Pub. No.: US 2006/0085895 A1 Wojeski Et Al

US 20060O85895A1 (19) United States (12) Patent Application Publication (10) Pub. No.: US 2006/0085895 A1 Wojeski et al. (43) Pub. Date: Apr. 27, 2006

(54) MODIFIED PANTYHOSE AND/OR TIGHTS Publication Classification (76) Inventors: Edith Wojeski, Framingham, MA (US); (51) Int. Cl. Karl Brack, Worcester, MA (US) A4IB II/04 (2006.01) (52) U.S. Cl...... 2A409 Correspondence Address: KARL BRACK (57) ABSTRACT 19 PROCTOR STREET WORCESTER, MA 01606 (US) Three new ways to make pantyhose easier to use (especially for handicapped persons) have been shown. The single piece Pantyhose and Tights have been converted to 2-piece gar (21) Appl. No.: 10/895,441 ments. With regular Pantyhose or Tights the user must maneuver both feet at the same time into the two pantyhose legs. With the two-part Pantyhose or Tights, this takes place (22) Filed: Oct. 22, 2004 one step (foot) at a time, which is much easier to do. Patent Application Publication Apr. 27, 2006 Sheet 1 of 4 US 2006/0085895 A1 Figure l Figure lb

Patent Application Publication Apr. 27, 2006 Sheet 2 of 4 US 2006/0085895 A1 Figure 2a Figure 2b

Patent Application Publication Apr. 27, 2006 Sheet 3 of 4 US 2006/0085895 A1 Figure 3a Figure 3b Patent Application Publication Apr. 27, 2006 Sheet 4 of 4 US 2006/0085895 A1 Figure 4a Figure 4b US 2006/0085895 A1 Apr. 27, 2006

