Form fitting garments and methods for making same

Abstract

A seamless base layer garment can be made using a whole garment-rectilinear knitting machine. The garment can be knitted on the whole garment-rectilinear knitting machine using a yarn comprising an elastic core strand, and a plurality of cover strands. One cover strand can be made of polyester, polypropylene, polyamide, wool, cotton, viscose, aramid, flame retardant viscose fiber, and/or modacrylic. Another cover strand can be made of silver, copper, ceramic fiber and/or carbon fiber. The garment can be form fitting, and have the feel of a second skin to the wearer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment comprised of a yarn comprising:
 (a) an elastic core strand;   (b) a first cover strand wrapped around the elastic core strand, the first cover strand comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of polyester, polypropylene, polyamide, wool, cotton, viscose, aramid, flame retardant viscose fiber, or modacrylic; and   (c) a second cover strand wrapped around the elastic core strand, the second cover strand comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of silver, copper, ceramic fiber, and carbon fiber.   
     
     
         2 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the elastic core strand comprises elastane. 
     
     
         3 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the first cover strand is wrapped around the elastic core strand in an S-twist and the second cover is wrapped around the elastic core strand in a Z-twist. 
     
     
         4 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the first cover strand is wrapped around the elastic core strand in a Z-twist and the second cover is wrapped around the elastic core strand in an S-twist. 
     
     
         5 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the yarn further comprises a third cover strand wrapped around the elastic core strand, the third cover strand comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of polyester, polypropylene, polyamide, wool, cotton, viscose, aramid, flame retardant viscose fiber, or modacrylic. 
     
     
         6 . The garment according to  claim 5 , wherein the first cover strand and the third cover strand are wrapped around the elastic core strand in opposite helical orientations, and the second cover strand is positioned intermediate the first cover strand and the third cover strand. 
     
     
         7 . The garment according to  claim 1 , further comprising ventilation areas adapted for removing heat. 
     
     
         8 . The garment according to  claim 1 , further comprising thermal pockets adapted for retaining heat. 
     
     
         9 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the garment is totally seamless. 
     
     
         10 . The garment according to  claim 1 , wherein the garment is form-fitting. 
     
     
         11 . A method of making a seamless base layer garment comprising the steps of:
 (a) providing a whole garment-rectilinear knitting machine;   (b) providing a yarn comprised of:
 (i) an elastic core strand, 
 (ii) a first cover strand wrapped around the elastic core strand, the first cover strand comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of polyester, polypropylene, polyamide, wool, cotton, viscose, aramid, flame retardant viscose fiber, or modacrylic, and 
 (iii) a second cover strand wrapped around the elastic core strand, the second cover strand comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of silver, copper, ceramic fiber, and carbon fiber; and 
   (c) knitting the yarn on the whole garment-rectilinear knitting machine to produce a seamless base layer garment.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the core strand, the first cover strand and the second cover strand are twisted together on a distaff. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein there is no interruption of thread in the step of knitting the yarn on the whole garment-rectilinear machine. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the whole garment-rectilinear knitting machine has a range of twelve gauge to eighteen gauge fineness. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the yarn further comprises a third cover strand wrapped around the elastic core strand, the third cover strand comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of polyester, polypropylene, polyamide, wool, cotton, viscose, aramid, flame retardant viscose fiber, or modacrylic, and further wherein the first cover strand and the third cover strand are wrapped around the elastic core strand in opposite helical orientations, and the second cover strand is positioned intermediate the first cover strand and the third cover strand. 
     
     
         16 . A yarn for making a base layer garment comprising:
 (a) an elastic core strand;   (b) a first cover strand wrapped around the elastic core strand, the first cover strand comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of polyester, polypropylene, polyamide, wool, cotton, viscose, aramid, flame retardant viscose fiber, or modacrylic; and   (c) a second cover strand wrapped around the elastic core strand, the second cover strand comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of silver, copper, ceramic fiber, and carbon fiber.   
     
     
         17 . The yarn according to  claim 16 , wherein the yarn has a count of 16 tex to 55 tex. 
     
     
         18 . The yarn according to  claim 16 , wherein the elastic core strand comprises elastane. 
     
     
         19 . The yarn according to  claim 16 , further comprising a third cover strand wrapped around the elastic core strand, the third cover strand comprising at least one material selected from the group consisting of polyester, polypropylene, polyamide, wool, cotton, viscose, aramid, flame retardant viscose fiber, or modacrylic. 
     
     
         20 . The yarn according to  claim 19 , wherein the elastic core strand comprises elastane, the first cover strand comprises polyester, the second cover strand comprises silver, and the third cover strand comprises polypropylene.