operable by the user to set a desired diameter of the
component 200 within a range between diameters D6 and D7, and that
achieves a balance between comfort and retaining effectiveness that
is desirable to the user. In one embodiment of the invention, the
sub-component 212-216, comprises a first releasable attachment
region 212, of a length L2b, positioned on the surface of the body
202 facing outward from the user's leg 30b, and a second releasable
attachment region 216 (of a length smaller than L1b), positioned on
the inner surface of the connecting element 208 facing the first
releasable attachment region 212. Preferably, when the first (212)
and second (216) releasable regions are placed into contact with
one another, they form a releasable connection that, depending on
how far away from the slit 204a the element 208 has been pulled by
the user prior to the contact between the respective releasable
regions 212, 216, determine the diameter of the retaining component
200 that is desired by the user. The specific type of the first and
second releasable attachment regions 212, 216 that may be utilized
in accordance with the present invention, as well as the relative
magnitudes of L1b, and L2b, may be selected as a matter of design
choice without departing from the spirit of the invention. Various
examples of combinations of possible first and second regions 212,
216 are described above in connection with the regions 112, 116a,
and 116b of FIG. 3.
[0041] The RRA element 206 is preferably secured within said sleeve
202-204 at an end opposite of its element 208, in one embodiment of
the invention, at least at a circumferential distance from the slit
204a greater than 1/2 of the circumference of the body 202, by at
least one securing element 214 (e.g., such as stitching between a
portion of the RRA element 206 and at least a portion of the sleeve
202-204).
[0042] By way of illustrative example, in practical use of the
hosiery article 120b, when the user desires to change the diameter
of the retaining region thereof, the user releases, from the region
212, and grips the element 208, and moves it in a direction
corresponding to a desired increase in the hosiery article 120b
retaining region diameter (i.e., toward the slit 204a), or
corresponding to a decrease in the retaining region diameter (i.e.,
away from the slit 204a), before securing the second releasable
region 216 to the first releasable region 212 to maintain the
desired adjusted hosiery article 120b retaining region
diameter.
[0043] Referring now to FIG. 5, a third exemplary embodiment of an
inventive user-adjustable configurable retaining component 250
(such as may be used as the adjustable retaining component 20 of
FIG. 1, and/or as adjustable retaining components 46a, 46b of FIG.
2) is shown as utilized in a hosiery article 120c that is worn on a
user's leg 30b. The retaining component 250 is very similar in
usage and operation to the retaining component 100 of FIG. 3, but
differs in construction as described in greater detail below.
[0044] The retaining component 250 includes an elongated
cylindrical body 252, which in one embodiment of the invention may
be an integral part of the hosiery article 120c (such as of the
section 18 of the hosiery article 10 of FIG. 1), or it may be
applied to the surface of the hosiery article 120c (for example by
being stitched on) and composed of the same, or of a different
material, than the article. Preferably, the retaining component 250
is capable of being adjusted, as described in greater detail below,
between diameters D6 (smaller) and D7 (larger), which by way of
example, approximately correspond to diameters D4 to D5 shown in
FIG. 1.
[0045] The main difference in construction between the retaining
component 250 and the retaining component 100 of FIG. 3, is that
instead of including a sleeve 102-104, slits 104a, 104b, or a RRA
element 106 with connecting elements 108a, 108b emerging from
respective slits 104a, 104b, as is shown in FIG. 3, the retaining
component 250 only includes a pair of connecting elements 258a and
258b, that correspond to the connecting elements 108a and 108b of
FIG. 3, but that are connected to the body 252 outer surface at
circumferential positions 254a and 254b (for example, at positions
corresponding to the slits 104a and 104b of FIG. 3). Preferably,
the connecting elements 258a, 258b are at least partially
resilient, and may optionally each be configured with the optional
grip elements 110a and 110b.
[0046] Preferably, the retaining component 250 also includes a
releasable adjustable attachment sub-component 112-116a-116b easily
operable by the user to set a desired diameter of the component 250
that is in the range between diameters D6 and D7 and that achieves
a balance between comfort and retaining effectiveness that is
desirable to the user. Various embodiments of this sub-component
112-116a-116b are described above in connection with FIG. 1.