MODIFIED PANTYHOSE AND/OR TIGHTS 0008. Despite the popularity of today’s pantyhose, there are some problems associated with their use. Older women 1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION which may suffer from arthritic joints, stiff joints, and/or stiff 0001 Pantyhose has been worn by most women for backs, may find it difficult to reach below their feet in order aesthetic appearance or comfort during the last 40 years. to slip into the pantyhose. Their fingernails may get caught However older women, suffering from arthritis, limited in the pantyhose or stocking fabric and cause runs. mobility or loss of equilibrium, often have problems getting both feet into a pair of pantyhose. 3. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 0009. It has been found that this problem can be solved by using a 2-part pantyhose. One part consists of a panty 0002 The term pantyhose is exclusively American, hose with only one leg (pantyhose-panty (see FIG. 2). The referring to the combination of panties (undergarment) other part being a matching Stocking (color, size, weave, with hosiery. The one-piece pantyhose was a Substantial etc). When worn, the stocking may be attached to the improvement that appeared in the 1960s because it provided pantyhose-panty by a suitable closure (e.g. Velcro). or it may a convenient alternative to separate underwear and hosiery. In the USA the term tights is used to describe a garment remain on its own as a stocking. similar to pantyhose, but which is thicker and more com 0010) A left-sided pantyhose-panty may be combined monly worn in wintertime for warmth or by girls, dancers, with a right-sided pantyhose-panty (see FIG. 1) and together and other athletes. they will make up the equivalent of a regular pantyhose (one 0003 Pantyhose are worn for a number of reasons. Sheer panty will be worn over the other one). (See FIG. 2). pantyhose that match the skin color of the legs can enhance 0011. A further modification involves a combination of a the appearance of the legs, making them look Smoother. left-sided pantyhose and a right-sided pantyhose where the Darker Pantyhose can enhance the legs by outlining the panty part of each has been slit from the waistband to the shape. Pantyhose also has practical use, as it can provide leg-opening and with a closure attached to the slit (eg warmth in colder weather (especially tights) and let women Velcro). (See FIG. 3). go bare-legged even in the winter. Pantyhose can even enhance blood circulation by applying even pressure on the 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE legs throughout the day. INVENTION 0004 Pantyhose are available in a wide range of styles. 0012 Conventional materials/fabrics and manufacturing/ The sheerness of the garment, expressed as a numerical sewing methods may be employed. Conventional colors, denier, ranges from 3 (extremely rare, very thin, barely sheerness and fabrics may be used as well as other suitable/ visible) to 20 (standard sheer) up to 30 (semi opaque). The appropriate ones. As described earlier, these properties/ term denier refers to the weight of the yarn in grams at a characteristics may be selected based on the intended appli standard length of 9000 meters. Thus 9000 meters of yarn of cation. For example, colored, sheer Pantyhose for fashion 1 denier weigh 1.0 gram. purposes and semi-opaque for warmth or medical purposes. 0005 Pantyhose also comes in a variety of colors, from 0013 The use of the word pantyhose is also intended to gray/black or skin tone common in business wear to brightly cover related garments such as tights etc. colored styles fashionable among young women. 0014. The manufacture of pantyhose and tights is well 0006 Most pantyhose are composed of nylon and span known in the art and described for example in a number of dex, which Supplies the elasticity and form fitting that is U.S. patents including U.S. Pat. Nos. 20020104334, characteristic of modern pantyhose. Unfortunately, the 20040031293, 2004.00031293, 20040145717, nylon fabric is somewhat prone to tearing and it is common 20040123368, 20040111781, 2003O110551 and for very sheer hose to run soon after Snagging on some 2004O171765. thing sharp. 0015 The following type of closures can be used: Velcro 0007 Pantyhose worn for fashion have a standard con closures, Snaps, hooks and eyelets, buttons and buttonholes, struction. The top of the waist is a strong elastic. The part reusable pressure sensitive adhesives, etc. covering the hips (boxer/brief area) is composed of a thicker material than the legs. The gusset or crotch is also a stronger 5. EXAMPLES material. Sometimes made of cotton. The legs of the panty hose are made of the thinnest material which has a consistent Example 1 construction down to the toes, which may be reinforced to guard against wear. Interestingly hose for the legs were a 0016. The Pantyhose (Tights) of this invention (FIG. 1a male fashion (for example among European and American and FIG. 1b) consist of 2 parts; a right sided pantyhose aristocrats during the 16" century), while women hid their panty (parta) (FIG. 1 a) and and a left sided pantihose-panty legs from public view. This trend reversed, however, with (part b) (FIG. 1 b). Each of these 2 parts comprises a panty men wearing pants and women exposing their legs. In the with one stocking attached ega right stocking on part (a) 20 century, pantyhose have been marketed to women exclu (FIG. 1a) and a left stocking on part (b) (FIG. 1 b). Each sively. However in recent years some versions for men have part has an elastic waistband and an elastic leg-opening. appeared in the marketplace, touted for warmth as well as 0017. The person using this pantyhose will first slip the for appearance, blood circulation, and comfort. We may yet right foot through panty (a) into the right Stocking followed See a reversal again, or perhaps a unisex approach to this by slipping the left foot through the panty. After pulling part unique garment. a of the pantyhose up tight, the person will slip the left foot US 2006/0085895 A1 Apr. 27, 2006 into the Stocking of part (b) followed by slipping the right 0026. The user will first put on the Pantyhose-panty by foot through panty (b) and then pulling part (b) up tightly slipping the correct foot through the panty-part into the over part (a). panty-stocking and then pull the pantyhose-panty up over the hips and drape the 2 panty-wings over the corresponding Example 2 hip and effect closure of the pantyhose-panty. 