GARMENT WITH FLEXIBLE SHOULDER SLEEVE

Abstract

Some upper-body garments can include shoulder sleeves. Examples of this disclosure include a gusset coupled to, and extending between, a shoulder sleeve and a torso portion adjacent an armhole of the torso portion. The gusset can improve mobility, such as when the upper-body garment is worn over shoulder pads.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure describes a garment having a flexible shoulder sleeve, such as might be used on a garment disposed over shoulder pads.

BACKGROUND

Athletes may wear shoulder pads in various sports (e.g. American style football, hockey, lacrosse, motocross, among others) to provide protection from impact. An upper body garment is typically worn over the shoulder pads. However, the wearing of shoulder pads and covering garments may restrict the wearer's range of motion of their shoulders and arms, limiting the ability of the wearer to extend their arms fully. Such a restriction may hamper the comfort and the athletic performance of the wearer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Subject matter of this disclosure is described in detail below with reference to the drawing figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of an upper body garment with shoulder sleeves, for use with shoulder pads, in accordance with aspects herein;

FIG. 2A illustrates a front perspective view of an upper body garment with shoulder sleeves, for use with shoulder pads, in accordance with aspects herein;

FIG. 2B illustrates a front perspective view of an upper body garment with shoulder sleeves, for use with shoulder pads, in accordance with aspects herein;

FIG. 3A illustrates a perspective view of an alternate aspect of a garment with a continuous gusset, in accordance with aspects herein;

FIG. 3B illustrates the garment of FIG. 3A from a different perspective, in accordance with aspects herein;

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative aspect of a garment with a removably attached shoulder sleeve, in accordance with aspects herein;

FIG. 5 illustrates a view with a wearer's arm in an elevated position, in accordance with aspects herein; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the encircled region 7 of FIG. 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of the present disclosure is described with specificity herein to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this disclosure. Rather, it is contemplated that the claimed or disclosed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different or equivalent elements or combinations of elements similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies.

In sports such as American style football, hockey, lacrosse, and motocross, among others, an athlete may wear shoulder pads to provide protection from impact. The shoulder pads may be covered with a jersey or other upper body garment. The garment may at least partially help retain the positioning of the shoulder pads. But, the shoulder pads may not stay in place with respect to the jersey, and so the shoulder pads may be attached to the jersey, such as with straps. This arrangement may restrict the movement of the athlete, particularly in the shoulders and arms. The garment covering the shoulder pads may also restrict the wearer's range of motion of their shoulders and arms, and limit the ability of the wearer to extend their arms fully. For example, as a wearer attempts to raise his or her arms, the garment may experience strain in the lower area of the armhole of the garment. This strain may hamper the comfort of the wearer. The limited mobility of the fabric may also limit the range of motion available to a wearer. Further, many athletes prefer a tight-fitting jersey (a “shrink-wrap fit”) for the jersey to prevent hand-hold points for other athletes. Current jerseys provide multiple grab points. Still further, current jerseys do not adapt to differences in the build of an athlete but are rather more of a “one-size-fits-all”

Aspects herein provide a garment, comprising: a upper body portion having a front, a back, a top, a neck collar defining a head opening extending through the top, and a pair of spaced apart arm holes proximate the top edge; at least a first shoulder sleeve extending outwardly from one of the arm holes; and a first gusset coupled to, and extending between, the at least one shoulder sleeve and the garment adjacent the armhole. In some aspects, the garment includes left and right shoulder sleeves, and a gusset extending between each of the shoulder sleeves and the upper body portion. In some aspects, the garment includes a front gusset and a back gusset adjacent each shoulder sleeve. In further aspects, the gusset may extend from the front to the back and may be a continuous gusset.

As used herein, the term “article of apparel” encompasses any number of products meant to be worn by a user including upper-body or torso garments (e.g., shirts, jerseys, pullovers, and the like). Positional terms used when describing the article of apparel such as front, back, inner-facing surface, outer-facing surface, upper, lower, proximal, distal, medial, lateral, and the like are with respect to the article of apparel being worn as intended with the user standing upright.

