[0001] The present invention relates to improvements of articles of dress, for wear on the
leg both indoors and outdoors.
[0002] Many articles of dress extending at least in part over the lower part of the body
are known, such as dresses, skirts, trousers and breeches. These are all suitable
for both indoor and outdoor wear.
[0003] There are other articles of protective clothing, such as raincoats and leg protectors,
which cover at least part of the lower part of the body, but are not intended for
both indoor and outdoor wear, and accordingly do not constitute an article of dress
as defined and used in this specification.
[0004] Other articles covering at least in part the lower part of the body are described
by Way (U.S. Patent No. 332, 630) and McCrahon (U.S. Patent No. 1, 367,065). These
are glove-fitting, that is, they adhere closely to the part of the human body it extends
over, over its full length.
[0005] The present invention is directed to an article of dress which extends at least in
part over the lower part of the body and can be worn both indoors and outdoors.
[0006] It is therefore a primary object of the invention to provide an outer garment which
can be word continuously all day in a normal manner both indoors and outdoors.
[0007] It is another object of the invention to provide an article of dress having different
sections which can be tight-fitting, partially tight-fitting, loose fitting, or partially
loose-fitting.
[0008] It is still another object of the invention to provide an article of dress which
can worn in combination with at least one other article of apparel covering at least
the upper and middle part of the body.
[0009] According to one aspect of the invention there is provided an article of dress according
to any one of claims 1, 5 and 7. According to another aspect of the invention there
is provided an article of dress comprising a first piece and a second piece, the first
piece comprising an article accodring to the first aspect of the invention, and said
second piece for covering at least a portion of the torso of the wearer in the region
of the abdomen and hips and a substantial portion of only one leg of a wearer, leaving
the other leg exposed, whereby said first piece can be viewed when worn on the other
leg of the wearer. All the other features mentioned in the remainder of this section
of the specification are presently envisaged as optional features, even if they are
stated to be according to the invention.
[0010] The article of dress according to the invention can be made out of various types
of material, including but not limited to materials presenting a substantially continuous
surface, materials presenting a discontinuous surface, as described hereinafter, materials
partially incorporating non-foldable materials (such as metals, plates and shells),
at least partly foldable materials and combinations thereof. Generally, a water resistant
or water-repellant material will not be required unless the article of dress is required
as for protection against wet or inclement weather conditions.
[0011] In one embodiment the article consists of three principal sections, an upper section,
a middle section, and a lower sections. The middle section covers from about 5 cms.
above to about 5 cms. below the kneecap. The upper section and the lower section cover
the areas respectively above and below the middle section. The fit of the tubing in
each of the three sections can be either loose-fitting, that is not adhering to the
leg, tight-fitting, that is adhereing to the leg, or partially loose-fitting, or partially
tight-fitting, as defined hereinafter. The article is made to fit in such a way that
when worn it has a shape distinct from that of a leg and when worn is partly freely
suspended. All types of fit within one section (partially loose-fitting) are possible
and can be used in any arrangement desired. When a plurality of types of fit are provided
in one section, either tight-fitting or loose-fitting will dominate the overall fit
of one complete section of the tubing.
[0012] For various types of fits the following definitions are used:
a) Loose (Tight)-fitting means the fitting is loose (tight)-fitting throughout the
complete length of the section, and
b) Partially loose (tight)-fitting means there is more than one type of fit within
the section and that loose (tight)-fitting dominates the overall fit of the section.
[0013] When the article of dress according to the invention comprises a single unit of tubing
for wear on one leg only, the wearer is free to choose whether or not two single units
of tubing will be word simultaneously instead of one single unit of tubing and whether,
if two single units are word, they are to be completely identical or not.
[0014] The article of dress according to the invention can consist of two pieces, the first
piece and the second piece. Whereas the first piece corresponds to the tubing described
hereinabove and hereinafter, the second piece is covering at least a portion of the
torso of the wearer in the region of the abdomen and hips and a substantial portion
of only one leg of a wearer, leaving the other leg exposed, whereby said first piece
can be viewed when word on the other leg of the wearer.
