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.

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.