Patent Application
20250185731
Embodiments relate to a garment, such as a shorts garment, for athletic activities including football (soccer), or for leisure wear.
Football (soccer) is a sport that requires a great amount of movement, including running, quick changes in direction, and various agility skills like dribbling, passing, trapping, and shooting. Well-fitting shorts allow football players to move freely without restriction, enabling them to perform these on-field actions effectively. However, football players often have a thigh to waist ratio which is higher than that of the general population, such that shorts that fit a player in the waist may be too tight in the thigh, causing discomfort and irritation during play. Such ill-fitting shorts can also diminish a player's confidence, focus, performance, and professional appearance on the field.
In one or more embodiments, a garment includes a front panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge. The garment further includes a back panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge, the back panel coupled to the front panel. A first limb portion extends from the front panel bottom edge and the back panel bottom edge to form a first limb opening, and a second limb portion extends from the front panel bottom edge and the back panel bottom edge to form a second limb opening. The front panel and the back panel are constructed from a first fabric, and the first limb portion and the second limb portion are constructed from a second fabric having a greater stretch characteristic than the first fabric, wherein the second fabric includes a seamless lower edge.
In one or more embodiments, the second fabric comprises an interlock knit fabric. In one or more embodiments, the interlock knit fabric includes approximately 83% PET and approximately 17% elastane. In one or more embodiments, the first fabric comprises a double weave knit fabric. In one or more embodiments, the double weave knit fabric includes approximately 88% PET and approximately 12% elastane. In one or more embodiments, the second fabric comprises between about 15% to 25% of a total length of the garment from the front panel top edge to the lower edge. In one or more embodiments, the garment further includes a crotch panel joining the front panel and the back panel adjacent to the front panel bottom edge and the back panel bottom edge.
In one or more embodiments, a garment includes a front panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge. The garment further includes a back panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge. A first limb portion has a first side portion extending between the front panel first side edge and the back panel first side edge, and a first end portion extending from the front panel bottom edge and the back panel bottom edge to form a first limb opening. A second limb portion has a second side portion extending between the front panel second side edge and the back panel second side edge, and a second end portion extending from the front panel bottom edge and the back panel bottom edge to form a second limb opening. The front panel and the back panel are constructed from a first fabric, and the first limb portion and the second limb portion are constructed from a second fabric having a greater stretch characteristic than the first fabric, wherein the second fabric includes a seamless lower edge.
In one or more embodiments, the first side portion and the second side portion each comprise between about 11% to 21% of a circumference of the first limb portion and the second limb portion, respectively.
In one or more embodiments, a garment includes a front panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge. The garment further includes a back panel having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first side edge, and a second side edge. The front panel first side edge is joined to the back panel first side edge with a first seam, and the front panel second side edge is joined to the back panel second side edge with a second seam. A first limb portion extends from the front panel bottom edge and the back panel bottom edge to form a first limb opening, and a second limb portion extends from the front panel bottom edge and the back panel bottom edge to form a second limb opening. The front panel and the back panel are constructed from a first fabric, and the first limb portion and the second limb portion are constructed from a second fabric having a greater stretch characteristic than the first fabric, the second fabric including an interlock knit fabric having a seamless lower edge.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
With reference first to
The front panel 12 and the back panel 22 are constructed from a first fabric, which may include a double weave knit fabric. In one or more embodiments, the first fabric may include a polyester component and an elastane component. In one non-limiting example, the first fabric may comprise approximately 88% PET (polyethylene terephthalate), which may be recycled PET, and approximately 12% elastane. In a further non-limiting example, the first fabric may have a fabric weight (GSM) of about 177 g/m2. Of course, the first fabric is not limited to the above-described composition and/or construction, and other compositions and/or constructions of the first fabric are also contemplated. The first fabric provides shape and structure to the garment 10, prevents undesired movement of the garment 10 along the limbs (e.g. legs) of a wearer during activity, and provides a suitable surface for adhering logos, indicia, or the like.