In examples of the present disclosure, FIG. 1 depicts a garment 100 that may cover at least the torso or upper body of a wearer. As described below, the garment 100 may be worn over shoulder pads, or other protective gear. As seen in FIG. 1, the garment 100 includes a torso portion 102 having a front 104 and a back 106 (see FIG. 2B) that generally meet along a top 108 and a bottom 110. As seen in FIG. 2A, the torso portion 102 also includes a lower opening 112 that extends from the exterior of the garment 100 to the interior of the garment 100, creating a passageway for a wearer to adorn the garment 100. The torso portion 102 further includes a neck collar forming a perimeter around an upper opening 114 that extends from the exterior of the garment 100 to the interior of the garment 100, creating a passageway for a wearer's head and neck. The torso portion 102 also includes a pair of spaced apart armholes 116 that extend from the exterior of the garment 100 to the interior of the garment 100, creating a passageway for a wearer's arms.

In some aspects, the torso portion 102 is made from any of a number of materials used in apparel, especially those used in jerseys or other uniforms. The material of torso portion 102 may have some degree of limited elasticity, or stretch.

As best seen in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the garment 100 further includes a shoulder sleeve 120 that is generally positioned to extend over a wearer's shoulder in an as-worn condition. Each shoulder sleeve 120 extends from an area of the torso portion 102 adjacent a corresponding armhole 116. In some aspects, the shoulder sleeve 120 and the torso portion 102 are made from the same piece of fabric, as shown in FIG. 1. In other aspects, as shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the shoulder sleeve 120 is a separate piece of fabric from the torso portion 102 but is coupled to the torso portion 102, such as by stitching. In still other aspects, as seen in FIG. 4, the shoulder sleeve 120 is a separate piece of fabric from the torso portion 102 but is removably coupled to the torso portion 102, such as with a hook-and-loop fastener. In some aspects, the material of the shoulder sleeve 120 is the same material as that of the torso portion 102, but could be made from alternative materials as well.

The shoulder sleeve 120 includes a front lower edge 122 that transitions to a rear lower edge 124 at an outer edge 126 generally mid-way between the front 104 and the back 106. In some aspects and with respect to the inner facing portion, the shoulder sleeve 120 has a concave shape that extends from the front lower edge 122 and the rear lower edge 124 to a top 128. The shoulder sleeve 120 thus defines an internal cavity 130. In some aspects, the internal cavity 130 has a shape and size that accommodate a shoulder pad or other protective gear, as well as the wearer's shoulder and/or upper arm.

As shown in FIG. 1, in some aspects, the garment 100 has a slit 132 in the garment 100 adjacent the armhole 116 and the shoulder sleeve 120 (extending at least partially between the edge of the armhole 116 and the shoulder sleeve 120). A gusset 140 is coupled to the garment 100 (such as by stitching or bonding, for example) between the perimeter of the armhole 116 and the adjacent edge of the shoulder sleeve 120, at least partially covering the slit 132. The gusset 140 thus extends from the edge of the armhole 116 of the torso portion 102 to the adjacent edge of the shoulder sleeve 120.

As shown in FIG. 1, in some aspects, the gusset 140 is located on the front portion of the shoulder sleeve 120. In some aspects, the gusset 140 extends from the front lower edge 122 toward the top 128, terminating part way between the front lower edge 122 and the top 128. In some aspects, the gusset 140 extends from the front lower edge 122 all the way to the top 128.

As shown in FIG. 1, in some aspects, the garment 100 has a slit 134 in the garment 100 adjacent the armhole 116 and the shoulder sleeve 120 at the rear of the shoulder sleeve (extending at least partially between the edge of the armhole 116 of the torso portion 102 and the shoulder sleeve 120). In some aspects, the garment 100 has a gusset 142 coupled between the torso portion 102 at the perimeter of the armhole 116 and the adjacent edge of the shoulder sleeve 120, at least partially covering the slit 134. The gusset 142 thus extends from the edge of the armhole 116 of the torso portion to the adjacent edge of the shoulder sleeve 120.

As shown in FIG. 2B, the gusset 142 is located on the rear portion of the shoulder sleeve 120. In some aspects, the gusset 142 extends from the rear lower edge 124 toward the top 128, terminating part way between the rear lower edge 124 and the top 128. In some aspects, the gusset 142 extends from the rear lower edge 124 all the way to the top 128. While shown with the gusset 140 in the front of the garment 100 and with the gusset 142 in the back of the garment 100, in some aspects, the garment 100 includes only one of the gusset 140 or the gusset 142. That is, while some examples of this disclosure describe a shoulder construction having a gusset in the front and a gusset in the back, in other examples, a shoulder construction can have a gusset only in the front or only in the back, which can sometimes provide sufficient shoulder-sleeve expandability for enhanced shoulder mobility.

