Garment with molded expanded joint area

Abstract

A garment having a molded expanded area, such as proximate to an articulable area such as a knee, elbow, shoulder, heel, or other joint area, comprising at least one panel of a woven fabric having elasticity in both the warp and weft directions, and an expanded area in the fabric material formed by heating a portion of the fabric material in a mold such that the fabric is stretched and maintained after removal from the mold in the stretched state. The garment may also comprise at least one opening in a panel proximate to the expanded area for permitting access to the wearer's skin while wearing the garment. The at least one opening may be formed by a first and second flap, with a portion of the first flap overlapping the second flap.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment having a molded expanded area, comprising:
 a) at least one panel of a woven fabric having elasticity in both the warp and weft directions; and,   b) an expanded area in the fabric material formed by heating a portion of the fabric material in a mold such that the fabric is stretched and maintained after removal from the mold in the stretched state.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one opening in a panel proximate to the expanded area for permitting access to the wearer's skin while wearing the garment. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one opening is formed by a first and second flap, with a portion of the first flap overlapping the second flap.