BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     (1) Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to knitted textile articles and, more particularly, to a knitted preform for forming a panty, pantyhose or similar article such as a footie. 
     (2) Description of the Prior Art 
     Typically, panty fabric is knit as a tube of fabric with an elastic band for the waist at one end. The end of the tube opposite of the waistband includes some lines formed by the machine during knitting to guide the cut out for the legs. This fabric is cut away and wasted. Then elastic is sewn to make the leg opening. The tube is then closed with a seam in the bottom. Likewise, a footie is knit as a tube, cut and then one end sewn to form the toe. However, reciprocation is normally needed. 
     Thus, there remains a need for a new and improved knitted preform for making a panty without a seam in the bottom while, at the same time, having the elastic for the legs already in place. In addition, the preform may be used for making a footie without a seam in the bottom and not use a machine with reciprocation. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to knitted textile articles and a preform forming a panty, pantyhose or similar article such as a footie. The preform includes a tubular knit body and a longitudinal segment extending the length of the tubular body. The longitudinal segment includes partially omitted courses, which produces a unique shape suitable as a preform for subsequently forming other useful textile articles. In the preferred embodiment, the longitudinal segment further includes elastic yarn, which aids in forming the shape of the preform. Also, in the preferred embodiment, elastic end bands are formed during knitting to each end of the knitted article. These end bands then become a part of the final textile article. 
     In one embodiment, a substantially longitudinal cut is made through the tubular knit body opposite from the longitudinal segment, thereby forming a panty. A waistband may then be attached to the substantially longitudinal cut through the tubular knit body. Also, a pair of hose may be attached to the end bands, thereby forming a pair of pantyhose. 
     In another embodiment, a substantially longitudinal cut is made through the longitudinal segment opposite from the tubular knit body, thereby forming a footie. Stitching may then be added to connect the cut ends of the elastic end bands. 
     Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention is to provide a knitted article. The article includes a tubular knit body; and a longitudinal segment extending the length of the tubular body, the longitudinal segment including partially omitted courses. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a knitted article. The article includes a tubular knit body; and a longitudinal segment extending the length of the tubular body, the longitudinal segment including partially omitted courses, the longitudinal segment further including elastic yarn. 
     Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide a knitted article. The article includes: a tubular knit body; a longitudinal segment extending the length of the tubular body, the longitudinal segment including partially omitted courses, the longitudinal segment further including elastic yarn; and at least one end band attached to one end of the knitted article. 
     These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art after a reading of the following description of the preferred embodiment when considered with the drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of pantyhose made from the apparel preform constructed according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of an apparel preform of the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of the present invention, showing an end band that has been doubled back; 
     FIG. 4 is a series of perspective views showing how the apparel of the present invention is used to produce a panty or a pair of pantyhose; 
     FIG. 5 is a series of perspective views showing how the apparel of the present invention is used to produce a footie; 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing how the longitudinal section of the tubular knit body is formed by omitting courses; 
     FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of a contour knitting pattern; and 
     FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the courses used to knit the end bands of the apparel preform of the present invention. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also in the following description, it is to be understood that such terms as “forward,” “rearward,” “left,” “right,” “upwardly,” “downwardly,” and the like are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms. 
     Referring now to the drawings in general and FIG. 1 in particular, it will be understood that the illustrations are for the purpose of describing a preferred embodiment of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention thereto. As best seen in FIG. 1, a panty, pantyhose or similar article, generally designated  10 , is shown constructed according to the present invention. The textile article  10  includes a knitted preform  12  including a tubular knitted body  14  and a longitudinal segment having partially omitted courses  16 . End bands  20 , 22  form the leg openings and leggings  30  are attached to the leg openings. 
     The knitted preform  12  of the present invention is best seen in FIG.  2 . In the preferred embodiment, the knitted preform  12  is a jersey knit. The longitudinal section  16  is formed by partially omitted some of the yam courses. The longitudinal section  16  thus contains less fabric than the remainder of the tubular knit body  14 , thereby forming the asymmetric knitted preform  12 . In the preferred embodiment, the longitudinal section  16  preferably comprises between about 25 and 33% of the tubular knit body  14 . The actual amount depends on the panty or footie size being formed. 
     A schematic of the successive dropping of courses that is used to form the longitudinal section  16  is shown in FIG.  6 . In the preferred embodiment, the longitudinal section  16  is formed by successively stopping knitting on needles and knitting is performed only on every fourth course as shown in FIG.  7 . In order to better accommodate the shape of the human body, the longitudinal  16  may be knit in a contoured pattern of staggered ends, such as that shown in FIG.  8 . The contoured pattern is formed by stopping knitting on successive courses at different points. The pattern can be then be repeated or altered as desired to yield the proper garment contour or fit. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the knitted preform  12  is knitted from nylon and an elastic yarn, such as Spandex or Dorlastan (manufactured by Bayer Corp., Bushy Park S.C.) and has a ratio of elastic to nylon ends of about 3:1. Referring back to FIG. 7, the elastic end is preferably knit on every fourth needle. Thus, three courses of nylon are knit, followed by a course of elastic yarn, which is knit while being kept under partial tension. 
