EP2441336B1

EP2441336B1 - Leg cover

Info

Publication number: EP2441336B1
Application number: EP11008182.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tokumitsu Yanagisawa; Reiko Yanagisawa
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-10-12
Filing date: 2011-10-10
Publication date: 2015-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 2031-10-10
Also published as: JP3164938U; US20120084899A1; EP2441336A1

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a leg cover and more particularly to a leg cover that comprises a leg covering and an attachment therefore according to the preamble of claim 1.

2. Description of the Related Art

Jeans are suggested as garments associated with leg cover. Although strong demand has recently arisen for jeans of various styles that meet requirements for a fashionable appearance and comfortable feel and can satisfy the users' desire to look stylish in a uniquely personal way, no products that can completely satisfy such requirements have been offered so far. Typical jeans are disclosed in, for instance, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (Kokai) Nos. 2006-328625 and 2009-121008 .
Due to the limitations jeans have in terms of highly fashionable appearance, etc., the inventors of the present application turned their attention to leg cover. Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open (Kokai) No. H03-25514 discloses one type of leg cover. In this leg cover, the portion of material covering the knee area is cut away and a mesh-like woven fabric is used in the junction portion, with a rubber band or a string passed through both ends.
In the above-described leg cover, no consideration is given to fashionable appearance. In addition, the structure in which the leg cover is fastened above the knee using a rubber band can easily dislodge and shift the leg cover as a result of friction between the knee and the rubber band during walking. In addition, the elasticity of the rubber band is liable to undergo degradation due to changes taking place over time. In the structure where a string is used for fastening, when the string is strongly tightened in order to prevent the leg cover from being dislodged, leg pain is produced; and on the other hand when the string is adjusted loosely, the leg cover can be easily dislodged and shift. Thus, fastening of the leg cover with a string is extremely difficult.
EP 0 322 487 A1 discloses an article of dress comprising a leg covering having an upper edge and a lower edge and suited of being worn as a single unit covering only one leg. Such a leg covering can be attached to the leg by attachment means which can constitute partly a part of the article of dress and partly separate therefrom as in the case of buttons and button holes or crimped fibers. Generally, the attachment means will be placed circumferentially around the leg, but as an example, self-adhesive tape needs only a part of the circumference of the article of dress. The attachment means can be provided in the upper part of the leg covering. Typically, at least parts of the attachment means are not covered by the leg covering.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a leg cover that is not prone to be dislodged from the knee and shift while meeting requirements for a fashionable appearance and comfortable feel and completely satisfying the users' desire to look stylish in a uniquely personal way.
The above object is accomplished in a unique structure for a leg cover that is characterized in that the leg cover comprises:

a supporter for being worn on the knee or above the knee of a wearer and provided with a plurality of buttons, and
a leg covering provided with button holes formed in the vicinity of its upper edge portion and used for making an engagement with the buttons provided on the supporter.

According to the present invention, in the above structure, the button holes are formed at positions where the leg covering covers an entirety of the supporter when the buttons make an engagement with the button holes.
Preferably, in the above-described leg cover of the present invention, the button holes are formed in a vertically extending or elongated manner.
The above object is accomplished by another unique structure of the present invention for a leg cover that is characterized in that the leg cover comprises:

a band for being wrapped above a knee of a wearer and provided with hook-and-loop fasteners on the inside and outside surfaces and both ends of the band are engaged by the hook-and-loop fasteners, and
a leg covering provided on its inner surface in the vicinity of the upper edge portion thereof with a hook-and-loop fastener that engages with the hook-and-loop fastener of the band, the hook-and-loop fasteners of the leg covering being formed at positions where the leg covering covers an entirety of the band when the hook-and-loop fasteners of the leg covering make an engagement with the hook-and-loop fasteners of the band.

