Leg Garment

Abstract

Garments have features that provide support and tension for selected muscles. The garments can promote muscle strengthening and training during activity or play. They utilize several strongly elastic portions disposed in a particular pattern to encourage tension or support for selected muscles. Straps are attachable to the garment to further control forces applied to the wearer. The size, shape, position, quantity, and material composition of the strongly elastic portions and the attachable straps are selected to achieve desired tensive properties.

1 . A garment comprising:
 a base layer extending down from a waist past a knee portion, the base layer having a waistband portion, left and right hip portions, and left and right leg portions that include left and right thigh portions, wherein:   the left and right thigh portion are each reinforced in a selected pattern to provide reinforced portions configured to increase resistance to stretching;   a first pair of sagitally mirrored anchor points, positioned on the left and right hip portions;   a second pair of sagitally mirrored anchor points, positioned on the left and right thigh portions;   a first support element, where a first end of the first support element is attached to the left hip portion and a second end extends to a left thigh portion, such that a path of the first support element extends from the left hip portion, around a back portion of the left leg to the left thigh portion; and   a second support element, where a first end of the second support element is attached to the right hip portion and a second end extends to a right thigh portion, such that a path of the second support element extends from the right hip portion, around a back of the right leg, to the right thigh portion.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein section of the reinforced portions surrounds the knee portion. 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 2  wherein the reinforced portions include fingers of reinforced material extend inward towards the knee portion of the base layer. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 2  wherein the reinforced portions are patterned such that fingers of reinforced material extend outward from the knee portion. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the garment further includes a waistband portion, and wherein the paths of the first and second support elements spans from respective portions on a back section of the waistband portion. 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein first and second support elements extend from respective locations adjacent an inner thigh portion. 
     
     
         7 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the first and second support elements are formed of alternating sections of elastic and inelastic material.