IP Library Granted Patent US 7,043,942
Granted Patent B2
US 7,043,942 · App. 10/610,324 · Granted May 16, 2006

Circular knit blank and a garment made therefrom

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,043,942
App. No.
10/610,324
Granted
May 16, 2006
Kind
B2
Abstract

A circular knit blank and a garment made therefrom. The circular knit blank and garment made therefrom has a first portion being formed from a first yarn having a first elasticity and a second portion integrally knit to the first portion. The second portion has a second yarn with a second elasticity being different than the first elasticity. The second yarn is knitted into a plurality of loops with a desired number of loops of having a tension that is different than the remainder of the plurality of loops so that the second elasticity imparts a selected shape to a body when worn.

Claims (35)

1. A blank comprising:

a first portion being formed from a first yarn having a first elasticity;

a second portion being integrally knit to said first portion, said second portion having a second yarn, said second yarn having a second elasticity different than the first elasticity, said second yarn being knitted into a plurality of loops, a desired number of loops of said plurality of loops having a tension that is different than the remainder of said plurality of loops so that said second elasticity imparts a selected shape to a body when worn.

2. The blank of claim 1 , wherein each loop in said plurality of loops has a size.

3. The blank of claim 1 , wherein said size of said desired number of loops in said plurality of loops is different from the remainder of said plurality of loops.

4. The blank of claim 1 , wherein said blank forms a garment selected from the group consisting of a brassiere, a panty, a pair of shorts, a pair of socks, a hat, a shirt, underwear, a torso-encircling garment, and a waist encircling garment.

5. The blank of claim 1 , wherein said blank forms a panty, said second portion being disposed in a position selected from the group consisting of a crotch portion, a stomach portion, a side portion, a band portion, a leg portion, a remainder of said garment, a buttock portion, and any combinations thereof.

6. The blank of claim 1 , wherein said first yarn is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of cotton, nylon, spandex, polyester, and any combinations thereof.

7. The blank of claim 1 , wherein said second yarn is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, nylon, spandex, elastic yarn, and any combinations thereof.

8. A blank comprising:

a first fabric portion being knit with a first yarn having a first elasticity;

a second fabric portion being integrally knit to said first fabric portion with a plurality of loops from a second yarn, said second yarn having a second elasticity different than said first elasticity; and

a rib section being positioned between said first and second fabric portions, at least two of said plurality of loops having free ends being knit in said rib section so that said free ends are hidden by said rib section.

9. The blank of claim 8 , wherein said second fabric portion imparts a selected shape to a body when worn.

10. The blank of claim 8 , wherein said free ends are knit into said rib section by a float stitching operation.

11. The blank of claim 8 , wherein said rib section mitigates said free ends from pulling into said second fabric portion.

12. The blank of claim 8 , wherein said rib section maintains a tension of said plurality of loops.

13. The blank of claim 8 , wherein the blank is a knit panty having a stomach portion and a side portion, and wherein said rib section is defined at a transition between said stomach portion and said side portion.

14. The blank of claim 8 , wherein a desired number of loops of said plurality of loops has a tension, said tension being different than a remainder of the blank.

15. The blank of claim 14 , wherein said desired number of loops in said plurality of loops has a size that is different from one another.

16. A blank comprising:

a first fabric portion being formed from a first yarn having a first elasticity;

a second fabric portion being integrally knit to said first fabric portion, said second fabric portion being formed from a second yarn having a second elasticity, said second elasticity being different than said first elasticity, said second fabric portion having a plurality of loops, a desired number of said plurality of loops having a size that is different than the remainder of said plurality of loops and having a tension that is different than the remainder of said plurality of loops; and

a rib section being positioned between said first and second fabric portions, said rib section including an end portion of said plurality of loops.

17. The blank of claim 16 , wherein said end portion is at least two free ends of said plurality of loops.

18. A circular knit panty comprising:

a first fabric portion being formed from a first yarn having a first elasticity, said first fabric portion forming a waist-encircling portion, a stomach portion, a first leg portion, a second leg portion, and a crotch portion;

a second fabric portion being integrally knit to said first leg portion and said second leg portion, said second fabric portion being formed from a second yarn having a second elasticity, said second elasticity being different than said first elasticity, said second fabric portion having a plurality of loops, a desired number of said plurality of loops having a size that is different than the remainder of said plurality of loops and having a tension that is different than the remainder of said plurality of loops, wherein said second elasticity imparts a selected shape to a first and a second thigh when worn;

a first rib section being positioned between said first fabric portion and said first leg portion; and

a second rib section being positioned between said first fabric portion and said second leg portion, said first and said rib sections each including an end portion of said plurality of loops.

19. The circular knit panty of claim 18 , wherein said first yarn is formed of a material being selected from the group consisting of cotton, nylon, spandex, polyester, and any combinations thereof.

20. The circular knit panty of claim 19 , wherein said second yarn is formed of a material being selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, nylon, spandex, and any combinations thereof.

21. The circular knit panty of claim 18 , wherein said second fabric portion is integrally knit to said crotch portion.

22. The circular knit panty of claim 18 , wherein said second fabric portion is integrally knit to said stomach portion.

23. The circular knit panty of claim 18 , wherein said end portion is at least two free ends of said plurality of loops.

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 018367/0333 →
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 018367/0353 →
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 Dec 10, 2003
From: CHAPMAN, JOSEPH W.
To: SARA LEE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 014781/0470 →