[0015] The article of dress according to the invention has a length allowing it to start
from any part of the upper leg and to extend to any point of the lower leg and in
the extreme to extend the full length of the leg. In general the length of the article
of apparel is not critical. Accordingly, it is possible to design and adapt the article
of dress to cover the required number of sizes for individual wearers by a limited
number of sizes as far as the length of the article of dress is concerned.
[0016] The hemline can be parallel to the floor, at an angle to the floor, or a combination
of the two.
[0017] The hemline can also consist of varieties of uneven lines consisting of at least
two lines placed at an angle to each other. Examples include but are not limited to
a zig-zag line, an undulating line and a curve. The hemlines also can be continuous
or discontinuous, such as when formed by fringe or of a plurality of pieces of material
at the hemline.
[0018] The article of dress can have any combination of continuous and discontinuous hemlines.
[0019] The article of dress can be formed from one piece of material, of which two sides
are at least partly connected to each other, or from two or more pieces of material
of which the sides are at least partly connected to each other, in any suitable manner
utilizing at least one kind of connecting means, such as for example a seam, a zipper,
self-adhesive tape, snaps, strings or knots or any other means for fastening together
at least partly two sides of one piece of material. The article of dress can also
contain more than one seam or another suitable connecting means.
[0020] If the article of dress includes more than one connecting means, these means can
be colinear with each other and either adjacent to or spaced apart from each other.
They can also be parallel to each other and even be positioned at an angle to each
other. The connecting means also can be formed in straight lines or irregular lines.
[0021] The size and shape of the piece or pieces of material from which the article of dress
is made is determined by the design and fit of the article. Accordingly, there are
no limitations to the arrangement or position of the particular connecting means.
[0022] The material used to make the article of dress comprises at least in part foldable
material, which can be located at any position in the article of apparel. The material
also can comprise in part non-foldable material, which also can be located in any
position.
[0023] The article of dress can have a substantially continuous surface, e having at most
minute discontinuities, such as in cloth as used for suits as used or dresses, or
a discontinuous surface, in which the discontinuities are of considerable size.
[0024] The discontinuous surface can comprise openings made in the material itself, alternatively
by cutting off or shaping the material or by cutting out pieces of the article of
apparel. The openings can also be made as the result of the arrangement of the various
pieces of material. The openings can be of regular size at regular (=equal) distances,
regular size at irregular (=unequal) distances, irregular size at regular distances,
irregular size at irregular distances and combinations thereof.
[0025] In another embodiment of the invention the article of dress can include at least
one inflatable air-pocket. The air-pocket can be provided with at least one air-tube
and an air-valve located in such a manner, that it is easily accessible if required.
Protective material can be attached to the tubing or the lining of the article of
apparel to cover the air-tube or the complete air-pocket system from inside. The air-valve
can be positioned in a stitched-on pocket, located on the outside part of the article
of dress or alternatively in a built-in pocket on the inside of the article of dress.
The air-valve allows inflation of the air-pocket to any desired degree using any suitable
gas, preferably air. An inflated air-pocket can be used to attach the article of dress
to the leg. This may allow better blood circulation and better prevent slippage than
some other conventional attachment means for attaching the article of dress to the
leg. Additionally the inflated air-pocket can provide a desired shape under the article
of dress. One may wish to inflate the air-pocket, for example only, as the attachment
means, for fashionable or decorative reasons, to hide and/or improve the form of a
leg, for temperature insulation purposes and for other reasons. For young children
one might wish to inflate the area of the knee to protect it against injuries. The
air-pocket according to the invention can be located at any position of the article
of dress and in any arrangement, size and number. The air-valve can be located directly
on the air-pocket (eliminating the air tube). Also the protective material utilized
for covering the air-tube or the air-pocket system is not compulsory. The air-pockets
can be located within the article of dress when the tubing is made out of air-tight
material, or the air-pockets can be fastened to the tubing.
[0026] The article of dress always covers the knee and the kneecap and at least partly covers
the upper and lower leg. The upper part of the upper leg can be at least partly uncovered.
[0027] Irrespective of the number of pieces of material the article of dress is made of,
the tubing can include auxiliary articles such as functional buttons, decorative buttons,
buttonholes, pockets, decorative seams and built-in pockets.