In one or more embodiments, the garment 10 may include a crotch panel 40 joining the front panel 12 and the back panel 22 adjacent to the front panel bottom edge 16 and the back panel bottom edge 26, along an inseam area of the garment 10. The garment 10 may include a waistband 42 adjacent to or including the front panel top edge 14 and the back panel top edge 24 and, in the case of a shorts garment, may be configured to encircle a waist of the wearer. The waistband 42 may include an elastic material and a drawstring 44 for providing adjustability of fit of the garment 10 around the wearer's waist. In one or more embodiments, the back panel 22 may include a yoke portion 46 adjacent to the back panel top edge 24 which may be defined by a yoke seam 48, wherein the yoke portion 46 may serve to reduce excess material near the waistband 42 of the garment 10.
With continuing reference to
In order accommodate different limb (e.g. leg or thigh) circumferences and provide comfort for the wearer, in one or more embodiments, the first limb portion 50 and the second limb portion 54 are constructed from a second fabric having a greater stretch characteristic than the first fabric. In one non-limiting example, the greater stretch characteristic may be a greater elastane content of the second fabric compared with the first fabric. Of course, other parameters which define the stretch characteristic are also contemplated. The greater stretch characteristic of the second fabric provides increased stretch and forgiveness in the fabric encircling the wearer's limbs compared with the first fabric, thus increasing the comfort for the wearer, especially during movement.
The second fabric may comprise an interlock knit fabric. In one or more embodiments, the second fabric may include a polyester component and an elastane component. In one non-limiting example, the second fabric may comprise approximately 83% PET (e.g. recycled) and approximately 17% elastane, such that the second fabric is highly stretchable. In a further non-limiting example, the second fabric may have a fabric weight (GSM) of about 170 g/m2. Of course, the second fabric is not limited to the above-described composition and/or construction, and other compositions and/or constructions of the second fabric are also contemplated. In one or more embodiments, the first fabric and the second fabric exist on the same plane and are connected by seams. More particularly, a first transition seam 58 may join the front panel bottom edge 16 and the back panel bottom edge 26 to the first limb portion 50, and a second transition seam 60 may join the front panel bottom edge 16 and the back panel bottom edge 26 to the second limb portion 54. In one non-limiting example, stretch bonding tape may be used to finish the first transition seam 58 and the second transition seam 60.
Due to the nature of construction of interlock knit fabrics, the second fabric is provided with built-in stretch and excellent drape on the wearer's body. In one or more embodiments, the second fabric may have high stretch (e.g., greater than 80% elongation) in both the warp and weft directions. In addition, the front and back sides of interlock knit fabric are identical since they are knitted together at the same time and remain interlocked with a tight knit, giving the impression that the second fabric comprises two layers. As a result, the second fabric with this construction is thick, soft, smooth, and comfortable to wear. In one or more embodiments, the second fabric has good recovery (e.g. greater than 90%), meaning that the second fabric substantially returns to its original shape after being stretched and will not lose shape over time.
In addition to the greater stretch characteristic of the second fabric, tightness around the limb (e.g. leg) may be alleviated in the garment 10 by the incorporation of a seamless lower edge 62 of the first limb portion 50 and the second limb portion 54. With an interlock knit fabric as the second fabric, it is possible to have a raw edge finish without a seam, since the sturdy, tight knit structure prevents fraying of the fabric (i.e. prevents the fibers from protruding downward or falling out over time), and the second fabric will not unravel or curl at the lower edge 62 in the absence of a seam. The use of the second fabric with high stretch capability and no seam allows the wearer to move more freely with greater comfort during athletic play or other activities.
In one or more embodiments, the second fabric may comprise between about 10% to 30% of a total length of the garment 10 from the front panel top edge 14 to the lower edge 62. In one or more embodiments, the second fabric may comprise between about 15% to 25% of a total length of the garment 10 from the front panel top edge 14 to the lower edge 62. In one non-limiting example, the second fabric may comprise an average of about 20% of the total length of the garment 10 from the front panel top edge 14 to the lower edge 62. In one non-limiting example, near the area of the crotch panel 40, the second fabric may comprise about 15% of a total length of the garment 10 from the front panel top edge 14 to the lower edge 62. In one non-limiting example, near the first side edge 18 and the second side edge 20 or near the first side portion 164 and the second side portion 168, the second fabric may comprise about 25% of a total length of the garment 10 from the front panel top edge 14 to the lower edge 62. It is understood that these various relative dimensions are merely construction options for the garment 10 and are not intended to be limiting.
