Hosiery having a reinforced split toe

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to women's hosiery. Some embodiments include pantyhose having a reinforced split toe, suitable for wearing with thong sandals.

1 . An article, comprising:
 a woven fabric main portion comprising a generally tubular shape, the tubular shape including an open end and a closed end, the open end adapted to receive at least an inserting human foot, and the closed end comprising at least one toe region for receiving at least one toe of an inserted human foot, and the region between the open end and the closed end adapted to conformally receive at least a human foot, wherein the toe region includes at least one divider adapted to separate one toe from another toe, and defining at least one dividing region disposed between two discrete toe regions each toe region being suitable for receiving at least one toe; and   a reinforcing member attached to the woven fabric main portion in the at least one dividing region, the reinforcing member comprising a woven or non-woven fabric, the reinforcing member being attached to the at least one dividing region by a means selected from one or more of sewing, adhesive bonding, heat bonding, grafting, or weaving.   
   
   
       2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the woven fabric main portion comprises a composition selected from the group consisting of nylon, rayon, lycra, cotton or any blend or combination thereof. 
   
   
       3 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the woven fabric main portion is adapted to conformally receive a portion of a human body comprising at least one human leg. 
   
   
       4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the woven fabric main portion comprises a pair of pantyhose. 
   
   
       5 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing member comprises a plurality of fabric layers. 
   
   
       6 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing member comprises a fabric having a thickness at least twice that of the woven fabric main portion. 
   
   
       7 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing member comprises a closed space defined by a fabric material and stuffed with a padding material, the padding material being either woven or non-woven. 
   
   
       8 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing member comprises a fabric structure having a thickness at least twice that of the woven fabric main portion, and the reinforcing member being woven into the woven fabric main portion. 
   
   
       9 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing member comprises a fabric structure having a thickness at least twice that of the woven fabric main portion, and the reinforcing member being adhesively bonded to the woven fabric main portion. 
   
   
       10 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing member comprises a fabric structure having a thickness at least twice that of the woven fabric main portion, and the reinforcing member being thermally bonded to the woven fabric main portion. 
   
   
       11 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the reinforcing member further comprises a comfort structure for enhancing comfort of a wearer, the comfort structure being disposed on a skin-facing inner surface of the article, and the comfort structure comprising a material selected from the group consisting of felt, plush, or cotton or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       12 . The article of  claim 1  further comprising two discrete toe regions, the first toe region being adapted to receive a first toe, and the second toe region being adapted to receive a second, third, fourth, and fifth toe. 
   
   
       13 . The article of  claim 1  further comprising five discrete toe regions, each toe region being adapted to receive one toe. 
   
   
       14 . A process for making a hosiery article comprising the steps of:
 fabricating a hosiery portion adapted to receive at least a portion of a human leg including at least one foot, wherein the process of fabricating further comprises dividing a toe region of the hosiery article into a plurality of toe regions, each toe region being adapted to receive at least one toe; and   attaching a reinforcing member to the region dividing one toe region from another toe region.   
   
   
       15 . A means for reinforcing an article of hosiery having at least two discrete toe regions.