EP4028590B1 - Garment and method for producing a garment - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a garment comprising a knitted region and at least one electrically conductive conductor track.

Electronic units are increasingly being incorporated into textile clothing. These electronic units require electrically conductive supply and discharge lines.

From the WO 2014/080403 A1 is a textile garment in which an electrically conductive yarn in the form of floats is incorporated into the knitted area.

The direct knitting of an electrically conductive yarn into a knitted area of a garment requires that the electrically conductive yarn has sufficient deformability to be able to be knitted into the stitches of the knitted area. A further problem arises that the knitted area of the garment loses elasticity due to the knitting of the electrically conductive yarn.

The WO 02/061189 A2 discloses a clothing item according to the preamble of claim 1.

The WO 2008/129118 A1 discloses a lighting arrangement with textile elements which comprise a knitted region and electrically conductive conductor tracks, wherein the conductor tracks comprise stitches which follow one another in the wale direction and electrically conductive conductor elements which run through these stitches along the wale direction.

The US 2011/011250 A1 discloses a two-layer sweat cloth that can include a knit with loosely flying threads.

The DE 201 11 503 U1 discloses a sock comprising a knitted region in which air channels are formed by stitches of a base knit which are unknitted with a functional or reinforcing yarn.

The (to be considered only as state of the art under Article 54(3) EPC) WO 2020/099907 A1 discloses an article of clothing comprising a knitted region and an electrically conductive conductor track, wherein the conductor track comprises a tunnel knitted into the knitted region and an electrically conductive conductor element arranged in an interior of the tunnel.

The present invention is based on the object of creating an item of clothing of the type mentioned at the outset which allows the transmission of an electrical voltage and/or an electrical signal along the electrically conductive conductor track, but maintains a high degree of elasticity in the knitted area of the item of clothing in order to restrict the mobility and comfort of the wearer of the item of clothing as little as possible.

This object is achieved by a garment according to claim 1.

The present invention is therefore based on the concept of not knitting the electrically conductive conductor element directly into the knitted area, but instead knitting a (preferably electrically insulating) tunnel into the knitted area, which is capable of receiving the electrically conductive conductor element.

As a result, the selection of the electrically conductive conductor element is subject to fewer restrictions, and the elasticity of the knitted area of the garment is not reduced by knitting in an electrically conductive conductor element.

The electrically conductive conductor element preferably does not form part of the tunnel.

The tunnel preferably does not comprise an electrically conductive conductor element, in particular no electrically conductive yarn.

The knitted area of the garment is designed as a knitwear.

The tunnel of the conductor track can in principle run between any endpoints A and B in the knitted area of the garment in order to transmit an electrical voltage, an electrical current and/or data between the points A and B.

Preferably, the tunnel does not run parallel to the stitch row direction, but is inclined relative to the stitch row direction by an angle of preferably at least 10°.

The knitted area with the knitted-in tunnel and the electrically conductive conductor element arranged in the interior of the tunnel offers a high degree of comfort for the wearer of the garment because the electrically conductive conductor element does not come into direct contact with the wearer's skin and therefore does not rub the wearer's skin.

By largely maintaining the elasticity of the knitted area, a high degree of deformability of the knitted area of the garment is maintained and thus a high degree of mobility and comfort for the wearer of the garment.

The item of clothing according to the invention can in particular be designed as an upper body item of clothing, for example as a shirt, a cap or a headband.

Alternatively, the item of clothing according to the invention can also be designed as a leg garment, for example as trousers, leggings, socks or stockings.

When worn, the garment can fit tightly to the wearer's body with light or strong compression, or it can fit loosely to the wearer's body without compression ("loose fit").

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the conductor element comprises an electrically conductive yarn.

In particular, it can be provided that the conductor element is designed as an electrically conductive yarn.

The electrically conductive yarn can, for example, comprise a metallic wire.

Such a metallic wire can in particular contain copper and/or aluminium. In particular, it can be provided that the metallic wire contains copper or aluminium as the main component.

The wire of the electrically conductive yarn can be wound with at least one thread, preferably with several threads, made of an electrically insulating material.