     As best seen in FIG. 3, the fabric at each of the end bands  20 ,  22  is doubled back and knit into the tubular knit body  14 , thereby forming an elastic leg or foot band. The width of the doubled back portion is between ⅛ and ½ inch and preferably about ¼ inch. 
     A garment, such as a panty or a pair of pantyhose  10  (such as shown in FIG.  1 ), may be made from the knitted preform  12  of the present invention according to the sequence shown in FIG. 4. A finished knitted preform  12  of the preferred embodiment is shown in FIG.  4 A. FIG. 4B shows a longitudinal cut  24  made in the tubular knit body  14 . The hole created by the longitudinal cut  24  forms the waist of the garment. A waistband  26 , shown in FIG. 4C, is sewn onto the edge formed by the longitudinal cut  24 . As such, the longitudinal cut  24  does not extend the entire length of the tubular body  14  and is positioned to ensure a proper fit of the garment. The end bands  20 ,  22  form the leg holes for the garment and the longitudinal section  16  forms the crotch. As shown in FIG. 4D, pantyhose  10  are finished by attaching legs  30  to the knitted preform  10  at end bands  20 ,  22 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrate how a footie is formed from the knitted preform  12 . The knitted preform  12  for a footie, shown in FIG. 5A, may be much smaller than the preform for a panty shown in FIG.  4 A. First, a longitudinal cut  32  is made through the longitudinal section  16  of the tubular knit body  14  as seen in FIG.  5 B. The longitudinal cut  32  extends through end bands  20 ,  22 , creating two ends on each end band. End bands  20  and  22  are joined at  34  to complete the footie  36  as shown in FIG.  5 C. 
     In operation, the preform for making a panty or a pair of pantyhose is made on a single cylinder fine gauge knitting machine. Starting at one end of the product the yarns start knitting on each of the feeds like a normal make up using the dial bitts and form a double elastic band or using the needles and make a double elastic band. After the band is complete, the feeds start knitting on only a portion of the needles and the yarn of each feed comes out and is trimmed. The amount of needles that knit is determined by the size of the panty and crotch area. This area may be changed during the knitting of the product to form a crotch that is wider in the back than front or any shape to fit the specific item being produced. It may vary to any amount of needles according to whatever amount of coverage you wish in the crotch. 
     The feeds that are knitting on only a portion of the needles may knit plain or pattern with textured nylon or any type of yam. The feeds that are knitting on all the needles in the cylinder may have a covered spandex, cotton or any other type of yarn. 
     After knitting, the garment is slit on a line that is created by the machine while the product is being knit. This slit line may be in the center of the area that forms the panty or it may be off center if more fabric is needed for the back or front. After slitting, elastic is sewn around the area to form the elastic for the waistband. This creates a panty without seams with the elastic for the legs already in place. 
     In operation, the preform for making a footie is made on a single cylinder fine gauge knitting machine. Starting at one end of the product the yams start knitting on each of the four feeds like a normal make-up and then every other needle stops knitting and stays at the low position to hold the yarn it picked up and not to pick up any more yarn. One feed includes covered spandex and the other feeds have textured nylon. In this way, the starting end of the fabric is held by the needles in the low position until the desired amount of fabric is knit. Then the needles that are in the low position start knitting normally for one revolution of the cylinder and this knits the starting end of the fabric back into the regular fabric and forms a double fabric to make an elastic band. 
     After the band is complete, three of the four feeds start knitting on only a portion of the needles and the yarn of each feed comes out and is trimmed. The amount of needles that knit is determined by the size of the footie that is being produced. It may vary from 300 to 350 or whatever amount of coverage you wish for the footie. The three feeds that knit are knitting only on the needles that are knitting plain knit with textured nylon yarn. The one feed that is knitting on all the needles in the cylinder includes a double covered spandex yarn and may knit a 1X1 tuck or in some styles may knit plain. If the feed that is knitting on all needles is making a 1X1 tuck then it may be using the 1X1 tuck only on the needles that are not knitting on the other three feeds. Knitting this way helps insure that the stitches will not run when the garment is slit. 
     After knitting, the garment is slit on the center of the side that not much fabric is produced on. It is then seamed on a sewing machine at the ends of the double elastic bands. This forms a footie without a seam in the bottom and does not use a machine with reciprocation. 
     Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. It should be understood that all such modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the following claims.
A knitted textile articles and a preform forming a panty, pantyhose or similar article such as a footie. The preform includes a tubular knit body and a longitudinal segment extending the length of the tubular body. The longitudinal segment includes partially omitted courses which produces a unique shape suitable as a preform for subsequently forming other useful textile articles. In the preferred embodiment, the longitudinal segment further includes elastic yarn, which aids in forming the shape of the preform. Also, in the preferred embodiment, elastic end bands are formed during knitting to each end of, the knitted article. These end bands then become a part of the final textile article.