In some aspects, the material of gusset 140 and gusset 142 may be the same. The gusset 140 and the gusset 142 are made from a material having greater stretch characteristics than that of the torso portion 102 and the shoulder sleeve 120. In some aspects, the material of gusset 140 and gusset 142 may be a power stretch elastic material offering greater stretch than the material of the torso portion 102, while still providing recovery to the original, un-stretched state. In other aspects, the material of gusset 140 may have different stretch characteristics than that of gusset 142, providing a different flexibility on the front of garment 100 as compared to the back of the garment 100. The materials used for gusset 140 and gusset 142 may also vary depending on the activity for which the garment 100 is designed. In other aspects, the gusset 140, the gusset 142 and the shoulder sleeve 120 may be made from the same power stretch material.

In still other aspects, as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B and 4, the gusset 140 and the gusset 142 are unitary, such that they extend continuously from the front lower edge 122 upwardly to the top 128 and down to the rear lower edge 124.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, in some aspects, the gusset 140 and the gusset 142 have a triangular shape, matching that of the slit 132 and the slit 134, in some aspects. In this aspect, the width of the gusset 140 and the gusset 142 is wider at the bottom, and narrows as the gusset approaches the top 128. In some aspects, the length of the gusset 140 and the gusset 142 may vary as the size of the garment 100 changes. In other aspects, as seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the gusset 140 and the gusset 142 have a rectangular shape. In some aspects, the width of the gusset 140 and the gusset 142 may vary as the size of the garment 100 changes. In some aspects, the width of the gusset may be from about 1.7 centimeters to 2 centimeters. In some aspects, the gusset width may range from about 1.5 centimeters to about 5 centimeters. Each of the gusset 140 and the gusset 142 may have alternative shapes as well.

Further, as briefly described above, in some aspects the shoulder sleeve 120, the gusset 140 and the gusset 142 may be releasably coupled to the torso portion 102, such as with a hook-and-loop fastener 144, as seen in FIG. 4. In this aspect, a first hook-and-loop strip 146 may be coupled to the torso portion 102 adjacent the armhole 116. Similarly, a second hook-and-loop strip 148 may be coupled to the shoulder sleeve 120. Complimentary hook-and-loop strips 150 and 152 may be coupled adjacent each side of gusset 140 and/or gusset 142 to allow the shoulder sleeve 120, the gusset 140 and the gusset 142, and the torso portion 102 to be coupled together.

In use, the garment 100 may be worn over shoulder pads or other protective gear. The garment 100 allows movement of the wearer's arms while reducing strain on the material of the torso portion 102 at the lower areas of the armholes 116. As the wearer moves an arm upwardly, as shown in FIG. 6, the gusset 140 and/or the gusset 142 expand (as indicated by the W and arrows in FIG. 6). This expansion allows a user a greater range of motion (as compared to the prior art garments) and increases the comfort of a wearer of garment 100. In some aspects, depending on the intended activity for the garment 100, the gusset 140 and the gusset 142 may be on both the right side and the left side, or may be on only one of the right side or the left side. Further, as the material of the shoulder sleeves 120 follows the shoulder pad, the shoulder sleeves 120 cooperate with the shoulder pad to help retain the shoulder pad in the proper position. The gusset 140 and the gusset 142 also allow a better fit for athletes with different builds, adjusting the fit to the athlete. Further, the gusset 140 and the gusset 142 allow a tighter fitting jersey, while still allowing freedom of movement, reducing the number of grab points for opponents wishing to hold or grab the athlete.

In some aspects, a method 700 is provided for constructing an upper-body garment (such as garment 100). The method 700 includes obtaining an upper-body portion having at least a portion of an armhole, as shown at 702. The upper-body portion may have the characteristics described above with respect to torso portion 102. The method 700 may also include obtaining a shoulder sleeve, as shown at 704. The shoulder sleeve may have the characteristics described above with respect to shoulder sleeve 120. The method 700 also includes obtaining a gusset, as shown at 706. The gusset may have the characteristics described above with respect to gusset 140 and/or gusset 142. As shown at 708, the method includes, in some aspects, attaching a first portion of the gusset to the upper-body portion near the at least the portion of the armhole; and attaching a second portion of the gusset to the shoulder sleeve.

The following clauses represent example aspects of concepts contemplated herein. Any one of the following clauses may be combined in a multiple dependent manner to depend from one or more other clauses. Further, any combination of dependent clauses (clauses that explicitly depend from a previous clause) may be combined while staying within the scope of aspects contemplated herein. The following clauses are examples and are not limiting.