0018. The Pantyhose of this invention (FIG. 2 a and 2b) 0027. Then the user will put on the matching stocking on comprises two or more parts. The main part is what we call the bare leg and pull it up into place. The stockong can be a Pantyhose-panty. It is a panty with one stocking attached worn as is since it will stay in place because of its elastic top and the other leg-opening left open. Two types of pantyhose opening. Another choice is to attach the top of the stocking panties exist; left-sided with the left stocking attached (FIG. to the pantyhose-panty by means of a Velcro closure or other 2 b) and right-sided with the right stocking attached (FIG. CaS. 2a). Additionally there is one or several stockings included, matched to the pantyhose-panty in size, color, txture and What is claimed is: appearance. 1. We claim a pantyhose comprising two or more parts 0019. The pantyhose-panties have elastic waistbands and where the first part and second part are essentially mirror elastic leg-openings. The stockings also have elastic open images of each other. Each of these two parts comprises a ings to keep the stockings from slipping down when used. panty with one stocking attachedeg the first part comprises (See FIG. 2 a. and FIG. 2 b). the right side of the pantyhose and has the right side stocking 0020. The person using this pantyhose will first slip the attached (right-sided pantyhose-panty) and the second part appropriate foot through the panty into the stocking, fol (the left side of the pantyhose) has a left stocking attached lowed by slipping the other foot through the panty, Then the (left-sided pantyhose-panty). The leg openings on the user will pull up the pantyhose tightly. Lastly the user will panty-parts are regular elastic panty leg-openings. The top of slip the other foot into the stocking and pull it up tightly. the pantyhose-panty also comprises an elastic waistband. 2. We also claim a pantyhose comprising two or more Example 3 parts where the first part is either a left-sided pantyhose panty or a right-sided pantyhose-panty. The Seond part 0021. The problems that were mentioned earlier can be comprises one or several stockings that match the first part alleviated in a fourth way yet by using a pair of modified in size, color, Weave and appearance. These stockings are Pantyhose-panties; one with a left foot and one with a right simila to regular stockings with an elastic opening at the top foot (see FIG. 3 a and FIG. 3 b). that will prevent the top of the stocking from sliding down 0022. The Pantyhose-panty has an elastic waist just like when worn. a regular pantyhose or panty. The leg-opening on the panty 3. We claim a pantyhose that comes in two or more parts. hose-panties is elastic just the same as on regular panties. The first part comprises a pantyhose-panty (either left-sided Furthermore the panty part is cut on the side from waist to or right sided; either can be used) The outside of the the leg-opening. Both sides of this slit have parts of a closure leg-opening on the pantyhose-panty being equipped with affixed in order to be able to close the panty after the means of attaching the additional parts comprising at least pantyhose has been put on. one matching Stocking (matching in size, color, weave, etc). 4. The pantyhose of claim 3 wherein the means for 0023. When using these Pantyhose-panties the user first attaching is a Velcro closure. opens the panty-closures and then slides the left leg into the 5. The pantyhose of claim 3 wherein the means of closure left Pantyhose-stocking. Then the 2 panty-wings are draped are Snaps over the hip, tightened and then the slit is closed. Now the left pantyhose-section is in place and the same process is 6. The pantyhose of claim 3 wherein the means of closure repeated with the right foot section. The panty-part is pulled are hooks and eyelets up over the left side panty that is already in place. Now the 7. The pantyhose of claim 3 wherein the means of closure panty-wings of the right foot section are also pulled tight and are buttons and buttonholes. the slit is closed. The person is now completely dressed in 8. The pantyhose of claim 3 wherein the means of closure the pantyhose. are a strip or Strips of pressure sensitive adhesive. 9. The pantyhose of claim 3 wherein the means of closure Example 4 is a Zipper. 10. We furthermore claim a pantyhose comprising two or 0024. The problems that were mentioned at the beginning more parts where both parts are mirror images of each other can be alleviated in another way yet by using a Pantyhose with respect to the shape (A left-sided pantyhose-panty and panty (either left-sided or right sided) with the panty-part cut a right-sided pantyhose-panty). However in this case the from the waistband to the leg opening. Each side of the slit panty-parts have been slit from the waistband to the leg has one part of the closure mechanism affixed in order to be opening and both sides of the slits comprise a means of able to close the panty-part again once the garment is in closing the panties. place and after draping the 2 panty-wings over the exposed 11. The pantyhose of claim 10 wherein the means of hip and thereby effecting closure. closure is a Velcro closure. 0025. Another part of the modified pantyhose consists of 12. The pantyhose of claim 10 wherein the means of one or several well matched stockings (well matched with closure are hooks and loops. regard to the Pantyhose-panty part with respect to color, 13. The pantyhose of claim 10 wherein the means of size, appearance and weave, etc.) (FIG. 4). closure are hooks and loops. US 2006/0085895 A1 Apr. 27, 2006

14. The pantyhose of claim 10 wherein the means of 16. The pantyhose of claim 10 wherein the means of closure are buttons and buttonholes. closure is a Zipper. 15. The pantyhose of claim 10 wherein the means of closure is a reusable pressure sensitive adhesive. k . . . .