In the above-described leg cover of the present invention, a slit can be formed in the leg covering downwardly from its upper edge and a plurality of string holes used for passing a string therethrough can be formed on both sides of the slit.
In the present invention, the leg cover can be worn on just one leg of the wearer, and it is therefore possible to wear the same leg cover on both legs and wear leg cover of different patterns and shapes, etc. on each leg. In other words, along with providing for a more fashionable appearance by changing the combination of the leg covers worn on the left and right legs, it is possible to meet requirements for a comfortable feel and satisfy the users' desire to look stylish in a uniquely personal way.
In addition, in the leg cover of the present invention, the leg covering is attached to a leg not directly but through the medium of a supporter(s) or a band(s); accordingly, the leg covering can be readily removed and replaced with another leg covering while wearing a supporter(s) (or a band(s)) on the leg.
Furthermore, in the structure of leg cover of the present invention that involves a supporter, due to its elasticity and stretchability, the supporter fits closely around the knee; and in the structure of the leg cover of the present invention that involves a band, the band is attached so that it fits closely above the knee. Consequently, when the leg cover is attached, it is prevented from being dislodged from the knee and from shifting from the knee.
Still furthermore, in the structure of the leg cover of the present invention that involves a supporter, the button holes are formed in a vertically extending manner in the leg covering. Accordingly, the leg covering can be moved slightly up and down because of the space afforded by the buttons of the supporter and button holes of the leg covering, and flexibility during walking can be ensured. On the other hand, in the structure of the leg cover of the present invention that involves a band, a superior fashionable appearance is obtained if a string is provided in the slit and string holes of the leg covering; and further, the opening in the upper portion of the leg covering can be adjusted by varying the tightness of the string which, again, provides for a superior fashionable appearance.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is an illustrative front view of one embodiment of the leg cover according to the present invention in use;
FIG. 2 is an illustrative rear view of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-sectional side view of the leg cover;
FIG. 4(a) is a perspective view of a leg covering and FIG. 4(b) is a perspective view of a supporter according to one embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is an illustrative view showing the supporters worn around the knees of a wearer; and
FIG. 6(a) is a perspective view of a leg covering and FIG. 6(b) is a perspective view of a band according to another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the leg cover according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 through FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 3, the leg cover of this embodiment comprises a leg covering 10 and supporters 20. The leg covering 10 is of substantially a flexible hollow cylindrical body made typically of cloth with both (upper and lower) ends opened and has a length covering substantially the thigh to the ankle of a wearers and a diameter of, for instance, 4-7 inches (10-18 cm). The supporters 20 is of substantially a stretchable hollow tubular body with a height and a diameter of, for instance, 10-18 cm (4-7 inches) when expanded or stretched, and it is worn around the knee of a wearer so as to hold the leg coverings 10 above the knees.
As shown in FIG. 4(a), the upper edge portion 11 of the leg covering 10 is designed so as to be inserted to above the knee of a wearer, and three button holes 12 are formed in a vertically extending or elongated manner in the vicinity of the upper edge portion 11 so that they are separated from each other at substantially equal distance circumferentially. A slit 12 is formed to extend downwardly for, for example, a few inches from the upper edge of the leg covering 10 so that it is located on the lateral side when the leg covering 10 is worn on the leg, and a plurality of string holes 15 used for passing a string 14 therethrough are formed on both sides of the slit 13.
FIG. 4(b) shows the supporter 20, and this supporter 20 is formed from fiber or resin possessing elasticity and stretchability in order to allow it to fit closely around the knee in a tubular configuration. Dedicated knee supporters marketed by Kowa Company, Ltd. are an example of such a supporter 20. In this embodiment, three buttons 21 are attached in the outer upper portion of the supporter 20 so as to correspond in positions and numbers to the button holes 12 of the leg covering 10.
The above-described leg cover is used in such a manner as described below.
As shown in FIG. 5, the supporter 20 is first put on by passing one's (wearer's) foot therethrough and worn on the knee. Since the supporter 20 is elastic and stretchable, it fits closely to the leg. Next, as shown in FIG. 1 through FIG. 3, the leg with the supporter 20 on is inserted into the leg covering 10, and the upper edge portion 11 of the leg covering 10 is positioned above the knee. Then the leg covering 10 is turned so as align the button holes 12 with the buttons 21 of the supporter 20. Alternatively, the supporter 20 can be turned so as to align the buttons 21 with the button holes 12 of the leg covering 10. Next, the buttons 21 on the supporter 20 are inserted into the button holes 12 of the leg covering 10. As a result, the leg covering 10 is attached to the supporter 20 and worn on one leg. Onto the other leg, the supporter 20 is worn and then the leg covering 10 is attached to the supporter 20 in a similar way.
In this manner, since the leg covering 10 can be worn just on one leg, it is possible to wear the same leg covering 10 on both legs or to wear leg covering 10 of different patterns, shapes, etc. on each leg. In other words, along with providing for a more fashionable appearance by changing the combination of the leg coverings 10 worn on the left and right legs, it is possible to meet requirements for a comfortable feel and satisfy the users' desire to look stylish in a uniquely personal way.