[0028] The article of dress can also include attached articles located outside the place
of the tubing and attached to the tubing such as linings, fillings, pockets, reinforcements
and straps.
[0029] The article of dress can be provided with a special pattern imposed on the surface
to present a discontinuous surface to decrease the aeration inside the tubing and/or
to add to the artistic and fashionable value. Special patterns, imposed onto the surface
of the tubing, constitute attached articles as well.
[0030] An additional feature of the invention is that pockets and straps are suitable for
carrying articles, such as for examaple pencils, keys or a purse.
[0031] The auxiliary and attached articles can be located at any position on the article
of dress.
[0032] The article of dress according to the invention can be attached to the leg or other
suitable part of the body by attachment means in some conventional mode as for example
by straps, strings, elastic materials, self-adhesive tapes, crimped fibres, a garter,
a corset or the like.
[0033] The attachment means can constitute a part of the article of dress; alternatively
they can be separate from the article of dress or as in the case of buttons and button
holes or crimped fibres, for example, the attachment means can constitute partly a
part of the article of dress and partly separate therefrom.
[0034] Generally, the attachment means will be placed circumferentially around the leg,
the exception being, as an example, self-adhesive tape which need extend only a part
of the circumference of the article of dress.
[0035] The attachement means can be situated in the upper part of the tubing. When the attachment
means is so situated, it can leave the upper end free and loose-fitting allowing it
to be more easily put on. When no attachment means are utilized both the upper part
of the tubing and the upper end of the tubing can be freely suspended or fitted in
any other convenient way. On the lower part and lower end of the article of dress,
conventional attachment means can be applied or the article of dress can be provided
with various alternative fittings including fittings enabling the article of dress
to be left completely freely suspended from the leg when worn. Alternatively the article
of dress can be provided with a construction comprising a string or elastic or elastomer
or elastic fibre, which gives the tubing the shape of harem trousers.
[0036] According to the invention the tight fitting attachment portion of the tubing serves
for engaging a part of the leg of the wearer for supporting the article of dress thereon,
whereby the loose-fitting portion serves to allow ambient air to engage at least a
portion of the leg of the wearer.
[0037] The article of dress according to the invention may or may not comprise attachment
means of its own. The spirit of the invention is not changed when the attachment means
utilized attach to any other suitable part of the body.
[0038] In another embodiment, the article of dress includes a pressed-in crease or a plurality
of pressed-in creases.
[0039] In addition, the article of dress according to the invention can be provided with
cuffs at the lower end.
[0040] The article of dress according to the invention can be translucent, transparent or
opaque, as desired. It can consist of any suitable materials such as woven or knitted
materials manufactured from natural fibres, man-made fibres, or materials not made
out of fibres and any mixture thereof; natural fibres consisting of cellulose base,
protein base or mineral base fibres and man-made fibres consisting of a natural polymer
base, synthetic polymer base and inorganic base fibre, as well as non-woven materials,
such as leather, synthetic leather, rubber, plastic foils, plates and other forms
made of different types of materials; rubber and any mixture thereof; as well as any
mixture of materials made out of fibres and materials which are not made out of fibres.
[0041] Because the article of dress covers the leg only, the material used in making it
can be a very light material and/or transparent material as articles of dress covering
the leg are subject to less tear and wear than articles covering the leg and some
other part of the body.
[0042] The article of dress according to the invention can be made, for example, out of
very lightweight transparent material, such as fabrics weighing 100 m/m². It is expected
that such fabrics will not be particularly resistant to breaking and tearing according
to ASTM Designation D 1682 and D2262.
[0043] A better understanding of the disclosed embodiments of the invention will be achieved
when the accompanying detailed description is considered in conjunction with appended
drawings in which:
FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a first embodiment of the invention, in use
on the lower part of the human body;
FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of a second embodiment of the invention, in use
on a human left leg;
FIGURE 3 is a left side elevational view of a third embodiment of the invention in
use on a human left leg;
FIGURE 4 is a left side elevational view of a fourth embodiment of the invention,
in use on a human left leg;
FIGURE 5 is a left elevational view of a fifth embodiment of the invention, in use
on a human left leg;
FIGURE 6 is a left side elevational view of a sixth embodiment of the invention, in
use on a human left leg;
FIGURE 7 i a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of Figure 6, taken along line
a-a of Figure 6;
FIGURE 8 is a front elevational view of a seventh embodiment of the invention, in
use on a human left leg;
FIGURE 9 is a front elevational view of an eighth embodiment of the invention, in
use on the lower part of the human body;
FIGURE 10 is a front elevational view of a ninth embodiment of the invention, in use
on a lower part of the human body; and
FIGURE 11 is a front elevational view of a tenth embodiment of the invention, in use
on a lower part of the human body.
