Anti-embolism stocking

Claim 1

A full-length therapeutic stocking adapted to extend over and cover a wearer's leg and exhibit a graduated compressive force on the leg diminishing from a maximum in the foot-ankle area through a minimum in the upper thigh area, said stocking characterized in that the fabric thereof comprises: first and second separate and distinct generally tubular sections at the opposite ends thereof and an intermediate separate and distinct generally tubular section knit of a base yarn and located to cover the wearer's knee and connecting said first and second tubular sections to form an elongated stocking, said second tubular section covering substantially all of the wearer's thigh, an elastomeric yarn incorporated in said first and second sections so that said first and second sections exhibit substantially one-way stretch in a circumferential direction, said elastomeric yarn being knit-in to said fabric with said base yarn of said intermediate section to extend around the entire circumference of said intermediate section so that said intermediate section exhibits a two-way stretch, the amount of elastomeric yarn varying from a minimum amount at the end of said first section remote from said intermediate section to a maximum at the end of said second section remote from said intermediate section so that said stocking exhibits graduated compressive force when stretched around the circumference of a wearer's leg which compressive force varies from a maximum at said remote end of said first section to a minimum at said remote end of said second section.