The electrically insulating material may comprise a synthetic fiber material, for example a polyamide material.

Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the electrically conductive yarn comprises at least one thread having an electrically conductive coating.

Such an electrically conductive coating can in particular be a metallic coating.

For example, it can be provided that such an electrically conductive coating contains silver, preferably as the main component.

Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the electrically conductive yarn comprises a core made of a synthetic fiber material, for example a polyamide material, which is wound with one or more filaments made of a metallic material, for example a copper material.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the electrically conductive yarn comprises an electrically insulating sheath.

Such an electrically insulating sheath can in particular comprise a plastic foam, for example a polyurethane foam.

The invention provides that the tunnel of the conductor track comprises several tunnel segments which follow one another along a wale direction (knitting direction) of the knitted area.

It is provided that such a tunnel segment comprises at least one tunnel region in a first stitch row, in which stitches are formed from one or more first tunnel-forming yarns, and at least one second tunnel region in a second stitch row following the first stitch row, in which one or more second tunnel-forming yarns lie afloat.

The first tunnel region and/or the second tunnel region preferably has a width of at least two, in particular of at least four, meshes.

Furthermore, the first tunnel region and/or the second tunnel region preferably has a width of at most ten meshes, in particular of at most six meshes.

The first tunneling yarn may comprise a first base yarn.

Alternatively, the first tunneling yarns may comprise a first base yarn and a first plating yarn with which the first base yarn is plated.

In principle, the first base yarn and the first plating yarn can be identical to each other.

Preferably, however, the first base yarn and the first plating yarn are made of different materials.

The second tunneling yarn may comprise a second base yarn.

Alternatively, the second tunneling yarns may comprise a second base yarn and a second plating yarn with which the second base yarn is plated.

In principle, the second base yarn and the second plating yarn can be identical to each other.

Preferably, however, the second base yarn and the second plating yarn are made of different materials.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the first tunnel region comprises right/left stitches.

In particular, it can be provided that the first tunnel area is formed from right/left stitches.

A deviation of the longitudinal direction of the tunnel from the wale direction (knitting direction) of the knitted area can be achieved by offsetting at least two tunnel segments which follow one another in the wale direction of the knitted area in relation to one another in the course direction of the knitted area.

The smaller the number of stitch rows after which such an offset occurs in the stitch row direction, the greater the inclination of the longitudinal direction of the tunnel relative to the wale direction.

By varying the inclination of the longitudinal direction of the tunnel compared to the wale direction, curved tunnel sections can be produced in any way.

In particular, by offsetting tunnel segments section by section to the left and then again to the right (or vice versa section by section to the right and then again to the left), a wave shape of the tunnel can be achieved.

Such a wave shape of the tunnel results in a high flexibility and/or extensibility of the knitted area of the garment containing the tunnel or several tunnels along the wale direction, since the wave-shaped tunnel sections can be stretched more or less strongly along the wale direction.

The offset of two tunnel segments of a tunnel which follow one another in the wale direction in the course direction of the knitted region is preferably at least one stitch and/or preferably at most nine stitches.

Preferably, the offset between two tunnel segments immediately following one another in the wale direction is smaller than the number of meshes in the first tunnel region of such a tunnel segment.

Preferably, the tunnel segments of a tunnel which follow one another in the wale direction all have the same width (in particular the same number of meshes in the first tunnel region).

The electrically conductive conductor element is preferably drawn into the interior of the tunnel after the knitting of the tunnel is completed.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the electrically conductive conductor element protrudes from the interior of the tunnel at at least one end region thereof and is electrically connected to an electrically conductive contact element at this end region.

Such an electrically conductive contact element can be designed, for example, as a push button or as an electrically conductive contact surface.

A push button can be used to connect a control unit and/or a power supply unit.

An electrically conductive contact surface can serve to pick up a voltage from the skin of the wearer of the garment and/or (together with at least one other electrically conductive contact surface) to generate a voltage difference on the skin of the wearer of the garment and/or to introduce an electric current into the skin of the wearer of the garment.