Clause 1. A garment, comprising: a torso portion having a front, a back, a top, a head opening extending through the top, and a pair of arm holes proximate the top; a shoulder sleeve extending outwardly from one of the arm holes; and a gusset coupled to, and extending between, the shoulder sleeve and the torso portion adjacent the one of the arm holes.

Clause 2. The garment of clause 1, wherein the upper body portion has a first elasticity and the gusset has a second elasticity, wherein the second elasticity is greater than the first elasticity.

Clause 3. The garment of any of clauses 1-2, wherein the shoulder sleeve has a front lower edge extending from the one of the arm holes to an outer edge, and a rear lower edge extending from the one of the arm holes to the outer edge and a sleeve top spaced above the front lower edge and the rear lower edge, and wherein the gusset extends from the front lower edge towards the sleeve top.

Clause 4. The garment of any of clauses 1-3, wherein the shoulder sleeve has a front lower edge extending from the one of the arm holes to an outer edge, and a rear lower edge extending from the one of the arm holes to the outer edge and a sleeve top spaced above the front lower edge and the rear lower edge, and wherein the gusset extends from the rear lower edge towards the sleeve top.

Clause 5. The garment of any of clauses 1-4, wherein the gusset further extends from the sleeve top to the rear lower edge.

Clause 6. The garment of any of clauses 1-5, wherein the gusset comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being closer to an edge of the shoulder sleeve and the second portion being closer to a top of the shoulder sleeve, the first portion comprising a greater width than the first portion, such that the gusset tapers as it extends from the first portion to the second portion.

Clause 7. The garment of any of clauses 1-5, wherein the gusset has a constant width along a length of the gusset.

Clause 8. The garment of any of clauses 1-7, wherein the gusset is stitched to the upper body portion and the shoulder sleeve.

Clause 9. The garment of any of clauses 1-8, further comprising a second shoulder sleeve extending outwardly from the other of the arm holes, and a second gusset coupled to, and extending between, the second shoulder sleeve and the torso portion adjacent the other of the armholes.

Clause 10. The garment of any of clauses 1-9, wherein each shoulder sleeve forms a cavity configured to retain a shoulder pad.

Clause 11. The garment of any of clauses 1-10, wherein the armhole has a lower-most extent, and wherein the front lower edge of the shoulder sleeve and the rear lower edge of the shoulder sleeve are above the lower-most extent of the armhole.

Clause 12. The garment of any of clauses 1-11, wherein the gusset and the shoulder sleeve are removably coupled to the upper body portion.

Clause 13. The garment of any of clauses 1-12, wherein the shoulder sleeve has a third elasticity, wherein the second elasticity is greater than the third elasticity.

Clause 14. The garment of any of clauses 1-13, wherein the first elasticity and the third elasticity are the same.

Clause 15. The garment of any of clauses 1-14, further comprising a first seem coupling a first side of the first gusset to the torso portion and a second seem coupling a second side of the first gusset to the first shoulder sleeve.

Clause 16. An article of apparel, comprising: an upper body portion having first and second arm holes; a first shoulder sleeve extending outwardly from the first arm hole; a second shoulder sleeve extending outwardly from the second arm hole; a first gusset coupled to, and extending between, the first shoulder sleeve and the upper body portion adjacent the first armhole; and a second gusset coupled to, and extending between, the second shoulder sleeve and the upper body portion adjacent the second armhole.

Clause 17. The article of apparel of clause 16, wherein the upper body portion has a first elasticity and the first gusset and the second gusset have a second elasticity, wherein the second elasticity is greater than the first elasticity.

Clause 18. The article of apparel of any of clauses 16-17, wherein the first shoulder sleeve and the second shoulder sleeve have a third elasticity, wherein the second elasticity is greater than the third elasticity.

Clause 19. The article of apparel of any of clauses 16-18, wherein the first elasticity is equal to the third elasticity.

Clause 20. The article of apparel of any of clauses 16-19, wherein the first and second gusset are located on a front side of the article of apparel.

Clause 21. The article of apparel of any of clauses 16-20, wherein the first and second gusset are located on a rear side of the article of apparel.

Clause 22. The article of apparel of any of clauses 16-21, further comprising: a third gusset coupled to, and extending between, the first shoulder sleeve and the upper body portion adjacent the first armhole on a rear side of the article of apparel; and a fourth gusset coupled to, and extending between, the second shoulder sleeve and the upper body portion adjacent the second armhole on a rear side of the article of apparel.

