Leg wear with integral brace sleeve

Abstract

A leg wear apparatus including at least one side portion having first and second ends and positioned between front and rear portions, where the first end of the at least one side portion is attached to a waistband. The leg wear includes at least one leg portion that expands along a leg of a wearer, wherein the at least one leg portion is attached to the second end of the at least one side portion. The leg wear further includes a sleeve that expands along a thigh of the wearer, where the sleeve is attached to the at least one leg portion. The sleeve may extend upwards along the thigh to permit placement of a brace over the leg of the wearer. The sleeve may further extend downwards along the thigh and compress the brace against the thigh.

The following is claimed: 
     
         1 . A leg wear apparatus comprising:
 a waistband configured to expand along a waist of a wearer;   a front portion having first and second ends, the first end of the front portion attached to the waistband;   a rear portion having first and second ends, the first end of the rear portion attached to the waistband opposite the front portion, the second end of the rear portion attached to the second end of the front portion;   a side portion having first and second ends and positioned between the front and rear portions, the first end of the side portion attached to the waistband;   a leg portion having an upper portion, the leg portion configured to expand along a leg of the wearer and attached to the second end of the side portion; and   a sleeve configured to expand along a thigh of the wearer over the leg portion, the sleeve attached to the upper portion of the leg portion,   wherein the sleeve is configured to extend upwards along the thigh to permit placement of a brace over the leg of the wearer, and the sleeve is configured to extend downwards along the thigh and compress the brace against the thigh.   
     
     
         2 . The leg wear apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 another side portion having first and second ends and positioned between the front and rear portions opposite the side portion, the first end of the another side portion connected to the waistband;   another leg portion having an upper portion, the another leg portion configured to expand along another leg of the wearer and attached to the second end of the another side portion; and   another sleeve configured to expand along another thigh of the wearer on the another leg, the another sleeve attached to an upper portion of the another leg portion,   wherein the another sleeve is configured to extend upwards along the thigh to permit placement of another brace over the another leg of the wearer, and the another sleeve is configured to extend downwards along the another thigh and compress the brace against the another thigh.   
     
     
         3 . The leg wear apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve includes a cuff configured to compress the brace against the thigh when the sleeve is extended downwards. 
     
     
         4 . The leg wear apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the leg portion extends below a wearer's knee and has a lower portion. 
     
     
         5 . The leg wear apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is attached to the leg portion via conventional stitching extending at least partially around the front portion and the side portion. 
     
     
         6 . The leg wear apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an inner protective layer positioned over an inner thigh of the wearer.   
     
     
         7 . The leg wear apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the inner protective layer is integrated within the sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The leg wear apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an outer protective layer positioned over an outer thigh of the wearer.   
     
     
         9 . The leg wear apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the outer protective layer is integrated within the sleeve. 
     
     
         10 . The leg wear apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve is composed of at least one compression material. 
     
     
         11 . The leg wear apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the cuff is composed of at least one anti-slip material. 
     
     
         12 . The leg wear apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of the sleeve includes a ridged pattern. 
     
     
         13 . The leg wear apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the front portion includes a protective layer. 
     
     
         14 . The leg wear apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the protective layer is integrated within the front portion. 
     
     
         15 . The leg wear apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the rear portion includes a protective layer. 
     
     
         16 . The leg wear apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the protective layer is integrated within the rear portion. 
     
     
         17 . The leg wear apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the side portion includes a protective layer. 
     
     
         18 . The leg wear apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the protective layer is integrated within the side portion. 
     
     
         19 . The leg wear apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the leg portion does not extend below a wearer's knee.