Athletic Shirt With Non-Chafing Inner Sleeve

Abstract

A shirt for athletic use including a body for covering the torso of a wearer, an inner sleeve attached to the shirt body within the body cavity, the inner sleeve defining a throughbore for passage of the torso of a wearer therethrough, the inner sleeve being a continuous band, the inner sleeve being formed from a non-chafing material for a snug fit around the chest of a wearer, whereby relative motion between the inner sleeve and the chest of the wearer is reduced, and the skin of a wearer is not abraded by contact with the non-chafing sleeve; and a plurality of pliant attachment elements extending between the inner sleeve and the body of the shirt, whereby the inner sleeve is maintained in position, while being allowed movement with the wearer substantially independently of shirt movement, thereby preventing chafing of the wearer by the body of the shirt.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates broadly to athletic wear and, more particularly, to an athletic shirt that reduces chafing of the wearer's skin.

Athletic endeavors in general and running in particular, involve repetitive movements over relatively prolonged periods of time. The friction caused by contact of the athletic wear with the athlete's skin may result in chafing amounting to skin irritation due to repetitive friction. This may arise from contact between skin and skin, or skin and clothing, especially during prolonged periods of exercise, such as long-distance running. Further, the moisture from sweat exacerbates the condition by making the skin more susceptible to chafing. The condition is most seen in male long-distance runners wearing shirts made of hard fibers such as cottons after long runs in cool climates. Such chafing can cause pain, including sticking and burning, itching, inflammation and swelling, cracked skin, and, in extreme cases bleeding. Nipple chafing is particularly troublesome. Female runners less commonly suffer from nipple chafing due to protection from soft padding in sports brassieres.^{1 1} Chafing And Runner's Nipple; AMSSM Sports Medicine Topics; American Medical Society For Sports Medicine; see www.SportsMedToday.com

As may be expected, the effects of chafing can lead to inferior performance and frustration for the athlete.

In the past, solutions to the nipple chafing problem have been directed to women. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,412,357 to Michener (Michener '357) is directed to a shirt configured to prevent skin irritation due to chafing and is used for the female athlete. There, straps are attached to the exterior of a front panel for selectively and adjustably constraining the breasts of a female athlete. (Col. 1, ll. 24-34). As seen in FIG. 12, the adjustment means across the front are straps extending across the front of the shirt, the straps being equipped with hook and loop fasteners such that the shirt may be gathered tighter around the torso and maintained in place by the hook and loop fasteners. A problem associated with Michener '357 is that the chest protector as a part of the shirt itself is gathered tight against the chest to the wearer to prevent relative motion between the shirt and the wearer. Such an unnatural fit can also be detrimental to athletic performance.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,743,272 to Kocher, Jr. (Kocher '272) addresses the problem in male distance runners by providing a pair of small shields that are adhesively applied to the nipple area of the runner. These shields function as a barrier between the nipple and the runner's garment. While the shields may protect the nipple, the use of adhesive in an area of tender skin can be problematic. Further, such adhesive would have to be carefully chosen to withstand the rigors of maintaining adhesion while on the body of an athlete.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,517,183 to Ward (Ward '183) follows the approach of Kocher '272 by providing individual nipple covers that adhered to the nipple area.

The present invention takes a different approach to the issue of male runner nipple protection and, accordingly, avoids the problems associated with the existing art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is accordingly an object of the present invention to provide a runner's shirt, particularly for male runners, which helps prevent chafing.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a shirt that allows a loose, comfortable, and natural looking fit while preventing chafing.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a shirt that acts to conceal enlarged male breasts, while providing a natural looking fit.

To those collective ends, and according to one preferred embodiment thereof, the present invention is directed to a shirt for athletic use includes an outer body for covering the torso of a wearer, the outer body being formed as a T-shirt having a predetermined chest size and including a front panel and a back panel joined at the top to define a collar opening and arm openings and a shoulder seam extending therebetween, with the shirt being open at the bottom, thereby defining a cavity for receiving the torso of a wearer. An inner sleeve with a yoke portion and a body portion, the yoke portion being attached to the shirt body within the cavity, the inner sleeve defining a throughbore for passage of the torso of a wearer therethrough, the inner sleeve being formed with a predetermined chest size smaller than the outer body chest size, wherein the outer body drapes loosely over the torso of the user and the inner sleeve fits snugly to the torso of a user, whereby relative motion between the inner sleeve and the chest of the wearer is reduced compared to a larger shirt, the inner sleeve being formed from a non-chafing material and the skin of a wearer is not abraded by contact with the non-chafing sleeve. A plurality of attachment elements extending between the inner sleeve and the body of the shirt, the attachment elements being fixed to both the inner sleeve and the body of the shirt to maintain the inner sleeve in a useful position during athletic movement by the wearer, whereby the inner sleeve is maintained in a general position by the attachment elements, while being allowed movement with the wearer that is substantially independent of outer shirt movement, thereby preventing chafing of the wearer by the outer body of the shirt.

