Gradient compression hosiery knitted using corespun yarns

1. Gradient compression hosiery operable to be received on the lower limb of a wearer and provide compression to the lower limb that varies along the length of the limb, said gradient compression hosiery comprising:

a stocking section that extends continuously between a distal end and an open proximal end thereof,

said stocking section including a tubular foot portion extending from the distal end and a tubular leg portion extending from the open proximal end, with the foot portion dimensioned to receive the foot of the wearer and the leg portion dimensioned to receive at least part of the leg of the wearer when the hosiery is donned,

said stocking section being knitted at least substantially of a stretch yarn and including elastomeric threads integrated into the stretch yarn knitting, with the foot portion and leg portion being configured to be undersized relative to the foot and leg of the wearer,

said stocking section presenting a gradient region that extends from a distal location adjacent the distal end to a proximal location adjacent the proximal end, with a property of the hosiery changing progressively along the gradient region to provide compression that decreases progressively from the distal location to the proximal location when the hosiery is donned,

said stretch yarn comprising a core-spun yarn that includes an a pre-tensioned elastomeric core and a twisted fiber sheath, wherein the core is pre-tensioned when the sheath is twisted around the core.

2. The gradient compression hosiery as claimed in claim 1 ,

said hosiery property comprising a stitch size of the stretch yarn knitting that increases progressively from the distal location to the proximal location.

3. The gradient compression hosiery as claimed in claim 1 ,

said hosiery property being at least partly based upon a percentage draft of the elastomeric core applied while covering the core with the sheath.

4. The gradient compression hosiery as claimed in claim 1 ,

said hosiery property comprising a thread property of the elastomeric threads that changes progressively from the distal location to the proximal location to provide the progressively decreasing compressive pressure.

5. The gradient compression hosiery as claimed in claim 4 ,

said thread property comprising a pre-tension of the elastomeric threads that gradually decreases from the distal location to the proximal location.

6. The gradient compression hosiery as claimed in claim 5 ,

said hosiery including another property comprising a stitch size of the stretch yarn knitting that increases progressively from the distal location to the proximal location.

7. The gradient compression hosiery as claimed in claim 4 ,

said thread property being at least partly based upon a thread denier.

8. The gradient compression hosiery as claimed in claim 1 ,

said hosiery property comprising a measured stocking compression of the stocking section, with the measured stocking compression being determined for a designated circumference of the stocking section.

9. The gradient compression hosiery as claimed in claim 8 ,

said measured stocking compression ranging from about 10 mmHg to about 40 mmHg.

10. The gradient compression hosiery as claimed in claim 1 ,

said gradient region extending above and proximal to the foot portion.

11. The gradient compression hosiery as claimed in claim 10 ,

said leg portion presenting a maximum circumference configured to be located adjacent the widest part of the wearer's thigh,

said proximal location of the gradient region extending above and proximal to the maximum circumference.

12. The gradient compression hosiery as claimed in claim 1 ,

said elastomeric core comprising spandex fiber.

13. The gradient compression hosiery as claimed in claim 12 ,

said sheath including non-elastomeric fibers wound about the elastomeric core.

14. The gradient compression hosiery as claimed in claim 13 ,

said non-elastomeric fibers comprising a synthetic polyester yarn.

15. The gradient compression hosiery as claimed in claim 1 ,

said stretch yarn including multiple strands including an equal number of S-twist and Z-twist strands.

16. The gradient compression hosiery as claimed in claim 1 ,

said stocking section including an ankle portion, with the ankle portion having a maximum cross-stretch percent elongation that ranges from about 300% to about 360%.

17. The gradient compression hosiery as claimed in claim 1 ,

said stocking section including a calf segment of the leg portion, with the calf segment having a maximum cross-stretch percent elongation that ranges from about 220% to about 330%.

18. The gradient compression hosiery as claimed in claim 1 ,

said leg portion having a maximum length-stretch percent elongation that ranges from about 120% to about 200%.

19. The gradient compression hosiery as claimed in claim 1 ,

said foot portion having a maximum length-stretch percent elongation that ranges from about 200% to about 350%.

20. The gradient compression hosiery as claimed in claim 1 ; and

a lower torso section knitted to the stocking section and another stocking section substantially identical to the first-mentioned stocking section to form pantyhose.

21. The gradient compression hosiery as claimed in claim 1 ,

said distal end comprising an open-toe end.

22. The gradient compression hosiery as claimed in claim 1 ,

said core-spun yarn including S-twist and Z-twist core-spun yarns,

said stocking section being knitted with alternating courses of S-twist and Z-twist core-spun yarns.