Clause 23. The article of apparel of any of clauses 16-22, wherein the first shoulder sleeve has a front lower edge extending from the first gusset to an outer edge, and a rear lower edge extending from the first gusset to the outer edge and a sleeve top spaced above the front lower edge and the rear lower edge, and wherein the first gusset extends from the front lower edge to the sleeve top.

Clause 24. The article of apparel of any of clauses 16-23, wherein the second shoulder sleeve has a front lower edge extending from the second gusset to an outer edge, and a rear lower edge extending from the second gusset to the outer edge and a sleeve top spaced above the front lower edge and the rear lower edge, and wherein the second gusset extends from the second shoulder sleeve front lower edge to the second shoulder sleeve top.

Clause 25. The article of apparel of any of clauses 16-24, wherein the first gusset has a greater width proximate the first shoulder sleeve front lower edge and wherein the first gusset tapers to a narrower width as the first gusset extends to the first shoulder sleeve top, and wherein the second gusset has a greater width proximate the second shoulder sleeve front lower edge and wherein the second gusset tapers to a narrower width as the second gusset extends to the second shoulder sleeve top.

Clause 26. The article of apparel of any of clauses 16-25, further comprising a first seem coupling a first side of the first gusset to the upper body portion, a second seem coupling a second side of the first gusset to the first shoulder sleeve, a third seam coupling a first side of the second gusset to the upper body portion, and a fourth seem coupling a second side of the second gusset to the second shoulder sleeve.

Clause 27. A method comprising: obtaining, for constructing an upper-body garment: an upper-body portion comprising at least a portion of an armhole; a shoulder sleeve; and a gusset; attaching a first portion of the gusset to the upper-body portion near the at least the portion of the armhole; and attaching a second portion of the gusset to the shoulder sleeve.

Clause 28. The method of clause 27, wherein the attaching of the first portion of the gusset to the upper-body portion comprises stitching.

Clause 29. The method of any of clauses 27-28, wherein the attaching of the second portion of the gusset to the shoulder sleeve comprises stitching.

Clause 30. The method of any of clauses 27-29, further comprising varying the length of the gusset.

Clause 31. The method of clause 30, wherein the varying the length of the gusset is based on the size of the upper-body garment.

Clause 32. The method of any of clauses 27-31, further comprising varying the width of the gusset.

Clause 33. The method of any of clauses 27-32, wherein the varying the width of the gusset is based on the size of the upper-body garment.

Aspects of the present disclosure have been described with the intent to be illustrative rather than restrictive. Alternative aspects will become apparent to those ordinarily skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations and are contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all steps listed in the various figures need be carried out in the specific order described.

Claims

1. A garment comprising: a torso portion having a front, a back, a top, a head opening extending through the top, and a pair of arm holes proximate the top;a shoulder sleeve extending outwardly from one of the arm holes; anda gusset coupled to, and extending between, the shoulder sleeve and the torso portion adjacent the one of the arm holes.

2. The garment of claim 1, wherein the torso portion has a first elasticity and the gusset has a second elasticity, wherein the second elasticity is greater than the first elasticity.

3. (gusset at front) The garment of claim 2, wherein the shoulder sleeve has a front lower edge extending from the one of the arm holes to an outer edge, and a rear lower edge extending from the one of the arm holes to the outer edge and a sleeve top spaced above the front lower edge and the rear lower edge, and wherein the gusset extends from the front lower edge towards the sleeve top.

4. (gusset at rear) The garment of claim 2, wherein the shoulder sleeve has a front lower edge extending from the one of the arm holes to an outer edge, and a rear lower edge extending from the one of the arm holes to the outer edge and a sleeve top spaced above the front lower edge and the rear lower edge, and wherein the gusset extends from the rear lower edge towards the sleeve top.

5. (gusset both front and rear) The garment of claim 3, wherein the gusset further extends from the sleeve top to the rear lower edge.

6. (triangular-shaped gusset) The garment of claim 1, wherein the gusset comprises a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being closer to an edge of the shoulder sleeve and the second portion being closer to a top of the shoulder sleeve, the first portion comprising a greater width than the first portion, such that the gusset tapers as it extends from the first portion to the second portion.

7. (rectangular-shaped gusset) The garment of claim 1, wherein the gusset has a constant width along a length of the gusset.

