Neck gaiter

Abstract

A neck gaiter comprising a knit body having a densely knit portion, a loosely knit portion, and a seamless transition from the densely knit portion to the loosely knit portion. A method of manufacturing a neck gaiter that includes knitting a knit body having a densely knit portion that seamlessly transitions into a loosely knit portion to form a breathable region.

1 . A neck gaiter comprising a knit body comprising a densely knit portion, a loosely knit portion, and a seamless transition from the densely knit portion to the loosely knit portion, wherein the loosely knit portion has a stitch density less than of the stitch density of the densely knit portion with gaps in the loosely knit portion. 
     
     
         2 . The neck gaiter according to  claim 1 , wherein the knit body is substantially cylindrical. 
     
     
         3 . The neck gaiter according to  claim 1 , wherein the knit body comprises a unitary continuous structure without seams. 
     
     
         4 . The neck gaiter according to  claim 1 , wherein the densely knit portion encompasses the majority of the knit body. 
     
     
         5 . The neck gaiter according to  claim 4 , wherein the densely knit portion encompasses the entire knit body except for the loosely knit portion. 
     
     
         6 . The neck gaiter according to  claim 1 , wherein the gaps of the loosely knit portion are sufficiently large to enable a wearer to inhale and exhale without significant obstruction. 
     
     
         7 . The neck gaiter according to  claim 1  wherein the breathable region of the loosely knit portion is shaped as a circle or an oval. 
     
     
         8 . The neck gaiter according to  claim 1 , wherein the seamless transition comprises a drop off in average yarn count and/or an increase in average gap size between individual threads from the densely knit portion to the loosely knit portion. 
     
     
         9 . The neck gaiter according to  claim 8 , wherein the seamless transition comprises a change in a knit pattern between the densely knit portion and the loosely knit portion. 
     
     
         10 . The neck gaiter according to  claim 8 , wherein the seamless transition is a transition point or a transition zone. 
     
     
         11 . The neck gaiter according to  claim 1  further comprising at least one lining. 
     
     
         12 . The neck gaiter according to  claim 11 , wherein the at least one lining comprises an aperture in the lining corresponding to the loosely knit portion. 
     
     
         13 . The neck gaiter according to  claim 12 , wherein the size and shape of the aperture is substantially the same as or greater than the size and shape of the loosely knit portion, forming a breathable region. 
     
     
         14 . A method of manufacturing a neck gaiter comprising the step of knitting a knit body having a densely knit portion that seamlessly transitions into a loosely knit portion to form a breathable region. 
     
     
         15 . The method of manufacturing a neck gaiter of  claim 14 , wherein seamlessly transitioning the knit comprises a change in average stitch density. 
     
     
         16 . The method of manufacturing a neck gaiter of  claim 14 , further comprising forming a lining comprising a lining material having an aperture and attaching the lining to the knit body, such that the aperture substantially surrounds the loosely knit portion. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the knit body is formed flat, further comprising the steps of attaching the ends to form a cylindrical member. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the knit body is formed flat with opposed lateral ends and the lining is attached to the knit body, further comprising attaching the lateral ends of the knit body to form a cylindrical member. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the lateral ends are permanently attached. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the lateral ends are releasably attached.