The width of the interior of the tunnel (i.e. its extension in the direction of the stitch rows) is preferably at least 1 mm, in particular at least 3 mm, and/or preferably at most 7 mm, in particular at most 5 mm.

The width of the interior of the tunnel is determined by how many needles the second tunnel forming yarns are laid over in the second tunnel area when knitting the tunnel.

It has proven to be particularly advantageous if the second tunnel-forming yarns in each tunnel segment are laid over five needles each.

The outer diameter of the electrically conductive conductor element, in particular of the electrically conductive yarn, which is arranged in the interior of the tunnel, is preferably at least 0.2 mm, in particular at least 1 mm, and/or preferably at most 3 mm, in particular at most 2 mm.

The present invention further relates to a method for producing an article of clothing comprising at least one electrically conductive conductor track.

The present invention is based on the further object of creating such a method for producing an item of clothing which enables the electrically conductive conductor track formed on the item of clothing to have sufficient electrical conductivity and yet the elastic deformability of the item of clothing is only impaired to a slight extent and thus the freedom of movement and wearing comfort for the wearer of the item of clothing are largely retained.

This object is achieved by a method for producing an article of clothing comprising at least one electrically conductive conductor track according to claim 13.

The method according to the invention is particularly suitable for producing an article of clothing according to the invention.

Special embodiments of the method according to the invention have already been explained above in connection with special embodiments of the item of clothing according to the invention.

Further features and advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description and the drawings of embodiments.

Fig. 1

eine Seitenansicht eines Bekleidungsstücks, welches beispielhaft als Oberkörperbekleidungsstück, insbesondere als Shirt, ausgebildet ist, wobei das Bekleidungsstück einen gestrickten Bereich und mehrere, beispielsweise zwei, elektrisch leitfähige Leiterbahnen umfasst, wobei jede der Leiterbahnen einen in den gestrickten Bereich eingestrickten Tunnel und jeweils ein in einem Innenraum des jeweiligen Tunnels angeordnetes elektrisch leitfähiges Leiterelement umfasst;

Fig. 2

eine vergrößerte Darstellung des Bereichs I aus Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

einen schematischen Schnitt durch den gestrickten Bereich des Bekleidungsstücks aus den Fig. 1 und 2, längs der Linie 3 - 3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4

eine Vorderansicht des Bekleidungsstücks aus den Fig. 1 bis 3;

Fig. 5

eine schematische Darstellung eines Verfahrens zur Herstellung eines Tunnelsegments eines in den gestrickten Bereich eingestrickten Tunnels einer der elektrisch leitfähigen Leiterbahnen;

Fig. 6

eine Seitenansicht einer zweiten Ausführungsform eines Bekleidungsstücks, welches beispielhaft als ein Beinbekleidungsstück, insbesondere als eine Hose, ausgebildet ist und einen gestrickten Bereich sowie mehrere, beispielsweise vier, elektrisch leitfähige Leiterbahnen umfasst, wobei die Leiterbahnen jeweils einen in den gestrickten Bereich des Bekleidungsstück eingestrickten Tunnel und jeweils ein in einem Innenraum des Tunnels angeordnetes elektrisch leitfähiges Leiterelement umfassen; und

Fig. 7

eine Ansicht des Bekleidungsstücks aus Fig. 6 von hinten.

The drawings show:

Fig. 1

a side view of an item of clothing which is designed, for example, as an upper body item of clothing, in particular as a shirt, wherein the item of clothing comprises a knitted area and several, for example two, electrically conductive conductor tracks, wherein each of the conductor tracks comprises a tunnel knitted into the knitted area and in each case an electrically conductive conductor element arranged in an interior of the respective tunnel;

Fig. 2

an enlarged view of area I from Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

a schematic section through the knitted area of the garment from the Fig. 1 and 2 , along line 3 - 3 in Fig. 2 ;

Fig. 4

a front view of the garment from the Fig. 1 to 3 ;

Fig. 5

a schematic representation of a method for producing a tunnel segment of a tunnel knitted into the knitted region of one of the electrically conductive conductor tracks;

Fig. 6

a side view of a second embodiment of an item of clothing, which is designed as an example as a leg garment, in particular as trousers, and comprises a knitted area and several, for example four, electrically conductive conductor tracks, wherein the conductor tracks each comprise a tunnel knitted into the knitted area of the item of clothing and each comprise an electrically conductive conductor element arranged in an interior of the tunnel; and

Fig. 7

a view of the garment from Fig. 6 from behind.

