Compression fabrics with tailored comfort

Abstract

Certain embodiments according to the invention provide compression articles suitable for a wide variety of uses (e.g., compression socks, athletic garments, etc.). In accordance with certain embodiments, the compression article includes at least two uniform compression regions, including a first uniform compression region having a first compression pressure and a second uniform compression region having a second compression pressure, and at least one transitioning compression region, including a first transitioning compression region positioned between the first and second uniform compression regions. The first transitioning compression region comprises a first end adjacent or proximate to the first uniform compression region and a second end adjacent or proximate to the second uniform compression region. The first transitioning compression region comprises a compression pressure gradient extending from the first end to the second end of the first transitioning compression region.

That which is claimed: 
     
         1 . A compression article, comprising:
 at least two uniform compression regions, including a first uniform compression region having a first compression pressure and a second uniform compression region having a second compression pressure; and   at least one transitioning compression region, including a first transitioning compression region positioned between the first and second uniform compression regions, the first transitioning compression region comprising a first end adjacent or proximate to the first uniform compression region and a second end adjacent or proximate to the second uniform compression region;   wherein the first transitioning compression region comprises a compression pressure gradient extending from the first end to the second end of the first transitioning compression region.   
     
     
         2 . The compression article according to  claim 1 , wherein the first compression pressure and the second compression pressure each comprise from about 5 mmHg to about 40 mmHg. 
     
     
         3 . The compression article according to  claim 1 , wherein the first compression pressure is greater than the second compression pressure. 
     
     
         4 . The compression article according to  claim 1 , wherein the compression pressure gradient comprises a change in pressure from about 1% per inch to about 20% per inch. 
     
     
         5 . The compression article according to  claim 1 , wherein the first uniform compression region and the second uniform compression region comprise different elastomeric yarns. 
     
     
         6 . The compression article according to  claim 5 , wherein the elastomeric yarns comprise spandex. 
     
     
         7 . The compression article according to  claim 5 , wherein the elastomeric yarns comprise from about 20 denier to about 150 denier. 
     
     
         8 . The compression article according to  claim 1 , wherein the first uniform compression region comprises at least predominantly a first yarn, the second uniform compression region comprises predominantly a second yarn, and the first transitioning region comprises a blend of at least the first yarn and the second yarn to define the compression pressure gradient. 
     
     
         9 . The compression article according to  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the first transitioning compression region comprises a greater amount of the first yarn than the second yarn, and the second end of the first transitioning compression region comprises a greater amount of the second yarn than the first yarn. 
     
     
         10 . The compression article according to  claim 1 , wherein the first transitioning compression region comprises from about 1% to about 50% of an unstretched length of the compression article. 
     
     
         11 . The compression article according to  claim 1 , wherein the first uniform compression region and the second uniform compression region comprise from about 50% to about 99% of the unstretched length of the compression article. 
     
     
         12 . The compression article according to  claim 1 , wherein the first transitioning compression region comprises an unstretched length from about 0.1 cm to about 50 cm. 
     
     
         13 . The compression article according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first uniform compression region and the second uniform compression region has an unstretched length that is greater than an unstretched length of the first transitioning compression region. 
     
     
         14 . The compression article according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first uniform compression region and the second uniform compression region has an unstretched length that is less than an unstretched length of the first transitioning compression region. 
     
     
         15 . The compression article according to  claim 1 , wherein the first uniform compression region, the second uniform compression region, and the first transitioning compression region extend around a circumference of the compression article. 
     
     
         16 . The compression article according to  claim 1 , wherein the first uniform compression region, the second uniform compression region, and the first transitioning compression region extend across a weft width direction of the compression article, and wherein the compression article exerts radial compression across the weft width direction. 
     
     
         17 . The compression article according to  claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the compression article comprises raised wales, and a skin surface of the compression article comprises a smooth surface. 
     
     
         18 . The compression article according to  claim 1 , wherein the compression article comprises at least three uniform compression regions and at least two transitioning compression regions. 
     
     
         19 . The compression article according to  claim 1 , wherein the compression article is seamless. 
     
     
         20 . A method for making a seamless compression article, comprising:
 forming at least a first uniform compression region comprising a first compression pressure;   forming a first transitioning compression region adjacent or proximate to the first uniform compression region, said first transitioning compression region comprising a first end adjacent or proximate to the first uniform compression region and a second end; and   forming a second uniform compression region adjacent or proximate to the second end of the first transitioning compression region, the second uniform compression region comprising a second compression pressure being different from the first compression pressure,   wherein the first transitioning compression region is located between the first uniform compression region and the second uniform compression region, and the first transitioning compression region comprises a compression pressure gradient extending from the first end to the second end of the first transitioning compression region.