GARMENT WITH MOLDED EXPANDED JOINT AREA
A garment having a molded expanded area, such as proximate to an articulable area such as a knee, elbow, shoulder, heel, or other joint area, comprising at least one panel of a woven fabric having elasticity in both the warp and weft directions, and an expanded area in the fabric material formed by heating a portion of the fabric material in a mold such that the fabric is stretched and maintained after removal from the mold in the stretched state. The garment may also comprise at least one opening in a panel proximate to the expanded area for permitting access to the wearer's skin while wearing the garment. The at least one opening may be formed by a first and second flap, with a portion of the first flap overlapping the second flap.
1 . A garment having a molded expanded area, comprising:
a) at least one panel of a woven fabric having elasticity in both the warp and weft directions; and,
b) an expanded area in the fabric material formed by heating a portion of the fabric material in a mold such that the fabric is stretched and maintained after removal from the mold in the stretched state.
2 . The garment of claim 1 , further comprising at least one opening in a panel proximate to the expanded area for permitting access to the wearer's skin while wearing the garment.
3 . The garment of claim 2 , wherein the at least one opening is formed by a first and second flap, with a portion of the first flap overlapping the second flap.