Leg garments and related methods

Abstract

A leg garment, comprising a flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part forming at least one foot part, with at least one first functional zone knitted into the basic knitted fabric part and formed to accommodate a heel of a foot, wherein the flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part is sewn together with a longitudinal seam to form a tubular knitted fabric, with a first functional zone knitted into the basic knitted fabric part such that, when worn the longitudinal seam connecting the basic knitted fabric part is arranged outside the sole of the foot at least in a heel area.

1 . A leg garment, comprising:
 a flat-knitted basic fabric part produced by a flat knitting machine comprising a single continuous flat-knitted basic fabric comprising a longitudinal length and a transverse width with two transverse edges sewn together by means of a single longitudinal seam to form the leg garment comprising a foot shape having a heel area, the flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part being formed by one or more stitch-forming basic knitting threads and at least one inserted weft thread, and the single longitudinal seam comprises the only longitudinal seam forming the leg garment; and   at least one first functional zone comprised in the heel area of the flat-knitted basic fabric part, the at least one first functional zone being knitted into the flat-knitted basic fabric part,   wherein the at least one first functional zone is knitted into the basic knitted fabric part in such a manner that in the worn state of the leg garment, the longitudinal seam connecting the basic knitted fabric part is arranged outside the sole of the foot at least in a heel area, and   wherein the at least one first functional zone is free of irritation inducing elements.   
     
     
         2 . The leg garment of  claim 1 , wherein the leg garment is a compressive leg garment, wherein the flat-knitted basic fabric part has a gradual compression curve in the longitudinal direction of the tubular knitted fabric such that the compressive leg garment exerts compression on a limb in its worn state, and wherein compressive pressures generated by the flat-knitted basic fabric part are between 10 and 60 mmHg in an ankle area of the leg garment and between 5 and 50 mmHg in a calf region of the leg garment. 
     
     
         3 . The leg garment of  claim 1 , wherein in a worn state of the leg garment, the longitudinal seam extends medially or laterally on a side of a foot and/or extends over an upper side of the foot. 
     
     
         4 . The leg garment of  claim 1 , wherein the flat-knitted basic fabric part additionally forms a toe part, wherein the toe part is sewn together by means of a transverse seam to form a closed toe cap. 
     
     
         5 . The leg garment of  claim 1 , wherein the flat-knitted basic fabric part additionally forms a lower leg part, and wherein in a worn state of the leg garment, the single longitudinal seam extends medially or laterally on a side of a lower leg and/or extends over a front side of the lower leg along a shinbone. 
     
     
         6 . The leg garment of  claim 5 , wherein the flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part additionally forms a thigh part, wherein in the worn state of the leg garment, the single longitudinal seam extends medially or laterally on a side of a thigh or extends over a front side of the thigh. 
     
     
         7 . The leg garment of  claim 6 , wherein the flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part additionally forms an abdominal part, wherein in the worn state of the leg garment, the single longitudinal seam extends on a side of a pelvis or extends over a front side of the pelvis. 
     
     
         8 . The leg garment of  claim 1 , wherein the flat-knitted basic fabric part has at least one second functional zone knitted into the flat-knitted basic fabric part, the at least on second functional zone has a higher elasticity in a longitudinal and/or transverse direction compared to areas of the flat-knitted basic fabric part outside of the at least one second functional zone. 
     
     
         9 . The leg garment of  claim 1 , wherein the two transverse edges of the flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part are opposite one another and symmetrically to one another. 
     
     
         10 . The leg garment of  claim 1 , wherein the two transverse edges of the flat-knitted basic fabric part are situated opposite one another and asymmetrical to one another. 
     
     
         11 . The leg garment of  claim 1 , wherein the leg garment is a footlet, a sock, a stocking, a calf stocking, a pantyhose, a foot bandage, or a knitted part of a foot orthosis. 
     
     
         12 . A leg garment, comprising:
 a flat-knitted basic fabric part produced by a flat knitting machine comprising a single continuous flat-knitted basic fabric comprising a longitudinal length and a transverse width with two transverse edges sewn together by means of a single longitudinal seam to form the leg garment comprising a foot shape having a heel area, the flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part being formed by one or more stitch-forming basic knitting threads and at least one inserted weft thread, and the single longitudinal seam comprises the only longitudinal seam forming the leg garment; and   at least one first functional zone comprised in the heel area of the flat-knitted basic fabric part, the at least one first functional zone being knitted into the flat-knitted basic fabric part, wherein the entire width of the at least one functional zone is arranged between transverse edges of the flat-knitted basic fabric part and within the transverse width and wherein the at least one first functional zone is free of irritation inducing elements.   
     
     
         13 . The leg garment of  claim 12 , wherein the leg garment is a compressive leg garment, wherein the flat-knitted basic fabric part has a gradual compression curve in the longitudinal direction of the tubular knitted fabric such that the compressive leg garment exerts compression on a limb in its worn state, and wherein compressive pressures generated by the flat-knitted basic fabric part are between 10 and 60 mmHg in an ankle area of the leg garment and between 5 and 50 mmHg in a calf region of the leg garment. 
     
     
         14 . The leg garment of  claim 12 , wherein in a worn state of the leg garment, the longitudinal seam extends medially or laterally on a side of a foot and/or extends over an upper side of the foot. 
     
     
         15 . The leg garment of  claim 12 , wherein the flat-knitted basic fabric part additionally forms a toe part, wherein the toe part is sewn together by means of a transverse seam to form a closed toe cap. 
     
     
         16 . The leg garment according to  claim 12 , wherein the flat-knitted basic fabric part additionally forms a lower leg part, and wherein in a worn state of the leg garment, the single longitudinal seam extends medially or laterally on a side of a lower leg and/or extends over a front side of the lower leg along a shinbone. 
     
     
         17 . The leg garment of  claim 16 , wherein the flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part additionally forms a thigh part, wherein in the worn state of the leg garment, the single longitudinal seam extends medially or laterally on a side of a thigh or extends over a front side of the thigh. 
     
     
         18 . The leg garment of  claim 17 , wherein the flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part additionally forms an abdominal part, wherein in the worn state of the leg garment, the single longitudinal seam extends on a side of a pelvis or extends over a front side of the pelvis. 
     
     
         19 . The leg garment of  claim 12 , wherein the flat-knitted basic fabric part has at least one second functional zone knitted into the flat-knitted basic fabric part, the at least one second functional zone has a higher elasticity in a longitudinal and/or transverse direction compared to areas of the flat-knitted basic fabric part outside of the at least one second functional zone. 
     
     
         20 . A leg garment, comprising:
 a flat-knitted basic fabric part produced by a flat knitting machine comprising a single continuous flat-knitted basic fabric comprising a longitudinal length and a transverse width with two transverse edges sewn together by means of a single longitudinal seam to form the leg garment comprising a foot shape having a heel area, the flat-knitted basic knitted fabric part being formed by one or more stitch-forming basic knitting threads and at least one inserted weft thread, and the single longitudinal seam comprises the only longitudinal seam forming the leg garment; and   at least one first functional zone comprised in the heel area of the flat-knitted basic fabric part, the at least one first functional zone being knitted into the flat-knitted basic fabric part and comprised of a plurality of successive partial stitch courses, wherein each of the successive partial stitch courses is arranged between transverse edges of the flat-knitted basic fabric part and within the transverse width, and wherein the at least one first functional zone is free of irritation inducing elements.