Identical or functionally equivalent elements are designated by the same reference numerals in all figures.

A in the Fig. 1 to 4 The item of clothing shown, designated as a whole by 100, is designed, for example, as an upper body item of clothing 102, in particular as a shirt 104, and comprises a base body 106, which in the illustrated embodiment in particular comprises a torso part 108 and arm parts 110 and extends from a lower waistband 112 to a neckline 114.

The base body 106 of the garment 100 comprises at least one knitted region 116 and is preferably formed as a whole as a knitted region 116.

The garment 100 further comprises one or more electrically conductive conductor tracks 118, through each of which a first electrically conductive Contact element 120a is connected to a second electrically conductive contact element 120b.

The first electrically conductive contact element 120a can be designed, for example, as an electrically conductive contact surface 122, which serves to receive electrical signals from the skin of the wearer of the item of clothing 100 and/or to transmit them to the skin of the wearer of the item of clothing 100.

The second electrically conductive contact element 120b can be designed, for example, as a push button 124, via which the electrically conductive conductor track 118 can be connected to a control unit (not shown) and/or to a power supply unit (not shown).

Each conductor track 118 comprises a tunnel 126 knitted into the knitted region 116 of the garment 100, which extends in a longitudinal direction 128 of the conductor track 118, and an electrically conductive conductor element 132 arranged in an interior space 130 of the tunnel 126.

The conductor element 132 can in particular comprise an electrically conductive yarn 134. Preferably, the electrically conductive conductor element 132 is designed as an electrically conductive yarn 134.

The electrically conductive yarn 134 may comprise a metallic wire, for example made of copper or aluminum.

The wire may have a coating, preferably made of an electrically conductive material, for example silver.

Such a wire can be wound with one or more threads made of an electrically insulating material, for example a synthetic fiber material, in particular a polyamide material.

In a preferred embodiment, the electrically conductive yarn 134 can comprise a silver-coated copper wire which is wound with several, for example six, polyamide threads, for example with a fineness of 22 dtex. Each of the polyamide threads has several individual filaments, for example 14 individual filaments with a thickness of 1 dtex.

The electrically conductive yarn 134 is preferably provided with insulation made of a polyurethane foam.

Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the electrically conductive yarn 134 comprises at least one thread having an electrically conductive coating.

Such an electrically conductive coating can, for example, be formed from a metallic material, in particular silver.

Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the electrically conductive yarn 134 comprises a core made of a synthetic fiber material, for example a polyamide material, which is wound with one or more filaments made of a metallic material, for example a copper material.

Furthermore, the electrically conductive yarn 134 can comprise an electrically insulating sheath. Such a sheath can in particular comprise a plastic foam and/or a polyurethane material.

In a preferred embodiment, it can be provided that a thread made of two silver-coated polyamide threads with a fineness of 117 dtex each and 17 individual filaments each is used as the electrically conductive yarn 134.

Such a thread can be provided with an electrically insulating sheath made of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).

The knitting of the knitted area 116 of the garment 100 can be done on a flat knitting machine or on a circular knitting machine.

The tunnel 126 of a conductor track 118 knitted into the knitted region 116 comprises a sequence of several tunnel segments 136 which follow one another along a wale direction 138 of the knitted region 116, which is also referred to as the knitting direction.

A method for producing such a tunnel segment 136 in a preferred weave is described below with reference to the stitch formation scheme in Fig. 5 described:
In a first stitch row 140a, right/left stitches are knitted from a first base yarn 144a, which is plated with a first plating yarn 146a, within a first tunnel region 142a, which preferably has a width of two to ten stitches.

