The field relates to apparel.
Articles of apparel often require different characteristics to satisfy the needs of a wearer. Sometimes articles of apparel with aerodynamic properties are close-fitting, and provide only limited modesty for the wearer. As a result, a form-fitting article with additional features that provide improved modesty, functionality, and aesthetics, among other characteristics, is needed.
The present technology is described in this disclosure with reference to the attached drawing figures, which are incorporated by reference, and which are intended to be exemplary and non-limiting in nature, wherein:
The subject matter of various aspects of the present technology is described with specificity in this disclosure to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of the technology. Rather, the claimed subject matter may be embodied or carried out in other ways to include different elements, combinations, components, configurations, and/or steps, including those similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other present or future technologies. Terms such as “step” or “block” should not be interpreted as imparting any order of steps to the methods employed unless such an order is explicitly described and required.
In brief, and at a high level, this disclosure describes, among other things, a hybrid article of apparel that includes a form-fitting inner layer (e.g., a base layer) and a looser and more freely fitting outer layer (e.g., one or more panels of a pair of shorts, pants, etc.) that are coupled together at various locations to provide an aerodynamic article with improved modesty and aesthetics for the wearer, among other benefits. The hybrid article may include various materials, components, and constructions, exemplary aspects of which are described in greater detail below with reference to
In one exemplary aspect, an article of apparel is provided. The article comprises a first layer forming at least a first leg portion and a second leg portion, and a second layer comprising one or more panel portions, the one or more panel portions secured to the first layer at least at a first lateral area of the first leg portion of the first layer and at a second lateral area of the second leg portion of the first layer.
In another exemplary aspect, an article of apparel is provided. The article comprises a first layer comprising a base layer and forming at least a first leg portion and a second leg portion, and a second layer secured to the first layer, the second layer comprising at least a first panel portion and a second panel portion. The first panel portion is secured to the first layer at least at a first coupling located on a lateral aspect of the first leg portion and a second coupling located on a lateral aspect of the second leg portion. The second panel portion is secured to the first layer at least at a third coupling located on the lateral aspect of the first leg portion and a fourth coupling located on the lateral aspect of the second leg portion. The first coupling is spaced apart from the third coupling to define a first space, and the second coupling is spaced apart from the fourth coupling to define a second space.
In another exemplary aspect, a method of manufacturing an article of apparel is provided. The method comprises providing a first layer comprising a form-fitting base layer having at least a first leg portion and a second leg portion, providing a first panel portion having at least a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge opposite the first lateral edge, and providing a second panel portion having at least a third lateral edge and a fourth lateral edge opposite the third lateral edge. The method further comprises coupling the first lateral edge of the first panel portion and the third lateral edge of the second panel portion to a first lateral area of the first leg portion such that the first lateral edge and the third lateral edge are maintained in a spaced apart relationship, and coupling the second lateral edge of the first panel portion and the fourth lateral edge of the second panel portion to a second lateral area of the second leg portion such that the second lateral edge and the fourth lateral edge are maintained in a spaced apart relationship
Referring to
The article 10 further comprises an upper margin 20, at which the first layer 12 and the second layer 16 may be secured to each other. In one aspect, the upper margin 20 may comprise a waistband element (e.g., an integrally formed waistband element or a separately formed waistband element coupled to the upper margin 20) with elastic properties and/or stretch characteristics (e.g., may incorporate stretch-woven or stretch-knitted textile elements). Although generally shown as a three-quarter tight in
The first layer 12, the second layer 16, and any waistband element coupled to the upper margin 20 of the article 10 may comprise one or more stretch or non-stretch woven textiles and/or stretch or non-stretch knitted textiles formed from one or more natural or synthetic yarns, fibers, or filaments. In one exemplary aspect, the first layer 12 may be formed of a stretch-knit textile, and the second layer 16 may be formed of a woven or stretch-woven textile. By having the second layer 16 formed from a woven textile, the intrinsic abrasion-resistance and durability characteristics of woven textiles may help to reduce snagging or wear-and-tear of the first layer 12. However, this is just an example, and it is contemplated herein that both the first layer 12 and the second layer 16 may be formed from a woven textile, both formed from a knit textile, or the first layer 12 formed from a woven textile and the second layer 16 formed from a knit textile. Any and all aspects, and any variation thereof, are contemplated as being within aspects herein.