[0047] As with the retaining component 100 of FIG. 1, by way of
illustrative example, in practical use of the hosiery article 120c,
when the user desires to change the diameter of the retaining
region thereof, the user disengages, from the region 112, and grips
at least one of the elements 258a and 258b (but preferably both),
and moves them in a direction corresponding to a desired increase
in the hosiery article 120c retaining region diameter (i.e., away
from one another), or corresponding to a decrease in the retaining
region diameter (i.e., toward one another), before securing the
second releasable regions 116a, 116b to the first releasable region
112, to maintain the desired adjusted hosiery article 120c
retaining region diameter.
[0048] Referring now to FIG. 6, a fourth exemplary embodiment of an
inventive user-adjustable configurable retaining component 300
(such as may be used as the adjustable retaining component 20 of
FIG. 1, and/or as the adjustable retaining components 46a, 46b) is
shown as being utilized in a hosiery article 120d that is worn on a
user's leg 30b. The retaining component 300 is very similar in
construction to the retaining component 100 of FIG. 3, but is
similar to usage and operation of the retaining component 200 of
FIG. 4, as described in greater detail below.
[0049] The retaining component 300 includes an elongated
cylindrical body 302, which in one embodiment of the invention may
be an integral part of the hosiery article 120d (such as of the
section 18 of the hosiery article 10 of FIG. 1), or it may be
applied to the surface of the hosiery article 120d (for example by
being stitched on) and composed of the same, or of a different
material, than the article. Preferably, the retaining component 300
is capable of being adjusted, as described in greater detail below,
between diameters D6 (smaller) and D7 (larger), which by way of
example, approximately correspond to diameters D4 to D5 shown in
FIG. 1.
[0050] Similarly to the component 100 of FIG. 1, the retaining
component 300 also comprises an elongated sleeve element 104 that,
in combination with the body 302, forms at least a partially
circumferential internal sleeve 302-104 of a in the retaining
component 300. As noted above with respect to the body 302, the
sleeve element 104 may either be an integral part of the hosiery
article 120d, or alternately it may be applied (e.g., stitched)
onto the surface thereof, or mounted on the body 302 directly.
Again, similarly to the component 100 of FIG. 3, the sleeve 302-104
comprises a first open slit 104a and a second open slit 104b. A
flat elongated releasable retaining adjustment (hereinafter "RRA")
element 306, that is preferably at least partially resilient, is
positioned within the sleeve 302-104, and includes two connecting
elements 308a and 308b, sized and configured to emerge from
respective slits 104a and 104b.
[0051] The main difference in construction between the retaining
component 300 and the retaining component 100 of FIG. 1, is that
instead of including a releasable adjustable attachment
sub-component 112-116a-116b, the retaining component 300 includes a
releasable adjustable attachment subcomponent 312-316, similarly
configured to the releasable adjustable attachment sub-component
212-216 of the retaining component 200 of FIG. 4.
[0052] The releasable adjustable attachment sub-component 312-316
is preferably easily operable by the user to set a desired diameter
of the component 300 that is in the range between diameters D6 and
D7, and that achieves a balance between comfort and retaining
effectiveness that is desirable to the user. In one embodiment of
the invention, the sub-component 312-316, comprises a first
releasable attachment region 312, positioned on a surface of the
connecting element 308b facing outward from the user's leg 30b, and
a second releasable attachment region 316, positioned on the inner
surface of the connecting element 308a facing the first releasable
attachment region 312. Preferably, when the connecting element 308a
is pulled over the connecting element 308b, the first (312) and the
second (316) releasable regions are then placed into contact with
one another forming a releasable connection that, depending on how
far away from the slits 304a, 304b the elements 308a, 308b have
been pulled by the user prior to the contact between the respective
releasable regions 312, 316, determine the diameter of the
retaining component 300 that is desired by the user. The specific
type of the first and second releasable attachment regions 312, 316
that may be utilized in accordance with the present invention, may
be selected as a matter of design choice without departing from the
spirit of the invention. Various examples of combinations of
possible first and second regions 312, 316 are described above in
connection with the regions 112, 116a, and 116b of FIG. 3. While
the relative lengths of the connecting elements 308a and 308b maybe
selected as a matter of design choice, preferably they are such to
enable a substantial overlap therebetween.