In one or more embodiments, a length of the second fabric between the front panel bottom edge 16 and the lower edge 62 may be greater than a length of the second fabric between the back panel bottom edge 26 and the lower edge 62, such as illustrated in
Turning now to
As shown, in garment 110, the first limb portion 150 may include a first side portion 164 extending between the first side edge 118 of the front panel 112 and the first side edge 128 of the back panel 122. The first limb portion 150 further includes a first end portion 166 extending from the front panel bottom edge 116 and the back panel bottom edge 126 to form the first limb opening 152. Correspondingly, the second limb portion 154 may include a second side portion 168 extending between the second side edge 120 of the front panel 112 and the second side edge 130 of the back panel 122. The second limb portion 154 further includes a second end portion 170 extending from the front panel bottom edge 116 and the back panel bottom edge 126 to form the second limb opening 156. In this embodiment, the first side edge 118 and the second side edge 120 of the front panel 112 may be continuous with the front panel bottom edge 116, and the first side edge 128 and the second side edge 130 of the back panel 122 may be continuous with the back panel bottom edge 126 as shown. While the first limb portion 150 and the second limb portion 154 of the garment 110 are shown herein as being continuous fabric sections, it is understood that the garment 110 is not limited to this configuration.
As with garment 10, in garment 110 the first limb portion 150 (comprising the first side portion 164 and the first end portion 166) and the second limb portion 154 (comprising the second side portion 168 and the second end portion 170) are constructed from the second fabric, while the front panel 112 and the back panel 122 are constructed from the first fabric. In one or more embodiments, the first fabric and the second fabric exist on the same plane and are connected by seams. More particularly, a first front transition seam 172 may join the first side edge 118 of the front panel 112 and the front panel bottom edge 116 to the first limb portion 150, and a second front transition seam 174 may join the second side edge 120 of the front panel 112 and the front panel bottom edge 116 to the second limb portion 154. Likewise, a first back transition seam 176 may join the first side edge 128 of the back panel 122 and the back panel bottom edge 126 to the first limb portion 150, and a second back transition seam 178 may join the second side edge 130 of the back panel 122 and the back panel bottom edge 126 to the second limb portion 154. While the first side portion 164 and the second side portion 168 are shown herein as being generally symmetrically distributed on the garment 110 about a side axis 180 between the front panel 112 and the back panel 122, it is understood that the garment 110 is not limited to this configuration and that the first side portion 164 and the second side portion 168 could alternatively be skewed to be asymmetric about the side axis 180, either toward the front panel 112 or the back panel 122 of the garment 110.
Having the second fabric with its greater stretch characteristic (e.g. higher elastane content) extend up the sides of the garment 110 may further enhance the give and comfort of the garment 110 for the wearer and, in the case of a shorts garment, especially during hip and leg movements. In one or more embodiments, the first side portion 164 and the second side portion 168 may each comprise between about 11% to 21% of a circumference of the first limb portion 150 and the second limb portion 154, respectively. In one non-limiting example, the first side portion 164 and the second side portion 168 may each comprise about 16% of the circumference of the first limb portion 150 and the second limb portion 154, respectively. Again, it is understood that these various relative dimensions are merely construction options for the garment 110 and are not intended to be limiting.
The garment 10, 110 shown and described herein may have a wide range of applicability not only as gear for women's football and men's football, but also for other sports, training, and even leisure wear for both women and men. Although the garment 10, 110 is depicted herein as comprising a shorts garment, the garment 10, 110 is not limited to this configuration, and it is understood that that other configurations of the garment 10, 110 for lower body or upper body applications are also fully contemplated.
While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.
