Garment having engineered lace zones

Abstract

Examples of a garment having engineered lace zones are disclosed. The garment comprises a lace panel that forms at least a portion of the garment and that has a first engineered lace zone and a second engineered lace zone. The first engineered lace zone has a first structural property and the second engineered lace zone has a second structural property.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sports garment having integrated engineered lace zones, comprising:
 a lace panel forming at least a portion of the garment and having a first engineered lace zone and a second engineered lace zone, the first engineered lace zone having a first structural property and the second engineered lace zone having a second structural property.   
     
     
         2 . The sports garment of  claim 1 , wherein a transition between the first and second engineered lace zones is seamless. 
     
     
         3 . The sports garment of  claim 2 , wherein the first structural property is formed by a first combination of one or more types of yarns, knit stitch construction types, and/or lace gauges and the second structural property is formed by a second combination of one or more types of yarns, knit stitch construction types, and/or lace gauges, and wherein the first structural property is different than the second structural property. 
     
     
         4 . The sports garment of  claim 3 , wherein the first engineered lace zone provides a first amount of pressure and the second engineered lace zone provides a second amount of pressure. 
     
     
         5 . The sports garment of  claim 4 , wherein the first amount of pressure is greater than the second amount of pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The sports garment of  claim 1 , further comprising a fabric panel connected to the lace panel. 
     
     
         7 . The sports garment of  claim 6 , wherein the fabric panel is connected to the lace panel by sewing. 
     
     
         8 . The sports garment of  claim 6 , wherein the fabric panel is connected to the lace panel by bonding. 
     
     
         9 . The sports garment of  claim 6 , wherein the fabric panel has a third structural property that is different than both the first structural property and the second structural property of the lace panel. 
     
     
         10 . The sports garment of  claim 9 , wherein the fabric panel provides a third amount of pressure that is different than both the first amount of pressure and the second amount of pressure. 
     
     
         11 . The sports garment of  claim 1 , wherein the lace panel further comprising at least one additional engineered lace zone joined to at least one of the first engineered lace zone and the second engineered lace zone by a respective seamless transition and having a structural property defined by a combination of one or more types of yarns, knit stitch construction types, and/or lace gauges, the structural property of the additional engineered lace zone being different than both the first structural property and the second structural property. 
     
     
         12 . The sports garment of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one additional engineered lace zone provides an amount of pressure that is greater than the second amount of pressure of the second engineered lace zone but less than the first amount of pressure of the first engineered lace zone. 
     
     
         13 . The sports garment of  claim 1 , wherein the engineered lace zones change gradually along a length or width of the garment. 
     
     
         14 . The sports garment of  claim 1 , wherein the engineered lace zones form a repeatable pattern. 
     
     
         15 . The sports garment of  claim 1 , wherein the lace panel comprises a reflective yarn incorporated therein. 
     
     
         16 . The sports garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment is a sports tight or pair of sports tights. 
     
     
         17 . The sports garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment is a sports shirt. 
     
     
         18 . The sports garment of  claim 1 , wherein the garment is a sports bra.