Also in the areas 150a lying outside the first tunnel area 142a in the stitch row direction 148 to the left or right of the first tunnel area 142a, right/left stitches are knitted in the first stitch row 140a from the first base yarn 144a, which is plated with the first plating yarn 146a.

The first base yarn 144a and the first plating yarn 146a are first tunnel forming yarns 147a of the tunnel 126.

The first plating yarn 146a may also be omitted; in this case, the first base yarn 144a forms the only first tunnel-forming yarn 147a of the tunnel 126.

In a second stitch row 140b following the first stitch row 140a along the knitting direction or wale direction 138, in the areas 150b lying outside a second tunnel area 142b in the stitch row direction 148 to the left or right of the second tunnel area 142b, right/left stitches are knitted from a second base yarn 144b which is plated with a second plating yarn 146b.

The second base yarn 144b and the second plating yarn 146b are second tunnel forming yarns 147b of the tunnel 126.

The second plating yarn 146b may also be omitted; in this case, the second base yarn 144b forms the only second tunnel-forming yarn 147b of the tunnel 126.

In the second tunnel region 142b of the second stitch row 140b, which preferably extends in the stitch row direction 148 over two to ten needles 152 of the flat knitting machine or the circular knitting machine, which corresponds to two to ten stitches of the first stitch row 140a, the second base yarn 144b and the second plating yarn 146b are quickly laid past the respective needles 152.

This floating in the second stitch row 140b leads to a curvature of the stitches knitted in the first tunnel area 142a of the first stitch row 140a, so that a tunnel segment 136 is created, the bottom 154 of which is formed by the floating second base yarn 144b, which is plated with the second plating yarn 146b, and the roof 156 of which is formed by the curved Right/left stitches of the first tunnel area 142a of the first stitch row 140a, which are knitted from the first base yarn 144a, which is plated with the first plating yarn 146a (see Fig. 3 ).

By repeating the above-described sequence of knitting a first stitch row 140a and a second stitch row 140b following thereon in the wale direction 138, a sequence of tunnel segments 136 is created and from this a tunnel 126 is created which extends primarily in the wale direction 138.

The stitches delimiting the second tunnel region 142b of the respective second stitch row 140b together form a tunnel edge 158a or 158b, which borders the interior 130 of the respective tunnel 126 on the left or right side (see also the Fig. 1 and 2 ).

By offsetting a tunnel segment 136 in the stitch row direction 148, i.e. perpendicular to the wale direction 138 or knitting direction, relative to the previously knitted tunnel segment 136, an inclination of the longitudinal direction 128 of the tunnel 126 relative to the wale direction 138 can be achieved.

The smaller the number of stitch rows 140a, 140b after which such an offset occurs in the stitch row direction 148, the greater the inclination of the longitudinal direction 128 of the tunnel 126 with respect to the wale direction 138.

By varying the inclination of the longitudinal direction 128 of the tunnel 126 with respect to the wale direction 138, curved tunnel sections can be produced in any desired manner.

By offsetting tunnel segments 136 in sections to the left and then again to the right, the Fig. 1 and 2 The waveform of the tunnel 126 shown is achieved.

This wave shape provides flexibility and/or stretchability of the knitted region 116 of the garment 100 containing the tunnel 126 or tunnels 126 along the wale direction 138, since these wave-shaped tunnel sections can be stretched more or less along the wale direction 138.

After the knitting process, an electrically conductive conductor element 132, in particular in the form of an electrically conductive yarn 134, is drawn into each of the tunnels 126 knitted in the manner described above.

The width of the tunnel 126, i.e. its extension in the stitch row direction 148, is preferably in the range of approximately 1 mm to 7 mm. This width is determined by the number of needles 152 over which the second base yarn 144b and the second plating yarn 146b are laid afloat in the second tunnel region 142b.

The electrically conductive conductor element 132, in particular the electrically conductive yarn 134, preferably has an outer diameter of approximately 0.2 mm to approximately 3 mm.

The first base yarn 144a and the second base yarn 144b may be different from each other or identical to each other.