[0044] The articles of dress illustrated in the drawings are wholly or partly for use as
a decorative leg covering for a single leg, being tubing of decorative lightweight
material and capable of being worn as a single unit covering only one leg from above
the knee to below the knee.
[0045] As shown in Figure 1, tubing 10 comprises one piece of material 12. The tubing covers
the area from somewhere on the upper part of the leg to the ankle. The tubing has
an upper section 10a at least 2.5cm long and is tight-fitting at 14 in the middle
part of the upper section 10a and loose-fitting above and below 14, loose-fitting
in the middle section 10b, and partially loose-fitting in the lower section 10c being
tight-fitting at 18a and 18b. The upper part 16 of the tubing 10 is loose-fitting
and has an upper terminal edge 13 which is undulating in the preferred embodiment.
The upper part 16 is attached to the leg from below by attachment means 14. The tubing
10 in section 10c is tight-fitting on the wearer's leg at two locations determined
by elastic strips 18a and 18b. Between these two locations of elastic strips 18a and
18b the tubing 10 is loose-fitting. The lower terminal edge 15 of the tubing occurs
at the lower edge of the strip 18b.
[0046] As shown in Figure 2, tubing 20 comprises a plurality of pieces of material 22a,
22b, and 22c covering an area from the upper leg to the ankle. Tubing 20 is partially
loose-fitting at the upper section 20a, tight-fitting at the middle section 20b, and
loose-fitting at the lower section 20c. The three pieces of material 22a, 22b, and
22c, are interconnected by interconnecting means 23 and a seam 24 positioned parallel
to each other. The upper section 20a of tubing 20 can be opened out and is secured
by connecting means comprising self-adhesive tape 25. The middle section 20b of the
tubing 20 is made out of elastic material, so that the complete area around the knee
is tight-fitting on the leg. The tubing 20 is provided with four pockets 26a, 26b,
26c, and 26d in various positions and the lower part 20c of tubing 20 includes an
open-ended inverted V-shaped opening 27 extending to the interconnecting means 23.
Pockets 26a, 26b, 26c and 26d are provided with decorative stitching 28. The lower
section 20c is at least 2.5 cm. long.
[0047] As shown in Figure 3, tubing 30 comprises a plurality of longitudinal spaced-apart
pieces of material 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d, 31e, 31f, etc. covering an area from the upper
leg to the ankle. Tubing 30 is loose-fitting at the upper and middle sections 30a
and 30b and partially loose-fitting with a tight fitting elastic strip portion 31
positioned in the lower section 30c, leaving the lower part of the lower section 30c
loose and thus freely suspended from the leg 1. The pieces of material 31a, 31b, etc.
are interconnected at the upper end by a ribbon type material 32 and by a trapezoid-shaped
piece of material 33 at the lower end. the ribbon type material 32 and the trapezoid-shaped
piece of material 33 are connected to pieces of material 31a, 31b, etc. by seams 34
and 35 respectively. The ribbon type material 32 is provided with decorative stitching
36. The lower section 30c is at least 2.5 cm. long. The top portion of the tubing
is supported by a vertical ribbon 37 extending to above the wearer's leg for fixing
either to the wearer's body or to another article of clothing. The ribbons 37 are
similarly provided in other embodiments.
[0048] As shown in Figure 4, tubing 40 comprises a discontinuous surface including see-through
openings having an area of at least 3mm² and large openings having an area of a least
50mm² covering an area from the upper edge 41 at the hipbone down to the lower edge
48 at the ankle. Tubing 40 is loose-fitting at the upper section 40a, partially loose-fitting
at the middle section 40b, and loose-fitting at the lower section 40c. A lining 42
extends through the upper part of section 40a. A netting material 43 covers the lined
upper section 40a and part of the unlined lower section 40c. For the middle section
40b of tubing 40, different material 44a is used, interconnected to the upper and
lower sections 40a and 40c by interconnecting means comprising seams 45a and 45b.