In this embodiment, the leg covering 10 is attached to the leg not directly but through the medium of the supporter 20. Accordingly, the leg covering 10 can be readily removed and replaced with another leg covering 10 while the supporter 20 is kept worn on one's leg. In addition, due to its elasticity and stretchability, the supporter 20 fits closely to the knee; and when the leg covering 10 is attached, it is not likely to be dislodged from the knee and shifting. In addition, since the button holes 12 are formed in a vertically extending manner, the leg covering 10 can be moved slightly up and down during walking because of the space afforded by the buttons 21 and button holes 12, ensuring flexibility. In addition, a superior fashionable appearance is obtained if a string 14 is provided in the slit 13 and string holes 15 of the leg covering 10. Furthermore, the opening in the upper portion of the leg covering 10 can be adjusted by varying the tightness of the string 14 which, again, provides for a superior fashionable appearance.
It should be noted that though in this embodiment three button holes 12 are provided in the leg covering 10 and three buttons 21 are provided on the supporter 20, there are no particular limitations with respect to their number, and it is sufficient to provide two or more button holes 12 and buttons 21.
Another embodiment of the leg cover of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 6(a) and Fig. 6(b). The leg cover of this embodiment comprises a leg covering 10 and a band 30 which is worn above the knee area and used to attach the leg covering 10 above the knee.
In the same manner as in the above-described embodiment, in the upper edge portion 11 of the leg covering 10, a slit 12 is formed downwardly for a few cm (inches) from the upper edge so as to allow for wearing the covering above the knee, and a plurality of string holes 15 used for passing a string 14 therethrough are formed on both sides of the slit 13. In this leg covering 10, two hook-and-loop fasteners 17 are attached to the inner surface below and in the vicinity of the upper edge portion.
The band 30 is in substantially a C-shape when viewed from above and has a height of a few cm (inches) and a diameter of, for instance, 10-15 cm (4-7 inches), and an outside hook-and-loop fastener 31 is attached to its outer surface, and an inside hook-and-loop fastener 32 which engages with the outside hook-and-loop fastener 31 is attached to its inner or rear surface at the ends (of the band).
The above-described leg cover of Figs. 6(a) and 6(b) is used in such a manner as described below.
The band 30 is wrapped around the leg above the knee so that the side of the band 30 which has the outside hook-and-loop fastener 31 face the outside, and the inside hook-and-loop fastener 32 at both ends of the band are engaged with the outside hook-and-loop fastener 31 at both ends of the band. As a result, the band 30 is worn above the knee. Next, the leg wearing the band 30 is inserted into the leg covering 10, with the upper edge portion 11 of the leg covering 10 positioned above the knee, and the hook-and-loop fastener 17 of the leg covering 10 is engaged with the outside hook-and-loop fastener 31 of the band 30. As a result, the leg covering 10 is attached to the band 30 and worn on one leg. On the other leg, another band 30 is worn and a leg covering 10 is attached to the band 30 in a similar way.
In this embodiment, it is possible to obtain effects similar to the embodiment described above. In other words, since the leg covering 10 can be worn just on one leg, it is possible to wear the same leg covering 10 on both legs or wear a leg covering 10 of different patterns and shapes, etc. on each leg. Thus, along with providing for a more fashionable appearance by changing the combination of the leg covering 10 worn on the left and right legs, it is possible to meet requirements for a comfortable feel and satisfy the users' desire to look stylish in a uniquely personal way.
In addition, since the leg covering 10 is attached to the leg not directly, but through the medium of the band 30, the leg covering 10 can be readily removed and replaced with another leg covering 10 while wearing the band 30 on one's leg. Additionally, since the band 30 is attached such that it fits closely above the knee, when the leg covering 10 is attached, it is not likely that the leg covering 10 is dislodged from the knee and shift. In addition, a superior fashionable appearance is obtained if a string 14 is provided in the slit 12 and string holes 15. Furthermore, the opening in the upper portion of the leg covering 10 can be adjusted by varying the tightness of the string 14 which, again, provides for a superior fashionable appearance.
It should be noted that while two hook-and-loop fasteners 17 are attached to the inside of leg covering 10 in this embodiment, the number of the hook-and-loop fastener 17 is not particularly limited. In addition, a single hook-and-loop fastener 17 may be provided over the entire inner circumferential surface of the leg covering 10. Also, while the inside hook-and-loop fastener 32 is provided over the entire rear or inside surface of the band 30, it goes without saying that it may be provided at the end portions only.

Claims

A leg cover comprising:
a supporter (20) for being worn on a knee or above the knee of a wearer and provided with a plurality of buttons (21); and

a leg covering (10) provided with button holes (12) formed in a vertically elongated manner in the vicinity of an upper edge portion (11) thereof and used for making an engagement with the buttons (21) provided on the supporter (20), said leg covering (10) being further provided with a slit (13) so as to extend downwardly from the upper edge portion (11), and a plurality of string holes (15) formed on both sides of the slit (13) for passing a string (14) therethrough.
A leg cover comprising:
a band (30) for being wrapped above a knee of a wearer and provided with hook and loop fasteners (Velcro) (31, 32) on the end portions of an inside surface thereof and on an outside surfaces thereof, both ends of the band (30) being engaged with each other by the hook and loop (Velcro) fasteners (31, 32); and

a leg covering (10) provided on an inner surface thereof in the vicinity of an upper edge portion (11) thereof with a hook and loop (Velcro) fastener (17) for making an engagement with the hook and loop (Velcro) fastener (31) of the band (30),
wherein the leg covering is provided
with:
a slit (13) so as to extend downwardly from an upper edge (11) thereof, and

a plurality of string holes (15) formed on both sides of the slit (13) for passing a string (14) therethrough.