COMPRESSION ARTICLE

Abstract

A compression article and method for its production on a flat-bed knitting machine are provided for providing an improved fit to a body part. In the compression article, respectively the number of stitches per stitch row is matched to the radial circumference of the body part to be treated by the compression article. The compression article has a plurality of points which are distributed over its circumference and at which, in a stitch row, at least one of a stitch increase and a stitch reduction is realized. The number of stitches in the wale direction varies over the circumference of the compression article and is matched, in the longitudinal direction of the body part, to the shape of the body part to be treated.

Claims

1. A compression article, which is produced from a knitted fabric created on a knitting machine, and in which respectively a number of stitches per stitch row is matched to a radial circumference of a body part to be treated by the compression article, wherein in order to match in a circumferential direction a shape of the body part to be treated, the compression article has a plurality of points which are distributed over a circumference thereof and at which, in a stitch row, at least one of a stitch increase and a stitch reduction is realized, and in that, moreover, the number of stitches in a wale direction varies over the circumference of the compression article and the compression article is additionally matched, in a longitudinal direction of the body part, to the shape of the body part to be treated.

2. The compression article of claim 1, wherein a central longitudinal axis thereof conforms to a central longitudinal axis of the body part to be treated.

3. The compression article of claim 1, wherein the compression article is produced as a three-dimensional flat or circular knitted fabric.

4. The compression article of claim 1, wherein the compression article is produced as a seamless tubular knitted fabric.

5. The compression article of claim 1, wherein the compression article is produced using gusseting techniques.

6. The compression article of claim 1, wherein the compression article is formed of a plurality of strip-shaped segments, which, in the circumferential direction of the compression article, are separated from one another by zones comprising at least one of a stitch increase and a stitch decrease.

7. The compression article of claim 6, wherein side margins of the segments are parallel to one another.

8. The compression article of claim 6, wherein at least some of the segments have a different number of stitch rows.

9. The compression article of claim 6, wherein in a division of the knitted fabric into the segments, a stitch count per stitch row in the segments, and a number of stitch rows per segment is determined from data acquired in a measurement of the body part to be supported.

10. The compression article of claim 1, wherein the compression article is produced at least partially using elastic yarns.

11. The compression article of claim 10, wherein the elastic yarns forma ground weave of the knitted fabric and/or are integrated as at least one of weft and warp threads into the knitted fabric.

12. The compression article of claim 1, wherein a compression pressure exerted on the body part decreases from a distal end of the compression article toward a proximal end.

13. The compression article of claim 1, wherein the compression article is produced from a double-layered or double-faced knitted fabric.

14. A method for producing a compression article on a knitting machine, comprising: measuring a body part to be supported by the compression article at individual measuring points; selecting a base pattern for the compression article from a catalogue, measurements of which best conform to the body part; adjusting a stitch count of stitch rows and of a number of stitches in individual wales of the base pattern in accordance with the measurements of the body part in circumferential and longitudinal direction of the body part between the measuring points; and knitting of the revised base pattern on a flat-bed knitting machine.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the revised base pattern is produced by calculating a plurality of segments, wherein the segments are respectively separated from one another by zones in which the stitch count of the stitch rows of the knitted fabric is at least one of reduced and increased.

16. A method for producing a compression article on a knitting machine, comprising: measuring a body part to be supported by the compression article, by scanning of the body part; calculating a necessary number of stitches per stitch row in accordance with a measured circumference of the body part in that region of the body part that is covered by the stitch row; calculating those points within each stitch row at which at least one of a stitch increase and decrease in comparison to a preceding stitch row is necessary, so that a central longitudinal axis of a compression knitted fabric conforms to a central longitudinal axis of the body part; calculating a necessary number of stitches per wale of the compression article for covering the body part in a longitudinal direction thereof; and knitting of the compression article on a flat-bed knitting machine, using the calculated stitch counts per stitch row, the calculated points of at least one of a stitch increase and decrease in the stitch rows, and the calculated necessary numbers of stitches per wale.

17. The compression article of claim 6, wherein side margins of the segments are non-parallel to one another.

18. The compression article of claim 2, wherein the compression article is produced as at least one of a three-dimensional flat or circular knitted fabric, or as a seamless tubular knitted fabric, wherein the compression article is produced using gusseting techniques, wherein the compression article is formed of a plurality of strip-shaped segments, which, in the circumferential direction of the compression article, are separated from one another by zones comprising at least one of a stitch increase and a stitch decrease, wherein side margins of the segments are parallel to one another, wherein at least some of the segments have a different number of stitch rows, wherein in a division of the knitted fabric into the segments, a stitch count per stitch row in the segments and a number of stitch rows per segment is determined from data acquired in a measurement of the body part to be supported, wherein the compression article is produced at least partially using elastic yarns, wherein the elastic yarns form a ground weave of the knitted fabric and/or are integrated as at least one of weft and warp threads into the knitted fabric, wherein a compression pressure exerted on the body part decreases from a distal end of the compression article toward a proximal end, and wherein the compression article is produced from a double-layered or double-faced knitted fabric.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The features and advantages of the invention will be appreciated upon reference to the following drawings. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the invention and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, explain the one or more embodiments of the invention.

[0032] FIG. 1 is a top view of segments of a base pattern for a compression article.

[0033] FIG. 2 is a top view of the compression article from FIG. 1 after completion on a flat-bed knitting machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0034] In the illustrated example, the compression article 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is produced on a flat-bed knitting machine and is divided in the design stage into four segments 11, 12, 13 and 14, which between them define zones 15-18 in which a stitch increase and/or a stitch reduction is carried out. The four segments 11 to 14 are knitted with common thread guides, so that the finished knitted fabric shown in FIG. 2 is obtained. The representation in FIG. 1 serves, however, to better illustrate the production method for the compression article 10 (also referred to as the compression knitted fabric herein).

[0035] Each of the segments 11 to 14 is adapted in the zones 15 to 18 at the longitudinal margins of the segments 11 to 14 with respect to the stitch count in each stitch row such that the finished knitted compression article 10 is optimally matched in its shape to a body part to be supported. To this end, measurement data of the body part is first used to select a base pattern for the compression article 10 from a set of available patterns which already approximates to the desired shape of the compression article 10. The patterns of the segments 11 to 14 of this base pattern are subsequently revised such that the fit of the compression article 10 composed of the segments is optimally matched to the shape of the body part. This revision is made by adapting the stitch count per stitch row in the zones 15 to 18 at the longitudinal margins of the segments 11 to 14 and by providing gusseting zones 19 at least in some of the segments 11 to 14. Also the length of the wales of the segments 11 to 14 is varied in accordance with the body part shape. There is thus formed the three-dimensional compression article 10 shown in FIG. 2, which has merely to be closed by a longitudinal seam.

[0036] The embodiments described above are descriptions of preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Various variations and modifications can be made by those of ordinary skill in the art, without departing from the design and scope of the present invention. The variations and modifications should all fall within the claimed scope defined by the claims of the present invention.