Elastic strips 46a and 46b are used as tight-fitting attachment means between which
the tubing 40b is loose-fitting. Tubing 40 further comprises a decorative seam 47,
securing material 44b on the base of the netting 43 of the lower section 40c.
[0049] As shown in Figure 5, tubing 50 comprises a discontinuous surface including see-through
openings 52a and large openings 52b - 52d, covering the area from about the level
of the ischium down to the extreme lower part of the leg 1. Tubing 50 is loose-fitting
at the upper section 50a, and partially loose-fitting at the middle and lower sections
50b and 50c. It is made out of five different interconnected sections of material
51a, 51b, 51c, 51d and 51e interconnected to form a tube. First section 51a has regularly
shaped openings 52a at regular distances, and has regularly shaped openings 52b at
irregular spacing, third section 51c has irregularly shaped openings 52c at regular
spacings and fifth section 51e has irregularly shaped openings 52d at irregular spacings.
A zig-zag seam 53 partly connects pieces of the section of material 51a dividing openings
52a from openings 52b. 51b is a ribbon-type tight-fitting elastic material situated
between the lower part of middle section 50b and the upper part of lower section 50c.
Ribbon type sections of material 51b and 51d and seams 56a, 56b, 56c and 56d interconnect
the sections of material 51a, 51c, and 51e. Tubing 50 further comprises an open-ended
inverted V-shaped opening 57 extending through the whole depth of the fifth section
51e. The tubing 50 has an upper edge 54 and lower edge 58.
[0050] As shown in Figure 6, tubing 60 includes inflatable air-pockets 61a and 61b, the
upper air pocket 61a covers an area within the upper section 60a and below the loose-fitting
upper end of the tubing 60. The upper end is provided with gripping means 62 for aiding
in pulling up tubing 60 over the leg, having an upper edge 66. The middle section
60b and the lower section 60c are loose-fitting. Section 60c has a lower edge 67.
An air pocket 61a in the upper section provides a round shape and serves as attachment
means for attaching tubing 60 to the leg. Tubing 60 further comprises a lower air
pocket 61b in the middle section 60b in the vicinity of the knee. An air valve 63
positioned in a conventional pocket 64 is connected to air-pockets 61a and 61b by
air-tubes 65. As shown in Figure 7, air-tubes 65 are covered on the side of tubing
60, towards the leg, by another material 66 attached to tubing 60, for example by
gluing. The leg 1 is thus prevented from being in direct contact with air-tubes 65.
[0051] As shown in Figure 8, tubing 70 comprises a discontinuous surface including see-through
openings 73 and large openings 74, covering an area from the upper part of the leg
1 to the ankle. Tubing 70 is partially tight-fitting on the upper section 70a, loose-fitting
in the middle section 70b and partially tight-fitting in the lower section 70c. The
tubing 70 in the upper section 70a has two loose-fitting portions and one tight-fitting
portion. The upper part 71 of the upper section is loose-fitting and is attached to
a suitable part of the body other than the leg by attachment means 37. The tubing
has two tight-fitting elastic strips 76 and 75 situated respectively in the middle
part of the upper section 70a connecting the upper part 71 to the remainder and on
the lower edge 77 of the lower section 70c. The upper terminal edge 72 is undulating
and the lower terminal edge 77 is on the strip 75. The see-through openings 73 being
of small size do not hinder the movement of the knee of the wearer, while ventilating
the tubing; large openings 74 are located on the rear of the tubing 70.