8. The garment of claim 1, wherein the gusset is stitched to the torso portion and the first shoulder sleeve.

9. (both shoulder sleeves have gussets) The garment of claim 1, further comprising a second shoulder sleeve extending outwardly from the other of the arm holes, and a second gusset coupled to, and extending between, the second shoulder sleeve and the torso portion adjacent the other of the armholes.

10. The garment of claim 9, wherein each shoulder sleeve forms a cavity configured to retain a shoulder pad.

11. The garment of claim 5, wherein the armhole has a lower-most extent, and wherein the front lower edge of the shoulder sleeve and the rear lower edge of the shoulder sleeve are above the lower-most extent of the armhole.

12. The garment of claim 1, wherein the gusset and the shoulder sleeve are removably coupled to the upper body portion.

13. The garment of claim 2, wherein the shoulder sleeve has a third elasticity, wherein the second elasticity is greater than the third elasticity.

14. The garment of claim 13, wherein the first elasticity and the third elasticity are the same.

15. The garment of claim 1, further comprising a first seem coupling a first side of the first gusset to the torso portion and a second seem coupling a second side of the first gusset to the first shoulder sleeve.

16. An article of apparel, comprising: an upper body portion having first and second arm holes;a first shoulder sleeve extending outwardly from the first arm hole;a second shoulder sleeve extending outwardly from the second arm hole;a first gusset coupled to, and extending between, the first shoulder sleeve and the upper body portion adjacent the first armhole; anda second gusset coupled to, and extending between, the second shoulder sleeve and the upper body portion adjacent the second armhole.

17. The article of apparel of claim 16, wherein the upper body portion has a first elasticity and the first gusset and the second gusset have a second elasticity, wherein the second elasticity is greater than the first elasticity.

18. The article of apparel of claim 17, wherein the first shoulder sleeve and the second shoulder sleeve have a third elasticity, wherein the second elasticity is greater than the third elasticity.

19. The article of apparel of claim 18, wherein the first elasticity is equal to the third elasticity.

20. The article of apparel of claim 17, wherein the first and second gusset are located on a front side of the article of apparel.

21. The article of apparel of claim 17, wherein the first and second gusset are located on a rear side of the article of apparel.

22. The article of apparel of claim 20, further comprising: a third gusset coupled to, and extending between, the first shoulder sleeve and the upper body portion adjacent the first armhole on a rear side of the article of apparel; anda fourth gusset coupled to, and extending between, the second shoulder sleeve and the upper body portion adjacent the second armhole on a rear side of the article of apparel.

23. The article of apparel of claim 22, wherein the first shoulder sleeve has a front lower edge extending from the first gusset to an outer edge, and a rear lower edge extending from the first gusset to the outer edge and a sleeve top spaced above the front lower edge and the rear lower edge, and wherein the first gusset extends from the front lower edge to the sleeve top.

24. The article of apparel of claim 23, wherein the second shoulder sleeve has a front lower edge extending from the second gusset to an outer edge, and a rear lower edge extending from the second gusset to the outer edge and a sleeve top spaced above the front lower edge and the rear lower edge, and wherein the second gusset extends from the second shoulder sleeve front lower edge to the second shoulder sleeve top.

25. The article of apparel of claim 24, wherein the first gusset has a greater width proximate the first shoulder sleeve front lower edge and wherein the first gusset tapers to a narrower width as the first gusset extends to the first shoulder sleeve top, and wherein the second gusset has a greater width proximate the second shoulder sleeve front lower edge and wherein the second gusset tapers to a narrower width as the second gusset extends to the second shoulder sleeve top.

26. The article of apparel of claim 16, further comprising a first seem coupling a first side of the first gusset to the upper body portion, a second seem coupling a second side of the first gusset to the first shoulder sleeve, a third seam coupling a first side of the second gusset to the upper body portion, and a fourth seem coupling a second side of the second gusset to the second shoulder sleeve.

27. A method comprising: obtaining, for constructing an upper-body garment: an upper-body portion comprising at least a portion of an armhole;a shoulder sleeve; anda gusset;attaching a first portion of the gusset to the upper-body portion near the at least the portion of the armhole; andattaching a second portion of the gusset to the shoulder sleeve.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the attaching of the first portion of the gusset to the upper-body portion comprises stitching.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the attaching of the second portion of the gusset to the shoulder sleeve comprises stitching.

30. The method of claim 27, further comprising varying the length of the gusset.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the varying the length of the gusset is based on the size of the upper-body garment.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising varying the width of the gusset.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the varying the width of the gusset is based on the size of the upper-body garment.