IP Library Granted Patent US 6,886,367
Granted Patent B2
US 6,886,367 · App. 10/404,918 · Granted May 3, 2005

Circular knitted garments having seamless shaped bands

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,886,367
App. No.
10/404,918
Granted
May 3, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

A circularly knitted garment having a body portion and a shaped band is provided. The body portion has a first area defined therein. The shaped band is also defined in the body portion such that a seamless interface is formed between the body portion and the shaped band.

Claims (30)

1. A circularly knitted garment comprising:

a body portion having a first area defined in said body portion; and

a shaped band being defined in said body portion so that a seamless interface is formed between said body portion and said shaped band, wherein said first portion and said second portion overlap one another and are knitted to one another along an outer periphery of their overlap to form a pocket.

2. A circularly knitted garment comprising:

a body portion having a first area defined in said body portion; and

a shaped band being defined in said body portion so that a seamless interface is formed between said body portion and said shaped band, wherein said shaped band has a variable height about a circumference of the circularly knitted garment.

3. The garment of claim 2 , wherein said variable height comprises a first height being defined below said first area and a second height being defined in a remaining portion of said shaped band.

4. A tubular garment blank for use as a brassiere, comprising:

a body portion having a pair of breast cups defined therein; and

a shaped band being defined in said body portion so that a seamless interface is formed between said body portion and said shaped band, wherein said shaped band has a constant height about a circumference of the tubular garment blank, and a first portion of each of said pair of breast cups overlaps a second portion of said shaped band, and wherein each of said first and second portions are knitted to one another only along an outer periphery of the overlap.

5. A tubular garment blank for use as a brassiere, comprising:

a body portion having a pair of breast cups defined therein; and

a shaped band being defined in said body portion so that a seamless interface is formed between said body portion and said shaped band, wherein said shaped band has a variable height about a circumference of the tubular garment blank.

6. The tubular garment blank of claim 5 , wherein said variable height comprises a first height defined below each of said pair of breast cups and a second height defined in remaining portions of said shaped band.

7. The tubular garment blank of claim 6 , wherein said first height is smaller than said second height.

8. The tubular garment blank of claim 6 , further comprising a height transition zone between said first and second heights.

9. A circularly knitted brassiere comprising:

a main body portion;

a shaped band being defined at a lower edge of said main body portion so that a seamless interface is provided between said main body portion and said shaped band, said shaped band having a constant dimension between said lower edge and said seamless interface along a circumference of the brassiere; and

a pair of breast cups being defined in said main body portion, each of said pair of breast cups having a first portion that overlaps a second portion of said shaped band, said first and second portions being knitted to one another only at a periphery of said pair of breast cups.

10. The brassiere of claim 9 , wherein said first and second portions define a pocket therebetween.

11. The brassiere of claim 10 , wherein the brassiere is a strapless brassiere.

12. The brassiere of claim 11 , wherein said shaped band retains said lower edge of the brassiere against a body of a wearer when the brassiere is worn.

13. A circularly knitted brassiere comprising:

a main body portion having a first area, a second area, a third area, a fourth area, and a fifth area;

a pair of breast cups being defined in said main body portion; and

a shaped band being defined at a lower edge of said main body portion so that a seamless interface is provided between said main body portion and said shaped band, said shaped band having a variable dimension between said lower edge and said interface along a circumference of the brassiere, wherein said first area defines said pair of breast cups and has a plain knit stitch structure that provides a first level of elasticity, and wherein said second area traverses from one of said pair of breast cups to another of said pair of breast cups around a middle back of the wearer during use, said second area having a mesh knit structure providing a second level of elasticity, said second level being greater than said first level.

14. The brassiere of claim 13 , wherein said third area defines said shaped band, said third area having a mesh knit structure providing a third level of elasticity, said third level being greater than said second level.

15. The brassiere of claim 14 , wherein said fourth area defines a perimeter of said pair of breast cups, said fourth area having a mesh stitch structure providing a fourth level of elasticity, said fourth level being greater than said third level but less than said second level.

16. The brassiere of claim 15 , wherein said fifth area is defined intermediate said pair of breast cups and has a rib knit structure, said fifth area having a fifth level of elasticity that is greater than any of said first, second, third, and fourth levels of elasticity.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT R/F 45029/0132 Recorded Dec 15, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: MAIDENFORM LLC; HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
Reel/Frame 074166/0114 →
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT R/F 59910/0685 Recorded Dec 15, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
To: MAIDENFORM LLC; HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
Reel/Frame 074165/0634 →
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 9, 2022
From: HANESBRANDS INC.; ALTERNATIVE APPAREL, INC.; BA INTERNATIONAL, L.L.C.; CC PRODUCTS LLC; CEIBENA DEL, INC.; EVENT 1 LLC; GEARCO LLC; GFSI HOLDINGS LLC; GFSI LLC; GTM RETAIL, INC.; HANES GLOBAL HOLDINGS U.S. INC.; HANES JIBOA HOLDINGS, LLC; HANES MENSWEAR, LLC; HANESBRANDS DIRECT, LLC; HANESBRANDS EXPORT CANADA LLC; HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES LLC; HBI INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS U.S., INC.; HBI SOURCING, LLC; INNER SELF LLC; IT'S GREEK TO ME, INC.; KNIGHTS APPAREL, LLC; KNIGHTS HOLDCO, LLC; MAIDENFORM (BANGLADESH) LLC; MAIDENFORM (INDONESIA) LLC; MAIDENFORM BRANDS LLC; MAIDENFORM INTERNATIONAL LLC; MAIDENFORM LLC; MF RETAIL LLC; PLAYTEX DORADO, LLC; PLAYTEX INDUSTRIES, INC.; SEAMLESS TEXTILES LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.
Reel/Frame 059910/0685 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 9, 2018
From: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC; IT'S GREEK TO ME, INC.; MAIDENFORM LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 045029/0132 →
AMENDED AND RESTATED PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Dec 15, 2009
From: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT AND COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 023649/0812 →
RELEASE OF SECOND LIEN SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT REEL/FRAMES 018367/0353, 018367/0312, AND 018545/0521 Recorded Dec 10, 2009
From: CITIBANK, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
Reel/Frame 023627/0842 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT FIRST LIEN Recorded Oct 10, 2006
From: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 018367/0291 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (SECOND LIEN) Recorded Oct 10, 2006
From: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
To: CITIBANK, N.A., AS THE COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 018367/0312 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2006
From: SARA LEE CORPORATION
To: HBI BRANDED APPAREL ENTERPRISES, LLC
Reel/Frame 018279/0527 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 13, 2003
From: MITCHELL, JOHN; RATCLIFFE, ANDREW; WILLIAMSON, CHRIS
To: SARA LEE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 014180/0086 →