[0052] Figure 9 shows two different tubings 150 and 160 word simultaneously on respective
legs. Tubing 150 is partially loose-fitting at the upper section 150a and loose-fitting
at the middle and lower sections 150b and 150c. The lower part of the upper section
is provided with an elastic strip 152 supporting the tubing 150 on the leg of the
wearer. The upper edge 154 is uneven, consisting of two lines 154a and 154b each one
of which is at an angle to the transverse section of the wearer's leg. The lower edge
155 comprises fringes 156. Tubing 160 comprises a discontinuous surface including
large openings covering an area from below the highest part of the inner side of the
leg to the area of the ankle. Edge 161 at the upper end of tubing 160 is nonparallel
to the transverse section of the wearer's leg. Tubing 160 is partially loose-fitting
on the upper section 160a and partially tight-fitting in the region of an elastic
string 163. Middle and lower sections 160b and 160c of tubing 160 are loose-fitting.
Chains 162 fasten together materials 97a and 97b leaving large openings between them.
A rigid metal plate 164 is formed with eyes 165 by which cords 166 attach it to the
edges of a surrounding rectangular recess in the lower edge of the lower section 160c.
[0053] The article of dress shown in Figure 10 differs from those so far described in that
it consists of a first piece and a second piece, said pieces constituting two different
articles of dress, a tubing 100 and a dress 108, the latter having a plurality of
permanent folds 109. Each of the said tubing 100 and the said dress 108 is separately
attached to a suitable part of a body and is separate from the other. The tubing 100
may be replaced by any of the previously described embodiments. In this embodiment
the tubing 100 covers an area from about the ischium down to about the ankle. The
tubing 100 is fitted to the leg by means of tight-fitting elastic strip 101 and a
tight-fitting inflatable air pocket 105 provided with an air passage 107a and air
valve 107b, with loose-fitting portions 100a between the top edge 98 and the strip
101, 100b between the strip 101 and the pocket 105 and 100c between the pocket 105
and the bottom edge 99. There is a greater length of loose-fitting portions than tight-fitting
portions. Elastic strip 101 and the air-pocket 105 are placed at the upper and lower
ends of the middle section 100b of tubing 100. In the upper section 100a is a built-in
pocket 102, and in the middle section 100b is a plurality of openings 104. The extreme
lower part of tubing 100 is partly turned inside out to show a lining 106. The upper
and lower sections 100a and 100c are at least 2.5 cm. long.
[0054] The dress 108 covers at least a portion of the torso and a substantial portion of
only one leg leaving the other leg exposed, this other leg being covered by the tubing
100.
[0055] As shown in Figure 11, the article of dress also consists of a first piece and a
second piece. The first piece is the tubing 110 fitted by means of elastic strip 111,
allowing it to be partially loose-fitting in the upper section 110a and loose-fitting
in the middle section 110b and lower section 110c. In the upper section is a built-in
pocket 112 and in the lower section 110c and partly in the middle section 110b are
longitudinal spaced apart pieces of material 114a, 114b, 114c, 114d, 114e, etc. Said
spaced apart pieces of material are connected at both ends by ribbon like material
113a and 113b. The second piece of the article of dress is a dress 108. The tubing
110 is shown in combination with a dress 108, the latter having a plurality of permanent
folds 109.
[0056] The invention includes further embodiments formed by combinations of selected components
of the embodiments described.
1. An article of dress for use as a decorative leg covering for a single leg, said
article being tubing of decorative light-weight material and capable of being word
as a single unit covering only one leg,
(a) said article extending when worn by a wearer from above the knee to below the
knee;
(b) said article having upper (13) and lower (15) terminal edges and supporting means
(14, 18a, 18b, 22b, 31) spaced therefrom comprising at least one tight fitting attachment
portion (14, 20b, 31) for engaging a part of the leg of the wearer for supporting
the article thereon; and
(c) said article having a loose-fitting portion (16, 20a, 30a) at said upper edge
(13) adjacent said tight-fitting attachment portion (14, 20b, 31), said loose-fitting
portion (16, 20a, 30a) extending between said tight-fitting portion (14, 20b, 31)
and said upper edge (13) and being positioned above said tight-fitting attachment
portion (14, 20b, 31) when worn by the wearer.
2. An article of dress according to claim 1, having two loose-fitting portions, said
article having second loose-fitting portion (10b, 50c) intermediate said tight-fitting
attachment portion (14, 51b) and said lower edge (15, 58).