Preferably the outer body is formed with a predetermined outer body length and the inner sleeve is formed with a predetermined inner sleeve length and the outer body length is greater than the inner sleeve length. It is preferred that the inner sleeve is attached to the outer body with the yoke portion of the inner sleeve fixed to the shoulder seams of the outer body.

It is preferred that the attachment elements include stitching along the shoulder seams of the outer body joining the yoke portion of the inner sleeve to the outer body. It is further preferred that the non-chafing material may be a polyester and spandex blend fabric.

Preferably, the plurality of attachment elements may include at least two pliant flanges extending between the inner sleeve and the shirt body, the flanges being formed from an elastic textile material to allow relative movement between the shirt body and the inner sleeve such that the inner sleeve moves with the wearer independent of shirt movement, thereby allowing a natural drape of the shirt over the torso of the wearer while preventing chafing.

It is preferred that the plurality of attachment elements includes at least four pliant flanges extending between the inner sleeve and the shirt body, the flanges being formed from an elastic textile material to allow relative movement between the shirt body and the inner sleeve such that the inner sleeve moves with the wearer independent of shirt movement, thereby allowing a natural drape of the shirt over the torso of the wearer while preventing chafing.

It is further preferred that the plurality of attachment elements further includes at least one pliant strap extending between a front portion of the inner sleeve to a back portion of the inner sleeve, the strap being formed from an elastic textile material to allow relative movement between the shirt body and the inner sleeve such that the inner sleeve moves with the wearer independent of shirt movement, thereby allowing a natural drape of the shirt over the torso of the wearer while preventing chafing. Preferentially, the plurality of attachment elements may further include at least two pliant straps attached to the inner sleeve and extending around the arm holes of the shirt and sewn thereto.

It is further preferred that the shirt is formed from a back panel joined to a front panel with seams from the arm openings to the bottom opening and the attachment elements are sewn into the seams.

By the above, the present invention provides an effective garment for preventing nipple chafing, particularly in male long-distance runners that provides a natural fit and appearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of an athletic shirt according to one preferred embodiment for the present invention, broken open to illustrate the contents of the shirt body;

FIG. 2 is a back view of the athletic shirt illustrated in the FIG. 1, broken open to illustrate the contents of the shirt body;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the shirt illustrated in FIG. 1, broken open to illustrate the contents of the shirt body.

FIG. 4 is a front view of an athletic shirt according to another preferred embodiment for the present invention, broken open to illustrate the contents of the shirt body;

FIG. 5 is a back view of the athletic shirt illustrated in the FIG. 4, broken open to illustrate the contents of the shirt body;

FIG. 6 is a side view of the shirt illustrated in FIG. 4, broken open to illustrate the contents of the shirt body.

FIG. 7 is a front view of an athletic shirt according to another preferred embodiment for the present invention, broken open to illustrate the contents of the shirt body;

FIG. 8 is a back view of the athletic shirt illustrated in the FIG. 7, broken open to illustrate the contents of the shirt body;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the shirt illustrated in FIG. 7, broken open to illustrate the contents of the shirt body;

FIG. 10 is a front view of an athletic shirt according to another preferred embodiment for the present invention, broken open to illustrate the contents of the shirt body;

FIG. 11 is a back view of the athletic shirt illustrated in the FIG. 10, broken open to illustrate the contents of the shirt body; and

FIG. 12 is a side view of the shirt illustrated in FIG. 10, broken open to illustrate the contents of the shirt body;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Turning now to the drawings and, more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, an athletic shirt particularly suitable for male long-distance runners, is illustrated generally at 10 and includes an outer body 12 formed from a front panel 14 as seen in FIG. 1 and a back panel 16, as seen in FIG. 2. With continued reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer body 12 includes a collar opening 18 and two arms 20. The front panel 14 and the back panel 16 are stitched together along shoulder seams 24 and side seams 26 which is best seen in FIG. 3. The arms 20 are attached to the body 12 along arm seams 22. The foregoing describes a typical T-shirt construction. Generally, more expensive T-shirts will have a side seam 26 while less expensive T-shirts have a continuous tubular body 12. However, the arms 20 are still attached at arms seams 22.

