Garment

Abstract

A garment can have an upper body section. The upper body section of the garment can have a stretchable portion. A spring constant ratio of the stretchable portion to the garment material may be at least about 1.0. The percent set ratio of the stretchable portion to the garment material may be less than about 1.0. The garment may also have a lower body section. The lower body section of the garment may have a fit panel. The spring constant ratio of the fit panel to the garment material may be less than about 1.0.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A garment comprising a garment material and an upper body section, the upper body section comprising a stretchable portion, wherein a spring constant ratio of the stretchable portion to the garment material is at least about 1.0 and a percent set ratio of the stretchable portion to the garment material is less than about 1.0. 
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1  further comprising a head opening bounded by a head opening perimeter edge. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 2  wherein the stretchable portion comprises a portion of the head opening perimeter edge. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 3  wherein the stretchable portion extends a length of at least about 1 mm as measured from the head opening perimeter edge across a width. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 4  wherein the stretchable portion extends in a direction selected from at least one of longitudinal, transverse, diagonal, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 3  wherein the stretchable portion extends an equal length from the head opening perimeter edge across a width. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 3  wherein the stretchable portion extends an unequal length from the head opening perimeter edge across a width. 
     
     
         8 . A garment comprising an upper body section, a lower body section, and a central body section connecting the upper body section and the lower body section, wherein each section is formed of a garment material,
 the upper body section comprising a stretchable portion, the stretchable portion comprising a spring constant ratio of the stretchable portion to the garment material is at least about 1.0 and a percent set ratio of the stretchable portion to the garment material is less than about 1.0; and   the lower body section comprising a fit panel, the fit panel comprising a spring constant ratio of the fit panel to the garment material is less than about 1.0.   
     
     
         9 . The garment of  claim 8  wherein the upper body section further comprises a perimeter comprising:
 a first transverse edge extending from a first scapular acromion of a wearer to a second scapular acromion of the wearer as the garment is worn; 
 a second transverse edge extending from the intersection of the sixth rib with the midaxillary line on a first side of the wearer's body to the intersection of the sixth rib with the midaxillary line on a second side of the wearer's body as the garment is worn; 
 a first longitudinal edge extending from the scapular acromion of the wearer on a first side of the wearer's body to about the intersection of the sixth rib with the midaxillary line on the first side of the wearer's body as the garment is worn; and 
 a second longitudinal edge extending from the scapular acromion of the wearer on a second side of the wearer's body to about the intersection of the sixth rib with the midaxillary line on the second side of the wearer's body as the garment is worn. 
 
     
     
         10 . The garment of  claim 8  wherein the lower body section further comprises a perimeter comprising:
 a first transverse edge which extends from a first side of a wearer's body to a second side of the wearer's body at the natural waistline of the wearer's body as the garment is worn; 
 a second transverse edge which extends from a first side of a wearer's body to a second side of the wearer's body along the lower most edge of the garment as the garment is not worn; 
 a first longitudinal edge which extends downward from the natural waistline on the first side of the wearer's body as the garment is worn; and 
 a second longitudinal edge which extends downward from the natural waistline on the second side of the wearer's body as the garment is worn. 
 
     
     
         11 . The garment of  claim 8  wherein the lower body section is adapted to pass between the wearer's legs. 
     
     
         12 . The garment of  claim 8  wherein a direction of greatest elongation of the stretchable portion is oriented with a direction of greatest elongation of the garment material as the garment is worn. 
     
     
         13 . The garment of  claim 8  wherein a direction of greatest elongation of the fit panel is oriented with a direction of least elongation of the garment material as the garment is worn. 
     
     
         14 . A garment comprising a garment material and an upper body section, the upper body section comprising a stretchable portion and a head opening, the head opening comprising a head opening perimeter edge, wherein the stretchable portion comprises
 a portion of the head opening perimeter edge;   a spring constant ratio of the stretchable portion to the garment material is at least about 1.0; and   a percent set ratio of the stretchable portion to the garment material is less than about 1.0.