Tubular garment

Abstract

Methods of manufacturing a tubular garment using a knitting machine having a first knitting bed and a second knitting bed are disclosed. An embodiment of the method includes knitting a first fabric panel in the first knitting bed and knitting a second fabric panel in the second knitting bed. The first fabric panel and the second fabric panel being joined to define a first tubular portion of the tubular garment. The method includes temporarily transferring the first fabric panel from the first knitting bed to the second knitting bed and knitting a third fabric panel in the first knitting bed. The method includes joining the third fabric panel to the first fabric panel to define a second tubular portion of the tubular garment. The method includes disposing an electrically conductive bus through the second tubular portion for electrical communication with at least one conductive yarn integrated within the tubular garment.

1 . A method of manufacturing a tubular garment using a knitting machine that includes a first knitting bed and a second knitted bed, the method comprising:
 knitting a first fabric panel using a first subset of knitting needles of the first knitting bed and knitting a second fabric panel using a first subset of needles of the second knitting bed, the first fabric panel and the second fabric panel being joined to define a first tubular portion of the tubular garment;   transferring the first fabric panel from the first knitting bed to the second knitting bed, the first fabric panel thereupon being held by a second subset of needles of the second knitting bed;   knitting a third fabric panel on the first knitting bed using a second subset of needles of the first knitting bed;   joining the third fabric panel to the first fabric panel to define a second tubular portion of the tubular garment; and   disposing an electrically conductive bus in the second tubular portion for electrical communication with at least one conductive yarn integrated within the tubular garment.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 joining the third fabric panel to the first fabric panel forms a pocket between the third fabric panel and the first fabric panel; and   disposing the conductive bus in the second tubular portion includes disposing the conductive bus through the pocket.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the at least one conductive yarn is inlaid within the first fabric panel.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprises:
 disposing the at least one conductive yarn in the pocket between the third fabric panel and the first fabric panel.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprises:
 electrically coupling the conductive bus to the at least one conductive yarn.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprises:
 transferring the first fabric panel from the second knitting bed back to the first knitting bed, the first fabric panel thereupon being held by the first subset of knitting needles of the first knitting bed.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprises:
 knitting an extension to the first fabric using the first subset of needles of the first knitting bed and knitting an extension to the second fabric panel using the first subset of needles of the second knitting bed.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second subset of knitting needles of the first knitting bed are in a non-working position when knitting the first fabric panel using the first subset of knitting needles of the first knitting; and   the second subset of knitting needles of the second knitting bed are in a non-working position when knitting the second fabric panel using the first subset of knitting needles of the second knitting bed.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first subset of knitting needles of the first knitting bed and the second subset of knitting needles of the first knitting bed are alternatingly arranged in the first knitting bed; and   the first subset of knitting needles of the second knitting bed and the second subset of knitting needles of the second knitting bed are alternatingly arranged in the second knitting bed.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first fabric panel and the second fabric panel are integrally formed to define the first tubular portion of the tubular garment.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the knitting machine is a flat-bed knitting machine. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the knitting machine is a V-bed knitting machine. 
     
     
         13 . A tubular garment comprising:
 a first fabric panel;   a second fabric panel that is adjoined to the first fabric panel, the second fabric panel being formed integrally with the first fabric panel to define a first tubular portion of the tubular garment;   a third fabric panel that is adjoined to the first fabric panel on a surface of the first fabric panel, the third fabric panel and the first fabric panel defining a second tubular portion,   wherein a conductive bus is disposed within the second tubular portion for electrical communication with at least one conductive yarn integrated within the tubular garment.   
     
     
         14 . The tubular garment of  claim 13 , wherein the second tubular portion includes a cavity between the first fabric panel and the third fabric panel and the conductive bus is disposed within the cavity. (Original) The tubular garment of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one conductive yarn is disposed in the cavity. 
     
     
         16 . The tubular garment of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one conductive yarn is inlaid within the first fabric panel. 
     
     
         17 . The tubular garment of  claim 13 , wherein the conductive bus is electrically coupled to the at least one conductive yarn at one or more locations on the surface of the first fabric panel. 
     
     
         18 . The tubular garment of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one conductive yarn is disposed between non-conductive yarns of the first fabric panel. 
     
     
         19 . The tubular garment of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one conductive yarn is arranged within the tubular garment to provide resistive joule heating. 
     
     
         20 . The tubular garment of  claim 13 , wherein the first tubular portion defines an opening for fitting a limb of a wearer of the tubular garment.