It should be noted while the present invention is described with respect to a conventional T-shirt, the present invention is equally applicable to tank shirts, also known as A-shirts, polo shirts, baseball shirts and any number of dedicated sports shirts and jerseys.

With continued reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, each of which are broken open to reveal the contents of the shirt 10, an inner sleeve 30 is disposed within the confines of the outer body 12 and is formed as a pliant open cylinder formed with a body portion 31 and yoke portion 33 extending therefrom. The inner sleeve 30 defines a throughbore 32 for fitment of a human torso therethrough. The yoke portion 33 of the inner sleeve 30 is mounted within the body 12 of the shirt 10 in the shoulder area, preferably at the shoulder seams 24 using stitching as attachment elements 35 as best seen in FIG. 3.

The inner sleeve 31 is configured to fit within the outer body 12. Fit snugly to the torso of a wearer, and extends partially down the torso of a wearer, with the outer body 12 fitting loosely over the entire torso of the wearer in the manner of a conventional T-shirt. The inner sleeve 30 is formed from a non-chafing, soft fiber material such as LYCRA, nylon microfiber or neoprene. The preferred fabric is a polyester and spandex blend four-way stretch compression fabric. The non-chafing compression fabric fits snuggle over the chest area and protects sensitives area thereof from chafing. The fabric is also breathable and can wick away moisture to reduce the effects of sweat and heat to further reduce chafing.

Another preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, each of which are broken open to reveal the contents of the shirt 10. With reference to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, an inner sleeve 30 is disposed within the confines of the outer body 12 and is formed as a pliant cylinder open at the top and bottom, thereby defining a throughbore 32. The diameter of the throughbore 32 may be varied for manufacture to adapt to different sized athletes and different fits. The inner sleeve 30 is formed from a non-chafing, soft fiber material such as LYCRA, nylon microfiber or neoprene. The preferred fabric is a polyester and spandex blend four-way stretch compression fabric.

The inner sleeve 30 is mounted within the body 12 of the shirt 10 using pliant attachment elements 34, 36. The attachment elements 34,36 are generally planar, rectangular elastic textile members the extend from the sides of the vertically extending inner sleeve 30 and are attached to the outer body 12 along the side seams 26. The attachment to the side seams 26 may be stitching and applied in the process of shirt assembly during manufacture. Further, in the case of T-shirts without side seams, the attachment elements 34, 36, may be attached to the body 12 of the shirt 18 in the proper area under the arms in alignment with the vertical lines of the shirt.

In addition to the foregoing, other arrangements are available to join the inner sleeve 30 to the body 12 of the athletic shirt 10. With attention to FIG. 7, additional attachment elements 40, 42, which are formed in the same manner as the side attachment elements 34, 36 are attached to the inner sleeve 30 approximately 90 degrees away from the side attachment elements 34, 36 and extend outwardly there from toward the front and back of the outer body 12 where they are attached thereto. The additional attachment elements 40, 42 provide enhanced stability of the inner sleeve 30 with respect to the outer body 12.

As seen in FIG. 8, the athletic shirt 10 includes attachment elements 34, 36 that are reduced in size from the first preferred embodiment. Size reduction saves material and allows enhanced relative movement of the inner sleeve 30 with respect to the outer body 12 compared embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6. Turning now to FIG. 9, attachment elements 34, 36 are supplemented by similar attachment elements 40, 42 spaced vertically below the first attachment elements 34, 36. This arrangement allows enhanced movement of the inner sleeve relative to the outer body 12 in addition to allowing free ventilation between the attachment elements 34, 36, 40, 42.

Turning now to FIG. 10, supplemental shoulder straps 48, 50 are attached to the upper rim of the inner sleeve 30 and extend from the front of the inner sleeve body 31 to the back of the inner sleeve body 31 and spaced equally from one another. The straps 48, 50 may extend over both shoulders of wearer and optionally may be attached to the shoulder seams 24 of the outer body 12. The shoulder straps enhance the stability of the inner sleeve 30 with respect to the outer body 12.

Turning now to FIG. 11, a single shoulder strap 48 extends from one portion of the top of the inner sleeve body 31 in front of the shirt to the rim of the inner sleeve body 31 at the rear of the shirt and extend diagonally across the chest and back of the wearer. The addition of the cross-shoulder strap 48 provides another support arrangement that may be preferable for some wearers.

Turning now to FIG. 12, another support arrangement is illustrated and includes two loops 52, 54 which are attached to the inner sleeve 30 and sewn into the shoulder seams 24 of the outer body 12 to thereby attach the inner sleeve 30 to the outer body 12.