The first plating yarn 146a and the second plating yarn 146b are optional; they may be identical or different from each other.

The first base yarn 144a and/or the second base yarn 144b preferably comprises an elastic thread, in particular an elastane thread.

The fineness of the elastic thread is preferably at least 13 dtex and/or preferably at most 44 dtex.

The elastic thread can be wound or swirled with a thread made of a polyamide material, a polyester material or a polypropylene material, whereby this thread preferably has a fineness of at least 13 dtex and preferably at most 78 dtex and consists of individual filaments which preferably have a fineness of at least 7 dtex and/or preferably at most 56 dtex. It can also be provided that the elastane thread is wound with several threads made of a polyamide material, a polyester material or a polypropylene material.

In a preferred embodiment, the first base yarn 144a and/or the second base yarn 144b comprises an elastane thread with a fineness of 13 dtex to 44 dtex, which is wound or intertwined with a thread made of polyamide, polyester or polypropylene with a fineness of 13 dtex to 28 dtex, the thickness of the individual filaments of the thread being from 7 dtex to 56 dtex. The elastane thread can also be wound or intertwined with several threads made of polyamide, polyester and/or polypropylene.

The first plating yarn 146a and/or the second plating yarn 146b preferably comprises a thread made of a polyamide material, a polyester material or a polypropylene material. This thread has a fineness of preferably at least 22 dtex and/or preferably at most 88 dtex. The individual filaments of the thread can have a fineness of preferably at least 10 dtex and/or preferably at most 44 dtex. The thread can be designed as a twisted yarn, in particular with the direction of rotation S or with the direction of rotation Z.

In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the first plating yarn 146a and/or the second plating yarn 146b comprises a thread made of polyamide, polyester or polypropylene with a fineness of 22 dtex to 88 dtex, wherein this thread has single filament strengths of 10 dtex to 44 dtex. This thread can be designed as a twisted yarn (with the twist direction S or with the twist direction Z).

The electrically conductive conductor element 132 introduced into the tunnel 126, in particular the electrically conductive yarn 134, protrudes from the interior 130 of the tunnel 126 with an end region at each end of the respective tunnel 126 in order to be able to connect to electronic components or units, in particular to an electrically conductive contact element 120a, 120b, for example to an electrically conductive contact surface 122 or to a push button 124, with the protruding end region.

By means of the electrically conductive conducting element 132, in particular the electrically conductive yarn 134, of an electrically conductive conductor track 118, voltages, currents and/or data can be transmitted through the tunnel 126 of the respective conductor track 118.

In this way, for example, a monitoring of the body functions of the wearer of the item of clothing 100 can be carried out, or an electric current can be applied to the wearer of the item of clothing 100, for example to carry out a stimulation current treatment.

By integrating the electrically conductive conductor element 132, in particular the electrically conductive yarn 134, into the interior 130 of each knitted tunnel 126, the electrically conductive conductor element is not in direct contact with the skin of the wearer of the garment 100.

This prevents, in particular, the electrically conductive conductor element 132, in particular the electrically conductive yarn 134, from rubbing against the skin of the wearer of the garment 100.

The wave shape of the tunnel 126 or tunnels 126 ensures sufficient elasticity of the garment 100 so that the range of motion and comfort of movement of the wearer of the garment are not restricted.

One in the Fig. 6 and 7 The second embodiment of a garment 100 shown in FIG. 1 differs from that shown in FIGS. Fig. 1 to 4 illustrated first embodiment in that the garment 100 is designed as a leg garment 160, in particular as trousers 162.

The main body 106 of the garment 100 in this case comprises a torso part 164 and two leg parts 166 and extends from lower waistbands 168 of the leg parts 166 to an upper waistband 170 of the torso part 164.

In this embodiment, the base body 106 of the garment 100 also comprises at least one knitted region 116 and is preferably formed as a single knitted region 116.

In this embodiment, the item of clothing 100 comprises one or more electrically conductive conductor tracks 118 on each leg part 166, through which a first electrically conductive contact element 120a is connected to a second electrically conductive contact element 120b.