[0053] Furthermore, while element 308a has been described above as
having the second releasable attachment region 316 on its
underside, and the element 308b has been described above as having
the first releasable attachment region 312 on its surface, it
should be understood that the positions of the regions 312, 316 may
be readily reversed (i.e., positioning region 312 on the surface of
the element 308a, while positioning region 316 on the underside of
the element 308b), as a matter of design choice or convenience,
without departing from the spirit of the invention.
[0054] The RRA element 306 may be configured to freely slide within
the sleeve 302-104 (for example to facilitate its removal therefrom
for cleaning and/or replacement), or in an alternate embodiment
thereof, the RRA element 306 may be at least partially secured from
removal from the sleeve 302-104 by the at least one securing
element 114a configured and positioned as described above in
connection with FIG. 3.
[0055] By way of illustrative example, in practical use of the
hosiery article 120d, when the user desires to change the diameter
of the retaining region thereof, the user disengages the region
316, from the region 312, grips at least one of the elements 308a
and 308b (but preferably both), and moves them in a direction
corresponding to a desired increase in the hosiery article 120d
retaining region diameter (i.e., away from one another), or
corresponding to a decrease in the retaining region diameter (i.e.,
toward one another), before securing the second releasable region
316 to the first releasable region 312 to maintain the desired
adjusted hosiery article 120d retaining region diameter.
[0056] Referring now to FIG. 7, a first exemplary embodiment of a
selective releasable retaining adjustment (RRA) element 350 (such
as the RRA element 106 of FIG. 3, or the RRA element 306 of FIG.
6), is shown. The RRA element 350 includes a body 352 comprising a
resilient circumferential section 354 of a length L1c-1, with a
connecting element 356a of a length L1c-2 at one end, and a
connecting element 356b of a length L1c-3 at the other end.
Preferably, the connecting elements 356a, 356b are composed of a
non-resilient material (for example, such as nylon webbing or
equivalent), but optionally may be composed of a resilient material
that is the same or different from the material of the section 354.
The elements 356a, 356b, correspond to elements 108a, 108b of FIG.
3, and to elements 308a, 308b of FIG. 6. Preferably, the RRA
element 350 may be adjustable between diameters D6a and D7a, that
are at least substantially similar to diameters D6 and D7 of FIGS.
3 and 6. The relative magnitudes of lengths L1c-1, L1c-2, and L1c-3
may be selected as a matter of design choice without departing from
the spirit of the invention.
[0057] Referring now to FIG. 8, a second exemplary embodiment of a
selective releasable retaining adjustment (RRA) element 400 (such
as the RRA element 106 of FIG. 3, or the RRA element 306 of FIG.
6), is shown. The RRA element 400 includes a body 402 comprising a
first circumferential section 404 of a length L1d-1, with a second
circumferential section 406a of a length L1d-2, followed by a
connecting element 408a of a length L1d-4 at one end, and a third
circumferential section 406b of a length L1d-3, followed by a
connecting element 408b of a length L1d-5 at the other end. The
elements 408a, 408b, correspond to elements 108a, 108b of FIG. 3,
and to elements 308a, 308b of FIG. 6.
[0058] In various alternate embodiments of the RRA element 400, one
or more of the sections 404, 406a, 406b, and of the elements 408a,
408b, may be composed of one or more resilient materials, while the
remaining sections and/or elements may be composed of a
non-resilient material. For example, section 404 and elements 408a
and 408b may be composed of a non-resilient material (for example,
such as nylon webbing or equivalent), while sections 406a and 406b
are each composed of a resilient material. Preferably, the RRA
element 400 may be adjustable between diameters D6a and D7a, that
are at least substantially similar to diameters D6 and D7 of FIGS.
3 and 6. The relative magnitudes of lengths L1d-1, L1d-2, L1d-3,
L1d-4, and L1d-5 may be selected as a matter of design choice
without departing from the spirit of the invention.
[0059] It should also be noted, that the various above-described
elements and components of each embodiment of the inventive hosiery
article in FIGS. 1-8 may vary in color and material composition,
and may include one or more embellishments or other decorative
features, as a matter of design choice and without departing from
the spirit of the invention, such that the inventive hosiery
articles may be readily configured as attractive fashion
accessories.
[0060] Thus, while there have been shown and described and pointed
out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to
preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various
omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of
the devices and methods illustrated, and in their operation, may be
made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit
of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all
combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform
substantially the same function in substantially the same way to
achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. It
is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the
scope of the claims appended hereto.
* * * * *