In use, the user may don the shirt 10 by putting their head through the throughbore 32 and then the collar opening 18, with the torso of the user extending through the inner sleeve 30. The positioning of the inner sleeve 30 within the shirt 12 places the inner sleeve snugly over the user's nipple area. The inner sleeve 30 covers a substantial portion of the chest area of a user with the inner sleeve 30 extending thereover. As best seen in FIGS. 3, 6, 9, and 12, sizing of the inner sleeve 30 allows a space 38 between the outer body 12 and the inner sleeve 30, which allows a better drape of the shirt over the torso of a user to provide a more natural appearance. Further, loose fitting of the outer body 12 provides ventilation, comfort, freedom of movement, and a casual appearance while the inner sleeve provides an effective non-chafing barrier between the outer shirt body 12 and the wearer's chest area.

Many athletic shirts such as T-shirts are constructed so that their size extends through a spectrum consisting of small, medium, large, extra-large, 2X and 3X. For example, a small T-shirt is conventionally 18¾ inches across the front thereof. This would make the diameter of the body 12 37½ inches. On the other extreme, a 3XL shirt is 28¾ inches across the chest which amounts to a diameter of 57½ inches. Typically, in the case of the small, the inner sleeve 30 would be 33½ inches in diameter and in the case of the 3XL, the inner sleeve would be 53½ inches around. Around the middle of the range, a large is 22¾ inches across the chest making the shirt body 45½ inches in diameter therefore providing an inner sleeve 30 size of 41½ inches in diameter.

All the foregoing measurements provide a 2-inch space between the outer body 12 and the body of a user which also provides for 2-inch-wide attachment elements. The depth of the inner sleeve 30 may be varied for comfort and fit, the inner sleeve 30 should extend at least an inch above the nipple area of a user and 45 inches below the arm sleeve 22 in order to provide a secure mount to the outer body 12.

In addition to protecting the runner's nipples, the present invention also offers a cosmetic solution to enlarged male breasts. As may be expected, the fit of the cylinder against the skin suppresses projection of male breasts against the shirt material and the loose, natural fit of the shirt material acts to cloak the nature of the enlarged male breasts.

By the foregoing, the present invention provides a solution to chafing an athlete's nipples during athletic endeavors, more particularly, those of male long-distance runners.

It will therefore be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible of a broad utility and application. While the present invention is described in all currently foreseeable embodiments, there may be other, unforeseeable embodiments and adaptations of the present invention, as well as variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, that do not depart from the substance or scope of the present invention. The foregoing disclosure is not intended or to be construed to limit the present invention or otherwise to exclude such other embodiments, adaptations, variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, the present invention being limited only by the claims appended hereto and the equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A shirt for athletic use comprising: an outer body for covering the torso of a wearer, the outer body being formed as a T-shirt having a predetermined chest size and including a front panel and a back panel joined at the top to define a collar opening and arm openings and a shoulder seam extending therebetween, with the shirt being open at the bottom, thereby defining a cavity for receiving the torso of a wearer,an inner sleeve with a yoke portion and a body portion, the yoke portion being attached to the shirt body within the cavity, the inner sleeve defining a throughbore for passage of the torso of a wearer therethrough, the inner sleeve being formed with a predetermined chest size smaller than the outer body chest size, wherein the outer body drapes loosely over the torso of the user and the inner sleeve fits snugly to the torso of a user, whereby relative motion between the inner sleeve and the chest of the wearer is reduced compared to a larger shirt, the inner sleeve being formed from a non-chafing material and the skin of a wearer is not abraded by contact with the non-chafing sleeve; and a plurality of attachment elements extending between the inner sleeve and the body of the shirt, the attachment elements being fixed to both the inner sleeve and the body of the shirt to maintain the inner sleeve in a useful position during athletic movement by the wearer, whereby the inner sleeve is maintained in a general position by the attachment elements, while being allowed movement with the wearer that is substantially independent of outer body movement, thereby preventing chafing of the wearer by the outer body of the shirt.

2. A shirt for athletic use according to claim 1 wherein the outer body is formed with a predetermined outer body length and the inner sleeve is formed with a predetermined inner sleeve length and the outer body length is greater than the inner sleeve length.

3. A shirt for athletic use according to claim 1 wherein the inner sleeve is attached to the outer body with the yoke portion of the inner sleeve fixed to the shoulder seams of the outer body.

4. A shirt for athletic use according to claim 3 wherein the attachment elements include stitching along the shoulder seams of the outer body joining the yoke portion of the inner sleeve to the outer body.

5. A shirt for athletic use according to claim 1 wherein the non-chafing material may be a polyester/spandex blend fabric.

