US Patent 7434423 Impact protection and performance garment

A tubular garment includes a number of zones of compressive pressure about the circumference of the garment. A zone of compressive pressure in the distal portion of the garment includes a stitch pattern that is more dense than at least a portion of the stitch pattern in a zone of compressive pressure in the proximal portion of the garment. As a result, the compressive pressure in the distal portion zone is greater than the compressive pressure in the proximal portion zone. A more dense stitch pattern in one portion of a single zone can provide cushioning and increased compressive pressure compared to another portion of the zone. A more dense stitch pattern useful in such garments includes tuck stitches.