3. An article of dress according to claim 1, said article having three loose-fitting
portions (40a, 40b, 40c or 100a, 100b, 100c) and comprising at least first and second
spaced apart tight-fitting attachment portions (46a, 46b or 101, 105) spaced from
the upper and lower terminal edges (41, 48, or 98, 99), said article having a first
loose-fitting portion (40a, 100a) extending between said first tight-fitting portion
(46a, 101) and said upper edge (41, 98), said article having a second loose-fitting
portion (40c, 100c) extending between said second tight-fitting portion 46b, 105)
and said lower edge (48, 99), said article having a third loose-fitting portion (40b,
100b) extending between said first and second tight-fitting attachment portions (46a,
46b, 101, 105).
4. An article of dress according to claim 1, said article having an upper section
(10a, 70a) adjacent said upper terminal edge (13, 72), a lower section (10c, 7cb)
adjacent said lower terminal edge (15, 77), and a middle section (10b, 70b) intermediate
said upper and lower sections, at least two of said sections having at least one tight-fitting
portion and at least one loose-fitting portion.
5. An article of dress for use as a decorative leg covering for a single leg, said
article being tubing of decorative lightweight material and capable of being worn
as a single unit covering only one leg,
(a) said article extending when worn by a wearer from above the knee to below the
knee;
(b) said article having upper and lower terminal edges (54, 58 or 72, 77 or 98, 99);
and
(c) said article having at least one loose-fitting portion (50c, 70b, 100b) and comprising
at least one opening (52a - 52d, 73, 74, 104) therein intermediate the upper and lower
terminal edges in a loose-fitting portion.
6. An article of dress according to any one of claims 1 to 5, including at least one
inflatable air-pocket (61a, 61b, 105).
7. An article of dress for use as a decorative leg covering for a single leg, said
article being tubing of decorative lightweight material and capable of being worn
as a single unit cover only one leg;
(a) said article extending when worn by a wearer from above the knee to below the
knee;
(b) said article having upper and lower terminal edges (66, 67); and
(c) said article having at least one loose-fitting portion (60b) and comprising at
least one inflatable air-pocket (61b).
8. An article according to claim 5 or claim 7, said article comprising at least one
tight-fitting attachment portion,
(a) said article having supporting means (51b, 61a, 76, 101, 105) spaced from upper
and lower terminal edges (54, 58 or 66, 67 or 72, 77 or 98, 99) comprising a tight-fitting
attachment portion for engaging a part of the leg of the wearer for supporting the
article thereon; and
(b) said article having a loose-fitting portion (50a, 62, 71, 100a) at said upper
edge adjacent said tight-fitting attachment portion (51b, 61a, 76, 101), said portion
and said upper edge (54, 66, 72, 98) being positioned above said tight-fitting attachment
portion when worn by the wearer.
9. An article according to any one of claims 5, 7 and 8, comprising at least one tight-fitting
attachment portion (101) for engaging a part of the leg of a wearer; and having a
loose-fitting portion at at least one of the edges (100a).
10. An article according to any one of claims 1 to 9, said article having a length
whereby it is capable of extending from the area of the hip to below the knee of the
wearer.
11. An article according to any one of claims 1 to 9, said first piece having a length
whereby it is capable of extending from above the knee to the area of the ankle of
the wearer.
12. An article according to any one of claims 1 to 9, said first piece having a length
whereby it is capable of extending from the area of the hip to the area of the ankle
of the wearer.
13. An article according to any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising at least two loose-fitting
portions (100a, 100c) and having a greater portion of the length loose-fitting rather
than tight-fitting.
14. An article of dress according to any one of claims 1 to 13, including at least
one opening (52a - 52d, 73, 74, 104) therein in a loose-fitting portion thereof intermediate
the top and bottom edges.
15. An article of dress according to any one of claims 1 to 14, comprising a plurality
of longitudinal, spaced apart strips of material (31a -31f, 114a - 114e).
16. An article of dress comprising a first piece and a second piece, the first piece
comprising an article as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15, said second piece (108)
for covering at least a portion of the torso of the wearer in the region of the abdomen
and hips and a substantial portion of only one leg of a wearer, leaving the other
leg exposed, whereby said first piece can be viewed when worn on the other leg of
the wearer.