The first electrically conductive contact element 120a can be designed, for example, as an electrically conductive contact surface 122, which serves to receive electrical signals from the skin of the wearer of the item of clothing 100 and/or to transmit them to the skin of the wearer of the item of clothing 100.

The second electrically conductive contact element 120b can be designed, for example, as a push button 124, via which the electrically conductive conductor track 118 can be connected to a control unit (not shown) and/or to a power supply unit (not shown).

Furthermore, the Fig. 6 and 7 The second embodiment of a garment 100 shown in FIG. 1 is similar in terms of structure, function and method of manufacture to that shown in FIG. Fig. 1 to 5 illustrated first embodiment, to the above description of which reference is made in this respect.

An item of clothing 100 designed as an upper body item of clothing 102 can also be designed as a cap or a headband, for example, instead of as a shirt 104.

An item of clothing 100 designed as a legwear item 160 can, for example, also be designed as leggings, as tights, as a stocking, as a calf stocking without a foot part or as a sock instead of as trousers 162.

Claims (13)

1. Garment, comprising a knitted region (116) and at least one electrically conductive conductor track (118),

   wherein the conductor track (118) comprises a tunnel (126) knitted into the knitted region (116) and an electrically conductive conductor element (132) arranged in an interior space (130) of the tunnel (126),

   characterized in that

   the tunnel (126) comprises a plurality of tunnel segments (136), which follow one another along a wale direction (138) of the knitted region (116), and

   in that each tunnel segment (136) comprises at least one first tunnel region (142a) in a first course (140a), in which stitches are formed from one or more first tunnel formation yarns (147a), and at least one second tunnel region (142b) in a second course (140b) following the first course (140a), in which one or more second tunnel formation yarns (147b) float.
2. Garment in accordance with Claim 1, characterized in that the conductor element (132) comprises an electrically conductive yarn (134).
3. Garment in accordance with Claim 2, characterized in that the electrically conductive yarn (134) comprises a metallic wire.
4. Garment in accordance with Claim 3, characterized in that the wire is wound with at least one thread of an electrically insulating material.
5. Garment in accordance with any one of Claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the electrically conductive yarn (134) comprises at least one thread that has an electrically conductive coating.
6. Garment in accordance with any one of Claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the electrically conductive yarn (134) comprises an electrically insulating sheathing.
7. Garment in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first tunnel region (142a) and/or the second tunnel region (142b) has/have a width of at least two stitches.
8. Garment in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the first tunnel region (142a) and/or the second tunnel region (142b) has/have a width of at most 10 stitches.
9. Garment in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the first tunnel formation yarns (147a) comprise a first base yarn (144a) and a first plating yarn (146a) with which the first base yarn (144a) is plated, and/or the second tunnel formation yarns (147b) comprise a second base yarn (144b) and a second plating yarn (146b) with which the second base yarn (144b) is plated.
10. Garment in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the first tunnel region (142a) comprises right/left stitches.
11. Garment in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least two tunnel segments (136) following one another in the wale direction (138) of the knitted region (116) are offset from one another in the course direction (148) of the knitted region (116).
12. Garment in accordance with any one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the electrically conductive conductor element (132), at at least one end region thereof, projects out of the interior space (130) of the tunnel (126) and at this end region is electrically conductively connected to an electrically conductive contact element (120a, 120b).
13. Method for producing a garment (100) that comprises at least one electrically conductive conductor track (118), said method comprising the following:

    - knitting a tunnel (126) into a knitted region (116) of the garment (100); and

    - arranging an electrically conductive conductor element (132) in an interior space (130) of the tunnel (126);

    wherein the tunnel (126) comprises a plurality of tunnel segments (136), which follow one another along a wale direction (138) of the knitted region (116), and

    wherein each tunnel segment (136) comprises at least one first tunnel region (142a) in a first course (140a), in which stitches are formed from one or more first tunnel formation yarns (147a), and at least one second tunnel region (142b) in a second course (140b) following the first course (140a), in which one or more second tunnel formation yarns (147b) float.

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