6. A shirt for athletic use comprising: a body for covering the torso of a wearer, the body being formed in a predetermined shirt size and including a front panel and a back panel joined at the top to define a collar opening and arm openings with the shirt being open at the bottom, thereby defining a cavity for receiving the torso of a wearer,an inner sleeve attached to the shirt body within the cavity, the inner sleeve defining a throughbore for passage of the torso of a wearer therethrough, the inner sleeve being a continuous band formed with a predetermined size based on the circumference of the band, the inner sleeve being formed from a non-chafing material for a snug fit around the chest of a wearer, whereby relative motion between the inner sleeve and the chest of the wearer is reduced, and the skin of a wearer is not abraded by contact with the non-chafing sleeve; anda plurality of attachment elements extending between the inner sleeve and the body of the shirt, the attachment elements being fixed to both the inner sleeve and the body of the shirt to maintain the inner sleeve in a useful position during athletic movement by the wearer, whereby the inner sleeve is maintained in a general position by the attachment elements, while being allowed movement with the wearer that is substantially independent of shirt movement, thereby preventing chafing of the wearer by the body of the shirt.

7. A shirt for athletic use according to claim 1 wherein the non-chafing material may be a polyester and spandex blend fabric.

8. A shirt for athletic use according to claim 6 wherein the plurality of attachment elements includes at least two pliant flanges extending between the inner sleeve and the shirt body, the flanges being formed from an elastic textile material to allow relative movement between the shirt body and the inner sleeve such that the inner sleeve moves with the wearer independent of shirt movement, thereby allowing a natural drape of the shirt over the torso of the wearer while preventing chafing.

9. A shirt for athletic use according to claim 6 wherein the plurality of attachment elements includes at least four pliant flanges extending between the inner sleeve and the shirt body, the flanges being formed from an elastic textile material to allow relative movement between the shirt body and the inner sleeve such that the inner sleeve moves with the wearer independent of shirt movement, thereby allowing a natural drape of the shirt over the torso of the wearer while preventing chafing.

10. A shirt for athletic use according to claim 9 wherein the plurality of attachment elements further includes at least one pliant strap extending between a front portion of the inner sleeve to a back portion of the inner sleeve, the strap being formed from an elastic textile material to allow relative movement between the shirt body and the inner sleeve such that the inner sleeve moves with the wearer independent of shirt movement, thereby allowing a natural drape of the shirt over the torso of the wearer while preventing chafing.

11. A shirt for athletic use according to claim 9 wherein the plurality of attachment elements further includes at least two pliant straps attached to the inner sleeve and extending around the arm holes of the shirt and sewn thereto.

12. A shirt for athletic use according to claim 6 wherein the shirt is formed from a back panel joined to a front panel with seams from the arm openings to the bottom opening and the attachment elements are sewn into the seams.

13. A shirt for athletic use comprising: an outer body for covering the torso of a wearer, the outer body being formed as a T-shirt having a predetermined chest size and including a front panel and a back panel joined at the top to define a collar opening and arm openings and a shoulder seam extending therebetween, with the shirt being open at the bottom, thereby defining a cavity for receiving the torso of a wearer, andan inner sleeve with a yoke portion and a body portion, the yoke portion being attached to the shirt body within the cavity, the inner sleeve defining a throughbore for passage of the torso of a wearer therethrough, the inner sleeve being formed with a predetermined chest size smaller than the outer body chest size, wherein the outer body drapes loosely over the torso of the user and the inner sleeve fits snugly to the torso of a user, whereby relative motion between the inner sleeve and the chest of the wearer is reduced compared to a larger shirt, the inner sleeve being formed from a non-chafing material, wherein the non-chafing material may be LYCRA, nylon microfiber or neoprene, and the skin of a wearer is not abraded by contact with the non-chafing sleeve, wherein the outer body is formed with a predetermined outer body length and the inner sleeve is formed with a predetermined inner sleeve length and the outer body length is greater than the inner sleeve length, wherein the inner sleeve is attached to the outer body with the yoke portion of the inner sleeve fixed to the shoulder seams of the outer body anda plurality of attachment elements extending between the inner sleeve and the body of the shirt, the attachment elements being fixed to both the inner sleeve and the body of the shirt to maintain the inner sleeve in a useful position during athletic movement by the wearer, wherein the attachment elements include stitching along the shoulder seams of the outer body joining the yoke portion of the inner sleeve to the outer body, whereby the inner sleeve is maintained in a general position by the attachment elements, while being allowed movement with the wearer that is substantially independent of shirt movement, thereby preventing chafing of the wearer by the body of the shirt.

14. A shirt for athletic use according to claim 13 wherein the non-chafing material may be a polyester/spandex blend fabric.