Knitted Band With Integrated Ventilation

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention are directed toward a knitted band that may be incorporated into a garment that encircles or partially encircles one or more body regions of a wearer in an as-worn position. The knitted band has a plurality of functional zones that integrally knit together. One of the functional zones facilitates ventilation that helps cool the wearer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A knitted band comprising:
 a body comprising an inner face, an opposite outer face, a top edge, and an opposite bottom edge, the inner face configured as to be oriented closer to a wearer's skin than the outer face when the knitted band encircles a portion of a wearer in an as-worn position;   a structural zone within the body; and   a ventilation zone within the body,   wherein both the structural zone and the ventilation zone are integrally knit by dropping different yarns into and out of a single knitting event that is used to form both the structural zone and the ventilation zone.   
     
     
         2 . The knitted band of  claim 1 , wherein the structural zone and the ventilation zone are made of different yarn or yarn combinations. 
     
     
         3 . The knitted band of  claim 1 , wherein the ventilation zone has a first texture at the outer face that is different from a second texture at the outer face of the structural zone. 
     
     
         4 . The knitted band of  claim 1 , wherein the ventilation zone is comprised of a first yarn or a first yarn combination that produces a first fabric with a higher moisture vapor transmission rate than a second fabric produced by a second yarn or a second yarn combination that comprises the structural zone. 
     
     
         5 . The knitted band of  claim 1 , wherein the ventilation zone is knit using a first stitch pattern that is more open than a second stitch used to knit the structural zone. 
     
     
         6 . The knitted band of  claim 1 , wherein the ventilation zone is knit from a first yarn having different elastic properties from a second yarn used to knit the structural zone. 
     
     
         7 . The knitted band of  claim 1 , wherein the knitted band is configured to encircle one or more of a waist, an ankle, a wrist, a torso, a leg, an arm, and a neck. 
     
     
         8 . The knitted band of  claim 1 , wherein a portion of the bottom edge gradually curves in a direction away from the top edge as the bottom edge extends from an anterior location toward a posterior location to form at least one flared section in the knitted band. 
     
     
         9 . The knitted band of  claim 1 , further comprising a knit tunnel zone within the body that defines an open-ended enclosure between the inner face and the outer face that is adapted to hold a tension cable within the body. 
     
     
         10 . A knitted band comprising,
 a body comprising an inner face, an opposite outer face, a top edge, and an opposite bottom edge, the inner face configured to be oriented closer to a wearer's skin than the outer face when the knitted band encircles a portion of a wearer in an as-worn position;   a structural zone within the body;   a ventilation zone within the body; and   a knit tunnel zone extending through at least part of the body, the knit tunnel zone defining an open-ended enclosure between the inner face and the outer face that is adapted to hold a tension cable within the body,   wherein the structural zone, the ventilation zone, and the knit tunnel zone are integrally knit by dropping different yarns into and out of a single knitting event and by alternating knit stitch patterns used during the single knitting event.   
     
     
         11 . The knitted band of  claim 10 , wherein the ventilation zone has a first texture at the outer face that is different from a second texture of the structural zone at the outer face. 
     
     
         12 . The knitted band of  claim 10 , further comprising the tension cable within the knit tunnel zone and a drawstring attached to the tension cable. 
     
     
         13 . The knitted band of  claim 12 , wherein the knitted band comprises a seam that joins both ends of the body to form a band and wherein the tension cable is anchored near the seam. 
     
     
         14 . The knitted band of  claim 10 , wherein the ventilation zone is knit from a first yarn having different elastic properties from a second yarn used to knit the structural zone. 
     
     
         15 . A knit waistband comprising,
 a body comprising an inner face, an opposite outer face, a top edge, and an opposite bottom edge, the inner face configured to be oriented closer to a wearer's skin than the outer face when the knitted band encircles a portion of a wearer in an as-worn position;   a structural zone within the body;   a ventilation zone within the body; and   a seam that joins both ends of the body to form a band,   wherein the structural zone and the ventilation zone are integrally knit by dropping different yarns into and out of a single knitting event and by alternating knit stitch patterns used during the single knitting event.   
     
     
         16 . The knit waistband of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a knit tunnel zone running through at least part of the body in a direction substantially parallel to the top edge, the knit tunnel zone defining an open-ended enclosure between the inner face and the outer face that is adapted to hold a tension cable within the body.   
     
     
         17 . The knit waistband of  claim 16 , wherein the seam is located at a posterior location that is adapted to be proximate a wearer's back when in the as-worn position and wherein the tension cable is anchored near the seam. 
     
     
         18 . The knit waistband of  claim 15 , wherein the seam is located at an anterior location that is adapted to be proximate a wearer's front when in the as-worn position. 
     
     
         19 . The knit waistband of  claim 15 , further comprising an attachment zone along the bottom edge, the attachment zone adapted for connection to an apparel item. 
     
     
         20 . The knit waistband of  claim 15 , further comprising two flared sections each of which is integrally formed in the body and configured to contact one of a wearer's hips when in the as-worn position, the two flared sections formed by the bottom edge curving in a direction away from the top edge as the bottom edge extends from an anterior location toward a posterior location.