Continuing, in exemplary aspects, the first layer 12 may comprise a unitary (e.g., seamless) construction. In other words, the first layer may comprise a single piece construction created through, for instance, a knitting or weaving process. In other exemplary aspects, the first layer 12 may be formed through two or more panels coupled together using affixing technologies known in the art such as stitching, bonding, welding, adhesives, and the like. Similarly, the second layer 16 may be formed from a panel of unitary (e.g., seamless) construction or may be formed from two or more panels (e.g., the panels 18) joined together using, for instance, one or more of the affixing technologies described above.
Referring to
As shown in
On one side of the article 10 (e.g., a right side), a first coupling 40 secures a first lateral edge 35 of the first panel portion 28 to the first layer 12 at the first lateral area 36, and a third coupling 42 secures a third lateral edge 37 of the second panel portion 32 to the first layer 12 at the first lateral area 36. As used throughout this disclosure, the term “coupling” as used in phrases such as “a first coupling 40” may comprise a stitched seam line, a welded seam line, a bonded seam line, and the like. On another side of the article 10 (e.g., a left side), a second coupling 44 secures a second lateral edge 39 of the first panel portion 28 to the first layer 12 at the second lateral area 38, and a fourth coupling 46 secures a fourth lateral edge 41 of the second panel portion 32 to the first layer 12 at the second lateral area 38. As mentioned, the couplings 40, 42, 44, 46 joining the first and second layers 12, 16 may include stitching, bonding, one or more adhesives or polymers, and the like, and/or may be ultrasonically welded. Other ways of coupling the first and second panel portions 28, 32 to the first layer 12 are also contemplated herein.
Further shown in
In exemplary aspects, the first space 52 is defined by and extends between the first and third couplings 40, 42. The first space 52 may also be defined by at least the upper margin 20 of the article 10 and by bottom margins 58 of the first and second panel portions 28, 32. In exemplary aspects, the second space 54 is defined by and extends between the second and fourth couplings 44, 46. The second space 54 may also be defined at least by the upper margin 20 of the article 10 and by the bottom margins of the first and second panel portions 28, 32. It should be noted that the first and second spaces 52, 54 may assume different configurations than that shown in
As described above, the first and second spaces 52, 54 may represent areas where the first layer 12 is exposed or not covered by the first and second panel portions 28, 32. In another exemplary aspect, the first lateral edge 35 of the first panel portion 28 may be secured directly to the third lateral edge 37 of the second panel portion 32, and the second lateral edge 39 of the first panel portion 28 may be secured directly to the fourth lateral edge 41 of the second panel portion 32. With respect to this aspect, a form-fitting overlay may be positioned on top of the first and second panel portions 28, 32 in the area corresponding to the spaces 52, 54 thus helping to secure the lateral sides of the first and second panel portions 28, 32 to the first layer 12 and helping to maintain the aerodynamic profile of the article 10.
Accordingly, as a result, the article 10 may provide a more streamlined, aerodynamic profile, and at the same time, the second layer 16 may provide a more modesty-imparting portion at the torso portion of the article 10. For instance, an athlete running with a typical short-over-base layer ensemble (e.g., where the short is unaffixed to the base layer) could be distracted by the flapping of the short panels, which may also decrease the aerodynamic profile of the ensemble and slow the athlete down. By ensuring that the lateral areas of the article 10 comprise a form-fitting portion, flapping may be reduced which, in turn, may minimize distractions and may improve the aerodynamic profile of the article 10.
As mentioned, the first and second panel portions 28, 32 further comprise the bottom margin 58, which, in some exemplary aspects, may be angled relative to the upper margin 20 (e.g., may be non-parallel relative to the upper margin 20). Additionally, the couplings 40, 42, 44, 46 may extend to, or terminate at, the bottom margin 58.
As described above, the first layer 12 may be formed of a multiple-panel construction, or rather, from multiple textile portions joined together at different locations. With respect to this aspect, the textile portions may be joined together at various seams or couplings. For instance, the couplings 40, 42, 44, and 46 may extend past the bottom margin 58 of the first and second panel portions 28, 32 as shown in
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
At a block 712, a first panel portion, such as the first panel portion 28 shown in
At a block 716, the first lateral edge of the first panel portion and the third lateral edge of the second panel portion are each coupled to the first layer at a lateral area of the first leg portion, such as the first lateral area 36 shown in
From the foregoing, it will be seen that the technology described in this disclosure is well adapted to attain all the ends and objects hereinabove set forth together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the structure. It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims. Since many possible aspects of the technology are possible without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown herein and in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and non-limiting.
This application claims priority to co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/331,135, filed May 3, 2016, and titled “Hybrid Article of Apparel,” the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
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