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AssigneeThe Russell Group, Ltd.
InventorDavid Albright
Estimating the term…
Narrow contoured portions of a circularly knitted textile fabric may be elasticated by the selective insertion of elastic yarn segments in selected wales and courses defining the contoured area to be elasticated, preferably utilizing a circular knitting machine equipped with a computerized electronic needle selection system. In one application, a panty blank may be formed with curved elasticated contours to define leg opening borders whereby disposable or limited use garments may be fabricated with elasticized leg openings without the laborious sewing of narrow elastic bands along the leg openings. In such garments, an elasticated contour may also be fashioned to define a retaining crotch pocket for a menstrual or incontinent pad.
A knitted textile fabric comprising a body yarn formed in jersey stitches aligned with one another in courses extending transversely of the fabric and in wales extending longitudinally of the fabric, and segments of an elastic yarn formed with the body yarn in selected wales of selected courses thereof, the elastic yarn segments causing the fabric of the body yarn to constrict at the selected wales and selected courses, the selected wales and selected courses being located in relation to one another for collectively defining an elasticated contour extending longitudinally and transversely with respect to the fabric of the body yarn, the selected courses comprising alternating courses of the body yarn and the selected wales in each selected course comprising a selected number of successive wales, the body yarn being formed in alternating jersey stitches and tucks in the courses of the body yarn intervening the alternating courses.
A knitted blank for manufacture of a panty, comprising a front panel, a rear panel, a constricted crotch panel connected to at least one of the front and rear panels, and opposed arcuately curved elasticated contours extending respectively along and knitted seamlessly with opposite sides of the front, rear and crotch panels for defining elasticated borders of leg openings, the blank being formed of a knitted textile fabric comprising a body yarn formed in jersey stitches aligned with one another in courses extending transversely of the panels and the contours and in wales extending longitudinally of the panels and the contours, and segments of an elastic yarn formed with the body yarn in the jersey stitches in selected wales of selected courses of the elasticated contours to elasticize the leg opening borders as an integral seamless element of the blank fabric, the selected courses comprising alternating courses of the body yarn and the selected wales in each selected course comprising a selected number of successive wales, the body yarn being formed in alternating jersey stitches and tucks in the courses of the body yarn intervening the alternating courses.
A process of fabricating a panty garment comprising the steps of knitting a panty blank comprising a front panel, a rear panel, a constricted crotch panel connected to at least one of the front and rear panels, opposed arcuately curved elasticated contours extending respectively along and knitted seamlessly with opposite sides of the front, rear and crotch panels for defining leg opening borders, and connecting panels within the elasticated contours;
A knitted blank for manufacture of a panty, comprising a front panel, a rear panel, a constricted crotch panel connected to at least one of the front and rear panels, opposed arcuately curved elasticated contours extending respectively along and knitted seamlessly with opposite sides of the front, rear and crotch panels for defining elasticated borders of leg openings, and another elasticated contour disposed adjacent the crotch panel for defining an elasticated crotch border to aid in retaining a device for absorbing bodily fluids of the wearer, the blank being formed of a knitted textile fabric comprising a body yarn formed in jersey stitches aligned with one another in courses extending transversely of the panels and the contours and in wales extending longitudinally of the panels and the contours, and segments of an elastic yarn formed with the body yarn in the jersey stitches of the elasticated contours to elasticize the leg opening and crotch borders as integral seamless elements of the blank fabric.
A process of fabricating a panty garment comprising the steps of knitting a panty blank comprising a front panel, a rear panel, a constricted crotch panel connected to at least one of the front and rear panels, opposed arcuately curved elasticated contours extending respectively along and knitted seamlessly with opposite sides of the front, rear and crotch panels for defining leg opening borders, another elasticated contour disposed adjacent the crotch panel for defining a border portion to aid in retaining a device for absorbing bodily fluids of the wearer, and connecting panels within the elasticated contours;
A process of fabricating a panty garment comprising the steps of knitting a panty blank comprising a front panel, a rear panel, a constricted crotch panel connected to at least one of the front and rear panels, opposed arcuately curved elasticated contours extending respectively along and knitted seamlessly with opposite sides of the front, rear and crotch panels for defining leg opening borders, and connecting panels within the elasticated contours;
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.