Dance tight with embellishment to facilitate instruction of juvenile dancers

Abstract

Tights worn by juvenile dancers are provided with an embellishment on one of the legs to provide a visual cue and/or tactile cue which functions to assist the wearer in determining which leg is the right leg and which leg is the left leg. Thus, when the juvenile dancer is instructed to respond with their right or left leg, the embellished dance tight helps them to determine which leg to move. The embellishment (or a portion thereof) is provided on the front thigh area of one of the legs, preferably at the center of the thigh area or above. Locating the embellishment (or a portion thereof) at the middle of the thigh area (or above) advantageously allows the wearer to readily see the embellishment, with or without the aid of a mirror, without the need for the wearer to bend at the waist and without the need for the wearer to raise their foot. Alternatively, or in addition, the embellishment (or a portion thereof) may be provided at a knee area of one of the legs. Alternatively, or in addition, the embellishment (or a portion thereof) may be provided at a top of a foot area of one the legs.

1 . A tight comprising:
 a) a trunk section;   b) a first leg adjacent to the trunk section, the first leg having a front portion, a rear portion, and a thigh portion;   c) a second leg adjacent to the trunk section, the second leg having a front portion, a rear portion, and a thigh portion; and   d) an embellishment at least a portion of which is provided on a front portion of the first leg at the center of the thigh portion or higher such that a wearer of the tight can readily see or feel the at least a portion of the embellishment without the wearer bending at the waist and without the wearer raising their foot.   
     
     
         2 . The tight of  claim 1  wherein the at least a portion of the embellishment is readily distinguishable from the rest of the tight by touch such that the wearer can readily feel the at least a portion of the embellishment with their hand when the wearer extends their arm straight down, without the wearer bending at the waist and without the wearer raising their foot. 
     
     
         3 . The tight of  claim 1  wherein the tight is made from stretchable fabric and wherein the embellishment includes a plurality of embellishment pieces individually affixed to the tight fabric such that when an underlying portion of the dance tight is stretched horizontally or vertically, the embellishment pieces can move independently of one another. 
     
     
         4 . The tight of  claim 3  wherein the embellishment pieces are adhered to an exterior of the tight by a heat transfer process. 
     
     
         5 . The tight of  claim 3  wherein at least some of the embellishment pieces have a first height and wherein at least some other of the embellishment pieces have a second height different from the first height. 
     
     
         6 . The tight of  claim 5  wherein the first height is between 0.05 and 0.10 inches, and the second height is between 0.10 inches and 0.20 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The tight of  claim 3  wherein the tight fabric of the first leg has a thickness, and wherein at least some of the embellishment pieces have a height which is at least twice the thickness. 
     
     
         8 . The tight of  claim 3  wherein the embellishment has an unstretched width of at least 1.0 inch. 
     
     
         9 . The tight of  claim 3  wherein the embellishment has an unstretched width of at least 3/16 inch. 
     
     
         10 . The tight of  claim 1  wherein the embellishment includes at least one of plastic pieces adhered to the tight, stone pieces adhered to the tight, fabric pieces adhered to the tight, fur pieces adhered to the tight, metal pieces adhered to the tight, feather pieces adhered to the tight, and a change in knitting from the rest of the tight. 
     
     
         11 . The tight of  claim 1  wherein the trunk section, the first leg and the second leg are continuously knitted and tubular. 
     
     
         12 . The tight of  claim 1  wherein the trunk section, the first leg and the second leg are knit from a blend of Nylon and Spandex. 
     
     
         13 . The tight of  claim 1  having unstretched dimensions of 16-18 inches total length, 10-11 inches leg length, 2-3 inches leg width and 12-14 inches waist opening for use by juvenile dancers about 30-38 inches tall and 25-39 lbs in weight. 
     
     
         14 . The tight of  claim 11  wherein the at least a portion of the embellishment is provided between 6 inches and 9 inches down from the waist opening. 
     
     
         15 . The tight of  claim 1  having unstretched dimensions of 18-20 inches total length, 11-12 inches leg length, 3-4 inches leg width and 14-16 inches waist opening for use by juvenile dancers about 39-49 inches tall and 40-60 lbs in weight. 
     
     
         16 . The tight of  claim 15  wherein the at least a portion of the embellishment is provided between 6 inches and 9 inches down from the waist opening. 
     
     
         17 . A tight comprising:
 a) a trunk section;   b) a first leg adjacent to the trunk section, the first leg having a front portion, a rear portion, and a knee portion;   c) a second leg adjacent to the trunk section, the second leg having a front portion, a rear portion, and a knee portion; and   d) an embellishment at least a portion of which is provided on a front portion of the first leg at the knee portion such that a wearer of the tight can readily see the at least a portion of the embellishment without the wearer bending at the waist and without the wearer raising their foot.   
     
     
         18 . A tight comprising:
 a) a trunk section;   b) a first leg adjacent to the trunk section, the first leg having a front portion, a rear portion, and a foot portion;   c) a second leg adjacent to the trunk section, the second leg having a front portion, a rear portion, and a foot portion; and   d) an embellishment at least a portion of which is provided on a front portion of the first leg at a top of the foot portion such that a wearer of the tight can readily see the at least a portion of the embellishment without the wearer bending at the waist and without the wearer raising their foot.